Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the best stonemason in the pack. I was dying, and it felt like it was time to choose my own headstone.

He was warm and eager. He led me out back, showed me the rows of headstones, and talked me through what each one cost. I took my time, looking from slab to slab, and in the end chose a plain, white stone.

I had no family left but Eric. I was worried there would be no one to sort things out once I was gone, so I figured I should make the arrangements myself.

I'd barely had a life of my own for years because I'd been busy helping Eric run the pack. I finally had time now, but I was spending it on this.

The stonemason asked whose name to carve on the headstone.

"Evelyn Metcalf," I said.

He hesitated. "Luna Evelyn, is this for you?"

If word got out that the Luna was losing her wolf and dying, it would ruin the pack's reputation. I meant to take the headstone and leave before I died, slipping quietly out of the world.

I shook my head and kept my voice steady. "No. It's for a friend. She happens to share my name."

"Alright. Give me a moment. It won't take long."

I moved through the back, heading toward the front to wait for him to finish the carving. I'd barely reached the front when a sharp, haughty voice split the room.

"Sir, turn this moonstone into a ring and polish it. I want it to be so shiny that it hurts to look at it!"

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Mia.

When she caught sight of me, she narrowed her eyes and came straight over. "Well, if it isn't the useless Luna who's losing her wolf. Here to have a stone set too? Look at you. You look like you'll keel over any minute, and you're still fussing with jewelry? Watch it. The weight might crush you!"

I kept my voice steady. "You've got it wrong. I'm not here for jewelry."

She covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes gleaming with scorn. "You don't have to deny it. Every she-wolf in the pack dreams of having something made here. Oh, dear. Don't tell me you saw how big and bright my moonstone is and started feeling small?"

Mia leaned in, practically shoving the blazing stone in my face.

"Alpha Eric picked this out for me himself. He said I've been through a lot, so this is just a little token of his appreciation. There'll be more later.

"I heard you've got a moonstone mine all to yourself. So where's your stone? Go on. Show me. Let me have a look."

I couldn't care less about the size of her moonstone. But the moment I pictured Eric pressing a moonstone into another she-wolf's palm, a sharp pain lanced my chest.

I ignored her, letting my gaze drift somewhere far away.

My silence seemed to rile her. She stepped in and clamped my wrist, her nails biting into my skin. "Eric cares about me, not you! You're useless. You can't even bear a pup. Aren't you ashamed to keep hogging the Luna's seat?

"He's been sick of you for ages. At the last celebration dinner, he said it himself that your scent is thin, and you're not the least bit appealing. He thinks you should've died a long time ago! You didn't know that, did you?"

I already knew all of it. I'd only just gotten my first true taste of a mind-link with Eric when I heard him say those words to the entire pack.

I managed a smile that hurt to wear. "Relax. I'll be giving you my spot soon."

After all, I was dying anyway.

My words caught Mia off guard, but she quickly snapped back, taunting me, "Bitch, you think you're giving me your spot? The Luna's seat was mine to begin with. You're just handing back what's mine. Got it?"

She flicked a glance at the clock, something dark moving behind her eyes. Then, she drove her heel into the shelf beside us, sending it crashing down.

Stones of every size toppled off the shelf, falling right on top of me, pinning my legs. Blood soaked the hem of my skirt in an instant, and a cry ripped out of me.

Mia sprawled on the floor, raked up a scatter of gems, piled them over her belly, and burst into loud sobs.

"Luna Evelyn! How could you do this? Even if you're jealous that Alpha Eric chose the best moonstone for me, you don't get to harm my pup!"

I bit down on the pain, staring at her in disbelief. "What? You—"

Mia jerked back, raising her voice to drown me out. "Luna Evelyn! Stop! I won't do it again…"

Thinking of the pup she carried, I wrenched myself free of the fallen stones and staggered toward her to help. But a rough force yanked me short.

"Enough, Evelyn."

Eric's voice was ice-cold as he clamped my wrist hard enough to grind the bones.