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Sloane Grayson's POV 

“You have moon sickness. Nine months to live, Maybe a year” 

The words rang in my head, loud and heart wrenching. 

I walked into the pack house, expressionless, my feet heavy. No one noticed my presence, no one ever did. 

The familiar scent of the pack filled my nostrils; pinewood and old magic. The east wing was cold, but I couldn't care less. I passed maids and guards but no one spared me any glance, not even a pause to acknowledge my presence. 

Well, no one bothered to see me in the first place, my presence wasn't needed. As I passed the hall into the main lounge, the chaos caught my attention. 

“Oh my goodness, he's back!” I heard one maid say, shrieking with excitement. 

“I actually thought he was dead for years now….” Another squealed. “Ever since he was exiled, no one had seen him” 

I slowed my pace, furrowing my brows with confusion, who were they talking about? 

“He doesn't look mortal. Did you actually see his hair? Long, black like silk” another added. “I couldn't even take my eyes off him, he was so dreamy” 

Three maids, huddled at a corner in the lounge, whispering loudly to themselves. One held a phone in her hand, the screen bright enough for them all to see. 

“When he walked in, the whole room literally shifted, as though the air was filled with his scent” another said, breathless. 

“He didn't say even one word” the one holding the phone shrieked. “Just looked down at everyone as though we were all insects” 

“I heard someone peed herself,” the second one giggled. “I literally heard it soak her boots” 

I walked closer, they didn't notice my presence. 

As she shifted the phone, I saw an image on the screen. It was a man, he was half turned, his face hidden in the shadows. He was draped in a long coat that brushed the ground, his shoulders broad, his raven black hair tied back. 

His cheek bone was so sharp, it could cut through glass and metal. And on the corner of his mouth was a slight smirk, almost too faint to notice. 

My brows knotted in a frown, my breath hitching. Although I couldn't see his face clearly, he felt oddly familiar. 

He reminded me of Zaurik, but I didn't think it was him. 

I turned and walked away before they could notice my presence, before I began to have crazy thoughts. 

******

Finally, I made it to my room, banging the door behind me. Well, it didn't matter because no one ever came into my room, no one knocked. I could literally die in here and it would take months before anyone noticed. 

With trembling hands, I switched the light on. 

The sickness had already kicked in, I could feel it deep in my bones. My stomach churned, my vision going blurry for a split second before it returned back to normal. 

I walked in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection. My face was placed, my eyes red and puffy, an aftermath of the tears I had just shed on my way back. 

“Nine fucking months…..” I whispered under my breath. “And no one would know I'm gone” 

I chuckled painfully and sat at the edge of my bed, my face buried in my palm as I sobbed. 

“No wolf….” I muttered into my palm, tears streaming down my cheeks. “No mate…no fucking love, not even someone to tell me a goddamn goodbye” 

My voice cracked as my mind trailed back to my engagement with Erythos. 

Everywhere was full, but no one dared to clap or cheer, they just sat there, rigid on their chairs, watching. 

Erythos didn't smile once, he didn't even bother touching me. 

I remembered what his mother had whispered into my ear as she leaned in close, her strong scented perfume almost making me choke. 

“Try not to embarrass yourself, Sloane…just stay quiet and do as he commands” 

My life was a mess and as if it just couldn't get messier, I was going to die….soon. 

I laughed painfully, wiping my tear stained cheeks and pulled myself off the bed, my hands shuddering but I forced myself out of the hall to Erythos room. 

I don't know what I expected. Maybe some part of me hoped he'd really see me when I told him. That the words would matter. That I wouldn't just disappear without being noticed by the one person I'm stuck with. 

The door was slightly open. I pushed it with one finger. And…… 

Gross noises. Wet, slapping sounds. Breathing heavily, moaning. A woman on her knees. Blonde. Pretty. Her mouth wide open. Erythos half-undressed. His head thrown back. Fingers holding her hair tight.

“Fuck, goddess” a growl rumbled from his throat. “You suck so good. Unlike my fiancée who doesn't even know how to moan” 

I stood frozen, my eyes widened, my breath hitched. 

Finally, he opened his eyes, those silver orbs staring into mine and then, a slow, mocking grin curled on his lips. 

“Hmm…” look who got bold” he drawled. “Are you here to watch…..or join us? Don't worry, I'll give you the privilege of cleaning up after” 

The bitch giggled as she kissed his thighs. 

I staggered, gripping the door frame for support. 

Without giving my words a second thought, it rumbled out of my mouth, calm, my voice cracking. 

“The marriage is off, Erythos” 

He chuckled, he didn't look shocked or angry, just amused, as though he had been expecting it…as though it was his plan all along. 

“Little bitch….do you think I care about what you want, huh?” He sneered, standing up, naked, his cock still erected, pointing furiously at me. “Do you think you meant something to me? You were just there to pass time…that's all” 

His voice got quieter. He leaned in close. “No wolf. No purpose. No future. Just silence.” 

I didn't flinch. I didn't cry. I didn't let him get to me. I turned around and walked away. Straight down the hallway. Their laughter echoed behind me. But it didn't stay with me in the dark.

******

The night surrounded me when I reached the balcony. The wind blew hard through the trees. The sky was dark and quiet above me, with stars that didn't seem to notice. 

I held the railing tight then, I screamed loudly. From deep inside. Rawly, I screamed until my lungs hurt, until something broke inside my chest. 

“Fuck you,” I gasped. “All of you. My dad. Erythos. This messed-up family. This stupid sickness, his terrible legacy……” 

The wind stopped. The trees went quiet. My breath came out in puffs of air.

And then….My pocket got warm. My fingers slowly reached down, the black card with sharp edges was glowing softly. 

I pulled it out, my eyes catching the words at the back I didn't see back at the hospital, the silver letters sparkled in the moonlight: Z. Thorn - Deals Are Better Than Regrets.