Chapter 4

His golden wolf eyes burned with fury.

"Don't play games with me, Evelyn," he snarled, his face inches from mine. "You think I can't see right through you?"

"Asher! Let her go!" Cora cried out, feigning panic as she clutched her child.

But I saw the flash of excitement in her eyes. She loved seeing Asher lose control because of me.

"You still care about me, don't you?" Asher's face was close to mine, his breath hot on my skin. "Why else would you come back? Why else would you look at me like that?"

"Did you think playing hard to get would win back my attention?"

The surrounding wolves began to whisper.

"So she still wants to get back with the Alpha..."

"She really doesn't know when to quit."

"Wasn't being rejected once enough for her?"

Asher released my arm and took a step back.

His anger melted away, replaced by a twisted kind of pity.

"Fine," he sighed, the sound dripping with false pity. "I admit, seeing you so... broken... it does stir a little pity in me."

"Since you're so desperate to see what real high society looks like, I will allow you to accompany me," he announced, as if bestowing a great honor. "It's time you saw what a real court looks like, Evelyn. What true power is."

Cora's face fell. "Asher, what are you doing?"

Asher lifted his chin, his tone still dripping with magnanimity.

"In three days, our pack will host a grand full-moon banquet for the Alpha King. The leaders of all the major packs will be in attendance."

"It's time you saw what a real court looks like, Evelyn. What true power is."

"But," his eyes flashed with disgust, "you have to do something about that... pathetic scent of yours. I won't have you embarrassing the Silver Moon Pack."

A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd.

"The Alpha is so generous!"

"Maybe seeing a real event will snap her back to reality."

"Then she'll know the difference between herself and a true Luna."

I listened quietly, feeling nothing.

That banquet was being held to welcome Ronan and me.

"No, thank you," I replied calmly.

Asher's face flushed crimson.

"What did you say?"

"I said, no, thank you," I repeated. "I have no interest in your banquet."

"You... you're rejecting me?" His face contorted with disbelief. "Do you have any idea how many she-wolves would kill for this opportunity?"

"Do you still think you're the proud Head Healer from five years ago?"

"You're a nobody now! A nothing!"

Cora added fuel to the fire.

"Evelyn, you can't possibly still be fantasizing about marrying into royalty, can you? Wake up. You're not even good enough for a regular Alpha anymore."

"Since she doesn't appreciate the gesture," Asher turned to Cora, his eyes burning with vengeful glee, "then I'll take you to the banquet."

"Really?" Cora's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Of course," Asher said loudly, making sure I could hear. "You are my Luna. It is your right to attend such an important event."

"There, you will see the legendary Luna Queen," he looked at me, a mocking smile on his face, "and you will see what kind of woman is truly worthy of the Alpha King's favor."

"Not some delusional, power-hungry stray."

The wolves around them immediately applauded.

"Luna Cora will be the most beautiful woman at the banquet!"

"Besides the Luna Queen, of course."

"They're not even in the same league."

I turned to leave, tired of their pathetic little drama.

The mixed scents and foul words in this place were becoming unbearable.

There Asher stood, shamelessly letting Cora stand by his side, all but declaring her as his Luna.

And to think, I once waited for a man like this for sixty-six full moons.

He would always come to me reeking of Cora’s scent, pushing me away time and time again.

In the end, I never received the mark from this so-called fated mate.

I remembered how I had stumbled away from the altar.

How I had cried until my throat was raw in the dead of night.

How, in my despair, I had accepted the guidance of the Moon Goddess...

But thinking about it now, all I felt was relief.

Relief that I had escaped this foolish, selfish man.

Relief that I had found my true love.

I stopped and turned back, a slow, knowing smile touching my lips as I looked at him.

"Let's just see," I said softly, "if you're still an Alpha in three days."