Damian had called early that morning explaining he was the one who'd carried me to the healer. He'd already paid for the medication and located the last available supply in the territory. With my foot still throbbing, I limped into the hospital and collected the precious drugs.

"This is our final stock in the entire region," the doctor warned. "Without the complete treatment, your tendons will deteriorate and your arm could become permanently disabled. Guard this medication with your life."

I held the precious medication and left his office, my mind spinning with relief that I could save my arm. As I turned the corner, I met with Kian and Vivian, holding hands in the hospital corridor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled, stepping forward. "Didn't I make myself clear when I told you to disappear?"

I stepped back. "You told me not to come home. You never said I couldn't seek medical attention for the injury you caused."

"I caused?" Kian laughed. "You're the one who smashed Vivian's gift and nearly killed her with those glass shards. She still has nightmares about your violent outburst."

"Are you serious right now? Because of your games, my arm might be permanently damaged," I choked out, holding up the medication package. "The tendons are barely holding together."

Kian rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go again with the victim routine. First it was your foot, now suddenly it's your arm? You'll say anything for attention, won't you?"

I couldn't bear to look at their faces anymore. I ran back home, knowing that the man who once promised to protect me was the very one who had caused my injury.

Not even ten minutes later, the front door swung open. Kian walked in with concern.

"Baby, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you earlier," he murmured, reaching for my hands. "You know how protective I get of pack members when they're threatened. It's my Alpha nature."

Kian examined my arm with care. "Where exactly is this terrible injury you keep talking about? There's not even a bruise visible. Are you sure the doctor isn't scamming you for money?"

"The damage is internal!" I protested, my voice rising. "The glass severed tendons that connect to…"

"Violet, Violet, Violet," he interrupted. "If your arm was really injured that badly, you wouldn't be able to move it like you are right now. Stop being so dramatic over a few little cuts."

The door swung open as Vivian walked in uninvited.

"Thank God you're okay!" she exclaimed, rushing toward me with theatrical concern. "I was so worried about you after our encounter at the hospital!"

"It's nothing," I muttered.

Her eyes darted to my open drawer where the medication was visible. "What's that? Why does that medicine look so strange?"

"It's for my arm," I explained carefully. "The tendons were damaged when I fell on the glass."

Vivian's eyebrows shot up. "The only medication I know that looks like that is Moonroot Extract, and it's incredibly expensive. There's no way you could afford it."

She snatched the package from my drawer before I could stop her. "Who would give you money for this? The doctor must be giving you counterfeits."

"Her father was the pack's lead healer for twenty years," Kian added, crossing his arms. "Vivian knows what she's talking about."

"Please give that back," I begged. "It's legitimate, I promise."

With a smile, Vivian crushed the pills in her hand, letting the precious powder scatter across the floor.

"This is for your own good. We're not going to let you poison yourself with fake medications from some quack doctor."

Horror washed over me as I stared at my destroyed lifeline. "You don't understand what you've done! That was the last supply! The doctor said without the complete treatment my arm could…"

"Oh please, enough with the theatrics," Kian scoffed, throwing his hands up. "Next you'll be claiming you need brain surgery from the stress we've caused you."

He hugged me then, and I was too numb to push him away, too devastated by the loss of my only chance at healing.

The next day, he approached me with a smile. "Vivian wants us all to have dinner together. It'll help decrease the tension from yesterday. Consider it our apology."

That evening, Vivian arrived with several covered dishes. "I made all your favorites, Violet," she announced cheerfully. "I had to ask Kian what you like since we never really got the chance to know each other properly."

Kian took a bite and moaned with pleasure. "This is incredible, Viv. You're the best."

I hesitantly took a bite. Almost immediately, my throat began to tighten and my tongue swelled. I recognized the symptoms instantly – I was having an allergic reaction to shellfish that Kian had known about for years.

"I—I can't breathe," I gasped, pushing away from the table. "Shellfish—there's shellfish in this!"

Kian's expression hardened. "Are you serious right now? First you destroy her gift, now you're insulting her cooking?"

"No—I'm allergic—" I wheezed. "My medication—in my purse—"

"This is pathetic," Kian growled. "You're faking an allergic reaction because I complimented her cooking instead of yours?"

"Kian, this isn't—" I tried to explain as my vision began to blur. "I really can't see well, please help me find my medicine."

