He is the unchallenged Alpha of the Shadow pack. He crushes my hand, lets his true love drive me to the brink, and forces me to lick wolfsbane from my wounds in the punishment chamber, turning me into the pack's laughingstock.

I am the Lunar pack's pawn in a political bonding. After enduring three years of humiliation and clutching enemy intelligence, I overturn his throne during the Moon Ceremony, making him watch helplessly as his beloved betrays him and his pack descends into chaos.

Later, he backs down. He abdicates as Alpha and gets down on his knees at the pack's border every day, his voice hoarse from shouting, "I was wrong."

I hold a blood-stained dagger, my gaze icy as I say, "Your regret is deadlier than wolfsbane and worth even less than my life."

Our bonding is a calculated trap, and revenge is the move I am determined to play.

Winning him back no longer matters. This time, I am not turning back. I want nothing but his endless remorse and the chance to break my chains and begin a new life.

At the Shadow pack's Moon Ceremony, the wolfsbane smoke mingled with a metallic stench in the air. The fumes burned my throat until I tasted blood.

My wolf, Nina, thrashed inside me, her pale gray form straining so violently it felt ready to rip through my skin.

By alliance law, I was supposed to stand beside Cyrus Miller as his appointed mate. Instead, two warriors held me down in the corner, their grips crushing my shoulders.

Meanwhile, Cyrus stood rigid. His wolf, Blaze, unleashed an aura so heavy that my knees nearly gave out. Yet, that same aura became a shield for Sophia Grant, who leaned coyly into his arms.

Cyrus raised a hand over her head, letting the wolfsbane-laden droplets fall onto his left shoulder instead. The skin there blanched and blistered instantly, but he didn't even flinch.

"An outsider stays an outsider. Sophia's the one who belongs at Alpha Cyrus' side," one snarled.

The other added with a sneer, "She's just a lowborn from the Lunar pack. She isn't fit to even stand near Alpha Cyrus!"

The insults hit me hard. I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. Blood dripped to the ground, swirling with the purple wolfsbane haze.

I tried to step forward, but the warriors holding me clamped their hands around my waist.

"An appointed mate like you isn't allowed near Alpha Cyrus!" one hissed.

Nina let out a low growl within me. Dizziness washed over me, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to fall. "I'm Cyrus' mate. By alliance law—"

"Law?" One of them spat in my face. "Alpha Cyrus hasn't claimed you as his own, so you're nothing but a mutt!"

Spit slid down my cheek into my mouth, tasting both salty and metallic.

Cyrus finally looked my way. His eyes swept over the grime on my face before he tilted his chin at the warriors restraining me. "Keep her out of Sophia's sight."

At that moment, Nina went utterly still. I watched as Cyrus lowered his gaze to Sophia, his lips curving into a gentle smile.

"If you're tired, just say so. I'll take you to the private chamber to rest," he said softly.

Sophia nodded with a smile. As her fingers brushed across his collarbone, she deliberately shot me a provocative look.

The recording crystal caught every second of it, and the footage spread through the pack within minutes. Even the Lunar pack's envoy sent me a message.

It read, "You're on your own. Our pack won't be able to protect you."

…

As soon as I returned to the cabin, the pile of hay stacked by the door hit me with the sharp, bitter sting of wolfsbane. The moment I drew close, my legs went weak, and heat seared through my organs.

In the next instant, I collapsed to the ground. Nina struggled violently inside me, but not even the faintest shadow of her form could break through.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind me. Cyrus and Sophia walked side by side, their laughter grating on my nerves.

"The pups didn't know any better and put it in the wrong place."

Cyrus' tone was indifferent, as if he were talking about the weather. He didn't even spare me a single glance.

"Just bear with it. They'll clear it tomorrow," he added.

"Bear with it?" I lifted my head, fury blazing in my eyes. "You're trying to poison me!"

Sophia scoffed and kicked at the hay pile. All at once, the stalks scattered, and the scent of wolfsbane intensified. I couldn't help but cough violently.

"You're so weak! It's just a little wolfsbane, and you're already whining? Pathetic!"

Then, she crouched and ground the tip of her silver-lined boot into the back of my hand. "Do yourself a favor—leave!"

"How dare you insult me!"

Nina surged inside me, and my claws shot out in an instant. However, Cyrus' aura crashed down on me like a boulder, pinning me to the ground and rendering me immobile.

