4. Stop

Isabella POV

"Isabella?"

Blaine's brow furrowed so deeply it looked like his forehead might crack. He stared at me as if looking at a ghost. His hand shot up to run through his perfectly styled brown hair, and I immediately recognized the sign. It was frustration. He squeezed his eyes shut for a brief second, his chest rising as a quiet, dangerous heat began to roll off him.

I knew every single one of his tells. I had to, considering we had been inseparable best friends before my world shattered.

"Blaine..." I whispered, reaching out in a desperate bid to soothe the rising storm. The moment my fingertips brushed his sleeve, a violent, electric shock of sparks and tingles bolted straight up my spine, stealing the breath from my lungs.

"Blaine, darling?"

A soft, dripping-sweet voice cut through the air. The pitch was intimately familiar, and I didn't even need to turn around to know exactly who was standing there.

"I am right here, babe," Blaine replied. The harshness in his face vanished instantly, replaced by a smooth, highly practiced smile that made my stomach violently churn. What a spineless coward.

Lyra slid her arm through his, casting a brief, venomous glare in my direction before looking back up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "What are you doing over here with the help? Stop wasting time and let's go up to the podium. This is getting embarrassing."

I stood frozen, completely dumbfounded as I tried to process the absolute nightmare unfolding right in front of me.

"Happy birthday, Beta Lyra," a high-pitched voice interrupted.

I glanced over to see Claire standing there. She was wearing a stunning, fitted red dress adorned with shimmering silver rhinestones, her lips painted a dark, blood-red shade. She had been one of my closest confidantes once. But the second I failed to shift, she....like everyone else—had turned her back on me, eagerly trading up to join Lyra’s inner circle.

"Oh, forgive me," Claire corrected herself, throwing a nasty, mocking sneer my way. "I meant to say....the future Luna of our glorious pack."

"Thank you, Claire. That was incredibly sweet of you," Lyra purred, her eyes shifting back to me with a plastic, triumphant smile. "Don't you agree, Isabella?"

"Absolutely," I responded, keeping my voice completely flat.

I refused to let her see how deeply the needle was digging. She was trying to break me, trying to parade her stolen life in front of my face until I burst into tears. But I would rather die than give her that satisfaction.

Lyra’s eyes flashed. She leaned in close to Blaine, her lips almost touching his ear as she maintained locked, mocking eye contact with me.

"Let's make this official right now," she whispered loudly enough for me to hear.

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached.

Lyra snatched a champagne glass from a passing waiter's tray and picked up a silver fork from a nearby table.

"Everyone, if I could have your attention, please," she called out, tapping the metal fork against the crystal glass. The ringing sound echoed through the grand hall, drawing every eye in the room.

She set the glass and fork back down with slow, calculated grace. Then, she reached out, her long, manicured nails smoothing the lapels of Blaine’s suit jacket, pretending to adjust them for the crowd.

"Blaine and I have a very special announcement to make," she declared, batting her eyelashes with practiced innocence.

Blaine nodded immediately, his hand sliding firmly around her waist to draw her close.

"I have finally found my fated mate!" Blaine announced, his deep, commanding voice echoing through the microphone.

An instant, breathless silence fell over the entire ballroom.

My heart battered against my ribs so violently I was terrified the people standing near me could hear it. A cold sweat broke out across my forehead, dripping down to my collar as I waited for the killing blow.

"Lyra Cross is my future wife, and she will stand beside me as your Luna," Blaine proclaimed, intertwining his fingers with hers and raising their clasped hands into the air.

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.

Everyone was clapping. My father, my former friends, and the very pack members who used to look up to me were all cheering for their new heroes.

Damn you, Blaine Cross. Damn you to hell, I screamed in the silent hallway of my mind, fighting with everything I had left to keep the hot tears from spilling over my lashes.

Right on cue, Lyra wrapped her arms around his neck. Blaine cupped her face and leaned down, sealing the announcement with a deep, lingering kiss. The howling and cheering grew louder, vibrating through the floorboards and filling my ears with white noise.

I couldn't take another second of it.

Unable to contain the raw fury and grief burning in my chest, I slammed the silver tray down onto a nearby table and bolted toward the residential wing of the mansion.

Traitors, I thought, my vision blurring as I ran up the stairs. Every single one of them is a goddamn traitor.

A tear finally escaped, burning hot down my cheek the moment I crossed the threshold into the quiet hallway. I thought I was safe to break down, but suddenly, a cold, heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder.

I froze instantly.

How did he have the absolute nerve to follow me after what he just did? I wanted to turn around and scream, but the mate bond was already betraying me. Intoxicating sparks flooded my nervous system, sending a wave of unwanted, pleasurable shivers straight down my spine.

Before I could process it, he spun me around, roughly slamming my back against the corridor wall and pinning both of my wrists securely above my head.

"Blaine?" I gasped, trying to make my voice sound sharp, though a slight tremble gave me away. His proximity was already melting the ice in my veins, and I hated myself for it. Damn this fated bond.

