Chapter 3

The rhythm of the tango grew faster, shifting from a slow dance into a wild Latin beat. Damian and Scarlett spun through the center of the lounge, bodies pressed close, her short skirt lifting higher with every turn.

She was the only she-wolf after six Unclaimed Moons who had broken the rules and still earned a second appearance. If I was cool water, Scarlett was liquor, the fire burning through his blood and tempting him toward the edge.

The music stopped abruptly. They looked at each other, breathless, then burst into laughter.

"Damian, you really didn't lie to me," Scarlett said as she leaned against him.

Damian smiled with a wicked edge. "For you, I would throw the rules away. It's your fault for saying you couldn't live without me. I was too softhearted to ignore that."

Her slender hand wandered across his chest, brushing over an old wound. Damian let out a low sound from the slight pain, but he did not stop her.

How ridiculous. Even then, I was still worried about his injury.

Just as Scarlett's hand was about to slip farther beneath his shirt, Damian caught it gently. Then he dropped to one knee and took something from his inner pocket.

The lounge, which had been as loud as a festival moments ago, fell silent. Scarlett stared at him in disbelief and covered her mouth.

A black velvet box opened slowly, revealing a dazzling necklace. At its center was a rare blue sapphire set against platinum, the chain falling like the tail of a shooting star.

It was breathtaking, like power and wealth turned into something wearable. Every wolf in the room held their breath.

Damian looked up at Scarlett, his gaze sharp. "You gave me the thrill of that midnight race. Tonight, I'm giving you the night sky from that evening."

Scarlett nodded wildly, tears sliding down her face and catching the blue light of the sapphire. Damian stood and fastened the heavy necklace around her pale throat himself.

I stared at the necklace for a long time, unable to speak.

A sharp pain tore through my chest. Betrayal rose around me like a suffocating tide, and my stomach cramped so badly that my vision began to darken.

Victoria frowned beside me. "Aurora, you look terrible."

I did not even have the strength to answer. I pushed past her and stumbled toward the quiet corridor, trying to escape.

The lights above me twisted and blurred. For a moment, time seemed to bend and drag me back to one month ago.

As our anniversary approached, Damian had grown unusually restless. He always looked as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only asked me to design a new necklace using a rare blue sapphire kept by my family.

I had looked calm on the surface, but inside I had been almost dizzy with joy. I still remembered what he once said during one of our most intimate nights, when he kissed my fingers, touched my bare collarbone, and promised me with rare seriousness.

"Aurora, this necklace will only ever be worn by my true future Luna."

I thought he was finally going to complete the bonding ceremony with me.

Time was tight, so I worked without rest. From the first sketch to polishing, setting, cleaning, and finishing, I did everything myself.

My morning sickness had been severe by then. I wore loose robes to hide the change in my body, but Damian was too focused on the coming Unclaimed Moon to notice my exhaustion or nausea.

I refused to leave any detail to someone else. I believed the necklace was a symbol of the honor I had waited for, something I had to create with my own hands.

So while I was waiting for a proposal on our anniversary, Damian had been waiting to hold Scarlett again.

He took my memory, my heart, and the piece I had made with my own hands, then gave all of it to her.

"Future Luna, are you all right? Do you need me to call a healer?"

The guard's voice pulled me back to reality, and then I fainted. It turned out heartbreak really could make someone collapse.

Time seemed to twist again. It felt as though a long time had passed, though it might have only been a few heartbeats.

When the pain in the heart becomes too severe, the body can fall into shock. I brushed away the guard's outstretched hand and used the cold wall to steady myself.

Then I walked firmly toward the entrance of the pack lounge. I could not breathe that air for even one more second.

The night wind in Moonridge territory was cold and damp, cutting across my face like a knife. My car had not arrived yet, and behind me, the revolving door slowly opened.

Damian stepped out carrying Scarlett in his arms. The coat I had picked for him was draped over her shoulders.

He looked up suddenly, and his gaze met my cold one. Clearly, he had not expected me to still be there.

Even after being caught, at least he still had enough shame to explain. "Scarlett's injury hasn't fully healed yet. She needs better care, so I…"

His voice faded, probably because he realized how wrong those words sounded.

Only then did my confused mind slowly and painfully understand the truth. They had never truly cut contact.

No matter what month it was, they had always remained connected.

His mind was full of Scarlett's so-called injury. He did not even notice that I was pale and trembling in the cold wind.

Their car arrived first. Damian looked at me and said, "See you later."

"Never again," I whispered.

My voice was too light and scattered in the wind. He did not hear me.