༄Chapter 3

“Julie!” I called out.

She appeared in the doorway within seconds, which told me she'd been hovering just outside it this whole time.

“Did you hear all of that?” I asked. Her expression answered for her.

“Right.” I pushed the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. “Then you know we're going to the palace tonight. I need a bath, and I need you to find me something that makes me look like the Luna of this pack.” I paused. “The most beautiful, sexy dress in that wardrobe.”

“Yes Luna.” She hesitated. “And the divorce?”

“He said no.”

“Oh.”

“For now,” I added.

Julie looked at me carefully. “For now?”

I stood up, rolled my shoulders back, and headed toward the bathroom. “I'm the daughter of Alpha Alexander of Blackthron,” I said without looking back. “Andrew doesn't get to just say no and walk away like that's a complete sentence.” I pushed the bathroom door open. “Draw the bath, Julie.”

Julie helped me get dressed and I went straight to the mirror to check myself out.

I stood there looking at myself for a good moment. The woman staring back was actually beautiful, genuinely beautiful. Pretty face, full lips, hazel eyes, sexy curvy body. And the thought that I had to walk around with this face dealing with a mentally unstable husband and a mistress who appeared out of nowhere like a bad smell was enough to make me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

I sighed, it's really so frustrating.

“Julie,” I said, still looking at my reflection. “Why won't Andrew just divorce me?”

Julie's mouth fell open. “Luna! You really don't remember anything at all?”

“Would I be asking if I did?” I frowned.

She gathered herself. “You saw Alpha Andrew at the wolf pack gathering, I think it was love at first sight. You went home and begged Alpha Alexander until he agreed to help. Your father then went and petitioned the Lycan King personally.” She paused. “The King ordered the marriage. If Andrew divorces you, he's going against the Lycan King's direct orders.”

I continue to stare at my gorgeous reflection.

So the previous version of me had seen a man at a gathering, decided she wanted him, dragged her father into it, escalated all the way to the Lycan King's throne, and locked herself into a royal-sanctioned marriage with someone who couldn't stand the sight of her.

I had really dug my own grave, how stupid. And what kind of stupid love at first sight made me fall for someone like Andrew? Eww 

“Okay,” I said. “Let's finish up.” Going back to my seat. 

I took my time, I was not rushing for Andrew. I sat through the full makeup, let Julie style my hair properly, and applied an extra red lip gloss to my already shining full lips.

I looked at myself when it was done and felt satisfied with my look. I'm a fucking seductress. Whatever the old Bella had been like, she had good taste. I'd give her that. But apparently not a good taste in men.

I reached for the jewelry box, looking for the Luna pendant. It's common knowledge that all Luna has one. I'm the Luna so the Luna pendant should be in there. I moved things aside, checked every compartment but I couldn't find it.

“Julie.” I kept my voice level. “Where's the Luna pendant?”

Julie came over immediately, looked through the box herself like maybe I'd missed it, and went pale.

“It’s supposed…Luna, I don't know, it should be here.”

“It's fine,” I said, closing the box. “The King probably won't notice a small detail like that.”

Julie did not look like she agreed but she stayed quiet. It's just a pendant anyways.

I walked out of the room.

Andrew was already at the door, and the first look he gave me was pure impatience. He opened his mouth probably to say something about the time and then he looked me up and down instead. Deliberately slow, criticising. Looking for something to pick at.

He found it. “You spent all that time on yourself and you still managed to be empty-headed about it,” he said. “All looks, nothing else. Typical.”

I opened my mouth to respond and then my eyes moved past him to Hailey, who was standing just to his side. And around her neck, hanging right there, settled against her collarbone like it had always belonged to her was my Luna pendant. She caught me looking at it, and behind Andrew's back, the corners of her mouth curved up.

She smiled at me, provocative and utterly deliberate. Like she knew exactly what she was doing.

I looked at her and thought: Andrew called her innocent. Andrew said she was pure and kind and nothing like me.

Only a complete idiot would look at that smile and think it's innocent.

I took three steps forward, “that's interesting,” I said pleasantly, reaching out and touching the pendant at her throat. “How exactly did my pendant end up around your neck?” I tilted my head. “That's the Luna pendant. Pack property, essentially mine. Someone could make a case that walking around wearing it without the Luna's permission is theft.” I glanced toward the door where two pack guards stood. “I could have you arrested right now.”

Hailey's eyes filled immediately. Like a tap someone had turned on. Her chin wobbled, her breath hitched, and she turned and buried herself in Andrew's chest, shoulders shaking. “She just called me a thief Dre, I've never received such an insult in my life.”

The performance was impressive. I'd give her that too. She's a talented actress.

Andrew wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her back, and turned to look at me over her head with an expression like I'd just committed a murder.

“I gave her the necklace,” he said, his voice tight. “I allowed it. It has nothing to do with her. You are a jealous, small-minded woman with absolutely no magnanimity and I…” he reached out toward me with his free hand.

I sidestepped him cleanly.

The surprise that crossed his face was genuinely satisfying.

I didn't stop moving. I walked straight past him, reached out, and pulled the pendant off Hailey's neck in one smooth motion. I didn't look at her face, I didn't look at Andrew either. I just closed my fingers around it and kept walking toward the carriage.

“I'm still Blood Moon's Luna,” I said as I climbed in. “Keep your little lover where you can see her, Andrew, you don't want to see what a small-minded woman can do.”