"Chloe Sawyer, know your place," he said coldly. "You're here for a political bonding, not to stir up trouble. Sophia is a hero of this pack, so you should respect her."

I stared at him. Suddenly, I burst out laughing, while tears of humiliation streamed down my face.

"A hero? You mean a hero for stealing someone else's mate?" I shot back.

"How dare you!"

Cyrus brought his foot down on the back of my hand. In an instant, my bones shattered with a sickening snap. "Apologize!"

"I did nothing wrong! She's the one who should apologize!" I roared.

He pressed down harder. Nina's anguished howl tore through my mind, and I trembled uncontrollably from the pain.

Cyrus leaned down, his cold breath brushing my ear as he threatened, "You refuse to apologize, huh? Then you'll go hungry and thirsty until you admit your fault."

Beside him, Sophia clapped her hands and laughed. "Alpha Cyrus, don't waste your breath. If she's not dying, she can endure it."

With that, they turned and left. The cabin door slammed shut behind them, and they locked me in.

Wolfsbane spread through my veins, turning my skin a faint purple. As my consciousness blurred, only one thought remained—I'd make Cyrus and Sophia bleed for this.

The moment the cabin door locked, I knew Sophia intended to kill me.

The air reeked of wolfsbane. Before long, my vision darkened, and my body convulsed violently.

"Open the door!" I screamed.

I hammered my fists against the door until my knuckles cracked, but I felt nothing. All I could think about was getting out.

Just then, a pup's voice came from outside. "Sophia said to leave you here to die!"

Die? Even if I had to, I'd drag someone down with me.

A rusty axe lay in the corner of the cabin, left behind after chopping firewood. Without hesitation, I grabbed it and swung at the lock. A loud clang echoed across the entire pack's territory, sending birds scattering from the rooftops.

After a dozen swings, my arms burned with pain. The lock finally snapped. I shoved the door open and bolted.

Under the moonlight, my skin gleamed an eerie violet. Clearly, the wolfsbane had seeped into my bones.

I had to reach the border of the pack's territory and find the Lunar pack's envoy. He was the only one who could save me.

However, I had barely taken a few steps when the pounding of hooves thundered behind me like a death knell.

Sophia rode atop a snow-white wolf. Trailing behind her were four warriors, each wearing a dangerous expression.

"Chloe, do you think you can escape? The Shadow pack is my territory. You won't get far." Sophia's voice was icy.

I spun around as Nina raged within me. "If you kill me, the Lunar pack won't let it go! Our alliance will fall!"

"Kill you?" Sophia chuckled, her eyes cold and sharp. "A werewolf dying from wolfsbane is natural. Who would ever suspect foul play?"

The warriors closed in immediately, forming a tight circle around me.

Without a second thought, I lunged at Sophia. My claws extended, and I aimed for her face. Even if I died trying, I'd rip her face apart.

But wolfsbane had drained my strength. As my legs faltered, a warrior lunged from the side, fangs piercing my arm. In an instant, blood gushed from the wound.

"Damn it!" I roared.

The warrior turned and charged again, only for Sophia's snow-white wolf to clamp its jaws around her neck.

Suddenly, my messaging stone buzzed. It was the Lunar pack's envoy, asking if I was safe.

I had just reached for it when Sophia snatched it away. She glanced at the message before hurling it to the ground, and the messaging stone shattered into dust under the snow-white wolf's paw.

She looked down at me, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Trying to call for help? It's too late. No one can save you now."

The warriors hauled me up and dragged me toward the punishment chamber. My arm still bled, leaving long streaks across the floor.

Nina's anguished howl echoed relentlessly in my mind.

The punishment chamber was dark and damp, and the air reeked of blood and wolfsbane. Iron chains and torture devices hung on the walls.

My wrists and ankles were shackled in icy chains. The chill bit deep into my bones, cutting my skin and drawing blood.

At that moment, Sophia walked in with a small bag of purple wolfsbane powder. Her lips twisted into a cruel grin as she said, "Last chance. Sever the mate bond and leave the Shadow pack."

Having said that, she scattered the powder over my wounds. Pain tore through me, and I screamed, my mouth tasting of blood.

"Never!" I spat blood on her face. "Even if I rot here and turn to ash, I'll never let you have your way!"

Sophia's expression darkened instantly. She waved the warriors away, leaving only herself.

"Fine. I'll torture you slowly and see how long you survive."

The instant her words settled, she drew a silver dagger.

Silver held a natural power over werewolves, and just seeing it sent a shiver through me.

