Chapter 2

The moment I agreed, Nicholas didn't hesitate to ditch me and grab Whitney's hand, pulling her toward the kitchen.

"Aunt Whitney, come make a cake with me! I want moon nectar flavor! You're the best! Every time I ask Mommy to make it, she has to wear those animal-skin gloves, and the cake ends up full of fur!"

I stood silently in the corner, watching it all unfold. Suddenly, I realized that Nicholas' words no longer had the power to hurt me.

I was allergic to moon nectar. Even touching it would make my entire body break out in rashes.

But Nicholas loved that cake.

Every year on his birthday, he insisted I make it myself.

He didn't like it when I wore gloves, so I forced myself to make it barehanded. But when he saw how red and swollen my hands were, he didn't take a single bite.

Once, I overheard him telling Tobias, "Daddy, can we get a different mommy who can make moon nectar cake? Mommy is too weak."

His rejection crushed me back then. I felt like I had failed him, so I tried even harder to be good to him.

Now, I finally understood that no matter what I did, I could never compete with someone who could stand beside him and make that cake.

Dinner was elaborate, and when it was time to blow out the candles, Nicholas suddenly had an idea.

He grabbed Tobias with one hand and Whitney with the other, pulling them to stand in front of the cake. Then, he turned to me with a bright smile.

"Mommy, can you take a picture for us? You always take the best photos."

He looked between Tobias and Whitney proudly, as if seeking their approval.

Tobias frowned, his tone helpless. "Nicholas, don't push it. Your mother will get upset."

If this had been in the past, I would've been furious. I would've told him that we were a family and that Whitney was an outsider.

But now, I simply picked up the camera. "It's fine. I'm good with a camera anyway. I'll do it."

Nicholas' face lit up with a brilliant, triumphant smile. "That's awesome! Mommy, you're the best!"

He looped his arm through Tobias' and hugged Whitney tightly, forcing them closer together.

Whitney's cheeks flushed. She glanced at Tobias shyly before lowering her head as the tips of her ears turned red.

My heart didn't even flutter. I simply kept my finger on the shutter, capturing the moment.

After the celebration, I returned to my room, exhausted, only to find Whitney already inside, holding my reservation slip.

My pupils narrowed as I blurted, "What are you doing?"

She waved the slip, a hint of malice flashing across her face. "So, you want the antidote?"

Without warning, she pulled out a dagger coated in silver nitrate and slashed her own arm. I didn't understand what she was trying to do, but I instinctively stepped forward to stop her.

However, she seized the moment to shove the dagger into my hand.

Tobias and Nicholas rushed in just in time to see Whitney collapsing to the ground, clutching her injured arm.

She held back tears, but the wound was enough to shock them both.

"Cordelia, what are you doing?"

Tobias' face darkened as he picked Whitney up and walked out without looking back.

I was just about to explain, but a sudden, violent shove from the side sent me reeling. Before I could react, the blade in my hand sliced into me.

The silver spread instantly through my body, exacerbating the damage.

My breathing became labored, my heartbeat erratic as I collapsed to the ground in agony.

Through the haze, I heard Nicholas' furious voice.

"Mommy, how could you do that to Aunt Whitney? I thought you were getting better when you let her stay, but you just wanted to hurt her! You're so awful. I don't want you as my mommy anymore!"

After saying that, he ran after Tobias without a second glance, never noticing me curled up on the floor, trembling in pain.

I barely managed to send a mind link to William before everything went dark.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a bed at the pack infirmary. William stood beside me, his expression grave.

"Luna, you knew you had silver in your system, so how could you let yourself get cut by silver again? You need the antidote immediately. Otherwise, you'll hemorrhage and die.

"Thankfully, the antidote will be ready tomorrow. As long as you take it, you'll be fine. Stay here tonight and rest."

Not long after he left, Tobias walked into the room.

His expression was unreadable, but the words that came out of his mouth made my blood run cold. "Give your reservation slip to Whitney. She needs the antidote."