I stood outside the training grounds, the fury building inside me.

Then, I ran. I threw myself into the pouring rain, letting the cold storm rage with me.

My body was cold, but my heart was colder.

"Elara!"

A familiar voice called from behind me. I didn't turn around.

"Gods, what are you doing in the rain?" Ethan ran up to me, pulling off his jacket to wrap around my shoulders. "You'll get sick!"

I stepped away from him.

"Where were you?"

"I—" his eyes darted away. "I was getting something for you."

"What?"

"Moonpetal," he lied, his face a perfect mask of sincerity. "The rare plant that strengthens our bloodline. I scoured three black markets just to find it for you."

I stared into his wet eyes.

Such a beautiful lie.

Such a perfect actor.

"Moonpetal must be expensive," I said calmly.

"Not at all," he said quickly. "Nothing is too expensive for you. Come on, let's go back. You'll catch a cold."

Just then, a small figure ran out from a side door of the training grounds.

Selena.

She was wearing a delicate silk dress, completely wrong for a storm.

"Watch out!" She slipped on the wet stone and fell forward.

A brooch tumbled from her dress, shattering on the stone steps.

Blue petals scattered everywhere, glowing with a faint silver light.

Moonpetal.

A real Moonpetal brooch.

I looked at Ethan. The color drained from his face.

"What's this?" I knelt and picked up a petal.

"Don't touch it!" Selena scrambled toward me. "It's dangerous!"

She tried to gather the pieces, and a sharp edge sliced her palm.

Blood welled up instantly.

"Selena!" Ethan lunged forward, a wild look in his eyes.

He didn't even glance at me. He ripped his jacket from my shoulders and wrapped it around her.

Then he tore a strip from his own shirt to carefully bandage her hand.

On that strip of cloth was my family crest. I’d spent a month hand-stitching it for him in silver thread. A surprise.

Now it was a bandage for another woman.

"Does it hurt?" he asked her softly.

"A little," Selena whimpered, leaning into his chest.

"I'll take you to the healers."

"No, really, you don't have to—"

"We're going!" he cut her off firmly. Then he looked at me. "Elara, go back to the pack house. I'll come get you later."

Then he swept Selena into his arms and walked away.

Leaving me alone in the downpour.

I stared at the broken Moonpetal on the ground and slowly stood up.

So this was the "Moonpetal" he found for me at three black markets.

So this was why he was gone for three days.

So this was his "nothing is too expensive for you."

This was a sacred relic, meant to guarantee the purity of the next heir's power.

Now, he's used it as a cheap trinket to please his lover, only to see it shattered to pieces.

Rain and tears streamed down my face.

I stood there from dusk until late into the night.

He never came back.

My pack members found me hours later, still standing in the freezing rain.

The next morning, he finally showed up at my door.

"Elara, I'm so sorry," he said, his face a mask of guilt. "Rogues ambushed my patrol last night. I was trapped."

His clothes were clean.

His hair was neat.

But he smelled faintly of jasmine—Selena’s unique Omega scent.

"What ambush?" I stared at him, my face blank.

"Rogues. A sudden attack. I'm so sorry." He tried to hug me, but I moved away. "I promise I'll be with you all day to prepare for the ceremony."

"Don't bother." I turned to my vanity. "I can prepare by myself."

"Elara—"

"Get out," I said to my reflection. "I need to be alone."

He opened his mouth, then closed it and left.

At noon, we went to the pack's commercial center to get the last few things for tomorrow's ceremony.

As soon as we arrived, I heard arguing from above.

I looked up. Of course, it was Selena again.

"Well, look who it is."

A sharp female voice floated down from the rooftop terrace of the commercial center.

I looked up to see three high-born Beta females surrounding a trembling Selena.

"You dare wear the Heart of the Luna? A filthy half-breed like you isn't even worthy to touch something meant only for Silver Wolf blood."

My heart clenched.

The Heart of the Luna was around Selena's neck, sparkling in the sun.

"I... I didn't..." Selena stammered, trying to cover the necklace with her hand.

"Didn't what? Didn't steal it, or didn't seduce our future Alpha?"

"Please, don't do this..."

"Kneel!" one of the women snapped. "Show us submission! Prove you remember your place!"

A crowd started to form.

I felt Ethan tense beside me.

He didn't even care that the necklace was exposed.

His eyes found mine from behind the crowd, pleading. Go help her, Elara, his voice commanded in my head.

He wanted me to save her.

Just like all the other times, he wanted me to solve the problems his little sweetheart created.

While he stayed hidden, playing the innocent bystander.

I slowly walked up the stairs.

"Stop it," I said, stepping between them. My voice was calm.

"Oh, the future Luna has arrived," the lead woman sneered. "Elara, do you know this bitch stole your—"

"I know," I cut her off, my eyes fixed on Selena. "But now is not the time to deal with this."

A flash of panic crossed Selena's eyes before she put on a grateful expression. "Elara, thank you..."

"Don't thank me yet," my voice was quiet, but every word was terrifyingly clear. "I just don't want to see an ugly scene in public."

"What ugly scene?" a man in the crowd shouted. "I saw Ethan carrying this woman into his private villa last night with my own eyes!"

The area fell silent.

Everyone's eyes darted between me and Selena.

Selena's face went pale.

"That must be a misunderstanding..." she explained, her voice shaking.

"A misunderstanding?" the man scoffed. "I saw it clearly! Ethan even opened the car door for her!"

