Chapter 2
The Bloodstone Pack's private dining room was alive with chatter and laughter as the pack celebrated yet another occasion under Alpha Darius Blackwood’s meticulous planning. For the rest of the pack, the evening was a grand display of unity and love, but for me, it was a suffocating charade.
I arrived dressed in a modest, flowing dress of dark green, a stark contrast to the ruby necklace Selene had been gifted. As Luna, I was expected to shine brightly in every gathering, yet tonight, I felt like the faintest star in a sky dominated by a blazing sun—Selene Hayes.
Darius greeted me at the entrance with a wide smile. “Celeste, you’re late,” he said, his tone light and playful, but the look in his eyes carried a hint of something else—displeasure, perhaps.
“I had to finish a few things,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek, his lips grazing my skin like a perfunctory obligation. “You look beautiful,” he murmured.
I nodded, my smile remaining intact as I allowed him to guide me into the room. As we entered, the crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing off the walls. Darius raised a hand, acknowledging their adoration, while I remained silent beside him.
The festivities were in full swing, with the pack members raising glasses and exchanging stories of triumphs and alliances. Darius, ever the charismatic leader, was at the center of it all.
But my gaze drifted toward the back of the room, where Selene stood. Her dress was bold, a deep scarlet that clung to her like a second skin, accentuating every curve. She held a glass of wine, her smile poised and predatory.
When our eyes met, her lips curved upward in a knowing smirk. She raised her glass slightly, as if in a silent toast, her gaze never leaving mine.
My hand tightened around my glass, the cool surface grounding me as a wave of anger and humiliation surged within.
“Celeste,” Darius’s voice brought me back, his hand resting lightly on my arm. “Come, I have something for you.”
I turned to him, my expression neutral. “Another gift?”
His smile widened as he handed me a small velvet box. “You’ll love this one,” he said confidently.
I opened the box to reveal a pair of sapphire earrings, their brilliance catching the light. They were exquisite, undoubtedly chosen to match the necklace he had given me earlier.
“Thank you,” I said softly, placing the box aside.
Darius frowned slightly at my lack of enthusiasm but quickly masked it. “Come, let’s sit.”
As we moved toward the head of the table, Selene made her way over, her presence commanding attention. She greeted Darius with a bright smile, placing a hand on his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Alpha,” she said, her voice honeyed, “you look dashing tonight.”
Darius chuckled, his hand briefly covering hers. “And you’re as radiant as ever, Selene.”
I clenched my jaw, the casual intimacy between them like a dagger twisting in my chest.
“Luna,” Selene said, turning to me with feigned warmth, her smile as sharp as a blade hidden behind silk. “That necklace suits you beautifully. Darius has always had impeccable taste.”
My smile didn’t falter. “Thank you, Selene. And that dress—red is quite... daring. Bold choices do suit you.”
The corner of her mouth twitched, her eyes narrowing slightly. The unspoken tension crackled between us, hidden beneath the veneer of politeness.
Darius shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking between us. “Now, now,” he said with a forced laugh, “let’s not turn the evening into a contest of wit. Tonight is about celebrating, after all.”
“Yes,” Selene purred, her gaze never leaving mine. “A celebration of love, loyalty, and... lasting bonds.”
I felt my control slipping as her words struck deeper, each one a needle threading through my composure. Yet, I simply raised my glass in a mock toast. “To those bonds that never break—seen or unseen.”
Selene’s smile tightened. Darius, oblivious or unwilling to acknowledge the subtle war between us, turned his attention to the others.
As the night wore on, the facade became heavier, the air thick with pretense. Laughter rang hollow in my ears as my mind raced, replaying every moment of betrayal.
When I finally excused myself under the guise of needing fresh air, I barely reached the hallway before the rage I had kept bottled up boiled over.
Just as I steadied my breathing, I heard a voice behind me—deep and cutting through the silence.
“How much longer can she keep pretending,?”
I spun around, my pulse quickening as I looked for who said that..
