Chapter 1
Series 1 Chapter 1
Today was the celebration for my husband's child.
The baby he had with another woman had just turned one month old.
And I, his legal wife, was serving tea to both of them.
Three years ago, I pulled Damon out of a mountain of corpses.
He had been dying.
To repay me, he signed a mating contract with me and named me the future Luna of Blackwood.
Less than a year later, Seraphina arrived.
She was a pureblood werewolf.
I was only a human doctor.
Three years passed.
I never became pregnant.
The clan decided that a human woman could never bear an Alpha's heir.
Eventually, even Damon believed it.
The Luna in name became the lowest servant in Blackwood.
Tonight was the celebration for Seraphina's son.
The great hall glittered with candlelight.
Noble werewolves raised their glasses, celebrating the birth of their future Alpha.
No one remembered that I had saved Damon's life three years ago.
No one remembered that I had once been a doctor.
For three years, I had never left Blackwood.
An Alpha's command outweighed everything else.
As long as Damon refused to let me go, no werewolf in the clan would dare help me leave.
But tonight was different.
The entire clan was drunk on celebration.
No one would notice when a servant quietly disappeared.
I had waited three years for this chance.
And it would be my only one.
Just a few more hours.
Then I'd finally be free.
"Elara."
A soft, sweet voice drifted across the hall.
I slowly lifted my head.
Seraphina lounged in the Alpha's seat, cradling her baby in her arms.
A pair of tiny silver wolf ears had already emerged from the infant's head.
Everyone knew what that meant.
He was Blackwood's future Alpha.
She crooked a finger at me.
"Come here."
Keeping my head down, I walked over.
"Yes, ma'am."
A lazy smile curved her lips.
"I'm thirsty."
"Pour me some water."
I stepped toward the table.
The kettle had just come off the fire.
Steam curled into the air.
I picked up a teacup.
My right hand trembled from old injuries.
Just as I reached to hand it over, Seraphina glanced at the maid standing behind her.
A faint smile crossed her face.
"Help her."
Before I could react, the maid grabbed my wrist.
The next second, the entire cup of boiling water was poured over the back of my hand.
"Ah!"
The pain shot straight into my bones.
The hand that was already covered in scars turned bright red almost instantly.
Blisters rose across my skin.
My knees hit the floor.
Laughter echoed through the banquet hall.
Seraphina rose gracefully to her feet.
Still holding her baby, she walked toward me one slow step at a time.
Looking down at me, she smiled as gently as ever.
Then the heel of her boot came crashing down on my burned hand.
Crack.
The sound of breaking bone echoed through the hall.
Blinding pain swallowed me whole.
I bit down hard on my lip.
Not another sound escaped me.
Seraphina leaned close enough for only me to hear.
"A human who can't even give birth to a wolf pup..."
"What makes you think you have the right to touch my child?"
I said nothing.
Instead, I slowly lifted my head.
Past her.
Toward Damon.
The man who had once promised to protect me for the rest of my life.
Now he stood at Seraphina's side.
One arm rested gently around her waist.
The other teased their baby with impossible tenderness.
He saw everything.
His eyes lingered on me for a single second.
Then he looked away.
As if I were nothing more than dust beneath his feet.
That was the moment my heart finally died.
Lowering my gaze, I stared at my ruined right hand.
Three years ago...
These hands had saved his life.
Three years later...
He had silently allowed them to be destroyed, piece by piece.
A quiet laugh escaped my lips.
There weren't even any tears left to cry.
Outside, the moon was sinking toward the horizon.
I lowered my head and quietly returned to my room.
Finally.
The time had come.
Tonight...
I was escaping Blackwood.