Chapter 3

I took a step forward. "That's none of your business."

But she just laughed and threw the design on the floor.

Her hand snaked to her waist, where a small, silver dagger was hidden.

"Perhaps it's time for a new one."

Before I could react, she dragged the dagger across her own wrist, creating a gash deep enough to show bone.

“Are you crazy?!” I rushed her.

But she’d been waiting for it. The moment I was in reach, she whipped the vial of green liquid toward my neck.

The burning drops splashed against my skin, landing squarely on my mate’s mark.

Searing pain, like a hot brand, ripped through my neck. I collapsed, clutching the spot where our bond was being burned away by her poison.

Morrigan's eyes glinted with triumph as she admired her work.

But in the next second, she dropped the dagger, clutched her bleeding wrist, and let out a piercing scream.

"Help! Aveline is trying to kill me! "

Footsteps thundered up the stairs, and Rylan burst into the room.

He saw Morrigan crumpled on the floor, her wrist bleeding profusely.

And me, kneeling before her, the mark on my neck already faded and broken.

"Rylan!" Morrigan scrambled toward him. "Aveline… she attacked me with silver dagger! I just wanted to look at your mate mark, and she just…"

"You're lying!" I struggled to my feet, my voice trembling with pain. "You did this to yourself—"

"Enough," Rylan's voice was ice.

He never even glanced at me. His eyes, blazing with fury, were only for Morrigan and her wound. " You're a healer," he snarled, "and you used silver dagger on one of your own?"

"She's not innocent!" I felt a wave of dizziness. "Rylan, look at my neck! Look at our mate mark! She destroyed it!"

He finally glanced at my ruined mark.

His brow furrowed, but only for a moment.

"We'll deal with the mark later. Right now, Morrigan needs a healer."

"He's protecting you!" Echo explained frantically in my mind. "He doesn't want the Elders to punish you for harming a pack member!"

"Rylan, please, just let me explain—"

"There's nothing to explain." He scooped Morrigan into his arms. She sagged against his chest, shooting me a victorious look over his shoulder. "I saw what happened."

Seeing him cradle another woman so tenderly felt like claws tearing my heart from my chest.

"Just once!" I screamed, my voice raw. "Can't you, for once, just choose to believe me?"

Rylan's steps faltered, but he didn't turn back. He disappeared down the stairs with Morrigan in his arms.

I collapsed onto the floor, my fingers trembling as I traced the broken mark on my neck.

Rylan didn't come home for the next few days.

I stayed in the bedroom, using my own faint lunar energy to slowly, painfully purify the corrupted mark.

Meanwhile, Morrigan sent me taunting pictures every day.

Rylan changing her bandages. Rylan walking with her under the moonlight.

I deleted them all without a second glance.

A few days later, I received an invitation to the Blood Pact Gala.

It was the grandest festival in the wolf alliance, attended by all the important Alphas.

The invitation was addressed only to me.

The night of the gala, I put on my gown, using a high collar to hide the ugly, healing mark.

As I pushed open the doors to the grand hall, I saw them immediately.

Rylan and Morrigan were seated together in the guests of honor section on the main dais.

He was gently draping his Alpha jacket over her shoulders—the jacket bearing the Black Stone pack crest, an honor meant only for his Luna.

"To Alpha Rylan!" an Alpha from another pack called out, raising his glass.

Rylan gave a curt nod.

But when that same Alpha tried to toast Morrigan, Rylan immediately stepped in front of her.

"She doesn't drink," he said, his voice a low warning that left no room for argument. "I'll drink for her."

Watching them, the last ember of hope in my heart died.

"He's protecting her," Echo's voice was faint, almost gone. "But that's because his wolf senses us here. He thinks you don't care about him anymore..."

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the host announced. "And now for the main event of the evening—the Rite of Cherished Bonds!"

All Alphas were to project their most cherished "bond" memory for the Moon Goddess, to pray for her blessing.

One by one, Alphas took the stage, their projections showing beautiful memories with family, mates, or close friends.

Then it was Rylan's turn.

He walked slowly to the stage and closed his eyes. A giant projection materialized in the center of the hall.

I held my breath, waiting.

Maybe it would be the moment we first met. Maybe the moment he marked me as his.

But the image that appeared was of Rylan and Morrigan, standing back-to-back on a battlefield.

She was in a warrior's armor, her eyes burning with fierce determination as they faced down countless enemies together.