Chapter 3

Ronan was still holding his wine glass.

His hand was frozen in midair, his body caught in the exact position he had used to imitate the way I walked.

The smile on Seraphina's face had not completely disappeared either.She was still leaning against Kael.

But Kael was no longer sitting.He stood up slowly.His eyes settled on me.

"Elara?"

I said nothing.I only looked at him.I waited. Maybe he would say something.Maybe he would finally tell them they had gone too far.

Maybe he would look at me the way a husband should look at his wife.

But Kael only frowned slightly."Why are you here?"

My heart sank.I didn't answer.What was I supposed to say?That I had heard everything?

That I had stood outside the door and listened to the people around him talk about me as though I wasn't his Luna?

That I had heard his trusted Gamma make a mockery of the way I walked?

Kael stepped toward me.He reached out his hand."Come here."

I instinctively moved back.His hand paused in the air.

"Elara, Darius and Ronan were only joking."

His voice was patient.

"They've had too much to drink. Don't take it seriously."

I stared at him.Only joking.My eyes drifted toward Seraphina.Just moments ago, she had been leaning against him.

So naturally.So comfortably.As though she belonged there.

I looked back at Kael's outstretched hand.Then I stepped away from it.

His expression changed slightly."Elara."

"I'm fine."

"You're upset."

"No."My voice trembled.

I hated that he could hear it.

Kael lowered his hand."I'll make it up to you."

I looked at him.

"Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you."

Something inside me went completely still.Buy it for me?I almost laughed.Was that all he knew how to do?

Jewelry.

Gifts.

Comfort.

Compensation.

Three years ago, he had offered me marriage because he believed he owed me his life.Now, whenever I was hurt, he offered to buy me something.

Suddenly, I realized how similar the two things were.This marriage was his repayment.And so were all the things he gave me.He wasn't giving them because I was the woman he loved.

He was giving them because he owed me.

I lowered my eyes."I don't want anything."

Kael frowned.Before he could say more, Ronan finally lowered his wine glass.

His expression was awkward."Luna, I'm sorry."

I looked at him.

"I really didn't mean anything by it."He rubbed the back of his neck."It was only a joke. I didn't know you were going to suddenly appear."

My fingers trembled.I pressed them against my palm.

"A joke only counts as a joke when the person being laughed at can also find it funny."

Ronan's expression stiffened."I already apologized."

He glanced at Kael."What else do you want me to do?"

I didn't answer immediately.Because the truth was...I didn't know.What could I do?Ronan was Kael's trusted Gamma.

He had followed Kael for years.He was one of the most important members of the pack.

And I?I was the Luna who rarely appeared at public events.The injured Luna who couldn't fight.The Luna everyone believed should be grateful that Kael had married her.

For years, I had avoided confronting people like Ronan.But today, something inside me had changed.

I lifted my head."I don't accept your apology."

The room went silent.Ronan stared at me.

Kael's brows furrowed."Elara."

Before either of us could say anything else, Kael stepped between us."Enough."

His voice was firm.He looked at me."Darius and Ronan have followed me for years."

"They've been by my side through everything."

"They didn't truly mean any harm."His tone softened."Forgive them for my sake."

For a brief moment, my heart warmed.I looked at him.Was he finally standing up for me?Was he finally asking them to take responsibility for what they had done?Then I understood.

No.He was asking me to forgive them.He was asking the person who had been hurt to consider everyone else.

Again.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.

Before I could respond, Seraphina walked over.

She stopped beside Kael.Her fingers lightly touched his arm.Then she looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"It's my fault."

I frowned.

"Today was supposed to be a celebration because I returned."

She lowered her gaze."If you're angry, blame me."

Her voice became softer."Please don't take it out on Kael."

I stared at her.She was good.Too good.

Every word sounded sincere.Every expression looked innocent.

Then she smiled faintly."Why don't you stay and have a drink with us?"

"I can personally apologize to you."

I shook my head."I don't drink."

Seraphina's expression changed immediately.

Her eyes turned red."You... don't like me?"

I froze.

She quickly shook her head."No, I'm sorry." she said "I shouldn't have said that."

She looked at Kael."Kael, don't blame Elara.I didn't mean to upset her."

Kael's expression immediately darkened. "Seraphina only meant well."

He looked at me."You don't need to be so harsh."

I stared at him.Then I looked at Seraphina.Darius. Ronan.

The four of them.They had once been the closest group.And now I understood.Seraphina had returned, and everything had simply gone back to the way it had always been.

They belonged together.They understood each other.They laughed together.They had memories I had never been part of.They lived in the same world.

I might have carried the title of Luna.I might have worn Kael's ring.I might have been the woman everyone called his wife.But deep down, I was still an outsider.

An outsider brought into their world because Kael believed he owed me a debt.

Kael looked at me."Go back first."His voice was calm."I'll arrange for someone to send you."

I said nothing.There was nothing left to say.

I turned around.Then I walked out of the pack house.

I tried to keep my back straight.I tried to make my steps steady.I tried to pretend that none of it had affected me.But the moment I stepped outside, the strength I had been forcing myself to hold onto began to disappear.

My injured leg became increasingly difficult to control.One step.Then another.My balance wavered.I clenched my jaw and continued forward.

I couldn't fall.Not here.Not where anyone could see me.But the more emotional I became, the harder it was to control my leg.

My steps became uneven.Unsteady.Pain spread through my body as I fought to keep moving.

But the physical pain was nothing compared to what was happening inside my chest.

Ronan's laughter kept replaying in my mind.

The way he had imitated me.The way everyone had laughed.The way Seraphina had watched.

And Kael...He hadn't laughed.But he hadn't stopped them either.I wondered if they were laughing again now that I had left.

Maybe Ronan was still imitating the way I walked.Maybe Seraphina was still asking Kael if I really walked like that every day.

Maybe everyone inside was laughing at me.

My vision blurred.A tear slipped down my cheek.

I hadn't even realized I was crying.

I quickly raised my hand and wiped it away.Then another tear fell.And another.I lowered my head and kept walking.For the first time, I didn't care if anyone saw me cry.

Because there was something I finally understood.I had spent three years trying to become someone who belonged beside Kael.

But perhaps I had never belonged there at all.