Chapter 4
The next morning, I finished packing.
It was time to walk away-from this mess, from this pack, from the wreckage of whatever life I thought i
had here.
And yet, Selah appeared again.
Her smile bloomed like a poisonous flower, slow and cruel.
She circled me like a predator admiring prey already broken, already discarded.
“Did you know, Isolde?” she whispered as she stopped beside me, her breath sickly sweet with perfume.
“After your parents died in battle, their wolf souls were cursed by witches-sacrificed to me, years ago.”
My whole body went rigid.
Her lips curled with satisfaction, eyes alight with unveiled malice.
“I will become the most powerful Luna. Whether I marry Alec… or Leander.”
Blood roared in my ears. My vision flared white-hot.
1 lunged forward, fists already clenched.
“Enough, Isolde.”
The voice came from behind me, low and calm.
Leander stood in the doorway, gripping my wrist before the punch could land.
stared up at him, my jaw tight, my voice shaking with fury.
“Is it true? What she said?”
Leander’s brow furrowed. His voice darkened. “I don’t know what nonsense she’s talking about. Your
parents were buried in the memorial grove.”
“Really?” Selah’s voice pierced the silence like a needle. She raised a brow and leaned in, slipping her arm
around his. “Stop wasting time. Take me home.”
Leander hesitated. Just a breath.
But he didn’t deny her. He didn’t pull away.
He left with her.
I stood there, fists trembling.
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This time, I didn’t cry. My voice was calm. Almost too calm.
“Leander Blackmore, I accept your rejection.”
“I, Isolde Frost, forever reject Leander Blackmore as my mate.”
He froze.
His steps faltered for just a second-his back stiffened-but he didn’t turn around.
I don’t know when the heat started.
My wolf was exhausted, her breathing growing heavier with each passing moment. My limbs were heavy, my thoughts fogged with fever.
Breath by breath, the fire blurred everything. My knees gave out. I collapsed onto the floor.
It finally became clear-staying here would only tear me apart again and again. Bury me in the mud and pretend it was mercy.
If I wanted to survive-if I wanted to win.
Then I needed to stand higher than all of them.
And in this pack, the only one who could put me on that throne was Alec.
–
When I woke, there was a tall figure seated beside my bed.
Isolde.” My name on his lips, cool and measured.
I met his eyes without hesitation.
“Marry me.”
His brow lifted, just slightly. “Why?”
“Because I want to be Luna,” I said clearly, every word sharp as glass.
“And you need a wife who will make Leander finally shut up.”
A beat of silence passed between us.
Then the corners of his mouth curled.
“Engagement party. Two weeks.”
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The next day, Alec moved me out of the old estate.
In the two weeks that followed, Leander never once came looking for me.
Word was, he and Selah were inseparable.
Then, the engagement dinner arrived-right on schedule.
True to his nature, Alec kept it low-key. Only the core members of the pack were invited.
As soon as we sat at the long table, he leaned toward me and said quietly, “I’m going to get my grandfather. Stay here.”
He stood and left.
Not long after, Leander walked in. His eyes paused on me for two seconds.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he took the seat beside mine. He didn’t even glance at the empty chair across the table.
“Disappeared for two weeks, Isolde. Where’d you go? Vacation? Playing hard to get?”
His tone was light, as if he were chatting with an old friend.
I took a sip of wine, saying nothing.
“Still upset about that night?” He gave a soft laugh. “Selah’s got a childish temper. You shouldn’t take it so personally. She hit you, you hit back-it’s even now, right?”
I still didn’t look at him.
His smile faded slowly. His voice dropped, edged with cold steel.
“Isolde, this is an important day for me. Drop the attitude. I’ve protected you all these years, kept you safe in this house, and now you think climbing into my brother’s bed gives you the right to act like this?”
I set my glass down. Turned to him. My words came out slow, deliberate.
“This seat belongs to my fiancé. Move.”
His smile froze.
“Fiancé?” His brow furrowed. “You’re joking.”
“You should be calling me… sister-in-law.”
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