Chapter 2

The next day, I was scrolling through my phone when I came across Isabella’s Instagram.

Her latest post was a photo of her and Marcus in the medical lab, their heads bent together as they studied a computer screen, engrossed in conversation.

Beneath the picture, Isabella had written: "Exploring the clinical applications of Moonlight Therapy with Marcus. This revolutionary research is going to change the future of lycan medicine! Thank you to my brilliant research partner for his unwavering support. #MoonlightTherapy #LunaMedicalAwardHereICome"

My finger hovered stiffly over the screen. The comments were flooded with congratulations from experts and academics across the lycan medical community, all praising the "breakthrough achievement."

I switched over to WolfMedNet, the premier lycan medical forum. The top post was an announcement for Isabella’s upcoming interview with Lycan Medical Weekly. The journalist's intro read: "This groundbreaking Moonlight Therapy is set to revolutionize lycan medicine and is already being hailed as the strongest contender for this year's Luna Medical Award."

The Luna Medical Award. The highest honor in our field. The prize I had spent my life dreaming of.

At two in the morning, the door swung open. It was Marcus. He saw me still buried in my research data and his brow furrowed.

"Another all-nighter, Emma?" he sighed. "You're always like this. The work always comes first."

I didn't look up, my focus locked on the data tables before me.

"I’m taking Isabella to the Northern Pack Medical Conference for a pre-launch roadshow tomorrow," Marcus said, shrugging off his jacket. His voice was bright with an excitement he couldn’t conceal. "If she makes a good impression at the roadshow, the nomination for the Luna Medical Award is a sure thing. To be honest, she’s always been just like you, dedicated to medical research. She’s just had a string of bad luck and hasn’t been able to make a name for herself…"

I finally looked up, my expression unreadable.

The words died on his tongue. He cleared his throat, a flicker of unease in his eyes.

He changed the subject. "By the way, I’ve started planning our mating ceremony. I booked the Moonlight Hotel—it's right near where Isabella's holding her presentation."

He crossed the room to my side, reaching for my hand. "After Isabella's presentation is over, we can finally have our ceremony. I was thinking of flying in your favorite Ecuadorian roses..."

I stared at the face that knew every little thing about me, a bitter taste rising in my throat. The Alpha who knew me so intimately was the one who could wound me the deepest.

You can have your mating ceremony, Marcus, but I won't be your Luna.

"Do whatever you want," I said, snatching my hand back and turning my focus to the papers in front of me.

Marcus lingered for a moment before leaving without another word.

For the next week, Marcus was consumed with escorting Isabella to a whirlwind of academic roadshows and events.

In every photo, Marcus was glued to Isabella's side, listening with rapt attention as she explained "her" research.

In one post, Isabella faced the camera and declared, "I hope to dedicate the Luna Medical Award to all the patients suffering from Bloodline Decay Syndrome. The significance of this research goes far beyond personal honor."

The comment section erupted with praise.

I shut off my phone and quietly began packing my belongings from the pack house.

Most of it was research material, but I made sure to leave behind the core data for the Moonlight Therapy—the very files Marcus wanted to copy for Isabella.

The data contained critical flaws I hadn't had time to correct. But Isabella was a charlatan, she'd never spot the errors.

Blindly applying the Moonlight Therapy in its current, flawed state would lead to a severe degeneration of the werewolf bloodline. The damage was reversible, but as far as I knew, the District Alpha’s son was in her first batch of ‘patients’.

Research theft, academic fraud, and a major medical disaster. These charges would be more than enough to ensure Isabella paid a devastating price.

Just as I was nearly finished, the doorbell rang. It was my bestie, Lily. She stormed in, waving her phone in my face.

"Emma, what the hell is this? In her interview with Lycan Medical Weekly, that bitch Isabella is blathering on about 'winning the Luna Medical Award with Moonlight Therapy'! Isn't that your research?!"

After I explained everything, Lily was trembling with rage. "He stole your work for that bitch?! And just two days ago, he was telling me he was planning your mating ceremony for next month's full moon!"

My gaze drifted to a photo of Marcus and me on the living room wall, and a bitter smile touched my lips. "He won't get the chance. But Lily, please... don't say anything to him yet."