Chapter 4

I froze, the blood turning to ice in my veins.

Dominic was stunned, too. He clearly wasn't expecting this "surprise."

He let go of my hand, his brow furrowed. "Chloe, what is this?"

Chloe sauntered over, linking her arm through his intimately. "Dominic, did you forget? It’s been fifteen years since we met. Fifteen years ago, my father brought me to your home, and I saw you for the first time..."

She started reminiscing, and Dominic’s stiff expression gradually softened as he, too, got lost in the memory.

A memory I was never a part of.

I was his fated mate, but in that moment, I felt like an intruder.

Dominic’s gaze flickered to me, as if he’d finally remembered I was there.

He hesitated, then said, "It's late. Why don't you let Chloe stay the night?"

Chloe's eyes darted over Dominic's shoulder, her look a clear challenge.

I just nodded numbly, not wanting to watch them together any longer.

I turned to go to my room, but Chloe’s faux-apologetic voice followed me. "Oh, by the way, I had so much luggage, I just borrowed Evelyn's room for a bit. She won't mind, right?"

Dominic just chuckled, playfully tapping her nose. "Evelyn's not petty like you. It's a small thing."

My heart was too numb to feel any more pain.

I opened the door. The room that was once mine was in total chaos, with Chloe's clothes strewn everywhere.

On my vanity, a moonstone brooch that Dominic was supposed to place on me himself at our mating ceremony—the symbol of a Luna's power—lay broken in two, tossed carelessly in a corner.

A sharp pain lanced through my heart.

But there was something else I cared about more.

It was the only thing my grandmother had left me—a simple bronze amulet, carved with a moonflower.

I searched every corner of the room. It was gone.

I stormed out of the room, only to see Chloe leaning against the living room fireplace, casually playing with that very amulet in her hands.

"Dominic, look at this," Chloe said, holding the amulet up to him, her voice as cheerful as a little girl's. "It's a good luck charm I got for you. Now when you see it, you'll think of me!"

Dominic's expression was soft as he reached out to take it.

"Give it back!" I lunged, my voice a raw snarl.

"Ah!" Chloe shrieked.

I saw the flash of cunning in her eyes. As if terrified by me, she stumbled backward, collapsing near the fireplace.

In the instant she "fell," she flicked her wrist, sending the amulet sailing with perfect aim into the roaring flames.

"NO—!" My vision tunneled. I reached into the fire to grab it.

"Evelyn! Are you insane?!" A powerful arm seized me, holding me back. It was Dominic.

The flames instantly consumed the tiny silver moonflower, turning it black and warped.

The only piece of her I had left was gone.

"Ow, it hurts..." Chloe whimpered, clutching her ankle. The hem of her dress had caught a spark, which Dominic quickly stamped out.

She leaned weakly into his arms, tears in her eyes. "Evelyn just lunged at me... I almost fell into the fire! She tried to kill me!"

"You've gone too far!" Dominic roared, shielding her and glaring at me with pure fury. "Does becoming Luna make you think you can attack whomever you want? Have you lost your mind, Evelyn?!"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Dominic, that amulet was from my grandmother! Chloe stole it!"

Chloe's face showed no trace of guilt. "Why would I steal your things? I'm not some common scavenger."

Dominic seemed to agree with her.

"Apologize to Chloe," he said, his voice laced with the command of an Alpha.

I looked at him and laughed, laughed until tears streamed down my face.

"That's it. You're confined to this house for a week!" Dominic's gaze grew colder. "You will stay here and reflect on what you've done. If you don't apologize to Chloe, consider the mating ceremony postponed indefinitely!"

He finished, then turned and left the mansion, holding a sobbing Chloe in his arms.

That night, in the dead silence of the house, I went back to that bedroom.

I found the shattered moonstone brooch.

I picked up one of the sharp, broken pieces and pressed it against the mark on my shoulder—the mark of our mate bond.

Searing pain erupted as blood gushed out. I carved the mark that was once my pride from my skin, gritting my teeth as I severed it—and him—from my life forever.

Then, dressed in the plainest clothes I owned, I walked out of that gilded cage and never looked back.