Chapter 3

Caspian had flown to the Southern packs at dawn to handle pack business.

Before he left, his breathing still ragged, he whispered a promise in my ear. "I'll be back soon. And when I return, I'll make it official."

I didn't ask what he meant.

As long as he knew I was carrying his pup, he would make me his Queen.

But the days he was gone were hell.

My conversation with Isabella had been overheard.

The pack members all thought I’d seduced a common guard.

Meanwhile, Damien publicly announced at a pack meeting that Isabella was his one and only future Luna. He demanded everyone treat her with the same respect they showed him.

"Did you hear? Our oh-so-proper ceremony planner has lost her mind."

The whispers in the dining hall were like poisoned darts.

"Hooking up with a guard? She has no shame."

"Master Damien doesn't want her anymore. She has to settle for some nobody to get her fix."

No one saw me go into the King's suite, so they gossiped freely.

Damien heard them. His face turned grim, but he said nothing to defend me. He just turned and walked away.

The pack members trying to suck up to the future Luna started openly defying me.

I put down my fork. My plate was untouched.

They had tampered with my food.

The stench of rancid fish oil rose from the steak. The bread had shards of glass in it. The soup had some black substance floating on top.

"What's wrong? Not eating?" A maid approached with a fake smile. "We prepared this especially for you."

Her eyes were full of malice. I knew this was Isabella's doing.

I stood up without a word.

I walked out of the dining hall to the sound of their laughter.

"Miss Seraphina, there's a problem in the ballroom," the butler came running.

I rushed to the ballroom and found it in ruins. Flowers were torn and scattered.

The crystal chandelier was smashed to pieces.

The full moon celebration I had been planning was destroyed.

"What a shame." Isabella's voice came from the doorway. "I heard this ceremony was very important to you."

She was flanked by several high-ranking she-wolves from the pack, all of them smirking.

"Now that the celebration is canceled, your job is gone too." She sighed theatrically. "But don't worry. I hear you have new... career plans?"

Harsh laughter echoed around me.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

"And another thing," Isabella took a step closer. "I hear you've been getting cozy with the men on the guard patrol?"

Lies.

Lies she was spreading.

"It's so worrying," she lowered her voice, dripping with venom. "For a woman to be so desperate, throwing herself at those crude guards. Are you that desperate? Trying to get knocked up by some mutt just to keep your place in this pack?"

The women behind her erupted in another round of jeering laughter.

"Oh, did I say something wrong?" Isabella asked, admiring her fresh manicure.

"Then again, with blood as weak as yours, any pup you pop out would be fit only to be a servant."

My blood boiled. I wanted to claw her face off.

But I couldn't.

Not here. Not now.

"Are you finished?" My voice was dead calm.

Isabella blinked, then sneered. "Still acting tough. That won't last long."

She turned and left, her cronies following her.

They were all Isabella's dogs, trying to force me out. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

As night fell, I was heading back to my room when I ran into Damien returning from outside.

He shoved me against the wall. His powerful Alpha scent was a net, trapping me, making it hard to breathe.

"Are you that desperate? Can't you go a second without a man?"

His face was blank, but the contempt in his eyes was overflowing.

I panicked, trying to break free, but his strength was overwhelming.

"Are you talking about yourself?" I stared into his eyes, my voice low and clear.

His eyes blazed with anger.

"Bitch! A woman like you is capable of anything."

He stared at my face, his gaze trying to pierce my soul.

Maybe my struggling annoyed him. "Seraphina," he said, "I can keep you on the side. But my Luna will always be Isabella."

My world went dark. All those years I'd spent loving him... it was all a joke.

"Go to hell."

He suddenly grabbed my chin.

"What? You want to find another man? Seraphina, don't push your luck!"

"You belong to me! Or else…"

His grip was crushing, the soft flesh of my cheeks aching.

He glared at me for a few seconds, then his grip loosened, his hand moving to caress my cheek.

His expression turned sly. "Just be a good girl."

"I can't marry you, but I can give you everything else."

I scowled. "Damien! I refuse."

He exploded in rage, grabbing my hair and slamming my head against the wall.

"Did you come to the Crescent Moon pack just to sleep around with other men? Fine! Get out! Our pack doesn't need a disgusting woman like you!"

I broke free and ran.

Leaving was a good idea. I needed a quiet place for my pregnancy.

I had just rounded the corner when Isabella blocked my path.

"Seraphina," she sneered, "trying to steal my Mate?"

I was speechless, too tired for her games. I tried to walk around her.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" she shrieked, lunging forward and grabbing my arm.

I ripped it free with a snarl. "Get off me!"

Isabella stumbled back. Her eyes, for a split second, went wild with a sudden, terrifying idea. A cruel smile twisted her lips.

"You'll pay for this, bitch!" she hissed.

Before I could react, she raked her own perfectly manicured nails across her own throat. Four deep, bleeding gashes instantly appeared.

Then she screamed, a high-pitched, piercing sound of absolute, fake terror.