Chapter 2

Camille's POV

Lucian started to say something else, but then—

A frantic pounding hit the door, followed by the voice of a pack guard.

"Alpha Lucian, Lara collapsed! Should we rush her to the werewolf hospital downtown?"

Lucian instantly tensed up. He shot me a look of pure disgust.

"If you're serious about this, get the hell out of the pack tomorrow!"

Then he turned and stormed out.

I didn't sleep a wink.

The next morning, I dragged a suitcase out of the bedroom.

As I passed Rowan's room, he looked at me, curious.

"Mommy, where are you going? My spring break doesn't start for a week."

"I'm leaving the pack, Rowan. You need to take care of yourself, okay?"

"Oh."

He gave a half-hearted shrug, holding up a building block to examine it.

"Then I guess I won't be hanging out with you during break. Daddy and Lara already promised to take me skiing in Switzerland."

He didn't care. At all.

My voice trembled as I asked, "Rowan... after I'm gone, will you miss me?"

He stood up and looked me over, then suddenly wrinkled his nose.

"Moon Goddess! You smell like raw venison. It's gross! I'm gonna barf! Why can't you be more like Lara? She always smells sweet. Not like you—you smell like a lowly omega!"

He covered his nose and ran off.

Any stupid fantasies I had left shattered with every step he took away from me.

I didn't try to explain. I just turned around, grabbed my bag, and left the villa.

Elise's car was idling at the territory gate.

She jumped out and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Let me look at you."

She stepped back, scanning my face, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Camille, are you sure about this?"

"Yeah."

"What about Rowan..."

I waved it off.

"Even if I fought for custody at the Council, I'd lose. Nobody wins against the alpha of the Aurora Shadows."

"Besides, Rowan stopped seeing me as his mother a long time ago." I gave a bitter laugh.

Elise frowned, her voice getting urgent.

"You almost died giving birth to him! You labored for a day and a night. You know better than anyone how much you've given him these last five years. How could he not love you?"

I just smiled.

"He told me yesterday. He wants Lara to be his mommy."

Elise's eyes went wide.

After a long silence, she asked, "And Lucian... he didn't explain anything?"

I shook my head.

"He's probably at Lara's bedside right now."

Before I mated with Lucian, I had an apartment downtown. It had been sitting empty for five years.

Elise and I spent the morning cleaning. Once we were done, we leaned back on the sofa with some wine.

She swirled her glass and looked at me.

"Camille."

"Yeah?"

"When was the last time we just went out together?"

I blanked and said nothing.

It was five years ago.

For five years, my entire life revolved around taking care of Rowan and being a perfect luna.

I'd lost myself. For Lucian, I had buried every hobby and every bit of joy I ever had.

Elise continued, "You used to drag me into the woods on full moons. We'd shift and just run wild under the moonlight. And your violin... you'd practice until your fingers bled. Camille, where did that girl go? The one who used to shine?"

Looking into her eyes, I felt a sharp ache in my chest.

Suddenly, Elise's link-stone buzzed.

She answered, and her brow furrowed as she listened.

"Fine. We'll be right there."

She hung up, looking strange.

"Someone wants to pay a fortune for 'Midnight Galaxy,' that violin you left at the shop on consignment. The buyer is a big deal, and the owner wants you there to negotiate in person."

Midnight Galaxy. That violin had been with me for over a decade, but hearing the name now felt foreign.

I hadn't played in five years. The fingers that used to dance on those strings were now stained with the smell of meat from cooking every day—a smell I couldn't seem to wash off.

Maybe today was the day to bring it home.

The second I stepped into the music shop, I froze.

Lucian was standing in front of the "Not For Sale" display case, his tall frame looking like a wall. Lara was leaning against him, her fingers resting lightly on the glass.

"The legendary 'Midnight Galaxy.' It really is beautiful."

She looked up at Lucian, her eyes sparkling.

"Lucian, you love hearing me play, right? I want to do a concert using this violin. What do you think?"

He looked at her with total adoration.

"Of course. Anything you want."

The shop owner was hovering behind them, breaking a cold sweat. He looked relieved when he saw us.

"Elise, thank Moon Goddess you're here! Alpha Lucian wants to buy the violin. He said you can name your price..."

Elise cut him off before I could speak.

"The violin isn't for sale."

Lara peeked out from behind Lucian.

When she saw it was me, she blinked in surprise, then quickly walked over with a pleading look.

"Camille, this violin... could you lend it to me? Please. Lucian is obsessed with watching me play, and I really don't have much time left. I want to stand on that stage for him one last time."

As she bowed her head, the light hit her neck. She was still wearing my moon soul stone.

"People die every day in this world, Lara. Does that mean I have to give up everything I love for all of them?"

Lara's eyes instantly welled up. She bit her lip, tears trembling on the edge of falling.

Lucian looked at me, annoyed.

"It's just an old violin. Why are you being so difficult? Give it to Lara. As compensation, I'll buy you anything else in this shop you want."

"You're right, it's just a violin," I snapped. "You could buy her the most expensive one in the world. Why does it have to be mine? Hasn't she taken enough by stealing someone else's mate and son?"