Chapter 2

The witch's potion worked fast.

By the time everyone cleared out from the bonding ceremony, it felt like something inside me was being ripped apart by two hands grabbing at my wolf from the inside.

"Ah—!"

I screamed, pain searing through me. A flash of white light blinded my vision, and I felt my wolf weaken by a third—like something was pulling it out of me.

But I couldn't hold on to it.

I could feel my life slipping away, slowly, second by second.

When I finally made it back to my room, drenched in sweat, I found everything I owned had been thrown out.

The room was completely empty.

My eyes went wide. I tore through the space like a madwoman, searching for the one thing I treasured more than anything—a grass ring.

Liam had given it to me.

Before we came of age, he'd woven it with his own hands and made me a vow:

"Whether the Moon Goddess blesses us or not, you'll always be the one I choose."

And now he'd chosen Victoria over me.

Liam was the only son of my father's most trusted beta. The rogues had taken him as a baby to threaten my father—and my sister had fought like hell to save him. She never came back.

The pack all said she'd been killed. Only my parents refused to believe it.

Ever since, the beta had drilled into Liam: be grateful to her, be loyal to her, serve her and her family for life.

So when he found out my wolf could be traded for Victoria's, he said yes without a second thought.

The debt he owed meant more to him than I ever did.

But that ring wasn't just about me and Liam. It was the first thing that made me feel like I could be myself.

I couldn't lose it.

I ran to my mother like a madwoman, panic flooding my face.

"Mom—where are my things?"

She just pushed me aside, completely unbothered. "Victoria's a clean freak. I'm buying her all new stuff. Your dirty, broken junk? I already tossed it in the dump—"

I didn't even let her finish. I took off toward the garbage dump.

The pile had grown into a small mountain by then, sitting in a puddle of black, filthy water. The stench was thick enough to choke on—heavy rot that made you want to vomit.

But I didn't care. I dove in, digging like my life depended on it.

A rusty blade gashed my calf. My fingers got torn raw, bleeding everywhere.

With my wolf damaged, the wounds wouldn't heal. Blood just kept pouring out.

And then the rain started.

My blood mixed with the murky water, streaming down as my breathing grew ragged.

Then—there. My eyes caught it. The grass ring, washed out by the rain.

It was coated in filth, reeking of garbage, but I cradled it against my chest like it was made of gold.

That's when a hand grabbed my arm.

Liam. He was staring at me, furious.

"What the hell are you doing out here in this rain?! What if you get sick?!"

I thought he was worried. Thought he cared. My frozen heart thawed just a little.

I carefully held out the ring, pressing it to my chest like I once pressed my whole heart into his hands.

He knocked it right out of my grip. The ring I'd fought through hell to find.

"Victoria's coming back soon! You can't afford to get hurt!"

My heart plummeted into ice.

He said it was just a test. But the truth was—he wanted her back too.

I lifted my pale face to look at him. After a long moment, my voice came out raw, pleading.

"Liam… do you remember? You said once we were bonded, you'd take me to the Bluemoon Pack."

"You said no one there would force me to be Victoria. I could do whatever I wanted, and you'd always have my back."

He froze.

I clung to that pause like it was the last rope keeping me from drowning.

"Just one last time—take me there. Please. After we come back, I'll cooperate. I'll let Victoria take over."

I thought he'd say yes.

"No."

Flat. No hesitation. His brow pinched tight.

"Before Victoria comes back, you're not going anywhere. If something happens to your body, Victoria—"

I let out a bitter laugh and cut him off.

"You're that worried she won't be able to take over my body?"

His expression went dark. His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't want to argue anymore—just grabbed me and started pulling me back.

I wrenched my arm free and screamed at him.

"Liam—what if I die?! Do you even care?!"

His body went rigid for a second. Then his voice came low.

"Don't talk nonsense. The witch said this would just weaken you a little. You'll be fine."

He dragged me to the pack healer and made them check me over from head to toe.

My parents rushed in after us, grabbing at me with worried looks—but what came out of their mouths was:

"Is Victoria's body okay?"

The healer knew what had happened at the ceremony. He hesitated. "Alpha, Luna… Margaret's body doesn't seem suited for a wolf-swap…"

"It'll work! It has to! Victoria's still suffering out there—we have to save her! It's just a swap—Margaret can handle it—"

My mother cut him off, voice rising.

Nobody wanted to believe the healer. Not when Victoria was almost home.

And me? I was just the vessel.

They were counting down the days. One month. Then she'd be back—even if it cost me everything.