May My Memories Haunt You, Alpha

As the light from the memory crystal grew blindingly bright, my consciousness began to fade. The strength in my body was slowly being siphoned out of me, and even the searing bite of the silver chains started to go numb.Sienna's voice, thick with a gloating sweetness, drifted over. "Look, it's starting! Now everyone can see the true colors of this evil she-wolf!"Below the stage, the packmates pointed at me and whispered, "Looks can be deceiving. A traitor like her deserves to be torn apart!" "She always acted so quiet and harmless, so who knew she had such a wicked heart?""She should look in a mirror. How dare a lowly wolf like her covet the Luna's place? Thank goodness she isn't our future Luna, or the Moonshadow pack is doomed."Lorcan's expression remained flat and devoid of emotion, as if he was watching an execution that had nothing to do with him.Finally, the image within the crystal stabilized. Everyone expected to witness scenes of me meeting in secret with the rogue

In the memory, I didn't hesitate for even a second."I accept.""You agree so easily! But what if I told you the antidote only works if someone else feeds it to him? Will you still agree?"The witch leaned closer and warned in a voice dripping with malice, "You'll save his life, yet he'll never know it was you. He'll thank the one who hands him the antidote instead."Even so, will you still make the trade?"When I lifted my head, there wasn't a trace of hesitation in my eyes. "As long as he lives, I'll do it. It doesn't matter who gets the credit."A wave of shocked gasps rippled through the wolves in the square. To trade a lifetime of health for another's life without even seeking recognition was an act of madness they couldn't comprehend.Lorcan's body went entirely rigid. He kept his eyes locked on the screen, and his breath hitched in his throat.After he was poisoned, he remembered waking up to find Sienna by his side, day and night. She had come to him in tears, carrying

Maverick remembered now.Two years ago, when he'd been on the brink of death, Sienna had placed the Flame Lily by his pillow the next morning. It was still wet with morning dew.She'd told him that her nightly prayers had moved the Moon Goddess, who guided her to the Flame Lily. He'd survived because of the Flame Lily. It never occurred to him that it was paid for with my left eye and half my life.In the vision, I killed the petrifying basilisk. Dragging my mangled body, I plucked the Flame Lily and stumbled blindly out of the valley.By then, I'd lost too much blood. My consciousness was beginning to blur, and the agony in my left eye nearly made me faint.At the entrance of the valleys, I ran into Sienna, who just happened to be passing by. She seemed visibly startled to see me drenched in blood. "Velda?"I reached out to her like I was grabbing my last thread of hope. With shaking hands, I shoved the blood-stained Flame Lily into her hands."Sienna… Quick… Give this to M

The final memory had no images. There was only sound.It was the voice of the wolf soul resonating from the depths of my being. It was frail yet filled with reluctance and lingering affection."Lorcan, did you know? I recognized you the very first time I saw you."You were my fated mate, and my wolf rejoiced for you. It promised to follow you forever and guard you till the end."Lorcan froze to the spot as if he was struck by lightning."Fated mate…" The two words shattered his last line of defense like a heavy hammer.A wolf only had one fated mate in their lifetime. It was the most sacred bond bestowed by the Moon Goddess, but he'd personally tortured his mate to the point of ruin.The voice continued, "Arwen, my brother… When we were little, you always stood in front of me. You said you'd protect me for life, and I never forgot that. So when danger struck, my wolf told me that this time, it's my turn to protect you. It's willing to go as far as to die for you."At this time,

Amid Sienna's terrified screams, Lorcan forced her jaw open and poured deep purple liquid down her throat. It was the antidote from the witch.The crowd heard a shrill, agonizing wolf howl echo from within Sienna's body before her wolf was forcibly put into an eternal slumber.Her eyes rolled back in pain as she spasmed. Her once-radiant skin shriveled and grayed, aging decades in a matter of seconds.Then, Lorcan's bloody fingers swiped across her face. A surge of destructive power followed, destroying the beautiful features she'd once taken pride in and used to charm and deceive. Her flesh twisted into charred, jagged scars. From this day forward, she would walk the earth with the face of a demon.Lorcan released her and let her collapse to the ground like a heap of mud."Sienna, you deceived your Alpha, stole credit, and framed a fellow packmate. Your powers are revoked, and from this day forward, you are forever barred from setting foot in the Moonshadow pack."Any packmate