Chapter 3

I stood frozen, my mind completely blank.

Right in front of me, Michael dropped to one knee before Nina. He held out a sparkling diamond ring, his eyes full of devotion.

"Nina, will you do me the honor of becoming my Luna?"

Tears spilled from Nina's eyes. She sobbed, "Yes! A thousand times yes!"

To anyone else, they looked like a perfect, fated couple.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper.

I watched Michael pull Nina into his arms, pressing a tender, almost sacred kiss to her forehead.

The room erupted into cheers and congratulations.

I stood there, a silent spectator in the middle of the noise, watching my fiancé propose to my deceased father's adoptive daughter.

Whispers from the pack members drifted into my ears.

"Honestly, now that Emily’s dad is dead, she’s nothing in this pack. Michael was nice enough to wait this long to replace her."

"Exactly. A Beta's daughter with no backing trying to marry the Alpha heir? She was dreaming."

"Look at Nina. Even though she's adopted, the old Beta treated her like gold. Who knows what secrets he left her..."

"Left her what? The man is dead. Emily is an orphan now. There's no way Michael's family would let him marry a useless Beta."

"A shame, though. She wasted ten years of her life on Michael, and now she gets nothing."

"Get what? She only had status when her dad was alive. Now? She'll be lucky if she isn't kicked out of the pack."

I couldn't stand it for another second.

I turned to leave, but Michael grabbed my wrist.

He looked at me, a lazy, amused smirk on his lips.

"Oh, come on, Emily. It was just a joke. You're not actually mad, are you?"

I didn't say a word. I just stared at him.

Seeing this, Nina quickly took off the diamond ring and tried to press it into my hand.

"Emily, please don't be mad. Here, take the ring back. Just pretend Michael was using me to practice his proposal..."

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked down at the ring, acting as if she were sacrificing her entire world for me.

Michael frowned, looking annoyed.

"Emily, since Nina likes the ring, let her keep it. I'll buy you another one later."

"Don't make a scene in front of everyone. Don't embarrass her."

I looked at him and said softly, "Okay."

Michael blinked, clearly caught off guard by how easily I agreed.

He smiled, reaching out to pat my head.

"Good girl, Emily."

"Tell you what, as a reward, I’ll stay behind and spend a few extra days with you before my next border patrol."

"Don't you always complain about me leaving for patrol? I'll grant your wish this time."

I shook my head.

"No need."

"I don't need you to stay with me anymore, Michael."

I looked down at the ring on Nina’s finger and said calmly, "Since you’ve proposed to Nina, our engagement is officially over."

"From now on, you don't ever have to worry about me again."

The smile on Michael's face instantly vanished.

"Emily, cut the drama."

"It's just a ring. You're seriously breaking off our engagement over this?"

"Yes," I said.

Beside him, Nina burst into tears.

"Emily, please don't fight with Michael. This is all my fault. You two have been together for ten years, you're practically ready to mark each other! You can't break up over something this trivial..."

"If you're really that angry, I'll beg for your forgiveness. I'm so sor—"

Before she could finish, Michael pulled her protectively into his chest.

"Stop apologizing to her."

"You've spoiled her too much over the years."

He glared at me, his brow furrowed in anger.

"Emily, if you keep throwing these childish tantrums, you'll prove to me that you're too immature to be my Luna."

"Then I won't be," I said coldly.

"Michael, the engagement is off. We are done."

With that, I turned on my heel and walked out.