Chapter 1

My mate, Alpha Clark, orchestrated 99 of my alchemical failures, all to steal my soul and gift it to another she-wolf.

And I never suspected a thing.

I had just spent thirty-six hours creating the Heart of Stars essence, a potion powerful enough to triple an Alpha's strength.

I had only one thought.

He's going to love this.

I remembered the first time I showed Clark my workshop. He’d looked at all my bottles and jars, then back at me, the awe and adoration in his eyes impossible to miss.

Another time, I’d accidentally cut my hand on a glass shard, and he’d been more frantic than I was.

He bandaged it clumsily, his voice a pained whisper in my ear. "Myrna, these hands create miracles. They aren't meant for getting hurt."

Miracles…

I stared at the essence in the vial. This was just one more miracle I had created for him.

Tonight was the victory celebration for his defeat of our northern rivals. This gift was perfect timing.

I carefully sealed the Heart of Stars in a crystal vial and left my underground workshop.

But as I rushed toward the great hall and reached the terrace doors, I heard a sentence that made my blood run cold.

"Alpha, are you sure this is worth it? You've leaked Luna Myrna's alchemical secrets to Layla 99 times."

It was Clark's Beta, Max. His voice was laced with worry.

"It's worth it," Clark replied without hesitation. "Layla needs them."

My fingers tightened around the crystal vial.

Layla?

"But Luna is a genius alchemist," Max said, his voice low. "Making her fail 99 times… that kind of blow to her confidence…"

"Failure was the point," Clark cut him off coldly. "The methods I gave her were flawed. They were never going to work. But from those failures, Layla has learned enough to master high-level alchemy."

A sharp pain shot through my heart. My legs went weak, and I nearly collapsed.

My mind flashed back to my worst failure, an explosion that nearly destroyed half my face. I'd sat in the rubble, sobbing and covered in soot.

Clark had held me tight, gently kissing my tears away.

He’d told me, "It's okay, Myrna. I'll still love you, even if you're not a genius anymore."

So, every one of my heart-wrenching breakdowns, every moment of relief after surviving a disaster…

It was all just a stepping stone for another woman.

It was all an act.

"Layla is a celebrated Alchemy Master now," Max's voice grew quieter. "If anyone finds out—"

"No one will find out," Clark said with absolute confidence. "I've had Myrna trapped here for five years. She thinks her talent has dried up. She'll never know the truth."

I leaned against the wall, the agony flaring through my mate bond almost making me black out.

"Alpha, Layla is using you," Max pressed. "Once she bonds with her new mate, do you think she'll remember everything you've done?"

"I don't care," Clark's voice hardened. "If she hadn't saved me, I would have died at the hands of rogues. This is the only way I can repay her."

Saved him?

I looked down at my own hand.

The eclipse scar was still there, a permanent mark from when I saved him five years ago.

But in his mind, Layla was the hero.

"As for Myrna—" Clark paused, a hint of pity creeping into his tone. "Her pain is a necessary evil. The pressure of being a genius is a heavy burden. These failures will force her to accept her limits, give up her fantasies, and settle into her role as my Luna. It's for her own good."

Click.

The sound of the door handle turning.

I quickly backed away, took a deep breath, and tried to walk onto the terrace as calmly as possible.

"Clark?" I pushed the door open, a gentle smile on my face. "Ivy said you were looking for me."

Clark spun around. Panic flashed in his eyes before he masked it.

"Myrna." He walked toward me, arms open. "I was just about to come find you."

I sidestepped his embrace and held out the crystal vial.

My hand was trembling.

"This is for you," my voice was steadier than I expected. "Heart of Stars. To celebrate your victory."

Clark took the vial and tried to take my hand, but he flinched at how cold my skin was.

He frowned, his expression full of concern. "Myrna, why are your hands so cold?"

I fought back tears and forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. "The workshop… it must be colder than I thought."

"You always push yourself too hard," he sighed, reaching to put his arm around my shoulder.

I dodged him again.

How could he act so devoted to my face, while crushing my pride and my life's work behind my back?

Clark looked confused, caught off guard by my sudden distance.

"I'm a little tired," I said, my voice weak. "My spiritual energy is drained. I think I'll go rest."

He seemed relieved by the excuse, his eyes returning to their usual look of adoration.

I turned to leave, but Clark followed.

"I'll walk you back."

I had brought him countless potions here, but this was the first time he'd ever offered to walk me back.

This little bit of tenderness, coming so late, only made my stomach turn.