Chapter 6

A chill ran down Connor's spine, his hair standing on end as he stumbled back in disbelief.

"Who… Who put this disgusting thing in the well?" His chest heaved, each breath sharp and ragged. "Where's Clara? Find her! Does she think she can escape punishment by tossing a fake corpse down there? Bring her to me now!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of his words. My body was right there. Where exactly did he expect to find me?

"Alpha… Luna is truly dead. Her corpse is already decomposing…"

"Lies! Do you take me for a fool?" Connor roared, drawing his sword in a fit of rage. And in one swift motion, he cut down the warrior who had spoken, his head hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"If anyone else dares conspire with Luna in this deception, you'll share his fate!" His golden eyes burned with a dangerous gleam as he turned to his warriors. "I don't care what it takes. Find her!"

Connor ordered the well to be sealed shut with iron and sent out his best trackers and hounds across the land. He tore through every inch of land, desperate to uncover any sign of me.

Belinda stepped forward, slipping her arm around his waist. "Alpha, don't be upset. I'll always be here for you."

Connor's grip tightened around her hand, but he didn't pull her closer. His voice wavered, just slightly. "This time, she's gone too far… To stage her own demise? A blatant act of defiance. Don't worry. She will not escape her due. When I retrieve her, I'll make sure she kneels before you and begs for forgiveness."

His fingers drummed against the windowsill, the rhythm growing faster, betraying the unease he refused to name.

His warriors, known for their flawless tracking skills, scoured every inch of land. Yet no matter how many warriors or hounds he sent out, they all circled back to the same place—the abandoned well.

His frustration boiled over as he paced furiously around it, refusing to believe that the corpse inside was mine.

Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he snapped his fingers. "I see it now! She must've used a Burrowing Technique—that's why the hounds keep leading us here."

He turned sharply to his warriors. "Go! Bring me the burrowing specialists. I need to know precisely where she vanished!"

Connor's warriors dug for three days and three nights, tearing apart the earth around the well. But no matter how deep they went, there was nothing.

Only the well remained untouched—sealed under Connor's orders, forbidden for anyone to disturb.

At last, one warrior hesitated before speaking. "Alpha, we've tried everything. Luna… she might be in the well."

Connor's sharp gaze bore into the warrior. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Open it. Bring out the corpse."

Connor's warriors wrestled with the iron seal covering the well before descending into the abyss and retrieved what remained of me.

Finally, after an eternity in the blackness, they pulled my body into the light. It was no longer recognizable, a foul, viscous substance that sent waves of nausea through the air.

What little was left of me was placed in an icebox carved from frozen blocks and carried before him.

His brows tightened as the stench hit him, sharp and stinging. His eyes watered, but he held his gaze, refusing to look away.

A long silence stretched as Connor's hand stayed upon the white cloth draped over my remains. Finally, he carefully lifted a corner, scrutinizing my left hand.

Thankfully, my hands had primarily remained intact. Avoiding the writhing maggots, he searched until he found my ring.

His fingers trembled as he slid it off. That was all the confirmation he needed—I was gone.

That ring had been my mother's wedding gift to me, the one thing I cherished more than anything. I had once sworn that no matter where I fled, even to the ends of the earth, I would never part with it.

Connor staggered as if something inside him had shattered. His expression twisted, his breathing unsteady.

And yet, all I felt was disgust.

I had died just as he wanted, so why did he look like he was breaking?