Eleanor POV:

I made it to a motel on the outskirts. The room smelled of stale smoke and bad decisions.

*Eleanor.*

Liam’s voice invaded my mind. He was forcing the link open.

*Where are you? Sarah needs the herbal soup. The one you make.*

I laughed, a dry, cracking sound. *I am not your servant, Liam.*

*The Warriors are tracking you. Don't make them drag you back.*

Ten minutes later, the door was kicked in.

Two warriors—men I had grown up with—grabbed me. They weren't gentle.

They hauled me back to the estate. Not to the kitchen. To the tribunal.

Sarah sat in a wheelchair, her leg bandaged. The Elders sat in a semi-circle, looking like vultures waiting for a meal.

"Eleanor Vance," Elder Thomas intoned. "You are accused of attempted murder."

"What?" I blinked, disoriented.

"Sarah fell down the stairs," Liam said, his voice tight. He wouldn't look at me. "She says you pushed her."

"I wasn't even here!"

"We found your scent," Thomas said. "And Sarah saw you."

"She's lying!" I screamed.

"The punishment is death," Thomas declared.

"No," Liam interjected quickly. "No death."

"She harmed the heir, Alpha," Thomas countered. "Blood for blood."

"I said no!" Liam roared, his aura flaring. "She is still my mate. But... discipline is required."

"The Whip," his father suggested coldly.

Liam paled. He looked at me, then at the Elders. He was outnumbered. If he refused, they would demand a vote of no confidence. They would kill me.

"Fine," Liam whispered. "Five lashes. No more."

"Liam," I begged. "Don't."

He closed his eyes. "Proceed."

They dragged me to the courtyard. They stripped my shirt, exposing the scars from the bullet I took for him.

*Crack.*

The silver-tipped lash bit into my skin. It wasn't just pain; it was poison.

*Crack.*

I bit my lip until copper filled my mouth.

I looked up. Liam stood on the balcony. He was gripping the railing so hard the stone was crumbling. He was watching, but he wasn't stopping it.

*Crack.*

Darkness took me.

Eleanor POV:

I woke up in the Shrine. The air was filled with silver dust—a torture method to prevent healing.

Liam entered. He held a handkerchief over his nose.

"You're awake."

He placed a velvet box on the floor.

"Diamond earrings. For the charity gala tonight."

"You whipped me yesterday," I whispered. "Today you want me to play dress-up?"

"Appearances, Eleanor. The investors are human. They don't know our laws. If you don't show, Sarah will have to take your place."

He knew exactly which buttons to push.

*

The gala was a blur of pain. I smiled until my face ached. Liam held my waist, his grip keeping me upright.

Then came the auction.

"A rare pink diamond," the auctioneer announced.

"Two million," Liam bid.

He won. He took the microphone.

"This is for the woman who carries the future," he said.

He walked past me. He gave the necklace to Sarah.

The room applauded politely. I felt like I was drowning on dry land.

I walked to the terrace for air. I stood by the infinity pool, staring at the black water.

"Lovely night."

Sarah. Wearing the diamond.

"Leave me alone," I said.

"You look pathetic," she whispered. "Why don't you just die? Liam is too weak to finish the job."

"You're faking it," I said. "I don't know how, but I smell the lie on you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Prove it."

She grabbed my arm and threw herself backward, screaming.

"Help! She's drowning me!"

We hit the water. The cold shock seized my injured muscles.

*Splash.*

Liam jumped in.

He swam past me. He didn't even look.

He grabbed Sarah. He used my shoulder as leverage to push off, sending me deeper.

I watched the bubbles rise. He carried her out.

I realized then: The bond wasn't just strained. It was dead.

A young Gamma pulled me out. I lay on the concrete, shivering.

Across the pool, Liam was wrapping a towel around Sarah, kissing her forehead. He hadn't even checked to see if I surfaced.

Eleanor POV:

Two days later. My birthday.

Liam came to my room. "Happy Birthday," he said awkwardly. "Dinner tonight. Just us. I promise."

I waited.

7:00 PM.

8:00 PM.

8:15 PM. My phone buzzed.

*Live Stream: Blood Moon Celebration.*

I clicked it. Liam was in the banquet hall. There was a banner: *Welcome to the Family, Sarah!*

"Sorry folks!" Liam told the camera. "False alarm with the baby, but we're celebrating anyway!"

The camera panned. Grandfather Vance was holding the Moonstone Bracelet. My inheritance.

"To Sarah," the old man announced. "The true Luna."

He clasped it on her wrist. It didn't glow. It looked dull, dead. But the crowd cheered.

Sarah looked into the camera. She smirked.

I stood up. I walked downstairs, a ghost crashing the party.

The music died.

Liam turned. He saw the frosting on my finger from the cupcake I’d eaten alone.

His face went pale. He checked his watch. He had forgotten.

Sarah grabbed his arm. "Liam, look! The bracelet!"

But Liam was staring at me. He clutched his chest, his eyes widening. He felt it—the snap.

I unclasped the locket he gave me years ago.

I dropped it.

*Clink.*

I turned and walked away. The Luna was dead.

I walked out the front doors.

"Eleanor! Wait!"

Liam ran after me.

Suddenly, headlights blinded us. An engine roared.

Rogues. They had breached the perimeter.

"Look out!"

Liam shoved me. The truck clipped him, the sound of breaking bone sickeningly loud.

The truck sped off.

"Liam!"

I crawled to him. His leg was mangled. Steam rose from the wound—silver plating on the bumper.

Warriors poured out. Sarah stood back, feigning horror.

Liam's mother marched up to me. "You. You are a curse. Ever since you lost your wolf, you bring nothing but death."

I looked at Liam. He was conscious, looking at me with hazy eyes.

"El..."

I stood up. I didn't take his hand.

*

For the next week, I played nurse. Liam refused anyone else.

I changed his bandages. I was mechanical.

"El, about the bracelet," he whispered. "I didn't know."

"It doesn't matter."

Elder Thomas entered with Sarah. She was wearing a silk robe, acting like she owned the place.

"Alpha," Thomas said. "The rogue attack proves we are vulnerable. We need the Mating Ceremony. Saturday."

"That's in two days," Liam argued.

"It is necessary," Thomas insisted. "Legitimize the heir. Eleanor will be... reassigned."

I stood up.

"Do it," I said.

Liam stared at me. "Eleanor?"

"Marry her. Mark her. Give them what they want."

"See?" Sarah chirped. "Even she agrees."

Liam looked for a fight in my eyes. He found only a void.

"Fine," he said hollowly.