The silver blade sliced across my throat, and I collapsed in a spreading pool of blood.

I called Ethan ninety-nine times. My brother ignored every single call, but on the ninety-ninth try, he finally picked up.

“What now?” Irritation dripped from every word. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble already? I’m in the middle of planning Lyra’s coming-of-age ceremony, and if you don’t show up, I’ll make you regret it.”

“Ethan, please—help me—” My voice came out broken and ragged.

He hung up.

I tried reaching through our blood bond, desperate for him to feel something—anything at all—but he’d severed that connection two years ago. My phone battery was dying, and I watched the last bar flicker before the screen went black.

I stopped struggling. The silver blade pierced my heart, and my wolf let out one final whimper before she died with me.

Days later, the patrol found a body.

The face was destroyed beyond recognition, torn apart and mangled. But Ethan still recognized the scar on the wrist—the one he’d sworn he would never forget.By then, it was too late.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Maia's POV

I was dead, but my soul hadn't moved on.

I drifted through the world of the living and watched them discover my body in that dungeon—or what was left of it. The sight made me want to scream, but ghosts couldn't make a sound.

Silver Wood territory erupted in panic.

My brother, Alpha Ethan Wells, decided to handle the murder investigation himself.

My chest tightened. He was going to be pissed that I'd caused trouble again.

I floated beside my mangled corpse in the inner chamber of the Moon Shrine. Silver blades had carved me into pieces, and I couldn't look away.

Ethan stood over the body, his jaw locked tight.

"What do we know about the victim?" His voice came out strained.

Beta Elder Hugo Stark rubbed his temples. "A young female. Dead for over forty-eight hours. The body's too damaged—we can't pick up her scent. We'll need at least two days to identify her."

He paused, his face gray. "There's more. She was tortured before she died. The killer used silver blades to sever her limbs while she was still alive and stopped her from shifting to escape. We also found traces of dark ritual magic. Her wolf spirit was forcibly ripped apart."

Everyone in the room gasped.

"Fucking monster," someone snarled.

"That poor girl must have suffered so much..."

Ethan's fist slammed down on the table. "I'm going to find whoever did this and make them pay."

Lucian squeezed his shoulder. "You've been working yourself to the bone. But you might have to miss Maia's birthday this time."

Lucian was Ethan's mentor and my father Julian's best friend. After our parents, Julian and Aurora, died, he'd looked after us. He was the one who'd trained Ethan.

The moment my name left his lips, Ethan's expression went cold.

"Don't mention her in front of me." His voice turned icy. "Bad luck. Why would I go to her ceremony? I need to prepare for Lyra's coming-of-age celebration."

After Julian and Aurora died, Ethan hated me. He blamed me for our parents' deaths.

He kicked me out and refused to call me his sister anymore. Then he found Lyra during a border patrol. When he learned she was a rogue, he brought her home and claimed her as family.

And me? I became an orphan.

Even before I died, he was still furious with me. He was angry I'd delayed his sister's ceremony, angry I'd made his sister feel wronged. If he knew the body lying in that room was mine, he'd probably turn around and walk away.

No one wanted me dead more than Ethan.

So there you go, Ethan. I'm dead now. Are you happy?

Lucian's fist slammed into Ethan's chest. "How can you even say that? Maia cared about you more than anyone. She knew you didn't want to see her, knew you hated her, but she still brought you meals every single day during your busiest hours. Three years! Rain or shine, she'd show up at your council hall doors right on time."

His voice grew louder. "And you? You threw those lunch boxes outside your door every single time! One winter, she waited in the snow for two hours just to make sure you'd eaten at least one bite. Don't you dare ignore everything she did for you!"

Ethan's face twitched, but the cold expression slammed back into place. "She was delusional. I never asked her to bring me anything."

"She made your favorite dishes!" Lucian's voice came out as a growl. "Roasted venison with blueberry sauce—your mother's recipe! She burned her fingers learning how to make it!"

Ethan let out a cold snort. "I don't care. Drop it, Lucian. We've got more important things to deal with. Any missing persons reports come in recently?"

Beta James shook his head. "No, Alpha. We haven't received any reports in the past few days."

"Tch." Ethan's voice dripped with irritation. "The victim's been missing for days and nobody in their family even noticed? Completely irresponsible."

I floated in the corner, wanting to cry but unable to produce a single tear.

