Chapter 1

As I forced my weak body to turn around and flee, my Alpha was still talking.

"Evie once gave Ruby a stomachache, so I taught Ruby to put wolfsbane in the wine. I wanted her to experience the humiliation of vomiting in public."

"She gave Ruby a paper cut. I wanted her to feel that pain a thousand times over."

"She performed rituals on the altar every day and overshadowed Ruby. So Ruby destroyed her inner wolf."

I covered my mouth as tears fell silently to the floor.

The pack healer let out a long sigh. "Alpha, after everything you’ve done to her, why still make Evie your Luna? Wouldn't it be better to just let her go?"

Alexander sounded annoyed.

"Let her go? Are you out of your mind? She will never leave. Evie can only be mine. We are fated mates."

"But Alpha, the pain she went through..."

"I only let Ruby do those things to help her blow off some steam," Alexander interrupted, his tone softening a little.

"Once I settle Ruby, I will make it up to Evie. I still love her. She is the only Luna I want."

I could not remember how I walked out of the hospital room.

By the time the chill of the night wind brought me back to my senses, the sky was pitch black.

Alexander's voice echoed relentlessly in my head through the mind link.

“Evie, my love, where are you?”

"Stop throwing a fit. Please come back to the packhouse. I am so worried about you. I have been looking foryou everywhere. Let me hold you, okay?"

I blocked the mind link, took out my phone, and saw a recent post by a pack member.

It was a picture shared online. Alexander was holding Ruby's hand. They had spent the whole day at a hot spring resort. He was smiling brighter than the sun.

Meanwhile, I was sitting under an old tree on the pack grounds. With his heightened Alpha senses, how could he not find me if he really wanted to?

The night wind grew colder. The silver burns on my body ached terribly. The void of my dead inner wolf felt just as painful.

My mind drifted back to the first month after I lost my wolf. I wished I was dead. I lived on the verge of a breakdown every single day.

Alexander used to hold me tightly in his arms. He would kiss my scars over and over again, his eyes filled with tears.

I was afraid to look at them at first. After all, those scars were truly ugly.

But he kept releasing his calming scent to soothe my mind. "Evie, do not be afraid. I will be your wolf from now on."

He even took a lashing from a silver whip for me when Ruby caused trouble. His back was torn and bloody.

His handsome face was my only light in my darkest moments. I thought I had the most perfect mate in the world. I was the envy of all the females in the pack.

I used to believe with all my heart that the love in his eyes was real.

Otherwise, how could he cry for me when I was trembling in pain?

Even my painkillers were specially mixed by the best healer he could find. He did it just to ease my pain.

He even set up a charity fund in my name to help wolfless members. It was supposed to give me hope and pull me out of the abyss.

But today, I finally saw the truth. I realized his tenderness was built on lies and deceit.

My phone screen lit up. My outside contact replied. The getaway car was ready, free of any trackers.

A heavy burden was finally lifted from my heart.

I looked up. Drone lights suddenly rose into the night sky. They spelled out Ruby's initials like a brilliant galaxy.

It was painfully blinding.

Meanwhile, my back was still aching from the scorch of the flames.

Then I remembered today was Ruby's birthday.

Exactly one year ago today, at her birthday party, she pretended to hug me. Instead, she pushed me down the steep staircase.

If it were not for the blood all over the floor, I would not have remembered this date so clearly.

By the time I returned to the packhouse, it was late at night.

The bathroom door was slightly ajar. The sound of running water and giggling came from inside.

A maid was holding a towel, looking at me in fear. "Evie, Ruby refused to let anyone touch her. The Alpha is bathing her himself."

I froze in my tracks. A wave of dizzying anger rushed to my head.

No wonder Alexander mysteriously disappeared for hours when I woke up in pain at the hospital.

My eyes stung with tears. I tilted my head up, refusing to let them fall.

Ruby's joyful squeal came from the bathroom. "I love taking baths with you the most, Alex!"

Then came a low, muffled groan from Alexander. It sounded like he was losing control.

"Be a good girl, Ruby. Only the maids and I are allowed to see you like this. You cannot let other males touch you, understand?"

"And you are not allowed to touch me here either."

Ruby giggled. The sound of a loud kiss echoed from the room.

Alexander let out a low chuckle.

The sound of water started again, splashing against the tiles.

I stood there in a daze. When the water finally stopped, I stiffly pushed open the bedroom door.

But the sight in front of me almost pushed me over the edge.