Chapter 1

The pack healer's words still echoed in my ears.

"Wolf Soul Degeneration, Bella. There's no cure. You have maybe a week left. Possibly less.”

I had been sitting on the sofa staring at my hands for an hour, wondering how everything had fallen apart so quickly.

The door opened, and Alice, Kael's mother, stepped inside.

"Bella," she said, her voice tight with forced sympathy. "I heard about the diagnosis. I'm so sorry." She sat down across from me.

"Your Marking Ceremony is a month away. If Kael finds out about this, he'll abandon his claim to the Alpha title entirely and never leave your side. You know he would."

I nodded silently. I knew better than anyone how fiercely Kael loved me. If he knew I was dying, he would give up the Alpha title he had worked his entire life for without a second thought.

"The pack needs him, Bella," Alice continued, her voice growing more urgent.

"The Old Alpha's health is failing fast. If Kael doesn't complete the Trials, the title will pass to his cousin Jax. You know Jax is cruel and greedy, and he'd run Silverclaw into the ground..."

She took my cold hand in hers.

"I have a plan. I found a young wolf from a small neighboring pack, someone no one here knows. He'll pretend to be your new suitor. All you have to do is let Kael catch you together. He'll be heartbroken, but he'll leave for the Trials. And no one will ever know the truth. I swear the pack will provide for you until your last breath."

Before I could respond, the front door slammed open, and my mother Elena stormed in.

Her face was red with anger, and her eyes were blazing.

"Get out of my house, Alice!" she shouted. "Don't think I don't see what you're doing! This has nothing to do with the pack and everything to do with that little alliance you've been cooking up with the Blackstones! You've wanted Kael to mate with their heir Ella since they were kids, and now you're using Bella's illness to get what you want!"

Alice stood up, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Elena, you're being ridiculous. I'm only thinking about what's best for everyone—"

"Best for everyone except my daughter!”

My mother screamed, stepping closer to her. “You're asking her to break her own heart and die alone so your son can have a fancy title! How dare you!"

Alice's face hardened, and she let out a cold, bitter laugh.

“Let’s be honest, Elena. It’s not like Bella is going to last long enough to be his Luna anyway. Why ruin Kael’s life for a handful of days? He needs to finish the marking ceremony before he leaves for the Trials. Only then can he go with a clear head.”

My mother lunged at her, and I jumped up to hold her back.

"Mom, stop!" I cried. "Please, don't."

Alice straightened her blazer, her eyes cold.

"Think about what I said, Bella. The offer stands. I'll give you until tomorrow morning to decide." She turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, I called out to her.

"Wait," I said. "I'll do it. But I have one condition. I want to see Kael one last time before he leaves. I promise I won't tell him anything. I just... I need to see him."

After all, he had been by my side for nearly twenty years.

Alice hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. He'll come over tonight to show you the new knife he had made for the Trials. Be ready." And with that, she walked out the door.

My mother turned to me, tears streaming down her face.

"Bella, why? Why are you doing this? You love him! We can fight this! We can go to the other packs, find a healer who knows more—"

I pulled her into a hug, and my own tears finally fell.

"Mom, there's no cure. The healer said so. I have only a week left. I can't let Kael throw away his entire life for me. He was born to be Alpha. It's who he is. I'd rather die knowing he's happy and successful than live long enough to watch him resent me for taking away his dream."

My mother held me tightly, sobbing into my shoulder.

"You're too good for this world, baby. Too good."