Chapter 3: I WANT YOU GONE

Elena’s POV

Hours later,

The celebration party for Sloane’s return stretched deep into the night. Music rose around the pack and laughter rebounded along the walls as wine were poured.

It was as if the goddess herself had descended in order to bless our pack.

And through all of this, I was excluded.

To me, this was not a celebration for the pack, it was both a reminder and a coronation. To the pack, their luna had returned.

I stood at the extreme edge of the celebration hall, my gaze down and my fists clenched as I retreated into the shadows, invisible and forgotten.

Of course, I had tried to leave, but Elaine was not having that. She had personally dragged me back into the hall. Why? I had no idea, but I suspected she wanted me to know my place.

Her claws were extended as she gripped my arms, leaving long gashes that had already started bleeding. I hissed in pain, but otherwise, kept my lips sealed.

She had dragged me back to my corner and left me with some parting words before running back towards Sloane with a huge grin on her face.

“You are going to stay here and see what a real Luna looks and act like,” she hissed as she walked off.

I bit my lips, tasting blood as my heart beat rose in anger.

From across the hall, I could see my mate, Trent, hovering around Sloane. He was like a moth attracted to a flame, smiling and nodding eagerly as if he was a little boy meeting his hero for the first time.

His eyes, which were once hollow whenever he looked at me, were now lit up, completely ablaze with a warmth I haven’t seen or felt in years.

This was the same warmth I used to pray for, the one that had never come back.

As I watched all of this happen, I should have been furious. But all I felt was clarity and conviction.

Even though I was practically invisible, the whispers themselves never stopped.

“She’s so beautiful… so powerful, unlike our current Luna.”

“Our pack finally has a real Luna.”

“Poor Elena. She should step aside gracefully and hand over the position back to Sloane.”

All of their words sliced through me until one of the elders – an old man with white hair, who was also Trent’s uncle – lifted his full goblet of wine into the air and said aloud for the entire pack to hear.

“To Sloane,” he roared, “To the Luna our pack actually deserve.”

The hall erupted in applause and cheers as every wolf lifted their goblets up, even Trent.

My heart beat froze, and my breath hitched, but instead of being furious, something buried deep inside me snapped.

I have had enough.

I moved, not out of the hall, but towards the action.

My steps were calm and had a silent precision that precluded my clarity. This was the same clarity that had been beaten into me by both Elaine and my mate.

As I came into view of the party, it felt like the world had stopped.

The celebratory music faltered and the clapping and shouting stopped. Dozens of eyes turned towards me in disbelief and curiosity.

I bowed my head slightly as I reached the elder, my voice steady as I spoke. My voice wasn’t loud, but the hall was silent enough that it spread to every single inch of the hall.

“You are right, elder.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd as they all held their breath.

“I was never meant to be the Luna of this pack,” I continued, raising my chin up as, for the first time in years, I met Trent’s gaze, “And I will not stand here and try to pretend anymore.”

Elaine stood up, her eyes ablaze with fury, “Quiet girl -” she hissed,

But I cut her off with a finger. My voice grew stronger; the more I spoke, the more my clarity returned. And my focus was different, it was sharper, more focused and entirely potent.

“For years, I have suffered in the name of love,” I frowned, “I have endured abuse, cruel whispers and curses. Above all else, I have endured a mate who could never see me as nothing more than a replacement for the one he truly loves.”

Gasps rang out as some wolves stiffened in shock.

Trent’s brows furrowed, just like his mom, he was not going to take an insult sitting down, so he stood up and took a step forward, his aura pressed up on me as he tried to make me stop.

He failed,

Once again, he tried to cower me, to make me weak.

I did not cower.

I met his gaze and flashed him a smile,

Then, I turned around the hall, locking my eyes with the elders, with Sloane and even with Elaine.

“A lot of people here believe I am weak. No, I am not.” I continued, “Let me remind you. I am born of a blood older than this pack. My family’s name built this very land that you all claim is yours. I may have been silent all these years, but do not mistake my silence for weakness. I left my family because I wanted to make it on my own, but I would rather start over from nothing, than be with a mate who invalidates my worth.”

The hall went dead silent, my declaration rolling through the crowd.

“Wait, what did she say?”

“What’s her surname?”

"I believe it's Elena Thorne?"

“Thorne? Wait, that Thorne?”

“The most powerful family in our district, Thorne? How?”

Cries of shock and awe filled the hall, as for once since the moment I stepped into the pack, wolves began to look like me with wary eyes.

Trent took a step forward, a flash of regret passing through his gaze, “Elena – ” he stretched out his hand, as if trying to console me.

“No, Trent,” I shook my head, my voice calm, “You wanted Sloane, right? Then, have her. As of tonight, I am no longer your Luna and I am no longer your mate.”

The room exploded into shocked gasps, Elaine’s face grew blank and the elders all muttered in disbelief.

Sloane, who had been silent through all this, stood up, her brows furrowed, and her eyes narrowed, but not before I could see the flicker of joy flashing through her eyes.

“You don’t have to do this, Elena.” she said in a soft tone, smiling wildly, “I’m sure we can all talk this over, as family.”

Without even glancing at her, I turned around and began walking away.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t trembling as I walked.

I wasn’t weak any longer.

Now, I was free.

And I was going to make Trent pay for everything.