Chapter 2 I'm Leaving Because I Want To

Selena's POV:

Morning had already come.

I threw the ripped nightgown into the trash, then turned to my closet and started packing.

Now that I'd made up my mind to file the Unbinding Petition, I had no reason to stay here any longer.

Without warning, the bedroom door flew open.

According to pack law, no one was allowed to enter the Luna's private rooms without permission.

I turned around, confused by the sudden intrusion.

Lila stood casually in the doorway, wearing a blouse that dipped low across her chest.

She came from a pure bloodline and held a high rank in the Stormclaw Pack. She was also Ethan's most trusted aide at the company.

To Ethan's mother and the Council of Elders, Lila was everything a Luna was supposed to be. Her wolf was strong and active, her bloodline was spotless, and they believed she was the only woman truly suited to stand beside Ethan.

To them, I was just a rogue who'd climbed into my position on a contract.

The moment Lila walked into the room, a strong scent hit me.

Ethan's familiar cedar scent clung to her, mixed with the heavy musk of a she-wolf in heat and the unmistakable smell of sex.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

Lila ignored the question and walked straight into my closet instead, slowly looking over the rows of expensive dresses.

"After Ethan left your room last night, he came straight to me." She glanced back at me with a smug smile while playing with the edge of her collar.

As she moved, I could clearly see the marks across her neck and collarbone. Red bruises covered her skin, and several dark bite marks trailed down beneath the neckline of her blouse.

"He completely lost control last night," Lila said softly. "When he turned me over, he was so rough I thought he'd snap me in half. He went so hard that even my legs are still shaking."

My stomach twisted with disgust.

Inside me, my wolf growled low, furious.

"Are you finished?" I looked at her without any expression. "If you are, get out."

Lila clearly didn't like how little her words affected me.

She drifted toward the couture gown I only wore for official pack ceremonies and ran her fingers over the embroidery.

"Selena, you've been holding onto this position for three years. Aren't you tired of pretending it still means something?" She turned to me with open contempt in her eyes. "On paper, you're the Luna. That's all. You're rogue-born, Ethan has never given you a real mark, and you still think he actually wants you? Every time he touches you, he's probably just thinking about shutting the Elders up."

She stepped closer. "I'm different. Last night, his wolf was practically losing its mind over me. Ethan needs a she-wolf who can actually give him what he wants, not someone who just stands beside him and looks the part."

The ambition written all over her face was almost laughable.

I walked over and knocked her hand away from my gown. "Don't touch my things with those filthy hands. And if you really think sleeping with Ethan once is enough to make you Luna, you're even more delusional than I thought."

I gave her a cold smile and looked at the marks covering her neck. "If he wanted you that badly last night, then why didn't he leave an actual mark on your scent gland?"

Lila's face immediately twisted with anger, and she glared at me through clenched teeth. "What the hell are you so proud of? He'll mark me eventually! Once he finally throws a worthless bitch like you out of the pack..."

"Until the Council officially dissolves our bond, I'm still the Luna of the Stormclaw Pack," I cut her off before she could finish. "And you? You're just a convenient body he uses when he feels like getting off. So get out of my room."

Lila shook with rage and lifted her hand to hit me.

"What the hell are you doing?" A cold voice came sharply from the doorway.

Ethan stood there with a deep frown, looking from Lila to me.

Lila dropped her hand immediately. "Alpha..." Her voice softened into a wounded whine as she hurried toward him. "I only came to check on Luna, but she..."

She held the back of her hand and stopped there, making herself look too frightened to continue.

"Selena, haven't you made enough trouble already?" Ethan walked into the room and stepped in front of Lila without hesitation. "I already doubled your allowance. What else do you want from me? Stop taking your anger out on everyone around you. Is this really how a Luna is supposed to act?"

I looked at Ethan, the man I'd spent the last three years loving.

"How am I supposed to act?" A bitter smile touched my lips. "She walks into my bedroom smelling of your mating scent, just so she can rub it in my face, and somehow I'm the one you want to lecture?"

"She came here because she was worried about you!" Ethan snapped as the weight of his Alpha aura filled the room. "Listen to yourself. You're acting completely unreasonable."

He pointed toward Lila. "Apologize to Lila. Right now."

I stared at him without saying a word. There was no anger left in me. No hurt either. Even the crushing pain from last night had disappeared.

I picked up the travel bag I'd already packed and zipped it closed.

"Ethan, you don't just disgust me—you've made me see what a blind fool I've been for the last three years."

I lifted the bag onto my shoulder and walked toward the door.

When I passed him, I stopped for a moment and looked him straight in the eyes. "You don't have to throw me out. I'm leaving because I want to. Whoever wants the Luna title can have it."

Then I walked out of the room without looking back.