Alpha Rising: From Outcast to Empire

"Alpha Serena, if you don't approve this ritual soon, your daughter will lose her ability to shift and be paralyzed for life!"

In the pack healer's den, Elder Mira looked at my bloody, broken body and urgently pushed the ancient scroll toward my mother.

She hesitated for a long time… then firmly signed the "Release to the Moon Goddess" page.

My brother's voice carried a hint of guilt:

"Mother, Lisa's wolf is already fading... and now you want to take her kidney too? Isn't that too cruel? Look at her—like this, what harm could she possibly do to Xina?"

My mother stroked my face tenderly, voice trembling with emotion:

"If we heal Lisa completely, do you think she'd willingly give her blood bond to Xina? She might challenge her again. The only way to guarantee Xina's position is if Lisa is weakened—if she can't bear pups, if she has no strength left to fight."

Her voice was heartbreakingly gentle, full of so-called love:

"It's okay even if she's broken… I can afford to keep her as pack omega. This is what Lisa owes Xina."

My brother fell silent. Then he turned to the healers and told them to proceed with the extraction ritual.

When they started drawing the runes on my skin, Mother clutched her chest like she was the one in pain.

"Use wolfsbane, not silver," she said. "I don't want Lisa to hurt too much."

But the moment the cold blade pierced my skin, I still shivered violently, and tears streamed down my face.

Right then, the only reason I'd been holding on—to live, to fight—completely shattered.

I'd always believed the capture was a tragic accident.

During those months of torture in enemy territory, it was the thought of my pack that gave me the strength to survive.

But I never imagined that the wolves I loved the most—my own Alpha mother and Beta brother—had planned it all.

To save Xina, they sacrificed me.

The pain in my chest stabbed like a thousand silver daggers, sinking deep into every bone.

I couldn't stop crying. The betrayal was unbearable.

My brother's hands trembled as he wiped away my tears.

"Lisa… does it hurt a lot?"

Then he suddenly growled at the healers:

"I told you to be gentle! Why are you still being so rough? What the hell are you here for?"

I gave him a bitter smile.

Compared to the wounds all over my body and the holes torn through my heart… this little pain was nothing.

He looked at the festering bites on my skin, then punched the stone wall so hard his knuckles bled.

"Why… why couldn't it be me instead?!"

His roar was full of agony and rage:

"Those rogue wolves… if I ever find them, I'll tear them apart!"

My mother collapsed at my side, her eyes bloodshot.

Her warm tears fell on my face.

"My cub, the healer from the Northern Territories I found will be here tomorrow. I swear, even if I have to surrender our hunting grounds, I'll help you run with the pack again."

Then came the lie, dressed up as love:

"It's just… One of your kidneys is too damaged. It has to come out today."

Her words sliced through my soul like a silver blade.

The truth behind their lies… was too disgusting to bear.

I wanted to scream and ask why they were doing this to me.

But the pain clogged my throat—I couldn't breathe.

Still clinging to the tiniest hope, I forced myself to whisper,

"Mother… can I not have the ritual?"

"No!"

Her sharp voice pierced my eardrums when she jumped up instantly from the floor out of shock. Then, realizing how harsh she sounded, she took a deep breath and softened her tone:

"Don't be scared, my cub. It'll be over soon. We'll be right here."

With that, the last piece of hope in my heart crumbled.

I closed my eyes in despair.

As they carried me to the ritual stone, I caught one last glimpse of Mother nearly fainting and my brother shaking like a leaf.

They must really love Xina… to perfect their performance like this right in front of me.

A single, burning tear slipped down my cheek.

And just before I blacked out, I felt the ritual blade slice into my body.