Chapter 3

Arthur's expression darkened.

"Leo, shut your mouth! Don't say another word!"

Then he turned to me, scrambling to explain.

"He's just a pup. Someone in the household must've been gossiping—"

In the past, I would've been devastated. I would've lectured Leo, tried to teach him right from wrong.

All I ever got in return was his hatred.

Now? I was too tired to care.

Arthur noticed the change in me. He frowned, studying my face.

Then he decided I was playing games.

"What are you plotting now, Sera?"

"Playing the stoic martyr doesn't suit you. You just look pathetic."

"Since you lost the pup, stay in your chambers and recover. And stop targeting Elara and her daughter."

He grabbed Leo's hand and stormed out.

The moment they stepped outside, I heard them laughing.

Arthur said he was going to buy Elara a new sapphire necklace.

Leo said he was going to use his allowance to buy his baby sister a gift.

I still wore the moonstone pendant Arthur gave me at our engagement.

He'd been shy. Said he'd get me something better someday.

Ten years later, the pendant was tarnished and cracked.

He never kept that promise.

At every Pack gathering, I was the poorest-dressed Luna in the room.

Whenever I asked for new jewelry, Arthur said we needed to be frugal. The Pack's expenses were high.

Then spent fortunes on enchanted oils and potions for Elara.

I'd given him everything.

And he'd given me nothing.

A wave of dizziness crashed over me. My vision darkened at the edges.

My fingers had gone numb. Cold spread through my limbs.

The voice whispered through the fog: Ten hours remaining.

My body was shutting down.

I had ten hours left.

I sat at my vanity, staring at the hollow-eyed woman in the mirror.

I took off the moonstone pendant. Ran my fingers over its worn surface.

Then I snapped it in half and tossed it into the fireplace.

I spent the next hour burning everything I'd ever made for Arthur.

Embroidered leather pouches. Woven riding gloves. Little shirts I'd sewn for Leo when he was a baby.

Two entire chests, full of hope and heartbreak.

I watched it all turn to ash.

When the last ember died, I lay down on my bed.

And I waited.

But the door slammed open.

Arthur stormed in, fury radiating off him in waves.

He grabbed me by the arm and hauled me out of bed.

"I knew you couldn't behave."

He threw something at my feet.

A cloth pouch, reeking of dark magic. Filled with bone fragments and dried wolfsbane.

Elara stood in the doorway, cradling her infant, tears streaming.

"Arthur, I don't want to believe Sera would do this."

"But this curse bag... it was hidden in her room. And it has my daughter's name written inside..."

Her voice broke.

Arthur's face went cold.

He kicked me in the chest.

I felt ribs crack.

"Jealousy is one thing, Sera. But cursing an infant? My daughter?"

Blood poured from my mouth, splattering across the floor.

The wound on my neck tore open again.

Arthur loomed over me, disgust written across his face.

"Nothing to say? Not even going to deny it?"

I wiped the blood from my lips and glanced at the curse bag.

Then I laughed.

"That fabric is rare. Even pack Alphas struggle to get it."

"You gave Elara every bolt that came into this estate, Arthur."

"So how did I get my hands on it?"

Arthur's expression shifted. He stared at the pouch.

Elara's face went pale.

"Are you accusing me? I did use that fabric for dresses, but I lost the scraps weeks ago—"

"Enough!"

Arthur cut her off, unwilling to question his precious widow.

In his mind, Elara was pure. Innocent.

So it had to be me.

"Stop making excuses, Sera."

"My daughter is just a newborn. Elara is still recovering."

"If you can't tolerate this Pack, then this Pack has no place for you."

He snapped his fingers.

"Lock her in the dungeon. No food. No water."

"She stays there until she learns."