“And of course,” she added, lifting her hand slightly as if showing something off, “thank you for the moonstone. It’s so beautiful.”
My breath caught. The comments exploded. Excitement. Envy. Praise.
“And he’s helped me so much,” she continued, her tone softening just enough to sound sincere. “Covering my health expenses, making sure I’m taken care of… he even bought me land.”
Each word felt like a blade. Twisting deeper with every sentence.
I stared at the screen, my vision beginning to blur. This was… ridiculous. Unbelievable.
The Alpha of the Foreshadow Pack. My mate. Making his mistress the face of the very platform I helped create.
Giving her everything.
My mind drifted back, unbidden. To the necklace around my neck. My hand lifted instinctively, fingers brushing against it.
A simple piece. Elegant. But nothing extraordinary.
He had given it to me once, long ago. Back when I thought it meant everything. Back when I believed it was the most valuable thing he could offer.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. How foolish. How incredibly foolish of me.
Because clearly… He was capable of giving so much more.
---
The next morning arrived too quickly. The entire pack was dressed in black. Even the air felt heavier.
Today marked the death anniversary of the child I lost a year ago. My first baby.
The one I never got to hold. The one who never got to take a single breath.
My chest tightened as I stood among the others, my hands resting lightly over my stomach.
One year. And it still hurt like it had just happened yesterday. The memories came uninvited.
“Stay strong, Luna,” someone whispered softly as they passed.
I gave a small nod, though I wasn’t sure if I had any strength left to give.
Then—
A stir.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. My brows furrowed slightly as I turned. And there he was. Alpha Cain. Walking in as if nothing was out of place.
But he wasn’t alone. Faye walked beside him. Smiling. She was wearing baby blue. The color stood out sharply against the sea of black.
Almost blinding. And in her hand…
Her phone. Still streaming.
The murmurs grew louder. Confusion. Disapproval. Disbelief.
My chest tightened. Something inside me snapped. Before I even realized what I was doing, I stepped forward.
“Stop.”
My voice cut through the air.
Faye paused, startled, her wide eyes turning toward me.
“Luna?” she said, her voice trembling slightly.