Chapter 3

LYRA'S POV:

The grand hall of the Black Moon Pack is filled to bursting. Kaelen has thrown a welcome banquet for my return, a lavish affair meant to show the entire pack that their true Luna is back. Crystal glasses chime, and the air hums with conversation and the scent of roasted meats and expensive wine.

But the seat of honor beside me is empty. Alpha Kaelen is late.

"He's so devoted," a she-wolf from a neighboring pack sighs, looking at me with envy. "To wait five years... it's the stuff of legends. I heard he personally tortured the Rogues who attacked you. Kept them alive for weeks."

I offer a small, tight smile. The story is a lie, a carefully crafted piece of propaganda to paint him as the grieving, faithful mate. The truth is, he declared me dead and took a new lover.

Just then, a hush falls over the hall. The great doors swing open.

Kaelen strides in, looking every bit the powerful Alpha in his formal black attire. But he is not alone. Flanking him are my parents. Behind him, holding my son Caelus's hand, is Seraphina.

A collective gasp ripples through the crowd. Seraphina is wearing a simple white dress, her head bowed, playing the part of the humble, pitiable Omega.

She glides to my side, her sweet scent making me want to gag. "Caelus was afraid I'd be lonely," she whispers, her voice a fragile, trembling thing. She offers me a small, wrapped gift. "A blessing for your return, Luna."

My mother places a hand on my arm, her grip firm. "Be generous, Lyra. She has cared for Caelus. Show the pack your grace."

My grace? They bring my replacement to my own welcome party and ask for my grace? The humiliation is a physical weight, pressing down on me, but I force myself to take the gift. "Thank you, Seraphina."

Kaelen, seeing the tension, moves to correct his disastrous mistake. He drops to one knee before me, silencing the whispers in the hall. He holds up another box.

Inside is another "Moon's Vow" necklace. This one is perfect. The chain is the right length, the clasp one I recognize.

"I had the goblin artisans work through the night to remake it," he proclaims, his voice ringing with sincerity for all to hear. "The first was not worthy of you. My love for you must be perfect."

The crowd erupts in murmurs of awe. How romantic! How devoted! Two necklaces! His love is so great, it must be expressed twice!

He fastens it around my neck. The metal is cold against my skin. I feel nothing.

"If there are two 'Moon's Vows'," I think to myself, "does that still mean 'one and only'?"

Later, as is tradition, I stand before the statue of the Moon Goddess to offer a prayer of thanks for my return. Kaelen is at my side, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back.

I close my eyes. "I thank the Goddess for bringing me back to my pack," I say, my voice clear and loud enough for those nearby to hear. Then, I add my own wish. "And I pray that under the light of the moon, there may be only one of me."

The meaning is unmistakable. A gasp comes from behind me. It's Seraphina.

She bursts into tears, her shoulders shaking, and flees from the grand hall. A dramatic exit.

Kaelen stiffens beside me. Before he can react, my parents are on me.

"How could you?" my father hisses, his face red with anger. "You embarrassed her! You embarrassed all of us!"

My mother grabs Kaelen's arm, her voice frantic. "Go after her, Kaelen! She's fragile! She might do something foolish! Find her!"

They are all looking at him, waiting. My parents, pleading for him to comfort the other woman. Me, standing silently, a statue of ice, waiting to see which Luna he will choose.

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