Vivian stood with her hands on her hips. "I specifically asked Kian about any allergies, and he never mentioned strawberries. Are you calling him a liar?"

I moved forward with my hands outstretched blindly. My fingertips brushed against something, Vivian and I accidentally knocked into her as I held for support.

"She hit me!" Vivian cried out with pain. "My head! She's attacking me again!"

"Kian, please," I begged, now struggling to breathe. "My medicine—I can't see…"

"Stop it!" Kian roared. "Stop trying to make everything about you! Vivian is hurt because of you!"

I heard the scrape of a chair as Kian stood. For a moment, I thought he was coming to help me. Instead, his footsteps moved toward Vivian.

"Let me look at your head, baby," he murmured tenderly. "Did she hurt you badly?"

"Kian," I choked out.

"Common, it's just a minor allergy," he responded dismissively. "You'll be fine in a few minutes."

"Shouldn't you help her anyway?" Vivian asked with false concern. "I'd feel terrible if something happened."

Kian sighed heavily. "She'll be fine. Her body will fight it off. Come on, let's go take care of your head. I'll give you one of my special massages."

They left me there on the floor, gasping for breath. In my desperation, I tried to move blindly toward where I thought my purse might be. My foot caught on the edge of the carpet, sending me falling down the three steps that led from the dining area to the living room.

I landed directly on my injured arm, hearing a crunch as something gave way inside. The pain was immediate and blinding.

Somehow, I dragged myself out the door and toward the hospital, my vision spotty from the allergic reaction and my arm hanging uselessly at my side.

The same doctor who had given me the medication earlier looked at me with horror.

"What happened to the Moonroot Extract?" he asked, examining my now severely damaged arm.

Through tears, I explained what had happened.

His face grew grim as he completed his examination. "I'm sorry, but the damage is too extensive now. Without the medication and with this new injury..." He paused, meeting my eyes with genuine regret. "We'll need to amputate your arm."

I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face as the doctor's words echoed in my mind.

"If you had been able to use the Moonroot Extract immediately after the injury, this could have been prevented," he added. "Or even if you'd come in right after the second injury before the tendons completely ruptured..."

The surgery was scheduled for that afternoon. I didn't even have time to process what was happening before I was being prepped, the anesthesia taking me under as I silently said goodbye to a part of myself.

When I woke hours later, I couldn't look at the bandaged stump, couldn't bring myself to accept this new reality.

My phone buzzed. A message from Damian.

"I heard what happened. I'm so sorry, Violet. I'm flying back today—arranged for the best prosthetic available. Stay strong. This changes nothing between us."

The message brought fresh tears to my eyes. While my mate had abandoned me, this man I barely knew was rushing to my aid.

True to his word, Damian arrived that evening, though I didn't see him. Instead, a specialist entered my hospital room carrying a case.

"Courtesy of Damian," she explained, opening the case to reveal prosthetic arm. "It's the latest model; it connects directly to remaining nerve endings. Most people won't even notice the difference when you're dressed."

The doctor who had performed my amputation seemed impressed as he helped fit the prosthetic. "This is remarkable technology. With some practice, you'll regain nearly full functionality. Just wear long sleeves in public, and no one will know the difference."

I thanked them both, marveling at the prosthetic that now replaced my arm.

I checked my phone again. Not a single message from Kian. My last text informing him I was in the hospital remained unread. He was probably too busy attending to Vivian's imaginary injuries to care that I'd lost my arm.

Back in my room at our shared cabin, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall. My phone rang—Damian again.

"How are you feeling?" His voice was warm with concern.

"I don't know how to feel," I admitted. ""Empty, Angry and Lost."

"I understand," he said softly. "This isn't how things were supposed to go. But Violet, I need you to know that this doesn't change anything for me. My feelings remain the same."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "How can you say that? I'm damaged now. Broken."

"You're perfect," he insisted. "Having one arm or two doesn't change who you are."

I wanted to believe him.

"Before I forget," he added, "could you try on the ceremonial bracelet? I want to make sure it fits properly for when you officially join my pack."

After the call ended, I retrieved the silver bracelet from my drawer. It was beautiful. With some difficulty, I managed to slip it over my prosthetic wrist.

It didn't fit.

Of course. The prosthetic was slightly heavier than my natural wrist had been. Another loss, another reminder of what had been taken from me.