When prayer time rolled around, Ethan headed toward the Moon Shrine with a few Betas for evening devotions.

Lucian suddenly stopped walking. "Maia hasn't brought you dinner in days. Where is she?"

Ethan's mouth twisted into a smile. "She got tired of playing her little game, that's all. This is who she really is."

Lucian's expression darkened. "That's impossible. For years, she's brought you dinner at the council hall every single night before moonrise. Something must have happened to her. Mind-link her right now!"

Ethan looked annoyed. "Lucian, stop defending her. This is just another one of her tricks. She called me a few days ago with some nonsense, and I told her to come to Lyra's party. She didn't show up. Obviously she's throwing a tantrum."

Lucian opened his mouth to argue, but Ethan's phone lit up.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression immediately softened. Even his voice turned gentle. "Hello? Lyra?"

Maia's POV

Ethan's voice softened instantly, becoming gentle and soft.

He used to look at me as if I were his entire world, but now his whole world revolved around his fake sister.

"Lyra, be good. I'll come home as soon as I'm done here." His tone was tender. "Yeah, I'll take care of myself."

He kept coaxing her in that soft voice, like she was some fragile child who needed constant reassurance.

"Ethan, the dress you sent arrived at the house today, and Maia saw it," Lyra said. "She got really angry and threw it out the front door."

Ethan's voice turned cold. "Don't worry about it. I'll have someone send you a new one right away. I'll deal with Maia, and I won't let her steal your spotlight." The venom in his words made my blood run cold. "If she dares refuse, I'll make her regret it."

My heart clenched in my chest.

"Lyrie, don't be sad. Just stay home and wait for me, okay? There are rogues prowling around, so you need to tell me before you go anywhere."

He murmured sweet reassurances, indulging her with every word.

I smiled bitterly.

"Oh, Ethan? I've got a surprise for you on Sunday night. Remember to come home early." Lyra's voice floated from the phone.

Warning bells exploded in my mind.

"Don't go, Ethan!" I grabbed his arm and shook it desperately.

But he couldn't feel me, and he couldn't hear me.

"Don't worry, I'll wrap up this case quickly and come straight home to you." Ethan smiled.

After the call ended, Lucian was still frowning. "Wait, I just called Maia and she didn't pick up. You try calling her. You're her brother, so she'll answer for you."

Ethan waved him off. "I'm busy. I don't have time to deal with her shit."

Lucian sighed but didn't push it.

Ethan turned and walked into the inner chamber of the Moon Shrine, and he stood before what remained of my body once again.

He took a deep breath and stayed there for a long time. Finally, he pulled on his gloves and started his examination.

Then his hand closed around my wrist.

My soul trembled.

Would he recognize it?

There was a distinctive old scar on the inside of my wrist—I'd gotten it when I was eight years old, saving his life.

That afternoon, we'd been gathering mushrooms in the forest. Suddenly, a rogue wolf burst from the bushes and lunged straight at Ethan.

I saw the killing intent in that wolf's eyes.

I didn't think. I just threw myself forward.

"Don't touch my brother!"

The wolf's claws tore through my wrist, and blood sprayed out. The pain nearly knocked me unconscious, but I clung to Ethan and used my body to shield him.

"Maia! Maia!" Ethan's voice was raw. "Don't die! Please don't die!"

He sobbed until his voice went hoarse, and his tears fell one by one onto my face.

"I won't let you die! I promise!"

Our father arrived just in time and drove the rogue wolf away.

After the wound healed, it left behind a white scar shaped like a lightning bolt.

Every time Ethan saw that scar, his eyes would turn red. He'd trace it gently with his fingers. "Maia, this is proof that you love me. This is proof that you risked your life to save mine. I'll never forget it as long as I live. Never."

Back then, he'd said he'd never forget.

Right then, Grandma Claire's call came through.

"Ethan, is Maia with you? She's not picking up her phone and she won't answer my messages."

Claire was the only family member who still cared about me after Julian and Aurora died.

Just thinking about her made my soul ache.

"Grandma, just leave her alone." Ethan's voice turned sharp and irritated. "She's getting more selfish every day, and she doesn't respect anyone anymore."

"Ethan! Maia brings you lunch every single day so you can focus on work, and that Lyra girl is still an outsider no matter what—"

"Grandma!" He cut her off, his face twisting with disgust. "Don't compare her to Lyra. Maia's manipulative and she never tells the truth. Now she's playing games again, hiding somewhere for attention. I don't have time for this. Look, I'm busy and I need to go."

