Chapter 4

"What did you just say?" Drake stared like he'd misheard. "Aria, who do you think you are? The Moon Goddess? Isabella is the Eastvale elder's precious daughter!"

I looked at him calmly. "So what?"

He faltered, then found his voice. "You've always been like this! You broke the training captain's son's arm in our senior year. If I hadn't pulled some strings, you'd have been expelled.

"But we're not kids anymore. I won't keep cleaning up your mess. If you cross Isabella today, you'll anger the entire Silvermoon Coalition, and no one will be able to save you!"

Pulled strings? Hell no!

It was Damien who sent his guards to save me.

That scumbag didn't just lose his wolf. His entire family was exiled. He'd drugged me, tried to assault me, and even tried to force a mind-link to control me.

Drake was the student body president back then, but all he did afterward was ask if I'd "misunderstood."

Thinking about it, I lost the last of my patience.

"Drake, listen. I'm here to ask for a full-moon blessing for my family. It has nothing to do with you. And don't even think I'd move into your house. That's ridiculous!"

His expression darkened. "Say that kind of thing long enough and I might believe you." He studied me, hunting for a tell that I was joking.

Isabella felt the shift and changed her tone on a dime. "Oh, this is all a misunderstanding. I didn't even bring a gift for our first meeting. How rude of me!"

She opened her clutch and took out a moonstone box. "Drake brought this amulet back from the Northreach Dominion two days ago. It was crafted by an old witch. It's one of a kind. It's a bit outdated for me, but I figured it matches your old-school vibe.

"Don't hold back. I've got more amulets than I know what to do with. My storage room's full. When you come, pick whatever you want."

I didn't spare it a glance.

Drake chimed in like he was tossing a coin to a panhandler. "Go on, take it. No need to act all proud when Isabella's being generous. Everyone knows your pack's barely holding on. That badge you're wearing looks like something from a flea market. Who even recognizes that symbol?"

I glanced down at the badge pinned to my chest.

Damien's smith had carved it from a Bloodmoon stone. The symbol etched into it spelled our names in Lupine. It was one of a kind—a sacred token of an alpha king's love.

But in Drake's mouth, it was nothing but a knockoff.

"It's sickening," I said. "You two really are made for each other."

With that, I turned and walked away.

I wished I'd never have to see them again for the rest of my life.