On the battlefield, I fought desperately, turning the tide of what should have been a defeat.

On the way back to the pack territory, I encountered Isaac Meyer, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, whom I had loved for years.

I thought he was there to celebrate with me, so I rushed toward him, throwing myself into his arms.

But he struck me with a single blow, knocking me unconscious.

When I woke, rumors had already spread through the pack that I had fled the battle, and my Delta, Ella Sullivan, was credited with leading the victory.

I went to confront him, but he looked down at me with cold indifference.

“You’ve already earned plenty of glory,” he said dismissively. “Ella has been your subordinate for years. Isn’t it fair to let her have this one?”

His expression was so detached, so unfeeling, that I finally understood why he had insisted I lead this battle.

It had all been a setup.

At that moment, I decided I no longer wanted to love him.

---

After Isaac brought me back, I was locked in a rundown cabin on the outskirts of the territory.

My wounds were hastily bandaged, but they quickly festered, turning into painful sores. No matter how much I called out, Kartier Dixon, the Omega I had often helped in the past, avoided me as if I were something vile.

I let out a bitter laugh, trying to pour myself a glass of water, but I accidentally knocked the glass over.

From outside, Kartier’s voice carried in, sharp with annoyance:

“Can’t even keep still when you’re locked up!”

Hearing that, I deliberately smashed a few more glasses, each time demanding that he call Isaac.

By the time I reached the last glass, Kartier finally stormed off, muttering curses under his breath.

When Isaac arrived, he brought Ella with him.

The moment I saw the silver pendant around her neck, my vision blurred with anger.

“Isaac,” I said, my voice trembling, “that pendant was a gift from the Lycan King after my first victory. Why is she wearing it?”

He barely glanced at me, his tone dismissive.

“Why did you call me here?”

I stared at him, my eyes red, and said hoarsely,

“I need a healer for my wounds.”

He let out a cold laugh, circling me slowly before stopping with a mocking smile.

“You’re a deserter. Where would you have gotten these wounds? It’s Ella who needs healing.”

At his words, Ella leaned into him, her voice soft and pleading.

“Isaac, my wounds are so painful. You promised to take me to the healer today…”

Immediately, he pulled her closer, his voice tender.

“As soon as I’m done here, I’ll take you.”

Then he turned back to me, his expression hardening.

“Is there anything else?”

I looked at him, my eyes empty, and let out a humorless laugh.

I had underestimated how deep their bond had become.

“Isaac,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, “you know who won that battle. I suggest you come clean to the Lycan King and clear my name.”

His brow furrowed slightly, but his voice remained cold.

“Ella fought by your side for years. She’s worked hard, and she deserves this. Can’t you let her have this one thing?”

“As a Gamma, don’t you have any sense of fairness?”

My body trembled with rage as I glared at him.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll go to the Lycan King myself?”

He studied me for a moment, then smirked.

“Let’s see if you live long enough to get the chance.”

Beside him, Ella leaned in again, her movements delicate and calculated.

Isaac’s expression softened, and he reached out to stroke her hair affectionately.

Then he glanced at the shattered glasses on the floor, his voice turning cold.

“Since you don’t seem to want water, you can go without it from now on.”

With that, he turned and left, Ella clinging to his arm.

As I watched their retreating figures, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Finally, I collapsed onto the bed, too weak to move, and let the tears fall.

Isaac, I’ll never love you again.

The next day, I tore a piece of scrap paper and wrote a letter, tying it to the raven that Sterling had given me years ago. The bird seemed to sense its purpose immediately, bursting through the window and disappearing into the distance.

Two hours later, a figure in dark clothing slipped through the window. It was Zayn, the Lycan Prince’s trusted Gamma. He bowed deeply, his voice respectful. "The Lycan Prince says you have one last chance, but once you decide, there’s no turning back. Have you thought this through?"

"I have," I replied, my voice steady.

"Very well. I’ll tend to your wounds now," he said, pulling out a special salve and kneeling to apply it to my injuries. I sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

Three years ago, Sterling had asked me to choose between him and Isaac. Back then, I was just a rogue, orphaned and wandering. Isaac had saved me from a rogue attack during one of their patrols in the forest. So, I chose him without hesitation.

At the time, Isaac wasn’t the powerful Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. He was the overlooked son of the former Alpha, constantly undermined by his own family. I stood by him as he clawed his way to the top, helping him eliminate his rivals and claim his birthright. To strengthen his position, I even took up the role of a Gamma, leading battles and earning victories to bring glory to his pack.

