Chapter 2

Understanding dawned on me at once. Just as I was about to explain, Nyla, who'd been nearby tending to Vakron, chimed in.

"Don't get upset, Varkon. Arinelle Fenrir lost her wolf soul. She must've felt lonely, and with you unconscious all this time, it's only natural she'd seek comfort from another he-wolf."

Her words struck Varkon's rawest nerve.

"Get out!" he roared.

"No! I didn't!" I cried. "How could you take her one-sided story over mine?"

Varkon looked at me, and the fury in his eyes faltered for just a moment.

"Even now, you're still denying it?" Nyla spoke as she pulled a wolf-fang pendant from her pocket.

"I found this hidden in your laundry. It still carries the scent of another he-wolf."

The moment Varkon saw the pendant, his expression iced over. It was a well-known token of courtship among the Rogues.

"You disgust me, Arinelle."

With a wave of his hand, the guards dragged me to a slave's shack. That very night, Varkon severed our mate bond and marked Nyla.

…

Still burning with fever, I was doused with a bucket of ice-cold water by a guard.

"Get up! Every wolf in the pack must attend the blood oath ceremony!"

I dragged my heavy body to the central square with him.

In the crowd of wolves, I spotted Mother and rushed toward her in joy.

At the same time, Nyla stepped out of the castle, draped in the magnificent white robes that were meant for me.

Mother immediately hurried over to greet her warmly. "It's windy out, Nyla. Why aren't you wearing more? You mustn't let the pup in your belly catch a chill."

I stood frozen as Varkon followed behind her and cast me a glance. "After the shame you brought upon your family, the pack was ready to cast your mother out. It was Nyla who went to the elders to plead for her.

"To repay her kindness, she's formally adopted Nyla as her daughter."

Seeing the stricken look on my face, Nyla walked over. "Arinelle, if you're unhappy about it, I'll break things off with her right now."

Mother immediately gripped her hand and snapped at me, "You've made it impossible for us to hold our heads up in the pack, so how dare you stand there acting like the victim?

"I was the one who made the choice. Nyla's kind and sensible, and she's ten times the daughter you are!"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Soon, the blood oath ceremony commenced.

The three of them stood side by side on the stage, while I kneeled below with the commoners.

Wolves in the crowd looked up at the stage and murmured in admiration, "Look at how perfect the Alpha and his Luna are together. They look like a real family!"

The cold wind howled through my chest, and I could feel something in my heart completely shatter.

…

Although Varkon was cured from wolfsbane, his wounds still throbbed late at night.

I used to gather herbs every day, storing them in small sachets and placing them by his pillow so he could sleep in peace. But today, I didn't go into the woods.

That night, Varkon stumbled into my shack, reeking of alcohol. "Where's the sachet? Why hasn't it been delivered to my room?"

I sat on the straw mat and calmly replied, "I ran out of herbs."

He paused, then gave a cold laugh.

"Nyla has prepared aromatherapy for me. It smells far better than your herbs.

"You don't need to bother with these useless attempts to please me again, and stay away from Nyla!"

I softly nodded. "Alright. I'll keep it in mind."

As I watched him leave, I felt strangely calm.

There were two days left. When the full moon rose again, everything would end.

…

Early the next morning, Nyla arrived at my shack with Varkon. She was carrying a bowl of broth.

"Arinelle, I heard you had a fever. I made this mutton broth for you. Have it while it's warm."

Before I could even raise my hand, she suddenly gasped and dropped the bowl.

The scalding broth splashed across the back of her hand, instantly blistering her skin. While clutching her hand, she buried herself in Varkon's chest.

Varkon had concern written all over his face as he wrapped her in his embrace and shoved me away in fury.

"Arinelle! You really can't stand her that much?"