Chapter 2

Elara's POV

Word of the broken bond spread through all of Silvermoon overnight.

Some said I'd lost my mind. Others said I was bluffing — give it a few days and I'd be on my knees outside Kael's door, begging him to take me back.

I let it all slide. First thing the next morning, I started packing. I wasn't Kael's mate anymore, so I had no business living in the core district. I'd move to one of the old wood cabins on the far edge of the territory. Once I had enough money, I'd leave for good. This place made me sick.

That night was the monthly full-moon banquet. As a member of the pack, I couldn't skip it.

I threw on a plain gray sweater, sat in the corner, and ate my roast in peace. In the middle of the hall, Kael laughed over drinks with the elders. Beside him stood a tall redhead. Seraphina.

The same woman Kael married in my last life. Pride of the Northern Frostwolf clan. A war goddess, the real deal.

In my last life, I hated her. Wanted her GONE. Now? Just another trophy Kael kept around to hold his power.

"Well, well. If it isn't our dear jilted ex-fiancée."

I looked up. Chloe, with her little pack of followers trailing behind. Kael's cousin. She'd hated me her whole life, and I'd lost count of the traps she'd set in my last one.

"All alone with your cold meat, huh?" She cranked her voice up loud enough to turn heads. "Feeling a bit heartbroken, watching the Alpha stand next to Lady Seraphina?"

I set my fork down, wiped my mouth, and looked at her. "I'm eating my dinner. What's it to you? And if that mouth of yours is really that bored, I'd be happy to sew it shut."

Chloe's face shifted. She hadn't expected the old doormat to talk back. She let out a cold laugh. Then her eyes flicked to Seraphina heading our way — and flip. The wronged-woman mask slid on.

"Elara! How could you say that to me?" Her voice shot up to full volume. "I was just worried about you! I know you hate Lady Seraphina for taking the Alpha — but you can't call her those filthy names behind her back!"

Same old trick. She'd pulled it a hundred times in my last life. Make it up. Use someone else as the knife.

The air around us went quiet. Seraphina stopped dead. Those sharp green eyes swept over. Kael noticed too — his brow drew tight and he walked over.

"What's going on?" Cold.

Chloe jumped forward and pointed straight at me. "Alpha, Elara won't even reflect on what she did. She's been bad-mouthing Lady Seraphina behind her back. She said — she said she's only where she is because she sleeps her way up—"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Insulting a high-rank wolf meant a whipping.

Kael looked at me. Disappointment. Smug pity, like he was doing me a favor. "Elara. I thought last night you were just throwing a tantrum. I didn't think you could be this vicious. Apologize to Seraphina. Now."

I stayed in my chair. Didn't even stand. Honestly, watching him be so sure of himself was ridiculous.

"I never said any of that." Flat.

"Still lying!" Kael snapped. "Chloe heard you with her own ears. You think she'd make it up?"

That was when Seraphina moved. Long legs, a few strides, straight up to Chloe.

SMACK —

A slap cracked through the hall. Chloe flew sideways into a long table. Plates and cups crashed to the floor.

The room went dead quiet.

Seraphina pulled a handkerchief, wiped her hand, looked down at Chloe trembling on the ground. Her voice was cold enough to freeze water.

"I was ten feet away from you. I could hear you chewing. She said exactly one thing the whole time — telling you to shut up. Who the hell do you think you are, hiding behind me like that, over your worthless little jealousy?"

Chloe clutched her fast-swelling cheek. Shaking. Couldn't get a word out.

Kael stood frozen. "Seraphina, Chloe was only trying to defend you—"

"Oh, spare me, Kael." Seraphina cut him off, eyes like blades. "What I can't stand is this bitchy little backbiting you all live for. Why do women have to tear each other apart over a man?" She jabbed a finger my way. "She already broke the bond herself. She's a free woman. Is THIS how Silvermoon treats a girl with no family?"

Kael had nothing. His face went red, then pale.

Seraphina turned to me. Something like approval crossed her face.

"I heard what you did in the hall yesterday. Nice work." A pause. "If it gets too miserable here, come find me up north. My personal guard is short on women with a spine like yours."

I blinked. Then I actually smiled. "Thanks, Seraphina."

My mortal enemy in one life. The first person to stand up for me in this one. Guess the truly strong never bother getting in the mud with the rest.

The banquet wound down. I walked back to the cabins alone. Heavy footsteps behind me.

"Elara. Hold up."

Kael.

I stopped. Didn't turn.

He came up on my side, his voice dripping charity. "What happened tonight was Chloe's fault. I've already punished her. You've had your fun — you've made your point. Move back to the core district tomorrow. I'll set you up with a desk job. You'll never want for anything the rest of your life."

Still. STILL he thought I was playing hard to get. Still thought I couldn't live without him.

I turned and looked at him. Calm.

"Kael. You're after power. You need Seraphina's connections — but you have to keep up the act, like you're the generous one. You want me chained to your side like you're making a bet with someone. Proving no woman can escape your charm."

"What the hell are you talking about?" His face went dark.

"Meaning? Keep your pathetic little pity." I stepped back, putting distance between us. "The second I agreed to break the bond, you stopped meaning anything to me. Don't come near me again."

I turned and walked into the dark trees.

Behind me, Kael stood rooted in place. Clenched fists. That look — pent-up rage, and disbelief he couldn't hide.