Chapter 4

"Liam, thank you for saving me." Chloe leaned weakly against Liam, a single, perfect tear on her cheek. "If it wasn't for you, I would've turned into a monster." Her voice was a feather-light whisper. "I was so scared... I thought I'd never see you again."

Liam held her tight, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Never. I swear, I'll always protect you."

"It's like a fairy tale," Chloe murmured. "My prince, saving his princess."

Marcus made a gagging motion behind them. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Sofia snorted. "Yeah, what a great love story. Bought with the future of our entire species."

I watched them, feeling nothing but a cold void inside me.

"The prince always saves his princess." How touching.

Then I remembered. My last life.

My arm was slashed open by a silver blade, bone showing. I was covering Liam's retreat.

The pain almost made me pass out. Liam just frowned, tossed me a basic blood-clotting agent from a medic, and said coldly, "You're the Head Beta, Elena. Endure it. Don't kill the morale."

Back then, I told myself he was an Alpha. The pack came first. He couldn't be distracted by me.

But now I see. It wasn't that he couldn't be tender. It wasn't that he didn't know how to care.

His tenderness and his care were just never for me.

The roar of the landing shuttle cut through their tender moment, and my memories.

A squad of elite, heavily armed warriors marched down the ramp, led by a silver-haired captain with the Alliance's highest medal of honor on his chest.

"I'm looking for a Captain Elena," his voice boomed, sharp as steel.

I stepped forward. "I am."

The captain gave me a crisp military salute. "Captain Chris, codename 'Silvermoon.' I'm here on the President's orders to conduct the evacuation."

He pulled out a datapad and began checking the list. "Boarding will proceed based on bloodline purity and contribution rating to the Alliance."

"Ryan Clarke. Beta bloodline. Loyalty rating: Triple-A."

Ryan pumped a fist. "Yes!"

"Marcus Wayne. Warrior bloodline. Combat honors: Double-A."

"Sofia Ross. Medic bloodline. Professional rating: Double-A."

One by one, my team's names were called.

They boarded the transport, ecstatic.

Soon, it was just me, Liam, and Chloe.

"Elena Moonblade. Rank: Council Special Advisor. Clearance: Absolute." The captain's tone snapped to attention. He was instantly deferential. "Ma'am. You may board at your convenience."

I nodded but didn't move.

It was Liam's turn.

He puffed out his chest and strode forward.

He practically announced it. "Liam Stone. Alpha of the Stone Pack. And fated mate to your Captain Moonblade."

The captain glanced at his datapad, his brow furrowing slightly. "One moment." His finger traced down the screen. "Liam Stone... Alpha, Stone Pack..."

The seconds ticked by. Chloe gripped Liam's arm nervously. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

The captain looked up, his face grim. "Chloe Greene," he continued, his voice devoid of emotion.

An even longer silence.

Liam was growing anxious. "Sir, is there an issue? I'm an Alpha, and she's one of the few omegas left. Our ratings should be top-tier."

Captain Chris closed the datapad. He glanced at me, then turned his icy gaze on Liam and Chloe.

"I'm sorry."

Two words, like a bolt of lightning.

Liam's face went white. "What do you mean?"

Chloe began to tremble. "No... that can't be right... there must be a mistake..."

Captain Chris’s voice was ice. "Alliance database update. Liam Stone: cited for insubordination, dereliction of duty, and gross misuse of Alliance assets. Your Priority Rating has been permanently downgraded to D-Class."

"Chloe Greene, no recorded contributions. Recent unauthorized consumption of a critical medical asset. Rating: E-Class."

He paused, then delivered the final, crushing verdict.

"I'm sorry. Your clearance ratings are too low. You are not on the evacuation list."