Chapter 2

"Luna Valerie, try not to dwell on it. Work interruptions can be tough to handle," Alpha Lucas said, rubbing his temples, his alpha aura pulsing with irritation. I stayed silent, moving closer to Aubree, the rogue who had once again disrupted our peace. She was a constant thorn in my side, one Lucas seemed reluctant to remove.

'Give me back the necklace,' I demanded, my voice firm despite the dryness in my throat.

Aubree's eyes sparkled with amusement before she masked it with a look of feigned sadness, glancing at Lucas. Her sharp, bitter scent overpowered the room, clashing with the floral aroma that usually cloaked her deceitful words.

'I understand, Luna Valerie. I’ll return it,' she said, her voice quivering as if she were the aggrieved party.

As she reached for the necklace, Lucas stepped in, his broad shoulders shielding her. Aubree shot me a triumphant smile, her eyes challenging me to make a move.

'Luna Valerie, what’s your issue? Can’t you drop this possessive streak?' Lucas commanded, his alpha tone slicing through the tension.

'Aubree’s been harmless for over a year. Why can’t you let it go?' he continued, his voice escalating. 'Apologize to her.'

I gazed at him, my heart heavy. How many times had he coldly demanded I apologize to Aubree? Before her return, he’d never used his alpha voice against me—never spoken to me like this.

'The necklace is mine,' I stated, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

'You already gave it to me; it’s mine now,' Aubree chimed in, her tone sugary but venomous.

'If the necklace means that much to you, how about this: pick any necklace you want—ten, even, no matter the cost—and I’ll buy them all for you,' Lucas offered, his voice booming, his alpha aura pressing down on me.

I wondered if he still saw me as his Luna or if Aubree had already claimed my place. But hadn’t I already surrendered?

I reached for the necklace in Aubree’s grasp, but Lucas was quicker, his hand striking my cheek. The sting on my skin mirrored the pain in my heart.

'Luna Valerie! Are you ignoring me now?' he snapped, his alpha tone sharper than ever.

'Alpha Lucas, don’t be harsh. If the necklace belongs to Luna Valerie, give it back to her,' Aubree said, her voice soft and sorrowful, though her eyes gleamed with mockery.

As expected, Lucas raised his voice again. 'Apologize to Aubree, or this isn’t over!'

Aubree smirked at me, silently mouthing, 'Say sorry, or I’ll toss the necklace.'

She then pretended to throw the necklace out the window. Watching her treat it—a symbol of my devotion and love—like a meaningless trinket, I finally bit my lip and bowed my head.

'I’m sorry,' I whispered, the words ripping through my soul.

'Louder, unless you skipped breakfast,' Lucas demanded, his alpha tone brooking no defiance.

'Don’t be like that, Alpha Lucas. I’m not holding grudges,' Aubree said, handing over the necklace.

I reached out to take it, but before I could, the necklace slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor. I froze, staring at the cracks in the radiant purple crystal I’d spent months polishing.

'Oh dear, I’m sorry, Luna Valerie. I just couldn’t hold onto it,' Aubree said, her voice dripping with false remorse.

'Luna Valerie, when will you learn to be as polite as Aubree?' Lucas scolded, his tone harsh. 'When you’re wrong, apologize. Why stubbornly resist?'

Their voices faded, and all I felt was the same fracture in my heart as in the purple crystal now lying in pieces. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a reminder of the bond that felt just as shattered.