Seraphina’s POV

Roxanne glided toward Julian through the scattered applause, her face glowing with shy excitement.

I stood motionless, watching this pathetic display with dead eyes. If anyone here truly saw me as their future Luna, they would never dare humiliate me like this. They had crushed my dignity under their feet.

But I was curious about one thing. What would Julian do?

Would he let her kiss him in front of everyone?

To my shock, Julian jerked his head away, dodging Roxanne’s advance.

"Stop," he snapped, his voice slicing through the applause like ice. "A man doesn’t wait for a woman to make the move."

He stepped backward, shooting their friend a look that finally killed the show.

Then his eyes locked on mine.

I raised an eyebrow, my mouth twisting into a cold smile. Was he suggesting he should have been the one to start it? Would he already have his hands all over her if I wasn’t here?

My freezing stare seemed to shake him. Julian’s face darkened, then he purposely looked away and threw himself back into the party.

The people around me saw everything.

"She needs to give up. Julian belongs with Roxanne," someone whispered.

"Look at her. Always trying so hard to make everyone happy. Acting like she’s perfect. But we all know better."

"She’s not Luna yet," another voice cut in. "Things could change any second."

I let out a long breath. I stayed quiet. Three years with the Zenith Moon Fang had shown me the power of words. How they could slice you open, how they could burn. Once, they had torn through me, sparking rage, pain, the wild need to fight back. But time had changed me, turned what was soft into stone. Now, I don’t react anymore. I don’t care anymore.

That’s when I heard that sickeningly sweet voice.

"I’m so sorry you have to sit way over here," Roxanne purred as she approached. "There wasn’t any room at our table. I feel terrible about it."

Her face showed no real guilt. Not even a hint. She was loving every second of this. She had pulled this same trick on me two years ago. And here she was, doing it again.

"Don’t apologize. I don’t mind," I said quietly.

"What about my present? I can’t wait to see what my sister got me. What is it?" She asked with a bright smile.

I flashed her my biggest, most fake smile. "I had no idea you were coming. If I had known, as your sister and as Luna of this pack, I definitely would have gotten you something. Maybe next time you decide to visit. But you’ll need to give me a heads up first."

I was throwing their game right back at them. As Roxanne’s sister and pack Luna, I wasn’t told my own sister was coming home and having a party thrown for her. Nobody bothered to inform me. But they seemed blind to my sarcasm. Or maybe they were pretending not to understand.

Roxanne went rigid. The group at her table looked stunned.

"Why are you being so cruel to me?" she demanded.

I stared at her, genuinely confused. Cruel? I had only told the truth.

"I just got home," she continued. "And you’re already planning my departure. We even saw each other this afternoon. Why don’t you have a gift for me? Don’t you want me back?"

Then came the waterworks. Her tears. They never failed her. And they worked perfectly today. Everyone jumped up. They swarmed to her side to protect her.

I couldn’t figure out what I had said wrong. She had attacked me. I simply responded. I hadn’t even been harsh. But once again, I was painted as the villain.

"How could you treat her like that?" The Beta’s wife charged at me, ready for battle. I knew she hated me. They all did. But everyone was listening. They all knew I had done nothing wrong. So why were they attacking me?

"I’m heartbroken. My sister doesn’t want me home," Roxanne wept, throwing herself into the Beta’s wife’s arms.

Tears stung my eyes, but I set my jaw. My fingers gripped my purse like it could anchor me. I will not cry.

"At least say you’re sorry!" the Gamma shouted.

"No." I spoke with iron control. "I honestly don’t understand what I said that hurt her feelings so badly. Wasn’t I speaking the truth? How was I supposed to get her a gift when nobody told me she was coming back?"

"That’s no excuse for treating her coldly! She’s your sister, and you should be celebrating her return," the Beta’s wife snapped.

"I won’t apologize." My voice was pure steel. I looked toward Julian, but his silence was a fortress, his expression unreadable. Did he blame me too? The thought flickered, but I crushed it before it could grow.

Without another word, I pushed through the crowd, stopping only when I stood before him. "I’m going home."

No explanations, no weakness, just the harsh, simple truth. If walking away meant defeat, then fine. But I refused to stand there and let them tear me apart.

"I’ll drive you."

The offer shocked me. Not because it was generous, but because I hadn’t expected it. Roxanne’s reaction matched mine, though hers dripped with jealousy.

"Have your beta take her," she whined, wrapping her fingers around his arm. "We haven’t been together in forever. Stay with me longer. I’ve missed you so much."

"Enjoy yourself with everyone else." Julian ruffled her hair like she was a child before turning to me. "I’ll take you back. We both know you can’t protect yourself."

The words dropped like a bomb. Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to me, their gazes sharp with judgment. They all knew the truth. The truth constantly shoved in my face. I had no wolf, no power, no right to be Julian’s Luna.

I didn’t wait to see their smug looks. Didn’t let myself wonder if their pity cut deeper than their hatred. My purse was in my hand before the whispers could begin, my back straight as I headed for the exit.

Let them gossip. I refused to be their entertainment.