Chapter 1

For six years, I waited to become Alpha Kael’s marked mate and official Luna.

The first time, Lyra—his dead brother’s mate—called crying about a rogue attack. He left me at the altar and ran to save her, but it turned out that she had just gotten lost wandering in the woods.

The second time, he never showed up because Lyra had threatened to commit suicide. Later I found out he had given her the Luna necklace because her wolf needed protection more than mine.

The third time, I went searching for him and found him at her prenatal appointment, his hand on her belly.

He didn’t know I was carrying his pup too.

Heartbroken, I decided to leave. After I disappeared, he went crazy looking for me.

Chapter 1

Serena’s POV

Today was the third time Kael and I were supposed to complete our marking ceremony. This time, I only invited a few pack members, because I couldn’t bear another public humiliation.

I had been nauseous and feverish since yesterday, but I refused to let it ruin today. This was the day of my mating ceremony, and afterward, I would finally tell Kael about the pup.

I touched my stomach through the white ceremony dress and smiled despite the nausea.

Elder Miriam was arranging the sacred herbs on the altar. My best friend, Claire, kept glancing around, watching for Kael. The few pack members I had invited sat quietly, waiting.

It was almost thirty minutes to the ceremony, and I hadn’t seen Kael yet.

My phone buzzed. Finally.

But it wasn’t Kael. It was his beta, Derek.

— Derek: Serena, Kael’s at the pack clinic with Lyra. She collapsed with a high fever. He said to start without him, he’ll be there soon.

My hands trembled holding the phone. He wanted me to start without him, at our marking ceremony.

— Derek: He’s really sorry. He just wants to make sure she’s stable first.

I looked up at the waiting faces.

“He’s been delayed. He will be here soon,” I announced, forcing my voice to remain steady even though my heart was breaking.

Quiet murmurs rose across the crowd. They all knew what was coming next.

An hour passed.

I kept checking my phone, but there was no message.

Claire squeezed my hand softly with pity in her eyes. “Serena… maybe we should postpone.”

Her words broke the last bit of hope inside me, but she was right.

I nodded slowly, then looked at Elder Miriam. “I’m sorry. We’ll have to reschedule.”

The pack members filed out quietly. No one met my eyes, but I could see the pity on their faces.

Claire hugged me before leaving. “I’m so sorry, Sera.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and my throat tightened.

Once everyone left, I stood alone in the empty grove. My hand moved to my stomach again.

Maybe if I told him about the pup, things would change. Maybe he would finally see me and choose me because this wasn’t just about us anymore, but about our pup.

I grabbed the bouquet of moonflowers from the altar and the pregnancy test I had hidden in my bag. My hands shook as I held them both.

This would work. It had to work.

I headed toward the clinic, my chest burning with hope.

As I walked, I imagined his reaction. He would smile. He would pull me into his arms. He would apologize for missing the ceremony and that nothing would ever come between us again.

However, as I got towards the room that Lyra was, I froze as I stared through the open door.

Lyra was lying on the bed, laughing at something. She didn’t look sick at all.

A healer was there, operating the ultrasound machine.

And Kael stood beside Lyra with his hand resting on her rounded belly, staring at the screen with an expression I had never seen before.

Wonder. Joy. Love.

“There’s the heartbeat,” the healer said, “Strong and healthy.”

“It’s perfect,” Kael whispered. His voice shook with emotion.

Lyra placed her hand over his. “Our pup is perfect.”

Our pup.

The bouquet slipped from my fingers.

The world tilted. My breath caught in my throat. For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

I watched the way he looked at her. The way his hand cradled her stomach like it was the most precious thing in the world. My heart shattered into pieces.

How long had this been going on?

Kael leaned down and kissed Lyra’s forehead gently. His hand never left her stomach.

“I’ll take care of you both,” Kael promised. “I swear it. You and the pup will never want for anything.”

Their pup.

My hand instinctively moved to my own stomach, to the pup growing inside me that he knew nothing about. The pup I had been so excited to tell him about. The pup I thought would fix everything.

But he already had a pup. With her.

While I had been waiting, planning, hoping, he had been building a family with someone else.

Tears blurred my vision. I stepped back from the door, then back again, crushing the flowers under my feet.

I turned and ran before the sob could escape my throat.

I made it a few miles before I collapsed against a tree, finally letting myself break. Six years. Six years of waiting, of understanding, of being patient while he gave everything to her.

