Chapter 2
Elara pov
Everything is going to be fine.
We are going to get through this together.
I am strong. I am strong. I am-
My trembling hand freezes midway, and I fall to my knees, holding the piece of clothing to my chest. Tears fall in heavy droplets, splattering on the floor as I clutch my chest in agony. I can still feel the pain of rejection that threatens to tear me apart. To consume me.
I close my eyes and rub my stomach, whispering encouraging words to myself and my unborn child, hoping and praying the pain will subside.
The pain of rejection is dreadful, and I know not having a wolf makes it worse, but all I can do right now is wait until the pain goes away before I can finish packing my clothes since I am only given two hours to do so.
My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe as my mind replays everything. Just this morning, I was happy. I could not believe it when the doctor told me I was four weeks pregnant. I wanted Lucian to be the first to know, and that was why I had run to his study to tell him the good news, but before I could say anything, I was met with his rejection.
It’s ironic, isn’t it? To feel completely joyful one second, only to have your life crash down before your eyes the next.
I glance at the clothes in the suitcase and inhale sharply. This is what five years have gotten me. After everything we have been through together, this is the end. I loved him despite the fact he didn’t feel anything towards me, but he threw the bond we had the second Liora arrived, like those years meant nothing to him.
I shake my head and try to stop the tears that are spilling. I have to be strong, for my child at least. I take a deep breath and continue to pack my clothes, stuffing anything that I can find inside. I need to get out of here.
“I want everything in this room renovated–nothing stays the same.” The voice draws my attention, and I turn to see Liora talking to the maid. “Everything must be new, especially the bed. I need everything done by the end of today, without fail.” Liora’s eyes are trained on the maid as she speaks, her voice sharp and dismissive.
I wipe my eyes and look away from her. My hands shake as I zip my suitcase, my movements slow and defeated.
“Oh, dear. You are still here?” Liora is now standing before me. Her eyes assess me, looking me up and down with a smirk as she twirls a strand of hair between her fingers.
Liora has always been beautiful, with wavy blonde hair that reaches her waist. She’s petite and slender, the ideal girl any man would want. Compared to her, I seem plain with my straight black hair, and I’m not as beautiful or captivating.
Who wouldn’t want a woman like that as their Luna? I am just a substitute that had been discarded immediately after its use.
“I was just packing. I will leave now.” My voice comes out dry, and I watch as Liora’s smirk widens, taking satisfaction in my present state. I can see the hint of joy in her eyes as she looks at me with mock sympathy.
‘I’m here to get him back, and I am going to, that’s what Liora said to me a week ago when I confronted her about how close she was getting with Lucian. I laughed at the time, at her audacity, telling her that Lucian would never betray me, that I trusted him. I was wrong, and she was right.
She takes a step closer and traces her fingers on my face. “Poor Elara,” she taunts, her lips in a pout. “Tell me, did you really think this would have ended differently?”
My lips are drawn in a frown as she continues. “Do you think he really loved you? Oh, sweetie, you really are delusional. You were just my replacement. You can’t even shift, can’t access your wolf, and most of all, you are an illegitimate child, and you think you can stay beside Lucian and be his Luna?”
My lips tremble as I hold the suitcase tighter. Every word hits me like a bullet, but I can’t retort. I know she is right.
She grabs me by the chin, her nails digging into my flesh. “Know your place, Elara. You were nothing more than a distraction to him.”
She hisses out in anger and jealousy as she stares into my eyes, and I swallow hard, blinking away the tears. Liora smiles, happy at the effect her words seem to have on me. She scoffs and is about to move away but stops when her eyes linger on the necklace around my neck.
My heart drops as Liora’s eyes narrow, her taunting smirk widening as her fingers, which were about to release my chin, move slowly toward my necklace instead. The first thing Lucian had gifted me when I became his Luna. Even if he just rejected me, I do not want her to have it, but the greed in her eyes tells me she wants it.
1/2
Extra Check–in
Vouchers
Ad–Free Reading
Exclusive Profile
Badge
12:50 PM
Chapter 2
“Do you think you deserve this, hm? The rightful Luna should be the one who keeps it.” She makes a grab for it, her fingers curling around the chain, tugging it sharply.
I gasp as my hand shoots out to stop her from yanking it away. I hold her hand tightly, and she glares at me as I remove her hand from the necklace, but I do not let go.
“This is mine,” I refuse to let go, and she scoffs, trying to pry her hand from mine to take the necklace.
“You don’t deserve that necklace,” she says through gritted teeth. “Just like you don’t deserve Lucian, you don’t deserve anything.”
“T–that is not true,” I whisper, and Liora rolls her eyes.
“Look at you right now. After everything, tell me what you have. You were abandoned the minute I walked in, so you think you deserve love? Respect? That someone like him would actually choose you? Are you stupid?”
I take a harsh breath, and before I can speak, she leans in closer. “You are nothing, Elara. Lucian is now mine, and everything you have is mine.”
She laughs when I stagger back, my eyes shut as I try to block out the words. She pries my hand away and holds the necklace, but before she can yank it away, I hold her hand and help her with it.
She is right. What do I expect? Why do I want to keep the things of the very man who rejected me just a moment ago?
“Take it,” I say, my voice calm and weak as I tighten my grip on her hand.
“Since you’re so desperate, you can have him—have everything. It’s actually a relief, really, because I never wanted this, never loved him. It should have been you on that altar that day, not me. All these years of living a life full of lies–delusions and mistakes are really draining, so please take him like the greedy whore you are. I don’t care anymore.”
Immediately, the words leave my mouth, I push her away, and she stumbles back into someone’s chest. I look behind Liora to see a pair of cold eyes staring into mine.
Lucian has his arms wrapped around Liora, keeping her steady, but his eyes are on me, never leaving mine for a second.
“L–Lucian.” Liora starts crying as she leans into his touch. “I was just apologizing and she-” She breaks down into sobs and stares at Lucian with a pitiful look that would make anyone believe her in a heartbeat.
Lies. She is lying. I step forward, wanting to explain, but before I can say anything, I pause as Lucian looks at me with a deadly gaze that freezes me in my spot.
2/2
