Her hand brushed against my shoulder, right where the silver wounds were still healing. But instead of comforting me, her perfectly manicured nail pressed down hard against the tender flesh.

I cried out in pain, the silver-inflicted wounds screaming in agony.

"Oh no!" Victoria exclaimed, pulling her hand back. "Your wounds look terrible! Ethan, maybe you should get the healer to check on her."

"Yeah, I should," Ethan said, already moving toward the door. "I'll be right back."

The moment he was gone, Victoria's concerned expression melted away into a cold smile.

"Yes, I'm pregnant," she said casually. "But here's the thing, sweetheart. It's not his."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"Ethan's just a toy to me. A powerful Alpha who'll give me status and protection. But the baby? That belongs to someone much more... useful."

Rage boiled up inside me. "You're lying."

"Am I? You think I'd tie myself to one man when I could have so much more?"

I tried to sit up, fury giving me strength despite my injuries. "You can't do this to him. He deserves to know."

"He deserves nothing," she hissed. "And neither do you."

I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "I'm telling him the truth."

She screamed dramatically just as Ethan returned with the healer.

"She attacked me!" Victoria sobbed, cradling her wrist. "She's completely lost it!"

Ethan's eyes blazed with fury as he looked between us. "What the hell is going on?"

"She's pregnant," I said desperately. "But Ethan, the baby isn't—"

"I know she's pregnant," he cut me off sharply. "What I want to know is why you're attacking her."

"The baby isn't yours!" I shouted.

Ethan's face went deadly still. Then his body began to shake with rage.

His eyes flashed gold as his wolf surfaced. In one fluid motion, he shifted into his massive Alpha form, placing himself protectively in front of Victoria.

"How dare you," he snarled, his wolf's voice echoing through the room. "How fucking dare you try to destroy what we have with your lies."

He moved toward me, power radiating from every muscle. "You're pathetic, Sylvia. Desperate and pathetic."

With one powerful motion, he shoved me backward.

My injured body slammed into the hospital wall. The silver wounds that couldn't heal properly tore open, blood immediately soaking through my bandages.

"Everything between us was a mistake," he growled. "Every moment I spent protecting you, every kindness I showed you. You're nothing but a delusional child who can't accept reality."

Pain exploded through my body, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my chest.

He stood there, his massive wolf form protecting Victoria, looking at me like I was something disgusting he'd scraped off his shoe.

"Stay away from us," he commanded. "Stay away from my mate and my pup."

I slumped against the wall, blood pooling Alexeath me, watching the man I'd loved my entire life choose someone else completely.

My heart died in that moment. Whatever foolish hope I'd been clinging to finally shattered into nothing.

I lay on the cold hospital floor, blood seeping from my reopened wounds, still coughing up water.

Victoria was sobbing dramatically beside Ethan, her voice shrill with fake distress.

"She cursed my baby!" she wailed. "She said the Moon Goddess would never let a bastard like this be born! She wished for my child to die!"

I tried to speak, to deny her lies, but only a weak croak came out.

Ethan's eyes flashed with renewed fury. His wolf was barely contained Alexeath his skin, muscles rippling with barely restrained violence.

"You sick, twisted—" he snarled, taking a threatening step toward me.

His Alpha power filled the room like a suffocating wave. I could feel it pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

"Ethan, don't," I whispered, trying to crawl backward.

But he was beyond reason now. His wolf wanted blood.

Just as he lunged forward, Alex burst through the hospital doors.

"Get away from her!" Alex roared, throwing himself between us.

The two Alphas faced each other, power crackling in the air like electricity.

"Your sister is psychotic," Ethan spat. "She attacked my pregnant mate and cursed my unborn child."

"You lying piece of shit," Alex growled. "I know exactly what kind of man you are."

"Alex, don't," I pleaded weakly. "Please, just get me out of here."

But it was too late. Alex's wolf erupted forward, slamming into Ethan with bone-crushing force.

The two massive Alphas rolled across the floor, claws and fangs flashing. Their combined power was devastating—medical equipment shattered, windows cracked, the very foundation of the healing center seemed to shake.