"Isabella."

His voice was a deep, gravelly rasp as he leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear. It sounded beautiful, a cruel contrast to the scowl I forced onto my face. He knew exactly what his touch was doing to me, and he was using it to keep me weak.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" I choked out, biting my lip in a desperate attempt to hide my embarrassment.

"How is this even possible, Isabella?" he growled, his grip tightening. "Why would the Moon Goddess pull a sick joke like this? Why would she tie me to a wolfless reject!"

He grabbed my jaw, forcing my head up so I had no choice but to look at the resentment and fury burning in his blue eyes.

"Stop it, Blaine! You are hurting me!" I yelled, throwing my weight forward to wrench my wrists free from his grip.

"Hurting you? You deserve far worse than this!" he sneered. "Why did the Moon Goddess have to ruin my entire life by pairing me with you?"

"You're a disgusting fraud!" I screamed, my hand flying out and striking him across the face with a resounding crack. "We used to pray to the Moon Goddess for this! We used to talk about—"

Before I could finish, his hand locked around my throat, cutting off my air supply.

"That was in the past, Isabella!" he hissed, his face inches from mine. "That was back when you were actually the Beta’s daughter. Did you honestly think I would accept a useless omega? Back when we made those childish wishes, I expected you to shift into a powerful, dominant wolf. I expected a mate who could fight beside me and protect this pack because of your bloodline! But you're nothing but a pathetic, broken embarrassment of a human!"

Tears finally flowed freely down my face, hot and unstoppable.

"So... all of it was a lie?" I whispered, struggling to get the words past the pressure on my throat. "You never actually cared about me? You were just planning to use me for my status?"

Blaine’s lips curled into a cold, dark smirk. "I did what was best for my future, and the future of the Eclipse Pack."

"So you never loved me," I stated, my voice remarkably steady despite the betrayal shattering my chest.

"I don't care about childish feelings, Isabella. I only care about power and what benefits my pack. Nothing else matters."

"You lied to everyone tonight," I gasped, fighting for oxygen. "You told the entire pack that Lyra was your fated mate."

"Yes, I did. And if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut and play along," he threatened, his fingers tightening around my neck. Even through the suffocating pressure, the agonizing sparks of the bond still flickered against my skin. He leaned closer, a bloodshot, unhinged look taking over his eyes.

Satisfied by my weak nod of agreement, he slowly let go of my throat.

"I'm glad we understand each other, Isabella," he whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face. I glared at him with absolute disgust. "I'm still figuring out what to do with you, though. Why should I bother wasting a rejection when nobody else knows about our bond? It's the perfect setup. You can be my secret little mate in the shadows, while your sister plays the trophy Luna for the cameras."

He grinned like a pathetic fool, and I had to restrain myself from kicking him straight between his legs.

"Stay the hell away from me, Blaine. I will never agree to be your dirty little secret," I spat, pushing myself back against the wall to put distance between us.

"I don't recall asking for your permission, mate."

Blaine sneered, lowering his head to claim my lips.

"Stop!"

A sharp, furious shriek shattered the silence of the hallway.

Blaine froze, his eyes widening in shock as he immediately jumped back, detaching himself from me.

Lyra was standing at the end of the corridor, her face contorted with pure, unbridled rage.

"You wretched bitch!" she screamed, lunging forward and slapping me hard across the face. "You thief! You worthless whore! How dare you try to seduce my man!"

She continued to scream obscenities, her hand flying out to strike me again and again. I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms, forcing myself to endure the blows to avoid doing something that would get me executed on the spot.

"Stay away from him, Isabella! He belongs to me now!" Lyra snarled, digging her sharp, manicured claws into my chin to force me to look at her.

I grabbed her wrist, ignoring the sting of her claws, and stared directly at Blaine before shifting my gaze back to her.

"He is my fated mate, Lyra," I said, my voice cold and dripping with venom. "But you are more than welcome to have him. After all, you and Vivienne have a pathetic habit of digging through my trash for hand-me-downs."

"Shut your mouth! Don't you dare bring my mother into this!"

"Fine!" I snapped. "But I do find it hilarious that you had to fabricate a fated bond tonight just to secure your little throne. You both lied to the entire pack."

"Do you honestly believe a trivial mate bond is going to keep me from marrying Blaine and becoming Luna?" Lyra sneered, her eyes narrowing until it felt like she was driving thousands of ice shards straight through my skull. "I am the only qualified candidate for the position. Besides, we love each other, and we’ve already agreed to marry—regardless of who the universe paired him with."

She turned to Blaine, placing her hand flat against his chest. "Now, Blaine... be a darling and reject this mutt right this second."

Blaine didn't hesitate. He looked down at me, his eyes entirely cold and empty.

"I, Blaine Cross of the Eclipse Pack, reject you, Isabella Brooks....former daughter of the beta—as my future mate and Luna."