Chapter 2

I stared at my life's work, scattered across the lab bench. My heart didn't just ache. It shattered.

The click of high heels echoed behind me.

"Harper."

Chloe pushed the door open. She'd changed out of her ceremony dress and into a white lab coat, trying to look professional.

"This position... it should have been yours," she said softly, her voice dripping with fake guilt.

I didn't stop, just kept packing my glass beakers.

"I may be high-born, but I only finished the potion thanks to your foundation," Chloe said, stepping closer. "If you're upset, I can ask Liam to compensate you."

I finally stopped.

I turned and looked at her perfect, lying face.

And I laughed.

"If you had an ounce of shame, you would renounce the title and the money," I said, my voice dangerously low. "Then you would get on your knees and apologize to me in front of the entire pack."

The sweet smile on Chloe's face froze.

"What did you say?"

"I said, give me back what's mine." I took a step toward her. "Then get out of my lab."

She stumbled back, her gentle mask crumbling away.

"You worthless Omega!" Her voice was shrill. "You were never good enough to be Chief Alchemist! You just had a few years' head start. I earned this!"

"A few years' head start?" I laughed out loud. "Chloe, the final version of 'Serenity' has only one new ingredient."

Her face turned white.

"It's called 'Moonshadow.' I found it on the black market when I was getting medicine for my father." I pulled out my phone and showed her the purchase history. "See? Time, place, price. It's all here."

"I was too busy, so I asked you to add it." I stared into her eyes. "So tell me, how did that become your discovery?"

Chloe's lips trembled. She had nothing to say.

"And another thing." I sniffed the air. "That cheap perfume you're wearing? It has a chemical reaction with 'Serenity.' It's pathetic. Our new Chief Alchemist doesn't even know the first rule of alchemy."

"You're lying!" she shrieked.

"Am I?" I suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked up her sleeve.

A patch of red spots was spreading across her skin.

"This rash is the proof." I sneered. "Should we go show everyone?"

"Let go of me!" Chloe ripped her arm away.

Her eyes darted around the room, landing on a small bottle on the corner of the lab bench.

It was the potion I had just made for Marcus. A pale blue liquid. His only hope.

"Using pack resources for yourself!" Chloe snatched the vial. "Making private potions for your pathetic father in the pack's lab!"

"Put. It. Down," I snarled, my voice dangerously low. "Liam approved that himself."

"You and your useless father should just die!"

She raised the vial high and slammed it onto the floor.

The sound of shattering glass filled the lab.

Blue liquid splashed everywhere.

That potion took me a full week to brew.

Marcus was getting worse. He needed more of it just to stay alive. Every drop was precious.

Rage erupted inside me.

My inner wolf howled.

And just like that, my control snapped.

I lunged for Chloe.

She didn't move. She just smiled, a smug look on her face. Like she wanted this.

My nails grew into sharp claws.

I raked them across her face.

"Aaargh!" Chloe screamed and fell, blood pouring from the wound.

Just then, the lab door burst open.

"Stop!"

Liam stormed in, his eyes burning with fury.

He saw Chloe on the floor, bleeding from three deep claw marks on her face. He instantly went feral.

"Harper!" his roar shook the entire lab. "What have you DONE?!"