Upon hearing what I said, everyone’s expressions shifted, the air in the room growing heavy with unspoken judgment. Leonard Warren, ever the dutiful Delta of the Lycan Prince’s guard, waved his hand dismissively. "Since Gracelynn isn’t feeling her best, let’s wrap it up early and skip dinner."

Alpha Russell Simmons, his towering frame exuding an air of dominance, frowned and grabbed my arm, his grip firm. "You’re not some delicate flower, so don’t act like one. Go cook dinner."

He shoved me toward the kitchen, closing the door behind me with a deliberate thud. The sound echoed in my ears, a reminder of my place in his world.

Outside, laughter and cheerful chatter resumed, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"Alpha Russell, you’ve got her well-trained," someone teased.

"Absolutely," he boasted, his voice carrying a smug edge. "Her family practically begged my mother to let her mate with me. She wouldn’t dare go against me."

Sunny Parker, the Gamma from the Silver Fang Pack, chimed in softly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Talking like that isn’t nice. You sound like you’re pushing her around. I think I’ll go lend Gracelynn a hand in the kitchen."

Alpha Russell quickly stopped her, his tone softening as it always did when he spoke to her. "No need. You’ve got such gentle hands, not suited for kitchen work. What if you get hurt? You wouldn’t be able to look after me."

"Oh, you’re impossible," she replied playfully, her laughter light and melodic.

I could hear the sound of Alpha Russell giving her a loud peck on the cheek, the intimacy of it twisting something deep inside me.

"Sunny, remember? On my eighteenth birthday, you kept me company all night with those hands. No one else has been close like that."

The memory hit me like a punch, and I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, a quiet ache of betrayal. That day, I had spent all my savings on a gift for him, and he kissed my forehead for the first time. I had thought it was the beginning of something real.

I never imagined that on the same night, he had done something so vile with Sunny Parker. Yet he always insisted they were just childhood friends, nothing more. Only someone as naive as me would have believed him.

Once dinner was ready—ravioli, pulled pork, and spiced honey cake—I tried to slip away to my room, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere. But Sunny Parker, her movements graceful and deliberate, grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who claimed to have "gentle hands."

"Gracelynn," she said, her voice sweet but laced with something darker, "don’t run off. We’re all here to enjoy the evening. You wouldn’t want to ruin it for everyone, would you?"

I forced a smile, my wolf stirring uneasily as I nodded. "Of course not, Sunny."

But inside, the cracks were spreading, and I knew it was only a matter of time before everything shattered.

The dining hall of the Blue Moon Pack lodge was bustling with activity, the scent of roasted meats and herbs filling the air. I had spent hours preparing the feast, hoping to impress Russell and the Warren brothers. As the future Luna, I wanted to prove myself worthy of my position, even if Russell’s attention had been increasingly distant lately.

“Let’s raise a glass in Gracelynn’s honor,” Jayden Warren suggested, holding up a glass of whiskey. His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it that made me uneasy.

Russell, sitting at the head of the table, smirked and joined in. “Come on, Gracelynn. Down it! Drinking with the Warren brothers is a rare opportunity—consider yourself lucky.”

I stared at him, my stomach twisting. “Have you forgotten that I’m allergic to alcohol?” My voice was firm, but I could feel the weight of the room’s attention pressing down on me.

He waved a dismissive hand, his Alpha aura flaring subtly, a reminder of his authority. “Oh, don’t be such a wimp. Just drink it. How often do you hear about someone dying from an allergy? You can just take some medicine after.”

Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I set the glass on the table with a sharp clink. “I’m leaving,” I said, standing to go.

Russell moved faster than I expected, blocking my path with a predatory ease. “What’s this supposed to mean?” His voice was low, a warning growl creeping into it.

Sunny, sitting beside him, clutched his arm, her eyes wide with faux concern. “Let it go, Alpha. Gracelynn has been cold toward me since I showed up. Maybe I should just stop coming, so I don’t ruin the mood.”

The Warren brothers exchanged glances, their expressions uneasy. Leonard, the most level-headed of them, spoke up. “It’s just one drink, no big deal. If she doesn’t want to drink, she shouldn’t have to.”

But Russell wasn’t having it. His patience, thin as it was, snapped. He grabbed the glass and, with his other hand, roughly forced the whiskey down my throat. The liquid burned, and I choked, stumbling back as I gasped for air.

Leonard was on his feet instantly, reaching out to steady me. “Gracelynn, are you okay?”

Russell, unfazed, picked up another glass and shoved it toward my mouth. “Are you trying to humiliate me in front of everyone? Drink this right now!” His Alpha tone was sharp, commanding, and it sent a shiver of fear through me.

Tears streamed down my face as I glared at him, defiance burning in my chest. “No!”

Sunny let out a theatrical gasp, her hand flying to her chest as she clung to Russell. “Alpha, the way Gracelynn looked at me was terrifying. I’ll have nightmares for sure. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up the drink.”

Russell’s expression softened as he turned to her, his voice soothing. “Don’t worry, Sunny. I’ll stay with you tonight. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s her who should apologize.”

He grabbed my hair, his grip punishing, and tried to force my head down. “Say sorry to Sunny!”

I resisted, my body trembling with anger and pain. “Russell, I’m your mate! How can you do this to me?”

He slapped me across the face, the sound echoing in the hall. “If you want to be my Luna, you’d better learn to obey, got it?”

A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and the alcohol reaction kicked in; my entire body started itching like crazy. Writhing in discomfort, I curled up on the ground, groaning.

Leonard rushed over, his voice urgent. “She looks really sick. We need to get her to the hospital.”

My consciousness began to fade. Before everything went black, I heard Russell snort, “If you want to take her, go ahead. She’s just putting on an act, and you actually believe her?”

And then everything went dark.