For days, I took my last few vials of diluted "Serenity" to the black market.

"Get lost, Rogue," the first vendor said, waving me away. "We don't do business with traitors."

"It's life-saving medicine," I said, putting a vial on his table. "Only fifty dollars."

"Fifty?" He scoffed. "Authentic Silverclaw potions go for five grand a vial. This is either a cheap knock-off..."

"...Or it's poison." He stood up, baring his fangs. "I've heard the rumors, Harper. You tried to poison the real alchemist."

I picked up my vial and moved to the next stall.

It was the same story everywhere.

"Poisoner! Get out!"

"We don't want your poison!"

"Leave now or we'll make you!"

Not a single person on the entire street would buy from me.

Liam's lies spread faster than a plague.

I dragged my empty bag back to our rundown apartment.

Marcus was on the bed, looking worse than before.

His fever was back. His breathing was shallow.

"Did you sell any?" he asked, his voice weak.

"No," I said, sitting beside him. "I'll try somewhere else tomorrow."

"Don't lie to me, kid," Marcus said, struggling to sit up. "I can smell the desperation on you."

I looked down. He was right. We had nothing left.

"It's all my fault," Marcus said, taking my hand. "If I wasn't holding you back all those years... you could have had a better life."

"Don't say that."

"I'm going to find Liam," Marcus said, trying to get out of bed. "I'll fight him. I'll make him pay, even if it kills me."

"Dad, stop." I glanced at the full moon rising outside. "It's time. The little 'gift' I left Liam is about to expire. He'll come crawling back soon enough. With our money and our dignity."

It had been exactly fourteen days since I left Silverclaw.

The flawed formula Chloe was now using was a time bomb. And the clock had just run out.

Marcus didn't understand.

But I knew.

The imitation "Serenity" I'd left behind was only stable for fourteen days.

Tonight's full moon would speed up its decay.

If Liam injected it tonight, he'd find its power was gone.

I stared at my phone, and I waited.

At nine o'clock, it rang.

The caller ID read: Liam.

I let it ring.

The call ended. It immediately rang again.

Still Liam.

I ignored it.

The third time, I heard chaos erupt on the other end—low growls, shattering glass, and panicked shouts.

I answered.

"Harper!" Liam's voice was tight with suppressed fury. "Get back here. Now!"

"Why?" my voice was calm. "I'm just an exiled Rogue."

"The potion is failing!" His voice started to shake. "The warriors who took it... they aren't calming down. They're getting worse! Their eyes are turning red. Some of them are starting to shift!"

More growls echoed from his end. The sound of things being smashed.

"That's strange," I said. "Didn't Chloe say she improved the formula?"

"Stop playing games!" he roared. "What did you do to the potion?"

"I didn't do anything." I looked out at the full moon. "Maybe Chloe's 'talent' ran into a problem."

The line went silent for a few seconds.

Then I heard Chloe shriek, "That's impossible! I only adjusted the concentration! A higher dose should have made it stronger!"

"Sounds like your new alchemist is very confident," I said with a smirk.

"Harper, if you don't want to die out there, you will come back now!" Liam's threat was laced with desperation. "As your Alpha, I command—"

"Liam," I cut him off, my voice pure ice. "I am a Rogue. And Rogues don't take orders."

"You—"

"You want my help?" I gazed down at the city lights, a slow, cold smile touching my lips. "Fine. But my help doesn't come cheap. Fifty million. In cash. A public apology, clearing my name. And you'll do it in front of the entire Werewolf Council."