Chapter 4

The moment the words left my mouth, the disgust in Fabian's eyes erupted into pure rage.

"It seems the Silver Room is the only place fit for a traitor like you!" He shoved me away, and I stumbled, nearly falling.

"You wanted to break our mate bond? If you make it out of the Silver Room alive, you'll get your wish."

My father's face was ashen. He pointed a trembling finger at me. "You have brought nothing but shame to our family! For the honor of this pack, I must punish this betrayal!"

He turned to the captain of the guard, his voice like thunder. "Lock her in the Silver Room! Three days! Until she atones for her treason!"

My blood ran cold. The Silver Room. It was a torture chamber lined with every werewolf's hell.

For a second, I thought about just letting go, letting myself die.

But then I thought of New Moon City, of the hope I still had to escape, and I tried to defend myself one last time.

"Wait! Taking the Tear was my fault, but the wards had nothing to do with me…"

Before I could finish, two guards grabbed my arms.

"Scared now? It's too late!" my mother sneered.

"Please, wait," Gloria pleaded weakly. "Isn't three days too harsh? Sister was just injured…"

"She needs to learn the meaning of shame and loyalty!" my father roared. "A month wouldn't be enough!"

I was dragged out of the hall. Guests scrambled to get out of my way, as if I carried a plague.

"Let go of me! I'll walk myself!" I struggled.

The guards hauled me down a long corridor, deep into the dungeons.

The Silver Room was tiny, maybe two square meters. The walls were covered in a dense pattern of silver nails, chains, and crosses.

The air shimmered with the cold, metallic gleam of silver.

"Get in!" one guard grunted, shoving me inside.

CLANG! The iron door slammed shut.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I tried to sit carefully against the door, but my back brushed against the silver studs on the wall.

"Argh—!"

Searing pain exploded through me. My skin sizzled, my very blood felt like it was boiling. It was the unique agony only silver can inflict on a wolf.

I lurched forward, but in this cramped space, there was nowhere to go.

Everywhere was silver.

Every movement was a fresh burn.

Every breath was agony.

An hour passed.

Then two.

The silver continued to scorch my skin. My dress was burned through, and my flesh began to blister.

First sweat. Then violent shivers. Then my lungs burned for air.

"Help me…" I whispered, weakly banging on the iron door. "Anyone… I need water… please…"

No response.

"I was wrong… I'm sorry… please, just let me out…"

Still, only silence.

My voice grew hoarse. My palms were raw and bleeding from pounding on the door.

"Mom… please… I'm your daughter… please…"

For the first time, I begged so humbly, so desperately.

But no one answered.

I don't know how long it was before I finally heard footsteps outside.

"Sister? Are you still alive in there?"

It was Gloria's sweet voice.

"Gloria!" I gasped, clinging to the sound like a lifeline. "Help me… I'm dying… Please, tell them to let me out…"

"Oh, that does sound painful," her voice was laced with fake sympathy. "The silver burns, doesn't it?"

"Please… I'll do anything… Just let me out…"

"But you're a traitor," she cooed, her voice dripping poison disguised as pity. "This is what you deserve."

"I didn't! You framed me!"

"Proof?" her voice sharpened. "Everyone saw your scent signature on the ward-breaker stone. What proof do you have that it was me?"

I sagged against the cold iron door, the burn on my back a constant reminder of my helplessness. She was right. I had no proof.

"And even if I did frame you, so what?" Her voice turned venomous. "Who's going to believe a traitor? Who's going to stand up to me for a piece of trash like you?"

"Why are you doing this to me?" I sobbed. "What did I ever do to you?"

"Because I despise everything about you," she hissed, her voice pure venom. "I hate that you exist. I hate that you carry his mark. I hate that you breathe the same air as the man who should be mine."

"But you can't change blood…"

"Blood means nothing," she sneered. "Look at us now. Who looks more like their daughter? You, whining in the Silver Room? Or me, being pampered outside?"

She was right. Even as their trueborn, they loved her more.

"Oh, by the way, I have something to show you," she said excitedly. "I promise you'll love it."

She held her communicator up to the small slit in the door.

The screen showed a cozy scene.

Fabian was lying in bed, with Gloria curled up in his arms.

"You've had such a rough night," Fabian murmured, stroking her hair. "It's all that woman's fault. I'm sorry you were frightened."

"It's okay," Gloria cooed. "As long as you're here, I'm not afraid of anything."

"My sweet girl," Fabian whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Including her."

"Fabian, will you love me forever?"

"Of course," his voice was so deep, so tender. "You're my one and only. My wolf howls only for you. Always."

They started kissing then, a deep, passionate kiss.

Like true lovers.

I watched it all, thinking of the 100 things in my journal.

Thinking of how I was once willing to die for just one kind glance from him.

Thinking of how I believed that if I just tried hard enough, I could earn his love.

"See?" Gloria said smugly, putting her device away. "That's how much he loves me. And you? You're nothing."

Her voice became even crueler.

"Oh, and Fabian? He just told me he hopes you rot in here. That way, he'll never have to see your pathetic face again."

Every word was a knife, carving up my heart.

"And your parents," she continued. "They were just saying how they wish you'd never come back. That way, they wouldn't have such a shameful daughter."

I huddled in the corner, tears streaming down my face.

But strangely, after the searing pain, a sense of relief washed over me.

I remembered a line from my journal, written on a day I felt completely hopeless: "If my wolf ever stops responding to you, it's because my heart has died."

My heart was dead now.

The wolf inside me, the one that had howled for him, was silent. It was dead.

The girl who begged for her parents' love was dead.

The fool who thought she could earn a monster's heart was dead.

"Not talking anymore?" Gloria taunted, kicking the door. "Feeling hopeless? Full of regret?"

I let out a dry, rattling laugh. "Thank you," I rasped.

Gloria recoiled. "What?"

"Thank you," I repeated, my voice clear despite the pain. "For finally setting me free."

"Are you insane?"

I didn't answer. I just closed my eyes.

The silver still burned, but my mind was clearer than ever.

I was just glad I didn't have to do it anymore.

Glad I didn't love him anymore.

"What are you playing at?" Gloria yelled, kicking the door again. "You're just a piece of trash that everyone's thrown away!"

Her voice faded as she walked away.

I was alone in the dark again, my consciousness slowly slipping away.

Just as I thought I was about to die, I heard the hushed voices of two guards outside my door.

"Such a pity. But she destroyed the pack's wards. She deserves it."

"Shh… keep your voice down. I heard the Alpha already gave the order. If she doesn't confess to 'sabotaging the wards' in three days…"

"What happens then? Life in the dungeons?"

"Worse," the second guard whispered. "They're going to execute her at sunrise."