Chapter 2

I stumbled out of the room at noon the next day, clutching the tattered silk of my gown around me. Every step was a reminder of the night before.

Caspian's heat. His unrestrained power.

And his whispered words against my ear, "I've waited so long for this."

"Well, well, Seraphina. The walk of shame?"

Isabella’s voice was like a snake hissing.

I looked up. She was leaning against the banister, holding a glass of lemon water for Damien. A faint bite mark was visible on her neck.

"Looks like you had a rough night," her eyes raked over my torn dress. "So desperate for power you'd throw yourself at a dying old king?"

I met her gaze. "Are you talking about yourself?"

Isabella scoffed. "Don't get smart with me. I'm nothing like you."

"I'm going to be Damien's Luna. You're just a pathetic, used-up antidote."

I pulled the tattered fabric tighter around my shoulders.

An antidote?

In my last life, Caspian had indeed used an Omega to get through the night. He paid her a fortune to disappear forever.

But this life was different. I had to get it right on the first try.

If I could carry Damien's pups, I could definitely carry a pure-blooded royal heir.

I glanced at the glass in her hand. "Then you'd better hurry, future Luna. Go serve your Alpha."

I was about to leave when I saw Damien walking toward us.

He wrapped an arm around Isabella's waist and pulled her into a deep kiss.

"Isabella, you must be exhausted from last night. Why didn't you sleep in?"

Isabella pouted, her lips swollen and red. "I have to plan next month's charity gala. I can't just lay around."

Then she looked at me. "Miss Seraphina seems to have a lot of free time. I'm so jealous."

Damien sneered. "Who cares about her?"

"Forget the pack business. You're my woman now."

His eyes then shifted to me, cold and full of warning.

"You're the one who sent Maria to get Isabella last night? Smart move."

"But don't you forget your place. Don't even think about what you can't have."

His icy tone was a needle in my heart. I was a fool.

The line between love and hate was so clear.

In my past life, Damien saved me from a pack of rogues. I fell for him, hard. I was always finding excuses to be near him.

After graduation, I became the pack's ceremony planner, just to be closer.

I once asked him if he truly wanted me as his mate.

He'd nodded. He even soothed me. "Of course. Just focus on the pups."

But the moment his position as heir was secure, he lost all patience with me.

Hypocrite. The word was made for Damien.

I nodded numbly. "I know."

This time, with Isabella here to save him, I wondered if this "true love" would actually last.

I tried to walk away, but Damien blocked my path.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight I thought my bones would shatter. "Who did this?!"

His eyes were locked on my forearm.

Deep purple finger marks bloomed there, left by Caspian when he’d completely lost control.

"What mutt's scent is on you?! Seraphina, are you that desperate? That whorish?"

A possessive fury burned in his eyes. It was the primal rage of an Alpha whose territory had been breached.

Even if he didn't love me, he couldn't stand his long-time "follower" smelling of another wolf.

The potion must still be clouding his senses. He couldn't even recognize the scent of his own father.

"Let go of me."

My arm throbbed. The torn dress slipped further, and I used my free hand to cover my chest.

"Answer me!" Damien's grip tightened. "Who were you with—"

He looked like he was about to tear me apart.

I was about to tell him to get lost when Isabella’s voice cut in.

"Ah! My ankle!"

Damien instantly let me go and rushed to her side.

She had collapsed on the floor, the lemon water spilled everywhere. She clutched her ankle, sobbing pathetically.

"It hurts so much…"

Damien immediately helped her up, cradling her carefully.

Isabella rested her chin on his shoulder, her other hand clinging to him. She shot me a look of pure triumph.

In my last life, besides seducing Damien, Isabella had affairs with several other Alphas, all to marry into power.

When she saw I was mated to Damien, she married a violent Alpha from the South. The rumor was they ended up killing each other.

And Damien, of course, was convinced her tragedy was all my fault.

I caught my reflection in a mirror. A strange flutter deep in my belly.

I instinctively placed a hand over my lower abdomen, holding my breath.

I had a feeling I would be a mother soon. And the heir to the Lycan Kingdom didn't have to be Damien.

A small smile touched my lips, but there was no warmth in my eyes.