"I, Kael Thorne, future Alpha of the Blood Moon, reject you, Aria."

The words echoed across the central plaza, bouncing off the stone pillars. A heavy, rough fabric slammed into my face. It scraped my cheekbone before dropping to the floor.

I stared down at the gray cloth. The crest of a pack maid stared back at me.

"Put it on," Kael commanded.

I kept my eyes on the uniform. The silence of hundreds of pack members pressed in from all sides of the altar.

"You're doing this now?" I asked. "In front of everyone?"

"They need to see their future Alpha make the hard choices," he said.

"This isn't a hard choice, Kael. It's a cruel one."

"Did you hear him?" a voice sneered from his right.

Seraphina stepped into the torchlight. The strongest she-wolf of the northern territories. She didn't just walk; she commanded the space, her chin tipped up, eyes flashing with amusement.

"Maybe the shock broke her brain," Seraphina added. "Or maybe she's deaf."

"Pick it up, Aria," Kael repeated.

I raised my head and met his gaze. The man I had loved since childhood. The man the Moon Goddess had bound to me at midnight just two hours ago.

"We played together in these woods," I said, my voice carrying over the silent crowd. "You promised to protect me when we were ten."

"We were children," he dismissed. "I am a leader now."

"You're breaking the bond for a title?" I asked.

"I'm breaking it because you are nothing," he shot back.

"Fate chose me."

"Fate made a mistake." Kael narrowed his eyes. "You honestly thought the Goddess meant for an Omega to stand beside a future Alpha? You have no strength. You haven't even shifted."

"I have loyalty," I said.

"Loyalty doesn't win wars," Seraphina interrupted. "Claws do."

"My word belongs to my pack," Kael said, gesturing to the sprawling crowd below the altar. "They need a queen. Not a servant."

A sharp, tearing sensation ripped through my chest. The physical agony of the mate link snapping unilaterally sent a violent tremor down my spine. It felt like invisible hooks catching my ribs and pulling them outward.

My knees buckled. I hit the rough stone slab hard. The dull impact shot up my legs, rattling my teeth.

Laughter rippled through the front rows of the crowd.

"Look at her bow," a pack member shouted.

"Right where a weakling belongs!" another yelled.

"She can't even stand up to a simple rejection."

I bit down hard on my lower lip. The skin broke. Warm copper flooded my tongue. I swallowed the blood, refusing to spit it out. Refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me bleed.

"You think this makes you strong?" I whispered. My voice held steady despite the violent shaking in my bones.

Kael stepped closer. He towered over me, a victor basking in unearned glory.

"It makes me smart," he said. "I take control of my own destiny."

"By discarding your soul's match."

"You were never my match." He turned his back on me and offered his hand to Seraphina.

She took it, her fingers intertwining with his. She leaned her head against his shoulder, projecting the perfect image of a powerful Luna.

"I choose strength," Kael announced to the plaza, projecting his voice over the murmurs. "I choose an equal."

Seraphina smirked down at me. "She hasn't picked up her uniform yet, my Alpha."

"She will," Kael said. "Or she leaves the territory tonight. Alone. The rogue lands are freezing this time of year."

My nails dug into the center of my palms, piercing the flesh. The sharp sting grounded me. It kept the agony of the severed bond from completely swallowing my consciousness. Tears threatened the corners of my eyes, burning hot against my lashes.

I forced a dry, hollow laugh instead.

The sound cut through the plaza, jarring and wrong.

Kael flinched. His brow furrowed as he glared back down at me. "Are you losing your mind?"

"No," I replied. "Just realizing how small you actually are."

His jaw tightened. The muscles in his neck strained against his collar.

"Grab the cloth and get out of my sight," he snarled.

"Gladly."

I didn't argue further. Arguing required hope. The arrogant sneer on his face had just killed the very last ounce of it. I reached out and curled my fingers into the scratchy gray material. The maid's crest felt heavy in my grip, a physical weight anchoring me to my new reality.

I pushed myself up from the stone. My legs shook, but I locked my knees, forcing myself to stand tall.

"Good girl," Seraphina mocked. "Report to the kitchens before dawn. I like my coffee hot."

"I'll make sure it burns," I muttered.

"What was that?" she snapped.

"Nothing, Luna."

I clutched the uniform to my chest and backed away. Step by step, I retreated from the center of the altar until the shadows of the ancient pillars swallowed me. The torches couldn't reach this edge of the platform. The cold stone pressed against my back, offering silent support.

