Chapter 4

Ethan didn't take my warning seriously.

He acted as if nothing had happened, continuing his daily Alpha duties while keeping his mouth shut about the Alpha King. Lily remained nestled in the Alpha manor, though she moved around cautiously, doing her best to avoid crossing paths with me.

I didn't press him.

I knew exactly what he was doing. He was playing a waiting game, hoping the tension would wear me down until I surrendered and dropped the idea of an appeal.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

I am Clara Vance, a warrior born of an Alpha lineage. Once I set my mind on a course of action, I never turn back.

Late Friday night, Ethan stumbled into the study, reeking of alcohol. Seeing me organizing intelligence files, his face instantly soured.

"Clara, what the hell is your problem?" He lunged forward and tore the documents from my hands. "What are you compiling all this garbage for? Are you trying to ruin me?"

Papers scattered across the floor. Every page contained hard evidence uncovered by my scouts—records proving Ethan had embezzled pack funds to purchase properties and supplies for Lily, and had secretly traded away logging rights on Silver Creek land to Red Stone Pack in exchange for their silence.

"Ruin you?" I calmly bent down to gather the scattered pages. "You were the one who ruined our bond. You destroyed my trust. Ethan, don't you think it's a little too late to act righteous?"

"Our bond?" He scoffed bitterly. "Clara, do you even deserve to talk about our bond? You spend all your time training warriors, running pack operations, and leading border patrols! When was the last time you actually cared about me? This manor feels like an icebox. I don't feel a shred of warmth here. You pushed me into Lily's arms!"

"I pushed you?" I stared at him in utter disbelief. "You betrayed your mate and sold out your pack, and now you have the audacity to blame me? Do you realize how pathetic you sound?"

"I'm not deflecting, it's the truth!" he bellowed. "If you had spent more time by my side, if you were softer, if you catered to your Alpha like a real Luna should, would I have ever turned to Lily? Clara, you're suffocatingly domineering!"

*Domineering.*

That was the first time in seven years he had ever used that word to describe me.

Our argument ended in another cold stalemate.

The next morning, Beta Marcus contacted me through the mind link: *Luna Clara, preparations for the annual Moonlight Ball have begun. By tradition, you and the Alpha must lead the opening ceremony together.*

The Moonlight Ball.

The grandest annual gathering on the calendar, attended by every member of Silver Creek, as well as dignitaries from neighboring packs. It was the most important social event in the werewolf world.

Ethan would definitely attend; he desperately needed the spectacle to preserve his Alpha image.

A faint smile touched my lips. I replied to Marcus: *Understood. Prepare a special speech for me.*

Three days before the ball, Ethan reached out through the mind link.

*Clara, you're coming to the ball, right?* His tone held a faint, desperate plea he couldn't completely disguise. *The pack is in a delicate transition right now. Envoys from other packs will be watching closely. Presenting a united front as Alpha and Luna will stabilize everything.*

"Stabilize everything?" I scoffed. "Ethan, do you really think playing house still means anything?"

*Clara, for the sake of our seven years together, play along with me one last time,* his voice softened, dripping with fake vulnerability. *After the ball, we can sit down and talk about seeing the Alpha King. Whatever you want, as long as it's within my power, I'll give it to you.*

"Put on a show?" I stared out the window. "Ethan, what do you think our bond is? A cheap stage play you can end whenever the curtain falls?"

*I know I wronged you,* he sighed. *But my hands were tied. If word gets out that the Alpha and Luna are splitting, Silver Creek's reputation will plummet. Other packs will seize the chance to encroach on our borders. Clara, you're smart. You know a win-win is better than mutually assured destruction.*

*Win-win?*

He didn't have the right to breathe the word.

"And if I refuse?" I asked.

His demeanor flipped instantly, turning arctic. *Clara, don't test me. Your entire standing in this pack relies on my status as Alpha. If I fall, your life won't be easy either. I suggest you stop acting so reckless.*

Predictable to the very end.

"Fine. I'll be there," I said calmly.

Ethan paused, caught off guard by my sudden compliance. *Really?*

"Of course."