Chapter 2

The elders froze, then rushed forward to help me up.

"Bella, what happened? You're the witch beloved and revered by the entire pack."

"If you're ill, rest and recover. We'll handle things. Don't speak of stepping down so lightly."

"There's no point in trying to talk me out of it." I pulled away from his hand, my voice firm.

"I have no power left. Staying in this position will only make me a burden."

"The pack can't be without a witch. Please, choose a successor as soon as possible."

I didn't waste more breath. Amid the elders' sighs, I walked out of the hall.

Back home, I had just lain down to rest when the door was pushed open.

It was Hall.

He shut the stone door behind him and came to the bedside, looking down at me, his voice thick with disappointment:

"Bella, there's no one else here. Why keep up the act with me?"

"Do you have any idea the Council is in chaos right now? They're saying without you presiding over the ceremony, Kylie's claim to Luna isn't legitimate."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching me coldly:

"Years ago, when my father died in battle and the pack was teetering on the edge, you promised him on his deathbed that you'd do everything to support me."

"And now, when Kylie needs you to stand up and legitimize her, you resign the night before the binding, making a spectacle for the elders. Isn't that just making them question my authority?"

"Bella, you're the head witch. You've always put the pack first. How did you become this petty?"

Listening to his interrogation, my stomach churned.

Back when the pack was surrounded by enemies and the old Alpha fell in battle, the whole pack was on the brink of death.

I risked my life, holding the barrier for seven days and seven nights straight, and carried the pack through.

And Hall smoothly became Alpha.

It cost me dearly. My power was devastated, and I was left with a body full of old wounds.

And now he was using that promise from back then to accuse me of not caring about the big picture.

I felt nothing but absurdity.

I lowered my head and didn't argue a single word.

In this life, I'd already learned: there's no point debating a man whose eyes are blinded.

Seeing my silence, Hall's anger faded a little.

He stood up, his tone softening:

"Bella, I know you feel wronged, but everything has to come second to the pack."

"The Council hasn't approved your resignation yet. The staff stays with them for now."

"Rest well tonight. As long as you show up tomorrow morning and give Kylie the blessing, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

With that, he didn't push further. He shut the door softly and left.

The footsteps faded. I collapsed on the bed, my unease growing by the second.

Too smooth.

I'd taken poison, dodged the divination, even gone to the Council to resign.

Through all of it, Kylie hadn't lifted a finger to stop me.

That wasn't her style.

A woman who'd do anything to get what she wanted, how could she just let me slip away this easily?

Then a horrifying thought crashed into my mind.

Ignoring the poison's pain, I scrambled off the bed and stumbled down to the basement.

The basement door was ajar. The barrier I'd set was already broken.

My hands shaking, I opened the hidden compartment. Empty.

The crystal ball passed down through generations of witches was gone.

My heart dropped. Cold sweat poured down my back.

The crystal ball still carried traces of my aura.

If Kylie stole it, she must be planning to use it to cause a disaster and frame me.

Then the elders would think I'd planned rebellion all along, which is why I resigned.

And Hall would believe her without question.

With witnesses and evidence stacked against me, even if I swore my power was gone, I'd have no defense.

I dragged my weak body up the basement stairs, trembling.

Fine. Then I'd go further.

I'd build myself an alibi with absolutely no room for doubt.

I opened the cabinet, boiled down every last drop of poison, and drank it all.

Agony tore through me. Clinging to the last thread of consciousness, I crawled all the way to Elder Rowan's room.

As long as he could testify that I'd spent the whole night fighting for my life.

As long as enough people knew the crystal ball wasn't in my hands.

Then Kylie's scheme would collapse on itself.

"Help me..."

I crashed through the door. The last thing I saw was Elder Rowan's horrified face, then everything went black.