Natalie Beaumont studied her reflection in the mirror, pushing a perfectly styled blonde curl into place. Her plan was coming together nicely. With Violet gone and Aurelia broken, Julian was drifting closer to her every day.
"Mommy, when is Julian coming?" Isabelle asked, sitting on the edge of Natalie's bed.
"Soon, sweetie." I smoothed down my daughter's dress. "He promised to take us to dinner tonight."
"Will he be my new daddy?"
The question made me smile. "That's the plan, baby. But we need to work harder to make him forget about that woman."
The doorbell rang, and I quickly applied a final coat of lip gloss. Perfect timing.
Julian stood at my doorway, looking tired but handsome in his tailored suit. Those amber eyes that had captivated me since childhood now held a troubled shadow I was determined to erase.
"Julian!" I threw my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his. "We've missed you so much."
He returned my embrace stiffly. "I can't stay long. Pack business."
I pulled back with a practiced pout. "But you promised Isabelle. She's been talking about this dinner all day."
Julian's jaw tightened with guilt as Isabelle ran up, wrapping her small arms around his legs. "Please stay, Julian! I drew you a picture at school!"
I watched his resistance crumble in the face of my daughter's pleading eyes. Manipulating Julian through Isabelle was almost too easy.
"One hour," he conceded, lifting Isabelle onto his hip.
I touched his arm, drawing his attention back to me. "We need to talk about the Pack Healer's Crystal Competition. I'm entering my design tomorrow."
"The competition?" Julian raised an eyebrow.
"It's important to me," I explained. "Winning would prove to your father I'm worthy of being Luna. Of being your mate officially."
Julian's expression darkened. "Natalie, I've told you—"
"I know, I know. You're still technically mated to her." I waved my hand dismissively. "But she abandoned you, Julian. She took your daughter and disappeared. It's time to move on."
He didn't respond, but I could see the turmoil in his eyes. The seed of doubt I'd planted about Violet being alive was taking root. Soon, he'd be completely mine.
---
The small memorial I'd created for Violet was hidden deep in the forest. No one knew about this place except me. Here, surrounded by wildflowers and a small crystal formation I'd grown myself, I could talk to my daughter without judgment.
I knelt on the damp earth, placing a fresh bouquet of violets on the stone.
"I miss you so much, my sweet girl," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Every day without you hurts more than I can bear."
The wind rustled through the trees, and I closed my eyes, imagining it was Violet's gentle touch against my cheek.
"I'm entering the Crystal Competition tomorrow," I told her. "If I win, I'll use the prize money to buy you the most beautiful burial plot in the territory. Somewhere with sunlight and flowers, just like you always loved."
My fingers traced the rough surface of the memorial stone. Without a proper burial site, this was all I had. The pack cemetery required Julian's authorization as Alpha, which he'd refused to give, claiming I was being "dramatic" about Violet's "illness." He never believed how serious her condition was.
Until it was too late.
Standing up, I wiped my tears and straightened my shoulders. "I'll make them all pay for what they did to you, baby. Starting with the competition tomorrow."
The walk back to my small cottage on the outskirts of pack territory gave me time to compose myself. Since Violet's death, Julian had revoked my Luna privileges, leaving me with barely enough to survive. But I wouldn't let that stop me.
I spent the night perfecting my crystal healing formation. The intricate pattern of crystals was designed to purify blood and strengthen internal organs—the very treatment that could have saved Violet if given the chance.
The next morning, I carefully packed my creation and headed to the pack headquarters to submit my entry. The receptionist gave me a pitying look as I filled out the application form.
"The competition is fierce this year," she warned. "Natalie Beaumont has entered as well."
Of course she had. Natalie's mediocre talent with crystals was nothing compared to mine, but she had Julian's favor. That counted for more than skill in this corrupt pack.
"May the best healer win," I replied coolly, sliding my application across the desk.
Two hours later, my phone chimed with a message:
*Your crystal formation has been selected for live demonstration. Please present at Lunar Tower, main hall, 3PM today.*
My heart raced. This was my chance—not just for the prize money, but to show the pack my value as a healer. The very skill Julian and his cronies had dismissed when I begged them to help Violet.
