"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.