The bond between Henry and me snapped like a rope under too much weight. Pain like fire and ice tore through me.

I fell to my knees, a broken sound coming from my throat as my wolf curled up inside me, crying.

I stayed on my knees, my hands pressed against the cold marble floor, trying to breathe through the pain that felt like my chest was being ripped open.

Then the whispers started.

"Can you believe that just happened?"

"Poor thing thought she actually had a chance."

"Henry's smart. Can you imagine an orphan as our Luna?"

Each word was a needle, sharp and precise, finding all the soft places inside me that already hurt. I lifted my head slowly, and the sight that greeted me made my stomach turn.

Some pack members looked away quickly, uncomfortable with witnessing my humiliation. But others weren't so kind.

James Miller had his phone out, probably recording. Esther Johnson covered her mouth with her hand, but her eyes sparkled with cruel excitement.

"This is better than any drama," someone giggled behind me.

My wolf whimpered again, pressing herself small and wounded against my ribs. The golden thread that had connected us to Henry was gone now, leaving nothing but an ache so deep I wondered if it would ever stop hurting.

Henry and Sable stood together at the front of the hall, her hand still resting in his. They looked perfect together,golden and beautiful and everything I would never be.

The future Alpha and his chosen Luna, ready to lead our pack into greatness.

Everything I had dreamed of being, she was becoming instead.

"Charlotte."

I looked up to find Mrs. Whale, the pack librarian, standing beside me. Her gray hair was pulled back in its usual bun, and her kind eyes held genuine sympathy.

"Come on, dear. Let me help you up."

Her gentle voice almost broke me completely. I let her pull me to my feet, my legs shaking so badly I could barely stand.

The simple blue dress that had seemed so pretty earlier now clung awkwardly, like someone else’s clothes, leaving me unsure of how I was supposed to move or speak.

"There we go," Mrs. Whale whispered, steadying me with her arm around my shoulders. "Head up, Charlotte. You're stronger than they know."

But I didn't feel strong. I felt like I was made of glass, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

"Well, well."

The voice made my blood freeze. Sable was walking toward me, her golden dress rustling with each step. Up close, she looked even more beautiful than before.

Her skin glowed in the moonlight, her blonde hair fell in perfect waves, and her blue eyes sparkled with something that made my stomach twist.

"Sable," Mrs. Whale said quietly, her arm tightening around me protectively.

"It's alright, Mrs. Whale. I just want to talk to my dear friend." Sable's smile was bright and warm, the same one she'd given me countless times over the years.

But now I could see what I'd missed before, the sharp edges hidden behind the sweetness.

Mrs. Whale looked like she wanted to argue, but she couldn't challenge the future Luna. She squeezed my shoulder once and stepped back, leaving me alone with the girl who had just stolen my entire future.

"Charlotte." Sable moved closer, close enough that only I could hear her words. "I'm so sorry about what happened up there. It must be so embarrassing for you."

Her voice dripped with false concern, but her eyes told a different story entirely. They were cold and calculating, like a predator sizing up wounded prey.

"You look confused," she continued, tilting her head with mock sympathy. "Did you really think someone like you could be Luna? Someone with no family? No training? No bloodline worth mentioning?"

Each question hit like a thunderclap, but I couldn't make myself move away from her. I felt trapped, caught between the pack members watching us and the girl I'd thought was my closest friend.

"I've been preparing for this role my entire life," Sable whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "Private tutors. Etiquette lessons. Leadership training.

My mother made sure I knew everything I'd need to stand beside an Alpha. What did you think would happen? That love would be enough?"

She laughed softly, the sound I'd once found so beautiful now sharp and cutting.

"The moon goddess may have chosen you, but Henry chose me. And really, isn't that what matters? A Luna needs to be more than just a mate. She needs to be worthy."

The word hung between us like poison. Worthy. Everything I apparently wasn't.

"You were my best friend," I finally managed to whisper, my voice cracking on each word.

"Oh, Charlotte." Sable's smile widened, and for a moment, she almost looked sorry for me. "I still am. That's why I'm trying to help you understand.

This is better for everyone. You can find someone more... suitable. Someone from a smaller pack, maybe. Someone who won't expect too much from you."

Her hand touched my arm gently, the same comforting gesture she'd made thousands of times over the years. But now it felt like ice against my skin.

"Besides," she continued, her voice dropping even lower, "Henry deserves someone who can match his strength. Someone who comes from a line of leaders, not charity cases."

The pain in my chest exploded into something else entirely. Something hot and angry and dangerous. My wolf, who had been cowering inside me, suddenly lifted her head and snarled.

"You planned this," I breathed, the realization hitting me like lightning. "This whole time, you've been planning to take my place."

Sable's mask slipped for just a moment, and I saw something cruel and triumphant flash across her face.

"I didn't take anything from you, Charlotte. You can't lose something that was never really yours to begin with."

The rage that had been building inside me suddenly erupted. My wolf threw herself against my ribs, desperate to shift, to fight, to make them all pay for what they'd done to us.

The emotion was so intense, so overwhelming, that for a moment I couldn't breathe.

And then something impossible happened.