Chapter 12: The Price of Choosing Her

The next morning, Red Mesa sent the withdrawal notice to Stonebridge.

It was signed by my father, witnessed by the council, and sealed with the Calloway crest.

For five years, I had been the reason our families were connected.

Now, I was the reason that connection was ending.

I expected Julian to be furious.

Instead, he called me again.

I let the phone ring three times before answering.

Clara, what did you do?

His voice was strained.

I didn't do anything.

I simply came home.

The alliance is ending because of that?

You know why it's ending.

Silence followed.

Then Julian lowered his voice.

My grandmother has postponed the Tidewatch ceremony.

I frowned.

Why?

Because the elders refuse to recognize Felicity without the Calloway alliance.

I almost laughed.

So that's why you called.

Julian didn't deny it.

He sounded tired for the first time since I'd known him.

They want you back before Thanksgiving dinner.

They said the Luna candidate has to be accompanied by the family of the former Luna.

I looked down at my hands.

Former Luna.

The words should have hurt.

Instead, they sounded strangely peaceful.

Julian, I'm not going back.

His breathing changed.

Clara, please.

That single word almost sounded like the Julian I remembered from Northshore Academy.

The boy who used to wait outside my classes.

The boy who once told me I was the only person who could make him forget he was supposed to be perfect.

But memories weren't promises.

And promises weren't enough anymore.

You made your choice.

You chose Felicity.

Now live with it.

Before he could answer, I ended the call.

An hour later, Wyatt came looking for me.

He had another folder in his hand.

This time, his expression was serious.

The Stonebridge council has frozen three of Julian's accounts.

I stared at him.

They've also suspended his succession ceremony.

Because of the alliance?

Wyatt nodded.

The Hawthornes need Red Mesa's support to secure the southern council votes.

Without us, Julian doesn't have enough backing to become Alpha.

For years, Julian had treated my family as if we were beneath him.

Now, the same family he had dismissed as distant and insignificant was standing between him and everything he'd ever wanted.

I closed the folder.

What about Felicity?

Wyatt gave me a dry look.

She's still at Tidewatch.

Apparently, she's refusing to leave.

I raised an eyebrow.

Why?

Because she believes she's already the future Luna.

I couldn't help smiling.

For the first time, I felt almost sorry for her.

She had spent years believing Julian was choosing her because he loved her.

Now she was discovering that, in the Hawthorne family, even love could be political.

That evening, I received one final message from Julian.

Come to Tidewatch tomorrow.

Just once.

Let me explain everything.

I stared at the screen.

Then I typed my answer.

I'll come.

But not as your wife.

I'm coming as a Calloway representative.

I pressed send.

For the first time, I was going back to Grayhaven without hoping Julian would choose me.

This time, I was going to make sure he understood exactly what his choice had cost.