His heart and soul had sunk into the ocean with her. He would never love another woman besides Liv. Everything he had become was just to torment me, to humiliate me—punishment for the wicked mate who had killed the girl he loved.
Even though I had told him again and again through my tears that I hadn't pushed Liv into the sea. That I wasn't the traitor who had conspired with hunters and betrayed the pack.
"I'm pregnant with his child!" the woman shrieked.
That was probably her trump card. But I couldn't help doubling over with laughter. The clear, bell-like sound of it only enraged her more. She grew even more hysterical.
"What are you laughing at?"
"You think I'd believe that?" I wiped the moisture from the corner of my eye and tasted it. Bitter. "Do you have any idea how powerful Lycan bloodlines are? So powerful they're nearly impossible to continue."
I went on. "Every generation of the Vernal pack has only one heir—not because they don't want more. To conceive a Lycan's offspring more easily requires a fated mate, a permanent mark under the full moon, and complete bonding of both partners' pheromones. Which of those conditions do you meet?"
"I'm his fated mate!" the woman declared with conviction. "From the moment I first saw him, I knew. Just touching his hand made me?—"
"Made your heart race? Your pheromones surge? Made the whole world suddenly seem brighter?" I finished her sentence and kept going. "Your wolf howled inside you. It wanted to squirm in his arms like a pup. You wanted to press your thighs together, bow your head, and worship his fingers and lips?"
The woman stared at me, dumbfounded. Her face went pale. She was smart enough to realize the truth.
I slowly curved my lips. There was no mirror here, so I couldn't see my own face. But I knew my smile must have looked terrible.
"You can't be his fated mate. Because I am Elias Vernal's one and only destined mate."
The woman stumbled away in terror.
I watched through the window as she fled through the Pack House gates. The spine I had forced myself to hold straight finally gave way under the weight of everything, and a sudden wave of nausea hit me hard. My stomach churned as if I'd swallowed silver, acid surging toward my throat. I gripped the cold windowsill, dry heaving violently.
Damn it.
My head buzzed. This had been happening a lot lately—every time my emotions ran high, my body reacted badly.
I must have been exhausted from dealing with this endless stream of "visitors." But I couldn't rest yet. Not now.
"Luna, may I come in?"
Lizzie's voice came from outside the door. After I let her in, she curtsied and reported, "Luna, one of the Elders has requested to see you. He's waiting in the study."
Here we go.I bit my lip softly. This was today's truly difficult "visitor."
Because there was only one Elder who would ask to see me at a time like this—Elias's father, the former Alpha of the Vernal pack.
"Tell him I'll be right there." I smoothed my gown, hoping I could present a better appearance when I faced him.
Lizzie lingered. She was the only one whose kindness toward me hadn't changed after everything. She looked at me with concern. "Luna, you look terrible. Are you sure you're all right? Should I ask the Alpha to come back and stay with you? Or should we call a doctor?"
Ask Elias to come back?I almost laughed out loud. He was probably in some woman's bed right now. Why would he come back for a "murderer" and "traitor" like me?
I should be grateful he hadn't snapped my neck himself, shouldn't I?
"That won't be necessary," I said and shook my head. "He has more important things to attend to."
Lizzie sighed but said nothing more.
I met Alfred Vernal in the study.
The aging wolf's teeth were no longer sharp, and his meticulously combed hair had gone completely gray, but he still radiated the commanding presence of an Alpha.
Before, his mere presence made me afraid. My Omega instincts always urged me to submit. But now I could force myself to stay composed—not out of courage, but out of habit.
