Chapter 3

On the way to the black market, Damien took a deep breath.

"I know. You have memories of our past life, too."

I glanced at him, tacitly confirming his words. After a moment, I spoke. "Reborn or not, what's changed? Are you just going to choose her side again?"

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I found the whole thing absurd and slowly shook my head. "Damien, after dying once, is that pathetic line all you have to say for yourself?"

The next second, without warning, he lunged toward me, pressing me hard against the seat and crushing his lips against mine.

"Elara," he panted, pulling back just an inch, his forehead resting against mine. "I swear to the Moon Goddess, this is the last time you will ever be wronged."

"We're just putting on a show at the auction to get your sister back. You will be completely safe."

"This time, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

I fiercely wiped his scent from my lips and retorted with a cold smile, "Damien, I'll only ask you one thing. Can you really not see that this whole damsel in distress act is a lie?"

Damien hesitated, avoiding my gaze. "I... I'm not sure."

Not sure, or just deceiving himself?

What a joke.

They both knew her tricks, yet they were once again pushing me toward the blade without a second thought.

The VIP room of the underground black market felt like another world.

The light was dim, and the thick stench of blood and musk filled every corner.

A pile of blood-stained contracts was scattered across a rough iron table.

Selene was chained to a corner wall with heavy, crude restraints, looking utterly pathetic.

Her skin was rubbed raw and red, her makeup was streaked with tears, and her eyes were filled with terror and pleas.

Liam rushed toward her, his voice trembling. "Selene, where are you hurt?!"

"Back off. Who said you mutts could get any closer?"

The black market's leader cut him off with a sneer, snapping his fingers.

Several hulking, muscle-bound Rogues immediately stepped forward, pressing bone blades against Liam's chest.

"Enough talk. Either pay what she owes, or we'll throw this pureblood she-wolf right onto the auction block."

Damien's eyes were bloodshot. He growled through clenched teeth, "What does she owe you?"

"Ten million gold coins. Not one coin less." The leader tapped the parchment with a sharp nail, a cruel smile on his face.

Liam gasped. "That many?"

An amount they couldn't possibly gather in such a short time, even if they emptied the pack's treasury.

In that instant, the last bit of reason in Liam's eyes shattered.

He stared at the damning auction records, then turned to me, his eyes full of malice.

"Elara has Silver Moon blood in her veins too! Why can't she stay in Selene's place?!"

I froze. In the entire room, every bloodthirsty gaze instantly locked onto me.

"What madness are you spouting?" Damien's roar was deafening as his Alpha command exploded.

But Liam just sneered, as if he had stated the most obvious thing in the world.

"If Elara hadn't tried to steal the title of Healer and deliberately humiliated Selene, why would Selene have been provoked into coming to this hellhole to prove herself? Selene is the victim here. It's only right that Elara stays to clean up her mess!"

As soon as he finished, the Rogue leader burst into a fit of wild laughter.

"Interesting. Since they're both Alpha Richard's get, a swap works."

"But this pup's suggestion is too merciful. We'll find a witch who deals in dark magic to rip the wolf spirit from her body. A pureblood's spirit is priceless on the black market.

After that, we'll auction off her empty shell to the highest bidder."

Damien's face was contorted with rage. "I will never agree!"

But a piercing scream from Selene cut through the room.

"Damien, save me! The chains have silver in them, they're burning through my bones... Please, take me away..."

Damien's resolve wavered. His fists were clenched so tight his nails were digging into his palms.

Finally, he turned to look at me.

His eyes were filled with a cautious, almost laughably pleading expression.

"Elara, you wouldn't want to see your sister suffer like this, would you?"

"Just stay here for now. I'll find a way I swear I'll be back for you as fast as I can."

"After all, you are a genius Healer. A few black market Rogues can't hurt you."

An icy chill spread from the soles of my feet to my heart. I looked up at him with a bitter smile. "Damien, are you serious? You're going to leave me here and take her?"

A storm of conflict raged in Damien's eyes.

Guilt, conflict, and a bottomless contradiction warred across his face.

"Elara," he said in a low voice, "I will come back for you. I promise."

Liam's brow was knotted in a tight scowl, his tone full of impatient contempt. "What's the big deal? Just wait here quietly while we gather the gold. Selene managed to endure it. Why can't you?"

Selene had an Alpha willing to die for her. And me? I only had betrayal.

As the menacing Rogues grabbed my shoulders, I clung to Damien's arm with all my strength.

"Damien! Are you really going to stand by and watch my wolf spirit be shattered all over again?!"

His whole body jolted. He shot his hand out, as if to push away the men holding me.

But Selene threw herself into his arms like a madwoman, prying my fingers from his arm.

"Damien, I'm so scared! Those beasts almost tore my throat out! Let's go home now, I can't take another second of this!"

Hearing her cries, the last of the struggle in Damien's eyes vanished.

He turned and wrapped his arms tightly around Selene's trembling body.

"I know this is unfair to you, but nothing can happen to Selene's wolf spirit. She's destined to be the Luna."

I laughed out loud. "So you sacrifice me? You're willing to watch my wolf spirit die?"

"You won't be harmed!" he said quickly, though whether he was trying to placate me or convince himself, I couldn't tell. "The moment you're out, I will let the whole world know you are my mate!"

The heavy iron door boomed shut behind them, and the room fell silent once more.

The so-called auction records on the table were swept to the floor, replaced by two glasses of crimson liquor.

The same menacing Rogues who had just manhandled me immediately dropped to one knee, respectfully baring their necks in submission.

My tragic facade dropped, leaving only cold resolve in my eyes.

"Proceed as planned," I commanded.

I pulled a vial of shimmering liquid from my cloak and drank it in one gulp, severing my life-link to the Silver Moon Pack.

[Elara's wolf spirit has been extinguished.]

Soon, this news would spread throughout the entire Silver Moon Pack.

The man posing as the Rogue leader shed his disguise, a smile playing on his lips as he raised his glass to me.

"I look forward to our partnership, great Healer Queen."

From the moment that iron door closed, I was no longer their sacrificial lamb, but an avenger to reclaim everything that was rightfully mine.