Chapter 3

The next morning, cold sunlight stabbed into the bedroom.

I opened the wardrobe and laid a large suitcase flat on the carpet.

I pulled out a deep gray, custom-tailored suit. I had flown to Milan to have it made for him the day he became Alpha. Now it was crammed in the back of the closet, covered in dust.

I tossed it into a trash bag.

Next to it hung a flashy, studded jacket. The one he bought because Chloe thought it was “cool.”

I took it down and hung it in the most obvious spot. A little gift for him to use to please his new favorite.

Suddenly, the lock on the front door clicked.

Ryker strode into the bedroom.

His scent had changed. The cold, cedarwood scent of his Alpha self was gone.

In its place was the sweet, cloying scent of a young Omega.

He saw me and stopped dead in his tracks.

“Morning.” His eyes darted away as he started explaining. “Night patrol ran late. Chloe’s a newly awakened wolf. Her power is unstable, and her wolf was completely exhausted. I stayed in the pack guest house to calm her wolf.”

I didn’t ask a single question. But he was already defensive.

I turned back to my suitcase, stuffing a sweater inside. “Right.”

He glanced at the suitcase on the floor. The tight line of his jaw instantly relaxed.

“You’re going on a trip?” He walked over, his voice filled with obvious relief. “A medical conference?”

He didn’t even ask where I was going. Or for how long.

“Yes,” I said, not looking up.

“A few days away will be good for you.” He actually smiled, like a huge weight had been lifted. “You’ve been so tense lately. Go clear your head. I’ll handle things in the pack.”

He walked straight to the safe in the study.

Beep, beep. The lock opened.

He took a black velvet box from the very back and quickly stuffed it into his coat pocket.

“I have to get back to the training grounds,” he said, returning to my side. He leaned down to kiss me.

I turned my head. His lips brushed my cheek.

The sickeningly sweet Omega scent filled my nose. It made me want to gag.

“I’ll call you tonight after I’m done,” he said, completely oblivious to my disgust. He turned and rushed downstairs.

Bang.

The front door slammed shut.

The vibration traveled through the walls.

The portrait of us that had hung on the wall for a year suddenly tilted and crashed to the floor.

The frame shattered. Glass sprayed everywhere.

A famous artist had painted it for us.

In the painting, Ryker was kissing my forehead, his eyes full of devotion.

I walked over, stepping carefully around the shards of glass.

I picked up the sharpest piece and sliced the canvas open. I ripped the painting, that symbol of our fake love, right out of the frame.

The fire in the hearth was blazing.

I walked over and tossed the canvas into the flames.

The fire devoured the loving face of the man in the painting.

I watched it curl, blacken, and turn to ash. The last shred of my affection burned away with it.

That evening, a frantic mind-link exploded in my head.

It was my best friend, Maya.

“Aurora! Did you see the pack social feed?! I’m going to rip Ryker’s and that bitch’s throats out!” Maya’s roar made my head ache.

I walked to the sofa and opened the pack app.

Chloe’s post was at the top of the feed.

The caption read: “Made it through my first full moon since awakening! Thank you, Alpha, for the special protection and the surprise. Moonstone is so beautiful. I’ll treasure it forever!”

The picture was a selfie.

Around her delicate neck hung a brilliant, wolf-shaped moonstone pendant.

And there, on her collarbone, tucked into the corner of the photo, was the black velvet box.

The same box Ryker had snatched from the safe that morning.

My heart seized, but then it went numb again.

Moonstone. The tears of the Moon Goddess, according to werewolf legend.

In our world, it was the ultimate token an Alpha could only give to his destined Luna. It represented eternal loyalty and singular love.

A year ago, at our bonding ceremony, Ryker had whispered in my ear that he would find the world’s greatest craftsman to forge a one-of-a-kind moonstone pendant just for me.

I had waited a year.

Now, he had given it to another woman. A gift to celebrate her first full moon.

Maya was shaking with rage in our mind-link, her words tumbling out. “How dare he give the symbol of an eternal mate to another woman?! Aurora, use your mate-bond! Report him to the Elders! Take that necklace back!”

“Maya, calm down,” I said, my voice flat as I stared at the screen.

“Calm down? He’s trampled all over your dignity! The whole pack is laughing at you!”

“He can give it to her,” I said, picking up my coffee. “Because our final mating ceremony was never completed. Legally, I’m not his true Luna yet.”

Maya froze. The only sound in the link was her ragged breathing. “What? You’re just going to let her have it?”

“I don’t want it anymore.” I walked to my suitcase and snapped the locks shut.

The sharp click echoed in the room.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

“The Neutral Territories. The Healers’ Coalition.”

The other end of the link went dead silent. Ten seconds passed before Maya’s trembling voice returned. “Does… does Ryker know?”

“He doesn’t,” I said, pulling up the handle on my suitcase. “And I’m not going to tell him.”

I cut the mind-link.

My phone screen was still lit up, showing Chloe’s triumphant photo.

Looking at the moonstone pendant that should have been mine, I could only find it laughable.

I opened the comments and typed.

“Congratulations.”

I hit send. Then I turned off the screen and threw the phone in my bag.

Consider it my parting ‘blessing’ for them.