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.