Chapter 3

Camille's POV

Lara's eyelashes fluttered like a startled rabbit's. She leaned into Lucian, defending herself in a soft whimper.

"I swear to the Moon Goddess, Camille, I never wanted to take anything from you. Lucian just couldn't stand to see me suffering alone... He's a great alpha with a kind heart."

"Please... just sell me 'Midnight Galaxy.' Name your price. You know my time is running out... This is the last promise I made to him before I go."

I stayed silent, but that moon soul stone around her neck was blinding.

"You seem to really like my mother's heirloom."

Lara stiffened. "I... I don't know what you mean."

"Midnight Galaxy was left to me by my late mother. So was that necklace you're wearing."

Lara went pale. Her lips trembled as she spoke.

"Oh, god... I really didn't know. Rowan shoved this into my hands yesterday and said it was a gift. I thought... I thought Lucian had prepared a surprise for me. I'm so sorry, Camille. I never meant to walk around flaunting your mother's things..."

"Well, now you know."

I stared at her. "Can I have it back?"

Lara's fingers brushed the stone. She bit her lip and tugged on Lucian's hand, acting like a spoiled child.

"You must have forgotten Camille's birthday while you were looking after me at the hospital. She's just throwing a tantrum. It's all my fault for being such a burden."

"Sweetie, should I just give it back to Camille? If she's this angry over a little thing, she definitely won't lend me the violin."

She spoke as if the stone belonged to her and she was being generous by "giving it back."

Lucian's jaw tightened. He looked like he'd been challenged.

"I don't take back gifts I've already given."

He looked at me coldly. "Besides, giving you that necklace was Rowan's wish. Camille, don't you always claim to be such a loving mother? You're really going to snatch a gift back from your own son?"

I clenched my fists, suppressing the howl of my wolf inside my chest.

"You want my violin? Fine. It's simple. If our noble alpha gets on his knees in public and begs for my charity, I'll consider it."

Lara's eyes went wide.

Lucian's aura slammed down on the room. It hit me through our mating bond like a heavy tide.

Usually, I would have bowed my head and exposed my neck in submission immediately.

But not today. I kept my spine straight, meeting his blade-like stare head-on.

"Camille, get over your pathetic pride. Do you have any idea how you look right now? You're a total loser who's been dumped by her mate and her son."

He suddenly raised his hand. Just as the slap was about to land, Lara caught his arm, fake-shielding me.

"No! Alpha Lucian, don't hurt her for me! Camille, why are you pushing him like this? He's your alpha! He's just worried about my health... Don't you get it? I'm dying! Why do you have to be so cruel?"

I let out a harsh laugh.

"Save it. You want everything I have—my luna title, my son, my mate, my life. And your only leverage is this 'dying' act that may or may not even be real. You're dying, so I'm supposed to just hand over my entire world?"

I turned back to Lucian.

"You said you'd do anything for her, right? Then get on your knees! Just once! Kneel and beg me to lend her that violin to prove you actually mean it!"

The silence was deafening. Lucian didn't move. I smiled.

"See that, Lara? He's just not that into you."

I turned to the shop owner.

"If I remember right, my consignment for Midnight Galaxy expires today. Get my violin out. I'm taking it."

The owner glanced nervously at Lucian. He looked trapped.

I arched an eyebrow.

"As the owner, do I not even have the right to take my own property?"

While we were at a standstill, Rowan ran in from outside, waving a snack in the air.

"Daddy, look! The milk chocolate Lara gave me is so good!"

Lucian blinked, looking at Rowan in disbelief.

"Didn't your mother say you have a severe lactose allergy? That you can't touch that stuff?"

Rowan rolled his eyes. "That was just a lie Mommy made up to control me. The doctor said a little bit is fine."

He glared at me.

"Mommy just wants to boss me around, that's why she won't let me have any."

"Boss." That didn't sound like something a five-year-old would say on his own.

Standing next to Lucian, Lara looked momentarily panicked. She gently took Rowan's hand.

"Rowan, your mommy was just doing what she thought was best for you."

"Lara said I can eat whatever I want!" Rowan snapped.

"Lara also said Mommy is too strict and isn't even a good mother. She just wants to keep me trapped."

Lara's smile flickered for a second before she turned to Lucian, her voice softening to smooth things over.

"He's just a cub. He's got a sweet tooth. A little bit shouldn't hurt, right, Lucian?"

Lucian's face relaxed. For once, his voice had a hint of warmth.

"You know how to make him happy better than Camille does."

I looked away. The scene made me want to gag.

I walked to the counter, took the case from the owner, and snapped the locks shut.

"Paperwork done?" I asked.

"Yes, yes. All set," the owner said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Camille, the violin is yours."

I nodded and walked toward the door.

Elise followed me quickly, whispering, "We're just leaving? That Lara is unbelievable!"

"I've said everything I needed to say."

I sat in the passenger seat clutching the violin case. After a moment, I pulled out my comm-stone and dialed a channel.

Before long, a deep male voice answered.

"Camille?"

"You said before that if I ever needed anything, I just had to ask."

He was silent for a beat.

"You sure about this?"

"I'm sure."