"Pack of the Blood Moon!" Kael shouted, raising his arms.

The crowd roared in response. The sound vibrated through the soles of my shoes.

"Tonight, we secure our future," he declared. "Tonight, I take my chosen mate."

An elder stepped forward from the side steps, holding a velvet cushion. Resting on top of it was the Alpha female's necklace. A massive silver wolf head flanked by blood-red rubies.

Kael picked it up. The metal glinted under the moonlight, sharp and unforgiving.

"Seraphina of the Frost Ridge," he said, his tone softening for the audience. "Will you lead by my side?"

"Until my last breath," she answered, her voice ringing clear across the square.

She turned her back to him, sweeping her heavy hair over one shoulder to expose her neck.

Kael's eyes flicked toward the shadows. He found my face in the dark. His gaze held a sickening pride, a silent message that he had won. He had beaten fate and secured the strongest alliance in the north.

I stared back. My expression remained completely blank. No tears. No begging.

He broke the eye contact, focusing back on the woman in front of him. He lifted the silver chain.

"With this, you are mine," Kael said.

He draped the necklace over her collarbones. His large hands moved to the back of her neck to secure the heavy clasp.

"Forever," Seraphina whispered.

Kael's palm pressed flat against her nape.

Right at that exact second, a violent spasm jerked Seraphina's shoulder.

A single, needle-thin black vein violently bulged beneath the pale skin of her neck, pulsing frantically right where his fingers touched.

"You missed a spot."

Seraphina's voice floated down from the vanity stool, dripping with bored arrogance.

I kept my head down. The coarse bristles of the wooden brush dug into the plush white carpet of the master bedroom.

"Right there, by my heel," she added.

"I see it," I replied, scrubbing the crimson wine stain.

"Then clean it faster," Kael ordered.

"Did you really have to spill the entire glass?" I asked, sitting back on my heels to stretch my aching knees.

"My hand slipped," Seraphina said.

"Your hand doesn't slip, Luna. You're the strongest fighter in the north."

"Maybe I just wanted to see you on your knees again."

"You saw that at the altar," I reminded her.

"I enjoy reruns." She picked up a silver hairbrush and ran it through her hair.

"Leave the Omega alone, Sera," Kael said, stepping out of the walk-in closet. "Let her work."

"She talks too much," Seraphina complained.

"Then I'll cut out her tongue next time," Kael offered casually.

"No," Seraphina countered. "I like hearing her whine."

I pressed the bristles harder into the wool, forcing the soapy water deep into the fibers. The red stain stubbornly clung to the white threads.

Kael walked across the room and stopped behind Seraphina's chair. He wrapped his large arms around her waist, staring at their shared reflection in the mirror.

"The border patrols reported rogue activity," Kael said.

"They always report activity in winter," she replied, setting the brush down.

"This was different. A coordinated pack."

"Are you worried, Alpha?"

"I don't worry. I prepare." Kael dragged his nose along her jawline.

"Good. Because my father's soldiers arrive tomorrow. They expect a show of strength."

"They will get one."

"They better," Seraphina warned. "He didn't send his best fighters just to watch us trade rings."

"He sent them because you belong to me now," Kael stated.

"I belong to no one."

"The mark says otherwise." Kael's thumb traced the bruised skin on her neck.

"The mark is a formality."

"Is it?" Kael asked.

"Don't test me tonight, Kael."

"I test whatever I want in my own territory."

He opened his mouth. His fangs descended, catching the warm light of the chandelier.

"Keep your eyes on the floor, Omega," Kael snapped at me.

"I'm looking at the stain," I said.

"Then scrub."

I lowered my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kael sink his canines lightly into the fresh mating mark on Seraphina's neck.

Seraphina screamed.

She slammed her elbows backward into Kael's ribs. The violent impact sent him stumbling into the heavy oak bedpost.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Kael shouted, gripping his side.

Seraphina didn't answer. She clamped both hands over her mouth. Her eyes bulged wildly.

She sprinted for the master bathroom. Her hip clipped the nightstand, sending an empty wine glass shattering across the hardwood floor.

She disappeared into the dark tiled room, leaving the door cracked open.

"Clean that up," Kael barked at me.

"I'm on it," I said.

I crawled across the carpet, moving toward the bathroom door. My fingers pinched the jagged stems of the broken glass. I shifted my weight, inching closer to the two-inch gap in the doorway.