"I heard that silver mixed with wolfsbane can crush a wolf completely. Let's see if it's true."

Sophia slashed my wrist, and blood dripped onto the floor. As soon as she scattered wolfsbane powder over the wound, the blood turned purple-black.

Nina thrashed within me, but she couldn't manifest at all. The only sound she could make was a faint whimper.

Days passed before I knew it. Since I hadn't eaten or drunk anything, the wolfsbane spread even faster.

Just when I thought I was finished, the punishment chamber door was kicked open, and a burst of blinding light flooded in.

Cyrus stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable as he stared at me. I couldn't tell if it was shock or something else.

"You're still alive?"

His voice was devoid of warmth, as though he were talking about something utterly trivial.

I laughed, blood trickling down the corner of my mouth and dripping onto the chains. "Thanks to you, I'm hard to kill. I'm not someone who dies that easily."

He approached me and unfastened the chains. Without them, I collapsed into his arms, my body ice-cold.

"Why didn't you tell me Sophia locked you in here?" Cyrus asked, his tone carrying a faint edge of anger.

"Tell you?" I let out a weak laugh and coughed up more blood. "Would you have saved me? You'd only take her side and watch me die.

"At the Moon Ceremony, you stood there while they humiliated me. When I was poisoned, you handed the only antidote to Sophia. And now you're pretending to care?

"What, are you afraid I'll die and the alliance will crumble? You're worried you won't know how to face the Lunar pack, huh?"

Cyrus froze. Without another word, he bent down, lifted me into his arms, and carried me out.

…

When we reached his cabin, the pack witch arrived quickly with the antidote. The deep green liquid burned going down, but it snapped my mind into clarity at once.

Nina slowly stirred inside me. She let out a faint whimper, as if she were grieving all the pain we had endured.

Cyrus, on the other hand, sat in a chair beside the bed. He watched me in silence for a long time before finally saying, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" I chuckled bitterly, blood and tears mixing as they ran down my face. "Are you sorry I got in Sophia's way? Or are you sorry your alliance is about to fall apart?"

Out of nowhere, he uttered, "Don't sever the mate bond."

There was a hint of pleading in his voice as he added, "I'll protect you. I won't let Sophia hurt you again."

My eyes were filled with scorn as I stared at him. "Protect me? So, your idea of protection was leaving me locked in that chamber, nearly dying from wolfsbane?"

"I know I was wrong. I can make it up to you."

Cyrus leaned closer. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you—supplies, power, anything. As long as you don't sever the mate bond."

"You can't give me what I want," I replied.

Unable to look at him anymore, I closed my eyes. "I want you and Sophia to pay. Blood for blood."

At that moment, the cabin door flew open, and Sophia stormed in. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes glinted with madness.

"Cyrus, why would you bring her here?" she demanded, jabbing a finger at me like I was something filthy. "She's nothing but a lowlife! An outsider mutt like her has no right to be in your cabin!"

"Shut up, Sophia!" Cyrus' voice dropped, edged with dominance. "She's my appointed mate. She has every right to be here."

"Mate?" Sophia shrieked, the sound piercing my ears. "I'm the one who deserves you! We grew up together, and I've done everything for this pack! What makes her worthy?"

I had barely regained any strength, but I threw the covers off and lunged at her. My claws raked across her cheek, leaving three bloody lines.

"You're the real mutt! You're just a shameless mate-stealing bitch! Everything you've achieved came from your elder father!" I yelled.

Sophia charged at me, and we tumbled to the floor. We clawed at each other until our hair and clothes were in complete disarray.

A beat later, Cyrus dragged us apart and pulled me behind him. His icy gaze locked on Sophia. "This is your last warning, Sophia. Lay a hand on Chloe again, and I won't go easy on you."

His aura surged, pressing down on her until she could hardly breathe.

Disbelief was etched across her face as she stared at him. "You're actually protecting her?"

Sophia stumbled back, tears streaking through the blood on her face. "I won't let either of you get away with this. I'll kill her!"

With that, she bolted out.

At last, the cabin fell silent.

Cyrus studied the scratches on my face and reached out to touch me, but I pulled away.

"I won't let her hurt you again," he muttered.

I looked at him, but there wasn't a flicker of emotion in me. I knew he didn't love me. He was only afraid that if I died, the alliance between our packs would fall apart.

Still, that was fine. I could use that fear to stay alive and wait for my chance to strike back.