Part Two

"It's her, isn't it?" Leah's voice barely rose above a whisper, but her gaze was sharp, searching his face. She didn't need a response-the guilty look that flickered over Shane's features told her everything.

"How long has she been here?" Leah asked again, her voice strained and edged with heartbreak. She could feel the tears threatening to spill. She had hoped, prayed, that the pain of watching the man she loved pining for another would fade in time, yet here it was, raw as ever.

"Leah, let's not do this," Shane replied, his expression dark with regret. Leah's heart fluttered, treacherously hopeful, at the sight of his pained look-a look that made her feel like he cared, if only a little.

"Why can't it be me?" she choked out. "I'm your mate." She knew how desperate she sounded, how pathetic, but she couldn't stop. She had given too much of herself, sacrificed too much.

"I don't know, Leah," he admitted, his gaze distant. "I thought my attraction to Millie was because of Esme's spell. But even after Esme's death...l still feel drawn to her."

Leah stared, momentarily speechless.

"Esme used Millie as a conduit for the spell," Leah muttered, her voice laced with bitterness.
"I told you, we just need to kill Millie, and you'll be free from this." She noticed the instant shift in Shane's demeanor, Kygara's presence hovering dangerously close to the surface, his eyes glowing a fierce green.

The tears Leah had been holding back spilled down her cheeks. She could see it now-Shane's feelings for Millie were undeniable, blindingly obvious. If he could love her even half as fiercely, Leah would die happy.

"Damn it, Leah, I'm sorry," Shane whispered, dropping to her eye level, his voice thick with guilt. "I can't keep doing this to you. You deserve more than tears."

"What are you saying?" Leah asked, dreading his answer. She feared he was about to say the very words she had prayed he never would.

"Maybe...maybe you should reject me." His voice broke, yet he pushed forward. "You don't deserve to live the rest of your life miserable because the Moon Goddess fated you to someone who can't return your feelings." Leah's sobs intensified. She had feared this day, dreaded hearing him speak those words.

While she had devoted herself to planning their bonding ceremony, he'd been off with Millie, doing who knew what, only to come back now and suggest she should let him go.

No, she wouldn't allow it. She'd given everything to be by his side, sacrificed parts of herself she could never get back. And now Millie thought she could just swoop in and take him?

Suddenly, Leah stood, crossing the room in swift strides. Her hand closed around one of the decorative swords on the wall. She raised it to her neck, watching Shane's eyes go wide with horror.

"Leah, put that down. This isn't funny," he said, reaching for her. But she pressed the blade closer, a shallow cut forming along her neck as a thin line of blood trailed down the blade.

"Not funny?" she spat, tears glistening in her eyes. "What do you think you're doing, Shane? Do you even know what rejecting me would mean?"

"That's why l asked you to do it, Leah. I don't want to hurt you any longer."

"Oh, like that makes a difference," she scoffed.

Shane's panic was evident, but Leah noticed something that cut her even deeper-there was no agony in his face, no unbearable pain, nothing like what she'd seen in him when Millie cried years ago.

Even now, the only time he showed any emotion, was when Millie was involved. But for her? Nothing.

"Leah," Shane said softly, his voice filled with remorse. He looked torn, haunted by the damage he'd done to her-just as he had to Millie. Millie's face, her frightened expression, flitted through his mind, filling him with dread and guilt.

"Every day, Rafael's army grows stronger, threatening Lupinmere. And all you can think about is that witch's daughter," Leah's voice wavered, her tone no longer pleading but hard.

"That isn't for you to worry about," Shane replied coldly. "I'll handle Rafael."

"How?" she demanded. "Your council doesn't trust you. The only reason you still sit on that throne is because of the hope of your awakening, and that requires your mate. If you reject the mate bond, You think they will still stand behind you? And Millie-what use will she be then? Your legacy-no, your parents' legacy that they died to protect-will be destroyed."

"Leah!" His voice thundered through the room, silencing her. For a moment, she nearly yielded, but she pressed on. She had to make him understand, to force him to see that she was his only choice. She couldn't stop until he realized that she, not Millie, was meant to be by his side.

"So, choose. I can't do this anymore, One of us has to die. If you choose her, then walk out that door, and I'll kill myself. No point living a life as a rejected mate, And you, you'll bear the guilt of sealing Lupinmere's downfall," she threatened, her voice cold and resolved. She knew he would never abandon his duty-Shane's weakness was his loyalty to his people.

