Chapter 2

“She couldn’t sleep because she was homesick. I couldn’t just leave her like that,” Liam explained the next morning, justifying his absence from my bed. He’d been with her instead.

“It doesn’t matter, Liam. She’s your fated mate,” I murmured. He sighed, cupped my face, and kissed my forehead.

“I’m trying to figure this out, okay? You promised to be with me forever, didn’t you?” he asked softly. I smiled and nodded.

“Keep that promise,” he murmured. I nodded, but things went downhill from there.

He stopped spending time with me. I only saw him on pack duty or at dinner, and even then, he talked to Veronica. I moved out of our room, and he spent almost all his time with her. I barely existed.

He had technically cleared the thought from my head as I prepared for dinner. The only reason I was still allowed to dine with them was because Liam’s aunt, Amelia, insisted on my presence. Besides Liam, she was the closest person to me in this house, but it was becoming suffocating. I felt unwanted.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my phone, and went downstairs. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, hearing laughter from the dining room.

“Isn’t she amazing, Mother?” I heard Liam say, and his mother giggled.

“She’s delightful,” his mother replied.

“Thank you, Luna Grace,” Veronica said.

“Oh, no, call me Mother; you’re technically my daughter-in-law after all.” I couldn’t stand it anymore. I walked into the dining room. As always, everyone fell silent, but that wasn’t the most shocking thing. Veronica was sitting in my seat, next to Liam.

“Dear, come sit next to me,” Liam’s aunt, Amelia, said. I smiled and sat beside her.

Everyone was quiet until Veronica spoke, and I almost gagged.

“Claire, right? I’ve heard so much about you,” she said with sickening sweetness.

“It’s Clara, and that’s good. I can’t say the same about you, though,” I retorted, taking a bite of food. I saw anger flash across her face, quickly replaced by a smile.

“I’m no longer hungry. I’ll go to my room,” Veronica murmured, pushing back her chair. Liam immediately followed.

“Are you okay?” he asked so softly I almost stabbed myself in the eye with my fork. He didn’t even bother hiding his affection for her.

“Yes, I’m just tired. Can you escort me to my room? That’s if it’s okay with Clara?” Veronica said, turning everyone’s attention to me.

Chapter 7

I swallowed my food and smiled at her.

“It doesn’t matter; you’re his mate. Excuse me,” I said, pushing back my chair and hurrying from the dining room. I couldn’t bear to stay another second. As soon as I reached my room—well, my room now—a wave of loneliness washed over me. She had replaced me in everything.

This room, once a reminder of Liam’s love and care, felt cold. I couldn’t stay here anymore; I had to leave. I would find a temporary place to stay and get a job. I just knew I had to leave.

I was about to pack when I heard a knock.

“May I come in, dear?” Amelia’s voice called from the other side. I quickly wiped away my tears.

“Yes, please.” Amelia entered, smiling, and closed the door.

“How are you doing, dear?” she asked. I nodded.

“I’ll be okay,” I murmured. She sighed.

“Well, if you ask me, you’re so much better than her, and she’s fake. I don’t know why everyone’s so smitten with her. Anyone that sweet has to be faking it,” Amelia said with disgust. I smiled.

“It doesn’t matter; she’s his other half. They’re bound by the Moon Goddess; no one can break that bond. Not even a chosen mate like me,” I murmured. We were silent for a while until she pulled a ticket from her purse.

“Take this. A function is being held in two days. Every Alpha, Beta, and Gamma will be there, even the Alpha King and his son. It’s the event of a lifetime. I was supposed to go with my husband, but you’d be better company. Who knows, we might snag you a hot Alpha, and you can finally move on from Jerky McLiam,” she muttered. I giggled.

“Jerky McLiam? He’s your nephew, Aunt Amelia,” I replied. She huffed.

“Doesn’t mean I approve of what he’s doing.” We talked until she got tired and left.

I stared at the invitation, then shook my head and shoved it in my nightstand drawer. I wasn’t going. I needed to leave as soon as possible.

Just then, Liam entered the room and smiled at me.

“My love, I’ve missed you,” he murmured, approaching me. He was about to kiss me, but I turned away.

He frowned, sighed, and sat on the bed.

“I want to talk to you about something, and I want you to be reasonable, okay?” he murmured. I frowned, remaining silent.

“There’s a function coming up, and I only have one extra ticket. I was going to take you, but Veronica really wants to go, and since she’s my mate… maybe you can sit this one out? I promise I’ll make it up to you,” he said. I scoffed. The audacity!

“Don’t bother. I wasn’t planning on going with you anyway. Aunt Amelia gave me an invitation, so I’ll be going with her. After that, I’ll be leaving this house so you can be with your mate however you wish.”