Chapter 3

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a new notification pop up at the very top of Nico’s screen—Nora’s name.

That unread message bar burned in the dark like a neon warning:

“Nico, it’s so dark outside. I’m scared to go home alone. Can you walk me back?”

Nico cleared his throat and, as if nothing had happened, angled the phone away from me. His fingers moved quickly, swiping the chat window up and out of sight.

But I had already caught the look in his eyes.

It wasn’t worry.

It was excitement. A hunger he couldn’t quite hide.

Sure enough, the next second he turned to me with a guilty little frown.

“Claire, I’m so sorry. You set up this whole party for me, I really should stay. But the Elders just called—there are reports of Rogues near the border. I have to go deal with it myself.”

I didn’t want to listen to his lies for one more second.

“I get it,” I cut him off, voice steady. “The pack’s safety comes first.”

Hearing that, Nico clearly let out a breath of relief.

I stood there for a moment, feeling like something heavy had just run straight through my chest.

Then I walked into the washroom. The water slid over my palms, icy and numb. When I looked up, the woman in the mirror had a face as white as paper.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was Nora.

She’d sent a picture. In it, her neck was wrapped in the exact same necklace Nico had just given to me tonight. Her skin was bare, and along the curve of her collarbone were unmistakable, smeared kiss marks.

Then came her messages, one after another:

“Claire, whatever you have, I’ll have too.”

“Tell me, do you think the Luna title will finally be mine as well?”

Every word dripped arrogance and open provocation.

So much for the obedient little sister who always clung to my arm and called me “Claire” in that soft, sugary voice.

My hand froze around the phone. My fingertips tapped at the keyboard a few times, searching for something—anything—to say.

In the end, I didn’t send a single word.

I just let the screen go dark in my hand.

The moment the light blinked out, it felt like the last little flame in my chest went out with it.

Tears spilled faster than I could stop them, falling hard onto the black screen. I scrubbed them away, biting down on my sobs until my throat burned.

The next morning, maybe out of guilt, Nico came home early.

“Claire,” he said softly, “I was talking with the Elders about the Rogue situation until really late last night, so I didn’t come back.”

I lifted my head and glanced at him, then reached for the envelope on the table.

Inside were the sketch I’d never managed to give him three days ago—and a divorce agreement.

Maybe this was the only thing I could still leave him.

“This is your celebration gift,” I said quietly. “But you have to open it after two days.”

“What is it? Why wait two days?” he asked, brow furrowing.

The doorbell rang before I could answer.

I opened the door, and Nora’s tear-streaked face filled my vision.

For a second, Nico’s expression slipped—panic flashing across his features—before he forced it back under control.

I generously handed him the excuse he needed.

“Nora’s your little sister. Who else is she supposed to run to when something’s wrong? Go, take care of it.”

Nora stared at me, stunned.

She’d probably thought those messages last night were enough to rip the mask off completely.

“We’ll talk in the garden,” Nico said to her. “We shouldn’t bother Claire while she’s having breakfast.”

He didn’t notice the silence between the two women in front of him. He just kept playing the role of the perfect husband, so painfully earnest it almost made me laugh.

I walked upstairs and stopped by the window on the second floor.

From there, I saw Nora throw herself straight into Nico’s arms.

And Nico—his face twisted in anger—pushed her off him in one sharp motion.

“Are you out of your mind?” he snapped. “I told you not to come to the house. If Claire finds out about us, I swear I won’t let you off.”