Chapter 2

Juliet's POV

I turned on the shower full blast and climbed into the tub fully clothed.

The water was freezing but I didn't care. I needed something to cover the sound of what was coming.

The sobs came out silent and violent, ripping through my chest until I couldn't breathe. I grabbed a towel and pressed it against my mouth, screaming into it until my throat felt raw.

How did I not see it? How was I so blind?

The memories wouldn't stop. Kael holding my hands during physical therapy, telling me I was doing great. Kael defending me at pack meetings when the other Lunas said I wasn't strong enough. Kael reading to me late at night when the pain kept me awake, his voice low and steady.

Every single one of those moments was a lie. He wasn't taking care of me. He was making sure I stayed exactly where he wanted me.

I bit down on the towel hard enough to taste blood. My whole body was shaking and I couldn't make it stop.

Three years. I gave him three years. Fell asleep in his arms every night, woke up to his kisses every morning, believed every word out of his mouth.

Selene.

Just thinking her name made me want to throw up.

He loves her. He's always loved her. And I was just the problem he needed to solve.

I stayed in that tub until my fingers went numb. When I climbed out and saw myself in the mirror, I looked wrecked. Eyes swollen, face all red and blotchy.

I splashed cold water on my face over and over until the redness faded. Then I walked back into the bedroom, legs shaking.

That's when I noticed Kael's desk drawer was open.

He never locked it. Why would he? His sweet little Luna would never go through his stuff.

I was already walking toward the desk.

The box was beautiful. Polished wood with delicate patterns carved into the sides.

I opened it with hands that wouldn't stop trembling.

There was a hand-braided bracelet, the colors faded from age. A crayon drawing of three kids with huge smiles. Letters tied together with a red ribbon, dozens of them.

And right on top, a photo.

Selene on a stage holding a trophy, grinning at the camera. The crowd around her was blurred but one face was perfectly clear.

Kael, staring at her like she was the only person in the world who mattered.

I picked up one of the letters. The paper shook in my hands.

"Kael, only you understand me. When I'm standing at the top, we'll finally be together."

For a second I couldn't see straight. Not from crying this time. From rage so pure it burned.

He destroyed everything I had just to help her get what she wanted.

I put it all back exactly how I found it, moving carefully even though my hands were shaking. Then I saw his phone on the nightstand.

I grabbed it.

Password screen. I stared at it for half a second before typing: S-E-L-E-N-E.

It unlocked immediately.

Of course it fucking did.

Their messages were right at the top. I scrolled through them with fingers that felt numb.

"Miss you."

"Thinking about you."

"Can't wait to see you next week."

Then I saw yesterday's message.

Selene: "Heard she wants to compete again. You know what to do."

Kael: "Don't worry. I'll handle it. You're always first."

The phone slipped out of my hands onto the bed.

They've been talking the whole time. This whole time, while he was kissing me goodnight and marking me as his and telling me he loved me.

Footsteps in the hallway froze me in place.

Kael was coming back.

I shoved the phone back where it was and dove under the covers. My heart was pounding so loud.

The door opened quietly.

"Jules?" His voice was soft. "You awake?"

I kept my eyes shut tight, forcing myself to breathe normally.

The bed dipped when he sat down. His hand brushed my hair back from my face, so gentle it made my stomach turn.

"Already asleep? You didn't come find me after training."

I dug my nails into my palms under the blanket, using the pain to keep still.

"We should check out that new art exhibition tomorrow," he said, still playing with my hair. "You'd love it. The artist does these amazing nature pieces."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead, warm lips against my skin.

"Goodnight, my Luna."

Then he got up and went to the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on.

Only then did I open my eyes.

I stared up at the ceiling, jaw clenched so hard my teeth hurt. That kiss. Those words. Everything he did was fake.

And I'd been stupid enough to think it was real.

Hours went by. Kael came to bed and his arm reached for me automatically like it always did. I let him pull me close, let him fall asleep with his face in my hair.

I lay there in the dark with my eyes wide open, listening to him breathe.

I needed to find out exactly what happened three years ago. Every single detail. Who was involved, how they planned it, all of it.

And I needed to get out of this pack before he could set up another accident. Before he could hurt me again.

But I had to be careful. If Kael thought I knew anything, he'd move faster. He'd make sure I couldn't fight back.

So I'd play along. Be the perfect Luna. The loving mate who trusted him completely.

Right up until I was ready to destroy everything he cared about.

You're not taking anything else from me.