Chapter 12: Cracks In The Enchantment

 Elizabeth

I stood by the window, my hands tapping rhythmically on the glass as I watched Nathan get into his car and drive off.

My lips curved into a cold smirk as I watched the car slowly disappear like a predator watching its prey. He thought I didn’t notice what had been going on with him lately— his little distance, his sudden shift in mood, the way his eyes sometimes looked lost.

But I did. I saw it all.

When the car was no more in view, I glanced around the room, making sure no one was within earshot before I slowly reached for my phone, then I dialed the one number I couldn't forget.

It rang once.

Twice.

Then she answered.

“Lizzy…” my mother’s voice purred through the phone. It reminded me of how much I’d actually missed her. “News of the Luna ceremony reached me. Is everything moving according to plan?”

I let out a low laugh, more like a hiss. “Yes, Mother. The ceremony. But that isn't why I called,” I breathe out, my voice sliding into something darker.

Her voice became sharp and curious instantly. “What's it my darling?”

”Tell me, Mother… the spell on Nathan—how strong is it really?” I asked, my voice sharp and cunning.

There was a long pause on the other side. “Why do you ask, Elizabeth?”

“Because,” I said, turning from the window and pacing the room. “There’s something that has changed about Nathan.”

“Change? What do you mean?” I could hear some rustling, which showed she was sitting up. Of course this piece of information is meant to get her full attention.

“He’s acting strange, Mother—looking at me like he can see through the spell. Sometimes it feels like the magic is wearing off.” My fingers tightened around the phone, my nails digging into my palm. “And if it is, you know what that means.”

“Hmm… strange,” my mother murmured, her voice low but thoughtful. Even if I couldn't see her face, I could tell her brows were furrowed into a deep frown.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice cold, dripping with poison. “He’s distracted, distant… almost like he’s starting to slip from my grasp.” I bit my lip. “And you know how much I hate my toys misbehaving, Mother. I’ve come too far, gone through too much trouble.”

My mother chuckled darkly. “The spell should hold Elizabeth,” she said smoothly, but then she suddenly paused, and that pause dragged a shiver up my spine. “Unless…”

My heart skipped a beat, dread curling at the pit of my stomach. “Unless what, Mother?” I hissed, my patience running out.

My mother was silent for another moment, and I couldn’t help but pace around the room, restless. Our plan was perfect—almost perfect, and I wasn’t going to let anything ruin it.

“Tell me, Elizabeth…” she said finally, her voice sharp and alert, “has Nathan marked you yet?”

I clenched my fist so hard my knuckles turned white. “No.” The word left a bitter taste in my mouth. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but any time he comes so close to marking me he always stops, like he can sense me not being his true mate or something. I don’t really understand it, but… he hasn’t claimed me yet.”

“Tsk… tsk…” my mother sighed, the sound dripping with disappointment, making my chest constrict. “If he hasn’t marked you, Elizabeth, that puts a dent in our plans. You know the power of the mark, without it your hold on him is fragile at best. Anyone could slip in and take him away from you, from us.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing pulse. “I’m aware, Mother.”

“You have everything it takes to get him to seal the bond permanently,” she said, her voice rising. I could tell she was already on the edge. “You are beautiful, cunning, desirable. You are a seductress and he’s not your first. He’s no different from any other man. I trained you better for this so seduce him and get him to mark you, it's not that hard so what have you been doing?!”

“Mother, I’ve been trying.”

I explained sharply, still pacing the room, my steps echoing my frustration.

“I’ve given him every opportunity but we barely ever get past the damn touch and kiss before he quickly pulls away, like a man whose house just caught on fire. It’s frustrating.”

My mother’s laugh was low and cruel. “Then remind him you’re not a torch to be admired from afar. You’re fire to be consumed. You’re a woman.

His Luna. Use what you have. Make him burn, Elizabeth. For you and only you.”

Her words coiled in my mind, poisonous but true. I should have been able to seduce him. My body was what men would kill for. “Mother…” I said quietly, “the Luna ceremony is fast approaching. If I am not marked I will not be able to stand beside him and there would be no ceremony without a mark, so he has to. We have nothing to be worried about.” My heart raced as I tried so hard to convince myself more than her. I haven't come this far to fail.

“Then make sure he marks you, Elizabeth,” she snapped. “You must be marked before the ceremony—whatever it takes. Do you understand me?”

My lips curled into a wicked smile, though my chest pounded with frustration. “Oh, I understand perfectly, Mother.”

“Good.”

“Mother… but you still haven't told me what could actually break the spell on Nathan?” I asked as I walked back to the window, staring at the morning sky.

She paused for a moment, then her reply came. “His true mate,”

The word sent a shiver through my spine. “But I thought he wouldn’t be able to sense their bond.” My voice came out as a shrill.

“He will not. But… if she’s close to him, it weakens the spell’s effect on him and it has the ability to break it even. You have to get his mark fast Elizabeth.”

“What…”

The call ended before I could even complete what I had to say. I tossed the phone on the bed, gripping the curtains tightly like I was about to rip them apart.

“His true mate…” I repeated under my breath. And at that moment, the image of Kaima quickly flashed in my head like a bad omen.

I shook my head and let out a bitter scoff. That wasn’t possible. She was nothing but a useless Omega who didn’t know her place. The Moon Goddess would never mate her to a man like Alpha Nathan.

I stared at my reflection in the glass, perfect hair, perfect body, perfect smile. The Luna everyone saw. But perfection wasn’t enough. Not if I wanted to keep Nathan and complete my mission.

Mother’s words rang in my head. If his mate is close, the spell weakens.

I hated how my thoughts kept going back to her, that worthless thing. But she has been the only new person recently around Nathan. 

No. It can't be.

I clenched my fists so hard, my nails digging deep into my palm. Everything about her disgusted me.

Nathan treated her like she was precious. I hadn't thought much about it because that's how it is with him and his subjects. But the way he looked at her like she was special... I wasn't mistaken about that look they shared in the hallway. And to top it, Nathan's recent absentmindedness had begun shortly after her arrival.

It's not what I'm thinking… right?

I shook my head. It must be a coincidence. I'm just overthinking things.

I tried to convince myself that she didn’t matter—that she wasn't a threat, but unease settled deep inside me.

I turned away from the window, brushing invisible wrinkles from my dress. If Nathan would not mark me willingly, then I’d give him every reason to. Seduction, temptation, whatever it took— I would bind him to me before the lunar ceremony.

And if the Moon Goddess thought she could meddle in our plans… she had underestimated us.