Chapter 2

After Ron left with the oath, I went back to the Crescent Moon pack alone.

The Alpha King hadn't approved my petition to break the mate bond yet.

Suddenly, the mark on the back of my neck burned. Through the mate bond, I felt Cedric's breathing grow heavier and heavier.

Every sensation from his body as he tangled with another woman flooded through me.

Then his resentment hit me.

Cedric was convinced I'd slipped out in the middle of the night because I was jealous of Elena and plotting something.

I endured it for five whole hours before the feeling finally faded.

At first light the next day, I went to the study to gather my signet seals and medicines.

There was Elena, sitting in my chair.

She was ordering the servants to replace the furniture. Everything I'd ever used had to go.

"Cedric spent last night with me. You lost, Cassandra.

"If I were you, I'd leave Cedric and disappear."

I walked over and flung her out of my chair.

"A rescued stray Omega the pack never accepted has no right to sit in my place as Luna."

Elena ordered the guards to drag me out.

The guards stayed where they were. Not one of them obeyed.

I raised my hand to signal them.

"Throw Elena out."

Two guards grabbed her by the arms at once and dragged her toward the door.

"Who do you think you are, Cassandra? What gives you the right to have them push me around!"

"I'm still Cedric's mate, and I'm still this pack's Luna. That's what."

While I was still sorting through my things, Elena slipped past the guards and ran back into the study.

She pulled a silver dagger from her pocket.

Then, right in front of me, she cut a gash in her own arm and tossed the dagger at my feet.

"Help me! Please, Cassandra, don't hurt me."

At the sound of her crying, Cedric burst through the door.

Elena threw herself into his arms.

"Cassandra attacked me with a dagger.

"She blames me for taking you away from her. Now she wants to kill me!"

Cedric held her tight.

"Apologize to Elena!"

I pointed at the dagger on the floor.

"If I wanted her dead, she'd have more than a shallow cut."

Even after I called out her scheme, Elena showed no fear. She simply clutched Cedric's shirt tighter.

"I'm so scared, Cedric."

Cedric kicked the dagger away.

"She's bleeding badly, and you're still making excuses!

"Apologize to her, Cassandra, or I'll never forgive you."

I scoffed and didn't move.

"I'm a pureblood Alpha too. You have no right to give me orders."

Before I could react, Cedric struck the vulnerable spot at the nape of my neck.

I started to shift and fight back, but he grabbed the silver dagger from the floor and drove it into my chest, just shy of my heart.

"That's what you owed Elena. Now you're even."

I collapsed to the floor, but he never even looked back.

Cedric carried Elena away. If Ron hadn't found me in time, the blood loss would have left me in far worse condition.

He also brought me good news.

"The day after tomorrow, the Alpha King will witness the severing of your mate bond with Cedric."

I picked up the dagger and put it away. All of it would be evidence at Cedric's trial.