"Nothing. Just feeling weak. Must be the lack of proper pack - meat," I lied.

I got up by myself, fighting the urge to gag as he tried to help me to the couch.

"How many times have I told you to take better care of yourself? You didn't have to rush back from your patrol so soon," he said. Notice he didn't say to patrol less, just to come back later. That's when my heart finally shattered.

"Sure," I replied numbly.

After Vincent and Quentin left the pack - house, I found the Alpha's number.

"Carson, I'm signing up for the top - secret pack mission," I said firmly.

"You really want to do this?" Carson's tone was as serious as a pack meeting.

"I've been eyeing this for a while. But you should know, joining this top - secret pack project means cutting off all ties. And there's no telling what'll happen," he warned.

My voice stayed steady. "Carson, I've made up my mind."

"Alright. I'll add your name to the list."

Once the call ended, I looked around the place I'd lived in for ten years. My heart ached as I saw all the matching things we'd had-mugs for sharing pack - brewed drinks, toothbrushes side by side, slippers at the door.

I stuffed them all into a big black trash bag. My eyes landed on a clay moon model on the shelf. Vincent had made it for me on our first hunt together. I reached for it, ready to throw it away, but saw the cracks all over it. Just like our bond, it had dried up and broken.

After packing, I dumped the bag in the dumpster. That's when Quentin called. "Zoe! Our pack experiment worked! The school's throwing a huge party. You have to come!"

"Sounds good." It was the perfect chance to say goodbye to the pack members in the lab.

I quickly freshened up and headed to the school hall. I was late, and the place was packed with wolves chatting and laughing. Right in the middle of the crowd was Vincent, with Violet holding Skye. They looked like the perfect family.

Violet saw me first. She put Skye down, looking nervous. "Zoe, I was just holding Skye because he's so cute. Don't get the wrong idea."

Skye didn't want to be put down. He grabbed onto her skirt, but shot me a look full of dislike. "Why are you here? I told Dad not to invite you!"

Vincent frowned. "I thought you were feeling weak? Why aren't you resting at the pack - house?"

They acted like I was a stranger crashing their family time. Whispers started spreading through the hall.

"What's going on?"

"Aren't Vincent and Violet bonded? Why is she scared of Zoe?"

"But I heard Vincent and Zoe were together in pack academy."

The gossip stung. I turned to Vincent. "You said Violet was just like a sister. Then why is everyone calling her your mate?"

Vincent looked guilty. He leaned in and whispered, "Zoe, people are just spreading rumors. Don't listen to them."

His lie was so bad I didn't even bother arguing. Maybe he was worried I'd cause trouble, because he stuck close to me after that. But being near him made my fur feel prickly.

After trying three times to get away from him, I went to the bathroom. When I came out and headed to the balcony for some air, I ran into Violet with Skye. Her eyes had a sneaky look.

"Zoe, I've been looking for you! Skye should be with you. You're his mom, after all." She tried to hand Skye over.

I didn't trust her and stepped back. But Violet just let go. Skye started falling. I jumped to catch him, but I wasn't fast enough.

Thud!

Skye hit the floor and my wrist took the brunt of it. The sound caught Vincent's attention. My wrist throbbed with pain, but I checked on Skye first.

Then Violet's voice rang out, full of fake shock. "Zoe! I know you're mad at me, but hurting a pup? That's too much!"

Skye was okay thanks to me breaking his fall-just a small scrape on his knee.

But Violet's lies sent Vincent into a frenzy.

He grabbed my injured wrist, his voice full of anger.

"Zoe, how could you be so heartless? Just because Skye isn't your pup and likes Violet more, you'd try to hurt him?"

The pain in my wrist spiked under his grip, and sweat rolled down my forehead. "Vincent, let go! I didn't drop Skye, it was-"

Before I could finish, Skye, safe in Vincent's arms, started fake - crying. "Mommy, I'm sorry! I won't let Violet hold me anymore. Please don't hit me again, it hurts..."

I stared at the pup I'd just saved, shocked. He was young, but his acting was obvious. His forced tears couldn't hide the sneaky look on his face. Vincent seemed to notice it too, his hand pausing for a second, but he still went off on me. "Can't you be more mature? Why drag a pup into this? Apologize to Violet, and we'll forget this."

He was determined to protect her. I laughed bitterly. "Why should I apologize for something I didn't do? There's a security camera right there. Check the footage, and you'll see who really dropped him."

