After drinking the potion, I drove back to the Ashford pack estate.

My stepmother Vivian was standing in the foyer. The moment she saw me, her expression curdled.

"Out all night. You're exactly like your shameless mother." Her arms were folded, her voice razor-edged.

I set down my luggage, looked her in the face, and slapped her.

The sound rang clean and sharp through the foyer.

Vivian screamed and clutched her cheek, staring at me with a mix of fury and fear.

"A rogue she-wolf who destroyed someone else's mate bond." I said it quietly. "What gives you the right to lecture me about anything?"

Footsteps thundered from upstairs. Marcus came rushing down to steady Vivian. "You come home and start trouble the second you walk in? You've disrupted this whole pack!"

I watched him rush to that woman's side and felt nothing but contempt. "Give me my share of the pack's assets, and I'll leave this territory for good. You'll never see me again."

Marcus's expression immediately shifted to concern. "What are you talking about? This is always going to be your home."

I laughed like I'd heard a joke. "Home? The day my mother died, I stopped having one."

Marcus went rigid.

"Name your price," I said. "I want what's mine."

He was quiet for a long time, then let out a theatrical sigh. "What are you so upset about this time? Fine. We'll give you half a million to clear your head, take a little trip."

"You only became Alpha because my grandfather founded this pack. My mother gave up her right of inheritance to put you on that throne." I smiled without warmth.

Marcus's face changed. He glared at me like I'd touched something forbidden.

"She used her life to bring you home from that border battle and let you keep your Alpha title. And now you're here living off her pack, keeping your mistress and your bastard daughter in her father's estate — and you're going to pay off her daughter with half a million dollars?" I kept going, not giving him the chance to interrupt.

Marcus's face had gone red. "How much do you want?!" he shouted.

I pulled documents from my bag and set them on the coffee table. "One hundred million dollars and half the territorial rights."

Marcus shot to his feet. "You're insane! You'd gut the entire pack! Absolutely not!"

I walked to the window and looked out at the night.

"My mother told me, before she died, that there's a forbidden ward buried beneath this territory." My voice stayed light. "If it's activated, the entire pack is destroyed."

The sharp intake of breath behind me was satisfying.

"She said she set it up to protect against rogue invasions." I turned to look at them. "Funny how it turned out to be useful for something else entirely."

Marcus's fingers began to tremble.

"So. Either you sign." I said it calmly. "Or we all die here tonight."

"You wouldn't dare—" Vivian shrieked.

"I'm leaving this territory anyway. What exactly do I have to lose?"

Marcus stared into my eyes for a long moment, his hands shaking, then picked up the pen and signed.

I lifted the document and checked the signature.

"What a coward." I let the smile show on my face. "My mother's biggest regret in life was probably marrying you."

"You—" Marcus pointed at me, his finger trembling too hard for him to finish the sentence.

I didn't give him the chance. I turned and headed for the stairs.

"Your sister is bringing her Alpha mate home tonight," Marcus said, forcing down his rage. "I've prepared a welcome dinner. That's Kieran Frost — Frost Pack's Alpha. Don't you dare make a scene."

I stopped on the stairs.

My hand tightened on the banister.

That fast. Kieran was coming tonight, and he was coming as Melody's mate.

I was about to move when the front door opened.

Melody walked in on Kieran's arm, all smiles.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home." Her voice dripped with sweetness.

Marcus and Vivian transformed on the spot.

The two people who had barely looked at me moments ago were now beaming, warm and fawning.

Vivian hurried forward. "Melody's back! Are you tired? Hungry?"

Marcus's gaze landed on Kieran, and he straightened immediately. "Alpha Kieran, welcome to Ashford territory. It's an honor to have you."

I stood on the stairs and watched them orbit around Melody and Kieran like planets, performing for an audience.

Kieran's gaze swept the room and landed on me. He frowned, just slightly. "And this is?"

As if he had never seen me before.

