Chapter 2

Isabelle’s POV

Lena turned toward me, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.

We were only souls now, drifting above the hall. I couldn’t even hear her cry anymore.

But I knew. She was heartbroken.

Jace straightened. “Isabelle, get up. Stop pretending. Ten wolfsbane-coated lashes aren’t enough to leave you lying there like this.”

He was right.

Normally, ten wolfsbane lashes wouldn’t kill a wolf.

But had he forgotten what had happened to me over the past two years?

I had been beaten, starved, tortured until there was almost nothing left of me.

I wasn’t strong anymore.

By the end, I could barely even feel my wolf.

The wolfsbane had spread through my veins much faster than it should have.

And if Jace had paid even the slightest attention, he would have known something was wrong.

Blood still stained the corner of my mouth. My hands lay completely limp. And my heart—had already stopped beating.

Rowan bent down beside Lena. “Lena, get up. I don’t have all day to wait for you.”

Selene stepped closer and gently pulled him back.

“Rowan, maybe she’s just upset about the whipping earlier.” Selene glanced at our bodies. “Better leave them alone for now.”

With her other hand, she pulled Jace toward her as well.

“Don’t worry. I already sent for the Healer. She’ll have Isabelle and Lena back on their feet in no time.”

Jace frowned, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

Selene lowered her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “This is all my fault. Isabelle, Lena… blame me. Jace and Rowan were only trying to protect me.”

Jace’s expression softened immediately. “You did nothing wrong.”

“Rowan’s right,” He looked back at my body. “So what if she’s my fated mate? You’re my family. You come first.”

Something inside me shattered all over again.

Jace and Rowan stood on either side of Selene, protecting her like the most loyal guards, before walking toward the door.

On instinct, I reached for Jace.

But I had forgotten. I was already dead. My hand passed straight through him.

I couldn’t touch him anymore.

Beside me, Lena suddenly began drifting away.

I turned sharply.

A white light had appeared behind us, slowly pulling her toward it.

“Isabelle.”

I saw Lena mouth my name.

She reached for me. But our hands passed through each other.

Panic filled her eyes.

Neither of us wanted to let go.

I tried to follow her into the light—but suddenly, something burned around my neck.

My mate mark, the one Jace had left on me when he claimed me.

It pulled me backward.

“No…”

I fought against it, but the force only grew stronger.

Lena drifted farther away until the white light swallowed her completely.

The next second, an invisible chain snapped tight around me and dragged me toward the door, toward Jace.

The bond I had once treasured more than anything had become my new prison.

…

I followed Jace, Selene, and Rowan until a familiar gate came into view.

The prison I had believed was so far from home had never been far at all. Thornhold Fortress was just across the border from the Silver Moon Pack.

I stared at the familiar gate, the familiar pack members, then the pack house I had once called home.

Jace led Selene inside and took his usual seat at the head of the table.

Selene sat beside him in the Luna’s seat. My seat.

No one else was supposed to sit there. Yet not a single pack member looked surprised.

No one even blinked.

Selene must have sat there many times while I was trapped across the border, begging to come home.

An Omega approached and poured her a drink. “Miss Selene, would you like some freshly made lemonade?”

Before Selene could answer, Jace cut in. “I’ve told you before. Address Selene as your Luna.”

My heart seemed to stop, even though it had already stopped beating.

“Selene and I will be having our mating ceremony soon,” Jace continued. “She’ll become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.”

A mating ceremony? Already?

I had only just died.

The Omega immediately lowered her head. “Understood, Alpha.”

Jace turned back to Selene.

“Are you feeling better? You looked pale back at the Fortress. I thought your heart condition was acting up again.”

Selene gave him a weak smile. “Just a little. Maybe it was the shock of seeing Isabelle like that…”

She hesitated. “Do you think we went too far with her and Lena?”

Rowan pulled out the chair on Selene’s other side and sat down. “If they hadn’t caused you to lose your pup, you never would’ve had that heart attack. Now you have a condition that could take your life at any moment.”

His voice hardened. “They were only paying for what they did. Don’t blame yourself for their mistakes.”

Jace nodded. “Exactly.”

Then he took Selene’s hands in his. “Don’t think about them anymore. Think about the mating ceremony.”

He smiled at her. “I promised I’d make it up to you. I’ll give you the most beautiful ceremony the Silver Moon Pack has ever seen.”

Selene actually blushed. “I already picked out my gown. Do you want to see it?”

And just like that, the three of them started talking about the ceremony, as if Lena and I had never existed.

I stared at Jace, wondering how could he be this cruel to me? Even if he truly believed I had caused Selene to lose her pup…

Wasn’t I still his mate? Didn’t I deserve even one chance to explain?

My lips curve into a bitter smile.

I clearly overestimated my place in Jace’s heart. Even knowing he might feel my pain through our mate bond, he still chooses to make me suffer.

And if that isn’t cruel enough, he brings Selene back to the pack and lets everyone care for her as if she is already his Luna.

“Should we invite Isabelle to the ceremony?” Selene asked, blinking innocently at Jace.

Jace frowned, but Rowan answered for him. “Once Isabelle and Lena stop throwing their tantrum.”

Selene hesitated. “What if they don’t?”

Jace let out a short laugh, the frown disappearing from his face. “Then they don’t need to come.”

I floated behind them, suddenly feeling colder than I ever had in death.

Bitterness, despair, and grief swallowed me whole.

Not to disappoint you, Jace, but even if I wanted to, I couldn’t come to your ceremony with Selene.

In fact, I would never be coming back at all.