Chapter 3

I noticed her the moment she walked into the council chamber. Chandler Ross, with her sleek blonde hair and confident stride, wearing a silver-blue dress that mimicked my Luna ceremonial colors. The fabric caught the light as she moved, drawing every eye in the room—including Amir's.

"Good morning, everyone," she announced, taking her seat at the table—directly across from me, where she had no business sitting during a pack council meeting.

I kept my expression neutral, though Aria growled within me. "That's my color," she snarled. "My position she's trying to claim."

"Chandler," I acknowledged with a nod. "I wasn't aware you'd be joining us today."

"Oh!" She smiled sweetly, her fingers brushing the silver pendant at her throat—the one I'd noticed before, the one that looked suspiciously like Luna jewelry. "Alpha Amir asked me to attend. Given my... special relationship with pack affairs."

The pause before "special" wasn't subtle. Neither was the way her eyes flicked to Amir, who suddenly found his paperwork fascinating.

"We're discussing territory boundaries today," Beta Emersyn interjected, her tone crisp. "I'm not sure what insights you could provide, Chandler."

"Well," Chandler leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone that carried perfectly in the quiet room, "I've been helping Alpha Amir with some... private negotiations. Haven't I, Alpha?"

Amir cleared his throat. "Chandler has been assisting with the northern border discussions."

"With the Stone Ridge Pack," Chandler added, her smile widening. "Their Alpha is quite... persuasive."

I watched as several council members exchanged glances. Delta Warren's brow furrowed. Gamma Elena's lips thinned. They weren't stupid. They could read the undertones as clearly as I could.

"Perhaps," I suggested quietly, "we should focus on today's agenda."

Throughout the meeting, Chandler continued her subtle campaign—offering suggestions that undermined my previous decisions, referencing conversations with Amir that should have included me, wearing my colors like a challenge.

By the time we adjourned, my head was pounding with the effort of maintaining my composure.

---

"You're pushing yourself too hard," Marcus Stone, our pack healer, murmured as he checked my vitals after the training session collapse.

I lay on the ground, embarrassed by the concerned circle of pack members surrounding me. The pain had hit without warning—a searing agony that radiated from my chest and sent me to my knees mid-demonstration.

"I'm fine," I insisted, though the words came out as a rasp. "Just need a moment."

But Marcus's expression told me he knew better. His weathered hands pressed gently against my chest, directly over my heart.

"The mate bond," he said quietly, for my ears alone. "It's weakening further."

I closed my eyes, not wanting to admit the truth. But Aria howled within me, her pain mirroring my own.

"It happened when he was with her," she whimpered. "I felt them together."

Marcus helped me sit up, his movements careful. "Luna Rosalina needs rest," he announced to the gathered pack members. "Please give her space."

As they dispersed, I caught snippets of their whispers.

"...never seen her collapse before..."

"...the Alpha and Luna haven't been the same since..."

"...something's wrong with their bond..."

Elena, our house manager, knelt beside me, her eyes kind but worried. "Let me help you back to your quarters, Luna."

I nodded weakly, allowing her to support me as we walked slowly across the training grounds.

---

The dress from our mating ceremony still fit perfectly—a silver gown that shimmered like moonlight on water. I'd spent hours preparing Amir's favorite meal—venison steaks with wild mushrooms and roasted root vegetables. Our wedding anniversary deserved special effort, especially now.

I lit candles throughout our private dining room, their warm glow casting dancing shadows on the walls. The table was set with our finest crystal and silver, the wine breathing in elegant glasses.

"He'll remember what we once had," I told myself, smoothing the skirt of my dress. "He'll remember why we're mates."

My phone chimed with a message just as I was placing the finishing touches on the table.

Amir: Emergency at the northern border. Pack meeting postponed. Dinner will have to wait.

I stared at the screen, my fingers hovering over the reply button.

"Another emergency," Aria scoffed bitterly. "How convenient."

I set the phone down without responding and sank into a chair, the candlelight reflecting off my untouched wine glass.

An hour later, Emersyn called.

"Rosalina," her voice was tight with barely contained anger. "I thought you should know. Amir's not at any northern border."

"He's not?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"No," Emersyn confirmed. "He and Chandler left this afternoon for the mountain cabin. Apparently, there's a 'weekend strategic planning retreat' that requires both their presence."

I closed my eyes, the silver dress suddenly feeling heavy on my skin.

"Thank you for telling me," I said quietly.

"Rosalina..." Emersyn hesitated. "What are you going to do?"

I looked around at the carefully prepared table, at the flickering candles and cooling food.

"I'm done waiting for him to choose me," I whispered. "It's time I chose myself."