Chapter 5

The door slammed open in the middle of the night. Freezing wind came howling in, flinging bits of snow all over the room.

Then, a sharp slap rang out, cracking through the air like a gunshot.

Dad's voice exploded right after. "Lily! Lisa was just trying to help. She put some soothing clay on you, yet you shoved her to the floor? Have you forgotten she's unwell? She can't handle even the slightest shock!"

My cheek was on fire, but what hit harder was the cold settling deep in my chest.

I looked at Dad and Jonah through tear-filled eyes. They were both glaring at me, furious.

If they ever found out that it was Lisa who caused Mom's death, would they even feel a hint of regret for how terribly they were treating me now?

"First, you got your mom killed, and now you're picking on weak, sickly Lisa? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Dad's voice was ice-cold and merciless, like he meant to gut me with every word.

He raised his hand again, ready to hit me, but Jonah stepped between us and grabbed his arm. His voice wavered. "Dad, she's still carrying the pup…"

Dad shook him off. "Even if Lisa hurt you by accident, couldn't you just talk to her? Did you have to lash out? You're going to apologize to Lisa right now!"

I stared at them, then suddenly laughed, even as tears kept running down my face. "Lisa's the one who left these needle marks on my arm. She faked that fall, too. Do you guys believe that?"

Dad and Jonah exchanged a glance. A flicker of surprise crossed their faces, but it was quickly swallowed by disgust.

"Your lies are getting more ridiculous by the second!" Dad growled.

He kicked me behind the knee, hard. "Lisa's had your back since you were kids. She'd never hurt you. Those marks? You did that yourself just to make us feel sorry for you!"

"She had my back?"

I laughed even louder now, the sound ringing harsh and hollow in the empty room.

"You're hopeless!" Dad snapped, finally losing it.

He kicked me again, this time in the shoulder. The blinding pain knocked the air out of me. In an instant, everything went dark.

Somewhere in the blur, I thought I heard Rex calling my name, urgent and panicked.

"Lily! Lily!"

I gradually came to, finding that he was gripping my hand. He had a look of pure sympathy in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I took so long. Don't be afraid. I'm here now."

His hand was still as broad and warm as I remembered, but that comfort was a thing of the past. Now, with his fingers wrapped around mine, it felt as if vines were strangling me. I could barely breathe.

Back when Dad or Jonah punished me, Rex would always show up like some kind of god swooping in to save me.

I used to believe he was the moonlight of salvation breaking into my life. But I now finally understood that it was nothing but a carefully crafted illusion.

"The sun's not up yet. Try to get a little more sleep."

Rex reached up, about to touch my cheek, but I turned my head without thinking. His hand stopped midair, and for a second, I caught a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

I closed my eyes, knowing I had to rest. The time to leave was drawing near.

…

When I woke up again, the room was empty.

I should've known. Rex had to have gone to be with Lisa.

There would be a full moon tonight. But more importantly, it was the night the Moon Pact would take effect. Once midnight arrived, the mate bond between Rex and me would be officially broken.

I packed the last of my clothes, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and headed straight into the dense forest past the edge of the Blackwolf pack without looking back.

As I walked past the healer's Stone Cabin, I caught voices coming from inside. Rex was feeding Lisa berries.

Dad's voice cut through the murmur. "Should we drive Lily out after we sacrifice her wolf to Lisa?"

Rex frowned. "No. I owe her. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her."

Lisa happened to look up at this moment. The second our eyes met, she gave me a smug, taunting look like she was saying, "Did you hear that? He's only keeping you around out of guilt."

Then, her voice reached me through the mind-link. "Lily, you'll never truly be loved. Your family doesn't want you, and your mate doesn't love you. You're nothing but a burden!"

Tears rolled down my cheeks, but I didn't stop walking. Even Rex's so-called "compensation" for me had become just another thing for Lisa to gloat about.

I walked into the dense forest without looking back, the pack fading behind me until it was nothing more than a dark blur in the distance.

…

Night had fallen, and the full moon rose above the trees.

Rex was sitting by the fire with Lisa, keeping her warm, when a sudden, searing pain tore through him. He clutched at his chest, cold sweat breaking across his brow as he crumpled to the ground.

"Rex! What's wrong?" Lisa cried, rushing to help him up.

"Don't touch me!" he barked, shoving her away.

He was shaking all over, not just from the pain, but because the mate bond between us had broken. He couldn't feel me anymore. I was gone.

"Lily…"

As if struck by a sudden realization, he lurched to his feet and took off toward my cabin, stumbling as he ran, yelling my name at the top of his lungs.

"Lily! Lily!"