Chapter 1

The healers had given me a death sentence, and my death would be the ultimate revenge against my oblivious Alpha and the family that had relentlessly tormented me.

The moment the words left my mouth, the doors to the hall were thrown open with a violent shove.

Caleb's roar echoed through the hall. "Elena! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I turned to see his dark eyes burning with fury.

Behind him, Lydia hurried in, her face a perfectly crafted mask of concern.

"Of all days, you had to cause a scene today?" Caleb stormed up to me in a few long strides. "Lydia was just promoted to Lead Warrior. The entire pack is celebrating her, and you choose today to pull this stunt?"

Without another word, he struck me. A sharp, stinging slap cracked across my face.

The force of it sent me stumbling back, my cheek instantly swelling and hot.

It took me several seconds to realize what day it was. It was Lydia's celebration.

Caleb had specifically postponed a two-day patrol of our territory just to celebrate her promotion to an elite warrior.

And I, his mate, was in the final stages of spirit decay.

My wolf spirit was fading, and my only crime was reaching out to him, begging for help.

Only for him to accuse me of misusing our bond.

Tears blurred my vision, but I fought to keep them from falling.

I was about to speak when a violent coughing fit wracked my body.

Droplets of blood splattered onto the floor, blooming like dark red flowers on the white marble.

I struggled to steady myself, my voice trembling as I tried to explain, clinging to one last shred of hope. "Caleb, I really didn't..."

Caleb's brow furrowed for a moment, perhaps at the sight of the blood on my lips, but he said nothing.

Lydia's delicate voice cut in at the perfect moment. "But, sister, the Alpha came all this way just for you..."

"I told you both to just leave her be. She's nothing but trouble," my mother Sarah's voice came through the mind-link. "

She's been pulling stunts like this for attention since she was a child. Does she really think we'll fall for such a pathetic trick?"

"Elena, would you really hurt yourself just to lure me here and ruin Lydia's celebration?" Caleb advanced on me, grabbing me by the collar.

Lydia rushed to pull him back. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at me, her voice a trembling plea.

"I'm so sorry, sister. I shouldn't have accepted the promotion. It's all my fault! Please, just stop hurting yourself! The Alpha is already worried sick about you. If you can truly repent, I swear I'll never accept another honor again!"

Her words were daggers, each one stabbing me in the heart and making me out to be the villain.

Sarah's tone instantly softened with affection. "Sweet girl, this isn't your fault. You are so exceptional, you deserve every honor you receive."

Though I had seen this display of mother-daughter affection countless times, each time it felt as if my heart were being carved out with a dull blade.

It had been so long since I had felt the maternal love that was supposed to be mine.

Now, it was all poured onto Lydia.

But it didn't matter anymore. When you're dying, you tend to let go of many things.

My heart was a barren wasteland. Another wave of metallic-tasting blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

Caleb snatched the medical report from my hand. After a quick scan, he scoffed, "Wolf Spirit Decay? You can't even come up with a believable lie."

The report was torn to shreds, the pieces fluttering down around my feet.

His gaze lingered for a second on my paper-white face.

Meeting his eyes, I remembered the brilliant green that had once sparkled with wonder at my eighteenth birthday ceremony.

Now, they were as dull and lifeless as stagnant water.

I raised a trembling hand to wipe away the blood, my body swaying as I turned back to the council official. "Please complete the severing ritual. I want no delays when my spirit fades in three days."

Caleb's body jolted. He seized my wrist. "You'd drag a council official into this farce just to ruin Lydia's celebration!" His voice was thick with fury. "This is absolutely absurd!"

"Elena, come back with me right now. Stop making a spectacle of yourself."

With an arm around Lydia's waist, Caleb turned and walked toward the door without a backward glance.