Chapter 2

The following morning, Vivian entered the bedroom alone. It did not take her long to notice the golden thread connecting the dragon fang to my corpse.

Her lips curled into a sneer as she looked down at my body.

"Even dead, she still finds new ways to cause trouble. One day, I'll erase every trace she ever left in this pack."

Then she turned and called for Rhaine.

"Selene still hasn't woken up. I suspect this thing is draining what little strength she has left."

Rhaine reached out to touch the dragon fang, but a flash of golden light seared his palm.

He frowned.

"But Selene told me this was meant to protect the pack."

"The pack has you, my dear."

Vivian took his hand and gently reassured him.

"You're the strongest Alpha alive. Surely you don't need some trinket of hers to protect your people."

Her words struck at the heart of Rhaine's deeply buried pride.

When I rescued him and brought him back, his first words after waking were not words of gratitude. Instead, he asked me to take him to the most secluded cabin in the pack so he could recover in private.

"A powerful Alpha must never let his pack see him at his weakest."

Later, whenever someone praised my strength, he would fall silent, his eyes fixed on my dragon scales.

Then, in the middle of the night, he would wake from a nightmare, pull me tightly into his arms, and ask again and again,

"You won't leave me, will you?"

Now, just as before, he crushed the dragon fang between his fingers, his expression filled with arrogant disdain.

"My people don't need some little trinket to protect them. It's useless. Destroy it. I won't let this thing delay Selene's recovery."

Vivian nestled against his chest, her eyes crinkling with delight.

"Once she wakes up, she'll understand that you're the pack's true pillar of strength."

As the shattered dragon fang fell into the brazier, I felt it in every fiber of my soul. The protective barrier vanished.

The last of the power shielding the pack, still anchored to my corpse, was severed completely.

I stood beside Rhaine and watched a black mark, the telltale sign of the beast plague, begin creeping up his wrist.

He remained completely oblivious and casually rubbed his wrist.

"I've been hunting too much lately. Must've strained my hand. Have the physician prepare some ointment for me."

That evening, the conspirators held a grand celebration in Rhaine's honor, praising their Alpha's wisdom and leadership.

After several rounds of drinks, Rhaine turned toward the empty seat beside him, his gaze hazy with alcohol.

"When is Selene finally going to wake up?"

Vivian's hand stilled as she poured his wine. A moment later, she smiled.

"Don't rush her. She slept for an entire day after using each of her first two scales. Who knows? Maybe she's already awake, but refuses to see anyone because she found out we tricked her."

Rhaine drained the wine Vivian poured for him, then pulled her into his arms.

"What right does she have to sulk at me? Everything I've done has been to teach her how to become a proper Luna."

I watched coldly from the sidelines, unable to suppress a bitter laugh.

I had certainly learned what Rhaine considered the qualities of a proper mate.

It had only cost me my life.

Rhaine casually emptied another glass and added, "Let her cool off on her own. I'll check on her once the celebration is over and see what she's throwing a tantrum about."

The elders nodded in approval, showering their Alpha with praise for his calm and level-headedness. After all, a mere she-wolf should never be allowed to get the better of him.

However, the very next moment, Rhaine's hand began to tremble around his goblet, spilling wine across the table.

I saw it clearly. Black veins spread beneath his sleeve, racing up his wrist and creeping all the way toward his neck.

A heartbeat later, he collapsed backward without warning.