Chapter 3

Selena's POV

Three days later.

The Shadowmoon Pack's emergency council meeting was being held in a five-star hotel conference room downtown.

My leg injury had mostly healed thanks to Lucas's top-tier medical team and shifter healing abilities. I only needed a walking cane now.

When I pushed open the conference room doors, quite the show was already in progress.

"Elders, you have to believe Derek! He was trying to save me. Selena is so strong—we all thought she could escape on her own..."

Chloe wore a pure white dress with dramatically bandaged shoulders, sobbing dramatically.

Derek stood beside her, looking utterly devastated.

"It's all my fault. If I'd known Selena would die, I'd rather it had been me! I've been going through hell these past few days. I couldn't even find her body..."

He covered his face, his voice breaking.

Several elderly council members sighed, apparently trying to comfort him.

What a touching display of love and regret.

"Since you'd rather be dead, it's not too late to make that happen."

My cold voice rang out from the doorway.

The entire room went dead silent.

Every pair of eyes turned to stare at me.

Derek's head snapped up, and the moment he saw me, he looked like he'd seen a ghost—his face went chalk white.

"S-Selena? You're not dead?!"

"Disappointed?" I walked into the conference room step by step, leaning on my cane.

Though my pace was slow, each step seemed to land on their frayed nerves.

Chloe's crying stopped abruptly. Her eyes went wide, panic crossing her face.

"Selena! Oh my God, you're alive!" Derek recovered quickly, immediately switching to an expression of pure relief as he rushed toward me with open arms, trying to hug me.

"Get AWAY from me."

I spat out the words coldly, using my cane to jab his chest and stop him from getting closer.

Derek's smile froze on his face. He awkwardly lowered his arms, his tone turning defensive.

"Selena, what's wrong with you? I know you're upset, but the situation was critical. Chloe is a low-ranking shifter—she can't protect herself..."

"So you left me to burn alive to save your little girlfriend?" I cut him off with a cold laugh.

"She's not my girlfriend! We're just friends!" Derek protested desperately, trying to maintain his devoted fiancé act in front of the elders.

"Selena, don't blame Derek. It's all my fault—I held him back. If you need to take it out on someone, take it out on me!" Chloe stepped forward right on cue, biting her lower lip and looking pitiful.

Did she think her innocent act would work like it had in my past life?

"What gives you the right? Why do I owe YOU any explanation?"

Chloe was struck speechless, tears starting to well up in her eyes again.

"Selena! That's completely uncalled for! Chloe is already hurt—why are you attacking her?" Derek angrily stepped in front of Chloe like I was some kind of monster.

Looking at his fake outrage made me sick.

"I'm attacking her?" I let out a cold laugh and turned to the head elder sitting at the front of the room.

"Elder Morrison, I didn't come here today to waste time on this pathetic pair."

I pulled a document from my pocket and slammed it down on the conference table.

"I came to formally notify everyone that as of today, I, Selena, am officially breaking my engagement to Derek Walsh."