Chapter 8

Nadia's POV

"But Nadia," She paused, "First things first. How many times have I told you? You are Lucian's mate. You are the Luna of the Silver Stone Pack. Act like it, and a Luna would never eavesdrop."

I lowered my eyes, hiding the flash of contempt beneath my lashes. For a year, I had played the "perfect Luna" so convincingly that I'd almost forgotten my own primal nature. I gave a small, stiff nod. "I understand, Mom."

Jenna's expression softened slightly. She smoothed her skirt and sat back down with practiced grace. "Now, come here and sit down."

I did as she said, keeping my back perfectly straight. This was the only thing Jenna ever approved of me: to keep an elegant posture in any circumstance.

"What are you doing here at this hour? Isn't Lucian with you?" she asked, her tone casual, almost bored.

"Mom," I started, trying to steady my voice. "I have an announcement to make. Lucian and I are severing the mate bond."

I looked up, my gaze as flat as stagnant water, clashing directly with hers. And I didn't flinch.

Jenna froze, her teacup nearly slipping from her hand.

Beside her, Sofia let out a muffled gasp, though a spark of predatory excitement danced in her eyes.

"What did you just say?" Jenna set the cup down, her voice rising sharply.

"We've already completed the informal Rejection. On Monday, we're going to the High Council to register the severance officially." My tone was as casual as if I were discussing the weather.

"Nadia! Do you have any idea of what you're saying?" Jenna slammed her hand on the table as she got up from her chair suddenly. "Marrying you to Lucian was Tyrell's dying wish! And you're just going to throw that away?"

I'd heard it a thousand times. Tyrell, my grandpa, and Reid, Lucian's grandpa, were brothers-in-arms; the marriage was a strategic move to solidify the alliance between our packs.

Sofia was supposed to be the chosen one—the pampered favorite girl. But on Tyrell's deathbed, with his last intuition, he demanded me to come back and marry Lucian.

I was only ten when Jenna sent me away to a neighboring pack under the guise of "studying healing arts." Everyone knew the truth: she just hated having an Omega like me around to ruin her reputation.

It wasn't until a year ago, for the sake of the two packs' union, that I was brought back for the marriage.

Jenna stormed over toward me, her sharp nail nearly jabbing my forehead. "You're joking, right?"

I looked up at the woman who had never loved me. "Abbie woke up. I bet you've heard of it. So, Lucian is marrying her, his True Mate. He has already rejected me, and I've accepted the Rejection. It was done. I'm not joking."

Suddenly, a stinging blow landed squarely on my cheek. The force, backed by Alpha blood, sent a ringing through my ears. For a moment, it felt like I'd been dropped into the deep ocean, and the world went deathly silent.

Jenna seemed stunned by her own action, her hand trembling slightly, but the hesitation vanished in an instant.

She pointed her finger toward the door. "Get out! You're such a selfish and useless girl, and I don't have a daughter like you!"

I stood up. I didn't cup my burning cheek, and I didn't shed a single tear. As a marionette with its strings cut, I turned toward the front door.

Behind me, Jenna was already frantically calling for our father, Colin. This marriage involved the resource integration of our two packs; she would never let me break that balance so easily.

Outside, the cold wind bit into the heat on my face. I leaned against my car door and took a ragged breath.

The blow didn't make me sad. It only brought a sense of expected numbness. My only relief was that the hit landed on my face and not my belly. The pup inside me was now the only family I had left in this world.

I reached for the car door when the annoying click of Sofia's high heels echoed behind me.

"Nadia, are you really divorcing Lucian? Just giving up the Luna title like that?" She frowned, her eyes calculating.

I didn't say a word, giving her only a cold, sidelong glance.

"Don't you realize our pack has been losing territory over the years?" Sofia hissed. "Dad needs the Silver Stone Pack's military support. For you to break the mate bond now is nothing but selfishness!"

"So what?" I spun around, a flash of healer's spiritual energy, heavy and oppressive, igniting in my pupils. "You think I should wag my tail like a dog and beg him? Even after he told me he is marrying his True Mate?"

Sofia blinked, clearly caught off guard by the fire in my eyes. She let out a disdainful scoff. "It's obviously because you were not good enough. That's why he's dumping you."

"That's none of your concern. Just mind your own business," I said in an indifferent tone.

"You think I care about you? If it weren't for you, I would be the Luna of Silver Stone Pack now!" Sofia snapped, her eyes suddenly rimmed with red. "Back then, Mom promised me that. She sent you away when you were little. Why did you have to come back and steal my chance of marrying Lucian?"

I stared at my so-called sister, my "family", and said, "Coveting your own sister's mate... How shameless."

"What did you just say?!"