Chapter 2

The moment the cabin door locked, I knew Sophia intended to kill me.

The air reeked of wolfsbane. Before long, my vision darkened, and my body convulsed violently.

"Open the door!" I screamed.

I hammered my fists against the door until my knuckles cracked, but I felt nothing. All I could think about was getting out.

Just then, a pup's voice came from outside. "Sophia said to leave you here to die!"

Die? Even if I had to, I'd drag someone down with me.

A rusty axe lay in the corner of the cabin, left behind after chopping firewood. Without hesitation, I grabbed it and swung at the lock. A loud clang echoed across the entire pack's territory, sending birds scattering from the rooftops.

After a dozen swings, my arms burned with pain. The lock finally snapped. I shoved the door open and bolted.

Under the moonlight, my skin gleamed an eerie violet. Clearly, the wolfsbane had seeped into my bones.

I had to reach the border of the pack's territory and find the Lunar pack's envoy. He was the only one who could save me.

However, I had barely taken a few steps when the pounding of hooves thundered behind me like a death knell.

Sophia rode atop a snow-white wolf. Trailing behind her were four warriors, each wearing a dangerous expression.

"Chloe, do you think you can escape? The Shadow pack is my territory. You won't get far." Sophia's voice was icy.

I spun around as Nina raged within me. "If you kill me, the Lunar pack won't let it go! Our alliance will fall!"

"Kill you?" Sophia chuckled, her eyes cold and sharp. "A werewolf dying from wolfsbane is natural. Who would ever suspect foul play?"

The warriors closed in immediately, forming a tight circle around me.

Without a second thought, I lunged at Sophia. My claws extended, and I aimed for her face. Even if I died trying, I'd rip her face apart.

But wolfsbane had drained my strength. As my legs faltered, a warrior lunged from the side, fangs piercing my arm. In an instant, blood gushed from the wound.

"Damn it!" I roared.

The warrior turned and charged again, only for Sophia's snow-white wolf to clamp its jaws around her neck.

Suddenly, my messaging stone buzzed. It was the Lunar pack's envoy, asking if I was safe.

I had just reached for it when Sophia snatched it away. She glanced at the message before hurling it to the ground, and the messaging stone shattered into dust under the snow-white wolf's paw.

She looked down at me, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Trying to call for help? It's too late. No one can save you now."

The warriors hauled me up and dragged me toward the punishment chamber. My arm still bled, leaving long streaks across the floor.

Nina's anguished howl echoed relentlessly in my mind.

The punishment chamber was dark and damp, and the air reeked of blood and wolfsbane. Iron chains and torture devices hung on the walls.

My wrists and ankles were shackled in icy chains. The chill bit deep into my bones, cutting my skin and drawing blood.

At that moment, Sophia walked in with a small bag of purple wolfsbane powder. Her lips twisted into a cruel grin as she said, "Last chance. Sever the mate bond and leave the Shadow pack."

Having said that, she scattered the powder over my wounds. Pain tore through me, and I screamed, my mouth tasting of blood.

"Never!" I spat blood on her face. "Even if I rot here and turn to ash, I'll never let you have your way!"

Sophia's expression darkened instantly. She waved the warriors away, leaving only herself.

"Fine. I'll torture you slowly and see how long you survive."

The instant her words settled, she drew a silver dagger.

Silver held a natural power over werewolves, and just seeing it sent a shiver through me.

"I heard that silver mixed with wolfsbane can crush a wolf completely. Let's see if it's true."

Sophia slashed my wrist, and blood dripped onto the floor. As soon as she scattered wolfsbane powder over the wound, the blood turned purple-black.

Nina thrashed within me, but she couldn't manifest at all. The only sound she could make was a faint whimper.