2

ELARA

Alpha Alaric moved again. This time, he walked slow as if deliberately delaying the imminent attack he planned.

But this delay became his biggest mistake. Lucien was back on his feet and moving towards him.

I barely saw Lucien move.

One second, Alaric stood there—focused on Stephanie, his attention split—and the next, Lucien lunged. His fist connected with the side of Alaric’s head with a sickening crack.

The force of it sent Alaric stumbling sideways.

But Lucien didn’t stop.

He struck again—faster, harder—his Alpha strength pouring into every blow.

A brutal hit to the ribs. Another to the jaw. The ground beneath them trembled as Alaric was driven backward, his body slamming into another tree.

Alaric tried to retaliate. I saw it in the slight shift of his arm, the tightening of his muscles—but the blood flowing from his veins slowed him.

It had to be the curse working. Alaric couldn’t heal.

Lucien landed another powerful kick to Alaric’s chest and his body went limp. Something had cracked under the blow this time. Alaric collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

My breath hitched.

“ See? ” Stephanie’s voice cut through the silence, light and almost amused.

She stepped forward, brushing invisible dust off her arm as if this was nothing more than entertainment. “ I told you, Lucien. ”

Lucien rolled his shoulders, exhaling sharply, though I could see the faint tension still lingering in his stance.

Stephanie tilted her head, looking down at Alaric’s unconscious body.

“ He is such a fool. It’s the blood moon tonight. He is already weak, and he thought he could fight you this day. ” A small, cruel smile curved her lips.

She crouched slightly, nudging Alaric’s shoulder with the tip of her shoe. He didn’t respond.

“ He won’t heal. ” She added, almost lazily. “ Let’s leave him for dead. No need to kill him and get a defenseless Alpha’s blood on your hands. ”

Lucien let out a low chuckle, dark and satisfied. “ Perfect timing. ”

Something inside me twisted violently.

I looked at Alaric—this terrifying, powerful Alpha who had appeared like a storm—and now lay completely still on the forest floor.

And then I looked at Lucien.

At the man who was supposed to be my mate.

My protector.

My everything.

But the way he stared at Alaric now… the way his lips curved with cold calculation—

I didn’t recognize him.

Suddenly, Lucien’s gaze shifted towards where I was standing in the dark. I hid my body behind the tree without a moment’s delay.

He couldn’t smell me. I had no scent. He couldn’t hear me either. I had drunk a protective potion before coming here.

But he could see me.

And I couldn’t let him. Or I was going to die the same way as Alaric.

My hands trembled around the basket’s handle. I pressed my forehead to the tree, my breath coming out shallow.

“ Lucien, now that Alaric is dying here, I can’t go back to my Pack. ” I could still hear Stephanie talking. “ I don’t care what you tell that bitch. You are taking me back with you. That’s final. ”

“ Oh come on, darling! Why did you even think I would leave you here alone? ” Lucien chuckled and said sweetly. “ You are coming with me. For the time being, I will just keep you in the outhouse and tell Elara that you are a refugee, seeking a place in our Pack. Then, like a fool, she will be serving you to make you feel at home. ”

My eyes burned as I closed them. Yes, he was right.

I would have tried to be kind to a lonely girl who wanted a place in our Pack. But I didn’t know that’s how they viewed my kindness.

“ Yes! Thank Goddess, Lucien! I am so excited. ” She yelled happily. “ let’s just go. I can’t wait to become a part of our Pack. ”

I stood still in the darkness while they began walking, making their way back to their new home.

My heart broke into pieces right there. I held the basket tightly as if that grip was the only thing keeping me breathing, keeping me standing on my feet.

When I could no longer hear them, I opened my eyes and stepped out from behind the tree. My heartbeat was still irregular, and my hands were still shaking.

Suddenly, a groan echoed in the darkness. I looked towards the enemy Alpha on the ground.

Before I could understand what I was doing, I was already walking towards him. Judging by what I saw, Stephanie must be to him what Lucien was to me.

He must have felt the same agonizing pain I felt. The pain of seeing your trust shatter right in front of your eyes, and being helpless to do anything about it.

I loomed over his limp body. Blood covered his face, making me unable to see his features. But our shared pain was pulling me to him.

I watched as he groaned. Blood poured out from his head and his side. Slowly, it slid closer and closer until it was touching the tip of my shoe.

An Alpha was dying at my feet. He was the one enemy that terrorized our Pack despite having fallen weak to the curse like all other Packs.

Everyone praised his intelligence, his strategy, his compassion for his Pack.

But he was dying today because, unlike me, he couldn’t let go of those who wronged him.

“ Just this time. ” I whispered to him, to myself.

Crouching close to him, I put my basket down and grabbed a knife placed inside. I brought it to my palm and pressed it against my skin until blood flowed freely.

I pushed my hand close to his lips and watched as a few drops fell into his mouth.

“ Now, you have my blood. You will live— ” I trailed off. “ Alpha Alaric. Everyone I don’t love gets life from me. You get life, too. ”

Lightning struck the sky again, illuminating everything for a moment. His eyes snapped open, meeting my lowered gaze.

I gasped, seeing the gold in his eyes. My body froze, my palm still pressed to his lips. His hand shot up and grabbed my wrist.

A zap of current ran up my hand, my arm, hitting my chest. I shuddered, my breath hitching.

Just when the gold in his eyes glowed brighter, a group of fireflies flew close to us. The flickering lights, his glowing gold eyes, and the storm rumbling above us made the moment feel unreal…like the world itself had paused to watch.

Something was shifting in the air. His touch felt electric.

“ You… ” He croaked, his lip moving just slightly.

“ Alpha! ” A shout sounded from behind me, breaking the moment.

I snatched my hand free and jumped to my feet. His men were here. I had to go.

I turned and ran in the opposite direction. He would live. His men had found him, and they would bring him back to their Pack.

But me?

What was I supposed to do?

My blood rushed to my head as I ran without looking back. But a sudden thought had me slowing down.

I had left the herbs behind. Those herbs are the only thing extending Lily’s life. If she didn’t get the herbs tonight, she might not make it. She might—

Something slammed into me. The force threw me back. Ripples of pain exploded throughout my body. And before I could even scream, a foot came down hard on my head.

Everything went dark.