l's

last member of my pack before the mask I wore all morning slipped off. I had held it together in front of everyone-s

one. And it hurt more than

e sharper than the last. I didn't understand why it felt worse now. Maybe because the reality had

me had been ripped apart. That bond had meant more than I wanted to admit. She had carried my chi

Jealousy. The image of her with another man had burned itself into my min

ke a cold wind in my chest. He didn't approve of how I was handling things

fire. I wanted the alcohol to erase everything-every memory, every feeling. But

oed in my mind. Selene. My Luna. My mate. My love. Where was she now? Was sh

. I had failed her. And

, it was faint, like a whisper drifting i

el.

omeone was

. Familiar, but not the one I

irmer now, and suddenly the b

gh the haze in my mind like a knife. I

k you're doing?" I snarled

this?" she asked, her tone demanding but her eyes

let her

queezed, my anger taking full control. How dare she speak about Selene like that? How

at!" I shouted. My voice bounced o

d as she fought to breathe. "She cheated

the blood rushing in my ears, an

anged, they called her names-liar, slut, traitor. I had kept her hidden from them, tried to protect her,

hispered, her voice hoarse

ht to speak her

!" she cried o

and gasping for air. I didn't feel better. I felt worse. The mate bond that was supposed to ti

with tears in her ey

I reached for

. Peace. Anythin

permission again," I said sh

y is in three days. Every

off the new bottle

trembling. "Don't you see the gift the moon goddess

I said coldly, cutting

e me like you loved her? I've loved y

You'll be my Luna. You'll carry my heir. Th

she whispe

steel. "From now

-

a's

gainst the wall, trying to catch my breath. My neck throbbed where his fingers had left marks, but I couldn'

hought I could handle this-that the potion would work, that Kael would see

sn't ready

mixture of pain, fear, and burning determination. I covered the bruises with po

oblem. But now she w

o I

y dead? What if the bond

doubts. I had come

mmered inside it. I needed to make more. Stronger. He needed to feel my

o the mirror. "If fate won't give me th

my own. And if it meant using dark magi

d beco

a dead mate-was

t

ev