Chapter 3

Sophia staggered toward us, her once healthy face now pale as a sheet, her once full cheeks hollowed as the vampire's poison spread through her veins.

Lucian ran over to support her. "Sophia, don't push yourself. The effect of the witch's potion is wearing off. If you get too worked up, your wounds will only get worse."

Sophia endured her sorrow and looked straight at me, tears welling in her eyes. "Anna, did those vampires threaten you and make you take my antidote? If you're in trouble, you have to tell me, tell Mom and Dad! We won't blame you!"

My heart ached as I watched her still fighting to keep me safe despite being in such a frail state. However, I hardened my heart as that moment passed and said in a harsh tone, "Enough with the pathetic act. Since when have I ever taken your antidote?!"

Sophia's eyes widened. "What are you saying?"

I looked at her with contempt. "I'm saying that you're framing me for something I didn't do."

Her tears finally spilled over, dripping onto the ground. "On the day of your trial, I set up a perimeter around the clearing in the forest. I don't know how, but those vampires managed to break through from the Northeast. Because you were about to pass the trial, I held them off for you. But…There were just too many of them, and I really couldn't defeat all of them on my own."

Sophia could barely finish what she was saying as her voice shook with emotion. Margaret pulled Sophia into her arms, trying to calm her down.

When Sophia's breathing finally calmed down, she continued. "After you finished the trial, those vampires were still attacking me."

I decided to simply turn my head away, acting like I did not care. Sophia cried even harder when she saw my attitude. She choked several times before she managed to speak again. "I thought you would come to save me, but you never did… You just stood there and watched until those vampires left.

"After they were gone, you walked toward me. I thought you would at least carry me back to the pack, but instead, you reached for my antidote."

When Sophia reached the end, she screamed at me hysterically. "Why?! Why did you do this to me?! After you passed the trial, you could've ripped those vampires apart! Why didn't you?! Is it because I didn't treat you well enough?!"

Sophia suddenly went quiet and raised her head in despair. Her eyes looked shattered, her face even paler than before.

Hearing all this, the pack was completely enraged.

"Sophia told the truth so clearly, but Anna's still playing dumb!"

"She has suffered so much, yet she's still thinking of Anna. She's so kind...."

"Maybe Anna's working with those Vampires, hoping that she can take her place once Sophia dies."

I looked at Sophia and touched the antidote hidden at my own waist.

After a long hesitation, I gritted my teeth and said, "The vampire's poison has already eaten away at her mind. Sophia's lying!"

Lucian stepped forward with a frown. "The witch's potion can neutralize the venom for a while. Sophia is thinking straight at the moment, and she'd never lie."

I decided to simply stop arguing.

I tried to leave, but it was obvious that the pack wouldn't let me go so easily. Someone fully transformed into their wolf form and bared their claws before lunging at me.

"Don't let this traitor get away!"

Blood soaked through my clothes as the attacks from the pack came from all sides.

"Kill this traitor who betrayed the pack!"

I fought back with everything I had, but the attack still left a deep gash right underneath where my ribs were.

Suddenly, Marcus pounced on me. He grabbed the pouch on my waist and tore it away. That was where the antidote was!

Marcus opened the pouch right in front of me.

But in that same moment, he widened his eyes as if he had seen something extremely terrifying…