Chapter 1

"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this, Alpha? Ophelia Hale only got badly injured because she tried to save you. When she wakes up and realizes she's lost her wolf, the pain might drive her mad," the healer said.

He was holding a syringe of liquid silver in his hand, but he couldn't bring himself to inject it into my system.

However, Xander Smith, Alpha of the New Moon pack, didn't want to waste another second.

"Stop stalling and just do it," he ordered. "It doesn't matter if she lashes out. As long as the silver kills her wolf entirely, she'll have no choice but to accept it.

"Dahlia has already lost the ability to be a mother and was exiled by the Red Moon pack. She'll only be spared from judgment if she becomes my son's mother. So, I'm willing to give up everything to keep Dahlia from suffering," Xander stated.

"But Ophelia is your Luna. Yet, you want to kill her wolf and take her pup away from her. Aren't you afraid she'll hate you?" the healer argued.

He was a soft-hearted werewolf, so he tried to persuade Xander again. "Also, your parents never liked her to begin with. And how will she survive in the pack if she loses her wolf?"

"Ophelia won't find out as long as you cover your tracks properly. Besides, Dahlia will only appear to have me and my son. Deep down, my son and I will still love Ophelia, just like always," Xander countered.

While gently kissing the back of my hand, he added, "A Luna should respect all of her mate's decisions anyway, right?"

Xander's voice was still tender, and his touch on my cheek was as gentle as ever. However, I felt ice-cold all over and couldn't stop myself from shuddering.

He was about to notice my consciousness when his phone rang.

"How's your Luna, Alpha Xander? Does she know you intentionally fell for the trap to force her to save you—so that you could kill her wolf?" the person on the other end asked.

"Shut up!" Xander snapped coldly.

"I'll give you another two million dollars to forget everything. Remember—this was all an accident. Even the Moon Goddess couldn't have seen it coming. If Ophelia ever finds out, I'll make sure you both pay for it," the unknown caller threatened.

Then, he hung up.

Xander shot me another glance before urging the healer once more. "Do it, and make sure to give her an anesthetic. I don't want her to suffer too much."

I felt a silver needle pierce my skin, and then my strength drained from my body. Like a dying prey, my fate was entirely in someone else's hands. But unfortunately for me, the man I once trusted enough to give my life to was the same man who wanted to kill me.

Tears discreetly slid down my cheeks and soaked the pillow.

It was ridiculous.

Xander had been my mate for six years. Yet, I wasn't the mate he treasured most. My mate was willing to hand my son to her to keep Dahlia from being judged. Then, afraid that I would disagree and might hurt Dahlia, he had deliberately fallen into a trap.

Xander even colluded with Rogues to seriously injure me and then used this chance to kill my wolf, reducing me to the same level as an Omega.

The happiness and bliss I once believed in were all fake. Our relationship was built on betrayal and lies.

My consciousness gradually faded as the anesthetic started to kick in. But in the next second, I jolted awake from pain.

As the liquid silver entered my body, I felt a searing pain spread from the end of my spine to the rest of my body. My wolf howled in torment and struggled with all her might to resist the poisonous effects of the silver. But it was no use—we couldn't fight something we were naturally weak against.

The silver slithered through my veins like a snake, and I felt my wolf begin to fade. I felt like my heart was being stabbed by thousands of glass shards, killing whatever love I had left for Xander.