Selena is scheming.

I walked home with my head down, trying not to hear the whispers that followed me.

Every step hurt. The bond pain still burned in my chest, sharp and cold at the same time. It felt like something inside me had cracked open.

When I reached the small cabin near the servants’ quarters, I stopped to breathe. The walls were old, the roof leaked when it rained, but it was the only place that ever felt safe.

“Evelyn,” a soft voice called from inside. My mother.

She was sitting up on her bed, pale and thin, but her smile still warmed the room. Her long dark hair was streaked with silver, her eyes calm like the moonlight.

“You’re back early,” she said. “Did something happen?” she asked worry visible in her voice.

I forced a small smile and shook my head. “No, Mama. Just work. The Alpha wanted extra help at the ceremony.” She looked at me for a long time. I could tell she didn’t believe me.

She always saw through me, no matter how quiet I was. “You’re trembling, my love.”

She reached out and touched my hand. Her skin was cold. Too cold.

I tried to hide the tear that slipped down my cheek. “I’m fine,” I whispered. “Just tired.”

She sighed. “You work too much. The pack pays enough for my medicine. You shouldn’t push yourself so hard.” “I have to,” I said quickly. “If I don’t work, they might stop funding your treatment.”

That was true. The pack helped with her care only because I served them. An omega maid had no say, no freedom. We worked, or we were nothing. My mother smiled sadly. “You’ve always had such a kind heart, Evelyn. You remind me of your father.”

I looked away. I’d never met him. She didn’t talk about him much. When I was little, I thought he was a hero. Now, I wasn’t sure.

Before I could answer, the door creaked open. “Well, well,” a sweet voice said. “What a cozy little place.” I froze.

Selena stood in the doorway, glowing like she belonged in another world. Her golden hair was tied back, her silk dress shimmering. Behind her, two girls followed, both smirking.

My chest tightened.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered.

She laughed softly. “Oh, don’t look so scared, Evelyn. I was just passing by. Thought I’d visit the pack’s favorite servant.”

The two girls behind her giggled. My mother sat up straighter, confusion in her eyes. “Lady Selena, what brings you here?”

Selena’s lips curved. “I just came to check on your daughter. She looked so sad today after the ceremony.”

My blood ran cold. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Selena walked closer, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. “Oh, that’s right,” she said sweetly, turning to her followers. “She’s the poor, rejected omega now. The one Lucien turned down in front of everyone.”

Her friends laughed. “The virgin omega who thought she could be Luna,” one of them said.

Selena smiled wider, pleased with herself. “I mean, really, what were you thinking, Evelyn? Did you believe fate would tie the future Alpha to someone like you? How adorable.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, but I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. My throat felt locked.

My mother looked between us, eyes wide. “Rejected? What are you talking about?”

Selena turned to her and smiled kindly—pretending to be sweet again. “Oh, didn’t she tell you? Your daughter was chosen by the Moon Goddess to be Lucien’s mate. But he rejected her. In front of everyone.” She gave a small laugh. “And she didn’t even accept it. How embarrassing.” The words cut deeper than claws.

My mother’s hand flew to her chest. “Evelyn… is that true?” I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I could only nod, tears blurring my vision.

Selena sighed dramatically. “Poor thing. I suppose she thought she could be Luna. How sad.” She looked at my mother again, tilting her head with fake sympathy. “You should teach her to know her place. It’ll save her from more humiliation.”

Her followers giggled again, whispering behind their hands.

Something inside me started to shake—not from fear this time, but from anger. It was small, deep, hidden—but it burned. For the first time, I wanted to speak, to scream. But my voice still wouldn’t come.

Selena looked pleased with herself, her eyes glinting like gold. She leaned closer, whispering near my ear. “Lucien belongs to me, omega. Remember that.”

Then she straightened, smiled sweetly at my mother, and walked out, her perfume lingering in the air like poison.

When the door closed, silence filled the room.

My mother reached for me again, her hand trembling. “Evelyn…”

I broke.

The tears came fast and hard. I sank to the floor, my head resting on her knees. “I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I didn’t ask for it, Mama. I swear, I didn’t.”

She stroked my hair gently, her voice soft but steady. “Oh, my sweet girl,” she whispered. “Don’t you ever apologize for what others do to you. You are not worthless. The Goddess makes no mistakes.”

But I didn’t believe her. Not yet.

All I could feel was pain.

Pain in my chest. Pain in my heart.

And the echo of Lucien’s words, You will never be my mate.

That night I cried until my throat hurt.

The room was quiet except for the sound of my breathing. Mama had fallen asleep, her medicine finally pulling her under. I didn’t want her to hear me. She’d worry more if she did.

Then there was a knock.

Three sharp raps on the door.

I wiped my face fast, thinking maybe it was a mistake. But when I opened it, three pack guards stood there, their faces hard.

“The future Alpha summons you,” one said. My heart stopped. “Now?”

“Yes. Come with us.”

I wanted to refuse. I wanted to ask why, but no one refused a command from Lucien Blackthorn. So I followed.

The walk through the dark halls was long and silent. The moonlight poured through the windows, silver and cold. I could feel the guards’ eyes on me, like they thought I’d run. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

When we reached the Alpha’s study, one guard pushed the door open. Lucien was inside.

He stood near the window, his back to me, arms crossed. The firelight cast his shadow long across the floor. I bowed my head, keeping my eyes low.

“You called for me,” I said softly. “May I know why?” but he gave no answer.

The silence stretched until it started to hurt.

Then he turned. Even without looking up, I felt his gaze. Heavy. Sharp.

He walked toward me slowly, boots clicking against the floor. Each step made my heart beat faster.

When he stopped in front of me, I could feel the heat from his body. His scent—cedar and smoke—mixed with the faint trace of my own. The bond pulsed, alive and stubborn.

“Look at me,” he said.

“I, I can’t.”

His fingers tilted my chin up before I could move away. His touch was rough, not gentle, but it sent a shock down my spine. I hated it. I hated that my body reacted when my heart was still bleeding.

“Why do you keep defying me?” he asked, his voice low, dangerous.

“I’m not,” I whispered. “You said I wasn’t worthy. I accepted that.”

“Then why does your scent keep calling me?” he snapped.

I froze. His eyes glowed faintly gold, his control slipping for a second.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how.

He leaned closer, like he was fighting something inside himself. His jaw clenched, breath uneven. I could sense the battle in him—the Alpha versus the man who didn’t want to care.

Then his control snapped for a moment.

He moved too close.

I gasped and pushed him back, hard.

He didn’t expect it. His expression changed from anger to shock.

“What are you doing?” His tone was more breath than words.

I stumbled away. “Don’t—don’t come near me.”

His wolf surfaced in his eyes again, golden light flashing. Fury, confusion, and something that looked too much like desire burned together. He caught my wrist before I could move further.

“Running again?” he said bitterly. “That’s what omegas do?”

I jerked my arm, trying to break free. “Let me go, Lucien.”

He didn’t. For a heartbeat, we stood there, breathless, eyes locked. The world shrank to that small space between us.

Then he released me suddenly, like my skin burned him.

He took a step back, anger replacing the crack of vulnerability that had shown for a second. “You think this bond makes you strong,” he said coldly. “It doesn’t. It makes you weak.”

I swallowed hard. “Maybe it makes you weak.”

That surprised him. I saw it flicker across his face—the shock that I’d spoken back at all.

Before he could answer, I turned and ran out the door, my heart pounding. The guards outside looked up, startled, but didn’t stop me.

Behind me, through the open doorway, I heard his voice, quiet and raw.

“This isn’t over, Evelyn.”