Chapter 100

Agnes

The show was a success. A huge one, in fact.

I knew it would be the moment the first Luna stepped onto the runway and I heard the crowd erupting into applause as the lights caught the intricate details of the designs. The outfits were stunning, even more so because they were born from chaos—from the shredded fabric and frantic stitching that had consumed my morning.

But as I stood backstage, watching the models strut down the runway, my chest tightened with a pain that cut deeper than those scissors had cut the fabric. The applause, the cheers, the donations pouring in for the charity—it all felt hollow. Empty. Meaningless.

Because Elijah wasn’t here.

He said he would be here, but he hadn’t shown up.

I’d scanned the crowd during the show, my eyes darting to the front row where his seat sat empty. Neither Elijah nor Thea were here, and I began to get worried, wondering if something bad had happened.

And then I’d seen the text with the picture attached.

“You’re Luna Agnes, right?” the message read. “You might want to see this… If you send the money quickly, then I won’t post this picture online!”

I should have been more worried about whoever this person was that was trying to use the picture to get a quick buck, but I didn’t care. All I could see was them.

Olivia and Elijah, sitting at a cafe table, her lips pressed to his in an intimate kiss that made my stomach churn. Thea had been there too, her big eyes filled with confusion and hurt as she watched them from afar.

I had quickly shoved my phone back into my pocket, forcing myself to focus on the show despite the tears now misting my eyes. But the image lingered in my mind, and I felt like I was going to be sick.

Elijah wasn’t mine. Maybe, if my wolf had been right the night we had kissed, he was mine at some point—but that was another time, another life, a reality that had been stolen when my wolf had been taken from me. It didn’t matter now.

He was Olivia’s. And every moment of every day, I had to come to terms with that.

Whether or not the kiss was intentional was of no consequence. What mattered was that I knew, in the moment their lips had met, their mate bond had lit up like a bonfire. Even if Elijah hated Olivia for what she had done to Thea, it didn’t matter. His heart wanted her. His body wanted her. His wolf wanted her.

And no amount of affection he held for me could change that.

That had been made all too clear the night he had kissed me on his desk, pushing up the fabric of my nightgown, running his hands across my bare skin. The way his mate bond had lit up, even without Olivia there…

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away and the tears along with them. Not now. Not on my big day.

When the show ended, the crowd rose to their feet, their applause thunderous as I stepped out to take a bow with the other designers. I smiled, waving to the audience, but my heart wasn’t in it.

“Agnes, that was amazing!” Evelyn gushed, throwing her arms around me as soon as I stepped off the runway.

“The outfits really looked incredible under the lights,” Maria added. “Even with this morning’s… hiccup.”

I forced a smile, nodding along as the other Lunas congratulated me. “Thank you,” I said softly. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”

Gertrude appeared at my side then with a grin. “I hope you’re not too tired for more,” she said, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “We’re going out for an afterparty.”

My eyebrows shot up. “An afterparty?” I echoed. Right now, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide from the world in some closet or another. But the idea of going out was simultaneously intriguing, and sounded like a reasonable excuse to get my mind off of things.

“Agnes, you have to come!” Evelyn insisted, looping her arm through mine. “We’re celebrating you tonight, after all.”

I hesitated, my eyes flicking to the others. “I don’t know… I should probably get home… Thea might be waiting for me.”

“Nonsense,” Gertrude said, stepping forward. “She’ll understand if you go out for a couple hours. You deserve to celebrate.”

I wanted to protest, to tell them I wasn’t in the mood, but couldn’t find it in me. It was better than going home. Better than seeing him. Finally, I sighed, relenting. “Alright. Just for a little while.”

The after-party was at a nearby lounge bar, the kind of place that was all dim lighting and plush seating. I sat at the edge of the group, nursing a drink as I tried to push down the pain that threatened to consume me.

The other Lunas were in high spirits, their laughter filling the room as they recounted the highlights of the show. I hardly heard them, though. I should have been celebrating, but I felt like I was underwater, drowning as the air was ripped from my lungs.

His lips on hers.

I wanted Elijah to be mine. I wanted Thea to be mine. I wanted all of this to be… simple.

But my life had never been simple, had it?

Eventually, Getrude sidled up next to me, giving me that knowing look of hers as her shoulder brushed mine. She offered me a fresh drink, which I accepted gratefully. And as the night wore on and the drinks continued to flow, my mask began to slip.

“I just don’t get it,” I said, my voice louder than usual as I leaned into Gertrude. “He’s still in love with her, isn’t he? Olivia, I mean. Why else would he miss the show?”

Gertrude patted my arm with a sympathetic expression. “Men are complicated,” she said gently. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you.”

I shook my head, the alcohol loosening my tongue more than it should have. It was a good thing the other Lunas and designers were too busy dancing, laughing, and taking shots to hear my conversation. Not that I was doing the best job of keeping my voice low.

“No, he doesn’t. If he did, he wouldn’t have been with her. He wouldn’t have kissed her.”

The words spilled out before I could stop them, my voice cracking. Gertrude sighed. “Agnes…” she began, but I cut her off.

“I just wish he would commit to me,” I went on in a trembling, slurred voice. “But he won’t. He’s still tied to her, and I… I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

Gertrude blinked at me for a moment. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to let me vent—she’d become a friend to me, and I knew she didn’t mind—but maybe I was going overboard. “Agnes, maybe you should take a break and get some fresh air,” she said, placing her hand on my arm. “You’ve had a long day.”

I nodded, standing up on unsteady legs. “You’re right. I’m going to the restroom,” I said and turned away.

I stumbled down the hallway, my vision blurring as I tried to steady myself. The walls seemed to close in around me, my head fuzzy and heavy. I’d had too much to drink after all, and yet somehow, my pain wasn’t numbed. If anything, I just felt worse.

And then, suddenly, I was pushed up against the wall, hot, familiar breath caressing my neck.

“You shouldn’t complain about your husband in public,” Elijah whispered, his voice low and dangerous.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked up at him. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable as he pinned me there, his body pressing against mine.

For a moment, I was tempted to give in, to let myself be swept away by the heat of his touch. I tilted my chin up toward him, and the way his eyes flicked to the exposed flesh of my neck wasn’t lost on me.

But then the image of him and Olivia flashed in my mind all over again, and fresh anger surged through me.

I shoved him away, my hands trembling as I glared at him. “Don’t touch me,” I snapped. “You missed my show. You were with her.”

Elijah’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with something I couldn’t quite place. “Agnes, it’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?” I slurred. “I saw a picture of you two kissing. And whoever took it wants money in order to not post it online. This is all a fucking mess.”

He hesitated, his expression softening for a fraction of a second before he shook his head. “I’d tell you, but I think you’re too drunk to listen to my side of the story right now. I’ll be waiting by the bar whenever you’re ready.”

And with that, he shoved a bouquet of flowers at me and stalked off, leaving me standing there, my heart aching and my mind reeling.