"Get on your knees and repent!"

Emory dragged me out to the stone path in front of the main house. It was covered with sharp, jagged rocks, a path reserved for punishing pack members who had committed serious crimes.

"Kneel until you admit you were wrong," he commanded coldly, then turned and walked away.

Pack members gathered to watch my "penance," staring as if I were some unforgivable criminal. They pointed and whispered.

"I heard the Luna is being punished for trying to kill Miss Ophelia. How horrible."

"The Alpha is so unlucky, being mated to such a cruel woman."

I tried to speak, to defend myself, but the words were stuck in my throat. I couldn't make a sound. A silencing spell.

The guard watching me chuckled mockingly. "Don't waste your energy. Miss Ophelia gave the order. You won't be saying anything you're not supposed to."

Of course. I knelt all day. The stones dug deep into my knees, but I was long past feeling the pain. By the second day, I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed.

When I woke up, I was in a sickroom again. Emory was staring at my bruised and bloodied legs, his expression unreadable.

When he saw I was awake, he let out a long sigh and took my hand, his expression a tangled mess of anger and... was that regret?

"Why are you so stubborn?" he chided. "If you had just apologized, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this."

I pulled my hand away with all the strength I had left.

His face fell.

"I know I went too far. I apologize," he said, a rare note of humility in his voice. He even offered a gentle smile. "The full moon ceremony is coming up. I can take you with me."

In the past, that would have been a dream come true. To stand by his side, a united front for all to see.

"I don't want to go," I said softly.

Emory stared, unable to understand why I wasn't falling into his arms with joy like I used to. His tone hardened. "You have to go! It's your duty as Luna!"

Just then, Leo burst into the room. "Why does Mommy have to go if she's sick? You said Auntie Ophelia could go!"

And just like that, I understood why my son had lied. Once again, my own son had chosen to twist the knife.

Emory looked flustered, then snapped at Leo. "That's enough! My decision is final!"

Leo fell silent, but his glare remained. I watched it all unfold, saying nothing.

Three days later, at the full moon ceremony, my legs hadn't fully healed. I walked with a slight limp, and my face was so pale that even the thickest makeup couldn't hide my haggardness. But Emory didn't notice. His attention was entirely on Ophelia. She looked exceptionally beautiful tonight in a flowing white gown, like an angel in need of protection.

Guests flocked to her, asking about her health with concerned voices.

"Miss Ophelia is so strong, attending the ceremony even while she's sick."

"Yes, not like some people who make a fuss over every little thing."

Their words reached me, but I felt nothing.

Suddenly, a visiting Alpha approached Ophelia, his hand sliding possessively onto her waist. Ophelia's face paled, and she looked trapped. Beside me, Emory's scent spiked with jealousy and rage. His hand, which had been resting on my shoulder, clenched so tightly that I cried out in pain. "Emory..."

He didn't hear me.

I took a deep breath. "Go. I'll be fine here."

The words were barely out of my mouth before Emory shot to his feet and stormed over to them. He yanked Ophelia behind him and snarled at the other Alpha, "Who gave you permission to touch her?"

Then, he threw a punch. The entire hall went silent.

"Ophelia is mine!" he declared in front of everyone. "No one touches her!"

"Goddess, the Alpha just hit someone for another woman, in public!"

"It seems the Luna really is out of favor. Maybe we'll be getting a new one soon."

The whispers of the guests rose around me, but they couldn't hurt me anymore. I sat quietly in my seat, watching Emory shield Ophelia with his body.

I was planning my escape when Ophelia slipped over to me, a smug smile on her face. "Sister Liliana."

"Did you see that? Do you see how much Emory cares about me?" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "How much longer are you going to cling to the Luna title? Have you no shame?"

I looked up at her and let out a cold laugh. "Then make him break our mate bond," I said, slowly rising to my feet to look down on her. "If you can't, then stop prancing around me like a desperate clown."

Ophelia's face turned beet red. "Who are you calling a clown?"

"You know who."

She was trembling with rage. Her eyes darted around and landed on the Moon Lake behind us, a wicked gleam entering her gaze. "Fine! Since you're so tough, I'll show you who Emory really cares about!"

She suddenly grabbed my hand and threw her weight backward. "Ah! Help me!" she screamed, dragging us both toward the lake.

The frigid water swallowed us whole. My already weak body felt like it had been plunged into a tomb of ice. I couldn't move. I couldn't call for help.

"Emory! Save me!" Ophelia thrashed in the water.

Splash! A figure dove in. It was Emory. He swam straight for Ophelia without a moment's hesitation, pulling her into a tight embrace. "It's okay, I'm here," he soothed her gently.

Then he looked over at me, his eyes flickering with indecision. "You... you just wait! I'll come back for you as soon as I get Ophelia to shore!"

He started swimming toward the bank, holding Ophelia close.

I watched them go, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. A single tear fell from my eye, vanishing into the lake without a trace. I would never trust him again. I let myself sink, feeling my consciousness slowly fade.

Just as I thought I was about to die, hands pulled me from the water.

But I wasn't taken to the infirmary. I was carried to the sacred altar deep within the pack lands.

"Where are we going?" I asked weakly, grabbing Emory's sleeve.

He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Ophelia's Lunar Blight… the shock and the cold water made it flare up violently." "The high priest said only your blood can save her now."

I looked at the ceremonial tools laid out on the altar and understood everything.

"You owe her this," Emory said, his voice like ice. "Just give a little blood for her, and I promise, I'll forgive everything. After this, we can start over, properly."

He stopped at the altar's entrance. "Don't worry," he added. "I've summoned the best healer. I won't let anything happen to you." The heavy doors slammed shut in my face. The last thing I saw was the guilt and conflict in his eyes.

How funny, I thought. So he was capable of feeling guilty toward me.

The ritual began. As the priest chanted the ancient words, I felt my blood draining away, fast. My heartbeat slowed. My breathing grew shallow. With the last of my strength, I crushed the small token in my hand. It was the signal I had arranged with the witch. When the time came, she would come for my body and my wolf spirit.

In my final moment of consciousness, I tried to reach Emory through our mate bond. One last goodbye.

He didn't answer.

I tried to reach Leo through our mother-son link. Still nothing.

I knew then. They had both blocked me.

My lips moved, a silent breath shaping their names. Emory... Leo...

Farewell.

I heard panicked shouts around me.

"The Luna isn't breathing!"

"Her wolf is gone! How is this possible—"

I closed my eyes and let the darkness take me.