He kept repeating to me, "Just wait a little longer."

He shoved a bottle of healing ointment into my hand, then turned and left.

My fingers didn’t close around it. The bottle slipped from my palm and fell to the floor.

The cap came loose, and the powder inside scattered.

A gust of wind blew it away.

As I watched, tears began to fall.

Not long after, several strong women dragged me, struggling, to Nicole’s room.

The moment I entered, the heat from the fireplace made my scars itch.

They threw me to the ground, and I felt my wounds begin to split open.

Malakai grabbed my wrist and yanked me up.

"Madelyn," he said, his voice firm, "Nicole needs your blood to survive."

He pushed up my sleeve, revealing the crisscrossing scars on my wrist.

One old scar caught his attention.

His fingers brushed over it, and for a moment, his eyes softened with something like nostalgia.

It made me hesitate, as if we were still the couple we used to be.

Our pack has strict rules—no one leaves, and no outsiders are allowed.

But I often sneaked out to see the world beyond.

Three years ago, on the day I met Malakai, he was gravely injured.

His eyes were unfocused as he murmured, "Are you an angel?"

Then he passed out.

I endured torture and made a blood oath, leaving this scar behind, just to bring him and Aliyah back to our pack to heal.

During his recovery, he often followed me around, using the excuse of owing me his life.

Later, he saved my father, Alpha Michael, and used that as leverage to propose to me.

He told everyone, "This is my future mate, Madelyn Lynch."

But why?

Why did Nicole accuse me of plotting against her during the succession ceremony?

Why did my fiancé turn around and propose to her, crowning her as the new Luna of the Silver Moon Pack?

My confusion and resentment grew with every passing moment.

Aliyah, standing nearby, glared at me with venom as Malakai hesitated.

"Alpha," she said coldly, "Luna Nicole is waiting. We don’t have time to waste."

Malakai’s hesitation vanished. He took a sharp blade and sliced into my wrist.

Blood sprayed out, splattering his face.

His voice was colder and more cutting than the blade.

"Keep draining her until Nicole wakes up."

The blood dripped steadily into a ceramic bowl.

My heart grew numb.

Just as I was about to faint, Nicole stirred.

Malakai rushed to her side, helping her sit up.

She leaned into him, her voice soft and affectionate.

I slowly began to crawl toward the door when Nicole’s voice rang out.

"Malakai," she said weakly, "I’ve been too frail to try on my wedding dress."

Her eyes flicked to me. "Madelyn’s about my size. Why don’t we have her try it on for me?"

Her words sounded like a suggestion, but her tone left no room for refusal.

The women roughly stripped off my clothes, exposing the ugly scars that marred my body.

As I struggled, the wounds reopened, oozing blood and emitting a foul smell.

I endured the humiliation of their disgusted stares.

Nicole pretended to look horrified. "Madelyn, what happened to you?"

Malakai covered her eyes, murmuring soothing words.

Then he turned to me, his expression full of disdain.

"Put some clothes on," he snapped.

They shoved a red wedding dress over me.

But with my tangled hair and defeated expression, I looked like a mockery of a bride.

Nicole called me over like I was a dog.

"Madelyn, come closer. I can’t see you properly."

She picked up a candlestick and brought it near me.

Then she let go.

The candlestick tipped over, and flames instantly engulfed me.

Malakai’s voice rang out in panic. "Madelyn!"

But Nicole clung to him, sobbing, "Malakai, get me out of here! I’m scared!"

In the flickering light of the fire, I watched them rush out the door.

I thought to myself,

Maybe it’s better if I just die here.

Maybe it’s better this way.

I wasn’t dead.

Malakai had saved me.

After setting Nicole down, he came back for me, pulling me out of the wreckage.

Half-conscious, I faintly heard him talking to Aliyah.

“The plan ends here,” he said. “We’ll find another way to make Nicole the Luna.”

Aliyah was frantic. “We’re so close. Once Nicole becomes Luna, we can bring her back to the Lycan King and secure your position as the next in line. And Madelyn—she’ll still be by your side.”

“This pain is temporary. I’ll make sure Madelyn is safe.”

Malakai didn’t respond, but I felt the soft brush of his lips against my forehead.

“Madelyn, just wait a little longer.”

A single tear slipped down my cheek.

So this was why he hurt me, why he kept telling me to wait.

When I woke, Malakai was gone.

Instead, Nicole stood before me, draped in the ceremonial robes of the Luna, my pack insignia clutched in her hand.

She looked down at me, broken and helpless on the bed, and smiled.

“Sister, the Luna title belongs to me now.”

I closed my eyes, refusing to acknowledge her.

Her voice turned sharp, and she pressed hard against my wounds, making me gasp.

“Why won’t you scream? I hate how calm you always are.”

I opened my eyes, meeting her furious gaze.

“You hate me for this?”

“For more than that!”

Her expression twisted with madness.

“We’re both daughters of the Alpha, yet he always favored you, grooming you to be Luna. I’ll prove to him—to everyone—that I’m the true Luna.”

She calmed herself, her voice dripping with disdain.

“It doesn’t matter. In four days, I’ll be crowned Luna.”

I laughed—softly at first, then louder.

“You really think you can be Luna?”

Nicole grabbed my chin, her nails digging into my skin. “I will!”

I stared into her eyes. “You won’t.”

She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Outside, the packhouse was decorated with banners and lights, the air buzzing with anticipation.

Servants whispered as they passed by, their voices carrying through the halls.

“Nicole hasn’t left her room in three days.”

“Watch your tongue, she’s the Luna now.”

“She’s preparing for the coronation ceremony tomorrow.”

“It’s a shame—Madelyn was the true heir.”

A scream cut through the chatter.

They dragged me out into the snow, where a pool of blood stained the ground.

“Disrespect the Luna, and this is your fate,” they said, their voices cold.

It was a warning—to the servants, and to me.

They hauled me into Nicole’s room, where Alpha Michael sat at the head of the table, Malakai standing beside him. Elders filled the room, their eyes boring into me like I was a traitor.

A woven doll was thrown at my feet.

Alpha Michael’s voice was furious. “Wretch! How dare you curse your sister?”

I picked up the doll, my vision blurring with tears.

It was a charm I’d made for Nicole when we were children—one for every member of the family.

But Alpha Michael didn’t remember.

The pack healer rushed in from the adjoining room.

“The Luna is in critical condition. The Alpha’s blood transfusion failed. She might not survive.”

Alpha Michael’s voice was urgent. “Is there no way to save her?”

“If we use the Alpha’s blood, we can stabilize her.”

Without hesitation, Alpha Michael ordered the ritual to begin.

I was dragged to the altar, my wrists bound.

The first cut severed the tendons in my arm, blood pooling beneath me.

Malakai’s face turned pale. “Stop!”

Alpha Michael glared at him.

Malakai quickly composed himself, taking the knife. “I’ll do it.”

He knelt beside me, his hand covering my eyes as I writhed in pain.

“Bring her some sedative,” he said, his voice trembling.

They forced the liquid down my throat, but I didn’t lose consciousness.

I felt every cut as Malakai severed my other arm’s tendons, rendering me powerless.

When it was over, his hands shook as he cupped my face.

A tear fell onto my lips, bitter and hot.

“Madelyn, tomorrow will be better.”

But Malakai, tomorrow might be better—but we would never be.