Chapter 3

Once I hung up, I didn't hesitate. I started purging every trace of Claus from my life.

I couldn't stand the thought of a single lingering scent of his in the air. It made my skin crawl.

My butler, Rowan Gibbs, went pale as he took in the wreckage of the suite. "Luna Aserina, what's—"

"Don't call me that ever again! I'm having him remove the mark!"

I looked at Rowan. "Change every security clearance in the building. Claus is banned from entering this place without my permission."

Rowan's knees buckled. "But Alpha Claus—"

"Either do exactly as I say, or you can pack your bags and leave with him."

When Dad helped Claus rise to power, he ensured I retained control of Nightshade Corp's internal management, security protocols, and primary accounts.

Rowan didn't dare argue further. He just nodded frantically.

I even recalled my personal security details from the Blackthorn pack.

The men Claus had personally promoted looked sour as they were sidelined.

By the time the cleanup was finished, dawn was beginning to break. When Cecilia pulled up to pick me up, she took one look at the mountain of Claus' belongings piled at the curb and raised an eyebrow.

"That was quick," she noted.

I climbed into the car. "If I moved any slower, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from going back there and stabbing him."

Cecilia chuckled and floored the accelerator. "Well, let's hold off on the murder for tonight. You need to clear your head."

She took me to the grittiest information exchange at Shadowport. On the surface, it sold liquor, but underneath, they traded in everything.

In the past, as the Luna of the Nightshade pack, I rarely set foot in places like this. But now, I no longer had that burden.

While Cecilia went off to hunt for intel, I sat alone and drank.

The liquor burned a trail from my throat to my stomach, making my eyes sting until I couldn't take another sip.

With the alcohol hitting me hard, I stepped outside to get some air.

My balance faltered, and I nearly took a tumble down the stone steps. Before I could hit the ground, a pair of steady hands caught me by the waist.

Startled, I looked up. It was a young man with damp black hair and eyes so clear they looked like a pup's after a rainstorm.

He looked down at me. His voice was soft and laced with just the right amount of concern. "Careful there."

As I stared at his impossibly clean face, my head spun from the booze. "Thanks."

He didn't let go immediately, as if making sure I was steady on my feet before slowly withdrawing his hands.

"You've had a lot to drink," he murmured. "Why don't you rest here for a moment?"

He spoke so softly, as if he were afraid of startling me.

It was a world apart from Claus, whose voice was always condescending. It made even his concern sound like a command.

I should have walked away, but my mind was such a mess that I actually listened to him and sank onto a velvet bench in the corridor.

He sat beside me, keeping a respectful distance.

I glanced at him sideways. He had black hair and black eyes. He looked young, but he had an incredibly composed presence.

"Is this how you usually hit on women?" I asked.

He blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "No."

"So, tonight's a first?"

"If you want it to be, sure."

He sounded so sweet, but there was a subtle hook in his tone that didn't go unnoticed.

I found myself smiling.

He was a wolf in sheep's clothing, playing his part well.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. I didn't even have to look to know who it was.

I glanced at the name on the screen and swiped to decline, but it vibrated again immediately. I switched it to silent.

My series of actions surprised me.

In the past, no matter what I was doing, I'd drop everything to answer Claus.

I realized now just how much I'd let him consume my life.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," the young man whispered.

He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His touch was as light as a feather.

"And what about you?" I asked. "What's a boy like you doing at a black market at this hour? Airing out a hangover?"

He looked at me, silent for a long moment. "I-I'm here to catch someone."

His gaze intensified, and a wry smile touched his lips. "My future Luna is inside. We were supposed to bond next month, but I just found out she's with another man."

The shared sting of betrayal hit me like a physical blow. I felt a sudden, sharp kinship with him.

He whispered, "Your eyes are so red. It's fine. It's his loss for not realizing what he had."

The comfort felt so genuine that it actually warmed my heart.

I looked at him. "What do you plan to do if you catch her?"

I watched him closely as I asked, "Do you want revenge?"

He went quiet for two seconds, then looked up at me.

In that fleeting moment, the submissiveness in his eyes suddenly faded, replaced by a flash of something else entirely.

It was gone in a flash, but I saw it.

"If it's with you, then yes," he said.

"What a coincidence." I swirled the drink in my hand, a cold smile spreading across my face. "So do I."

Behind us, Cecilia appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a cigarette. She watched us with a calculating look.

"Go for it, Rina. I've got your back if things get messy," she said.

I smiled.

I knew her eyes followed us until we disappeared into the night.