I was still staring at the bracelet when the door burst open. Kian and Vivian walked in, laughing about something. They froze when they saw me sitting there.

"What's that?" Kian demanded, pointing at the moonstone bracelet.

I lifted my chin defiantly. "It's my ceremonial bracelet. I'm getting married soon."

Kian's face changed into a mocking smile. "Are you delusional? We never got married. And that's certainly not the bracelet I gave you."

"That's because it's not from you," I replied calmly. "It's from someone who actually cares whether I live or die."

Vivian stepped forward, her eyes fixed greedily on the silver bracelet. "Where did you get something this expensive? Did you steal it?"

"It was a gift," I said firmly. "From my future mate."

Kian rolled his eyes. "Future mate? Who would want you when everyone knows you've been with me for six years?"

Vivian tugged at the bracelet, trying to remove it from my wrist. "It doesn't even fit you properly. See how it's digging in? That's proof it's not yours."

Before I could stop her, she managed to pull it off. I reached for it, but she stepped back, slipping it onto her own wrist with a triumphant smile. "Look, Kian! Doesn't it look perfect on me?"

I reached for it with my prosthetic hand, but the movements were too slow. "Give that back. It doesn't belong to you."

"It fits me perfectly," Vivian cooed, ignoring my demand. "Much better than it would look on you."

Kian nodded in agreement. "It would be perfect for our wedding."

"Wedding?" I echoed. "What do you mean, your wedding?"

Kian and Vivian exchanged glances before he stepped forward, taking her hand in his.

"I was going to tell you soon," he said casually. "Vivian's parents' dying wish was for us to be together. I've decided to honor that wish."

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You were supposed to be my mate!"

Kian shrugged. "I'll still marry you, Violet. That's what being an Alpha is about—responsibility. I'll marry both of you. I'll just spend more time with Vivian since she needs me more. Her allergic reactions are getting worse, and I need to be there for her."

"Two birds with one stone," Vivian added with a smirk, still admiring my bracelet on her wrist. "He fulfills his duty to you while honoring my parents' wishes."

"This is insane," I whispered. "You can't possibly think…"

"It's already decided," Kian cut me off. "The council approved it this morning. Both weddings will proceed."

They left without another word, taking my bracelet with them. I sat there, stunned, until the sun disappeared and darkness filled the room.

The next morning, I went straight to the Alpha's office. To my surprise, the Chief Elder was already there.

"Ah, Violet," he greeted me. "Perfect timing. I've just finished reviewing your case."

"My case?"

He nodded solemnly. "Your request to leave the pack and transfer to Damian’s protection. The ten days have passed, and we've decided to grant permission."

Relief washed over me like a cool wave. "So I can go? I'm free of Kian?"

"Yes. The paperwork is complete. You are no longer bound to this pack or to Alpha-heir Kian."

I felt lighter than I had in weeks. Freedom was within my grasp.

I had just returned to my apartment to pack when Kian burst through the door. His face was dark with rage as he waved his phone at me.

"I just got your message about the hospital," he growled. "Don't tell me your arm was actually cut off."

"It was," I replied calmly. "The doctor had no choice after the tendons were completely severed."

"You're lying," he snarled, stalking toward me. "You're just trying to make me feel guilty."

Before I could react, he grabbed my arm and pushed up my sleeve, revealing the prosthetic attachment. His face paled as he took in the sight.

"Oh no," he whispered, suddenly ashen. "This can't be real. You can't really have…"

"Lost my arm?" I finished for him. "I did. Because you and Vivian destroyed the medication that could have saved it. Because you left me alone during an allergic reaction you knew I would have. Because you've been choosing her over me at every turn."

For the first time, I saw genuine regret in his eyes. "Violet, I never meant for this to happen. You have to believe me."

"It doesn't matter what you meant," I said coldly. "I'm leaving."

I turned away, but he grabbed my prosthetic arm, pulling me back.

"Don't touch me," I warned. "Leave me alone."

"You can't just leave," he insisted. "You're my mate. Mine!"

"She said leave her alone."

Damian's deep voice came from the doorway. Before Kian could respond, Damian crossed the room and delivered a slap so powerful it sent Kian falling backward into the wall.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kian demanded, holding his reddening cheek.

Damian placed himself between us, his body a shield between me and my former mate. "Taking what's mine."