A wet, gagging sound echoed from the bathroom.

"Seraphina?" Kael called out. "Are you sick?"

"Stay out!" she choked out.

I picked up another shard of glass, using the movement to peek through the opening.

Seraphina hunched over the marble sink. Her spine curved sharply, the bones pressing hard against her silk robe. She didn't look like the untouchable Luna anymore. She looked fragile.

My stomach cramped violently. I thought I would feel a rush of victory. I thought seeing the mighty she-wolf brought low would taste sweet.

It didn't.

My shoulders locked. My jaw clamped shut. A cold sweat broke out along my hairline.

She gripped the porcelain edges with white knuckles. Dark fluid seeped from her mouth, pooling in her palms. It slipped through the gaps of her fingers, thick and viscous.

It hit the sink with heavy, wet smacks.

Black blood.

"What is happening to you?" Kael asked, walking up behind me.

"Nothing!" Seraphina yelled, her voice bubbling with the dark fluid. "Just a bad reaction to the wine."

"You drank two sips."

"I said stay back!"

I held my breath, waiting for Kael to kick the door open. I expected him to rush in and save his chosen mate.

He didn't touch the doorknob. He stood completely still, his boots planted inches from my hands.

"Sera?" he whispered.

"Don't look at me!" she cried.

Kael didn't look concerned. A strange, twisted smile crept onto his face.

He tilted his chin toward the ceiling. He closed his eyes and flared his nostrils.

He drew in a massive gulp of air.

A deep, dragging sound filled his throat. His ribcage stretched outward. The seams of his custom shirt groaned under the sudden pressure. His chest inflated to an unnatural size, the muscles bulging and shifting beneath the fabric.

A satisfied hum vibrated in his chest. He was feeding on the scent of her sickness.

A scraping sound came from the tiles inside the bathroom.

Something slid across the floorboards.

A pale blue silk scarf slipped through the narrow crack beneath the bathroom door. It pushed forward, stopping right against my knee.

The fabric was completely soaked in thick, black sludge.

The bathroom door clicked shut from the inside. The brass lock snapped into place.

"Get up, Omega," Kael ordered.

He stepped over the sludge-soaked scarf without a second glance.

I pushed myself off the carpet. My knees throbbed from scrubbing the floorboards. The coarse fabric of the maid's uniform scratched against my skin, a constant reminder of my new status.

"Is she dying?" I asked.

"She has a stomach bug," he replied. He adjusted his silver cufflinks, perfectly calm.

"Stomach bugs don't bleed black."

"You see what I tell you to see." Kael stepped into my space. He towered over me, forcing me to tilt my head back. "Clean the vanity. Make the bed. Have this room spotless before I return from the border patrol."

"You're leaving her like this?"

"A Luna does not show weakness," he stated, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. "She needs rest. And you need to scrub."

"What about the blood on the scarf?"

"Wine, Aria. It was wine." Kael shot me a warning glare. "Speak of this to anyone, and I will throw you to the rogues tonight. Do you understand?"

"I understand you're lying to yourself."

His hand snapped out. His fingers wrapped around my throat, squeezing just enough to cut off my air. I gripped his wrist, my nails digging into his skin, but he didn't budge.

"You are a maid," he whispered, leaning in close. "Your opinions died at the altar. Do your job."

He released me. I coughed, rubbing my neck.

"Yes, Alpha," I rasped.

He turned on his heel. The heavy oak bedroom door slammed shut behind him. The sound echoed through the massive suite.

The room fell completely silent. Only the muffled sound of running water came from behind the bathroom door.

I grabbed the brass trash bin and walked over to the vanity table. Shattered glass littered the floor. I knelt and picked up the jagged pieces one by one, dropping them into the metal bin with sharp clinks.

The bathroom lock clicked again. The door creaked open.

I kept my head down, focusing on the glass. Bare feet padded across the hardwood. They dragged slightly. They lacked the confident, commanding stride from the plaza.

Seraphina collapsed onto the velvet mattress. The bedsprings whined under her weight.

"Water," she croaked.

"Get it yourself," I said. I tossed a large shard into the bin.

"I am your Luna."

"You're Kael's Luna. I'm just the maid he threw away."

"Do not test my patience, Omega."

"You don't have the strength to punish me right now," I pointed out. "I can hear your heart racing from here."

