FELIZ’S POV

The night air was sharp, the full moon casting ghostly shadows across the Silver Steele Pack. I pulled my coat tighter around me as I stepped out of the hospital doors, the cold wind biting into my weak body. The wolfsbane forced down my throat had left me hollow, my wolf barely a whisper inside me. Yet, the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

I had hoped tonight would be different. It was my birthday—a day that should bring happiness, maybe even acknowledgment from Elias and Kade Steele, the two people I once believed cared for me more than anyone. After my family’s pack was destroyed, leaving me orphaned, they took me in—not just into their pack but into their lives. For a while, I was the little sister they fiercely protected.

But tonight, that illusion shattered.

The evening began with laughter and music, the pack celebrating together. I sat at the edge of the room, observing Elias’ commanding presence and Kade’s playful interactions with younger members. I hoped, just maybe, they would finally acknowledge me as someone who belonged, someone who had earned a place in their world.

Then, Elias called for silence, and Kade joined him at the center of the room. My heart leapt, expecting an announcement celebrating me. But instead, they turned to Vera Nightshade. She stood in the middle of the room, her head bowed, clutching the hem of her dress. She had joined the pack a few years ago, quiet and unassuming.

Elias took out a moonstone ring and slid it onto her finger. Kade knelt with a bouquet of wildflowers, presenting them to her with theatrical flair. The pack erupted into cheers. I felt frozen, the room closing in around me.

But the night wasn’t over. Kade turned to me, his grin not reaching his eyes, and handed me a glass filled with amber liquid. “Feliz, toast to the new Luna,” he said.

Elias’ gaze met mine, a challenge in his eyes. “Drink it. Show Vera you’re part of the pack’s future.”

I had no choice. Refusing would mean declaring war—a battle I couldn’t afford. But as the liquid touched my lips, I knew it was wolfsbane. The poison hit me like a lightning strike, burning its way through my veins. My wolf howled in protest, weakening with each passing second.

As my vision blurred, I saw Vera’s triumphant smile, clutching Elias’ arm possessively. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, alone. The sterile smell of the hospital clung to me as I stood unsteadily, my phone buzzing in my pocket. I didn’t need to check to know who it was.

“Feliz.” Elias’ voice was cold and clipped. “Where are you? Do you think you can run from this? You owe Vera an apology!”

His words stopped me. I stared at my reflection in the window. My once-bright eyes were dull, my cheeks hollowed by years of trying to prove myself. My wolf was a mere whisper now.

“I’m not coming back, Alpha Elias,” I said, my voice shaking but steady.

“What did you say?” Elias’ tone sharpened with disbelief.

“I’m not coming back.” I said it louder this time, emotions breaking through my calm facade. “Vera… She can have the pack. She can have you, Kade—everything. I’ve had enough.”

Before he could reply, I hung up and quickly dialed another number.

“Auntie,” I whispered when she answered.

Her voice was warm, a comfort I hadn’t felt in years. “Feliz, what’s wrong?”

“I’ve made my decision,” I said, each word feeling like a stone in my throat. “I’ll marry the Wildwood Pack’s heir.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Are you sure, Feliz? This isn’t a choice you make lightly. It binds you to them for life. Think carefully.”

I closed my eyes, memories of Vera’s smirk, Kade’s mocking laugh, and Elias’ cold stare flooding my mind. “I’m sure, Auntie,” I said firmly. “I’ve thought about it. This is the best decision I can make now—to survive.”

She sighed, a mix of relief and resignation in her voice. “Alright, dear. Lady Luciana said Sunday is an auspicious day for a ceremony. Come home, and we’ll handle everything. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

The call ended, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I tilted my head back, staring at the full moon. Its light felt distant, as if it no longer shone for me. But deep within, my wolf stirred. There was something else—a distant pull, a thread winding through my chest. The Wildwood Pack. Their Alpha was said to be the most powerful of his kind, a mysterious figure shrouded in intrigue.

For the first time in years, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Maybe, just maybe, there was a future beyond the chains of the Silver Steele Pack. A chance to find a place where I belonged, where I would no longer have to fight for scraps of acceptance.

“All is well… everything will be alright soon.”

