Eleanor POV:
Two days later. My birthday.
Liam came to my room. "Happy Birthday," he said awkwardly. "Dinner tonight. Just us. I promise."
I waited.
7:00 PM.
8:00 PM.
8:15 PM. My phone buzzed.
*Live Stream: Blood Moon Celebration.*
I clicked it. Liam was in the banquet hall. There was a banner: *Welcome to the Family, Sarah!*
"Sorry folks!" Liam told the camera. "False alarm with the baby, but we're celebrating anyway!"
The camera panned. Grandfather Vance was holding the Moonstone Bracelet. My inheritance.
"To Sarah," the old man announced. "The true Luna."
He clasped it on her wrist. It didn't glow. It looked dull, dead. But the crowd cheered.
Sarah looked into the camera. She smirked.
I stood up. I walked downstairs, a ghost crashing the party.
The music died.
Liam turned. He saw the frosting on my finger from the cupcake I’d eaten alone.
His face went pale. He checked his watch. He had forgotten.
Sarah grabbed his arm. "Liam, look! The bracelet!"
But Liam was staring at me. He clutched his chest, his eyes widening. He felt it—the snap.
I unclasped the locket he gave me years ago.
I dropped it.
*Clink.*
I turned and walked away. The Luna was dead.
I walked out the front doors.
"Eleanor! Wait!"
Liam ran after me.
Suddenly, headlights blinded us. An engine roared.
Rogues. They had breached the perimeter.
"Look out!"
Liam shoved me. The truck clipped him, the sound of breaking bone sickeningly loud.
The truck sped off.
"Liam!"
I crawled to him. His leg was mangled. Steam rose from the wound—silver plating on the bumper.
Warriors poured out. Sarah stood back, feigning horror.
Liam's mother marched up to me. "You. You are a curse. Ever since you lost your wolf, you bring nothing but death."
I looked at Liam. He was conscious, looking at me with hazy eyes.
"El..."
I stood up. I didn't take his hand.
*
For the next week, I played nurse. Liam refused anyone else.
I changed his bandages. I was mechanical.
"El, about the bracelet," he whispered. "I didn't know."
"It doesn't matter."
Elder Thomas entered with Sarah. She was wearing a silk robe, acting like she owned the place.
"Alpha," Thomas said. "The rogue attack proves we are vulnerable. We need the Mating Ceremony. Saturday."
"That's in two days," Liam argued.
"It is necessary," Thomas insisted. "Legitimize the heir. Eleanor will be... reassigned."
I stood up.
"Do it," I said.
Liam stared at me. "Eleanor?"
"Marry her. Mark her. Give them what they want."
"See?" Sarah chirped. "Even she agrees."
Liam looked for a fight in my eyes. He found only a void.
"Fine," he said hollowly.
