Chapter 3

I knew why Rowan was so desperate to stop me. The Head of the High Council, a powerful elder wolf named Lucas, was a guest at today's ceremony.

Rowan couldn't possibly explain my presence, let alone why his supposed "mate" looked like some stray rogue.

Just then, Isabelle, who had been silent, stepped forward with a perfect, practiced smile.

"Odette, dear, you must be exhausted from your journey," she said, reaching for my hand. "Come, let me take you to a guest room to freshen up. You can change into some clean clothes."

I snatched my hand back, my skin crawling at her feigned kindness.

In my last life, she had used that same gentle tone to lure me into a room before poisoning me with wolfsbane.

I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

"I don't need it," I said, my voice like flint. "I'm going to the main hall, and I want Rowan to introduce us—me and his daughter—to all of his guests."

Rowan's face went pale. "Odette, look at yourself! You're in rags! You'll bring shame to the pack!"

In his panic, the words just slipped out. "Belle, take her to get changed..."

The second he said it, he realized his mistake and tried to backtrack. "My sister-in-law has always looked after me, I'm just used to..."

Belle?

The intimate nickname made my stomach turn. The scene from my past life flashed before my eyes: Rowan holding Isabelle, whispering, "Good. She's dead. Even if she had lived, you were always going to be my Luna." And Isabelle, nestled in his arms like his true mate.

Looking at the two of them now, so full of deceit, the fire in my chest roared to life.

"I said, I don't need it!" I repeated, my voice rising. "I will enter the hall looking just like this! What's wrong? Is the new Alpha too cowardly to acknowledge his real mate?"

Rowan's face was livid, and the crowd of onlookers started whispering again.

"She's right. No matter how she looks, she's his official mate..."

Isabelle stepped in again, her voice full of false concern. "Odette, please, just listen to Rowan. There are so many important guests today. It really wouldn't be appropriate for you to go in like this..."

As she spoke, she reached for my arm. I instinctively recoiled from her touch.

The moment I moved, she stumbled backward dramatically, making it look as if I had pushed her.

"Ah!" she cried out in pain, clutching her hand, which was now bleeding.

"Belle!" Rowan rushed to her side, then turned on me, his eyes blazing with fury. "Odette! How could you push her? She was only trying to help you!"

"I didn't touch her!" I shot back, my voice shaking with rage. "She fell on her own!"

But no one believed me.

To them, it was clear: I was the jealous mate, lashing out at the kind woman trying to help.

"Odette, I was wrong about you," Rowan said, his face a mask of disappointment. "Belle was trying to help, and you attacked her just because of a nickname? When did you become so bitter and cruel?"

Then he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

CRACK!

The sharp sound echoed across the square.

The force of the blow sent me staggering to the ground. Lily, terrified, burst into tears.

"Mommy! Mommy!" she wailed, her cries tearing through me.

I clutched my stinging cheek, staring at Rowan in disbelief.

He had hit me. In front of everyone.

What hurt even more was the look on his face as Lily cried. There was no pity, no regret. Only disgust and annoyance.

"Look at you now," Rowan said, looking down at me with utter contempt. "Hysterical. Unreasonable. Lashing out at someone who only wanted to help. You have none of the grace or bearing of a Luna."

He turned away, his voice cold and final.

"I think you should go back to the countryside. When you've had time to reflect on your behavior, I'll come for you."