Chapter 2

I was the lowest-ranking Omega in the Black Wolf pack.

Five years ago, while I was out gathering herbs in the Black Forest, I stumbled upon a gravely wounded Kellen.

That day, he had been ambushed by a rival pack. More than 30 werewolves had surrounded him.

Anyone else would have surrendered or been torn apart. But Kellen was no ordinary werewolf. He fought them all off alone, defeating every last one.

When it was over, blood poured from gashes in his shoulder and abdomen. He leaned back against a tree, calmly wiping the blood from his arm with his shirt.

When he looked up, the moonlight happened to fall right across my silhouette.

Later, Kellen told me that was the moment I lit up his world and carved a place in his heart. He said I looked like a firefly in the woods, or a morning star shining in the snow.

In the beginning, I was afraid of him and found every excuse to avoid him.

I'd say things like, "I only like gentle and steady werewolves. You're too fierce."

So, he forced himself to rein in his temper and even sought advice from the older werewolves in the pack about how to control his emotions.

I told him I hated the endless fighting between packs and only wanted a quiet, peaceful life.

So, he disbanded his private guards, sealed up the armory, and focused on running the hunting grounds and farmland with the rest of the Black Wolf pack.

I was self-conscious because I hadn't awakened my wolf by the age of 18. I said I wasn't worthy of him.

So, he took me to the Moon Goddess' statue and swore that he would only ever love me in front of the whole Black Wolf pack.

Everyone said Kellen spoiled me rotten. If anyone so much as looked at me the wrong way, he'd lose his temper and unleash his Alpha energy.

Yet in the end, Kellen betrayed me.

While I was kept in the dark, he took Ella as his lover and even got her pregnant. Since I hadn't awakened my wolf, I couldn't sense his betrayal at all.

It was pathetic, almost laughable.

Now, for Ella's sake, Kellen had Rex take the blame for murder and was forcing me to kneel before the Moon Goddess' statue, confessing in front of the entire pack.

The guards dragged me roughly to Moon Plaza and threw me into the middle of the crowd.

Ella's relatives saw me and immediately surrounded me in fury.

Kellen only frowned slightly, but he said nothing to stop them.

Ella raised her chin and looked at him. "Her brother killed my father. Isn't it normal for my family to vent a little? Alpha Kellen, you're not really going to protect a murderer's sister, are you?"

Kellen stayed silent, and he didn't intervene.

I stood surrounded by Ella's relatives. They tore at my dress, kicked my knees, and yanked my hair, smashing my head against the stone statue. Some even whipped my back with thorned vines.

Pain wracked my whole body, and I screamed Kellen's name. "Kellen, no matter what, I'm still your mate!"

Kellen looked like he was about to intervene, but Ella quickly stepped in, acting like the voice of reason. "That's enough! Stop! Kellen brought her here today so she could apologize for my father's sake."

The crowd gradually backed away, revealing me, who was now covered in bruises and blood.

Ella's eyes were filled with contempt as she pointed at the altar below the Moon Goddess' statue.

"Lilith, I want you to stand before the Moon Goddess' statue and admit that you're the sister of a murderer. Apologize to my father's spirit in front of everyone here."

My fingers clenched the shredded edge of my dress. My voice trembled with pain, but I forced it to stay cold. "Keep dreaming! I will never admit my brother is a murderer!"

Before I could finish, Kellen's tall figure appeared at my side. "Do as she says, or I'll have no choice but to bring your mother here instead."

My fingernails dug into my palm as I looked at him, my gaze burning. "Kellen, why do you have to do this to me?"

He looked down at me and said coldly, "It's just a few words. It's not that hard. Ella wants to hear them, so just say it.

"If you insist on being stubborn, I have my ways of making you listen. You know that better than anyone."

I'd forgotten he was the Alpha of the Black Wolf pack. Even if I didn't want to obey, he had plenty of ways to make me submit. He could use my family to threaten me or the pack's laws to corner me.

I could endure anything if it were just me, but if he ever turned those threats on my mother…

I didn't dare imagine it.

Hopeless, I closed my eyes and wrestled with myself for a long time. In the end, I opened my bleeding hand and bowed my head to him.

"Fine. I'll do it."

While dragging my injured leg, I walked to the altar, faced the Moon Goddess' statue, and choked out every word.

"I am the sister of a murderer. I apologize here to Ella's father, Miles Foster. I'm sorry…"

However, Ella showed no sign of satisfaction.

"Lilith, a true confession requires you to cut your palm. Blood is the only proof of sincerity. Don't you know? And your voice is far too soft."

Humiliation and despair washed over me like an icy river.

I trembled as I bit down hard on my lips, grabbed the stone knife from the altar, and slashed open my palm.

Blood rushed out, and I lifted my bleeding hand, forcing myself to speak loudly, "I am the sister of a murderer. I apologize here to Ella's father, Miles Foster. I'm sorry!"

My blood dripped between my fingers and splattered across the stone slab.

Kellen's gaze darkened almost imperceptibly.

I looked up and locked eyes with Ella. "Is that enough?"

My wound seemed to shock the rest of the pack. Someone reached out to pull Ella away.

Ella curled her lip in disdain. "I suppose that's sincere enough."

I clutched my bleeding hand and backed away from the altar, barely able to stand.

Kellen reached out to steady me, but I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me. Wherever you've touched is filthy."

Rage flashed in Kellen's eyes. He seized my wrist, his gaze sharp and dangerous. "What did you say? Say it again."

I met his glare and repeated myself. My eyes were cold and hollow, and every last trace of affection for him was already gone.

The moment the words left my mouth, Kellen acted like I'd stabbed him, and he released me at once.

This time, I didn't spare him another glance. I pressed my bloody hand to my side and walked out of Moon Plaza without looking back.