Chapter 2

I masked my scent and hid behind the tree, watching. Then words cut deeper than anything I'd seen.

"Adam, if you keep stabilizing my wolf spirit like this, won't my sister get mad?"

Sophia said it with not a trace of guilt on her face.

She'd been bullied as a kid, and her wolf spirit had never been stable. I always blamed myself for not protecting her better, carried that guilt like a weight. Every herb I found for stabilizing wolf spirits, every tonic that could strengthen her, I gave to her.

Across from her, Adam looked completely justified.

"I'm the future Alpha of Silvermoon Pack. Calming pack members is my duty. Besides, she's your sister—she'll understand. And—"

He paused.

"Olivia in bed... is just so boring. Not like you. Young. Daring."

"She's busier and more accomplished than me, the future Alpha. Every time I want her, she's buried in her medical texts, studying until late. She doesn't need me at all."

"If my sister finds out, she'll definitely leave you." Sophia clung to his arm, whining.

"No. Olivia loves me too much. She can't live without me."

"Stop talking about her. Let me use my pheromones to calm your wolf spirit properly."

The sounds started up again. I wanted to throw up. My nails had dug so deep into the bark that my hands were bleeding.

He thought I was boring. Thought I was too busy. But everything I did—every single thing—was to stand beside him.

When I was six, our parents died. I was left to raise Sophia, who was only four.

Everyone in the pack picked on us. No parents. Easy targets. They stole our food, shoved us around. I'd wrap myself around Sophia every time, taking every hit, coming home covered in bruises.

When I was sixteen, I finally scrounged up some food. Three Betas cornered me on my way home. I curled up in pain, but I held onto that food like my life depended on it. We hadn't eaten in three days.

I thought I was going to die there. Then Adam showed up.

Seventeen years old. The Alpha's only son.

He let out his Alpha command, and those three dropped to their knees, begging. Then he crouched down and held out his hand.

"Hi. I'm Adam." His eyes sparkled. "You're bleeding. Let me take you to the pack clinic."

I didn't take his hand. Just muttered "thanks" and ran off.

But Adam fell for me at first sight.

After that day, he was like my shadow. Everywhere I went, he followed. When he saw how poor we were, he left food piled outside our little cabin every day. When I went out, he'd trail behind at a distance—and if anyone tried to mess with me, he'd jump out and chase them off.

Word spread through the pack. The future Alpha had his eye on some orphan nobody.

I pulled back even further. Insecurity made me believe someone like him could never really want someone like me.

Adam noticed. He gave me space so I wouldn't feel pressured.

Then the rogues attacked.

In the chaos, one of them lunged at Sophia. I shoved her out of the way and took her place. Adam came out of nowhere, threw himself in front of me, and took the hit on his back.

Three gashes, shoulder to hip, so deep I could see bone. Blood poured.

He collapsed in my arms, pale as death, but he was still smiling.

"Olivia, don't be scared. I told you—I'll always protect you and your sister."

I cried like a child.

From that moment on, I let my walls down. I chose him. Wholeheartedly.

To be worthy of him, I pushed myself harder than I ever had.

I had a gift for healing. If I took first place in the healer trials, I'd earn a spot at the Frost Pack for advanced training. I'd become a top-tier healer. And then, finally, I'd be enough to stand beside him as Luna.

So I memorized every medical text until I could recite them in my sleep. I practiced sutures until my fingers cramped. I gave everything to my studies, all to be worthy of him.

I thought he understood. I thought he was proud of me.

Instead, he called me boring. Said I outshone him. And ran to my fragile, helpless sister for comfort.

A cold laugh escaped me. I wiped the tears off my face and walked away without looking back.

The trial results would be out in two days. That was also when I'd leave them both behind.

The voice in my head grew louder, clearer with every step.

Starting today, I was done being Olivia—the girl who threw away her future for a man.