Chapter 5

I was sunk in the misery of those memories, with no attention to spare for the stone in my hand.

It gave off no light at all, like my dead heart.

Heidi's, meanwhile, kept glowing softly.

And that made it plain to everyone who'd come out on top.

Even if the Luna had wanted to favor me, there was nothing she could do.

Damien was the first on his feet, clapping hard. "Looks like Heidi's the stronger one."

A scattering of applause followed.

Heidi set down the moonstone and bounced over to me, smug all over her face.

"Lucienne, this time I beat you fair and square."

She covered her mouth, looking me up and down, and snickered. "What a waste of a pretty fur. All show, no substance."

In front of everyone, the winner was openly mocking the loser.

Her character was even more of a mess than her fur.

Dumb as a brick.

The others gave her looks of contempt. Heidi didn't notice a thing.

Or rather, she knew and didn't care.

Damien had her back, after all.

However big a mess she made, Damien would cover for her. The whole pack knew how shamelessly he favored her.

I gave her a polite smile. "Congratulations, Heidi."

I'd taken only a couple of steps when Heidi's wheedling voice followed me.

"Damien, my blood's purer than Lucienne's, and I'm more capable too, right?"

My steps slowed despite myself.

The memory pulled me back.

What I'd always been proudest of was never my blood. It was what I could do.

After Damien became Alpha, all the tedious business of running the pack—I handled it for him.

All he had to do was sit high on his throne and accept everyone's respect.

When we were alone, he'd hold me tight and kiss me again and again.

"You're a blessing the Moon Goddess gave me. You're the best Luna I could ask for."

Now, I lifted my head to the sky.

The moonlight was cold, like a sigh from the Goddess herself.

Behind me, Damien's voice came through, clear.

"Heidi, your blood is purer than Lucienne's, and you're more capable than she is."

"She can't compare to you, of course."

"Not in any way."