I’m sorry, love. I know it hurt when I asked you to apologize. Janine is leading negotiations for the Crescent Moon alliance, and I didn’t want to risk any conflict. Once this deal is secured, I’ll make it up to you. I even got you a present. Please don’t be mad.
I didn’t bother to respond. I had finally understood the truth—Jonathan didn’t love me. He never did. I had merely been a stand-in, a convenient figure beside him.
I packed a small bag and left the packhouse without looking back. The guest lodge I retreated to was tucked away in a quiet part of the territory, far from prying eyes and lies. I hadn’t even unpacked when my phone rang. It was one of the secretaries from the pack’s administrative office.
“Luna, will you not be joining today’s meeting with the elder council?”
I was about to say no when a voice in the background halted me—Jonathan’s. He was giving instructions with urgency.
“Get the top healers. Spare no cost—I want Janine recovered as soon as possible.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Just one minor wound, and he was willing to burn through pack funds to fix her up. Meanwhile, when my own mother bled out in agony, he hadn’t lifted a finger to help.