Chapter 1
Thalyn's POV
Lunar Depletion Syndrome. Seven days left.
That was the doctor's estimate. Yet my Alpha mate, Kairo, was still ordering me to surrender what remained of my life force to save my sister.
For our third anniversary, he'd chosen two gifts: a surgical consent form and papers to dissolve our mate bond.
Once, he'd told me my eyes shone like stars. Now, he was asking me to close them for good.
Everyone called it an older sister's duty. I was too tired to argue. If death was already waiting for me, fighting them would only make the little time I had left harder.
"Sign it, Thalyn."
Kairo threw the surgical consent form onto the table.
I stared at the document, every word like a death sentence. Bone Marrow and Core Blood Transplant Consent Form. Recipient: Querida.
There was a metallic taste in my throat. I held back the cough, because what came up would definitely be blood.
The pack doctor's private words from yesterday still echoed in my ears: Late-stage Lunar Depletion Syndrome, seven days at most.
Ironically, that day happened to be the third anniversary of Kairo and me becoming mates.
"I can't."
"Can't?" Kairo laughed coldly, his amber eyes full of disgust. Those eyes that had once burned only for me.
"Querida is dying in the ICU. All because you pushed her. You're her sister, you're a blood match. You owe her this."
"Ididn't push her." My voice grew weaker. "Kairo, do you really believe I would hurt her?"
"The evidence is right there." He turned away, unwilling to look at me. "The security footage shows you and her arguing, then she collapsed. What more is there to deny?"
I wanted to tell him the truth—that Querida had deliberately fallen to frame me. But I knew he wouldn't believe it.
In his heart, Querida was forever the angel who needed protection, and I was the wicked sister.
"Stop the act, Thalyn." He impatiently pinched the bridge of his nose.
"The pack doctors all say you're perfectly healthy. You healed from broken ribs during training in a week. Don't use excuses to cover up your selfishness."
My rapid healing came at a price. Every time he praised my "strength," my life force was burning away.
"What if I die?" I asked quietly, watching his back. "Kairo, if I don't survive the operation, will you remember that we were ever happy?"
He whipped around, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before anger masked it.
"Are you threatening me? With your life? How can you be so selfish, Thalyn!"
"I loved you for three years," I said. "Was all of it selfishness to you?"
Alpha pressure suddenly exploded, forcing me to my knees.
"Don't talk about love!" he roared. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't make me choose between you and Querida! You know what she means to me!"
Yes, I knew. They were childhood sweethearts. If not for the mate bond, he would never have chosen me. I was just a substitute.
"Listen, Thalyn. If you don't sign, I'll have you exiled from the Briarhold Pack. You know what happens to lone wolves."
The door opened. My father Brenn walked in, holding a photo—a childhood picture of Querida and me.
"Alpha, Querida has fainted again. Heart failure." He placed the photo on the table.
"She was calling for her sister, saying she hopes Thalyn can forgive her for stealing sister's birthday cake when they were little."
I looked at the photo.
The me in the picture held Querida tightly, eyes full of love for my sister.
Back then I had thought we would love each other forever.
"She also said," Father's voice choked up, "if she dies, she hopes Thalyn can love the Alpha in her place. She said sister deserves this love more than she does."
Tears blurred my vision.
Even then, Querida was still acting. She knew those words would completely destroy me.
"Did you hear that?" Kairo turned to me, guilt flickering in his eyes. "She's still pleading for you, still thinking of you. And here you are, being stingy with some blood."
Father wouldn't even meet my eyes. Kairo's attention remained fixed on the thought of losing Querida.
The doctor had given me seven days from the diagnosis. Two had already passed. I could spend what remained fighting people who had already made up their minds, or use what little leverage I had to protect the one thing my mother had left me.
"Fine." I used the last of my strength to stand up. "I'll sign."
As I signed my name, I remembered our first meeting. He had said my eyes sparkled like stars.
Now all those stars had gone out.
Kairo handed me another document. [Mate Dissolution Papers].
"Take the money and leave after the surgery." He avoided my gaze. "I don't want Querida to feel guilty when she wakes up and sees you. She'd blame herself."
I signed my name again, ending our mate bond along with our marriage plans.
"Kairo." I called his name softly, for the last time.
He looked up at me.
"I never regretted loving you."
