Chapter 3

I couldn't believe she'd actually done it. Fury surged through me.

"Are you insane? If anything happens to Nancy, there won't be a hole deep enough for you to hide in!"

Vivienne looked at me with casual indifference, her smile widening.

"Still talking tough? Really?"

"Kneel and beg, and I'll consider letting you go."

Looking at the lynx wounds on Nancy's body, I felt like my heart was being carved open.

She'd been seriously injured before. Combined with the wolfsbane, she wouldn't last much longer.

I clenched my jaw, my half-kneeling body slowly turning toward Vivienne.

I couldn't watch Nancy die. Not like this.

But Nancy grabbed my arm. She forced the words out.

"Aria — don't you dare beg her. I'm not dying today."

"When Damien gets here, we'll see if she's still this cocky."

"Don't bow to that bitch. She's not worth it."

Vivienne's eyes narrowed.

"Let's find out what breaks first — your pride or my patience."

"Cain. Throw them both over the edge."

Cain kicked me down the slope. Panicking, I shifted and caught a branch.

Branches whipped my face as I tumbled. Nancy was already losing consciousness — the poison was nearing her heart.

I screamed with everything I had.

"She's dying! Once the poison reaches her heart, it's over! Pull us up!"

"If she dies, no wolf alive can save you!"

Cain peered over the edge, fear flashing across his face.

"Vivienne, the old wolf really doesn't look good. Maybe we should let them go."

"Alpha Damien cares about this mountain. If they die here, he'll punish me..."

Vivienne snorted.

"Getting cold feet? I never wanted them dead. They're the ones who kept provoking me."

"I told them — apologize, and it's over. They chose to be stubborn. Clearly it's not that serious yet."

Cain looked down at me.

"Listen — this is Alpha Damien's favorite she-wolf. He specifically arranged for her to have the back hill to herself today."

"You weren't supposed to be here. Beg her forgiveness while you still can."

"Nobody can help you unless she says so."

I bit down on my tongue so hard I tasted blood, forcing the erupting emotions back down.

Looking at Nancy's ghostly face, I finally swallowed my pride.

"Please. Save Nancy."

Vivienne let out a delighted laugh.

"A minute ago you were calling me a dirty secret, and now here you are — begging."

"Tell me. Between me and Aria — who deserves to be the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack?"

She hated hearing Aria's name. The only thing that soothed her twisted ego was forcing others to admit she was superior.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood.

The words came out laced with humiliation.

"You deserve to be Luna."

"Now can you save Nancy?"

Laughter echoed above us. She stared down with pure malice.

"No. I think I liked it better when you were being stubborn."