Marcus blinked. "Oh — this is my other daughter. Seraphina."

Kieran gave a small nod and said nothing more. He didn't spare me another glance.

Melody smiled. "She's my younger sister. Since Kieran is here, you should stay for dinner, Seraphina."

Her smile was warm and gracious. The triumph in her eyes was completely naked.

At the long dinner table, Melody and Kieran sat on one side. I sat across from them, alone. The odd one out.

The Omega servant Margaret brought out roasted chicken and venison.

Kieran glanced at the plate in front of Melody and frowned slightly.

"You don't like venison." His voice was gentle with concern.

Melody gave him a sweet, slightly put-upon look. "You noticed. But Seraphina loves it, so we've always kept it on the menu."

Without a word, Kieran lifted the venison off her plate and set it aside, then moved the roasted chicken in front of her. It was a gesture so practiced it looked like habit.

Margaret poured white wine. Kieran glanced at it. "Switch to red. She prefers red."

Melody looked at him, her eyes full of warmth. "You remember everything."

I watched this unfold, gripping my knife and fork hard. My heart felt like it was being cut open with a dull blade, slowly.

Vivian smiled pleasantly. "How did you two meet?"

Melody lowered her eyes, a flush rising to her cheeks. "It was during a border patrol. I found Kieran lying in a pool of blood — he'd fallen into a wolfsbane trap. I got to him in time and treated him with moonlight herb."

She looked up at Kieran, her eyes full of devotion. "Otherwise, the outcome would have been unthinkable."

Kieran took her hand. "So I knew she was the one. She saved my life."

Melody's face went pink. She looked like the happiest she-wolf in the world.

I listened to this story and suddenly laughed out loud.

The sound cut through the quiet dining room. Everyone turned to look at me.

Marcus frowned. "Is something funny? Keep your voice down."

I set down my knife and fork and looked at Melody. "You're sure it was you who saved him? With moonlight herb?"

Melody's smile flickered. "Of course it was me. Who else?"

"Melody." I said it simply. "You couldn't tell moonlight herb from wolfsbane when we were children. Remember my pet rabbit? The one that died because you fed it the wrong plant."

"So when did you suddenly learn to identify wolfsbane poisoning symptoms?" I tilted my head. "Remarkable, isn't it."

The atmosphere at the table froze.

Melody's eyes went glassy. She bit her lip, the picture of hurt. "Seraphina, why would you say that? I'm not lying."

Vivian slapped the table and stood. "Seraphina! That's enough! Melody saved Alpha Kieran — that's a fact! What gives you the right to slander her out of jealousy?"

Marcus's face hardened. "Apologize. Right now. To your sister."

I leaned back in my chair and said nothing.

Melody dabbed at her eyes, then suddenly smiled. "It's all right. Don't blame Seraphina. She probably just hasn't found her own mate yet and is in a difficult mood."

She looked at me, her concern perfectly performed. "Have you chosen a mate yet, Seraphina? When's the marking ceremony?"

I looked at her act for a moment. Then I smiled — bright and wide and unguarded.

"Too many to choose from." My gaze swept past Kieran and settled back on Melody's face. "Not like you, taking three years to land one this ordinary. The Alphas pursuing me could fill every road from Ashford territory to the Northern Snowlands. Genuinely can't pick."

Marcus slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! Have you no manners?"

Vivian's chest heaved. "You shameless thing! How dare Ashford Pack have a daughter like you!"

Melody pressed a hand to her mouth, tears falling. "How can you say something like that?"

She turned to Kieran, helpless and injured.

Kieran set down his utensils and slowly wiped his mouth with his napkin. Then, unhurried, in front of everyone, he reached over and took Melody's hand where it rested on the table.

"Melody doesn't need to compete with anyone."

His voice was cold and certain.

"In my eyes, no she-wolf compares to her. She is the best."

Melody's tears broke into a radiant smile. She turned her hand over and held his tightly, happiness and triumph glowing on her face.

