Chapter 2

Damon's voice came, panicked, behind me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, eyes wide.

"Aria, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

"You shoved me off and it scared the hell out of me."

His hands on my waist were shaking. He held on like I might disappear if he let go, and he only pulled me tighter.

One second tangled up with another woman. The next, whispering like he loved me.

Damon. You're a good actor. I peeled his arms off and put some distance between us.

"My stomach's been off. I can't keep much down lately."

I didn't know when I'd learned to lie. I used to hate people who did. Now I was one of them.

When Damon heard it, his face went like he'd been struck.

He had a thing about germs. He never touched mess. But he grabbed me again anyway, holding me hard even with the sick still on me.

"I'm sorry. I've been buried in Pack work. I haven't been around. You've been eating alone, taking care of yourself alone. It's on me."

He cupped my face. His brow pulled tight with that hurt look. He led me back to the bedroom and pulled out fresh clothes to help me change. I stopped him and dressed myself.

Damon froze. Since our Marking, this was the first time I hadn't needed him. His heart seemed to skip.

I was already lying down. He tucked the blanket up over me carefully.

"Aria, are you mad? Is it because I haven't been around?"

"Tomorrow's your birthday. I won't work. I'll spend the whole day with you, all right?"

The Alpha who could cut down any rival in a Pack war, the man whole Packs feared — on his knees like this. I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Was this my luck or my curse?

I couldn't fight off sleep. As I drifted, Damon thought I was out, and his phone buzzed.

He scrambled to silence it and called my name twice. When I didn't move, he answered.

"You're too rough. You tore my underwear. Get me new ones. Now."

"On my way." Damon glanced down at me, then stroked my face, warm, and stood up.

I fisted the sheets. The tears finally broke. Celeste had never left — he'd been keeping her here, right under this roof?

Picking on me because I couldn't see. I pushed the words through my head like a chant. It's fine. Seven more days and I'm gone. After that, Damon and I are done.

The next morning.

Damon was up early. He cooked me a full table of breakfast himself.

All of it was food I used to love — pastries, small dishes. He even lifted a piece to my mouth.

"Open up, love. Let me feed you."

Across the table, Celeste sat pouting, unhappy about it.

So Damon, right in front of me, sent her a message on his phone: I'll make it up to you later. Don't act up in front of Aria. Anything you want, it's yours.

Celeste smiled again, pleased, and shot me a look of contempt. She got up from the table. On her way past Damon, she dragged her finger across the front of his pants, then walked out.

I didn't take the food Damon was offering. I picked up my fork and, pretending I couldn't see, speared something else. Damon thought I was still sulking, so after I ate he insisted on taking me out.

He'd booked a yacht for the day, invited dozens of guests. It was supposed to be my birthday celebration.

All the way there, Damon held my hand tight, scared I'd stumble. He kept bringing up the sweet memories from when we were new.

I didn't speak. The mockery and the pain inside me kept tangling together.

I used to think I'd grow old with him. Never be apart. In the end, it was a joke.

Damon liked the thrill. He liked young flesh. He'd forgotten every word of the vows he'd made at our Bonding.

From the dock onto the yacht, the walkway was carpeted in red rose petals.

I'd always hated roses. Damon knew it. Celeste loved them. So the petals were for her.

How fitting. The whole day was supposed to be for me. Probably another lie.

"Aria, this is where we had our Bonding Ceremony. Broadcast to every Pack. The whole wolf world saw how much I loved you."

Damon's voice shook as he spoke. A tear actually slid down his face.

He lifted my fingers and pressed them to his cheek to feel it.

How much did a man have to love someone to cry like that.

If he hadn't cheated on me, hadn't betrayed me, I would've held him and cried with him.

He had loved me once. But things had changed. His love had gone to Celeste.

I pulled my hand back. My face stayed still as water. Damon was lost in his own head. When he saw I wasn't moved, his eyes dropped, hurt.

It only lasted a few seconds. Then his eyes lit up and the corner of his mouth lifted, staring at the deck.

Celeste came across in a gown Damon had custom-made for her. The dress carried her. She looked regal, refined. Next to plain, quiet me, she'd already won.

Celeste walked up smiling. "Luna, happy birthday."

She said it, then went to Damon's side and, in front of every guest, took his hand.

"Alpha. Everything you asked for is ready. I'll count down."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

The sky exploded with fireworks. They burst open in every color, lighting up the night.

The three of us stood together. Damon and Celeste, hands laced tight. Anyone looking would've called them the mated pair.

I watched the fireworks. The sight cut into me.

The fireworks spelled out Celeste's name. Not Aria Hayes. Hers.