Chapter 2

Alec flinched, the contempt in his eyes instantly replaced by shock.

"Damien?" he repeated, his voice trembling slightly. "You mean... Lycan King Damien?"

Serena let out a shrill laugh.

"Elena, are you delusional?" Serena’s voice was a shrill laugh. "Why would a supreme Alpha like the Lycan King want a pack's reject?"

A reject.

My heart clenched.

Only Alec knew that word.

When we first got together, I'd hidden my true identity, pretending to be a beta cast out from her pack.

He'd even told Serena that.

"Stop spouting nonsense," Alec said, recovering. He shook his head with a sneer. "Elena, there's a limit to your lies."

"You don't believe me? Just watch. I'll have him come out and get me himself."

I tried to reach Damien through our mind link, but my head was met with silence.

Damn it. The resort was shielded. To prevent assassination attempts, the Alliance blocked all mind-links on the grounds.

But I kept my cool.

I pulled out my phone to try a different way, but immediately regretted it.

I’d gotten a new phone after returning to the North. The contact list was empty.

Serena saw my fumbling and laughed.

"Look, she can't even make a call. Elena, your act is pathetic, isn't it?"

She stepped forward, feigning sympathy.

"Fine. For old times' sake, Alec's pack will still take you in. I don't mind taking in a pathetic sister."

Now that she had Alec's promise, she didn't even bother to pretend anymore.

"Old times' sake?" I scoffed. "What right do you have to bring that up?"

Alec looked at me, his heart clearly breaking with disappointment.

"Elena, if you need help or if you regret it, is it so hard to just bow your head to me?"

"I still don't get it. Was being my Luna that important? So important you'd hold a grudge for three years?"

A grudge?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"I thought you would grow up, that you'd understand why I had to do what I did," he went on. "But you're still so childish."

His reasons?

Locking me in a silver room to be eaten alive by silver poisoning—that was his reason?

"You have no idea what I care about," I said, my voice low.

"Then what do you care about?" Alec asked impatiently. "Wasn't it because I chose Serena as my Luna?"

I looked at him and suddenly found it all laughable.

Three years had passed, and he still didn't understand a thing.

The mating ceremony hurt, but what truly broke me was his betrayal and his distrust.

After his brother died, his concern for Serena went far beyond an Alpha's duty to his pack.

He had no idea how Serena had framed me, no idea that all her "proof" was fabricated.

And he certainly had no idea that the brutal treatment I suffered in the silver room was all under Serena's private orders.

"Forget it," I said, shaking my head. "There's no point in talking to you."

"See? Back to her tantrums," Serena whined. She then deliberately lifted her foot. "Elena, what do you think of these shoes? They're part of a couture moon-silk set. Only three were made in the whole world."

Her eyes were full of pride, waiting for me to look jealous.

I gave her a cold stare.

"Then you'd better take care of that dress. It's probably worth more than you."

"Although..."

I paused, shooting her a disdainful look.

"Though on you, it just looks cheap."

"You!"

Her face flushed with anger, but with Alec there, she couldn't lash out.

So, she turned to him with red-rimmed eyes, pretending to feel dizzy.

"How... how could you say that?" She clutched her chest, her body starting to sway. "I... I don't feel so good..."

The same old act.

"Serena!" Alec immediately grabbed her. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing... It's just... Elena's malice is so strong..." she said weakly. "My wolf can't take it..."

Alec whirled on me, furious.

"That's enough, Elena! It's always the same with you! Do you have to push her until she faints?"

"I didn't do anything."

"Your very presence is poison to her!" he roared. "You're the reason her wolf was broken three years ago!"

I took a deep breath.

This disgusting pair was just the same. One fakes an illness, the other plays the protector.

"Elena, I'm done talking to you," Alec said, holding Serena tighter. "Since you're so determined to run your mouth, fine. You can come inside. But I'm warning you, Elena. If you cause a scene in front of the Lycan King, I won't be able to save you."

He started walking, urging me forward.

His grip on my wrist was like an iron clamp.

I cried out in pain.

"Let go of me!"

As I struggled, a moonstone necklace fell to the ground with a soft clink.

Serena's eyes darted down. She snatched it up, examined it, and then shrieked:

"My missing moonstone necklace! Why do you have it?"