"Luna, please get some rest. The Alpha may have been delayed on the road… but I'll wake you when he returns."
Lizzie brought hot tea and tried again to persuade me. "For the baby's sake, you need to rest."
I pressed my lips together. Delayed on the road? But he had promised to come back right away. I had told him I hadsomething important to discuss. Didn't that matter to him? Or was my "important" simply "unimportant" to him?
"You're right. I'll go rest."
It's too late, Serenity. Stop waiting. You know he's not coming.
I swallowed the bitterness rising in my chest and forced myself to stay composed. I walked to the bedroom to rest.
But sleep refused to come. I tossed and turned, my body exhausted while my mind stubbornly stayed awake. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their accusations—traitor—and felt those oppressive, watchful stares.
A sudden wave of anxiety gripped my heart. I stopped being optimistic.
What if Elias hated me so much he couldn't accept the possibility of a child between us? When I tell him about the pregnancy, would he actually be happy? Would he welcome this baby?
What if he didn't care about the child at all? What if he took the baby away from me? Or locked us both up together? Was having this baby even the right choice?
Worries tangled around me like weeds, dragging my dreams into darker nightmares.
I dreamed of the day Liv died.
She had called to invite me for a walk by the sea. When I heard the invitation, I thought she was mocking me—I was confined and couldn't go anywhere. But then Liv said something that caught my attention.
"Serenity, don't you want a lead on the real traitor? I know you're not the traitor, and I have proof. Come to me, and I'll give it to you."
"You could give that proof directly to the investigation team. Or to Elias himself," I said.
"No. I'll only give it to you. So you have to come alone, Serenity. If you tell anyone—even Elias—I'll throw this proof into the ocean."
Reason told me to ignore her threats. But I couldn't dismiss even the slightest possibility.
"Fine. I'll come."
That was the beginning of the trap.
Liv chose a steep cliff overlooking the sea. The salty wind howled fiercely, whipping our hair around. I didn't want to admit that I had grown my hair long to imitate her. Elias seemed to adore Liv's platinum locks, always gazing at them with such tenderness. So I let mine grow too.
"Thank you for coming, Serenity."
Liv stood calmly in the gale. Her voice was sweet, but it sent chills down my spine.
"Cut the pleasantries. Where's this proof?" I had snuck out while the guards weren't paying attention, constantly worried I'd be discovered missing. "I'm here. Hand it over!"
But Liv didn't move.
A strange smile spread across her face. It was unsettling. My heart raced, and I instinctively backed away until my foot hitloose rocks at the edge of the cliff. I watched a stone tumble over and disappear into the churning waves below.
"Serenity, I've always wondered—why did you have to appear?" Liv said softly. "Why areyouElias's fated mate? You have no idea what happened between Elias and me, or how much I sacrificed to become his mate. You did nothing. You're just an Omega. How did you get to bypass me and become his Luna?"
"What are you trying to say?" I demanded.
Liv shot me a jealous glare.
"You need to disappear, Serenity." Her voice turned venomous. "You think marrying Elias means you've won? The Vernal pack wants a child, notyou. Once you give them an heir, Elias will throw you away—just like your mother!"
"Shut up!" She had insulted the woman I could never allow anyone to demean, the deepest fear I had buried. Rage clouded my judgment. I didn't notice Liv edging closer to the cliff. After provoking me, she suddenly lunged and grabbed my arm. Startled, I shook her off. "What are you doing?!"
