CHAPTER THREE

SELENE'S POV.

Julian never hid his infidelity. He thinks he does but at the same time, he publicly rubs it on my face.

I recalled the first time Aria displayed her true attitude towards me.

Immediately Julia left the room,Aria stormed into the den, her eyes darted and filled with rage.

“Get her!” She commanded.

My eyes flickered with confusion, I looked forward and turned backwards to check if Julian is aware of this sudden chaos, but he wasn't there.

Immediately, the two warriors, gripped me by the wrist, I screamed, cried and asked for explanation. But Aria fell deaf ears.

“We need fresh blood for the Pack patients……. as a Luna, you are supposed to watch your pack,” she said, letting off a sly grin

“Nonsense! Let me go” I yelled.

But they never listened, they pierced the syringe down my vein as blood flowed into the little blood band.

My wolf screamed, ached for help but no help came.

“Don't mention this to Julian, Aria snapped…. It is for the good of your pack.”

Immediately, they loosened their grip on me and I quickly fell to my knees.

As if that wasn't enough, Aria, clenched her fist and landed it hard on my stomach.

I screamed, cried but I never mentioned it to Julian.

As if that wasn't enough, after she was announced as the new beta, my blood was also drawn because she wanted it.

Julian never protected me anytime Aria was around, instead, he showered her with love and made sure her needs were satisfied.

I smirked bitterly as thoughts ran through my mind.

The one that hit me the most was when she spat on my food and Julian said nothing. He defended her as usual.

“You should be careful with hygiene,” he yelled.

Later that morning, Aria paraded through the training field wearing my old battle armour, Luna crest still fresh on the shoulder.

The younger wolves gasped. “Isn’t that Luna Selene’s seal?”

Aria only smiled. “Oh, she won’t need it anymore. It’s not like she’s Alpha’s chosen anymore.”

I stood at the edge as I looked down from the window.

Hearing her response, I smirked bitterly, letting off a sly grin.

Suddenly, there was the sound of something breaking at the corner.

I quickly ran towards the direction of the sound, only to find my Luna Sigil stone broken. The golden artifact that links Luna to her pack had cracked down the centre.

My gaze locked onto Aria.

Oops......sorry Selene, I didn’t mean to. She said as she stood by the shelf, wide-eyed, a broken Sigil stone at her feet.

She smiled, her face innocent, the kind that would make anyone fall in her trap.

Julian didn’t care about my broken Sigil stone at all, and immediately moved past me to check if Aria was injured.

His arms wrapped around her waist.

Are you hurt? He asked, his hands wrapped gently around her.

“I’m not, it just made me scared," she responded.

Seeing no wounds over her body, the worry in his eyes faded, "It's okay, nothing is more important than you."

“And Selene, learn to keep your belongings properly so they don’t hurt anyone”

But getting Julian`s attention wasn’t enough. Aria's eyes locked onto mine as she tilted her head, asking, “You don’t mind, right, Selene?”

My gaze dropped to the floor.

The sigil stone had been one of a kind.

Something that still kept me with Julian. A hope that I still had a place in his heart.

But now, it was just broken pieces.

If it happened years ago, I would definitely be mad and even say a few words.

But now, I looked back up and was kind enough to say, “It’s fine.”

A flicker passed across Aria`s face before it settled.

She smiled. “Aww, you’re really so kind Selene."

Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Julian.

“By the way… I challenged myself for rank today at the Training Field. The females said they’d follow me as Luna. I accepted.”

I blinked. “What?”

Julian said no words. Instead, he turned his gaze away from me.

His silence screamed louder than betrayal.

Aria smiled, her voice dropping into a purr.

“There’s going to be a formal duel tomorrow at dawn. The winner moves into the Luna Chamber. Loser moves out for good.”

Then her eyes narrowed towards me.

“Don’t be late, Selene.”

I smirked bitterly, letting off a sly grin.

Such a trick to move into my chamber, I muttered silently.

But inside, my wolf howled in silence as my mate's bond with Julian kept on fading.

“No need for that Aria, you can move in,” I replied.

Aria had always wanted everything I got…….... But now I don’t want any of them, they are all garbage to me, I muttered silently.

“Oh Luna is scared of losing her position publicly, " Aria said mockfully.

Young wolves who watched giggled.

“As I said, no need for that I snapped, my voice steady. I still have a lot of stuff to move out, when I’m done, I will let you stay in my chamber”.

Besides, my mate's bond with Julian had been broken, I murmured silently.

Hearing my response, Julian`s lips parted. He was surprised at my sudden behaviour but Aria quickly snapped in.

Thanks Selene.

I smirked.

That Evening.

I spent all my time sorting through my belongings.

By dusk, I had loaded it onto a horse drawn trade cart for donation to an orphaned pack near the borders.

“You didn’t need to get rid of so much,” Julian frowned, watching the cart roll away.

To him, something about me felt different. I was… calm. Too calm to argue about anything

“They’re old,” I replied calmly, “Time to let go.”

Julian opened his mouth, but instead of addressing it, he changed the subject.

“Mother is organizing a gathering tonight at the Iron Hall. She wants you there too”.

