Chapter 3
"No. That's impossible!"
Eric stared fixedly at the deep, crimson mating mark. His eyes turned bloodshot, wide with frantic jealousy and terrified denial.
In the werewolf world, only the absolute deepest soul bond could leave such an indelible dark red mark.
It meant the Moon Goddess had blessed this new union and completely obliterated any trace of the tie he and I once shared.
"How..."
Eric muttered, stumbling backward. He shook his head repeatedly.
"It's fake. You painted that on to piss me off, didn't you? You resent me, so you had someone fake a mark to get back at me."
He refused to believe the Moon Goddess would personally void his claim.
"I admit I committed an unforgivable sin. I hurt you. But you don't have to degrade yourself like this just to spite me!"
Eric's voice pitched higher, a messy blend of agony and delusion.
"Who is he? Tell me! I'll challenge him!"
Eric's explosive Alpha scent erupted, rolling out in a scorching wave of heat as he tried to force the Dark Moon guards back.
"Selena, give me one chance. I can defeat him. I'll take back our destiny. I was a fool before, but from now on, I will devote myself entirely to you. I will never let anyone deceive me again."
Thick, suffocating regret swirled in his eyes, but beneath it was the same deep-seated arrogance.
He still viewed me as a lost possession he could win back in a fight.
"Take back?"
I let out a cold scoff. "Eric, even now you don't get it. The moment you lost me wasn't the night you protected Lily. It was the exact second you pushed me into the Frozen Tundra."
"A soul bond isn't a trophy you can fight over. The Moon Goddess revoked her blessing because of your own choices."
"I don't believe it!" Eric roared, refusing to accept the truth.
After seeing through Lily's lies, he had spent countless nights fantasizing about our reunion. He imagined I would be furious, that I would cry, that I would make him work for it.
He never once imagined my soul would already be branded by someone else.
"Lily was a liar, but the bond between us was a gift from the Goddess! It doesn't just vanish!"
With bloodshot eyes, Eric burst forward. Ignoring the wall of silver blades, he lunged straight for me.
He wanted to touch me. He wanted to feel the soul connection for himself, desperate to prove the mark was a lie.
"Protect the Queen!"
Liam roared. Several guards instantly closed ranks, their swords clashing as they formed a shield in front of me.
I stood exactly where I was. I didn't even blink.