And now this.

My whole body shook with sobs I couldn’t control. Every cancelled ceremony, every time he ran to her side, and every promise he had broken all made sense now.

I pressed my hand over my stomach, whispering an apology to the pup inside me. “I’m sorry, pup. I’m sorry your father never wanted us.”

My phone was still in my hand. I dialed before I could think about it.

“Sera?” My father’s voice sounded confused.

“I’m coming home, Dad.” My voice shook.

Chapter 2

Serena’s POV

“What are you talking about, Serena? I thought you were madly in love with Kael,” my father asked, still confused.

I laughed as bitter tears ran down my face. “I was such a blind fool, but not anymore. I will bond with Alpha Williams.”

My father’s tone darkened. “What did that bastard do to you, Sera? Tell me right now. Let me teach him a lesson.” He growled through the phone.

I smiled softly, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “Don’t worry, Dad. He just showed me the truth that I was too blind to see.”

“When are you coming home?” His voice softened, but I could hear the edge in it.

“Seven days,” I replied. “I need to finalize the release paperwork.”

There was a pause. “Seven days. Alright, sweetheart. But if he gives you any trouble at all, call me immediately. Do you understand?”

“I will. I promise.”

“Your mother and I—we never stopped waiting for you. We love you, Serena. Always.”

My throat tightened painfully. “I love you too, Dad.”

The call ended.

I let the phone fall from my hand and pressed my back against the tree as fresh tears ran down my face, more than before.

My parents. Alpha Henry and Luna Helena of the Nightshade Pack. One of the most powerful and respected packs in the entire region.

I had abandoned them. I had walked away from my birthright, my future, everything they had built for me.

All because I loved Kael.

They had wanted me to bond with Alpha Williams, their closest ally’s son. A strong, honorable alpha from a powerful pack. A man who had loved me, treated me with respect, and promised to cherish me as his Luna.

But I had refused him.

I had stood before the entire Nightshade Pack and announced that Kael was my chosen mate, that I would leave everything to follow him to his smaller pack.

My mother had cried that day as she begged me to reconsider.

My father had argued and tried everything to make me see sense.

But I refused to listen. I was so sure, so confident that Kael and I were meant to be together.

I had wasted six years waiting for a man who was too busy to show up to our marking ceremony, waiting for a man who was having a pup with his late brother’s wife.

Six years of being the second choice. Six years of understanding, patience and making excuses for him.

Alpha Williams would have never treated me this way. He would have marked me immediately, proudly. He would have shown me off as his Luna, cherished me, and protected me.

But I had thrown that away for Kael.

How stupid I had been.

***

The next day, I walked into Kael’s office at the pack house.

He was at his desk, going through some documents before him. When he saw me, he immediately stood, guilt flickering through his face.

“Sera! I’m so sorry about what happened. Lyra had a medical emergency, and I couldn’t just leave her—”

“I understand,” I cut him off with a small smile. “You were taking care of someone who needed you.”

He blinked, clearly surprised I wasn’t angry. “You’re… you’re not upset?”

“No, I’m not,” I said carefully. “We can always reschedule the ceremony.”

His shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you. Thank you so much for understanding. I promise you, Sera, the next ceremony will happen. Nothing will stop it this time. I swear on my life.”

I nodded as he eagerly pulled up his calendar.

“How about six days from now?” he suggested. “We don’t want to waste any more time.”

“That sounds perfect,” I replied.

He smiled at me with the same charming smile that had made me fall in love with him six years ago.

Now it just made me feel disgusted.

“You’re amazing, Sera. You know that?” He walked around his desk toward me. “So patient, and so understanding. This is exactly why I knew from the start that you would make the perfect Luna for this pack.”

He reached out to place a kiss on my lips, but I stepped back slightly.

“Actually, there’s something I need to discuss with you first. Something important.”

“Of course. What do you need?” he asked, looking at me expectantly.

I reached into my bag and carefully pulled out the papers I had prepared. “It’s about Lyra.”

His expression immediately shifted to concern. “What about her? Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong,” I said quickly. “It’s just that her birthday is coming up next month, and I’ve been thinking. With everything that’s happened with the postponed ceremonies, and all the time you’ve spent helping her—”

He cut me off immediately with a frown on his face. “What are you getting at? I told you that—”

I interrupted him. “Some pack members might think there’s tension between her and me because of all these.”

