It wasn't long after I left Evan in his chamber that I walked into my room when one of the maids came knocking on the door. "My lady," she said as she came in, "the council elders have summoned your presence."

"The council?" I asked in shock. "What do they want from me and why such a quick notice?"

"I don't know," she said, "but the Luna ceremony is fast approaching and they insist on your presence, perhaps regarding who to crown as the Luna."

The Luna Ceremony—I had almost forgotten. It was a ceremony where the alpha's official mate would be crowned Luna. Apparently, it was supposed to be Clarissa, because she was chosen by the alpha, Evan, but because of the blood pact and the bond, Evan would have to choose who to become his Luna.

I followed her almost immediately. When I got to the meeting room, all the elders were already seated, including Clarissa—except for one person, Evan.

“Lila of Lycan,” one of the elders began. “I'm sure you are aware of the upcoming Luna Ceremony, and it's important we choose the new Luna to be crowned. We must officially welcome the new Luna before the full moon.”

“Yes,” another elder said. “The Luna Ceremony is set to take place in three days, and the selection has to begin as soon as possible.”

I stayed composed. “So what do you need from me now?”

“You are still bonded to the Alpha through the blood pact, and Clarissa here is also bonded to the Alpha by the Moon Goddess. We must ensure that there is no disruption during the crowning, so Evan would have to choose and some sacraments will be made before the day of the Luna Ceremony.”

Did I just hear him say Clarissa is bonded to Evan by the Moon Goddess? This must be the greatest joke of all time. And then I just remembered Evan was not in the meeting room.

“Where’s Evan?” I asked. “He is the one supposed to make the selection, but he is not here.”

The elders exchanged glances.

“He was supposed to be here already,” one of the elders said. “We sent for him a long time ago but haven’t seen him.”

I looked at Clarissa. Something about her seemed suspicious. She had been quiet the whole time, and when I asked about Evan, the expression on her face shifted.

I stood up immediately and headed to Evan's chamber. When I got there, some wolves were gathered just in front. I pushed through and went inside. There I saw him, lying down on the floor half-dead.

A healer sat beside him, trying to revive him back to life. I came closer, went on my knees, and felt his body—it was cold.

The old healer pressed a finger around his neck and shook her head.

"It was poison," she said. "He was poisoned with a strong herbal medicine."

“Poisoned? By who and when?”

"I can't say who did that," she said, "but it was certainly in the early hours of noon because the herbs haven't spread around his system."

"Is there something that can be done?" I asked.

"Yes, I will try my best to revive him, but I’m afraid he might not remember who he was or anyone he loves."

"What does that mean?" I asked in shock.

"The poison given to him is a deadly herbal medicine that wipes memory," she replied.

I became terrified. Who must have done this and what is the person's ambition? And just right there, it clicked—Clarissa. She is the only one with evil ambitions and ready to go to any length to achieve them.

It all made sense now. Her plan all along was to poison Evan, wipe his memory so he could forget me, and then choose her again to become the next Luna. I stood up immediately, to look for Clarissa, to confront her and put an end to all of her troubles.

“Where is she?” I shouted, running and searching everywhere for her.

It was as if she was waiting for me—she came out from nowhere and stood in one place, her hands across her hips.

"Where is who?" she asked as I approached her.

"You know what you have done, Clarissa, but I promise you this is not the end of it, you evil witch."

Clarissa laughed sarcastically. "If you are not afraid," she said, "why bother yourself about such little things? I thought you are supposedly the heiress, chosen by the Goddess and the Blood Moon. Why are you scared Evan might lose his memory, forget you, and not choose you?"

"Little thing? You call this little thing? You have poisoned the Alpha of a pack. Do you know you are now a traitor to this pack? Your actions can actually call for war."

"A war, you said? Well, this is all I have been looking for all these years. I want war, Lila. I want to crush you, the entire elders, and anyone that could stand in my way from taking over this pack."

"What are you talking about? Your pack has alliances with Moonveil Pack. We are supposed to be in peace, not war."

"Tell that to Alpha Magnus!" she shouted. I could sense fury and anger in her voice.

"What do you mean, Clarissa?"

"Seems like the little uncomfortable Luna doesn't know anything. Well, Alpha Magnus, Evan's father, and my father had an allegiance many years ago which he couldn’t keep. This has led to many wars between the two packs, and as a way to atone, he stepped down for his son Evan to become the Alpha, and that was why he hasn't been seen in any of the council meetings so far."

"What else do you want, Clarissa? He has already stepped down."

"No!" she screamed. "That was not the agreement. A part of this pack belongs to us and we are supposed to take it by marrying Evan, by becoming the Luna. But since you surfaced, I can't see that happening. So I'm ready to fight till I defeat you and claim what is mine."

"What is yours? You have no heritage in Moonveil, and I will never stop till I kill you."

"Kill me?" she laughed. "You think you can kill me? This is the reason why I hate you so much," she spat. "You always wish and want something you are not qualified for. First, you wanted Evan, now the crown—and you think you have the power to kill me?"

"You’ll pay for everything you’ve done, for all the troubles you have caused Moonveil, and your generations will be wiped off."

"The same way you will pay for keeping such a secret from Evan all these years," Clarissa replied harshly.

"What secret are you referring to?" I asked, curious.

She grinned. "I'm talking about your precious son, Leo."

"How did you find out about Leo, you evil wolf?"

Clarissa burst into a very hurtful and mocking laughter. "You think you can hide that forever?" she said. "Some of us are smarter than you know. I will make sure I reveal your secrets and bring you down."

"You cannot do that."

"You dare me?" she snapped. "But before I go ahead, I'm going to have fun with your precious son."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Watch me," she answered and disappeared into thin air.

That night, Clarissa’s threats bothered me so much that I couldn't sleep. But somehow I fell asleep when it was close to dawn. When I woke up, the environment felt so different from what it used to be. I opened my eyes to see myself bound from my hands to all parts of my body with a cuff chained to the wall of a dark cavern.

No one was there except for a little child also bound like me. My heart skipped as I looked closer—and it was Leo.

He was tied up not far from me, barely able to move.

I screamed, unsure of what and how to react, and just then, a mocking laughter came from inside the cavern—and Clarissa came out.

“Oh, how touching,” she mocked. “Mother and son, reunited. Maybe this is what you have always wanted, and I helped you achieve that."

“You’re nothing but a monster,” I spat.

“No, sweetheart,” she said. “I'm just someone who couldn't watch a common omega overpower me and take all that belongs to me. You and your son are going to die here. I will become the Luna and after that, I will finally kill Evan for all of his betrayals."

“I will kill you,” I growled. "I will destroy you before you achieve any of your evil goals."

She kneeled in front of me. "You’re welcome to try. But who do you think is going to win—the one bound by handcuffs, or me?"

"I don't care, but I know I will defeat you."

She laughed, standing. “We shall see about that, Lila."

She turned and walked away, her laughter echoing like a bad omen. It made me pissed, and every moment that passed, I wished I could turn into a dagger and stab her right in the middle of her heart.

I looked at Leo, who was now crying slowly—and I wept.

“Don’t worry, my child,” I whispered. “I will torture her for doing this to you."

No one will hurt me or my son and go free.