Chapter 3

Liora's POV 

The scent led me here; and now, a whisper? The moment I heard the whisper, I walked faster. I was too curious to let it slide. And I was hoping, stupidly, that I was wrong. 

The corridor narrowed as I turned left. Dim lanterns flickered on the stone walls. My heels barely made a sound. I soon paused near a wooden door creaked open just enough. And I heard it again, breathless sounds leaked through. Soft, rhythmic, hushed laughter between moans.

I stood frozen outside, my heart rattling against my ribs.

Don't go in

But my hand touched the edge of the door anyway. And when I got inside, the scene burned itself into me. He was shirtless, and his jeans were barely zipped and his belt undone. His hair was messy like someone had clawed their hands through it. Seraphina sat on the edge of the stone table, her legs slightly parted and her red velvet dress pushed above her thighs. One sleeve had slid down her arm, exposing her bare shoulder. Her boots were already gone.

She leaned into him like gravity pulled her there. And his hands rested on her waist. Their lips met again. It was slow, reminding me of the first time he kissed me. 

My body refused to move. My fingers clenched by my side, nails biting my palm. I wanted to scream. I wanted to vomit. But I did nothing.

I just stood there, watching them. Then Seraphina's head turned and her eyes met mine. The color drained from her face.

“Liora—” she breathed.

Aldric whipped around, his gaze crashing into mine. His hands dropped from her body like they burned him. I took one step inside but my voice didn't come.

Seraphina tried to fix her dress, stumbling from the table.

“I… it's not what you think,” she said quickly, her voice laced with panic.

I blinked once and without thinking, I slapped her. Her head snapped to the side, her hand flying to her face with her eyes wide. She clutched her cheek, staring at me like I'd become someone else.

Maybe I had. Aldric stepped forward, his voice softer than I expected. “Liora, will you just calm down and let me explain to you.”

“No.”

He raised a hand in surrender. “You weren't supposed to see that. It meant nothing. I wasn't thinking—”

“Don't even start with that.”

“Look at me,” he said, reaching out to me. “Just—look at me. I'm sorry.”

I was silent at first and all I could do was stare. And I realized... I still loved him. But I hated what he’d become.

I shook my head and when I spoke up, my voice cracked. “You're sorry? After you just—?”

“I didn't mean to hurt you.”

“You always do.”

He stepped back like I'd slapped him too. I turned to Seraphina. 

“You were my friend.”

She wiped her forehead. “I didn't want it to happen. I tried to stay away—”

“But you didn't.”

Aldric growled softly under his breath. “You don't get it. You've been distant and you barely try anymore.”

I laughed but it was a laugh filled with pain. “You think this is about effort.”

“You haven't shifted, Liora.” His voice rose. “I thought you would by the time you turn twenty and that was the reason I took you as my Luna. But look at you. What kind of Luna doesn't have a wolf? I'm ashamed when I walk with you in the pack. I could hear whispers, rumors. They call me weak because of you… and I've never been weak.”

The words slapped harder than my hand had. I lost my stance and staggered back. Tears blurred my vision but I refused to let them fall.

“You're right,” I whispered. “I don't have a wolf. But I still have dignity. And I'll make sure the whole pack knows what kind of Alpha you really are. The kind who cheats. The kind who breaks.”

I turned to go, shaking. But then, Seraphina laughed, a short careless laugh. The kind you let out when someone makes a dumb mistake.

I froze and spun back. “What the hell is funny?” 

She smiled again, curving her lips and rolling her eyes, like she was fighting the urge to laugh again. “Nothing,” she muttered.

I stared at her. Her silence was louder than any answers. I darted my eyes from her to Aldric. He was also silent. And suddenly, I wasn't angry anymore. I was afraid. 

“No, say it,” I pressed on, taking a step forward. “Because clearly, you think something about this is a joke. Was it me? Was I the joke to you?”

She dropped her gaze. “It's not like that—”

“Then what's it like?” I hissed. “Because from where I'm standing, you were just spread beneath the man who swore he loved me.”

At that, Aldric sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Seraphina. Go.”

She turned toward him. “Aldric, wait—”

“I said leave,” he yelled.

She didn't move at first, until he turned on her and ordered her with a voice hard and firm. “Now.” making her juggled. She clutched her dress tighter, yanked it back over her shoulder and stepped around me with her head down.

She didn't even apologize. She just left and that hurts more. It was like she made an achievement. And now it was just me and him. He looked at me for a long time.

“You shouldn't tell the pack about this.”

I blinked, standing a statue, feeling stunned.

“I mean it,” he added, stepping closer. “Don't turn this into something worse. We've been apart for a while now. Come to my apartment. We'll talk—just us.”

I stared at him and my lips curved into a smile. He relaxed for half a second. Then I laughed. Not sweetly. Not sadly. I laughed like I couldn't help it. Like the sound just escaped and wouldn't stop.

“You're scared,” I said between laughs. “You're not worried about me–you’re worried about the elders. About your damn image.”

“Is that what you think it is?” He bent his head to one side.

“Oh?” I took another step closer. “Yes. What will they say when they find out their great Alpha can't keep his pants zipped? When they find out their Luna walked in on him with her best friend?”

His eyes narrowed. “Liora—”

“Don't,” I snapped sharply. “You don't get to call me that way like it still means something.”

I turned toward the door. And then I paused.

“I'm not the one who should be afraid of being exposed.” I said without looking back. “You are.”

I left without looking back. But every step away from him felt like walking barefoot over broken glass. My body moved like it belonged to someone else—rigid, numb. But inside, everything screamed. My lungs burned. I climbed the stairs to my room in silence, the stone walls echoing with the ghost of his voice.

You haven't shifted. What kind of Luna doesn't have a wolf? 

I reached my door and pushed it open. The moment I stepped inside, my legs buckled. I caught the edge of the dresser and clung to it, my chest rising and falling too fast. My heart was a mess of beats—too loud, too angry, too broken.

I had said it on purpose. Those words—I'll tell the pack what you did. But I didn't mean it. I just wanted him to chase me. I thought maybe—jusy maybe—he’d run after me, stop me, beg me not to go. Not because he was the Alpha. But because he was sorry. Because he still loved me.

I paced the room like a storm bottled in skin, my arms crossed tightly, then dropped to my sides, then clenched into fists. I wanted to scream. Or cry. I stood by the window, staring at the street below, waiting. Hoping.

Maybe any second now, he'd come. He'd knock. He'd say my name like it hurt. Like he meant it. He'd hold me like I was still his.

I sank into my bed, my hands gripping the blanket. Come on, Aldric. Just once in a long time—choose me.

My eyes stayed on the door. And then—A knock came through. My heart jumped. I stood too fast, smoothed my hair, wiped my eyes. I pulled a frown over my face like armor. I opened the door.

But then, I froze. My breath caught. My eyes widened. My heart dropped. Fear rippled down my spine like ice. 

It wasn't just Aldric standing.