Kael’s frown deepened. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I know, but I want to make sure there’s no misunderstanding about us,” I continued smoothly. “So I thought I should get her something special for her birthday. A significant gift that shows the pack there’s no ill will between us. Something meaningful that demonstrates I support her.”

His eyes lit up with approval. “That’s a wonderful idea, Sera. Really thoughtful and wise of you.”

“The thing is,” I said, placing the papers on his desk, “it might be expensive depending on what she needs. And since I would be using pack funds for this, I need your authorization as Alpha.”

He barely glanced at the papers before reaching for a pen from his desk drawer. “Of course, of course. Get her whatever she wants or needs. Don’t even worry about the price.”

I watched carefully as he signed his name at the bottom instantly. He didn’t read a single word. He didn’t ask what I planned to buy. He didn’t question the amount or even glance at the details.

He just signed.

For six years, I had managed the pack’s finances. I had managed every dime, refused to buy myself anything that wasn’t a pressing need, and wore the same worn clothes year after year.

Kael had always praised me for that. He said I was setting a perfect example and that it showed what a responsible, selfless Luna I would be.

But for Lyra? He didn’t even care about the price.

“There,” he said, handing the papers back to me with a satisfied smile. “That should cover whatever you want to get her. This is really kind of you, Sera. It means a lot to me that you’re making such an effort to make Lyra feel welcomed and supported in the pack.”

I carefully folded the pack release papers, because that was what they actually were, and placed them back in my bag.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “This really means everything to me.”

He pulled me into a hug before I could step away, and I forced myself not to stiffen or pull back, or show any reaction that might make him suspicious.

“I’m the luckiest alpha alive,” he murmured into my hair. “You’re so understanding, so selfless, and so kind. You’re going to make an incredible Luna, Sera. The pack is lucky to have you. I’m lucky to have you.”

I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to shudder in disgust.

‘No,’ I thought to myself. ‘You had me. And you threw me away.’

“I should go,” I said, pulling away from his embrace. “I have a lot of planning to do for Lyra’s gift.”

“Of course, of course. Let me know if you need anything else at all.”

I walked out of his office with the signed release papers in my bag.

In six days, I would be gone.

And Kael would finally understand exactly what he had lost.

Chapter 3

Serena’s POV

When I got back to the house, I immediately went to the bedroom and pulled out my bag from the closet.

I didn’t have much to pack. Six years in this pack, and I had accumulated so little.

I had given up everything for Kael. I had given up my title, my inheritance, my future, and somehow I had ended up with almost nothing to show for it.

As I folded a sweater, my eyes caught the framed photograph sitting on the nightstand. It was from our first year together. Kael and I stood in front of the pack house, his arm around my waist, both of us smiling at the camera.

I was wearing the Luna necklace in that picture.

My hand instinctively moved to my bare throat, touching the empty space where the necklace should have been.

My chest tightened painfully as the memory flashed through my mind.

The second postponed ceremony was two years ago. After waiting for several hours, Kael had sent a message saying that Lyra was having a crisis. She had threatened to take her own life because she couldn’t bear the grief of losing her mate anymore.

I had understood, of course. How could I not? Lyra had lost Kael’s brother, Marcus, in a rogue attack three years before. She was still mourning, still fragile. Of course Kael needed to be there for her.

But then, two weeks later, I had seen Lyra at the pack gathering wearing my Luna necklace around her neck.

The sacred necklace that had been passed down through Kael’s family for generations. The necklace that was supposed to mark me as the future Luna of his pack.

When I had asked Kael about it, he had pulled me aside with a soft expression.

“Her wolf is unstable right now because of the grief,” he had explained. “The Luna necklace has protective properties. It’ll help ground her, keep her wolf from going feral. It’s just temporary, Sera. Just until she’s stronger.”

Just temporary.

That was two years ago, and Lyra still wore it.

I turned away from the photograph, my vision blurring with tears, as I continued packing.

On the dresser there was an invitation slip. It was the invitation slip from our first ceremony.

The first time Kael had left me at the altar.

Four years ago, I had stood in front of nearly the entire pack, waiting for him to arrive. Everything had been perfect. The decorations, the flowers, the sacred altar had been prepared by Elder Miriam, and Kael was there.

And then Lyra had called, crying hysterically about a rogue attack.

