C5

The blood-inked note fluttering against my window glass felt like a physical weight crushing my lungs. My father’s threat to slaughter Dr. Serena Kogan left me with no air, no voice, and no escape. But across the territory, in the grand halls of the Connor Moonfang Lodge, my betrayers were already scheming my complete destruction.

Miles Connor paced furiously near the fireplace, his heavy sword clattering against his iron greaves as he threw a shattered wine horn into the hearth.

"That useless omega trash!" Miles Connor roared, his dark wolf eyes glowing with lethal anger. "The treaty sheets Aya sent back through the blood-link were total fakes! Kyle Salvatore caught her red-handed! Our trade routes are blocked, our pack stores are empty, and House Salvatore is strangling our border patrol. The Connor Moonfang Dominion will collapse before the next full moon!"

Dani Connor gasped, dropping her silver goblet onto the stone floor. "Father! How could this happen? What do we do?"

Miles Connor stopped pacing, turning his cold, calculating gaze onto his favorite Beta daughter. "Only you can save us, Dani. Kyle Salvatore is punishing our bloodline because Aya humiliated him. But I know how to break House Salvatore from the inside."

"Me?" Dani asked, stepping back nervously. "Father, I refused the mate bond with that scarred beast! I won't let him touch me!"

"I don't need you to touch Kyle," Miles Connor growled, a dark smile spreading across his face. "Grace Harper’s son, Julian, is returning from his medical rites with the High Elders. He holds deep influence over the Salvatore bloodline secrets. Seduce Julian. Bind him to you. Once you have Grace and Julian in your pocket, we will strip Kyle Salvatore of his Alpha seat and take the entire Salvatore Crimson Dominion for ourselves."

Dani’s eyes lit up with wicked ambition. "Julian is handsome and powerful. I have no problem taking him as a mate. But what if Kyle tries to claim me first out of revenge?"

"Let Aya take the physical punishment," Miles Connor sneered, patting her shoulder. "If Kyle comes near you, push that mute omega in front of you as a shield. She exists only to serve our bloodline. Now get to the Salvatore Crimson Manor before dusk."

Morning broke over the cold stone walls of the Salvatore Crimson Manor, but Kyle had not returned to the master quarters all night.

I stood in front of the cracked looking-glass in my quiet chamber, dragging a horn comb through my pale hair. My throat was dry, my core still aching with the ghost of last night's terrifying heat. I was relieved Kyle was gone, but the silent calm didn't last long.

The heavy wooden door smashed open. A low-ranking pack servant marched inside, grabbing my leather travel bag and dumping my sparse belongings onto the floor.

What are you doing? I signed frantically with my hands, my chest heaving.

The servant let out a cruel, mocking laugh. "Alpha Kyle gave strict orders, omega. You are banished from the Master Suite. You're being moved to the damp servant quarters in the outer wing, and you are forbidden from setting foot near the main halls."

My breath hitched, my dark eyes wide with shock. He isn't just punishing me for the fake documents... he's stripping my status as his mate in front of the entire pack.

Under the snickering gazes of the house servants, I gathered my bruised belongings and carried them down the dark, narrow stone steps to the furthest, coldest room in the outer wing.

Every pack member I passed sneered openly. In a wolf society, an Alpha throwing his mate out of his bed was the ultimate public humiliation.

Grace Harper stood near the grand archway, sipping her morning tea with a triumphant grin plastered across her face. "How does it feel, mute girl? You thought you could slide into House Salvatore and play Luna? Pack your pride away. If you had any sense, you'd throw yourself into the wild woods and spare us your pathetic presence."

I kept my chin tucked low, maintaining my silent guard as I walked past her without a single word. My silence only made her blood boil hotter.

"You stubborn little freak!" Grace barked after me. "I'll see how long your spirit holds when you're sleeping on stone!"

I shut the heavy wooden door of the outer room, leaning my forehead against the cold timber. I had no pack, no voice, and no status left to lose. But just as I thought I could hide in the shadows until nightfall, the loud horn at the front gate sounded.

Dani Connor had arrived at the Salvatore Crimson Manor.

I heard the commotion echoing down the hallway as Grace blocked the entrance, her voice dripping with ice. "How dare a Connor show her face at my gates after the stunt your father pulled? Get out before I loose the guard wolves on you!"

"Please, Lady Grace, hear me out!" Dani cried, her voice echoing with fake desperation and practiced sweetness. "It's all Aya's fault! That deceitful mute manipulated my father into sending the fake treaties! She wanted to destroy the bond between our packs out of spite!"

Grace’s eyes widened, her sharp gaze locking onto my sister. "What did you just say? Speak clearly, girl!"