After He Abandoned Luna Ritual, I Rejected Him

Chapter 4

I stared at him in utter disbelief, the face I'd known for years suddenly looking like that of a total stranger.

Lena was the one who'd framed me, for crying out loud, yet Roman was actually telling me to apologize to her.

"What did you just say?" My voice came out shaky.

"You apologize to her in public, tell everyone you acted on impulse last night and misunderstood her," Roman said matter-of-factly. "You're our Luna, everyone in the pack believes what you say. Only if you apologize can Lena clear her name. Lena's a hero of the pack, and she's vulnerable right now. This is your responsibility as Luna."

I locked eyes with him, watching that self-righteous, take-it-for-granted look on his face. Then I suddenly scoffed and laughed. I laughed so hard tears streamed down my face.

I couldn't believe it. Roman wasn't just playing favorites with her—he was going to use my own Luna ceremony to force me to clear her name with my own two hands.

Roman sighed, took my hand, and tried to soothe me in a low voice. "Lena's in the wrong here, I know. I'll punish her for it later, but she can't have her whole reputation ruined over this mess. You're the Luna, you have to be the bigger person here."

There it was again. Be the bigger person.

Be sensible.

Seven years. Seven long years.

Every single time he hurt me, he hid behind those two stupid phrases.

Like saying them automatically made every garbage thing he did okay, and I had no choice but to forgive him.

I'd actually planned to slip away quietly, to leave him with one last shred of dignity. But no, he just had to push me. Had to grind my last bit of pride into the dirt under his boot.

"Fine." I wiped the tears off my face, lifted my chin, and stared him dead in the eye, every word sharp and deliberate. "I'll give everyone an explanation at the ceremony."

Roman broke into a satisfied grin. "I knew you'd be sensible. Don't worry, once this whole thing blows over, I'll make it up to you, I promise."

He turned and walked away.

He thought I'd caved, that I'd agreed to his little plan.

But not this time. I was never going to forgive him again.

I was going to give them all the surprise of a lifetime at the ceremony.

*****

Three days later, at the Moon Goddess Cathedral.

Roman and Lena rushed in at the last minute, right as the ceremony was about to start.

"Willow, you got your apology speech ready?"

I tugged the corner of my mouth up in a cold half-smile. "Of course."

Roman let out a relieved breath, grinning again. "Good."

The pack elder announced the start of the ceremony.

Roman took my hand and led me toward the altar. His hand was so warm. But ice had settled deep in my chest, so cold I could feel it in my very bones.

He squeezed my ice-cold hand tight, murmuring a sappy, loving promise right in my ear. "Willow, starting today, no one will ever hurt you again."

I offered a tiny, hollow smile and said nothing.

The only person who'd ever made me suffer was him.

The elder slowly unfurled the weathered leather scroll, his deep, resonant voice echoing through every corner of the cathedral. "By the witness of the Moon Goddess, Alpha Roman Hood, do you vow to officially mark Willow Owen, honor her as your one and only Luna, and share your life and wolf soul with her for all time?"

Roman squared his shoulders, his gaze fixed on me as he answered solemnly, "I do."

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd in the pews.

The elder turned his gaze to me next. "Willow Owen, do you vow to accept your Alpha's mark, obey him, stand by his side, and serve as the Luna of the Hood Pack?"

Dead silence fell over the entire cathedral in an instant.

Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto me, waiting breathlessly for me to call out the expected "I do."

Roman clamped down harder on my hand, his voice dropping to a sharp, urgent whisper. "Start with the clarification first. Tell everyone last night was a misunderstanding."

Even now, he was still pushing me to apologize.

I drew in a sharp, deep breath, and wrenched my hand out of his grasp.

Roman's smile froze instantly on his face, and he stared at me, confused as hell.

I summoned every ounce of strength I had, and snarled the unshakable oath right at him.