FELIZ’S POV

The journey back to the Silver Steele Pack felt like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest. The roads leading to the estate, once familiar and filled with memories, now felt cold and foreign. I had built a life here once, but now, it felt like chains pulling me back to a place that no longer welcomed me.

I didn’t want to go back, but I had to. My father’s only keepsake—the locket necklace he gave me before he died—was something I needed to take with me. I had no intention of staying, but I needed it wherever the future would lead me.

As I arrived, the packhouse loomed in the moonlight, its grandeur suffocating. Inside, laughter and music spilled out through open windows. The celebration for Vera’s ascension as the new Luna continued, a cruel reminder of the life I was leaving behind.

I moved silently through the interior, determined to grab the necklace and leave quickly. The air inside was filled with the scent of roasted meat and wine, but it only gnawed at my hunger and heartache. People glanced at me with curiosity and whispered among themselves as I walked past.

“Feliz,” a sickly-sweet voice called out. I stopped to see Vera standing at the base of the grand staircase, a glass of red wine in hand. Her moonstone ring gleamed under the chandelier’s light. She looked every bit the Luna she now was, and it churned my stomach.

“You’re back. Going somewhere?” she asked with a sly tilt of her head.

“I’m just here to get something, and then I’ll leave,” I replied, uninterested in her games.

“Oh, but you’ll miss the festivities,” she said with mock concern. “Elias and Kade said you were like a little sister to them. It would be a shame if you didn’t get to say goodbye properly.”

Her words felt like daggers wrapped in velvet. “I’ve already said my goodbyes,” I said, refusing to show weakness.

She smiled wider, her eyes glinting with malice. Without warning, she spilled her wine on the front of my coat. “Oops!” she gasped. “I hope that wasn’t your favorite coat.”

I swallowed my anger, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. “Don’t worry about it,” I said coldly, turning to walk away.

But she didn’t follow, and I felt a wave of frustration. How could she act like she hadn’t almost killed me with the wolfsbane they forced me to drink? My wolf was still barely hanging on, weakened but not fully gone.

I reached my room, slamming the door shut. My chest heaved with anger as I searched through my closet. My eyes landed on the locket necklace—a simple silver pendant with my father’s initials engraved on it. Memories flooded back: Elias and Kade in our younger years, teaching me to hunt, fight, and heal. They had once been my protectors, my family.

But now, those memories felt like a cruel illusion. The brothers who once cared for me had become strangers.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Elias stepped inside, his expression hard. Kade followed, his usual smirk replaced with cold seriousness.

“Feliz, what are you doing?” Elias asked.

“I am just taking some of my things, then I’ll leave,” I replied, standing tall.

Kade sneered. “Ungrateful as always. Have you forgotten what we did for you? We fed you, clothed you, gave you a place to belong—and this is how you repay us?”

“A place to belong?” I echoed bitterly. “You all made it clear I don’t belong here anymore.”

Elias didn’t argue. Instead, he pointed to the trunk at the foot of my bed. “That that too. My Luna doesn’t want reminders of you cluttering her space.”

Kade stepped forward, grabbing the locket from my hand. “And this?” he said, yanking it away. “Let it go, Feliz. Your father’s dead. Move on.”

The sound of the necklace hitting the floor felt like a gunshot. I knelt to pick it up, trembling with fury. “Enough. This is my father’s memory.”

Kade laughed mockingly. “Your father? He’s gone. Forget him.”

I stood up, my voice shaking but resolute. “I’ve had enough.”

I met Elias’s gaze, a flicker of determination settling in my eyes. The tension between us was suffocating, but I stood firm.

“Fine,” Elias said, his voice filled with disdain. “Then don’t expect us to take you back if no one opens their pack or home to you. You’ll have nothing.”

“I already have nothing,” I said, my voice unwavering. “But at least now, I’ll have a chance to build something of my own.”

Elias’s eyes narrowed, his expression a mix of anger and resentment. Without another word, he turned and left the room, Kade following closely behind. Their footsteps echoed through the hallway, leaving me with a strange sense of relief.

I felt a mix of anger and sadness. The Silver Steele Pack’s chains had kept me captive for too long, suffocating me with their rules and expectations. But now, I was breaking free.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at the locket in my trembling hands. My father’s memory would guide me. I wouldn’t let the past define me. The future lay ahead, uncertain but full of potential.