I Stiffened.

Luna Tracy-My mother in-law

CHAPTER FOUR

SELENE'S POV

“She never wants to see me, what`s up with the change?” I asked suspiciously.

Immediately, JuLian`s face reddened. “That`s a thing with you Selene, always questioning, Aria doesn't do that, " he said scornfully.

With that, he banged the door and left.

My face fell, going to the gathering isn't an issue, but the humiliation that comes with it

Luna Tracy had always been a tung on my flesh, she had never loved me since the first time I came into the Blackthorns family.

He had only loved Aria, cherished her and wanted her to be her son's Luna.

“That orphan isn't the best choice for my son, something needs to be done, " she said during the gathering with the elders.”

For the past three years, she never let me visit, nor did she let me have a word with her. Now, hearing she wants to see me, sounds like a trap to me.

Just one final visit before I would vanish from the Blackthorn`s family.

At the Gathering.

I stood before the doors of the Iron Hall, dressed in the plain ceremonial robe I once wore during Julian`s coronation-the day I became his Luna.

From a far distance, Luna Tracy gaze locked onto mine, her eyes like a sharpened knife. Aria sat beside her.

I walked in, head high,whispers already bloomed but the moment I sat down, Luna Tracy stood.

Every step she took as she walked closer made my stomach twist.

“Selene,” Luna Tracy voiced out. “You finally came”

I lowered, my head bowed. “You asked to see me,” I replied.

She sneered, Since you are here, listen closely. Tonight, we officially name Aria as the new luna. You can stay if you want, no one is chasing you away but the Title isn`t yours anymore”.

Hearing that, I smirked bitterly, didn`t even flinch, this meeting was all planned, first Aria wants my chamber, now she wants the Title.

Whispers filled the hall. I turned to Julian. He said nothing. His gaze didn`t even meet my eyes.

“You should be ashamed of yourself Selene,” Luna Tracy added sharply. “An orphan thinking she could ever be the mother of a pack, I tolerated you for too long. Four years now, you can`t produce an Heir, what can you really do?”

My fists clenched. Nails dug into my palms.

If only they knew I hadn't made love with my fated Alpha..

For the past four years, Julian had never let me sleep on the same bed, nor had he made love to me as his Luna.

He always avoided intimacy with me, with an excuse of having several pack meetings and getting tired from the day's work.

“Fine, Aria can come in as Luna” I replied.

With that, Julian's face darkened as I didn't object.

“So this is your final decision?” he snapped coldly.

“Of course,” I said plainly.

“She truly doesn`t deserve Julian. She`s so proud and rude,” a voice scolded from afar.

“Break the bond Julian, Selene is becoming so proud this day” Luna Tracy demanded.

I laughed out loudly, the already broken bond I guess, the bond Julian didn't notice had been broken, I said silently.

With that, Aria smiled, her eyes gleamed with triumph. “I guess it`s official then” she said as she walked closer to Julian, placing her hands on his but he quickly pulled her hands away, his eyes ragging with anger.

Seeing, she lost attention from Julian, she ran towards me, her knees bent to the floors of the halls, hands wrapped around my legs.

“Don`t hate me for this Selene, I`m sorry for coming into your union, Julian can`t just get away from me, he has already marked me. We can no longer keep it hidden anymore” She said, her voice low and cracked.

Hearing her speak, I smirked bitterly.

She tightened her grip on my legs, her nails pierced hardly into my legs.

Immediately, I pulled away from her grip. With that, she rolled quickly towards the hall tower, her head banging on the edges.

Julian rushed towards Aria calling her name, his hands wrapped around her.

“Is she okay?” someone shouted.

Julian`s face twisted.

The crowd murmured in disappointment as they continued raining abuses on me.

But before anyone could speak again, Luna Tracy cold hand seized my arm.

“You have embarrassed us enough,” she whispered angrily

She dragged me through the side hall, down to the guest wing restroom.

“Let me wash that arrogance out of you.”

She pushed my head into a bucket of cold water, holding it down.

I struggled, screamed, my lungs screaming for air.

Water filled my nose.

I gasped..

Then, she pulled me up just long enough to breathe then shoved me again.

Not once.Not twice.

Three. Four. Five times.

Until my screams were nothing but gurgles.

Then she dragged me toward the back of the restroom.

She threw me into a massive tank, filled with water.

And shut the lid.

I kicked. Scratched.

No air.No way out.

Back at the gathering, Aria's lips curved into a warm smile as their plans were perfectly executed.

Luna Tracy walked back into the hall, there was a moment of silence from everyone.

“Hope Selene had been properly punished” A loud voice echoed from behind.

Meanwhile, all those while Julian acted all strange, he kept distance from everyone, his eyes darted around the hall.

Immediately, he walked towards Luna Tracy, his eyes filled with rage.

“Mother! Where is Selene” he said in a commanding voice.

Luna Tracy`s face fell into a pretentious look. “Selene, ran away from my grip, she wanted to kill me with her bare hands,but I pulled away from her grip, letting her go”.

Hearing that, Julian`s face darkened as he blamed his mother for letting me go.

