Chapter 3

My back slammed into the corner of the table, and I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

Varkon seemed to soften a little. A flicker of concern crossed his eyes as he reached out to me. "Are you alright? Let me see."

I bit my lip and stepped back.

His hand froze midair, and his expression darkened in turmoil.

When Nyla noticed, her eyes reddened, and she immediately said, "She won't even let you touch her, Varkon. I suppose her heart's still miles away with some other he-wolf, isn't it?"

Her words seemed to strike a nerve, and he had the guards force my head into a nearby barrel of water. As I thrashed, the icy water rushed into my nose and throat.

Through the haze, a memory from years ago surfaced.

Varkon carried me on his back by a stream. He cupped the water in his hands, gently fed it to me, and whispered that he'd guard me for all of eternity.

My violent coughing dragged me back to reality. I couldn't tell if the wetness on my face was the water or my tears.

Varkon had yanked me out of the barrel just before I suffocated and now looked at me coldly. "This is just a warning. If you ever hurt Nyla again, you'll be exiled from the pack!"

Mother arrived shortly after.

Seeing that I was soaked, she delivered a stinging slap across my face. "How dare you hurt Nyla!"

I sat on the floor, clutching my cheek, looking at the two wolves I loved most in the world.

The witch's words echoed in my mind, and I realized then that no one in this world cared if I lived or died.

A flicker of something crossed Varkon's eyes as he glanced at my swollen face, but it was quickly buried under cold indifference.

"The whole pack is going hunting today. You'll come along to carry the prey."

I barely managed a bitter smile.

Once, I was the Luna who fought beside him in battle. He used to present the first kill to me and proudly declare before everyone that I was his most treasured mate.

And now, I was only fit for menial labor.

…

The hunt soon began. The pack's wolves shifted and charged into the forest with fierce howls.

With my injured ankle, I could only follow behind them in my human form, stumbling and falling as I tried to keep up.

At some point, Nyla appeared beside me, one hand resting on her slightly swollen belly.

"Arinelle, you'd better carry plenty of prey today. My pup and I both need the nourishment."

When my eyes fell on the sapphire necklace around her neck, she noticed, and her smile vanished.

"You're a disgrace who ruined the family's reputation, so you certainly don't deserve to wear the heirloom. Mother gave it to me."

Deep down, I laughed bitterly.

Years ago, when her parents died in war, I was the one who saved her and brought her back to the pack, only to end up opening my door to danger.

By noon, midday sun burned fiercely overhead. With a pile of prey strapped to my back, my weak body began to give out.

My vision darkened, and I collapsed into the dirt.

…

When I woke up, I was lying in the infirmary.

The sun was rising through the window, and I'd been unconscious for an entire day.

The witch looked at me and quietly said, "You have one day left. To survive, you must rebuild the mate bond with the Alpha."

I gave a faint, bitter smile, knowing that Vakron now had a mate.

Just then, he strode into the room.

"You bribed the witch to lie and tell me you're dying, Arinelle. You've let me down beyond words."

I sighed and looked at him with quiet self-mockery.

"Varkon, this is the last time I'll ever beg you.

"Tonight's the full moon. Could you please just stay with me for one night?"

He hesitated. For a split second, a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

"Nyla's having complications with the pregnancy today. Once she's settled, I'll come back for you."

But I waited from dawn to dusk, and he never came back.

Instead, Nyla showed up.