Chapter 2

"We're almost home, sister," Cecilia smiled at me. "Don't be nervous. You look beautiful in that dress."

My hands fidgeted restlessly. This white gown was something she'd prepared for me—I'd never worn anything like it before and was terrified of staining it.

"I have something special for you." She held it with both hands, her fingers wrapped in fine gauze. "Moonnight calming tea. I learned the recipe from our healer. It'll calm your nerves."

"I climbed Bone Cliff last night to find the finest herbs. The thorns there are razor-sharp."

Her voice carried a tentative hope. "I know you might resent me... after all, I've been occupying the place that should have been yours all these years. If this tea can help you forgive me, then these wounds were worth it."

My heart softened. "I've never resented you."

"Really?" Her eyes grew misty. "Then would you drink it? That way I'll know you truly accept me."

"Of course I will." I reached for the silver cup. The metal burned against my palm, but I endured it. I drained the entire contents in one gulp.

The taste was strange—sickly sweet with an underlying bitter edge that made my nose wrinkle.

She smiled with satisfaction. "Do you like the flavor?"

"It's delicious." I nodded, not daring to show any displeasure, afraid she might be disappointed.

Within minutes, my body began to change. A tingling numbness spread from my fingertips, and my heartbeat became erratic. Worse still, my wolf blood began to boil, as if something were exploding inside me.

The tea was supposed to bring calm.

But now I felt like I was losing control.

Sharp, cramping pain hit my lower belly. I clamped my thighs together, fighting the urgent pressure in my bladder.

Not here. Not now. Please not here.

"We've reached the Sacred Spring." Felix's voice drifted from the front of the wagon.

Through a gap in the curtains, I glimpsed our pack's holy ground. The ancient stone altar gleamed in the moonlight, dozens of clan members already gathered there, waiting to welcome my return.

"Time to go, sister." Cecilia rose to her feet.

My legs were trembling. The pressure inside me grew more intense with every breath, each one an agony.

The clan leader began reciting ancient blessings.

I tried to catch Cecilia's eye, hoping she might understand my predicament.

But she only squeezed my hand gently. "Don't be nervous. This is a ceremony our family prepared for you. You can't miss it."

She led me to the center of the altar, surrounded by dozens of curious stares. The elder's blessings continued, but I could no longer make out the words.

Then I lost control.

Warm liquid gushed out. The white gown was instantly soaked with dark stains. That nauseating smell spread through the sacred space.

"The pureblooded daughter actually...wet herself."

"How humiliating..."

Whispers erupted from every direction. I stood there frozen, wishing the earth would swallow me whole.

Cecilia quickly removed her cloak and wrapped it around me. "Please, everyone, look away! My sister just got back from the human world—her body is still adjusting!"

"Looks like she really has been contaminated by humans."

"Can't even maintain basic self-control."

"And she's supposed to be a pureblood wolf?"

I stood there, soaked in my own piss and shame, as the pack members' murmurs cut like blades.

Cecilia rubbed my back soothingly. "It's all right, sister. Let me help you change."

From that moment on, I was branded: an uncontrolled freak, a failure unworthy of pureblood status.

This humiliating memory from three years ago still brought tears to my eyes.

"Why the tears? Cecilia got you out of that mess, and you're still pretending to be the victim?" Felix shot to his feet.

"She got hurt helping you," Luna whispered. "She is so considerate..."

"That tea was tampered with," the witch interjected calmly.

Everyone turned toward her.

"Based on the reactions I observed, that wasn't pure moonlight calming tea. The blood agitation, the loss of control—all of it points to one thing: brook mushrooms."

"Are you suggesting Cecilia deliberately poisoned her?" Felix's voice carried a threatening edge.

"Brook mushrooms have powerful diuretic properties. With the right dosage, you can control exactly when the effects kick in."

"Preposterous!" Alpha's roar shook the entire hall. "You're accusing Cecilia of poisoning? She was just a child then!"

"All I saw was a kind girl protecting your dignity."

"Because that's exactly what Cecilia wanted you to see," I said. "None of you ever tried to see it from my perspective."

From beginning to end, no one had asked how I felt.

"Continue," Alpha commanded coldly. "Cecilia then helped her adjust quickly—are you saying all of that was fake too?"

"I want to see the training grounds! That's how Evira nearly killed her!" Felix pressed on.

The witch sighed helplessly and raised the silver blade again. The edge sliced across my already scarred wrist, fresh blood dripping into the divine basin.

After receiving the silver water, Luna forced herself to look at me.

"Does she... do this often?" she asked. "Pretend to help while actually making things worse?"

The Alpha urged Luna to drink.

I closed my eyes and smiled bitterly. "It's her most effective weapon."

"The first training," I said. "The day she accused me of losing control and hurting her."