Chapter 3

Ivy began to sob uncontrollably, her voice shaking. "Evelyn... I just wanted to clean the necklace for you... Why would you do this?"

Caleb and Thomas burst into the infirmary.

"Ivy!" Caleb’s eyes turned bloodshot instantly, and a massive wave of Alpha pressure swept through the room.

Before I could say a word, the force slammed into me. I hit the stone wall so hard it felt like my internal organs had shifted out of place.

"Cough..." I spat out a mouthful of blood.

For a split second, Caleb looked at my pale face with a flash of hesitation and panic. He took a half-step toward me, his fingers trembling as if he wanted to reach out.

But Ivy let out a timely, weak whimper. "Dad... Caleb, please don't be mad at her. She just didn't want me taking over as Chief Healer. She was just trying to teach me a lesson."

Thomas began to shake with rage, pointing a finger at my face. "You ungrateful bitch! You’d actually butcher your own sister over a title?"

The tiny bit of guilt in Caleb’s eyes vanished, replaced by icy fury. He looked away from the blood on my lips, his voice cold enough to freeze the room. "Evelyn, I’m done with you."

"As of now, you are stripped of your title as Chief Healer. Ivy takes your place. Her inauguration will be in three days."

He paused. "As for our mating ceremony, it’s postponed indefinitely. Someone as vicious as you doesn't deserve to be my Luna. Don't even talk to me about the ceremony until you’ve learned some humility and admitted what you've done."

Leaning against the wall, I wiped the blood from my mouth and smiled. I looked at these two men I once would have died for—one disgusted, the other enraged. My heart was officially dead.

"Fine," I whispered.

Caleb seemed stunned by how easily I agreed. Just then, my hidden communicator vibrated. It was a message from Alpha King Silas: [My team has reached the border. Also, I’ve uncovered some intel that might interest you. If you’ve changed your mind about leaving, let me know.]

I opened the report Silas sent.

Ivy wasn't Caleb’s savior. She wasn't even my father’s daughter. The Rogues had murdered my father’s actual illegitimate child years ago and replaced her with Ivy. The whole story of her saving Caleb during the ambush was a staged performance.

I looked at the report and started laughing until tears came to my eyes. Caleb, Father—the woman you are protecting so desperately is the very person sent to kill you. How poetic.

I went back to the villa and packed my final research manuscripts on Silver Poisoning. As I was closing my suitcase, the door swung open.

Caleb was there, looking tense. In his hand, he held a bottle of high-end healing ointment. He walked toward me, a trace of guilt in his eyes as he looked at my pale skin.

"This is the best healing cream available," he said softly, reaching out to apply it. "I lost control of my aura earlier. I didn't mean to hit you that hard."

I took a large step back, avoiding his touch. Caleb’s hand froze in mid-air. He finally noticed the suitcase by my feet, and his pupils contracted. For the first time, there was a hint of panic in his voice. "What’s with the suitcase? Where do you think you’re going?"

I looked at him calmly. "A lot has happened. I'm tired. I’m going to the Northern Tundra for a while to clear my head and gather some rare herbs."

Hearing the words "clear my head," Caleb seemed to relax. He reached out to hug me but stopped with his hand hovering over my shoulder.

"I know things have been hard for you lately, Evelyn," he said, sounding almost like he was granting a favor. "Go clear your head. When you get back, we’ll have the biggest mating ceremony this pack has ever seen. No one will take your place."

I felt absolutely nothing listening to the promise I had waited five years for. It was just disgusting now.

"Okay," I nodded. "I get it."

Caleb’s phone started ringing like crazy. It was Ivy.

His expression tightened the moment he saw the caller ID. I could hear Ivy’s whiny voice on the other end, complaining that her wounds hurt or that her wolf was rejecting the treatment.

Caleb didn't even have time to say another word to me. He shoved the ointment into my hand and rushed out. "Use the medicine. Ivy needs me. I have to go, but I'll check on you tonight."

I watched him run off and let out a dry laugh. I looked at the priceless medicine in my hand and threw it into the trash can.

I took out a lighter. Click. The flame caught the photos I had ripped from my albums. Photos of me and Thomas, photos of every moment from my five years with Caleb. The fire swallowed the fake memories until only ash remained.

I walked out and found the butler crying at the end of the hall. He was the only person in this house who had ever been kind to me. I handed him a check for $100,000.

"Take this and go retire in the countryside," I whispered, sliding a black USB drive into his hand. "Three days from now, after Ivy’s ceremony is over, make sure Caleb gets this."

I picked up my bag and headed for the border. Just before I reached it, a text from Thomas popped up: [You better show up at the ceremony in three days. You're going to apologize to Ivy publicly and tell everyone you stepped down as Chief Healer voluntarily. Don't push your luck!]

I stared at the screen, pulled out the SIM card, and threw it into the wilderness.

Up ahead, a black armored SUV was parked by the road.

Alpha King Silas stepped out. He was strikingly handsome, his presence commanding in a sharp suit. But his powerful gaze held nothing but respect for me.

He opened the door for me.

"Welcome to the team, my genius Healer," he said.

I looked up at him, my gaze steady. "Let's go, King."