Chapter 3

Aria's POV

The next afternoon at five, Ethan showed up right on time to pick me up.

I was about to get in the passenger seat when I saw Lily already sitting there. She had a massive bag of snacks and drinks in her lap, and her sickly-sweet omega scent flooded the entire car—deliberate and provocative. She looked up at me with fake innocence.

"Luna, I don't really do well in the back seat. Mind sitting back there today?"

I caught the flash of smugness in her eyes and looked down. That's when I spotted a little decorative wolf figurine on the dashboard—custom-made, fluffy silver-gray fur, with "Lily's special seat!" written across it.

When I didn't move or say anything, Ethan realized I was pissed again. He tried to smooth things over in that low voice of his. "Lily's never been to an auction before. I'm bringing her to show her how these things work. She's more delicate than you, Aria. Just let her have this." His alpha eyes fixed on me. "You're my luna. You should be more generous."

Let her have it? Sure, why not? I was done with this alpha anyway, so what was one seat?

I laughed softly and climbed into the back.

The whole drive, Lily kept eating cake after cake and feeding Ethan with the same spoon she'd been using. She was showing off like she owned him, making sure I knew exactly where I stood.

They chatted about random pack gossip the entire time, and he couldn't stop smiling at her stupid comments about omega training classes and her constant whining. His face lit up every time she touched his arm.

I didn't even bother looking at them. I rolled down the window and watched the autumn scenery fly by, letting the cold air clear out their mixed scents.

When we got to the venue, Lily started complaining that her heels hurt after just a few steps. Ethan laughed and called her spoiled, but he took her straight to the nearest mall anyway. He personally picked out flat shoes for her and helped her try on pair after pair.

Watching him be so attentive made me think about two weeks ago when I had moon fever—that werewolf-specific condition that nearly killed me. I'd asked him to bring me a cup of silverleaf tea to break the fever, and he'd refused like I was asking for the world.

When you're the precious little omega he's obsessed with, you get treated differently.

But I used to be the one he treated like that.

Back then, I didn't want to date him, so I tested him. I told him if he could get me a moonberry cake from that century-old shop on the south side of town before the full moon, I'd consider it. The place was far away, and there was a blizzard that night—anyone could see I was being difficult on purpose.

He didn't hesitate. He ran out the door, and five hours later, he showed up with a moonberry cake still warm from the shop. Snow clung to his jacket, and his alpha scent carried that wild edge from running in wolf form.

I've thought about it so many times since then—how could love that real turn fake so fast? How could he change like that?

But now I know he didn't change. I just never saw him clearly. I never saw the player underneath, never understood that alpha instinct to claim multiple omegas.

I smiled bitterly to myself and walked into the venue alone with my invitation.

The first item was already up for auction by the time Ethan finally showed up with Lily.

The event combined an auction with a formal dinner, and the tables were laden with elegant appetizers and cuisine. Lily whined that she wanted steak, loud enough that nearby alphas turned to look—omegas usually acted more reserved at events like this.

Ethan just laughed and adjusted her dress before cutting up her steak and feeding her himself.

I watched the whole thing in silence.

Lily kept eating and casually pointed at something on stage. Ethan raised his paddle without even looking.

"Bidder seventeen—three hundred million coins!"

The room went silent. Nobody dared bid higher. That kind of money could support a mid-sized pack for ten years.

During intermission, alphas and their lunas swarmed our table with wine glasses in hand, clearly trying to cozy up to a powerful pack like Shadowmoon. They saw how Ethan doted on Lily and noticed the temporary mark on her neck—shallow tooth marks from an alpha bite. It wasn't a permanent mating mark, but it was enough to show ownership. The guests started kissing up to her, calling her luna and the future pack mother.

Ethan glanced at me, and his alpha instincts seemed to pick up on something wrong. His scent turned sharp with displeasure and warning. He corrected them casually. "You've got the wrong person. That's my luna." His golden eyes shifted to me. "She's my true mate. The one who bears my permanent mark."

The guests who'd made the mistake looked mortified and quickly corrected themselves.

I stayed quiet and ignored their pitying looks.

They hadn't gotten it wrong.

Soon, I wouldn't be Shadowmoon Pack's luna anymore.

And the way Ethan spoiled Lily, he'd give her a permanent mating mark the second our bond broke. She'd be the new pack luna in no time.

After the break, the second half of the auction featured antiques. I didn't care about any of it, so I bought a few of the most expensive pieces and left early.

I'd just reached the elevator when I heard Lily's sugary voice behind me. "Luna, got a minute to talk?"

I stopped. "I don't have anything to say to—"

Before I could finish, I saw Lily's hand coming up.

Sharp claws raked across my face.