“Go find Selene, he ordered his warriors”

He tried our midline but it didn't connect.

Alpha!Alpha his Warriors called out.

CHAPTER FIVE

SELENE’S POV.

Aria clenched her fist as she noticed Julian`s sudden behaviour and the way he ordered his guards to search for me, her eyes filled with rage.

Aria never relented, she moved towards Julian as she wrapped her hands around his shoulder.

“Let her go, she tried killing mother,” she said, her voice low and sweet.

Julian didn`t even turn to her, his gaze fixed on his phone as she tried connecting to my line but it didn't go through.

He was so troubled that he didn`t know when he pushed Aria away and turned to leave but Luna Tracy stopped him.

“You can`t afford to lose Aria, Julian, she is carrying your child now, which we have always wanted,” Luna Tracy said.

With that, Julian stopped the search as they carried on with the celebration while I continued drowning in the tank.

Meanwhile, Ethan`s wolf scent continued waving in the air. His mind troubled as he traced the wolf scent.

“Selene! Yes Selene,She is in danger” he pondered as he quickly shifted and vanished to the place where I was.

He paced restlessly as he got to the Blackthorn`s Pack, without wasting another time,he shifted into a sleek, midnight invisible wolf- an ability he possessed which made him stronger than other Alphas.

With the Wolf scent tracing him to the back of the restroom where I was locked into a tank, he stopped,his eyes blooming with rage as he opened the lid of the tank.

There I was, already laying lifeless, with no hesitation, he shifted back to human, claws still half formed.

“Selene!” He called out, his heart pounding as he found out I wasn`t breathing.

“Don`t do this to me,” he whispered hoarsely, as he cradled me in his arms. “You can`t die like this”

He lowered his head, listening but no heartbeat.

One…. two..three…. He tilted my head back and breath into my mouth and then-

Cough!

My eyes snapped open, coughing and gasping as water poured out of my mouth. My fingers clutched at his shirt in panic.

“Ethan……?”

His eyes locked onto mine “Who did this to you Selene? Tell me and they won`t see the next daylight” he snapped sharply.

“Take me away……..away from this pack” I said, my voice faint and cracked.

Just as he lifted me up, my chest ached, tears streamed down my eyes as I couldn`t hold them any longer.

I want to be away from Julian….. So far away that he would never find me.

“Ethan, lets form a water clone of my body” I demanded

“Let Julian mourn a corpse, when finally chose to find me”.

Immediately, I pricked my finger, dripped my blood and wolf scent into the tank water.

Then, Ethan, activated his talis-power as he formed a water clone of my body, inside the tank-identical in scent and form.

My lips curved into a warm smile, as I watched my identical body laying lifeless inside the tank.

Finally, every trace of my presence in this Pack and in Julian's world had been erased completely.

My gaze fell on my phone, which Luna Tracy had kept aside, I smirked as I let out a loud laugh seeing she had already broken my midline disconnecting me from reaching out to anyone.

“Glad she did, cause I would have done the same now,” I whispered to Ethan.

Crave a fake mate mark on the clone too, I want every doubt of my death gone too.

Later that night, Julian didn`t sleep, his face filled with worry as he continued trying my midline but it didn't connect.

Aria, on the other hand, was so happy having Julian all alone by herself.

Dressed in my Red Lingerie, she moved closer to Julian, her body moving in a seductive way.

“Selene, I have Julian now, while you rot in a tank” she said to herself.

As she moved closer to Julian, he gave her a stern look, his gaze fixed back on his phone as she continued trying my midline.

“Where are you Selene! Why is your midline not connecting” he typed, his fingers wrapped on his phone. Message sent.

Aria clenched her fist, her face filled with rage as she noticed Julian`s distant behaviour. She shifted closer to him, as she titled her fingers down Julian`s chest but he quickly pushed her away.

“Not now, Aria, I`m not in the best mood for this ”he said harshly.

“Have you tried connecting to Selene's midline?” He asked sharply.

“No I can't connect to her, she blocked me” Aria lied.

Aria`s face fell, as she noticed Julian had tried connecting to my midline, she shifted backward, Julian`s behaviour towards my disappearance made her hate me more.

“You wanted her gone…….. Why are you now acting obsessed?” Aria asked.

She quickly pulled him closer,her hands wrapped around him.

“You love staying close to me Julian,I just want to cuddle you till the Moon rises” she added, her lips curving into a malicious smile.

"But Julian ignored her question, pulling her way as he got up and left, the door slamming hard behind him and leaving her alone for the night."

Tears streamed down her eyes as she realised her actions only made Julian become obsessed with me.

Julian went out in the night alongside his warriors in search of me, they walked through the woods, searched every resort center, went back to my foster parents' pack in search of me but I was nowhere to be found.

With a loud voice, Julian screamed as he felt pains in his arms, his eyes sparkled with rage, his chest ached sharply.

Alpha!" one of the warriors rushed to steady him.

He tore off his shirt, turning back to the firelight.

The sacred Luna mark was gone.

His face turned pale.

Only then did he realize the mate mark was no more there, and the bond had been broken.