The day of the marking ceremony, my claws refused to obey me.

The backlash was brutal, shattering my strength and leaving me vulnerable. My mate, Kameron, rejected me in front of the entire Silver Moon Pack, his voice cold and final. “I, Kameron Palmer, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject Emma Palmer as my mate.”

The words cut deeper than any physical wound. He didn’t stop there. With a single strike, he shattered my bones, casting me out of the pack like I was nothing.

Alone and broken, I was captured by rogues. They tormented me daily, their cruelty unrelenting. Men lined up outside my door, taking turns to break me further. I was nothing but a toy to them, a broken wolf with no pack, no strength, no hope.

In my darkest moment, Kameron appeared. He killed the rogue who had been on top of me, his Alpha aura radiating dominance. He brought me back to the pack, summoning Benjamin, the healer with the rare Blood Moon lineage, to repair my shattered bones.

Grateful, I resolved to repay him. I would venture into the treacherous territory of the Nine Peaks to find a rare herb that could strengthen his pack.

But as I prepared to leave, I overheard him speaking to Benjamin.

“Once her bones are fully healed, we’ll extract her wolf essence and give it to Stephanie. With Emma’s power, Stephanie’s wolf will grow strong enough to become Luna.”

Benjamin’s voice was furious. “At the marking ceremony, you sabotaged her, causing the backlash that ruined Emma’s strength. And now you plan to strip her essence? She’ll never recover.”

Kameron laughed, his voice as cold as the winter wind. “I paid those rogues to torment her, to weaken her body and make her essence more potent. Even if we take it all, she’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.”

The truth hit me like a tidal wave. My suffering, my torment—it was all his doing. The man I thought had saved me had orchestrated my downfall.

I left without a word, my heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

---

The tea in my hand burned my fingers, but I didn’t notice.

Benjamin’s voice was tight with anger. “Are you sure about this? Once her essence is extracted, even I can’t heal her. I’ve already done too much for you, Kameron. Emma came to me today, asking about the Nine Peaks. She wanted to help you, to strengthen the pack for you.”

At the mention of the Nine Peaks, Kameron’s voice turned icy. “Why did you tell her about that place? It’s too dangerous. If something happens to her, who will give Stephanie her essence?”

I clenched my fists, hot tears streaming down my face.

He wasn’t worried about me. He was only worried about losing his precious resource for Stephanie.

Benjamin sighed. “This is madness.”

Kameron was silent for a moment before his voice softened. “I know Emma cares for me. Once Stephanie’s wolf is strong enough, I’ll make it up to her. And besides, even though I orchestrated her suffering, she still sees me as her savior. She’ll forgive me. After all, I’m all she has.”

The teacup in my hand turned cold as I stumbled back to my room, my chest heaving with pain.

I tore up the letter I’d written to Kameron, my hands trembling. From the moment he shattered my bones, I stopped believing anyone could love me.

Until he came.

I thought he was my salvation.

How foolish I’d been.

If I hadn’t overheard their conversation, I would have been trapped in his web forever.

---

Hours later, Kameron arrived.

He glanced at the untouched food on the table, concern flashing in his eyes. “You haven’t eaten. Are you feeling unwell?”

I didn’t respond. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me. “I’ll bring you something better. You need to eat. I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

I looked up at him, his face filled with worry. It seemed so real, so genuine. And that made it even more terrifying.

He could pretend so effortlessly, as if the man who’d plotted my downfall was someone else entirely.

The thought made me gag.

Kameron’s face tightened with panic. “Emma, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

He was about to call for Benjamin when he noticed my packed bags.

“Where are you going? Did Benjamin come by today? You’re not healed yet. You need him to treat you every day.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine, Kameron. I don’t want to continue the treatment.”

He froze, his expression shifting to panic. “Why? Did Benjamin hurt you? I’ll talk to him. Please, don’t be stubborn.”

He took my hand gently, as if I were something precious. But my heart was ice.

Since he’d brought me back, every session with Benjamin left me exhausted, barely able to move. I thought it was the cost of healing.

Now I knew the truth.

He wasn’t healing me. He was preparing my essence for extraction, making it ready for Stephanie.

I was nothing but a tool to him.

The pain in my chest deepened, spreading through my entire body like wildfire. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. My vision blurred, and I stumbled backward, my legs giving out beneath me.

“Emma!” Kameron’s voice was panicked as he caught me, his strong arms wrapping around my trembling frame. He pressed his hand against my chest, his Alpha aura surging as he tried to stabilize me. But my wolf was too weak, too broken. I choked, coughing up blood as his power overwhelmed me.

His face paled, and he immediately pulled back, even though the backlash must have hurt him. His hands were gentle as he checked me for injuries, his touch almost tender. My heart sank.