FELIZ'S POV

My wolf paced within me, her restlessness growing stronger with every minute. I stood in my room, scanning the mess someone had deliberately left for me. My clothes lay shredded across the floor, torn by claws. Photos of happier times were defaced with cruel scratches and inked-out faces.

My wolf growled in my mind. “Run. Let me take over. Let us be free.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. As tempting as it was to let her take control, I couldn’t afford to lose myself now. This wasn’t the time to succumb to primal instincts.

I knelt down, gathering the damaged photos and setting them aside. Each defaced memory felt like a fresh wound, but I refused to let the pain stop me.

“We’ll be leaving soon,” I whispered to my wolf. “Just hold on a little longer.”

As I packed what few items were still intact, I heard voices outside the walls. Vera’s familiar voice cut through, smug and mocking. “Yes, the sacred place. Elias promised to take me there tonight.”

The words hit me like a blow. The “sacred place” was a sanctuary Elias and I had discovered years ago. A hidden glade in the forest where we could escape the pack’s pressures and be honest with each other under the stars. And now, he was giving it to her.

I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up. It wasn’t just about the place—it was about the betrayal of everything it represented. The bond I once shared with Elias was gone, replaced by cold indifference.

My wolf snarled, but I silenced her with a shake of my head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I was almost finished picking up my clothes when the door slammed open. Vera appeared, leaning against the frame with a cruel smile. Her moonstone ring glinted under the light.

“Oh, Feliz! Still here?” she taunted. “I thought you’d slithered away by now.”

I ignored her, focusing on packing.

She stepped closer, her voice turning dangerous. “You should be grateful I’m letting you leave. If it were up to me, you’d be dragged out like the traitor you are.”

“What do you want, Luna Vera?” I asked, my patience wearing thin.

She moved closer, her expression hardening. “I want you to know your place, Feliz. You were just a stray the pack took pity on. Now, you’re nothing.”

Her words stung, but I refused to show any weakness. “Say whatever you want. It won’t change the fact that I’m leaving. You’ve already won.”

Vera’s smile turned feral. Without warning, she slashed her nails across my arm, drawing blood. I hissed in pain, stepping back as crimson stained my shirt.

She staggered backward dramatically. “Help! Help me!” she screamed. “She’s attacking me!”

The door burst open, and Elias and Kade stormed in. Their eyes went immediately to Vera, who clutched her arm like she was gravely injured.

“What the hell is going on?” Elias shouted.

“She attacked me!” Vera sobbed. “I tried to be nice, but she just—”

“No! That’s not what happened!” I shouted, but Kade’s furious growl cut me off.

“Ungrateful parasite!” Kade spat. “Is this how you repay the pack? By attacking the Luna?”

“I didn’t touch her!” I protested, but it was pointless. Their minds were made up.

Elias’s expression darkened, and before I could react, his hand struck me across the face. The slap sent me reeling, my cheek stinging with the imprint of his palm.

“Let me take over!” My wolf howled in anguish. But I held her back. This was the price I had to pay for the years of shelter they had provided.

I straightened, meeting Elias’s gaze. “Do you want to hurt me more? Was making me drink that wolfsbane earlier not enough?”

Elias didn’t respond, his eyes blank with a mask of indifference.

I turned to Kade, who looked ready to shout more insults. “You wanted me out of here, right? Don’t worry, I will.” I spoke with finality. “This is enough.”

Shouldering my bag, I walked past them, refusing to look back.

Outside, the cold night air hit my face, soothing the burning in my cheek. I paused on the steps, taking one last look at the packhouse.

“I hope you’re all happy now,” I murmured to the house. “Vera… enjoy it. You can have them all.”

As I stepped onto the forest path, I felt an unseen force pulling at me, a gentle tug in my chest. My wolf stirred, curiosity replacing the previous restlessness.

The Wildwood Pack. They were waiting for me. The pull I felt wasn’t random—it was fate. My future lay not with the people who despised me but with a new beginning, beneath the same moon that illuminated the Wildwood Pack.

I whispered a final goodbye to the life I was leaving behind and stepped into the night, ready to claim the future that awaited me.