I arrived at Lunar Tower fifteen minutes early, clutching my case of crystals. The main hall was already bustling with pack officials and competitors. My stomach dropped when I spotted Julian at the center of the room.
He wasn't alone. Natalie stood beside him, one hand possessively on his arm, while Isabelle skipped circles around them. They looked like a perfect family—the very image Natalie had been crafting since Violet's death.
Julian laughed at something Isabelle said, his face lighter than I'd seen it in years. The sight pierced my heart. He never laughed with Violet like that. Never played with her or carried her on his shoulders as he was doing now with Isabelle.
Natalie caught sight of me first, her blue eyes narrowing before a smug smile spread across her face. She leaned closer to Julian, whispering something in his ear while maintaining eye contact with me. The message was clear: *I've won. He's mine now.*
I forced myself to look away, focusing instead on setting up my crystal formation on the assigned table. My hands trembled slightly, but I steadied them through sheer willpower. This wasn't about Julian or Natalie. This was for Violet.
"Aurelia Monroe?" A judge approached my table. "You're up next for demonstration."
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I activated the formation. The crystals began to glow, creating a harmonious resonance that filled the air. The energy pattern was visible even to those without healing abilities—a pulsing network of light designed to strengthen failing kidneys.
Whispers spread through the crowd. Even the judges looked impressed. I allowed myself a small flicker of hope.
Then Natalie's voice cut through the murmurs. "Julian, darling, come see what little Isabelle and I created!"
Julian obediently moved to her table, where a simple crystal arrangement sat. It was technically correct but lacked innovation or depth. Still, Julian praised it effusively, lifting Isabelle to see the judges' reactions.
"Mommy's going to win, right?" Isabelle's voice carried across the hall.
"Of course she is," Julian assured her. "She's the most talented healer in the pack."
The blatant lie made my blood boil. Julian knew very well I was the pack's strongest crystal healer—it was the reason he'd sought me out that night five years ago, before everything fell apart.
Natalie's confident expression faltered when she saw me watching. For the first time, uncertainty flashed across her perfect features. She hadn't expected me to enter the competition, and certainly hadn't expected my demonstration to outshine hers so dramatically.
Julian finally noticed me as he set Isabelle down. His amber eyes widened with surprise, then narrowed dangerously. He marched toward my table, leaving Natalie mid-sentence.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
"Competing," I answered simply. "It's an open competition for pack members."
His gaze swept over my crystal formation, recognition dawning in his eyes. "This is the treatment you claimed Violet needed."
"Yes." The word came out choked. "The one you refused to believe in."
Julian's expression darkened. "Speaking of Violet—where is she? You left her home alone again?"
The question hit like a physical blow. He didn't know. After all these months, he still didn't know our daughter was dead.
"She's not home," I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper.
Julian's hand clamped around my arm, his grip painfully tight. "Then where is she? Who's watching her? She's only five, Aurelia!"
The room began to spin around me. How could he not know? I'd sent notice to the pack office. There had been a small funeral—which he hadn't attended.
"Let go of me," I hissed, trying to pull away.
"Not until you tell me where my daughter is!" Julian's voice rose, drawing attention from nearby competitors.
"She's—" The words stuck in my throat. How could I say it here, in public, surrounded by curious onlookers?
Julian's grip tightened further, his eyes flashing with anger. "Answer me! Did you leave her with some stranger again? Is that why you haven't been at the house? Have you been abandoning our sick child to what? Create crystal formations?"
Each accusation landed like a knife to my heart. The irony was unbearable—being accused of neglecting the child I had raised alone while he played family with Natalie and Isabelle.
"You have no right," I whispered, tears threatening to spill. "No right to question my parenting when you were never there."
"I'm her father! I have every right!" Julian growled, his wolf close to the surface. "You're an irresponsible mother, Aurelia. No wonder Violet's condition never improves—you're too busy with your own interests to properly care for her!"
The accusation—so cruel, so oblivious—broke something inside me. A dam burst, and five years of grief, rage, and betrayal came flooding out.