Chapter 3

Isla’s POV

Three days had passed since Rowena's birthday party, three days since Damon told me that she would become his Second Luna.

Three days had passed since he had chosen her over me once again.

Life inside Blackthorn Palace carried on as if nothing had happened, yet everything had changed.

With Rowena's pregnancy, she could have anything she wanted. Just as Damon had promised, she now lived in the palace, carrying herself as though she had more right to be there than I did.

Now that she was carrying my husband's heir, the child I could never give him, Damon no longer made any effort to hide where he wanted to be.

Every morning, he had breakfast with Rowena. At noon, he took her into the capital, and every evening, they strolled through the royal gardens together as though they were already husband and wife.

The palace servants, the ones loyal to House Blackthorn, had long since stopped pretending not to notice.

"I heard Alpha Damon is preparing another wing for Lady Rowena."

"They say she's carrying the future Alpha."

"Perhaps she's the true Luna after all."

Whenever I walked by, the whispers died instantly. Some servants lowered their heads in shame, while others simply looked away.

I never bothered correcting them anymore. There was nothing left to defend.

Instead, I buried myself at work.

I reviewed petitions from the eastern villages, signed reports from the hospitals my parents had founded, and answered letters from the orphanages that still carried House Nightfang's crest.

One document after another passed through my hands. If I could no longer be the wife Damon wanted, then I would at least remain the Luna this kingdom deserved.

That morning, as I entered the dining hall, my fingers instinctively brushed against the small key hidden inside my pocket.

A gift I bought for Damon on our wedding anniversary. It was still there.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

How foolish I had been.

A moment later, Damon strode into the dining hall. His gaze swept across the room without stopping on me.

Instead, it landed on the sleek black sports car parked just beyond the palace gates.

His brows knitted together in annoyance.

"Who could possibly have enough courage to park a brand-new car outside my gates?" he demanded. "Whoever it is must be mocking me. You all know I've wanted that exact model for years."

The dining hall fell silent.

I simply reached for a strip of bacon and an egg, eating quietly as though his words meant nothing.

But they meant everything.

Yes, I knew how badly he wanted that car; that was why it was parked outside.

It was supposed to be his. An anniversary present from the wife he had never truly loved.

My fingers tightened around the key in my pocket, and for the first time, I felt grateful that I had discovered the truth before giving it to him. Otherwise, I would have once again been the only one giving everything, only to receive betrayal in return.

Deep down, I had always known Damon could never look at me the way he looked at Rowena. He would never love me the way he loved her. Still, I had convinced myself that it was enough.

I was his Luna.

He had become Alpha because House Nightfang had stood behind him and because I had chosen him as my mate.

He needed me.

For five years, that belief had been enough to silence every doubt in my heart.

Until our wedding anniversary.

It wasn't the first anniversary Damon had forgotten, but it was the first time he had willingly abandoned me to celebrate Rowena's birthday instead.

And now, he intended to make her his Second Luna, the woman carrying the child I could never give him.

The title itself was absurd.

The ancient wolf laws recognized only one Luna.

There had never been a Second Luna, nor could there ever be.

But Alpha Damon had grown so powerful that he believed even the sacred laws of our kind would bend to his will.

Later that morning, I noticed the palace kitchens buzzing with unusual excitement. Servants rushed back and forth carrying baskets of fresh fruit, silver trays, and expensive flowers. A pastry chef carefully decorated an enormous strawberry cake while others arranged the finest china in the dining hall.

I smiled faintly.

"It must be another celebration for Rowena."

No one answered.

Instead, an elderly omega slowly approached me. She had served my mother long before I was born, and tears shimmered in her aging eyes as she stopped in front of me.

"Luna Isla..." she whispered. "...Happy birthday."

I stared at her in confusion.

"My... birthday?"

The realization struck me all at once: today was my birthday, and for the first time in twenty-six years, I had forgotten it. A quiet, humorless laugh escaped my lips.

How ironic.

I spent years remembering everyone else's important days, Damon's birthday, our wedding anniversary, council ceremonies, and every pack festival. Yet somewhere along the way, I had forgotten there had once been a day that belonged only to me.

"You've always loved strawberry cake," the elderly omega said gently. "I remembered."

I smiled and squeezed her wrinkled hand.

"Thank you," I whispered. "But don't trouble yourself. There's already too much happening today."

She looked as though her heart had broken.

"As you wish... Princess."

The old title tightened something painfully inside my chest.

Perhaps birthdays simply weren't important anymore.

Not for someone like me.

As I rounded the western corridor later that morning and saw Damon walking toward me, one foolish heartbeat filled me with hope that perhaps he had remembered.

My heart quickened as he drew closer.

"Good morning, Damon."

He walked straight past me without answering, without looking at me, without even slowing his steps.

The tiny spark of hope quietly died.

A few steps later, I heard him speaking to the head steward.

"Prepare the banquet hall tonight. Invite every noble family, and make sure the royal musicians are present."

The steward bowed immediately.

"Of course, Alpha."

"The kingdom should celebrate the future heir properly," Damon continued. "Everything must be perfect for Rowena."

I lowered my eyes, realizing that all the preparations were never for my birthday, but for Rowena's pregnancy celebration, held on the very same day, and as I turned the corner, Meredith's mocking voice stopped me.

"You actually thought he'd remember, didn't you?"

She stood beside Harold, both of them watching me with amused smiles.

"Five years as Damon's wife," Meredith sneered, "and you still don't know your place. You couldn't even give him an heir, so tell me... what exactly is there to celebrate?"

Harold chuckled.

"If anything, you should be thanking Rowena. She's finally giving this family the future it deserves."

I tightened my grip on the documents in my hands before forcing a small nod.

"You're right," I said quietly. "I apologize."

I bowed politely.

"If you'll excuse me..."

Before either of them could see the tears burning behind my eyes, I turned and walked away.