Chapter 4
The dress lay across my bed like a broken promise. I'd spent weeks altering it—taking in the waist, mending the hem where it had frayed, adding delicate beadwork to cover a small tear. The silver fabric caught the light as I lifted it, shimmering with possibilities that now felt like lies.
"It's just one dance," I whispered to myself, running my fingers over the handmade repairs. "One dance to show everyone I belong here."
Months ago, Ethan had promised me the opening ceremony at the Moon Goddess Gala. "You'll stand by my side," he'd said, his voice warm with what I'd foolishly believed was affection. "As my Luna."
I smoothed the dress against my body, studying my reflection in the mirror. The girl who stared back looked almost elegant—if you didn't notice the shadows under her eyes or the way her hands trembled slightly.
"Stop being so nervous," Martha had scolded earlier, helping me with my hair. "You're the Luna. Act like it."
But being Luna meant nothing when your mate's eyes looked through you instead of at you.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Ethan.
"Plans have changed. Enter after me. Don't overwhelm yourself."
Five words. Five simple words that shattered whatever fragile confidence I'd managed to build.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, the dress pooling around me. Overwhelm myself. As if standing beside him was too much for my fragile human constitution. As if I was a child who needed protection from the big, scary world.
The clock on my wall ticked past eight. The Gala would begin in fifteen minutes.
I forced myself to stand, to finish dressing. Even if he didn't want me there, I would go. I would show everyone I wasn't hiding.
---
The Grand Hall blazed with light when I slipped inside. Crystal chandeliers cast rainbow prisms across the polished marble floor, and pack members dressed in their finest moved through the space like exotic birds.
I lingered in the shadows near the entrance, scanning the crowd for Ethan. He stood near the center of the room, resplendent in a black tuxedo that emphasized his broad shoulders. But it wasn't his appearance that made my heart stutter.
It was who stood beside him.
Michaela Sanders gleamed like a diamond in a white gown that hugged every perfect curve. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and when she smiled up at Ethan, the entire room seemed to dim in comparison.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice boomed through the hall. "It is time for the Alpha's Waltz!"
The music began—a haunting melody that had been played at every Gala for generations. The spotlight swung to the center of the floor, illuminating the empty space where Ethan and I should have stood together.
But he was already moving, extending his hand to Michaela.
"I don't think so," she said loudly enough for nearby wolves to hear. "I believe that dance is reserved for the Alpha and his Luna."
"I am his Luna," I whispered, but no one was listening.
Ethan's hand closed around hers. "You're right. Let's dance."
They stepped into the circle of light, and the room fell silent except for the music. Ethan's arm slid around Michaela's waist, pulling her close as they began the intricate steps of the Alpha's Waltz.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Around me, pack members whispered and snickered.
"Did you see that? He chose her."
"Of course he did. Look at Ella—she can't even shift."
"Pathetic little human playing at being Luna."
Each word was a knife, twisting deeper into my heart. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold the pieces together as my world crumbled around me.
The dance ended with Michaela dipping gracefully in Ethan's arms. The room erupted in applause—not for the tradition, but for the spectacle of seeing me replaced so publicly.
Michaela straightened, her eyes finding mine across the room. A slow, cruel smile spread across her face.
"Thank you all for your applause," she announced, her voice carrying over the crowd. "It's an honor to dance with our Alpha."
She turned slightly, her gaze never leaving mine as she released something I'd never felt before—her full Alpha aura.
The wave of dominance rolled through the room like a tsunami. Shifted wolves stood firm, accustomed to such displays. But I—human, fragile, broken—felt it crash into me like a physical blow.
My knees buckled instantly. The air vanished from my lungs as her aura pressed down on me, crushing me to the floor.
"Ella?" Someone whispered nearby. "Are you okay?"
I couldn't answer. Couldn't breathe. The marble floor was cold against my palms as I fought to stay upright.
Michaela's voice cut through the gasps and murmurs. "The Moon Goddess has finally blessed our pack with a true Alpha female presence. One who can stand beside our Alpha without... overwhelming herself."
Laughter rippled through the crowd as I knelt there, gasping for air that wouldn't come. Through tears, I saw Ethan standing beside her, making no move to stop this public execution of my dignity.
And in that moment, as darkness edged my vision, I knew with absolute certainty that this was the end.
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