C4

Elara Ashwolf

I was so consumed by rage that I snatched a heavy clay potion jar from the altar table and hurled it straight at the scrying mirror. The glass shattered into a thousand jagged pieces with a sharp crack, gray smoke billowing out as the dark magic dissipated into the air.

I had never felt so utterly abandoned in my life. I must have looked like such a pathetic, naive fool earlier when I stood in the Moon Eclipse Chamber and declared my unyielding loyalty to my husband and pack to Cassiel Nightthorn. All the while, the Blood Sovereign was holding proof of my Beta husband breaking his sacred vows in the backseat of a carriage! Cassiel must have been suffocating his laughter at my expense.

Shakily, I pulled my phone out of my cloak to contact Valen. My hands trembled so violently that my claws slipped against the screen, forcing me to punch his border frequency number three separate times. I squeezed my eyes shut, drawing a deep, ragged breath to force my frantic wolf back down into my chest.

The line connected after four agonizing rings, and Valen’s voice came through the speaker. “What is it, Elara?” He sounded completely indifferent, cold and distant, just as he had been since our mating night.

What is it? Are you truly asking me that right now?

I could not believe the sheer audacity of the man, acting as if nothing were wrong while my chest felt split wide open.

“I just wanted to know where you were two nights ago during the full moon patrol,” I said, my tone dripping with icy venom.

Two days ago was the timestamp glowing on that wretched memory crystal.

I remembered preparing a feast of raw heart-meat at the Ashwolf Moon Lodge that night to celebrate his promotion to Head of Security. By eight o'clock, he still had not returned from the forest borders, so I reached out through the pack link.

The link chimed endlessly without an answer. Just when I thought he was ignoring me, he finally opened his mind-link to bark that he was trapped in an urgent pack security detail and told me to eat without him. Before I could even ask if he was safe, he severed the connection.

According to the crystal's magic, that dark carriage romp started at half-past eight. He was buried deep inside that rogue she-wolf while I sat alone praying to the Moon Goddess for his safety! What security detail? He was indulging his sick lust while I waited like a dutiful Omega!

“Two nights ago?” Valen replied smoothly over the line, not a single hint of panic in his voice. “I was securing the eastern perimeter against rogue wolves. I spend every single night training warriors and patrolling borders for the Duskbane Bloodline. Where else would I be?”

Hearing his easy lies made my stomach turn. I wondered how many times he had used his duty as Beta to cover up his disgusting betrayal.

“Oh, is that so?” I hissed, my nails digging deep into my palms until my blood welled up. “I did not realize the Head of Pack Security had to mount rival she-wolves to protect our borders. The Duskbane Bloodline must be saving a fortune on border treaties if their Beta satisfies the enemy with his own body! Given how eagerly you bare your teeth and toss your hips for a rogue, you must be the most popular male in Ravenhollow City!”

I had never been a violent female, but the absolute humiliation made my wolf snarl for blood. If Valen were standing in front of me at that moment, I would have ripped his throat out instead of smashing that mirror!

The line fell dead silent. A few seconds later, Valen spoke in a low, cold growl. “I have no idea what madness has taken over your mind, Elara. You are delusional.”

“Oh, spare me the innocent act!” I shouted, my voice cracking under the weight of my agony. “I held the silver memory crystal in my hands! I watched you pounding that rogue wolf in the carriage, so you can drop the honorable Beta mask right now!”

The thought of Cassiel watching that crystal, watching my shame, burned hotter than fire in my veins. My clueless, pathetic loyalty had been laid bare for a vampire to mock.

Valen went quiet for a long second before his voice hardened. “I am at the Duskbane Night Manor preparing the warrior patrols, and I am not going to stand here and argue with an hysterical Omega. We will speak when I return.”

The line went completely dead.

He hung up on me. I stared at the dark screen, my breath coming in ragged gasps, unable to tell if his coldness stemmed from total detachment or sheer disregard for my pain.

The harsh reality slammed into my chest like a physical strike. My arranged marriage was completely destroyed, barely six months after we stood before the Pack Elders.

Barely six months! How do I face my family at the Ashwolf Moon Lodge if I reject him now? How do I tell the Luna Regent that her son is a traitor?

Exhausted, I collapsed onto the worn leather bench in the corner of the room. My eyes tracked over the shattered glass and gray smoke coating the floorboards as tears finally spilled over my cheeks. No amount of pack pride could shield me from the crushing sorrow dragging me under.

I lay there for hours in a daze, too sick to move, too hollow to eat or drink. My calm, frozen body was a stark contrast to the frantic war raging inside my soul as I waited for the sound of his footsteps.

Perhaps my body simply gave out from the sheer physical drain of the betrayal, because darkness claimed my mind right there on the bench.

Much later, a loud crash in the hallway jerked me awake. My head throbbed as I sat up, realizing the dim torchlight from the main bedchamber was spilling into the hall.

Valen was home.

I pushed myself off the bench, my legs shaking as I rushed toward the bedchamber to confront him, determined to demand an explanation for his cold dismissal. But the moment I shoved the heavy wooden door open, the words froze in my throat, choking me where I stood.