"It’s like he chose Leah over Luna, like he never really loved her to begin with. Can you imagine?"
And that was the worst part. Not just losing my son, but knowing everyone else was talking about how my mate—my supposed mate—had already moved on. While I was drowning in grief, they were probably already pairing Damon and Leah together in their minds.
"Poor Luna... She’s all alone now. Damon and Leah... well, they seem to fit, don’t they?"
I clenched my fists, trying to push the thoughts away, but it was impossible. I could feel their judgment, their pity, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake off.
I couldn’t stand to be around him. Damon, the man I thought I could trust with my life, had betrayed me in the worst possible way. I had nothing left—no son, no mate, no sister. Just the bitter truth that I was completely and utterly alone.
---
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes were hollow, dark circles beneath them from nights spent tossing and turning. The person looking back at me felt like a stranger—broken, defeated, and tired. So tired.
Noah’s loss had taken everything out of me. Every breath, every heartbeat felt like a painful reminder that he wasn’t here anymore. And Damon? He was nowhere to be found either. At least, not for me. He had made his choice, and that choice wasn’t me. It was Leah.
That’s when I decided to call Lily.
Lily had always been a good friend, even when distance and time tried to wedge between us. We hadn’t spoken in a while, but I knew she would understand. I knew she’d listen. She always did.
As I sat in Noah’s empty room, my hands trembling, I dialed her number. The sound of her voice was like a lifeline when she answered.
“Luna?” she said, her voice concerned the moment she heard my shaky breath. “What’s wrong?”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Lily... I don’t know where to start.”
“Take your time,” she said gently. “I’m here.”
Tears stung my eyes as I tried to explain the whirlwind of emotions choking me. “I can’t stay here anymore. It’s Damon. He... he’s not the same, Lily. He’s been with Leah.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, then a sharp intake of breath. “Your sister? Luna... I’m so sorry.”