"Why does she have to die?" he whispered, almost pleading.

"Sacrifices are necessary, Shane. As alpha, you know that better than anyone. I don't care what feelings you have, I don't care if Esme made Millie a conduit and that's why you're still under her spell. Choose now, me or her?" Leah insisted, watching his face crumble under her words. Good, she thought. She was finally breaking him down.

"She doesn't have to die, I can just send her away."

"And then in a few months, you go back to stalking her again, i refuse to live like that. If you cannot live without her, then simply walk out that door and choose her." She pushed, relentless. "Make your choice, Alpha Shane-Millie or your people."

Shane looked defeated, visibly shaken. "Fine. Just put down the sword."

Leah walked forward, handing him the blade before wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. His body stiffened, but she clung to him, unyielding, until he finally returned the hug. She didn't care how desperate she looked, how much her pride was trampled. Shane was worth it, worth all of it.

"Promise me you'll get it done. If you really can't, I'll do it myself."

"No, I'll get it done," Shane whispered in defeat.

"I care about her too, but this is what's best" she whispered, feeling him stiffen. She pulled away with a victorious smile, stepping toward the chamber door.

Shane was always easy to manipulate, and as Leah left the room, she felt triumphant, her thoughts drifting to memories of Millie's birthday and the steps that had led to this very moment.

<<Flashback to Millie's 18th Birthday>>

"Her hot stalker, of course."

The words hit Leah like ice. Two weeks ago, on her own birthday, Shane had vanished from her side with terror in his eyes the instant he sensed their mating bond. And now, here he was, following her around?

A surge of bitterness clawed its way through her, but Leah forced herself to mask it. She cast her eyes downward, hoping Millie wouldn't notice the cold fury lurking beneath her smile. She tuned out Millie's voice, forcing herself to listen to the trivial chatter from the sycophants she surrounded herself with for Millie's sake. Her nails dug into her palm, the pain steadying her resolve.

When Jeremiah left the table, she felt a small surge of relief—one less fake smile to maintain. She turned to Ariana, letting her irritation settle on her, barely managing to hide the edge in her voice.

"Jeremiah is our friend, so he sits at the table." She feigned sincerity, watching Millie's expression soften at her words. Leah clenched her jaw at how easily Millie fell for it, at how perfectly naive she was, oblivious to the venom seething beneath Leah's surface. She could almost laugh at how easy it made things.

"So..." Leah tilted her head, fixing Millie with a look that held just enough concern to coax her. Millie hesitated, her lips pressing together.

Leah's insides twisted with irritation. Did Millie suspect something? No, she couldn't be that perceptive—Millie's softness was her weakness, and Leah would exploit it to the fullest.

Millie finally looked up, clearly reluctant. "For the past two weeks, I think... I've been stalked by someone."

Leah's suspicions crystallized, each word fueling her resentment. After he ruined my birthday... he's been following her like a lovesick fool. She leaned closer, perfecting her mask of concern. Years of practice had made this effortless.

Once Millie finished speaking, Leah pasted on a sympathetic expression, but inside, she was seething. She excused herself, using student council as her excuse, barely able to maintain the act a moment longer.

As soon as she was out of earshot, she pulled out her phone, dialing swiftly.

The moment her father picked up, she didn't waste a breath. "That bitch is getting on my nerves."

"What's wrong, princess?" Alex's voice came through with a flicker of worry, though Leah could almost picture him smirking.

"Mom was right. Shane's here, and he's been following Millie. She thinks he's just some delusional stalker."

"Don't let it bother you, princess."

Leah's voice dropped, icy and clipped. "Tell Esme we're moving our plans up. Today."

She felt a cold satisfaction bloom at the thought. Millie's ignorance made it all the sweeter.

"Oh, and let her know there's been a change," she added, her voice sharpening. "Millie takes the fall for everything."

Without waiting for a response, she ended the call, a cruel smile tugging at her lips. Shane thought he could ruin her birthday and chase after his precious Millie as if she wouldn't notice, as if she would ever allow it.

Well, let's see how he feels when he realizes what's coming for both of them.

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Guys, a new chapter in Shane's POV will be posted today, hopefully. Thank you so much for reading this far. Please press the star button below to vote and don't forget to leave your comments, they really do give me the strength to continue. Thank you.