Chapter 3

The pack's annual Harvest Hunt arrived, right on schedule.

In the end, Killian never received the arrows I was supposed to have prepared for him.

To everyone's surprise, he came to my family's home unannounced.

After all, in the past, no matter how bad our fights were, I was always the first one to give in.

A deathly silence and a solemn atmosphere hung over the estate.

Killian wasn't wearing his Alpha's ceremonial attire, but was dressed casually as he navigated the familiar path to my door.

My soul watched him, and I suddenly found it amusing. Had this arrogant fool not noticed that something was terribly wrong?

Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a cold, silver light on the floor.

Through the crack in the door, he could see a figure sitting motionless by the window.

"Sloane, can I come in?"

No response.

He raised his hand and knocked gently on the door. "Sloane?"

Still, a deathly silence.

He sighed softly. His hand paused in midair, then dropped to his side.

"Valerie was reckless. I've already reprimanded her."

"Our souls were bound by the Moon Goddess. There's no need to make this so difficult over something so small."

In private, he never used his Alpha status to command me.

Still, no one answered.

He pressed his palm against the cold wood of the door.

His Alpha warmth seeped through the wood, carrying his unique scent, the one that had once so captivated me.

He hesitated, let out another sigh, and lowered his hand.

He turned, his tall frame leaning against the doorframe, his back to the room, a silent statue.

I was stunned.

Was he keeping a moonlight vigil? In our pack, a wolf sometimes stands a moonlight vigil to declare his commitment, releasing his scent to guard his chosen wolf's home on the night of a full moon.

The pack's Alpha would almost never perform such an ancient ritual.

Killian, what was he trying to do?

"Sloane."

His voice was muffled, coming through the door.

"If you truly can't accept it, then I'll listen to you."

"What I feel for her is more of an unexplainable pull, not love. Our Mate Bond is the will of the Moon Goddess."

"I just didn't expect your reaction to be so extreme."

"However, I have no choice but to claim Valerie to save her life."

"The last thing I want is for this to cause a permanent rift between us."

"I will claim her first, just to get her through this crisis. Your Luna ceremony will only be postponed."

"Once everything has settled down, I will issue an Alpha decree naming you the pack's one and only Luna."

"Once everything has settled down, we will hold your official Luna ceremony, alright?"

He paused for a moment, then spoke again. "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."

For a long time, the room remained silent.

A faint smile touched Killian's lips.

Because that's how I always was. When I was sulking, I would fight him with silence.

He would use his Alpha patience, proposing various solutions to coax me.

When he proposed solutions I found humiliating but was too hurt to reject, I would remain silent.

But there was always one that would make me lower my head and return to him.

He thought this time was the same.

But I'm sorry, Killian. This time, you couldn't be more wrong.

"Then it's settled. In three days, I'll claim Valerie first. And you will still be my Luna."

...

The very next day, Killian regretted his "compromise."

He burst into my family's home, flanked by his guards.

In his arms was a blood-soaked Valerie.

The wound on her arm was oozing black blood, tainted with Wolfsbane.

"Sloane! I gave you my word! Why would you still poison Valerie!"

Valerie trembled, lifting her uninjured hand to caress his cheek.

"Alpha... it's my fault. I failed to earn Sloane's approval. That's why she used a dagger laced with Wolfsbane on me."

"It's all my fault."

"Please, Alpha, forgive her..."

Killian held her even tighter.

His crimson eyes were fixed on my closed door.

"Sloane, come out and apologize to her."

No response.

But in the window's reflection, my silhouette was visible, sitting quietly in the white ceremonial dress.

"Sloane! Don't force me to use an Alpha command!"

I floated in the air, watching this farce as if it were a cheap play.

Killian, if I weren't in this state, I would have already beaten some sense into you, you idiot.

I've been dead for days. Can't you see through this Rogue's pathetic little trick?

Besides, I am the pack's Lead Warrior. If I have a problem with someone, I challenge them head-on.

Why would I ever stoop to such a cowardly tactic?

"Sloane!"

The Alpha's roar shook the wooden house. Killian strode forward, preparing to break down the door.

"What do you think you're doing, Killian!" my mother Cecilia's voice rang out.

Facing the Alpha's fury, she stood with her back perfectly straight.

"Even as the pack's Alpha, you have no right to force your way into this room."

Killian gritted his teeth, a low, threatening growl rumbling in his throat.

"Cecilia, tell her to come out, and we can still talk this through."

"Otherwise, the pack will no longer recognize her as Lead Warrior."

My mother replied calmly, "She can never come out again."

Killian froze. "What did you say?"

"Sloane. She's dead."