Kael had taken off without even glancing at me, and he hadn’t come back.

The pack members had waited for two hours before finally leaving, whispering among themselves, and looking at me with pity.

Later, I found out there had been no rogue attack at all. Lyra had simply gotten lost while walking in the woods and had panicked.

But by then, the ceremony was ruined, and I had been humiliated.

I had forgiven him. Because that’s what I always did.

I forgave him for the first ceremony. I forgave him for the second. I had been ready to forgive him for the third time.

Until I saw him with his hand on Lyra’s pregnant belly, looking at her with more love than he had ever shown me.

Lyra, his dead brother’s mate. The woman he had promised Marcus he would protect and care for. The fragile, delicate wolf who always seemed to be in one trouble or another whenever Kael and I had something important planned.

And now she was carrying his pup.

How long had they been together? How many times had he lied to me, told me he was “just checking on her” or “making sure she was safe”?

I sat on the edge of the bed with tears streamed down my face as six years of pain came flooding out.

My hand moved to my stomach, to the pup I carried. At least I had this. At least I had a piece of something that was mine.

My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Dad.

I wiped my eyes quickly and answered. “Hi, Dad.”

“Sera, sweetheart. How are you holding up?” His voice was gentle, concerned.

“I’m okay,” I lied. “I got the release papers signed today.”

“Good. That’s good.” He paused. “Do you want to come home now?”

I shook my head. “No dad. I have other things to do here. In six days, I’ll be home.”

“We’ll be ready for you. Your mother has been preparing your old room.” His voice softened. “We’ve missed you so much, Sera.”

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “I’ve missed you too, Dad. More than you know. I’m so sorry for—”

“No apologies,” he cut me off gently. “You’re coming home. That’s all that matters now.”

“I love you,” I whispered.

“We love you too, sweetheart. So much.”

Just as I ended the call, I heard the front door open downstairs.

“Sera?” Kael’s voice called out, climbing up the stairs. “Are you home?”

He appeared in the bedroom doorway.

His eyes immediately went to the open bag on the bed, then to the clothes I had laid out. Panic flashed across his face.

“Where are you going?” he demanded, stepping into the room. His eyes darted around. “What’s going on, Sera?”

I forced a smile to my face as I carefully folded the sweater in my hands and placed it in the bag.

“I’m just rearranging my closet, Kael.”

Some of the panic left his expression. “Oh. Of course. That makes sense..” He ran a hand through his hair.

He opened his mouth to say something more, when a soft, feminine voice called from downstairs.

“Kael? Where are you?”

Lyra.

Chapter 4

Serena's POV

Kael’s entire expression shifted the moment he heard Lyra’s voice. The concern in his eyes when he had looked at my packed bag vanished, replaced by something softer and more attentive.

“I’ll be right there!” he called down to her, then turned back to me. “Actually, Sera, there’s something I need to tell you.”

I continued folding clothes, not looking at him. “What is it?”

“It’s about Lyra.” He paused, and I could feel his eyes on me. “She’s going to be staying with us from now on.”

My hands paused on the sweater I was holding, but I kept my expression blank. “Staying with us?”

“Yes. She’s pregnant, and she shouldn’t be alone in her condition. It’s not safe for her or the pup.” He spoke quickly. “It’s just temporary, until she gives birth.”

I turned to face him slowly. “Who’s the father?”

Kael’s jaw tightened. “That doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t matter?” I repeated flatly.

“No, it doesn’t.” His tone was firm and defensive now. “All that matters is her comfort and safety. She needs support right now, and as Alpha and her brother-in-law, it’s my responsibility to provide that. She’ll be staying in the master bedroom temporarily.”

The master bedroom. Our bedroom.

I looked at him for a long moment, watching as he braced himself for my reaction. He was clearly expecting tears, objections, or an argument.

Instead, I simply shrugged and turned back to my bag. “Okay. Let me pack my things then.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“What?” Kael’s voice was filled with confusion.

“I said okay.” I pulled open another drawer and began removing my clothes. “If Lyra needs the master bedroom, then I’ll move to one of the guest rooms. It’s not a problem.”

“Sera…” He moved closer, frowning. “Hold on. Are you alright?”

“Yes,” I replied blankly, not looking at him as I continued packing.

His frown deepened. I could feel his eyes boring into me, trying to understand my lack of reaction.

