I'm bedridden after being administered a large amount of wolfsbane. However, my Alpha mate gives his first love the antidote I found.

I plead with him to give me some of it so I can stay alive for another few days. That's enough for me to find another antidote.

My Alpha doesn't seem to hear me. He roars, "I can't believe you're pretending to be ill when Julia's about to die! Keep your jealousy to yourself before you thoroughly let me down!"

I'm locked inside my room to reflect on my mistakes under my Alpha's orders.

In the end, the wolfsbane acts up and kills me. When my Alpha learns of this, he digs my grave like a madman.

I was strapped to an iron bed in the public infirmary, staring at the ceiling, waiting to die.

This was a medical facility at the intersection of several territories with people constantly coming and going. Yet, no one stopped for me.

I knew that my Alpha was by Julia Fletcher's bedside in the room next door, gently comforting her.

My insides burned as if they were on fire. The wolfsbane was ravaging my body, and my wolf had severed our connection long ago. Her suffering was even worse than mine.

Yet, the only antidote that could save me had been sent next door.

My breathing grew weaker, and my body became colder.

Eventually, I lost even the strength to move my eyes, and my heart finally stopped beating.

The last thing I heard was the cheer from the next room. It meant Julia had recovered from the wolfsbane at the cost of my life.

I was unwilling to accept it. A mysterious force tore me from my body, turning me into a ghost—unseen by all, able to pass through walls.

I leaned through to the next room and saw my Alpha, Royce Blackwell, tightly embracing his first love, Julia. He kissed her forehead tenderly.

Even though my heart had stopped, I still felt the crushing agony of betrayal.

He was my mate, my Alpha, and my fated soulmate. I wanted to ask him if he was ever worried about me even for just a second while I lay in the infirmary, teetering between life and death.

The answer was obvious.

Royce had mobilized nearly all our people to search for the antidote for Julia. In the end, I was the one who found it.

To keep me from interfering with Julia's treatment, he had his men seize the herbs from me and lock me away, refusing to hear anything I said.

He believed I had faked my poisoning just to withhold Julia's cure and watch her die.

I kept pleading, trying to get the healers to vouch for me, but Royce stripped them of their right to practice medicine. He said, "I don't want a liar sitting in a healer's position."

An Alpha had absolute authority. I was powerless against his will.

When the wolfsbane took hold, I writhed in pain while my wolf trembled in my chest. I had failed her.

All I could do was beg through our mind link, "Royce, I won't oppose you anymore. Whatever you say is right. Please just give me a little of the antidote. I can find more. If you don't, I'll die!"

As Luna, I had never humbled myself like this before. I thought that if I fully submitted and accepted the sins he forced upon me, he would show mercy for the five years I had been his Luna.

But I was wrong. He let out a cold laugh and said in a cruel voice as if possessed by a demon, "Enough with the lies. You conspired with the healer to harm Julia. As long as I live, you won't get away with it!

"You're only saying this to escape punishment. Even if you found the herb that saved Julia, it doesn't erase your crimes. You've done too much to Julia in the past. Once she recovers, I'll make sure you pay for everything.

"Don't think death will let you escape. You'll only die once Julia forgives you—if she ever does!"

My lips parted helplessly. Anyone facing false accusations would instinctively deny them, but I had no strength left. I let out a faint breath, unable to utter a single word.

The wolfsbane was attacking my nervous system. Soon, it would destroy me completely.

Royce didn't care about my silence. His rage consumed him as he spat, "You disgust me!"

No matter how many times I tried to reach him through our link, he never responded again.

The room was deathly silent. I heard my bones cracking as the wolfsbane took its toll. And just like that, my love for Royce shattered.

He looked at me now with the same disdain one would give a stray dog.

I still remembered how he had gently pulled me into his arms, kissed my ear, and nuzzled my neck when he first marked me.

He had once told me I was the most beautiful she-wolf in the world and that he wanted me to be his Luna forever. He had also mentioned that I was a gift from the Moon Goddess, the most important person in his life, and his only unconditional love.

But in front of Julia, those vows crumbled like dust.

I watched as Royce and Julia parted their lips. He brushed her hair back and tilted his head to listen to her heartbeat.

"Thanks to the blessing of the Moon Goddess that you've survived, my love."

His bloodshot eyes revealed his exhaustion. He hadn't slept for days as he was worried about Julia.

I had it worse. I was already dead.

Julia bit her lip and spoke softly, "Yes… I can't believe I made it. I'm so sorry for making you worry."

Then, she hesitated before asking, "What about Diana? Is she still mad at me? I need to apologize to her in person."

