Chapter 3

The next morning, I walked to the Elders' Council.

The whispers on the street, the mockery about me being a "has-been" or "lucky," no longer bothered me.

Fools.

The clerk at the council office took my document.

He glanced at the title, gave me a look like I was insane, and then let out a contemptuous snort.

"Luna, don't be ridiculous. Alpha Clark adores you. If anything, you're the one who doesn't deserve him. Instead of making trouble, you should focus on improving your pathetic alchemy skills."

I stared at him, my face blank. "When will it be approved?"

"I suggest you reconsider—"

"I don't need to."

I turned and left, heading straight for Clark's office.

As I approached the door, I heard a familiar laugh.

Layla's voice.

"Oh, Clark, you're too good to me," she cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. "But this is so precious. I couldn't possibly accept."

"Take it," Clark's voice was so gentle I barely recognized it. "You deserve it. No one deserves it more."

I peeked through a crack in the door.

Clark was handing Layla a stone that glowed with a purple light.

It was a Soul Stone containing my latest breakthrough—a project that took me three months to complete.

"But Myrna..." Layla took the stone, pretending to hesitate. "Does she know you're giving this to me? Won't she be heartbroken?"

"She won't know," Clark said, stroking Layla's cheek. "And it wouldn't matter if she did. You're the only one who can unlock its true potential."

"She is your mate, after all," Layla said, looking down. "I don't want to ruin your relationship."

"Layla," Clark tilted her chin up. "You will always be the most important person to me. Nothing will ever change that."

My nails dug into my palms.

Just then, the Soul Stone slipped from Layla's hand, clattering on the floor.

They both whipped their heads around and saw me in the doorway.

"Myrna!" Clark's face went white. "When did you—"

"Just now," I said, pushing the door open and walking in casually. "I heard Layla's coronation is tomorrow. I came to congratulate her."

Layla quickly bent down to pick up the stone. She tried to look apologetic, but her eyes were full of defiance.

"Myrna, I—"

"Don't explain," I cut her off, a placid smile on my face. "I support whatever Clark chooses to do."

Clark looked at me, his eyes a mix of confusion and guilt.

"Myrna, it's not what you think—"

"And what do I think?" I tilted my head. "I think Layla is incredibly talented. She deserves the best."

Layla clutched the Soul Stone, looking at me as if I were an idiot.

"You're too kind, sister," she said with a sweet smile. "I'll be sure to treasure it."

"Good," I said, turning to Clark. "I have things to do, so I'll be going. You two have fun."

As I left the office, I heard Clark start to follow, but Layla stopped him.

"Let her go, Clark. She needs time to accept that the genius is gone."

Genius?

If I'm not, is a thief like Layla?

That night, I sat alone in my room, organizing what I would need for the next day.

Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through me.

The mental link between mates had been forced open.

Layla's voice echoed in my mind.

"Look at this, Myrna."

An image formed before my eyes. By a moonlit lake, Clark was gently kissing Layla's wrist. On her pale skin was a freshly drawn alchemy rune—a complex pattern of moonlight and mercury that glowed with an eternal light.

It was the rune of "Eternal Bonding."

It should have been mine.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Layla's voice was dripping with malice. "Clark drew it for me himself. He said it represents a true, pure love."

She paused, her tone growing even more venomous.

"Oh, by the way, the rune is in just the right spot to cover that ugly scar you got saving him. Clark said he was sick of looking at it, that it was a constant reminder of his weakness. Now, it's covered forever by our love. Isn't that perfect?"

The vision faded.

I wiped a trickle of blood from my lip.

Forcing a mental link hurts both parties, but clearly, Layla didn't care.

Fine.

Tomorrow was judgment day.

The next morning, I put on my most formal gown and went to the Temple.

But two guards blocked my path at the main gate.

"Apologies, Luna Myrna," one of them said. "You are not permitted to enter."

"Why not?"

"Alpha Clark's orders," the guard said, his face a mask. "Your spirit is tainted by failure. You are not worthy of entering the sacred grounds of the Temple."

The gathered guests began to point and whisper.

"Even her own mate doesn't trust her."

"She really has fallen."

"How disgraceful."

I stood outside the gates, enduring the scornful stares of everyone.

This was Clark's final "gift" to me.