“Are you still angry about the ceremony?” His voice had an edge of annoyance. “Is that why you’re throwing tantrums and acting so annoying?”

I turned to stare at him, incredulous. “Tantrums?”

“Yes, tantrums!” His voice rose in frustration. “I told you that Lyra was really ill, and I had to take care of her. She could have lost the pup, Sera! Do you understand how serious that was? But instead of being understanding and supportive, you’re acting cold and distant. What’s gotten into you?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, Lyra spoke up from the hallway.

“Kael, please don’t yell at her!” she said softly. “This is all my fault.”

She placed a hand on her belly as she looked between us with wide, tearful eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Serena,” Lyra said, her voice trembling. “I never meant to cause problems between you two. I’m the intruder here. I’m the outsider. Maybe… maybe I should just leave before I cause any more issues.”

Kael’s expression immediately shifted to alarm. He shot me an accusing glare before he turned away from me and moved toward Lyra.

“No, no, don’t say that,” he said urgently, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. “You’re not an intruder. You’re family. You were Marcus’s mate, and you’re now pregnant. You belong here.”

Lyra’s eyes shone with tears as she looked up at him. “But Serena—”

“Serena understands,” Kael cut her off firmly, though he didn’t even look back at me to confirm. “Don’t you, Sera?”

I said nothing, just watching everything coldly.

When I didn’t immediately respond, Kael glared at me as if I was being difficult on purpose.

“Come on,” he said to Lyra, his voice softened again as he turned his full attention back to her. “You shouldn’t be stressing yourself out for nothing. It’s not good for the pup.”

He gently guided her toward the door, one hand still protectively on her shoulder.

Just before they left, he turned back to me with another sharp glare. “We’ll talk about this later, Serena. And I expect a better attitude.”

Then he was gone, leading Lyra down the stairs, murmuring soft reassurances to her that I couldn’t hear.

I stood alone in the bedroom, surrounded by half-packed bags.

I just had to survive six more days.

Chapter 5

Serena’s POV

Three days had passed since I had moved into the guest room. Three days of pretending I didn’t notice when Kael sneaked off at night to go meet Lyra in the master bedroom. Three days of pretending everything was fine.

Three more days until I would be free.

I was folding the last of my clothes when I heard a soft knock on the guest room door.

“Serena? Can I come in?”

It was Lyra’s voice.

I hesitated, then called out, “It’s open.”

The door opened, and Lyra stepped inside with one hand resting protectively on her belly. She smiled at me with that same fragile, helpless smile she always gave Kael.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said softly, closing the door behind her. “I feel like we haven’t had a chance to really connect, and with the pup coming, I thought maybe we could—”

“What do you want, Lyra?” I interrupted, not bothering to look up from my packing.

She was quiet for a moment, and when I finally glanced at her, I was startled by the change in her expression.

The sweet, helpless expression had vanished completely; instead, she had a cold and calculating look, and her smile had transformed into something sharp and cruel.

“I saw you that day,” she said, her voice was taunting. “At the hospital. Standing outside the door during my ultrasound appointment.”

I froze, my hands pausing on the shirt I was folding.

Lyra laughed. It was nothing like the delicate giggles she used around Kael. “You should have seen your face. Like your whole world was crumbling. It was almost… beautiful.”

I turned to face her fully, and the woman standing before me was completely unrecognizable from the fragile widow everyone believed her to be.

“How does it feel, Serena?” she asked, taking a step closer. “How does it feel to wait six years for a man who would rather run to me every single time? To know that even on your most important days, all I had to do was call, and he would come running like a lost puppy?”

My chest tightened, but I refused to let her see me break.

“Those cancelled ceremonies?” Lyra continued, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Every single one was my plan. The ‘rogue attack’ that was just me getting lost in the woods? I knew exactly where I was. The suicide threat? Please. I was never going to actually do anything. And this—” she placed both hands on her belly, “—this was the final piece.”

“You’re insane,” I whispered.

“No, I’m smart,” she corrected. “Now all I have to do is cry, and he will drop everything. Including you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, my voice was calm even with the rage building inside me.

“Because Kael would never believe you,” Lyra said with a shrug. “I could stand right in front of him and admit everything, and he would still find a way to excuse it to protect poor, fragile Lyra.” She circled me slowly, like a predator toying with its prey. “You’ve already lost, Serena. Even if you tell him the truth, even if you beg him to listen, he’ll choose me. He always does.”