Anyone could see how I felt about him. But every time I returned from the battlefield, hoping to get closer to him during the pack’s celebrations, he would subtly distance himself. I thought he was just shy, so I held back. But my feelings were too strong to hide.

At one pack gathering, I finally confessed my feelings, pouring out everything I had kept hidden for years. But he only frowned and said, "I don’t have room for love in my life. Don’t waste your energy on me."

I couldn’t accept that. I couldn’t let all those years of devotion and hope disappear. So, I fought even harder, sticking close to him whenever I could, even learning cheesy pickup lines from the roughest warriors in the pack.

Finally, after a major victory that earned praise from the Lycan King himself, Isaac’s cold gaze softened. I thought he had finally opened his heart to me. But then Ella appeared.

She was a refugee I’d rescued during one of our battles. Feeling sorry for her, I brought her into the pack as a healer. But one day, I caught Isaac teaching her how to fight. Jealous, I confronted him, but he dismissed it. "She’s just a vulnerable wolf. I’m only teaching her self-defense. You’re overthinking it."

But later, he promoted her to Delta, giving her credit for my achievements. Was I still overthinking?

I snapped out of my thoughts as Zayn finished dressing my wounds. He left some food on the table and said before leaving, "The Lycan Prince says he’ll clear your name at the pack’s victory celebration in three days. In the meantime, he’ll send an Omega to bring you meals regularly."

After that night, my wounds began to heal, and with the nourishing food that was regularly delivered, my strength slowly returned. When Ella Sullivan came by, she caught me sharpening my claws.

Her eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly masked it with her usual arrogance.

She walked up to me, her scent carrying the faint, sweet fragrance of rosemary, but her tone was sharp as she sneered, “Raven, what’s the point of sharpening those now? The pack’s already turned against you. No matter how much you prepare, it won’t change anything.”

I glared at her coldly and flexed my claws. “Back off.”

She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “What if I don’t?”

I didn’t waste words. In a flash, I lunged at her. She tried to resist, but her skills were no match for mine. Alpha Isaac had trained her himself, and I knew every move she’d make. Within moments, my claws grazed her cheek, leaving a trail of blood.

She gasped, clutching her face—her prized possession. Her eyes burned with fury as she pointed a trembling finger at me.

“You—how did you recover your strength?” she spat, her voice shaking.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Even at my weakest, I could still take you down. Your so-called skills are a joke.”

“You… you wouldn’t dare,” she stammered, her bravado faltering.

“Just wait,” she hissed, her voice rising. “I’ll tell Alpha Isaac. I’ll make sure he silences you for good!”

With that, she stormed out, leaving me alone in the room.

I sighed, wiping the blood from my claws. It didn’t take long for Isaac to arrive, just as I’d expected. But to my surprise, he wasn’t angry. Instead, he was smiling, holding a bowl of medicine in his hands.

“Raven,” he said softly, his voice warm. “Here, drink this. I warmed it up just for you.”

I glanced at the dark liquid in the bowl and felt a wave of nausea. I turned my head away. “I don’t want it. You can leave.”

“You have to drink it,” he insisted, his tone gentle but firm. “You’re still recovering. I can’t bear to see you suffer.”

When I didn’t respond, he sighed, setting the bowl down beside me. “I know you’re upset with me, Raven. But I had no choice. Ella was causing chaos in the pack. If I didn’t appease her, it would have been a disaster. I did this for you—to stabilize the pack.”

His words sounded so sincere, as if he truly believed his own lies. Once, I would have trusted him without question. But now? I had no reason to believe a word he said.

When I remained silent, he scooped a spoonful of the medicine and held it to my lips. “Come on, just a sip. For me.”

The bitter smell of the liquid filled my nose, and suddenly, I felt a surge of anger. I slapped the spoon out of his hand, the bowl clattering to the floor.

“I said I don’t want it!” I shouted, my voice shaking with rage. “Get out!”

Isaac’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? I went out of my way to bring you this, and you just throw it away?”

He stood abruptly, his voice cold. “Fine. I’ll leave you to your misery.”

As he walked out, his silhouette disappeared into the hallway. I sank back onto the bed, my chest heaving with emotion.

Then, I noticed a small mouse scurry into the room. It sniffed at the spilled medicine, lapping up a few drops. Within seconds, it collapsed, lifeless.

I stared at the scene, my anger dissolving into a bitter ache in my chest.

So that’s why he insisted I drink it. That’s why he went out of his way to “warm” it for me. He wasn’t trying to heal me—he was trying to kill me.

Isaac, I thought, my heart heavy. I underestimated just how ruthless you could be.