He hung up.

Maybe hearing my name pissed him off so much that he only gave my wrist a quick, careless glance.

Then he yanked off his gloves in frustration.

Just like that, Ethan missed his last chance to recognize me.

Maia's POV

A commotion erupted outside, and the door burst open.

A teenage boy stumbled in, maybe fifteen years old. His eyes were red and swollen, and tears streaked down his face.

"Please, you have to help me find my sister! She's missing, please..." His voice cracked.

Ethan's expression shifted. "Hey, it's okay. Take your time and tell me what happened."

"My sister's twenty-one. She went into the forest two days ago to gather herbs, and she never came back. I can't reach her." The boy's voice shattered. "She's the only family I have left. You have to find her. Please."

He broke down completely.

Something twisted tight in my chest.

His sister had been missing for two days, and he was falling apart.

I'd been gone for four days, and my brother thought I was playing games and pulling tricks.

Ethan and Lucian exchanged a glance.

The boy sobbed, and Ethan pressed his lips together. His voice came out low and rough. "We just found an unidentified female body. Her wolf soul was completely stripped away."

The boy's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed. "No, no, that can't be..."

Someone helped him up to take his statement, but then his phone lit up.

"Hey, where are you? I got lost in the forest two days ago and just made it out today!"

"Thank the Moon Goddess!" The boy wiped away his tears, bowed his head in thanks, and ran off.

Ethan and I both exhaled in relief.

A few days passed, and Lucian walked up to Ethan with his brows drawn together. "Ethan, Maia's been missing for days now. Something's wrong."

Ethan shoved him away. "I don't have time to deal with her. I need to take Lyra to the Coming of Age ceremony."

"Ethan!" Lucian's voice rose sharply. "Maia could be in real danger!"

"Whatever." Ethan's laugh came out cold. "I don't care what happens to her. She better not come back—saves me the headache."

"How the hell did I raise such a bastard!" Lucian roared, but he couldn't force his Alpha to do anything.

Ethan had just stepped outside when his phone rang.

"Are you Maya's brother? I’m her friend. I haven't been able to reach Maya for days now. Can you—"

"How should I know where she is!" Ethan snarled, cutting them off. "Stop bothering me! I don't give a damn if she's dead or alive!"

Then he hung up.

He jabbed at the screen, firing off a message: [Had enough of your tantrum yet? If you don't show up at Lyra's coming-of-age ceremony, I'll kill you.]

My tears hit the floor at his words.

Just then, Lyra walked into the council hall carrying a lunch box, and Ethan's face softened immediately. He smiled and walked over to meet her. "Lyra, what are you doing here?"

She gave him a sweet smile. "I was worried about you, Ethan. I brought you something to eat."

Ethan ruffled her hair. "You're so good to me. Not like that ungrateful wolf. She only causes trouble."

Tears welled up in Lyra's eyes.

Ethan's expression shifted immediately. "What's wrong? Did someone hurt you?"

She bit her lip and looked pitiful. "I ran into Maia on the way here. I tried to say hello, but she pushed me and threw this at me. She said she never wants anything to do with you again."

Ethan saw the scraped skin on Lyra's knee, and his face darkened. "Damn ungrateful wolf!" He pulled out his phone.

Lucian suddenly grabbed what she was holding. "You're saying Maia just threw this at you? This is a Moon Tear crystal!"

Lyra flinched and hid behind Ethan.

"Lucian, I already told you Maia's fine." Ethan's voice was ice-cold. "Now she's pushing Lyra too? I'm mind-linking her right now."

"That's impossible." Lucien's expression turned serious. "Aurora left that pendant for Maia. Maya would never give it to anyone."

Ethan put it on speaker. "Listen. She'll answer any second now."

The phone started ringing.

My heart clenched tight.

I hadn't expected the phone to actually connect.

"Maia!" Ethan's voice exploded with rage. "Get your ass to the Moon Shrine inner chamber right now! You pushed Lyra? Do you have a death wish?"

Silence. A few seconds passed.

"Alpha Ethan, we found this phone around the dungeon area."

"What did you say?" Ethan's voice cut through the phone. "Why do you have Maia's phone?"

"Alpha Ethan, we just found it in the grass near the dungeons." The voice on the other end was heavy. "You need to come see this yourself."