She didn't argue. That silence alone proved my point.

I stood up and faced the vanity mirror. Makeup powder coated the marble surface. A knocked-over perfume bottle leaked a sickly sweet floral scent into the air. A crumpled tissue covered in dark smears sat next to a jewelry box.

Right in the center of the mess lay a pure silver hairbrush.

I reached out and grabbed the handle. The metal felt ice-cold against my palm.

I flipped the brush over to inspect the bristles.

My lungs stopped pulling in air.

Thick clumps of hair tangled through the nylon pins. But it wasn't golden. It wasn't the shining blonde that Seraphina flaunted in front of the entire pack.

It was gray.

Dry, ashen, and brittle. The strands looked like dead wood, frayed and rotting. I ran a thumb over the edge of the bristles. The hair crumbled into dust instantly, coating my skin in a chalky residue.

"Put that down," Seraphina demanded from the bed.

I didn't move. The silver handle suddenly felt incredibly heavy. It felt like a brick in my grip. Its sharp edges bit into my flesh.

I looked at her through the mirror's reflection.

She lay flat on her back. Her chest heaved rapidly. The silk robe clung to her frame, but she looked completely wrong. Just hours ago, she commanded the entire pack. She stood tall, strong, untouchable.

Now, she looked like a deflated balloon. Her skin possessed a sickly, yellow undertone. Sweat plastered her remaining blonde hair to her forehead.

I turned around. I held the brush up so she could see it clearly in the low light.

"What is this?" I asked.

"None of your business," she rasped.

"This isn't your hair," I said. "Or is it?"

"I told you to drop it, Aria."

"You're shedding like a sick dog, Seraphina."

"Watch your mouth."

"Why? What are you going to do?" I took a half-step backward, keeping my guard up. My muscles coiled tight, ready to run. "You can barely speak. You threw up black sludge. Kael practically fed on the scent of it."

She flinched. Her eyes darted toward the locked bedroom door, then back to me.

"He didn't notice," she whispered.

"He stood right outside the door," I corrected her. "He smiled, Seraphina. He liked it."

"Shut up."

"He knows something is wrong with you."

"I said shut up!" She tried to sit up, pushing off the mattress. Her right elbow gave out immediately. She crashed back into the pillows, gasping for air.

I tightened my grip on the silver brush. The power dynamic in the room shifted, tipping entirely in my direction. I could walk out right now. I could show this brush to the pack elders. I could tell them the invincible Luna was rotting from the inside out.

"You built your entire reputation on being the strongest she-wolf in the north," I said.

"I am the strongest."

"You can't even sit up."

"It will pass."

"Will it?" I asked. I raised the brush again, shaking the dead strands. "Because this looks pretty permanent."

"Give me the brush."

"No."

"I will have Kael rip your throat out."

"Kael doesn't care about you," I said. "He proved that at the altar. He cares about power. If he finds out you're broken, he'll discard you just like he discarded me."

Her jaw clamped shut. A muscle feathered in her cheek. She knew I was right.

"You're hiding something," I said. "Something huge."

"We all hide things," she countered, her voice dropping to a desperate hiss.

"Not this," I said, taking a cautious step closer to the bed. "This is dark magic. Or poison. Did Kael do this to you?"

"Kael is a fool," she spat.

"Then what is it? Why did your hair turn to ash?"

Seraphina stared at me. The arrogant fire in her eyes vanished entirely. It was replaced by sheer, unadulterated panic. The kind of panic that belonged to hunted prey.

She reached down with her right hand and grabbed the edge of the heavy velvet blanket.

"You want to know why I need you?" she asked.

"I don't care what you need."

"You will."

"I clean your floors. I don't keep your secrets."

"You will keep this one," she promised.

She ripped the blanket back.

I stumbled backward. My heel hit the edge of the vanity stool hard. It screeched against the floorboards.

Her left arm lay exposed against the white sheets. The sleeve of her silk robe was pushed all the way up to her shoulder.

There was no muscle left. No healthy flesh.

The arm was entirely shriveled. The skin stretched tight over the bones, blackened and cracked like charred leather. Dark, purple veins pulsed weakly beneath the withered surface. It looked like the limb of a centuries-old corpse attached to a living woman.

My stomach lurched. Bile rose in my throat.

She lifted her head off the pillow. Her eyes locked onto mine, wide and bloodshot.

"Lock the door," she commanded, her voice scraping out of her throat.