The Rejected She-Wolf, Bound to the Vampire Prince

There was no point in arguing with them about the past. If they wanted to know anything, they'd find out in three days.

I looked up at Seth, my voice calm. "If you're here to pick me up, then let's go."

My words made everyone freeze. Then, an explosion of laughter.

"What is she talking about?"

"Pick her up?"

"Who does she think she is?"

Brielle was bent over, howling with laughter. "Ember, did you lose your mind living on the streets?"

"We're here for the Vampire Prince's mate," Seth snapped. "Not some pathetic stray who got herself cast out."

The Vampire Prince's mate.

I thought of Lucian's face, and my mood instantly lifted.

"Did you know, Ember?" Brielle began to gloat. "The Vampire Prince Lucian treats his blood-bonded mate like a goddess. It's almost sickening."

"They say he broke centuries of vampire tradition for her."

"They say he prepares her every meal with his own hands."

He does. He insists on making my breakfast himself every morning.

"He even built her a garden filled with her favorite moonpetal flowers."

More than one garden. He planted different flowers for me every season. Cherry blossoms in spring, roses in summer, osmanthus in fall, and plum blossoms in winter.

"But the most incredible gift," Brielle's voice was practically dripping with envy, "is the necklace he gave her."

I instinctively touched my neck.

"A legendary necklace made from the rarest moonstone," she went on. "It's one of a kind, worth a fortune. They say the moonstone is huge, and it glows with a mystical light at night. Only his blood-bonded mate is worthy of wearing it."

Brielle was lost in her fantasy of a lavish life, her eyes sparkling.

She didn't notice my silence.

And she didn't notice that I was wearing the "legendary" necklace she was describing.

"I'm so jealous," she sighed dramatically. "If I were the Vampire Prince's mate, I would—"

Suddenly, her voice died in her throat.

Her eyes widened, fixed on my neck. Her smug expression turned to shock.

"Wait... wait a minute!" She pointed a trembling finger at me. "On your neck... is that..."

Everyone's gaze followed her finger.

The moonstone pendant shimmered with a soft, silver light in the sun.

A perfect oval, the size of a robin's egg, surrounded by tiny, glittering diamonds.

It was exactly as Brielle had described.

"Impossible!" Brielle shrieked. "That's impossible!"

The crowd started murmuring.

"Is... is that really the legendary necklace?"

"It... it looks just like it..."

"But how could it be? She's just a rejected... a stray wolf."

Seth stared for a few seconds, then strode toward me.

He grabbed my chin roughly, forcing my head up.

"Let me see." He studied the necklace, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. "It... does look real."

Then he sneered.

"But a fake is a fake. Where'd you get it? Some street market knock-off? You're getting pathetic, Ember."

I remembered last year. Lucian and I were watching the northern lights after our trip around the world.

That night, green light danced across the sky. It was breathtaking.

Lucian held me from behind, kissed my neck, and fastened the necklace.

"My moon," he whispered in my ear. "This moonstone glows on a full moon. Just like your eyes."

It wasn't the most valuable gift he'd ever given me, but the moonstone was filled with his love. It rested warm against my skin every night.

I was lost in the memory when Seth's hand shot out. With a sharp tug, he ripped the necklace from my neck.

"Seth!" I lunged for it.

But he held it up, out of my reach. "Even a fake isn't worthy of your neck."

Brielle immediately scurried over and took the necklace from his hand.

She held it up to the light, the moonstone flashing between her fingers.

"It's a good fake," she said, feigning sympathy. "But Ember, this is embarrassing for the pack. What if the Vampire Prince finds out someone is wearing a replica of his mate's necklace? The consequences would be dire."

She paused, then covered her mouth dramatically.

"Wait… unless you’re her? The mysterious mate the Vampire Prince keeps under such heavy guard?"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"Hahaha! Ember? The Prince's mate?"

"A rejected stray wolf?"

"Vampires are obsessed with bloodlines. They'd never choose a werewolf."

"Especially not a traitor who abandoned her pack!"

Brielle dangled the necklace, her eyes dripping with contempt.

"You can't afford the Prince's wrath, Ember. So why don't you give it to me? I'll do you a favor and take the fake off your hands. I'll even trade you two stalks of moon-grass for it. Enough for an omega like you to last a lifetime."

Moon-grass. The pack's most precious herb. But it was useless to me.

Vampire power flowed through my veins now. Lucian's blood bond meant I no longer needed anything from the pack.

"Give it back." I stepped toward Brielle, reaching for the pendant. "That was from Lucian—"

"Stop!" Seth cut me off, his face turning to stone. "Are you insane? The treaty is about to be signed! You want to openly offend the Vampire Prince?"

He grabbed my arm and shook me hard.

I wrenched myself free and stared at him coldly.

"I said, give it back."

"What's with that look?" My cold stare seemed to enrage him. "Just who do you think you are?"

SLAP!

The sharp sound echoed.

My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning.

The crowd went silent.

" Three years as a blood thrall has made you forget even the most basic respect for your own kind." Seth said, looking down at me. "You think wearing a fake necklace will get you attention? Prove you're doing well?"

His voice was laced with contempt and rage.

"I'm warning you, Ember. Drop the childish games. The real vampire delegation will be here any minute. If they see you insulting their Prince and his mate, you'll be torn to shreds! The whole pack will suffer for your stupidity!"

I stood there silently, my cheek still on fire.

Three years ago, his every glance could break my heart.

Now, his slap felt like a light breeze.

"Still not taking it off?" Brielle added from the side. "Do you want to get the whole pack killed?"

Seth pulled a credit card from his pocket. A platinum card, but I could tell it had a low limit.

He tossed it at my feet.

"Go buy yourself something decent. Something that fits your station. And stop wearing rags you dug out of the trash and cheap fakes."

Every word was an act of charity.

Like he was feeding a stray dog.

I looked at the credit card by my feet and didn't bend to pick it up.

"Keep your pity, Seth."

I lifted my head and met his gaze.

"I don't need anything from a stranger."