What a brilliant act.

I used to believe he truly cared. That he was afraid of losing me. But now…

He wasn’t afraid of losing me. He was afraid of losing what I could give him.

I closed my eyes, trying to numb myself to the despair clawing at my heart.

Kameron barked for Benjamin, his voice sharp with urgency. But before Benjamin could arrive, Kameron’s phone buzzed on his belt. He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted.

“Alpha Kameron,” the voice on the other end said, frantic. “Stephanie is in distress. Her wolf is unstable—something’s wrong!”

Kameron didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even look at me. He turned and strode out of the room without a word.

Of course. Stephanie always came first.

True concern and fake affection—there was always a difference.

Once he was gone, I sat in silence for a long time, steadying my breathing and trying to calm the storm raging inside me. When I finally felt strong enough, I followed the faint trail of Kameron’s scent, curiosity and bitterness driving me forward.

I needed to see her. The one who had stolen his heart.

When I arrived at the house, a servant was waiting at the door, her smile too knowing, too smug. She gestured for me to follow her into the living room. I hesitated but stepped inside, my instincts screaming at me to leave.

From behind a screen, I heard voices—soft, intimate, and dripping with affection.

“Stephanie,” Kameron’s voice was warm, almost loving. “You scared me. What happened?”

“I just… I missed you,” Stephanie’s voice was sweet, trembling with emotion. “The others in the pack don’t respect me. They don’t think I deserve to be Luna. And with you so busy, I just… I felt so alone.”

Kameron’s tone softened further. “You don’t have to worry about that. Once we’re mated, no one will dare question your place. The entire Silver Moon Pack will bow to you.”

Stephanie sniffled, her voice breaking. “Thank you, Kameron. You’re so good to me.”

“Of course. I’ll always take care of you.”

Their movements shifted, and I could hear the rustling of clothes, the soft gasps and murmurs that followed. My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat.

Then, abruptly, Kameron pulled away. I could hear the tension in his voice, the struggle to control himself.

Stephanie’s voice was soft, almost teasing. “Kameron, you’re so good to me. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Her voice dropped lower, her words almost a whisper. “Let me show you how much I appreciate you.”

The sound of fabric sliding against skin made my skin crawl. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t watch this.

I turned and fled, my heart pounding in my chest, the pain in my body nothing compared to the ache in my soul.

It was only then that I realized why the servant had been waiting for me.

This wasn’t an accident. It was a show—one Stephanie had orchestrated just for me.

The exhaustion from overexerting my strength left me unconscious.

When I woke again, Kameron was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a folded note resting on the bedside table. It bore no name, but only someone with Kameron's permission could have entered the heavily guarded pack territory. It seemed Stephanie wasn’t as innocent as he believed.

I made my way to the pack’s gathering hall, and there she was—Stephanie, surrounded by members of the Silver Moon Pack. The air was thick with admiration and sycophancy.

“Stephanie’s strength is remarkable,” someone praised. “Even her wolf form is larger and more powerful than most in the pack.”

Stephanie beamed, her arm linked with Kameron’s. He stood beside her, his expression unreadable, yet his posture was protective. The same man who had whispered sweet promises to me just days ago.

Soon, someone noticed my presence. Unlike Stephanie, the reaction to my arrival was venomous.

“Look who’s here,” a Delta sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “The rejected Luna.”

Kameron stiffened at my name, his head snapping toward me. For a moment, his usual composure faltered. He quickly disentangled himself from Stephanie and strode over.

“Emma,” he said, his voice unsteady. “What… what are you doing here? How did you—”

I held up the note, Stephanie’s faint scent still clinging to it. Kameron froze, his gaze darting to Stephanie, who was now watching us with a sly smile. She stepped forward, her movements graceful and deliberate.

“Emma,” she cooed, linking her arm with mine as if we were the closest of friends. “I’ve always admired you. I’m so glad we finally get to meet properly.”

I didn’t respond, but Stephanie continued, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “Thanks to you, I’ve been accepted into the pack’s inner circle. I wanted to invite you to my mark ceremony.”

Before I could speak, the pack members around us erupted in jeers.

“She’s a disgrace!” a warrior shouted. “She doesn’t belong here.”

“Look at her,” another spat. “Her wolf is broken and weak.”

The words cut deep, but I held my ground, my gaze fixed on Kameron. His face was a mask of guilt and conflict, yet he said nothing to defend me. Stephanie’s grip on my arm tightened, her smile never wavering.

“Ignore them, Emma,” she said, her voice sickeningly sweet. “You’re always welcome here. After all, without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

The implication was clear. She had taken everything—my mate, my status, even my pride. And now, she wanted me to witness her triumph.