"Was nothing more than a way to keep you under control," he confirmed without hesitation. "I had to ensure you stayed where I wanted you—despised, powerless, and completely alone." His lips curled in satisfaction. "And then Mara became a problem."
A shudder ran through me. "Mara?"
"She caught you shifting in the forest." Owen leaned in, his breath laced with the scent of wine from the earlier festivities. "She came to me, eager to defend you, desperate to clear your name. Poor thing never realized the danger you posed."
My arms wrapped around myself as his words sank in.
"You killed her," I murmured, the accusation tasting like poison on my tongue. "And you made sure I took the blame."
His smile was slow and sinister. "Two birds, one stone," he said, spreading his hands as if this had all been a grand performance. "With Mara gone, the pack’s hatred for you only grew. And now…" He gestured toward the Alpha insignia on his chest. "I have everything I ever wanted."
Cynthia let out a soft, smug laugh as she traced her fingers over his chest. "And I get to be Luna—the title you naively thought would be yours."