Chapter 1

I had barely walked a hundred meters when Alexander called after me.

"Lily, I remember you still have a bottle of healing elixir. Lilith's pregnancy is unstable. She needs it."

That elixir was the one my parents had left me, meant to save my life in case of grave injury.

Instinctively, I stepped back, hiding the vial behind me.

Alexander frowned, pulled out a black card, and tossed it at my feet.

"Ten million limit. It's more than enough to buy your medicine."

Ten million… for the elixir? Or for my life?

I didn't know.

I only knew that the last time I sat down to dinner and dared lift my fork before Lilith, I was locked in the basement for a month—starving, surviving on dirt and rats.

I took out the vial and handed it to Lilith.

"I wish you a smooth delivery. May you and your pup be safe."

Seeing me so obedient, Alexander slipped a moonstone necklace into my palm.

"Lily, as long as you behave, once Lilith gives birth, I'll hold the marking ceremony with you."

Lilith downed the elixir in one gulp.

Moments later, she dropped to her knees, trembling violently—like she'd been poisoned.

Panic flashed in Alexander's eyes. He scooped her into his arms and bolted toward the infirmary.

Before leaving, he shot me a sharp glare. "Lily, if you put poison in that medicine, I'll never forgive you."

Whispers rippled around the room, filled with contempt. They all looked at me as if I were filth.

I smiled faintly. It was time to go. Time to marry the Alpha King my parents had chosen for me.

Last night, while I decorated the venue for our marking ceremony, Alexander had been out accompanying his sidepiece.

I worked until dawn, so exhausted I collapsed on the floor. He didn't spare me a glance—just ordered the butler coldly, "She reeks. What if the smell upsets Lilith? Throw her into the pool. Clean her up before bringing her back."

Snapping back to the present, I turned to leave. But before I reached the gate, someone stepped in front of me.

"I'm sorry, Lily. Alpha Alexander ordered that you can't leave until you apologize. The medicine you gave Lilith made her suffer abdominal pain."

Before I could respond, his men dragged me to the infirmary—right across the shattered glass from the fallen vial. Shards sliced into my skin; blood welled up, leaving a red trail across the floor.

Alexander looked up. His expression was pure disgust, not even veiled.

"Do you admit your fault?"

When I said nothing, he pointed toward the medicine on the table.

"The medicine you gave Lilith caused her pain. You still won't confess?"

"I was wrong," I said softly.

Wrong for loving him too much—enough to give him the power to break me.

Before I met Alexander, I was the cherished princess of the Silvermoon Pack.

To make my parents accept our bond, I helped him rise to Alpha. And once he had that title, he used it again and again to force me into submission.

If I dressed like Lilith, I was wrong.

If I worried for him and tried to mend relations with other packs, I was wrong, because it interfered with his image of authority.

If I grew jealous, if I questioned his private "training sessions" with Lilith, I was wrong again.

My fists clenched. The moonstone necklace shattered in my palm.

Expressionless, I rose to my feet.

"I'm sorry," I said with a bitter smile. "Do you need anything else?"

My wounds were still bleeding, but his gaze only flickered before he turned away in disdain.

"You're filthy. Go clean yourself up."

At that moment, the healer came out of Lilith’s ward.

Alexander shoved me aside and rushed to Lilith's side in concern.

Everyone crowded around her. No one noticed me quietly pulling glass shards from my skin as I slipped toward the gate.

Near the iron gate, I saw a limited-edition Maybach parked outside. It was Edgar's car.

My Alpha King had sent for me.

I started toward it, but before I could reach the gate, Alexander's loyal men dragged me back to the infirmary.

"Lily, please return with us."

Alexander sat smoking a cigar. When he saw me, he didn't bother pretending anymore.

"Where's the healing herb I gave you before?"

The healer tried to ease the tension.

"Lilith only experienced some contractions. It's common in early pregnancy. Regular herbs will suffice.

"Lily, on the other hand, is still suffering from wolfsbane. She needs that herb more urgently.

It's fine, I can go collect another batch—"

"Don't bother," Alexander interrupted, raising a hand. "If there's one available, we'll use it."

Then, to the healer, he added, "You focus on Lilith. I'll find a way to treat Lily."

When he turned back to me, his eyes softened, as if that tenderness could erase everything.

"Lilith's health is fragile. It's her first pregnancy. Things could easily go wrong."

He leaned closer, his tone deceptively gentle as he patted my head.

"Be good, Lily. Hand over the herb."