Chapter 5

Celeste met me at the Altar of the Moon Goddess.

The sacred place where I once dreamed Declan and I would complete our mating ceremony was now the stage for my public humiliation.

Below the altar stood the most influential members of the Northern Pack, their eyes on me like I was a criminal on trial.

Celeste sat on the ornate throne reserved for the Luna.

After I signed the NDA, I walked up the altar steps, through hundreds of contemptuous glares, and numbly recited the speech she had prepared for me.

"I, Aria, would like to formally apologize to Luna Celeste and Alpha Declan for the recent controversy I have caused in the Northern Pack..."

"Out of selfish desire, I fabricated a past and attempted to sabotage the sacred union between our Alpha and Luna... The Alpha and I are merely old acquaintances. We have never had an intimate relationship."

With every sentence, the laughter and murmurs from the crowd grew louder.

Finally, Celeste produced a glowing 'Heart of Moonlight' herb and tossed it carelessly onto the ground.

“Oops, my hand slipped. You’ll have to pick it up yourself.”

The sacred medicine landed on the cold stone, its light dimming.

“Celeste, don’t you go too far!”

I lunged forward, but her guards grabbed me.

One of them kicked the back of my knee, and I fell to the ground in pain. As I struggled, they forced my head down, pressing my face to the floor. The wound on my forehead, still healing, split open and started bleeding again.

Before the watching crowd, I was forced to perform a full prostration, a sign of absolute submission, to Celeste.

Laughter erupted all around me as the broadcast crystals turned back to capture my humiliation. The sound was deafening.

Celeste grabbed a fistful of my hair, her smile mocking.

“Aria, take your medicine and get out of the North. And don’t ever think about challenging me again.”

She turned away and called Declan, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Darling, it’s all taken care of! Aren’t you proud of me?”

Declan’s voice was as doting as ever. “Well done, my Luna. You handled it perfectly.”

I knelt on the ground, my hands shaking as I picked up the Moonheart. It was my father’s only hope.

After the crowd dispersed, a pair of black leather boots appeared in front of me.

Declan stood there, looking down at me with a pity that made my stomach turn.

“Aria, if you had just come to me, I would have given you any of this.”

He pulled me up like a marionette and dragged me into his car.

His hand reached up to my forehead, his voice a soft, seductive murmur. “See, Aria? When I’m not around, you just get yourself into trouble. You still need me, don’t you?”

I used to crave his touch, but now, it felt repulsive.

I said nothing.

My silence must have seemed like submission, because his expression softened.

“Aria, I bought you a new place. You can move in tomorrow.”

“Once this all blows over, I’ll get you into my medical team. We’ll never have to be apart again.”

I didn’t respond, just clutched the herb in my hand.

As I got out of the car, Declan suddenly pulled me into a hug. He kissed my forehead, his eyes full of pity, and handed me a small tube of healing salve.

“Aria, I know these seven years have been hard on you. I promise, from now on, I’ll give you anything you want… except for the Luna’s title.”

“Celeste can be... intense. You’ll just have to learn to live with it.”

Two hours later, I was on my way out of the North with my suitcase.

Just like when I arrived, no one cared.

On the news, Declan and Celeste were attending a pack gala, hand in hand, celebrated as the “North’s model couple.”

And me? I was still the other woman, the one everyone loved to curse.

Just as I was about to board the plane, Declan sent the address of the new apartment.

I was silent for a moment, then sent a single reply.

[Declan, we’re done.]

Then I threw my phone into the nearest trash can, tossing away seven years of memories along with it.

In that moment, I felt a hollow emptiness, but mostly, I felt free.

I turned my back on him, on the North, and never looked back.