Chapter 1

Rian dragged me down off the altar.

He hauled me up by the arm and shoved me into the back of a sled at the edge of the territory.

Afraid I would cause trouble if I stayed, the pack elders ordered Rian to take me away at once.

Rian tugged his fur collar tighter before saying, "Go home. After Brynn's marking ceremony, apologize to Silas. Maybe he'll let this go."

I looked at him. "What did I do wrong?"

He frowned. "You humiliated him in public. Brynn has barely returned and you're already making a scene. Talia, you're not young anymore. Can't you show some sense?"

I shook my head in bitter self-mockery.

Ever since Brynn Viperis returned to the pack, my mate, my father, and my brother had fallen completely under her sway.

They put her first in everything and treated me like a stranger.

That was when the cold mechanical voice sounded in my head.

[Talia. Assignment failure detected. Alpha Silas Moen's affection level for you has fallen to zero. The transfer channel will open in ten days. End your heartbeat at your discretion, and I will provide you with a new body.]

I eased my nails out of my palm.

Was the body that bore the name Talia Valentine really about to disappear?

[Does the host confirm abandonment of this assignment?]

[Confirmed.]

[Recorded. Transfer channel opens in ten days.]

I exhaled and began to look forward to the death that would set me free.

Rian kept staring at me, clearly uneasy.

"What are you plotting now? In ten days Silas will pray to the Moon Goddess again, and Brynn will formally become his Luna. I will not have you ruining their marking ceremony!"

I lowered my head, unwilling to engage with him anymore.

In my mind, I asked the System one last question.

[In ten days all I have to do is kill myself?]

[Correct. The death of the host's body triggers the transfer.]

I couldn't bear to spend even one more day in that pack.

So I reached for the sled's side door and pulled it open.

Wind and snow burst inside, stinging my face raw.

I planted one foot beneath me, ready to shift and escape.

Rian lunged across and seized my arm with enough force to numb half my body.

He bore down on me, one hand locked around my wrist while the other wrenched the door back and slammed it shut.

"Talia Valentine, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" His voice came out fast and hoarse. "All I did was warn you, and now you're throwing yourself out of a moving sled? Trying to die?"

His claws bit painfully into my arm.

I could feel his whole arm shaking against mine.

"Let go," I said calmly, meeting his frightened gaze.

My calm only made him angrier. He roared at me, "Let go so you can kill yourself? You're a grown she-wolf. You shouldn't be this reckless!

"No, I see it now. Maybe you're doing it on purpose, to take our attention off Brynn. Don't you dare!"

I ignored his shouting and tore myself out of his grip with all my strength.

The next second, I caught him off guard, shot to my feet, and rolled off the speeding sled.

My mate's affection for me had fallen to zero. That betrayal had already left me bitterly disappointed.

My family's betrayal was even more devastating.

I didn't want another second in that pack.

A heavy thud sounded behind me. Rian had thrown himself off the sled after me.

Without even checking his own injuries, he lunged at me with bloodshot eyes.

"Talia, has a witch put a curse on you? Have you gone rabid?"

He looked me over anxiously.

"Let me see. Tell me where you're hurt."

He had caught up with me after all. I hadn't expected him to be so determined.

I was lucky. I came off with only minor injuries.

Something had happened to Rian's leg.

If the Rian who used to care about me and protect me had been hurt, I'd have been at his side already.

Now I only gave him a mocking smile.

"Don't worry. I only want to be alone. I'm not going back to bully your precious Brynn."