Chapter 3

The sticky, freezing holy water dripped from my hair, soaking into my already ruined clothes. The bitter wormwood burned the fresh cuts on my hands. It felt exactly like a slap across the face. Lachlan knew Maggie was dead. He hadn’t bothered to show up to the funeral, but he had definitely approved this humiliation. A half-blood carrying the "aura of death" couldn't be allowed near his precious pureblood pregnant mistress.

I dragged my numb legs up the servant stairs to avoid the guards, heading straight for my bedroom to change. I pushed open the oak door. I stopped dead in my tracks.

My clothes, my jewelry, my books—everything I owned was stuffed into hasty cardboard boxes, shoved into the hallway corner. Our large four-poster bed was totally trashed. Liora’s red lace lingerie was tossed all over the rumpled sheets, tangled up with massage oils, leather cuffs, and a few other dirty toys they’d obviously just finished using. 

The whole room reeked of sex and her vanilla perfume. The walls were now covered in tapestries from Lachlan and Liora’s old engagement ceremony. Her dried herbs and witch tools completely cluttered my vanity. 

This was my room for five years. It took them less than a day to erase me.

I walked over to the boxes, grabbed a small canvas bag, and started shoving my remaining clothes inside. 

The door clicked shut behind me. 

"Liora didn't mean for Maggie to see that illusion," Lachlan said, his voice tight. 

He walked up behind me and grabbed my wrist to stop me from packing. "Don't blame her for this. She cried all night about your grandmother. It’s stressing her out, and she’s spotting. The baby is at risk."

I ripped my arm out of his grip. I turned around and looked at him like he was a stranger. "Don't touch me."

Lachlan reached out and pinched my chin, his fingers digging into my skin."What is your problem, Elspeth? Stop throwing a tantrum. If I hadn't taken you in, a half-blood orphan like you wouldn't even be allowed to scrub the floors in Blackstone Castle. You’d never have the Luna title."

I just stared dead into his eyes. "How long?"

He frowned. "What?"

"How long have you been sleeping with her?"

"Since your pregnancy," he said casually. "Your blood was unstable. You couldn't soothe my skin burns anymore. I was in agony. Liora came to help with her herbs."

"She got drunk one night. She smiled at me, and I slipped up. It was just a mistake. But I love you more, Ellie. Just get along with her. Stop making this a war, and you can keep the Luna title."

He leaned in to kiss my forehead. I yanked my head back. 

Lachlan’s face darkened instantly. "Suit yourself."

"Ellie?" 

Liora stood in the doorway, wringing her pale hands. "I don't want to lose my sister. I’m so sorry. If you're this mad at me, I'll go jump off the North Cliff right now. I’ll die to apologize to you and Maggie."

My voice was completely flat. "Then go."

"Elspeth!" Lachlan roared, stepping between us. "Are you out of your mind? Apologize to her right now!"

He pointed a finger in my face. "She wanted to go out in the freezing rain to comfort you at the graveyard! I was the one who pinned her to the sofa. I kissed her so hard she dropped her staff! I forced her to stay inside! It’s on me!"

Liora leaned against his chest, her tears spilling perfectly over her cheeks. She looked up at him, then at me. "It's fine, Lachlan. Don't yell at her. Ellie is just grieving. I don't blame her at all."

I stepped around Lachlan, raised my hand, and slapped Liora as hard as I could across the face. 

Smack.

Her head snapped to the side. 

"Bitch!" Lachlan’s eyes flashed gold with Alpha rage. 

He grabbed my arm and hurled me backward with brutal force. My bare feet slipped on the polished stone floor. I flew backward. The small of my back slammed directly into the sharp corner of the stone vanity table. 

A sickening, tearing pain ripped through my lower abdomen. I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Within seconds, hot, sticky blood soaked through my wet pants. 

Lachlan froze. The rage vanished from his face, replaced by sudden panic. He took a half-step toward me, staring at the growing puddle of red. "Ellie..."

Liora suddenly clutched her stomach and doubled over, letting out a piercing shriek. 

"Lachlan... my stomach! It hurts so bad!" Her face went completely pale. "The baby!"

She looked up at me, the sweet facade dropping completely. Her eyes were vicious. "Elspeth, I begged you! I got on my knees! If I lose my baby today, our sisterhood is dead!"

Lachlan’s head snapped toward her. He didn't hesitate for another second. He scooped Liora up in his arms and sprinted out the door toward the Healer's Tower, shouting for the guards. 

He left me bleeding out on the floor. He didn't look back once.

Gripping the leg of the stone table, I slowly pulled myself up. I didn't cry for help. I found a towel, pressed it between my legs, and calmly walked myself to the junior medic's quarters to stop the bleeding. 

An hour later, I sat alone in a tiny spare room. I pulled out Maggie’s old leather-bound journal from my bag. I flipped past the herbal recipes until I found the torn pages in the back. 

The Shadow Meld.

It was a forbidden, lost ritual. It required blood and rare herbs to create a flawless, physical illusion of death. It was the only way to completely sever a pack bond without the Alpha tracking you down through the mate link. 

I traced the faded ink with my cold fingers. I checked the lunar calendar on the wall. 

The next full moon was in seven days. 

I closed the book. 

I was leaving, and I was going to make sure he thought I was dead forever.