Chapter 3

Elara POV:

The air in the grand hall suddenly felt too thick to breathe. "I need some fresh air," I murmured to Kaelen, pulling my hand from his.

I escaped into a dimly lit corridor that led to the gardens. The music and laughter faded behind me, replaced by the frantic thumping of my own heart. In the shadows at the end of the hall, two figures were pressed against the wall.

It was Kaelen and Seraphina.

His hands were tangled in her hair, her body arched against his as they kissed with a desperate, hungry passion. Their scents, his stormy pine and her sickly sweet berries, mingled in the air, a nauseating combination.

A tremor of their shared Mind-Link, a raw overflow of emotion, brushed against my own.

"You're my soul mate, Elara," his thoughts, meant for her, bled into my consciousness. "The Goddess chose her for my soul. But you... you're the one who sets my body on fire. Only you can ignite this primal part of me."

"What about her?" Seraphina's thought was a needy whine.

"As soon as you give me an heir, I'll give you your own estate. Anything you want. You'll be by my side forever."

He pulled her deeper into the shadows, towards the private garage exit. My wolf's heightened vision saw it all-the glint of the car door opening, their silhouettes falling inside, the rocking motion of the vehicle.

My knees felt weak. I stumbled back into the ballroom, a perfect, hollow smile plastered on my face. I was the future Luna. I had a role to play.

A few minutes later, Seraphina reappeared. Her lips were swollen, her hair slightly mussed, and a faint, dark mark was visible on the pale skin of her neck. She walked directly to me.

"Elara," she said, her voice a breathy purr. "Could I borrow your lip color? Mine seems to have rubbed off."

It was a silent, vicious declaration of victory.

Before I could answer, a loud crack echoed through the hall. The enormous ice sculpture of a howling wolf in the center of the room shuddered, then collapsed. A shower of ice shards and shattered glass flew through the air.

I threw my arms up to shield my face, but a large piece struck my arm, the impact sending me sprawling to the floor. Pain flared, hot and sharp.

"Elara!" Kaelen's voice roared.

I looked up, a desperate hope flickering in my chest. He was running towards the chaos. He was coming for me.

But he didn't stop. He ran straight past me, his eyes fixed on Seraphina, who was letting out a theatrical scream. He gathered her into his arms, shielding her with his body as if she were made of spun glass.

"My ankle!" she shrieked, clutching her foot. "I think it's twisted!"

Without a second glance at me, bleeding on the floor, Kaelen scooped her up and sprinted towards the Healer's clinic, leaving me in his wake.

I picked myself up, my movements stiff, and made my own way to the clinic to have my arm treated. As I reached the end of the hallway, I saw them. Kaelen was on one knee before Seraphina, who was perched on an examination table. He was gently blowing on a tiny scrape on her ankle, his expression one of utter devotion.

"Our Alpha is so caring," one of the young Healer's apprentices whispered to another. "She is so lucky to have such a devoted mate."

Lucky.

The word echoed in the empty space where my heart used to be. My fate was sealed. There was nothing left here for me.