Her words hit like blows because I knew they were true. I had seen it happen over and over again.

Something inside me snapped.

“You’re pathetic,” I said quietly, taking a step toward her. “You’re nothing but a parasite, Lyra. And one day, when he finally sees through your act, you’ll have nothing. No dignity, no honor, no self-respect. Nothing.”

Lyra clenched her jaw. “Shut up!” she shrieked.

She lunged forward and shoved me hard.

But in her anger, she lost her balance. She stumbled backward, grabbing my arm, and pulling us both down.

We hit the floor hard and Lyra cried out dramatically as she landed.

Within seconds, the door burst open.

“What’s going on here?” Kael’s voice was sharp as he glanced between the both of us.

Chapter 6

Serena’s POV

Lyra immediately burst into tears. “Kael! Thank goddess you’re here!”

I started to push myself up from the floor, my shoulder aching.

“She—she attacked me!” Lyra sobbed, her voice breaking. “I just came to apologize, to try to make peace, and she got so angry! She accused me of trying to steal you away, and when I tried to leave, she shoved me! The pup, Kael, what if something happened to the pup?”

“What?” I stared at her in disbelief, then turned to Kael. “That’s not what happened. She came in here and—”

“Enough!” Kael roared, his face contorted with rage.

I tried again, standing up fully. “Kael, please, just listen to me. She’s lying. She admitted that—”

The slap came out of nowhere.

My head snapped to the side, pain exploding across my cheek. The force of it made me stumble backward, my hand flying up to touch my burning face.

The room fell silent.

I looked up at Kael, stunned, and saw the horror dawning in his eyes as he realized what he had done. His hand was still raised, trembling slightly, his expression shifting from rage to shock.

Lyra’s eyes twinkled with glee and mischief, and a small smirk tugged on her lips.

“Sera, I—” He stepped forward, reaching for me.

“Don’t touch me,” I whispered, backing away from him.

“Kael!” Lyra’s voice cut through the tension, sharp with pain. “Kael, please! My stomach hurts, something’s wrong! The pup!”

Kael’s attention immediately snapped to Lyra, all thoughts of me forgotten in an instant. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands hovering over her belly.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” His voice was frantic with worry.

“It hurts, it hurts so much,” Lyra whimpered, clutching her stomach. “Please, we need to go to the clinic. Now!”

Kael scooped her up in his arms without hesitation, already moving toward the door. He paused just for a second, glancing back at me with something that might have been regret.

But Lyra let out another pained whimper, and he was gone, rushing down the stairs with her in his arms, calling for his beta to prepare the car.

I stood alone in the guest room, my cheek still burning from his strike.

It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me in six years.

And it would be the last.

***

Finally, the day of the fourth mating ceremony arrived.

It was the perfect weather for a ceremony that I wouldn’t be attending.

I stood in the guest room, watching through the window as Kael helped Lyra into the car. He was taking her to the pack clinic for a final check-up before the ceremony.

“I’ll be back in two hours,” Kael had told me earlier that morning with a soft look in his eyes. “The ceremony starts at noon. Sera. I promise, this time will be different.”

I had simply nodded, giving him the same blank expression I had worn for the past three days.

As I watched the car pull away from the house, I finally moved.

My bags were already packed, hidden in the closet. I had spent the past three days quietly preparing, making sure I had everything I needed.

The signed release papers were in my bag, but I had made copies to send to Kael.

I had three hours before the ceremony was supposed to start. Three hours before Kael would realize I wasn’t coming. Three hours before he would understand that I was gone.

It was more than enough time.

I pulled out my phone and sent a quick message to my father.

— I’m leaving now.

His response came almost immediately.

— The driver is waiting for you, sweetheart. We love you.

I took one last look around the guest room. Then I walked to the master bedroom, the room that had been mine, but now belonged to Lyra.

The Luna necklace sat on the dresser. Lyra had left it there carelessly, almost like she was taunting me with it.

I grabbed my bags from the guest room and headed downstairs. The house was empty.

Claire had sent me three messages this morning, excited about finally seeing me become Luna. I hadn’t responded. I would explain everything to her later, once I was safely away from here.

As I reached the front door, I paused and took one final look at the house I had called home for six years. The house where I had laughed and cried.

Then I walked out of the door without looking back.