She lifted her blanket, and even this small movement left her breathless. I thought she was exaggerating her weakness.

But Royce didn't question it. He simply tucked her back in and smiled indulgently. "This isn't your fault. You're too kind, and that's why she bullied you. Don't worry. I'll make sure she comes to apologize to you."

A nearby Omega watched them with admiration. "You two are so in love. If I ever end up in an infirmary, I hope my mate will stay by my side, too."

She had clearly misunderstood their relationship.

Julia blushed and lowered her head.

Royce hesitated as if wanting to explain, but in the end, he said nothing.

The Omega was lost in her own thoughts and sighed instead of smiling. "The patient in the next room had it much worse. She was all alone. Even in death, no one cared about her."

Royce's expression turned sympathetic.

I wasn't sure what he was thinking. Did he realize she was talking about me?

But once again, my hopes were crushed.

He simply sighed. "What a tragic loss."

Of course.

I scoffed at myself.

He had been so consumed by Julia that he hadn't even realized I was dying just a few steps away. So, this was my so-called fated Alpha mate.

He quickly moved on and left to pick up Julia's medicine. He walked past the infirmary where my body lay.

The healer had already covered my body, leaving only one arm exposed—rigid and outstretched from my painful struggle.

I held my breath.

That arm bore the scar from when I had once shielded Royce from a wild beast. Would he recognize it?

He glanced inside and shook his head with a look of distant pity before walking right past my body.

Royce returned with the medicine just in time to see Jason Smith, in his wolf form, charging toward him.

Jason nearly knocked him over. He stumbled back and cursed.

But Jason couldn't hear anything anymore. He stood in front of my corpse, his eyes brimming with tears. He reached out to touch my hand but flinched back from the icy coldness.

He finally broke down and cried as he spoke to me, "Diana, why are you lying here all alone? Why didn't you become my Luna back then? I would never have let you suffer like this!"

Tears were probably contagious. I'd been surprisingly calm since my death, but seeing Jason cry made my own eyes burn.

Jason was the Alpha of the Stormclaw Pack. If he got here this fast, he must have taken care of a lot of trouble along the way.

Too bad he was still too late.

I was an orphan, taken in by the former Alpha of Stormclaw Pack, Jason's father, George Smith, who made me Jason's sister in name.

Jason hadn't liked me at first. He used to call me Mud Princess and Stray Dog. We fought all the time. But later, he started to care about me. Every time someone mocked me, he was the first to bare his fangs and claws at them.

I left Stormclaw Pack because of Royce.

George had taken me in to use me as a bargaining chip, a gift to win favor with other packs.

I knew Jason loved me, but I also knew George would never allow us to be together. Leaving him was the better choice.

Jason understood this, too, which explained why he covered for me when I escaped Stormclaw Pack.

"Run! Run faster!" The wind carried his voice to my ears. That day, I thought I was running toward freedom.

But in the end, I still had to rely on Jason to collect my corpse.

He carried my body outside and happened to bump into Royce.

Julia had whined that the medicine was too bitter and wanted some honey, and Royce was about to head to a distant pack to trade for it.

He hadn't even bothered when I had only asked him to bring me something to eat on his way back.

"Move. Get out of my way!" Jason's voice was sharp and hostile. Seeing Royce's face now made his blood boil with hatred—there was no way he'd show even a shred of politeness.

Royce glanced at the corpse in his arms with an unreadable expression. Instead of getting angry, he simply stepped aside.

But just as they were about to pass each other, Royce's eyes landed on my arm.

"Wait a minute!" He frowned and asked suspiciously, "Who is that in your arms?"

I watched Jason anxiously, unsure how he would answer.

On one hand, I didn't want him to say my name. Disappearing from Royce's world just like this would be fine. But on the other hand, I wanted him to tell him. I wanted to see how Royce would react to my death.

Jason gave Royce a cold glance and said, "This is my Luna."

Both Royce and I froze.

Royce knew Jason loved me. He had even enjoyed flaunting our relationship in front of Jason until Jason eventually stopped coming to see me.

Royce asked, "Why didn't I know you had a Luna? Who is she? Since when were you together?"

Jason had no desire to waste words on him. "What does it have to do with you?"

Royce's temper flared. He sneered. "And here I thought you loved Diana so deeply. Turns out you've already moved on. So much for your so-called love."

Jason took a deep breath, his gaze turning icy. "Oh, please. Is there any Alpha in this world who loves his Luna more than you do?"

With that, he turned and left.

I knew Jason had said that for me. Royce knew the truth of his own feelings, after all.

