Damian didn’t agree to our separation, but I’ve stopped caring.
After all, tomorrow he’ll be celebrating his marking ceremony with Milana at the High Moon Palace. Once they’re officially mated, he’ll likely have no reason to keep any ties with me.
I packed my belongings, preparing to leave the Silver Crescent Pack territory and head to the Shadow Fang Pack to find Aiden.
Milana strode into my room, wearing the ceremonial robes of a future Luna, her scent carrying the faint, sweet fragrance of vanilla. She flashed a smug smile. “I just got this necklace,” she said, holding up the emerald pendant around her neck. “My mate-to-be picked it out for me. What do you think? Does it suit me?”
My heart sank as I recognized the emerald necklace—my grandmother’s heirloom, the one thing I had left of her. Damian had taken it without my permission and given it to Milana to win her favor.
Cold rage surged through me, and I reached out to snatch the necklace from her. “That’s mine,” I said, my voice icy. “Damian had no right to give it to you.”
To my surprise, Milana didn’t resist. She let me take the necklace, but as soon as it was in my hand, she burst into tears.
“Elaine,” she sobbed, her voice trembling with fake distress, “I only came to ask why you called Damian to your room last night. You know he and I are about to be mated. How could you meet with him in private like that?”
Before I could respond, a group of pack members stormed into the room, their auras prickling with judgment and anger.
“Elaine,” one of them snapped, “we all know about your little rendezvous with Damian last night! How could you stoop so low?”
“We were going to confront you this morning,” another added, “but the Alpha stopped us, saying you must’ve had good reason. And this is how you repay his trust?”
Milana’s tearful gaze met mine, and I realized this had been her plan all along. She’d set me up.
I clutched the necklace tightly, my voice trembling as I tried to explain. “It’s not what you think. Damian came to me last night—”
But no one listened.
The insults came fast and furious—words like “shameless,” “desperate,” and “disgrace” were hurled at me like knives.
When Damian finally arrived, I looked at him with tear-filled eyes, hoping he’d set the record straight.
“Damian,” I pleaded, “everyone’s misunderstanding what happened last night. Please, tell them the truth.”
But his gaze was cold and unyielding.
He stepped past me and gently helped Milana to her feet, his voice soft and soothing. “Milana, you shouldn’t have come here yourself. I’ll handle this. You don’t need to trouble yourself over something so trivial.”
Milana leaned into him, her scent mingling with his, her voice trembling with false vulnerability. “I just wanted to hear Elaine’s side of the story. I thought she might have a good reason, but then she attacked me over this necklace.”
Damian’s eyes darkened as he turned to me, his voice sharp and accusatory. “Elaine! It’s just a necklace. Was it really necessary to lay your hands on Milana?”
The pack members chimed in, their voices filled with disdain.
“Milana is too kind-hearted. She’s always giving Elaine the benefit of the doubt.”
“I always thought Elaine looked at Damian with inappropriate intentions. After ten years of punishment, she still hasn’t learned her place. Does she really think she’s worthy of being his Luna?”
I clenched my jaw, my gaze locking with Milana’s triumphant smile. There was no point in trying to explain. They’d already made up their minds.
I bowed my head, my voice heavy with resignation. “I apologize. It was my fault. Please, Luna, forgive me.”
Someone shoved me from behind, demanding that I kneel and beg for forgiveness.
Damian stood silently, his expression cold and unreadable.
Milana watched me with a glint of satisfaction in her eyes as I was forced to my knees. She stepped forward, pretending to help me up, her scent overpowering.
“Elaine, I don’t blame you,” she said, her tone sickeningly sweet. “But everyone is upset about what happened last night. To put their minds at ease, why don’t you come to our marking ceremony tomorrow and congratulate us?”
I forced a bitter smile. So that was her game—she wanted me to watch Damian officially take her as his mate, to crush any lingering hope I might have.
“Fine,” I said, my voice hollow. “I’ll be there.”
When I looked up, Damian’s gaze met mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes—something like regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Whatever that look meant, I didn’t want to waste another moment trying to decipher it.
All I knew was that after tomorrow, I’d finally be free.