"Enough!" Selena suddenly screamed. "I don't want to hear this!"

She pretended to be overwhelmed and lunged toward me.

"Elara, protect me! They're bullying me!"

Her hand gripped my arm, her nails digging into my skin.

Then, as everyone watched, she suddenly went limp and fell backward.

But her hand was still latched onto my arm, making it look like I had pushed her.

"Ahhh—!"

She tumbled over the edge of the terrace.

Time seemed to stand still.

Everyone was staring at me.

Staring at the evil woman who had "pushed" Selena.

"Murderer! The future Luna just pushed her!"

"Somebody do something!"

"Gods, she's a monster!"

A silver blur exploded from the crowd below. Ethan. His massive wolf form caught Selena in mid-air.

He landed safely on the terrace, shifting back to human in a fluid motion and clutching her to his chest.

"Selena! Selena! Are you okay?"

"I... it hurts so much..." she whispered weakly against his chest, looking like she was at death's door.

Ethan looked up, his eyes locking on me with pure murder.

His voice crashed into my mind, "I told you to help her, not kill her!"

I stood silently on the terrace, watching the drama unfold below.

"It was an accident," I said. My voice was so calm it felt foreign even to me.

"An accident?" The crowd hissed in anger. "We all saw you!"

"That's right! We saw everything!"

"Elara is consumed by jealousy!"

"Our future Luna is a monster!"

I didn't defend myself.

There was no point.

This was all part of their plan.

Ethan carried Selena away without a second glance in my direction.

The crowd dispersed, leaving me alone on the terrace.

Just before they disappeared from view, Selena peeked over Ethan’s shoulder.

She gave me a triumphant, ice-cold smirk.

He chose me, her eyes screamed. You lose.

A snarl ripped through my chest, my wolf reeling from the betrayal.

I was the last of the Silver Wolf bloodline. Mating with me was a gift!

How dare he treat me like this? Humiliate me?

I clenched my fists and shifted, running back to the pack house.

Even if he had saved my life once, I couldn't accept this...

Just as I was planning my escape, Ethan appeared.

"Come with me."

He grabbed my arm roughly, dragging me out of my rooms.

"What are you doing?"

"You're going to apologize," he said, his voice like ice. "You terrified Selena. She's still shaking."

I wrenched my arm free.

"I'm not going."

Ethan spun around, his eyes blazing with fury. "What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not going," I repeated, word by word. "I didn't push her. I have nothing to apologize for."

"Didn't push her?" he sneered. "Everyone saw you!"

"Then why didn't you ask me what happened?"

"I don't need to ask!" he roared. "I saw her fall with my own eyes! If I hadn't caught her, she'd be seriously injured right now!"

"She wouldn't have jumped if you weren't there waiting to catch her!" I screamed back.

The words hung in the air. We both froze.

Ethan's eyes turned dangerous. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." I tried to walk away. "I'm tired. I want to rest."

"Stop!"

His Alpha command hit me from behind.

My body locked up against my will.

"You are going to apologize."

"I refuse."

"Then you leave me no choice."

He pulled something from his pocket and dangled it in front of me.

The Alpha sigil of the Silver Moon pack.

An ancient silver ring, carved with my family's totem.

It was the only thing my parents left me.

"That's mine," I reached for it.

"It's mine now," he closed his fist around it. "You want it back? Go apologize."

I stared at him.

This was the face I had promised to protect forever, spark or no spark.

Now it was just a stranger’s face, etched with lies.

"Fine," I said. "I'll apologize. But you give me back my ring."

"After you apologize."

"Now."

We stared at each other for a long moment.

My father once told me this ring held the honor and dignity of our pack.

Now, I would use it to witness the end of that honor and dignity.

Selena's new room was in the east wing of the manor.

Ethan had it prepared for her overnight.

It was decorated like a princess's chamber.

"Come in," her weak voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open.

She was lounging on the bed in a silk robe, the Heart of the Luna still around her neck.

"Selena, I'm here to apologize."

"Apologize?" Ethan stepped in behind me. "Like that? Standing up?"

I turned to look at him.

"Kneel," he ordered, his voice flat. "Shift. And apologize to her in your wolf form."

The air turned to ice.

Kneeling in wolf form was the ultimate sign of submission.

He actually made me, the last Silver Wolf blessed by the Goddess, kneel to a half-breed Omega.

This is more than personal humiliation.

He spat on the pride and legacy of my entire clan!

"Ethan..." Selena said, pretending to be concerned. "Isn't that a bit much?"

"No, it's perfect," Ethan's eyes were cold, empty of any warmth. "She has to pay for what she did."

I looked at him, the man I would have died for.

"As you wish."

I shifted.

My massive, silver-white wolf form filled the room, my fur shimmering in the dim light.

Slowly, I lowered my proud head.

I, the last of the Silver Wolf bloodline, bowed before an omega half-breed.

"Are you satisfied?" I asked, shifting back to my human form. My voice was terrifyingly calm.

A flicker of something complex crossed Ethan's face, but it was gone in an instant.

Finally, he tossed the ring to me.

I caught it and slid it onto my finger.

"Get out."

I turned to leave.

At the door, I paused.

"Ethan."

"What?"

"Is the ceremony still on for tomorrow?"

His entire body tensed. His eyes wouldn't meet mine.

"Of course. You're my fated mate. I just can't stand to see you hurting the weak..."

I looked back at him. A cold smile touched my lips.

"Okay. I'll be waiting."