Chapter 3
Selene's POV
"Gonna confess yet?"
The elder's voice echoed in the ice dungeon. I huddled in the corner, my back raw meat. Silver barbs from the whip still stuck in my skin, every move was agony.
"Fuck off." I didn't even lift my head.
CRACK!
The hundredth lash tore across my spine. I bit down hard, nails digging into my palms.
"Tomorrow we continue." The elder put away the whip. The iron door slammed shut.
Seven days. One hundred lashes each day. I was still breathing, but barely human.
My body had hit its limit, burning with fever, seeing things.
I kept seeing Leo. Wearing that blood-soaked shirt, standing nearby smiling, calling "Mommy."
"Leo, take Mommy with you..." I curled up in the frozen corner. "Mommy's so tired."
On the seventh morning, the door opened. Sunlight blinded me. Two guards dragged me out.
"Today's the heir ceremony. Alpha says this is your last shot."
Devil's Cliff was all lit up with decorations. The entire pack gathered around the altar like some festival. Carl stood on the platform in gold-trimmed Alpha robes, Elena cuddled up beside him, Thomas bouncing around.
Perfect little family.
They dumped me at the altar's edge like roadkill. The stench made nearby pack members cover their noses and back away.
Carl looked down at me, disgust in his eyes.
"Selene, last chance." He threw a scroll at my feet. "Do the blood ritual. Use your blood on the sacred stone, make Thomas your heir. Play along, and we're good. You'll still be my Luna."
I struggled to lift my head. "What if I don't?"
Carl's face went dark. "Then I force-break our bond. You know how much that'll hurt."
"Carl, don't..." Elena stepped forward. "Selene just needs time. We should keep trying..."
"Trying?" I gritted my teeth and stood up shakily. "You still putting on this show for me?"
The guards moved to grab me.
"You know what I regret most?" I stared at Carl. "Being stupid enough to fall for a backstabbing PIECE OF SHIT like you!"
The crowd gasped. Carl's face darkened.
"How many times did I take bullets for you? Nearly died having Leo! And for what?" I pointed at Elena, hatred burning in my eyes. "You were thinking about this WHORE the whole time! Leo's dead three days and you want me to claim her bastard!"
"ENOUGH!" Carl roared. "Elena's not a whore! Thomas isn't a bastard! Think I would've married you without your father's army?"
"HA!" I laughed until tears came. "So there it is! Carl Blackwood, you're one hell of an actor!"
I turned to the pack. "Everyone, look good! This is your Alpha! A complete bastard who'll screw you all over!"
Carl's face went red. "Selene! Watch it!"
"Watch it? I'd rather KILL you both right now!"
Then Elena walked up and whispered:
"Since you hate me so much, here's a secret." Her smile turned evil. "Those three rogues? I set that up. Told them about a little boy who played alone at the border. Too bad Leo wasn't fast enough..."
Everything stopped.
"You... what?"
"IT WAS YOU!" It all clicked, rage and despair hitting me like a truck. "You MURDERED my baby!"
I lunged at Elena, trying to claw her face off.
"I'll KILL you, psycho bitch!"
Carl shoved me away, protecting Elena. "You're fucking crazy! Trying to kill someone in front of everyone!"
"She CONFESSED!" I pointed at Elena. "She just said she got Leo killed!"
"BULLSHIT!" Carl was livid. "Elena wouldn't hurt a fly! You'll say anything now!"
Elena hid behind Carl, crying. "I didn't say anything... Why is she lying about me... I'm scared..."
"You lying CUNT!" I tried charging again but guards held me.
"STOP!" Carl snapped. "Touch Elena again and I'll break our bond myself!"
I watched him shield Elena. Something inside me snapped.This bastard would never believe me. Never.
"Break the bond?" A wild laugh escaped me. "Don't bother. I'll do it myself."
I backed toward the cliff edge. Wind whipped my torn dress.
Carl went white. "Selene! What are you doing? Get back here!"
"I, Selene Moonshadow, Luna of the Blood Moon Pack—"
"NO! Shut up! Stop!" Carl ran at me.
"By the Moon Goddess, I REJECT Carl Blackwood as my Alpha! I reject his soul, his blood, EVERYTHING!"
Pain tore through me as the oath completed. I spat blood. Carl collapsed, screaming.
"Now you're free, Carl."
I spread my arms and fell backward into nothing.
Wind roared.
Leo, Mommy's coming.
