1

My father and brother forced me to hand over my anti-silver antidote to my adoptive sister Seraphina, the daughter of an Omega servant who died trying to save us.

My childhood sweetheart and future mate Damien even threatened to cancel our mating ceremony.

I refused. I developed it to honor my mother's memory—she died from silver poisoning.

"Royal Beta, I've decided to submit my anti-silver poison research to the Alpha Council."

The Royal Beta shot up from his chair, excitement radiating from every pore.

"Excellent, Miss Blackwood! This antidote of yours will save hundreds, maybe thousands of wolves suffering from silver poisoning. But this research requires at least five years of isolation in the Council's labs to perfect the formula. We leave in a week. Don't you need to discuss this with your family first?"

"No need."

I smiled bitterly.

That house stopped being my home a long time ago anyway.

Last year, a servant couple who worked for our family was killed by rogue wolves in the wilderness. Father took pity on their Omega daughter, Seraphina, and adopted her into our home.

Unlike me, who only knew how to quietly do my work, Sera had a gift for winning people over.

In less than a year with the Blackwood family, she became everyone's precious darling.

Not only did my father treasure her like a gem, but even my childhood mate and my brother started favoring her over me.

When Sera accidentally dropped my mother's heirloom necklace into the fire and it burned to ash, Father said we should let the past stay in the past. He threw away everything that belonged to Mother.

Even the anti-silver antidote I developed to honor my mother's memory—she died from silver poisoning—Sera wanted to take that away from me too.

To force me to hand over my research to Sera, Damien—my childhood sweetheart and future mate—even threatened to cancel our mating ceremony.

We've known each other since we were five. When we turned eighteen and our wolves awakened, we discovered we were mates. I always thought we'd spend our lives together.

But even now, he still hasn't officially marked me. The mating ceremony he promised feels more distant than ever.

Blood ties, childhood love—none of it mattered as much as Sera's place in their hearts.

I was tired of fighting for scraps of affection.

Let me just leave. I choose to let myself go.

---

When I got home, the scene was completely different from my solitary arrival.

The dining room buzzed with celebration.

My family was throwing Sera a party to commemorate her first anniversary of joining the Blackwood family.

No one remembered that today was also my birthday.

After Mother died, no one ever gave me birthday gifts or celebrated with me anymore.

I watched my fiancé Damien and my brother Ethan sitting on either side of Sera, gazing at her with gentle smiles as they presented their gifts.

My face remained completely expressionless as I walked past them coldly.

I had barely made it through the dining room when Father's voice stopped me.

"I told you to go to the Healer's Association and transfer your anti-silver research to Sera. Did you do it?"

Thinking about how I'd already submitted everything to the Council, I shook my head.

"That research isn't mine anymore."

Everyone assumed I had given in.

Damien excitedly pulled Sera into a hug.

"This is incredible! This antidote could revolutionize the entire werewolf world. With this national-level patent, you'll rightfully become our pack's Head Healer. No one will ever mock or oppress you for being an Omega again. Your future education and career are secured. Congratulations!"

I watched coldly, about to turn and leave.

Sera produced a fur coat and graciously presented it to me.

"Aria, thank you for everything you've done for me. I made this coat from hyena fur I hunted myself. I hope you'll like it."

When she turned her back to the others, Sera dropped her sweet mask, her face full of provocation as she whispered:

"You'll love it, sister. After all, this was your favorite pet."

This was the winner's stance.

I stared at the coat's fur, finding the color strangely familiar. Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning.

The coat was made from Max—my dog I'd raised since he was a puppy.

After Mother died, only Max helped me through the darkest times.

Max meant more to me than just a pet. He was truly family.

But Sera had casually killed him and cruelly skinned him for his fur.

My wolf roared in fury inside me.

"What did you do?"

"Aria, why are you losing your temper with her? I'm the one who told you to give her the research. If you're angry, take it out on me." Damien stood up, staring at me coldly.

Sera wiped away tears, her voice trembling:

"Brother, don't blame Aria. If anyone's to blame, it's me."

"Nothing in this house belongs to me anyway."

"I know Aria has always thought my things were dirty. Even though I spent so much effort hunting for this fur and sewing every stitch by hand, I didn't expect her to dislike it so much. I'm sorry, Aria. If you don't want me here, I can move out today. I never came here to destroy your family."

"I really don't want to be a parasite. I just wanted to repay Uncle Marcus's kindness. I'm sorry..."

"Sera, your parents are gone. This is your home now. If anyone tries to make you leave, I'll be the first to stop them." Ethan immediately pulled her closer.

Father slammed down his chopsticks in anger.

"Everyone was having a good time until you came home and ruined the mood."

"When will you learn to grow up?"

"How did I raise such a narrow-minded, ill-mannered daughter? Sera is a gentle Omega. Can't you even tolerate her?"

"Put on the coat Sera made for you right now and apologize to her."

Looking at the disgust in my own father's eyes, even though I'd already decided to leave this soul-crushing house, my hands still trembled uncontrollably. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist.

I forced the words through gritted teeth:

"No. I won't."

The moment those words left my mouth, a massive male wolf's claw sent me crashing to the floor with a vicious slap across my face.

Then Father, in his rage, grabbed the coat from Sera's hands and roughly forced it onto my body.

Max, who used to curl up with me for warmth, was now nothing but cold fur. The moment the coat touched my skin, I felt physically sick.

As more of the coat made contact with my body, a burning sensation spread across my skin.

Silver powder.

Sera had dusted the coat with silver powder. How viciously cruel.

Everything happened so fast that before my wolf could react, the silver began corroding and burning me. My legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.

Sera pretended to look concerned.

"Aria, what's wrong? Do you need me to call a healer?"

"Don't bother with her. She's obviously putting on an act for sympathy. Let's continue."

Everyone in my family watched me writhing in agony on the floor with complete indifference.

I refused to just lie there and die.

Using my last bit of strength, I managed to call for emergency help.

I stared numbly at the ceiling, comforting myself with hollow words:

Soon. Just ten more days.

Then I could leave this ice-cold house.

Leave these rotten people behind.

Go somewhere no one would ever find me.

Blood relatives who treated me like a stranger, a fake fiancé with his false promises—I was done with all of it.