Floating in the air, I watched the shame and rage twist Royce's face. For the first time, he looked a little ugly to me.

I placed a hand over my chest. It felt like I didn't love him quite as much anymore.

After a month of recovery in the infirmary, it was Royce who came to pick Julia up.

Julia's friends and family crowded the room, their eyes widening with excitement the moment Royce arrived.

"It's the Alpha of Ashenfang Pack!"

"He must really care about Julia if he's here this early."

"When will Julia become his Luna? I can't wait!"

Julia blushed while telling them to stop talking. Then she glanced at Royce and whispered, "Royce already has a Luna. Don't say that, or she'll get mad at me again."

A werewolf scoffed. "Julia, you're too kind. If it weren't for her getting in the way, you would've been our Luna long ago. Royce loves you the most. She's the intruder.

"She's been targeting you for so long. Why hasn't she given up yet? She's petty and unfit to be Luna!"

Listening to them, I felt nothing but absurdity.

It was Royce who first found me, knowing we were mates. He requested to mark me and pleaded with me to be his Luna.

If I made a mistake, it was loving Royce.

And yet, the person who should have set the record straight—Royce—said nothing. He let them slander me while he busied himself packing Julia's things, trying to appear reliable.

But he had never handled anything for me. After the marking ceremony, he always claimed to love me, but his actions never showed it.

I told myself he would protect me when I was in danger. Now, I realized he wouldn't.

He was the danger.

"Alpha Royce, Julia has refused to mark with anyone all these years. You know who she's been waiting for, don't you?"

The werewolf smirked at Royce, practically begging to witness them mark each other right then and there.

Royce didn't answer. But I knew he agreed deep down. He just wouldn't say it out loud.

He took Julia back to his private quarters.

At some point, he had acquired multiple residences throughout the territory—places I had never stepped foot in. Every time we argued, he would slam the door and go there.

Yet, Julia walked in so naturally as if she belonged there.

He always bent his rules for her. She was his true love, and I should have seen it sooner.

While he was fixing the bed, Julia walked over and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She pressed her cheek against his back, clinging to him like a lover in the heat of passion.

Did they even remember that I was his Luna?

He hesitated, shifting forward slightly as if to avoid her.

But Julia tightened her arms and spoke softly in a voice laced with delicate sorrow, "Royce, I know you've always held it against me that I left back then, but I had no choice. You know my mother was sick. The old Alpha threatened me with her life, and I was forced to obey.

"Even then, I refused to mark with him. My heart has always belonged to you. Please forgive me."

With the perfect touch of tragedy, she painted herself as the most unfortunate werewolf alive—kind and brave, yet plagued by suffering.

Was that why he could never let her go?

Royce chuckled and answered calmly, "Oh? I thought you left because the neighboring Alpha was stronger than me. You never even thought to ask for my help—you just left."

Julia stiffened. But she was clever. She knew if she shifted the topic to me, he wouldn't press her any further, for his impatience with me was already obvious to everyone.

Her voice trembled just enough as she whispered, "I see. So that's what you think of me. You hate me, so you let Diana bully me.

"Even when she tried to secretly contact rogue wolves to assault me—even when she hid the medicine while I was sick, hoping I'd die—you didn't care, did you?

"If this is your way of punishing me, then congratulations! It's working. My heart hurts so much I can hardly breathe."

Lies. She told countless lies.

I spent all my time handling Luna's duties in the pack and had no way or funds to contact rogue wolves. And I didn't hand over the medicine for one simple reason—I needed the cure to survive, too. I wasn't selfless enough to die just to save her.

None of her claims had any proof. A simple investigation would have cleared my name. But Royce believed every word.

And he certainly didn't ignore Julia. The moment he heard about my so-called crimes, he immediately called for a public trial. He declared me venomous, wicked, and guilty of unforgivable sins before the entire pack consisting of Betas and Omegas.

Then, he went even further to contact the rogue wolves. He watched from high above as they dragged me into the dark, empty forest. He watched as they tore at me and humiliated me. He looked down at my undressed, battered wolf form and sneered.

He pointed at my scars and said, "These are proof of your treachery. If you ever harm Julia again, I'll make sure everyone knows what you've done."

I lay there on the ground, screaming in desperation, insisting I had never done any of it.

"Alpha Royce, why are you doing this to me?"

He ignored my words as if they were air. He didn't believe me and only wanted to punish me.

He never told Julia what he had done to me, which was why she could still play the victim.

I didn't understand his intentions. Was he trying to be some silent guardian, standing behind Julia like a noble protector?

But what I understood even less was, if he never loved me, then why did he mark me?