Chapter 4

Rosa stared at him, feeling utterly empty inside. She could've sworn Kyle used to be different.

In the past, if anyone so much as disrespected Rosa, Kyle would've torn out their throat without hesitation and said, "My Luna bows to no one."

Yet, he was now forcing her to apologize to a captive who, by right, should've been kneeling at her feet.

"Forget it, Alpha Kyle. How could a lowly Omega like me deserve an apology from the noble Luna?" Ivy said magnanimously, as if sparing Rosa.

That only made Kyle angrier. "Apologize!"

The servants nearby whispered among themselves. Some even muttered that Kyle was going to replace his Luna.

Rosa took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll apologize."

She slowly bent at the waist toward Ivy, enunciating each word as she said, "I am sorry."

"Louder! Did you skip a meal or what?" Kyle barked.

Rosa clenched her fists. "I'm sorry!"

A flicker of triumph crossed Ivy's gaze, though she acted all flustered and afraid on the surface. "It's alright, Luna Rosa. Next time, try not to do a good person wrong.

"After all, you'll be addressing the pack at the Full Moon Run tomorrow night. Me being wronged is nothing. Losing the trust of the pack would be the real problem."

She got behind Kyle and lightly tugged on his sleeve, no longer resisting his touch as she had earlier.

Kyle stiffened. His face lit up with excitement like a child who'd just been handed candy.

His reaction hurt Rosa more than words could. Kyle frowned deeply as he stared at the silent Rosa.

"Ivy's talking to you. Why aren't you responding? Don't forget that you're the one who hurt her. If you want to show sincere remorse, then you should personally help her integrate into the pack during the Full Moon Run tomorrow night."

Rosa was about to refuse when Kyle added in a tone that brooked no argument, "You're the Luna. Ivy's new and in a sensitive position. If even you refuse to support her, how do you expect the others to respect her?

"Don't test my patience. If I don't see you tomorrow night, those guards will pay the price."

The mention of Henry's guards left Rosa no choice but to agree bitterly.

…

At the gathering, young werewolves crowded around Ivy, eager to win their Alpha's approval.

Ivy approached Rosa with two cups of honey wine. "Luna Rosa, I specially made this for you. I added herbs that can calm the nerves. Drink this, and let's put everything that happened behind us."

The color of the wine looked slightly off, so Rosa didn't want to drink it. Just as she was about to refuse, Kyle shot her a sharp look.

Without a choice, she took the cup and downed the wine in one gulp. As the atmosphere grew livelier, someone suggested playing a game called Hunters.

To make Ivy happy, Kyle deliberately lost again and again, giving away his finest furs and gemstones.

When Ivy won another round, the onlookers began to jeer playfully, "Giving away things is boring. How about a kiss instead?"

"Forget kissing! Go for a playful neck bite!"

Biting someone's neck in public was no joke. For werewolves, it was practically a public courtship and marking.

Rosa refused to believe Kyle would go along with such a frivolous suggestion. Yet, in the very next moment, he agreed to it.

All she could do was watch them act intimately in a daze. It felt like her heart was being sliced apart piece by piece.

Soon after, Ivy lost a round. The crowd roared again.

Ivy blushed, staying quiet.

"Kyle…" Rosa called out instinctively, hoping to stop him.

Ignoring Rosa, Kyle grabbed Ivy and leaned in for a bite.

Ivy staggered away as she avoided his touch. Her tone held a mix of embarrassment and indignation.

"What do you take me for, Alpha Kyle? I'm not that kind of she-wolf."

The others exchanged glances.

Someone whistled, teasing, "Can't even handle a she-wolf? Maybe Alpha Kyle isn't capable of it."

"Who says I'm not?"

Kyle's desire to dominate was stirred. His gaze darkened with desire as he looked at Ivy.

Ivy fled, while he chased her. Afraid of hurting her, he held back each time he caught her.

Despite his flirtatious bites being cut short again and again over several rounds of the cat-and-mouse chase, rather than being discouraged, Kyle only got even more worked up.

Finally, Kyle pinned Ivy down on the couch. Shamelessly, he leaned in to bite her neck in front of everyone.

Howls erupted from all around. The energy in the air reached a fever pitch.

Everyone was caught up in the excitement—everyone except Rosa, who was sitting alone in the corner. Not only was her heart in agony, but her body was starting to feel off.

The searing pain in her throat made it nearly impossible to draw a breath.

It dawned on Rosa that there was something wrong with the honey wine. It had been laced with silver powder.

Rosa struggled to her feet and grabbed Kyle's sleeve.

"Kyle… There's silver in the wine… Save me…"

Swept up in excitement, Kyle didn't even glance at Rosa when he heard her. "How annoying! You pick now to ruin the mood? Ivy's just a captive. Where would she get silver powder?"

"I didn't… say…"

"Enough!"

Shoving Rosa aside, Kyle lowered his head again to bite Ivy. A low, beastly growl escaped him.

This time, Ivy didn't resist. Just as Rosa collapsed, Ivy wrapped her legs around Kyle's waist.

"I once swore I'd never let an enemy's teeth near my neck. But if this is just a game, I don't mind you leaving your mark on me."

She tilted her head willingly, exposing her throat.

Watching the woman who had fought tooth and nail just moments ago finally give in, Kyle became so consumed with excitement that he forgot everything else, including Rosa, who was in the corner.

As the poison reached Rosa's heart, her vision went black, and she fell unconscious.