LILIAN
A month had passed since that night.
Mason had promised he would stop—swore it was a mistake, that he loved me and wanted to fix things. At first, I believed him. I wanted to believe him. But actions speak louder than words, and his actions screamed the opposite.
Now… He didn’t even try to hide it anymore.
The whispers were the hardest part in the beginning. My own pack—my home—mocked me behind my back, some not even bothering to lower their voices. They pitied me. Others laughed, seeing me as a Luna too weak to keep her mate's attention.
But I took it. Every cruel word, every sideways glance, every stifled chuckle. I endured because every day brought me closer to what I needed—a way out of this nightmare.
Claire didn’t make it easy. She relished every opportunity to provoke me, testing the limits of my patience. And Mason, instead of defending me, instead of protecting me like he once promised, chose her.
Over and over again, he chose her.
Tonight, as the pack gathered for dinner in the great hall, the tension was almost suffocating. Claire sat at Mason’s side, her place at the table a glaring insult to me and everything I represented as Luna.
The high-ranking members of our pack were present, their eyes flicking between the three of us with barely concealed curiosity. Some tried to mask their judgment, while others openly gawked at the spectacle Mason was creating.
I sat at the other end of the table, calmly eating my meal, blocking out everything else.
“Luna?”
The voice startled me, and I blinked, realizing everyone was staring at me. My grip on the silverware tightened as Claire’s voice rang out, sweet and falsely innocent.
“We were just discussing what you and the Alpha have planned for your mating anniversary this year.”
The words hung in the air, thick with mockery. Her smile was demure, but her eyes sparkled with malice.
I forced a polite smile, I’m sure Mason has it all figured out.”
Mason didn’t even glance in my direction. Instead, he leaned toward Claire, murmuring something that made her laugh—a soft, tinkling sound would have grated on my nerves if I still cared.
The rest of the table shifted uncomfortably, the tension palpable. It was no secret that Mason’s loyalty had shifted. Still, seeing it play out so brazenly before them was a spectacle they couldn’t ignore.
“I’m sure the Alpha has something… unique planned,” one of the elders said, his tone forced as he attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“Unique, indeed,” Claire chimed in, her smile widening. “Alpha Mason always surprises me with his thoughtfulness.”
The double meaning wasn’t lost on anyone. My chest tightened, but I kept my expression neutral.
The dinner continued, a parade of empty conversations and half-hearted attempts to address pack matters. I spoke when necessary, nodding and agreeing where appropriate. But my mind was elsewhere, ticking through the details of my plan.
I didn’t miss the way Claire’s hand brushed against Mason’s under the table, or how his gaze lingered on her. My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, restless and angry.
“Excuse me,” I said abruptly, pushing back my chair.
The room fell silent, all eyes on me. Mason’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t stop me. Claire watched me leave, her smirk firmly in place.
The cool night air hit me like a slap as I stepped outside, my chest heaving. My hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the railing, trying to steady myself.
“Lilian.”
I didn’t turn. His voice was the last thing I wanted to hear.
“I’m not in the mood for another argument, Mason,” My tone came out sharper than I intended.
He sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. “You walked out in the middle of dinner. That’s not the behavior of a Luna.”
I spun to face him, my eyes blazing. “And what about the behavior of an Alpha? Is parading your mistress in front of the pack acceptable now?”
He flinched, the truth of my words cutting deeper than I expected. “Claire is part of this pack—”
“She is not part of this pack,” I interrupted, my voice rising. “She’s a parasite feeding off your weakness.”
His jaw tightened, his golden eyes hardening. “You’re letting your emotions get the best of you again.”
I laughed bitterly. “Emotions? Is that what you call anger at being betrayed? Tell me, Mason, when did I become so disposable to you?”
He didn’t answer, and the silence was louder than any words he could have spoken.
“I am sick of having the same argument over and over,” I said, turning away. “Just go back to your dinner and let me have a little moment of peace. It’s not like I can leave anyway.”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything, then he spoke, this time his voice filled with a mix of irritation and anger, “If you keep doing this, you will leave me with no choice but to reject you.”
My head snapped to him so fast that I felt my neck almost snap and I realized then that anything we had was truly gone so I took a step towards him, “Then go ahead,” I met his gaze unflinching, “I dare you to reject me, Mason.”
