Chapter 2

Blake's face twisted into a snarl.

"What did you say?"

His Alpha command crashed down on me, far more brutal than the burn of the silver.

But I struggled against it, a cold smirk forming on my lips.

Enjoy your little moment of triumph, Blake. When Roric gets here, he's going to snap your Alpha wrist in two.

"I said…" I stared him down, gritting my teeth so hard I tasted blood. "I. Will. Not. Submit."

CRACK!

A sharp slap sent stars bursting behind my eyes. The stinging pain blurred my vision.

That's definitely going to leave a mark.

I fought to hold back tears.

Roric will tear him apart when he sees this.

"Bitch!" Blake's mother shrieked, her eyes full of venom. "Who the hell do you think you are? Serving the Alpha King is an honor your pathetic bloodline could never dream of!"

She raised her foot to kick me, but Blake's father stopped her.

"Enough. Don't leave any obvious marks," he warned calmly. "The King doesn't like his toys broken."

Broken toys.

They weren't even pretending anymore.

Blake pulled a small, silver dagger from his coat.

My skin prickled instinctively. Just the proximity of the silver made my wolf curl up in pain.

"Cora," he crouched down, pressing the tip of the blade against my left wrist. "I have many ways to make you listen."

My breathing grew ragged.

"For instance, I could sever the tendons in your hand," he murmured, his voice as soft as a lover's. "Then you'll never be able to practice your precious architecture again. Never draw. Never hold a pen."

He saw the flicker of fear in my eyes and pressed his advantage.

"Or, I could use this knife to carve the mark of the 'Forsaken' on you. Then you could never go back to the human world you love so much. I'll throw you to the rogues outside the city. Can you imagine what those filthy, starved beasts would do to a pretty, packless female?"

No.

My dream of being an architect in the human world… it was everything to me.

And the rogues… that was every omega female's worst nightmare.

"Now," he whispered, "are you still going to resist?"

The blade's tip stroked my skin, leaving a thin line of blood.

The sharp sting of fear finally shattered my resolve.

I couldn't lose my hands before Roric could save me. I couldn't end up like that.

"I…"

Before I could finish, Blake stood up, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Smart choice."

He grabbed my arm and dragged me roughly to the floor-to-ceiling window.

I coughed violently, the double torment of the poison and being pinned against the glass nearly breaking me.

"You really do look like her," Blake said, letting me go. He looked down at my pathetic form with a complicated expression. "I knew it the first time I saw you in the university library."

"That unique scent… a 'moonlight' aura that drives all Alphas crazy."

He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with greed.

"I saw Luna Lyra once, from a distance, at the Alpha King's coronation. It's not just your face. You even have the same soul-soothing scent. I never thought a worthless omega who couldn't even make it in the pack lands would be so lucky."

He’d seen my sister. The irony was a bitter pill in my throat. He spent three years hunting for a replacement, and he found her own sister.

"Don't you know how precious that is?" Blake sneered. "The Alpha King has been unstable since he lost his mate. The entire werewolf world lives in fear of his temper. And you…"

He reached out, his hand caressing my flushed cheek.

"Your scent might be the only thing that can calm his rage. This is the Moon Goddess's gift to the Gray Moon Pack. And it is your destiny."

I wanted to push him away, but my body wouldn't obey.

Just then, his mother came back, holding a small bottle.

It was filled with a silvery paste that gave off a strange, cold fragrance.

"Don't let it go to waste," she said, unscrewing the cap and digging out a glob of the cold cream.

She ignored my struggles, smearing it forcefully on my neck and wrists.

"This is Moon Lure oil. It'll amplify your scent tenfold. Don't waste that pretty face and good bloodline. We need the Alpha King to smell your 'value' immediately."

The oil was cold at first, then a strange heat began to rise, as if it were forcibly drawing out the power deep in my blood.

I felt sick.

Suddenly, a frantic knock came from the door.

"Blake!" It was his father's voice, strained with anxiety. "The Alpha King's Beta is here! Hurry!"

The Beta? Gideon?

A spark of hope ignited in me.

Gideon grew up with me and my sister.

If he were here, this nightmare would be over.

Blake's mother quickly put the bottle away, a flicker of disappointment on her face.

"You're lucky."

Blake shoved me onto the carpet and strode towards the door.

I lay on the cold floor, listening as the footsteps outside grew closer.

It's happening. The show is about to begin.

The suite door opened.

"Lord Beta, you've arrived," Blake's father's fawning voice called out. "The tribute is ready."

Footsteps entered the room. At least three people.

"This is her?" a strange male voice asked.

"Yes, yes," Blake answered eagerly. "You see? Exactly as we reported. We even used the Moon Lure oil to ensure the Alpha King will be pleased."

The footsteps came closer. I was filled with anticipation.

Come on, Gideon. Show these bullies who they messed with!

The parlor door swung open.

A tall, powerfully built man walked in, radiating an oppressive aura.

He crouched down, using a silver blade to tilt my chin up.

The touch of silver seared my skin, and I whimpered in pain.

But I forced my head up, ready to see the look of shock and joy on Gideon's face.

Instead, I stared into the cold, cruel face of a stranger.

He smiled with satisfaction, as if admiring an interesting new toy.

That's when I heard Blake, from behind him, speaking with fawning respect. "Lord Silas, is she to your satisfaction?"

Silas?

I'd never heard that name.

Oh, no…

I searched my memory. There was no one with that face in the Silver Peak Pack's inner circle.

Roric's most trusted Beta was Gideon.

What in the Goddess's name had happened to my pack while I was gone?

Why was this stranger, who reeked of blood, standing by Roric's side?

In an instant, terror seized my heart again.

This man… he would never recognize me.