Chapter 3
Three days passed in that glass coffin.
My lunar core pulsed weaker with each hour. The silver had wormed its way deep—into my veins, my marrow, my wolf's resting place.
She was gone. My wolf. I couldn't feel her at all anymore.
The base intercom played Serena's voice on repeat—sweet, hopeful, everything they wanted to hear.
"...The researchers confirmed it. Once the lunar transfer is complete, I'll be able to maintain the Blood Moon Seal myself. I swear to every wolf in this pack—I will protect us. I'll be the Luna you deserve."
The Luna they deserve.
Using my stolen power. My ripped-out soul.
The isolation chamber door hissed open.
Serena walked in.
She wore white—always white—like some bridal fantasy untouched by the apocalypse outside. Her hair was perfect. Her skin was flawless. She looked like she'd never seen a day of hardship in her life.
Because she hadn't. I'd made sure of that.
Every patrol I took in her place. Every beast I killed that was hunting her. Every night I stood guard so she could sleep safely.
She tapped on the glass pod with one manicured nail, smiling down at me.
"Elara. Sweet, stupid Elara." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Do you know why Dominic chose me? It's not because I'm prettier, or smarter, or stronger. It's because I know what men want to hear. And you?" She tilted her head. "You just kept giving and giving, like a dog begging for scraps. It's pathetic, honestly."
I couldn't speak. The tube down my throat prevented it.
But my eyes were open. And she could see the hatred in them.
It made her smile wider.
"Don't worry," she said, leaning closer. "The core extraction is scheduled for tomorrow. The doctors say you'll be brain-dead within minutes. But Dominic promises he'll keep your body alive on machines—'out of respect.'" She made air quotes. "Isn't that romantic?"
She clapped her hands twice.
The door opened again, and several men walked in. Wolves from the lower ranks—ones I recognized. Ones I'd saved during the last territory war.
Serena said, "I thought, since it's your last night being... you... maybe you'd want some company?"
The lead wolf looked at me in the pod—scarred, broken, tubes everywhere—and grinned.
"Never thought I'd get a shot at the True Luna," he said. "Shame about the face, but hey—"
"Stop." The door slammed open so hard it cracked the wall.
Dominic stood there, chest heaving, eyes blazing gold.
For one delirious second, I thought he'd come to save me.
Then Serena collapsed against him, sobbing.
"Dominic—I tried to stop them—Elara, she—she used what's left of her power to SUMMON them here! She's trying to create a scandal so you'll cancel the extraction!"
His golden eyes turned to me. And what I saw in them wasn't love, wasn't concern.
It was disgust.
"Disconnect her nutrient lines," he said coldly. "Let her think about what she's become."
The monitors flatlined within the hour.
My lunar core pulsed weaker with each hour. The silver had wormed its way deep—into my veins, my marrow, my wolf's resting place.
She was gone. My wolf. I couldn't feel her at all anymore.
The base intercom played Serena's voice on repeat—sweet, hopeful, everything they wanted to hear.
"...The researchers confirmed it. Once the lunar transfer is complete, I'll be able to maintain the Blood Moon Seal myself. I swear to every wolf in this pack—I will protect us. I'll be the Luna you deserve."
The Luna they deserve.
Using my stolen power. My ripped-out soul.
The isolation chamber door hissed open.
Serena walked in.
She wore white—always white—like some bridal fantasy untouched by the apocalypse outside. Her hair was perfect. Her skin was flawless. She looked like she'd never seen a day of hardship in her life.
Because she hadn't. I'd made sure of that.
Every patrol I took in her place. Every beast I killed that was hunting her. Every night I stood guard so she could sleep safely.
She tapped on the glass pod with one manicured nail, smiling down at me.
"Elara. Sweet, stupid Elara." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Do you know why Dominic chose me? It's not because I'm prettier, or smarter, or stronger. It's because I know what men want to hear. And you?" She tilted her head. "You just kept giving and giving, like a dog begging for scraps. It's pathetic, honestly."
I couldn't speak. The tube down my throat prevented it.
But my eyes were open. And she could see the hatred in them.
It made her smile wider.
"Don't worry," she said, leaning closer. "The core extraction is scheduled for tomorrow. The doctors say you'll be brain-dead within minutes. But Dominic promises he'll keep your body alive on machines—'out of respect.'" She made air quotes. "Isn't that romantic?"
She clapped her hands twice.
The door opened again, and several men walked in. Wolves from the lower ranks—ones I recognized. Ones I'd saved during the last territory war.
Serena said, "I thought, since it's your last night being... you... maybe you'd want some company?"
The lead wolf looked at me in the pod—scarred, broken, tubes everywhere—and grinned.
"Never thought I'd get a shot at the True Luna," he said. "Shame about the face, but hey—"
"Stop." The door slammed open so hard it cracked the wall.
Dominic stood there, chest heaving, eyes blazing gold.
For one delirious second, I thought he'd come to save me.
Then Serena collapsed against him, sobbing.
"Dominic—I tried to stop them—Elara, she—she used what's left of her power to SUMMON them here! She's trying to create a scandal so you'll cancel the extraction!"
His golden eyes turned to me. And what I saw in them wasn't love, wasn't concern.
It was disgust.
"Disconnect her nutrient lines," he said coldly. "Let her think about what she's become."
The monitors flatlined within the hour.