Chapter 4

In that moment, I felt my heartbeat stop for a second.

Alpha Gabriel’s cold voice came right after:

“To wear the crown, you must bear the weight. As an Alpha, forming alliances through marriage is something I can’t avoid.”

“If I have no choice, I’ll accept it.”

“You’re from Silverfang Pack. You’re beautiful, calm, and reasonable. Compared to the others, you’re the most suitable option.”

“Did you hear that? He didn’t choose you—he chose the easier deal.”

Alice’s voice echoed sharply inside me.

“This isn’t fate. This is strategy. You’re just a piece on his board.”

Every word from him crushed what little hope I had left.

I didn’t make a sound. Tears fell silently, soaking into the ground.

He turned to Linda. His expression softened.

“I thought I would spend my life trapped by duty. But you... you’re a gift from the Moon Goddess.”

“Thank you, Linda.”

Those words hurt more than the silver poison.

I couldn’t tell which pain was worse—my body or my heart.

“Sybella, he’s already left us behind.”

Alice’s voice was low, angry.

“You endured silver poisoning for him. And he gives his gratitude to someone else.”

Everything we shared growing up meant nothing now.

I thought our bond was destiny.

I thought the feelings came from something real between our wolves.

It was all wrong.

I waited for him for twenty-two years. In the end, he said, “She’s the better fit.”

I trained for this since I was a child—Luna duties, strategy, healing, ancient rites—all for him.

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit my stomach. The silver poison surged again.

Blood burst out. The burning spread through my limbs.

An Omega nearby screamed, “There’s silver in her blood! Get the healer!”

Gabriel finally realized something was wrong. He turned and yelled:

“What are you waiting for? Go check on her!”

“If anything happens to Sybella, you’re all going to the pack prison!”

My vision blurred.

Someone picked me up. The scent was familiar.

For a second, I thought nothing had changed.

I thought we were back at the Moonlight Ceremony, when we were eighteen. When Alice whispered, “He’s ours.”

But when I opened my eyes, I was in a small, broken-down room.

“You were Luna. Now he throws you into a storage room.”

Alice’s voice trembled.

“He doesn’t care about your bloodline. Not your injuries. Not your worth. This is betrayal.”

Gabriel stood by the bed, frowning.

“You were this hurt and didn’t tell me?”

“Sybella, when are you going to fix your attitude? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I ignored him. My eyes swept across the room. Smaller than the Omegas’ quarters.

My old bedroom? Taken by Linda, of course.

I gave a cold smile.

“My attitude is none of your concern.”

“You should worry about Linda.”

I sat up and tore the bandage off my stomach. The burn from the silver was still visible.

“And one more thing—this is my territory.”

“I’m the recognized Luna of this pack. Get your mistress out.”

His face darkened. His eyes turned gold. Rage boiled over.

He shouted:

“Enough!”

“Can’t you be more understanding? I let Linda move in so you could look after each other—not to fight like this!”

“You’re embarrassing the whole pack!”

“Whatever. She has seven months left. You need to calm down before then.”

“When the baby is born, I don’t want him to have a crazy mother.”

He stormed out without looking back.

I watched him leave, emotionless.

I pulled back the blanket. My knee had been treated. The silver was still there, but for now, under control.

“You’re still shaken by his words?”

Alice asked quietly.

I laughed dryly.

He caused these wounds. And now pretends to care?

That night, the Omegas brought dinner.

The table was full of seafood. I remembered clearly—Gabriel was severely allergic to shellfish.

He used to hide his asthma to keep his Alpha image.

I stood on the second-floor balcony and looked down at him eating coldly. I shook my head.

Love or no love. The difference was clear.

Back in my old room, I saw my luggage thrown into the hallway.

Just like I’d been thrown out.

Fine. It saved me the trouble of packing.

I opened my communicator, booked transportation, and decided to leave this place.

Just as I turned around, I heard footsteps downstairs—familiar ones…