Chapter 3

A flicker of shock crossed Dominic’s face, quickly replaced by irritation. "Evelyn, now is not the time for tantrums. The elders are waiting."

He reached for me. "I'll get the best healers and medicine for your grandmother, she'll be fine. And I won't pursue the poisoning incident any further..."

The best healers and medicine?

It's too late for that.

"Dominic, I'm telling you, my grandmother didn't do it," I said, looking at him and enunciating every word.

Dominic gave a dismissive nod. "I believe you. Chloe said she might have been mistaken. She's willing to apologize."

My gaze fell on the front passenger seat.

Chloe was sitting there. In the seat that should have been mine, the future Luna's seat. She rolled down the window and gave me a victorious smirk.

"Evelyn, don't fight with Dominic because of me," Chloe said in a fake, syrupy voice dripping with condescension. "If you want to feel better, I can apologize to your grandmother..."

"Fine," I nodded, and holding the urn, I walked step by step towards Dominic.

"You've come to your senses?" He seemed to let out a breath of relief.

I stopped in front of him, looking up at him, and at Chloe behind him.

"If she wants to apologize, then have her kneel before the pack's Moonstone. Have her swear on her wolf that she framed my grandmother, and clear her name."

Chloe’s face fell instantly. The Moonstone was a sacred relic; any wolf who lied before it would be cursed by the Goddess.

"Dominic!" she immediately whined, her eyes welling up with tears as if she were the one being horribly wronged. "What will the pack think of me? I'm a victim, too!"

"That's enough, Evelyn!" Dominic's patience snapped. He unleashed his Alpha command, his voice glacial. "Your demand is insane! This is a minor issue, not something we bother the Goddess with. Chloe is high-born. Your grandmother was just an Omega. You want a pure-blood to kneel to an Omega? You're threatening the foundations of this pack!"

My heart died completely in that moment.

So in his world, truth and life had ranks, too.

I clutched the urn, took a step back, and said softly, "She heard you."

My grandmother heard his answer.

I didn't look at him again. I turned and walked resolutely towards the cemetery to lay my family to rest. Dominic's shouts faded behind me.

That night, after burying my grandmother, I returned to my apartment. Dominic called over a dozen times. I ignored every call.

Messages flooded my phone:

[Your absence at the meeting today already upset the elders. Why? You always cared so much about our ceremony.]

[What color flower petals do you like? I'll have them prepared for you.]

He still had no idea I wasn't going to be there.

I finally just blocked his number.

I didn't expect that an hour later, Dominic would burst into my apartment.

He seemed relieved to see me.

"Evelyn, why did you block me? You're being far too childish!"

"I need you where I can see you."

Before I could protest, he pulled me out, shoved me into his car, and sped toward his mansion on the mountaintop.

As we reached the door, he softened his tone. "I know you don't like Chloe. I promise, it'll just be us for the next few days. No one will disturb us."

But when the door opened, Chloe was standing there in a sexy, black lace nightgown, brazenly showing off her body for Dominic.

"Dominic, surprise! Happy anniversary. Fifteen years since the day we first met!"