Chapter 3

I collapsed onto my bed, shaking.

The rage of being fooled and the pain of betrayal were a knot in my throat, choking me.

All day, I couldn't focus. My mind just kept replaying Blake’s phone call.

"My little moon..."

My phone started buzzing like crazy again.

[My Moon, why aren’t you answering me today?]

[Did I do something wrong?]

[My Queen, please tell me. I’ll be your dog, just please don’t be angry.]

A cold, bitter laugh ripped from my throat. Pathetic. Was this really the same arrogant Alpha from the lounge? Or was he just a different kind of monster behind the screen?

In the lounge, Blake was all lovey-dovey with his mate.

Now, he’s back to begging me for attention behind a screen.

Is he enjoying the thrill of cheating? Or is this just some sick game for him?

I couldn't take it anymore. I finally asked.

[Are you hiding something from me?]

The message sent. The reply was almost instant.

[No! I swear my world only has one moon!]

[I have never deceived you, not from day one!]

[If I’m lying, may the Moon Goddess forsake me!]

His reply was so absolute. The fire in my chest flickered for a second.

Could I… could I really be wrong?

The same bracer, the nickname "my moon"... could it all be a massive coincidence?

No. I can’t let myself be fooled by sweet talk again.

If it’s a coincidence, then prove it. If it’s a lie, I want him to rip off his own mask.

[You want me to believe you?] I took a deep breath. My hands shook as I typed. [Fine. Prove it.]

[Alpha_X: How? Just tell me. I’ll do anything! I’d even give you my life!]

[If you truly belong to me,] I gritted my teeth, typing out my final test, [Tonight, you will paint an inverted crescent moon on your body with blood-red dye. Prove your submission to me.]

The inverted moon—a sigil of absolute submission, of being owned. No self-respecting Alpha, let alone a pureblood, would ever bear such a mark of shame. This would be the end of it.

Less than three seconds later, a reply popped up.

[As you command, my Moon.]

[It will be branded on the spot closest to my heart. Tonight, it beats only for you.]

Night fell. The grand Bonfire Moon-Fest lit up the entire field.

The frantic beat of war drums was deafening.

Flames shot into the sky. It was the last big party before graduation.

It was the perfect event I had poured my soul into. But I couldn't enjoy it.

The pureblood Alphas started taking off their shirts. They showed off the wild, tribal markings of their packs on their muscular bodies.

I hid in the darkest corner of the stands.

My eyes scanned the crowd, cutting through the firelight.

Suddenly, a wave of shrieks and cheers erupted through the night.

"Alpha Blake is here!"

My heart seized.

In the flickering firelight, Blake strode into the center of the field.

His golden hair whipped in the wind. His face had that usual arrogant, playful smirk.

My gaze locked onto him.

His chest… nothing.

His abs… nothing.

His right neck and shoulder…

My world froze over.

There, in a horribly obvious spot just above his collarbone, was an inverted crescent moon. Painted in blood red.

The color was so vivid it looked like fresh blood.

My world shattered.

It really is him! The heir to the Stormclaw pack, the man who has the whole academy at his feet, is the same spineless liar who begs for my attention online!

"Blake!"

A sweet cry broke my frozen state.

It was Scarlett.

She was wearing a stunning red dress. Under the eyes of the entire academy, she threw herself into Blake’s arms.

"You look so handsome tonight," she cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Blake laughed loudly. His eyes were full of adoration.

He wrapped an arm around Scarlett’s tiny waist, bent down, and crushed his lips to hers. Without a care in the world.

The entire field exploded!

Whistles, screams, and cheers all mixed together. A tribute to the fated pair.

And me, I was staring at Blake’s neck.

That inverted crescent moon. The mark of "exclusive loyalty" I had demanded. It was right there, bobbing up and down as he kissed another woman.

The irony was a blade twisting in my gut. He wore my brand of submission while claiming his fated mate in front of the entire world. This wasn't a game anymore. This was a public execution of my pride.

A wave of nausea rose in my throat. I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from throwing up right there.

I finally saw the truth.

I was nothing. I was just a distraction for a bored, cruel Alpha. A backup toy to satisfy his twisted need for control.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back the tears.

To hell with fated mates.

To hell with Alphas.

From now on, my world has only two things: the final physical trials and getting into the Alliance.

No one will ever be my weakness again.

I pulled out my phone. My hands shook as I opened the chat.

The last message from him was still on the screen. "It beats only for you."

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. I typed my final message.

[Go play with your real mate. You disgust me.]

Send. Block. Delete.

One year of my life. Erased.