The atmosphere in the bunker was thick with tension.

We’d been down here for two days. And some people were enjoying their "privileges."

"Liam, I'm out of water," Chloe whined, holding up a bottle she'd just half-finished. It was one of six that was supposed to last our entire team three days.

"Here, baby." Liam didn't hesitate.

He grabbed another bottle from our dwindling supply.

"You're an omega. Not a hardened warrior. You need this more than we do."

Marcus shot to his feet, his fists cracking. "Damn it! The rest of us get half a bottle a day, and she's had six by herself!"

"Shut up!" Liam spun on him, his Alpha authority flaring. "Chloe's an omega! She needs special care!"

Sofia’s chapped lips trembled. "My daughter needs special care, too, but she's at the Alliance, wondering if her mother is dead or alive!"

"That's not my problem," Liam replied coldly.

Ryan was on his feet in an instant, his silver dagger in his hand. "What did you just say?"

Just as a fight was about to break out, Chloe let out a piercing scream. "Ah! My hand! What's happening to my hand?"

All eyes turned to her.

On the back of her left hand, several silver-white patches were spreading like frost.

"Silver-scaling!" Ryan gasped. "She's infected!"

Marcus scrambled back. "Damn it! That's the first sign of the Feral Curse! She's going to turn!"

"No! NO!" Chloe shrieked hysterically. "I don't want to be a monster! Liam, save me!"

Liam's face went deathly pale. He lunged for the supply crate, tearing through it. "The medkit! Where's the medkit?"

"It's useless," I said calmly. "Standard meds are useless against silver-scaling."

Liam whirled on me, a mad fire in his eyes. "Then what can? There has to be a way!"

As if on cue, I "accidentally" knocked over my tactical pack. A shimmering, silver syringe rolled out.

The air turned to ice.

Moon-Heal. The legendary serum said to purify any curse.

A single dose was worth a small city on the black market.

"Give it to her!" Liam pointed at me, his voice an absolute command. "Inject her now!"

"No." I put the syringe back in my pack. "This is the only sample. The Alliance scientists need it to develop a cure for everyone."

"I don't give a damn about a cure!" Liam snarled, his Alpha power crashing down on me. "That's an order, Elena. Treat her. Now!"

Ryan stepped between us. "Liam, you're crazy! You'd sacrifice the entire future of our species for one person?"

"Get out of my way!" Liam threw a punch, sending Ryan sprawling with a bloody lip.

He stood before me, his eyes consumed by a madness that had burned away all reason. "Elena, I'm your fated mate. As your Alpha, I command you—give me the serum!"

The mate bond screamed. A phantom blade of agony twisted in my soul, demanding I obey. It broke me, in my last life.

Not this time. I’d died once. This was nothing.

I looked at him and smiled coldly. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure!"

The pain was like a knife in my soul, but I forced myself to pull the syringe from my pack. "Fine," I said, handing it to him. "I hope you don't regret this."

Liam snatched it and knelt beside Chloe. "It's okay, baby. It'll be over soon."

The silver liquid entered her veins, and the effect was immediate. The silver patches receded, her skin returning to normal.

"Thank you... thank you," Chloe said weakly, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. "I know it was precious. I'll... I'll find a way to repay you all."

Her performance was perfect. Pitiful, grateful. Marcus and the others, though furious, just grunted and turned away.

Right on cue, the roar of engines shook the bunker. Our ride was here.

A brilliant smile lit up Chloe's face. "We're saved! We can finally leave this hellhole!"

"Liam, thank you for saving me." Chloe leaned weakly against Liam, a single, perfect tear on her cheek. "If it wasn't for you, I would've turned into a monster." Her voice was a feather-light whisper. "I was so scared... I thought I'd never see you again."

Liam held her tight, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Never. I swear, I'll always protect you."

"It's like a fairy tale," Chloe murmured. "My prince, saving his princess."

Marcus made a gagging motion behind them. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Sofia snorted. "Yeah, what a great love story. Bought with the future of our entire species."

I watched them, feeling nothing but a cold void inside me.

"The prince always saves his princess." How touching.

Then I remembered. My last life.

My arm was slashed open by a silver blade, bone showing. I was covering Liam's retreat.

The pain almost made me pass out. Liam just frowned, tossed me a basic blood-clotting agent from a medic, and said coldly, "You're the Head Beta, Elena. Endure it. Don't kill the morale."

Back then, I told myself he was an Alpha. The pack came first. He couldn't be distracted by me.

But now I see. It wasn't that he couldn't be tender. It wasn't that he didn't know how to care.

His tenderness and his care were just never for me.

The roar of the landing shuttle cut through their tender moment, and my memories.

A squad of elite, heavily armed warriors marched down the ramp, led by a silver-haired captain with the Alliance's highest medal of honor on his chest.

"I'm looking for a Captain Elena," his voice boomed, sharp as steel.

I stepped forward. "I am."

The captain gave me a crisp military salute. "Captain Chris, codename 'Silvermoon.' I'm here on the President's orders to conduct the evacuation."

He pulled out a datapad and began checking the list. "Boarding will proceed based on bloodline purity and contribution rating to the Alliance."

"Ryan Clarke. Beta bloodline. Loyalty rating: Triple-A."

Ryan pumped a fist. "Yes!"

"Marcus Wayne. Warrior bloodline. Combat honors: Double-A."

"Sofia Ross. Medic bloodline. Professional rating: Double-A."

One by one, my team's names were called.

They boarded the transport, ecstatic.

Soon, it was just me, Liam, and Chloe.

"Elena Moonblade. Rank: Council Special Advisor. Clearance: Absolute." The captain's tone snapped to attention. He was instantly deferential. "Ma'am. You may board at your convenience."

I nodded but didn't move.

It was Liam's turn.

He puffed out his chest and strode forward.

He practically announced it. "Liam Stone. Alpha of the Stone Pack. And fated mate to your Captain Moonblade."

The captain glanced at his datapad, his brow furrowing slightly. "One moment." His finger traced down the screen. "Liam Stone... Alpha, Stone Pack..."

The seconds ticked by. Chloe gripped Liam's arm nervously. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

The captain looked up, his face grim. "Chloe Greene," he continued, his voice devoid of emotion.

An even longer silence.

Liam was growing anxious. "Sir, is there an issue? I'm an Alpha, and she's one of the few omegas left. Our ratings should be top-tier."

Captain Chris closed the datapad. He glanced at me, then turned his icy gaze on Liam and Chloe.

"I'm sorry."

Two words, like a bolt of lightning.

Liam's face went white. "What do you mean?"

Chloe began to tremble. "No... that can't be right... there must be a mistake..."

Captain Chris’s voice was ice. "Alliance database update. Liam Stone: cited for insubordination, dereliction of duty, and gross misuse of Alliance assets. Your Priority Rating has been permanently downgraded to D-Class."

"Chloe Greene, no recorded contributions. Recent unauthorized consumption of a critical medical asset. Rating: E-Class."

He paused, then delivered the final, crushing verdict.

"I'm sorry. Your clearance ratings are too low. You are not on the evacuation list."