Chapter 2

Every day, Alpha Kael would arrive with a bowl of steaming “spirit herb soup” for me. It was a routine, like a ritual he performed without fail. The smell of the soup was warm and comforting, almost as if it could make all the pain disappear.

“How are you feeling today?” he would ask, his voice soft, with that ever-present concern in his eyes. “Drink this, you’ll feel better.”

I didn’t respond immediately, just lowered my gaze at the bowl.

The warmth from the soup seemed to melt the chill in the air, but I knew better.

His kindness was a mask, one that concealed his true intentions.

This wasn’t out of care for me—this was part of his plan. Every day he brought me this soup, pretending to be the loving Alpha, but I knew I was just a piece in his game.

I pretended to take a sip, but I secretly poured the soup into the flowerpot on the side.

Almost immediately, the flowers in the pot withered.

The vibrant petals turned dull, losing their life, turning into dark, brittle ashes.

I watched it happen, a cold smile creeping onto my lips. Alpha Kael, however, didn’t notice anything; he was too absorbed in his “caring” act.

“How does it taste?” he asked, still smiling as if nothing had happened. “Feeling better?”

“Mm, much better.” I replied quietly, avoiding his gaze.

He nodded in approval, seemingly satisfied, but there was something cold in my chest. I had to keep pretending, at least for now. His touch, his voice, his warm gestures—everything he did to me felt like a trap I had fallen into, and I knew I needed to break free.

The next few days passed in the same fashion, with me pretending to be weak and in need of his “care.” But deep inside, my mind was sharp, alert. I couldn’t afford to trust him anymore.

Today, I decided to follow him. He couldn’t suspect me, but I needed to know the truth. I slipped quietly behind him as he walked towards the Moon Goddess’s shrine, a sacred place where power was both gained and lost. My heart raced, not just from the anxiety, but from the desire to find out what he was truly up to.

I carefully kept my distance as Alpha Kael entered the shrine. I hid behind a pillar, straining to hear their conversation.

“He will awaken her bloodline again, and once it does, we can fully activate the ‘Shadow King’s Mark.’” Beta Sable’s voice was low, but clear enough for me to hear. The coldness in her words made my blood run cold.

“I know,” Alpha Kael’s voice followed, low and filled with satisfaction. “We need her power, Beta Sable. She doesn’t even know what she’s capable of.”

I felt as though the ground beneath me had disappeared. My bloodline. They had been planning this all along. They weren’t interested in me, not as a person. They needed my blood, my power, to further their ambitions.

“The plan is perfect,” Beta Sable continued, “Once her power is fully awakened, we’ll have everything.”

I didn’t wait to hear more. My legs moved on their own, carrying me away from the shrine.

My head was spinning, my heart pounding in my chest. I had been so blind.

Alpha Kael, the man I had loved, had used me for my blood, my strength. He had never cared for me as he had said. He had only wanted power.

Later that evening, I wandered to the Moonlight Spring, needing to clear my head. The moonlight bathed the water in soft light, but it couldn’t calm the storm inside me.

As I approached the spring, I froze. Alpha Kael and Omega Lyra were there, standing close to each other, speaking in low voices. Omega Lyra’s hand rested on Alpha Kael’s shoulder, and he leaned down, whispering something in her ear. The intimacy between them was undeniable.

I stepped closer, unable to resist the need to hear their conversation.

“I’m doing this to gain her trust,” Alpha Kael murmured, “Using my body to earn her favor, for you.”

I felt a cold chill creep over me, my body going numb. I had seen it all—his betrayal, his lies. I had once thought him capable of love, but now it was clear. Everything he did was for his own gain, for power.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but I couldn’t hide the hurt from my voice when I spoke. “So this is how it is? You’re using me and lying to me.”

Alpha Kael turned to me, his expression momentarily faltering before returning to his usual calm. “Omega Selene,” he said softly, “You’re misunderstanding me. I’m doing this for us, for our future.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “No, Alpha Kael. You’re not doing this for me. You’ve never cared for me. You just wanted to use me.”

He looked taken aback, clearly not expecting this from me. His usual charming smile faltered, but he quickly recovered, walking towards me. “Omega Selene, please listen. You know I would never hurt you.”

I stepped back, feeling a growing anger inside me. “No, Alpha Kael. I won’t listen to you anymore. I’ve seen through your lies.”

For a moment, there was silence between us. His face softened, and for a brief second, I almost thought he might truly care. But the moment passed, and his expression hardened once again.

“Omega Selene, please. You don’t understand.” His voice was soft, but it held a threat beneath the surface.

“I understand enough,” I whispered, my hands clenched into fists.

I turned away from him, leaving him standing there, still trying to reach me. The hurt was too much, but I knew it was time to make a change. He wasn’t the person I thought he was, and I wouldn’t let him manipulate me any longer.

As I walked back to my room, I could feel the blood in my veins boiling with anger.

I stepped into the quiet of my room, and without thinking, I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.

With the sharp pain, I quickly drew a symbol in my palm with the blood.