Killian returned late that night. I was curled up on the sofa, half-asleep, waiting for him.
When the door opened, bringing in a gust of cold night air, I sat up instantly.
"You waited up," Killian said, loosening his tie as he walked toward me. He looked tired, lines of tension bracketing his mouth, but his eyes softened the moment they landed on me.
"I couldn't sleep," I lied softly. In truth, the house felt too big and too quiet without him.
He sat down beside me, pulling me into his side. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling the scent of cedar and rain, letting it settle my nerves. I decided not to tell him about Mara yet. I didn't want to ruin the moment.
"The Council is a pack of vultures," Killian muttered, resting his chin on my head. "But I brought you something. Not from the meeting. From the vault."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet pouch.
Inside was a necklace. A simple, delicate silver chain holding a pendant made of a deep, shifting blue stone. It looked exactly like the color of his eyes.
"It's a Moonstone," Killian explained as he clasped it around my neck. The stone felt warm against my skin, humming with faint energy. "It's infused with my aura. If you are in danger, or if your heart rate spikes from fear, the stone will heat up. I will feel it, no matter where I am."
I touched the stone, feeling the thrum of power. It was a tracking device, yes. But it was also a lifeline.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Never take it off," he commanded softly, kissing my forehead. "Now, let's go to bed. I need to recharge. And you represent my only source of peace."
[Liam's POV]
Crash.
Another vase shattered against the wall of our bedroom.
"I hate her! I hate her! I hate her!" Chloe screamed, pacing back and forth in her silk nightgown. Her face was blotchy from crying, her hair a mess. "Did you see how she looked at me? Like I was dirt! And that dress... who paid for it? It must have been Killian!"
I sat on the edge of the bed, nursing a glass of whiskey, my head pounding.
"Chloe, give it a rest," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "It's been three days. Stop talking about Elena."
"Stop talking about her?" Chloe spun around, her eyes wild. "You're defending her! You couldn't take your eyes off her at the ceremony! Do you think I'm blind?"
"I wasn't staring," I lied.
But I was. Goddess help me, I was.
I closed my eyes, and the image of Elena in that red dress burned behind my eyelids. She had looked... magnificent. Not the quiet, mousey girl I had rejected. She looked like a Queen.
And she was pregnant.
The rumor was spreading through the pack like wildfire. One of the maids claimed she saw Elena rubbing her stomach.
My father's child.
The thought made bile rise in my throat. It should have been my child. Elena was my mate first. We were supposed to lead this pack together.
I looked at Chloe. She was still screeching, kicking a piece of the broken vase across the room.
"If she thinks she can just waltz back in here and take over, she's wrong!" Chloe ranted. "I'm the Luna! Me! I'll make sure she loses that baby. I'll—"
"Shut up!" I roared, slamming my glass down on the nightstand.
Chloe froze, her mouth hanging open. I had never raised my voice at her before.
"Just... shut up," I said, standing up. The room felt suffocating. Her high-pitched voice was drilling into my brain.
Elena never yelled. Elena used to make me tea when I was stressed. She used to listen. She was soft.
Why did I think soft was weak?
"Where are you going?" Chloe demanded as I grabbed my jacket.
"Out," I snapped. "I need fresh air. I need to get away from... this."
I slammed the door on her protests and walked out into the cool night air.
My feet moved on their own, carrying me down the familiar path toward the edge of the territory. Toward the Forbidden Wing.
I stopped at the tree line, looking up at the dark mansion on the hill. A light was on in the master bedroom.
I imagined Elena in there. Was she sleeping? Was she with him? Was my father touching her the way I used to?
A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in my gut—stronger than anything I had ever felt for Chloe.
"I made a mistake," I whispered to the darkness, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.
I had traded a diamond for glass. Killian was right.
And now, I had no idea how to get her back.