I watched their joined hands. My heart turned to dust — a pain so sharp I could barely keep my face intact.

But I raised my head. My smile was bright and careless.

"Then congratulations. I wish you every happiness."

Kieran's face darkened in an instant.

I didn't look at him. I pushed back from the table and walked out of the estate on legs I had to force steady.

My heart felt like it was about to explode.

Margaret called after me from behind. I didn't answer — just quickened my pace toward the deep woods along the territory's edge.

"No she-wolf compares to her." Kieran's words played back like a blade, over and over.

I stopped walking, tilted my head back, and looked at the moon.

Then I shifted into my white wolf.

I ran. I ran as hard as I could, trying to fling that sentence out of my head, trying to outrun the pain in my chest.

"Running away, Seraphina? You were so talkative at the dinner table." Melody's voice came from behind me.

I stopped and turned. She had shifted too — smaller than me, her coat dull and mottled with brownish-grey patches. Not pure Alpha bloodline, and it showed.

I laughed coldly. "You chased me out here to brag about whatever sweet nothing Kieran said to you?"

"Jealous, Seraphina? Makes sense — Kieran only has eyes for me now." Melody suddenly lunged.

I stepped back on instinct. In the same moment, urgent footsteps sounded from the distance — Kieran was coming.

I caught the flash of calculation in Melody's eyes.

She spun abruptly, bolted toward the cliff nearby, and threw herself over the edge with a scream.

"Melody!" Kieran leaped after her almost before she'd finished falling.

I stood frozen.

I knew that cliff. It was barely three meters high. Below was soft earth and shrubs — nothing that could seriously hurt a werewolf.

But Kieran clearly didn't know that. He jumped without hesitation. Not even a half-second of doubt.

When he went over the edge, his eyes held only Melody.

I looked down from the clifftop. Kieran was holding her — careful, impossibly gentle, like something precious in his hands.

He climbed back up carrying her, Melody curled against his chest, trembling.

Melody looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, her voice soft and fragile. "Seraphina... why did you push me?"

I laughed.

This performance was so pathetic it made me sick.

Footsteps came from behind. Marcus had arrived with several Ashford elders.

Vivian shrieked. "My daughter! You vicious creature! You pushed her off that cliff!"

"You actually believe her?" I ignored everyone else and looked only at Kieran.

I looked at the suspicion and revulsion in his eyes, and suddenly felt cold — a chill that went all the way to the bone.

Marcus stared at me, his eyes full of disappointment. "Seraphina. How could you do this? She's your sister."

Kieran said nothing. But his expression said everything I needed to know.

Everyone gathered around Melody, fussing, asking after her.

No one asked me a single thing.

"You said I pushed you?" I walked toward Melody, and let myself smile.

In full view of everyone, I raised my front paw and brought it down hard on the back of Melody's leg, enough to come close to the bone.

"Remember this. This is what it looks like when I actually attack you. If I'd really wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have just pushed you off a three-meter drop." My laugh was cold.

Melody screamed.

Kieran shoved me back. The full force of his Alpha dominance hit me like a wall, nearly driving me to my knees.

But I stayed upright. Head high. I looked him in the eye without flinching.

Kieran turned to the Ashford elders, his voice cold enough to frost the air. "Your pack has no discipline. In Frost Pack, a she-wolf who attacks another pack member like this would be put in the silver dungeon."

Then he picked up Melody and walked away without a backward glance.

I stood there, barely believing what I'd heard.

The silver dungeon was one of the harshest punishments a pack could impose — reserved for the most violent rogues.

When I was three years old, I'd wandered in by accident and seen a rogue being tortured inside, barely recognizable through the blood. It gave me nightmares for three days.

Once, after we'd been together in bed, I told Kieran that memory. He rubbed my back gently and promised me I would never see the inside of that dungeon again.

And now — over Melody's injury that would heal in less than a day — he was having Marcus put me in there.