Chapter 2

LILY

The sun was starting to set.

It cast a golden hue into the small room where I was sitting alone. I could hear distant voices from outside, the sound of people laughing and talking. Everyone was excited for the grand party tonight in Marcus’s honour. But all I could think of was how things had changed.

Despite all I'd done for him, despite how much I cared for him, he was drifting further and further away from me. He wasn't the same man I'd known before the accident. His smile was gone whenever I was around, and it was replaced by cold, distant eyes. And then there was Selena who made my stomach twist every time I thought about her. She wasn't just his fiancée anymore; she was something darker, something cruel. She never missed a chance to remind me that I didn't belong. She would make snide remarks, roll her eyes whenever I entered the room and always found ways to humiliate me in front of others.

And Marcus? He didn't care. Either he didn't notice, or worse, he noticed and simply didn't care. I wasn't sure which one hurt more. "Are you still here?" The voice cut through my thoughts like a knife, making me jump. I hadn't heard her come in.

I turned to see her standing in the door, with a smirk. Her stepmother, Edith, was standing beside her with the same mocking look. They were always together, like two snakes waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "What do you want, Selena?" She let out a fake laugh. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering why you're still hanging around. It's not like Marcus needs you anymore. Or ever did, really." I clenched my hands and bit my lip to stop the tears from falling. "I'm not going anywhere. He still needs me." "Needs you?" Edith scoffed, taking a step forward. "Don't be delusional, Lily. You were never anything more than a... temporary distraction." My heart pounded in my chest, but I wouldn't let them see how much it hurt. I couldn't. "That's not true," I whispered, but my voice wavered, betraying me.

Selena’s smirk grew wider as she walked over to me and stood just a few inches away. "You think he's going to pick you? You, a nobody? He's just using you, Lily.

He's always been using you." I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat grow bigger. "You don't know anything." "Oh, but I do. Marcus tells me everything. We're going to announce our future together tonight. I'll be the Luna of this Pack, not you." Luna? No, Marcus wouldn't do that. He wouldn't choose her. He couldn't. Not after everything we’d been through. My head was swelling. Edith's cold voice brought me back to the moment. "Face it, Lily. You're nothing. You've always been nothing.

Why don't you save yourself the embarrassment and just leave?" The swelling feeling was still there as I stared at them. They didn't know. They didn't know about the baby. Tonight, at the party, I was going to tell Marcus. I was going to tell him that I was carrying his child, and everything would change. He would choose me, not Selena.

He had to. "I'm not leaving," My voice was firm, given the surge of hope. "I'm going to the party, and Marcus will announce that I'm his mate. Not you." Selena raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "We’ll see about that." Later that evening, the hall was crawling with people.

Pack members were mingling, dressed in their finest clothes and the air was buzzing with excitement. I was standing near the back, watching as Marcus greeted his guests. I wanted to go to him, to pull him aside and tell him the news.

But every time I tried to approach him, something stopped me. It was either Selena or someone else demanding his attention.. my stomach churn with nerves. I couldn't wait any longer.

I had to tell him before the big announcement. I finally saw my chance when he stepped away from the crowder, heading towards a quieter part of the hall. I hurried after him, my heart pounding. This was it. "Hey, Marcus." I called out with a shaky voice as I caught up to him. He turned to face me with an unreadable expression. "Lily, what is it? I'm busy." "I just... I need to talk to you," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. "Please, it's important." He sighed, glancing back at the crowd of guests waiting for him. "Now’s not the time, Lily. Whatever it is, it can wait." "No, it can't." I insisted, stepping closer. I need to tell you something. It's about-" "I said it can't wait," he snapped, his voice cold. "I don't have time for this right now." The sharpness in his tone made me step back. I stood there, frozen, watching as he turned and walked away without another word. My heart sank, and doubts began to creep in. Why was he pushing me away like this? Why wouldn't he listen? But I pushed the doubt aside. Maybe he was just stressed.

The party, the pressure- it was all too much for him right now. Once he knew about the baby, everything would change. I just had to be patient. ***The party was in full swing when Marcus finally stepped onto the stage, drawing everyone’s attention.

My heart raced as I watched him. This was the moment. He was going to announce me as his mate.

He had to. "Thank you all for being here tonight," he began with that deep, commanding voice. "It's been a difficult few months, but I'm grateful for the support of my Pack. And now, I have an important announcement to make." I held my breath, my hands trembling at my sides as I waited for the words that would change anything. "I've made my decision about who will stand by my side as Luna of this Pack," he continued, scanning the crowd. "And I'm proud to say that I've chosen someone who has been with me through thick and thin." I smiled, unable to hold back the tears now.

This was it. He was going to say my name. "I've chosen Selena Monroe as my mate and my future Luna." The world stopped, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. He'd chosen her, not me. No. No, no way. NO! This couldn't be happening. It had to be some kind of mistake.

I stumbled backward, my vision blurring as I tried to make sense of what was going on. People were cheering, clapping, congratulating Selena as she stepped onto the stage with a triumphant smile on her face. I felt like I was suffocating, like the walls were closing in around me. I had to get outta here. I couldn't stay. I couldn't breathe. I turned to leave, but before I could escape, someone grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the centre of the room. "Not so fast, Lily," Edith chuckled mockingly, smiling sweetly but there was nothing kind about it. "Where do you think you're going? Don't you want to congratulate us?" I shook my head and tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip on my arm. "Let go of me," I whispered.

He laughed, her voice ringing out loudly for everyone to hear. "What's wrong? Did you actually think Marcus was going to pick you?" All eyes were on us now, watching as she dragged me into the spotlight. Marcus stood there, watching. He didn't move.

He didn't do anything to stop her. "Marcus," I choked out, my voice breaking as I looked at him, begging him to do something. But he just stood there, then he finally spoke. "Let her go. And you, Lily, get out of my sight. You're embarrassing yourself." I couldn't breathe, couldn’t move. I was shattered and broken, as the man I'd loved more than anything turned his back on me. I ran. I didn't stop until I was far from the hall, then my legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

I'd give everything to him, I'd stayed by his side, cared for him, loved him. And he'd thrown it all away like it meant nothing. "Are you okay?" The soft voice startled me. I looked up to see Marcus’s younger brother, Lucas, standing over me. "Lucas," I whispered, wiping at my tears.“I don't know what to do." He didn't say anything at first, just sat there with me in silence as I cried. Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke. "I need to show you something." Confused, I followed him back to his room where he pulled a small recording device. Then he pressed play and Marcus’s voice came through. "I never cared about Lily. She was just convenient.

She doesn't mean anything to me." It felt like the air had been knocked out of me. He hated me, just like them, but he'd been quiet about it this whole time. "Lucas, I whispered with a trembling voice. "I need to leave. I need to get out of here." He nodded.

"I'll help you." My mind was already made up. I would leave this Pack, leave Marcus behind, and start over. I wouldn't tell him about the baby. He didn't deserve to know. Walking out of Lucas’s room, I made a silent vow to myself. I would never let Marcus Steele hurt me again.