Violet's face turned pale at my words. She tugged Vincent's sleeve, pretending to be kind. "Let it go, Vincent. Skye's fine. It's a celebration-don't make a scene."

Vincent looked guilty when I mentioned the camera. He finally let go of my wrist and turned away with a cold huff. "This time, I'll overlook it. But if it happens again, you'll pay." Then he picked up Skye, grabbed Violet, and walked back to the center of the crowd.

But I wasn't backing down. I grabbed a first - aid kit, bandaged my wrist, and went to the security room. I copied the footage onto a USB drive.

When I got back to the auditorium, our mentor, the head of the project, was on stage, smiling widely. "Our lab's Family Pup Safety System is a huge success, and we owe it all to Violet, who joined us last year! She solved the core AI problem-she's a genius! I'm happy to announce that Violet will lead the Family Pup Safety System... Let's give her a round of applause!"

The room filled with clapping, but I felt sick. I'd spent three years working on that system after River's death, pouring my heart into keeping pups safe. Vincent knew how much work I'd put in. I didn't know how he'd tricked our mentor into putting Violet's name on my research.

But I knew one thing: I wouldn't let the system I built for River become a win for the she - wolf who'd played a part in his death. I pushed through the crowd, jumped onto the stage, and slapped Violet hard in front of everyone.

Smack! The sound of my slap rang through the auditorium, and the excited chatter died instantly. Before I could react, three security wolves tackled me to the ground.

"Zoe, what's wrong with you?"

"This is a school event, not a place for your jealous fit!"

My mentor nodded at the guards, and they started dragging me away. I stared at him, my voice shaking with anger. "This project was mine-for my River! I worked my butt off on it!"

Vincent pushed through the crowd. Just as he opened his mouth, Violet dropped to her knees in front of me.

"Zoe, I know River's death was hard on you, but you can't say my research is yours! Stop trying to take credit for my work!"

Vincent stepped in front of me, blocking the crowd's view, and whispered, "Zoe, knock it off. You still have me. Violet's parents cut her off when she refused that corporate - wolf deal. I can't let her be stuck doing menial tasks in the lab. She's giving you an out. Just admit you overreacted, and I'll smooth things over."

His words made my stomach turn.

I remembered college, when Vincent was accused of cheating on his thesis.

I stood by him, facing the whole school's blame, spending nights finding proof to clear his name. After, he held me, promising he'd never betray me.

Now, he wanted me to take the blame he couldn't face back then.

I turned away, my voice cold. "No way."

My refusal made Vincent's expression turn ugly.

He stood up with a big sigh, looking disappointed. "Zoe, I gave you a chance. Since you won't take it, I have to tell everyone the truth."

I felt a wave of dread.

Vincent pulled Violet up and grabbed the microphone. "Skye is my pup with Violet."

The words spread like wildfire through the crowd, and whispers filled the air.

Vincent kept going, ignoring the shocked faces.

"Four years ago, Zoe left our pup River home alone, and he fell down the stairs. He didn't survive. After that, I broke our bond, and Violet helped me heal. We formed a new bond.

"But I never thought Zoe would use Violet's trust to keep Skye! Violet let Zoe raise him, worried she might hurt him. But as a mother, she couldn't stay away. So she made that safety system to watch over Skye.

"Today, Zoe almost killed Skye by dropping him, and now she's trying to steal Violet's research. I can't cover for her anymore. Zoe, you're not fit to be a mother! River was unlucky to have you as a mom!"

As Vincent spilled his lies, every pair of wolf eyes in the room locked onto me, full of disgust.

"I saw her drop the pup! Vincent asked her to say sorry, but she refused! How's a she - wolf like that good enough to be a mom? Violet was right to be worried!"

"Disgusting! Taking Violet's pup wasn't enough-now she's after her research too!"

"She's probably done this before! Who knows which of her 'accomplishments' are real?"

"Her pup's death was just what she deserved!"

The crowd's harsh words made Vincent smirk. "Zoe, if you get on your knees and beg Violet for forgiveness, we might let this go."

Looking at his fake face, I couldn't believe it took ten years to see who he really was. "Not happening."

My refusal pushed Vincent over the edge. He laughed coldly, then grabbed my head and slammed it into the floor. Held down by the security wolves, I struggled, but there was no use. Vincent kept forcing my head down, and soon blood started streaming.

The blood ran down my face, blurring my vision and making my mind hazy. Then, a shout cut through the chaos. "You stole my thesis! You ruined my future-I'll make you pay!"