"Stop!" I screamed. "Both of you, stop!"

Other pack members rushed in, trying to separate them, but these were two of the most powerful Alphas in the northern territories. Their rage was beyond control.

Finally, I managed to stagger to my feet, ignoring the agony shooting through my body.

"ALEX!" I shouted with every ounce of strength I had left. "PLEASE!"

Something in my voice cut through his fury. He froze, still pinning Ethan to the ground.

"We're leaving," I said firmly. "Now."

Alex slowly released Ethan, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from cuts on both their faces.

He came to me, carefully supporting my weight as we headed for the exit.

Behind us, Ethan's voice was cold and final: "Stay away from us, Sylvia. I mean it. You're nothing but trouble."

In Alex's car, my brother was still shaking with rage.

"I should have killed him," he said through gritted teeth. "I should have ripped his throat out."

"No, Alex. Please," I said wearily, leaning against his shoulder. "Let it go. For the pack's sake."

He looked at me in disbelief. "For the pack? After what he did to you?"

"Your pack and his are the two strongest in the northern territories," I said quietly. "If you start a war over this, innocent wolves will die. Children, families—"

"Sylvia—"

"I see him clearly now," I interrupted. "Finally. And he's not worth destroying everything for."

Alex's hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he nodded slowly.

"You're too good for this world, sis," he said softly. "Too good for any of us."

"I should have told you, Sylvia. I should have told you the true nature of Ethan. How ruthless he would be when he wanted something, or someone."

He let out a heavy, broken sigh.

"He's always taken advantage of others. I just... I don't want to believe he could be so cruel to you. You've been so good to him, always have been."

I closed my eyes, feeling the last pieces of my heart crumble to dust.

I had finally seen the real Ethan. And he was exactly what Alex had always known he was—a selfish, cruel man who would destroy anyone who got in the way of what he wanted.

The boy who gave me that silver dagger and taught me how to protect myself had never really existed at all.

"I'm going to be okay, Alex," I told him later in my quiet hospital room.

My voice was stronger now.

The tears had dried up. A strange calm had settled over me.

It was the calm of acceptance.

"My application to the Royal Healing Academy has been approved. I'm going to Europe."

Alex looked at me, surprise flickering in his eyes before being replaced by understanding.

"Good," he said firmly. "That's good for you, Sylvia. You deserve to get out of here and find happiness."

He squeezed my hand. "I'll support you. Whatever you need."

The next morning, my phone buzzed with a text message.

It was from Victoria.

The first message was a photo of an enormous venue decorated with white roses and crystal chandeliers. The caption read: "Marking ceremony preparations! Ethan spared no expense ??"

Then another photo appeared. This one showed a massive ice sculpture in the shape of wolves, surrounded by what looked like hundreds of candles.

"He mobilized the entire pack's resources for me," she wrote. "The Alpha Council even approved special funding. I'm so lucky to have a mate who loves me this much!"

More photos followed. A custom-made altar made of rare moonstone. Professional photographers setting up equipment. Catering trucks from the most expensive restaurant in the territory.

"The marking ceremony is going to be the event of the century," her final message read. "Too bad some people will never experience this kind of devotion ??"

I stared at the messages for a long moment, waiting for the familiar stab of pain.

But it didn't come.

Instead, I felt only a distant sort of numbness. Like watching a movie about strangers.

I didn't reply to any of her messages. There was nothing left to say.

That afternoon, my phone rang. A local number I didn't recognize.

It was Marcus, Ethan’s Beta.

"Sylvia? Hey, it's Marcus. Uh, Alex's not answering his phone."

His voice was hesitant and awkward.

"Is he okay? Ethan's worried. They had a... uh... disagreement yesterday."

Disagreement. That's what he was calling that brutal fight.

"Alex's fine," I said, my voice flat.

"Look, we're all worried about him and Ethan. They're like brothers, you know? This whole thing... it's affecting the pack. We have the Alpha Council meeting next week."

He paused. "If Alex doesn't show up with Ethan as the northern territories' representatives, the Council might think there's instability in our region. The Alpha King could send in royal forces to intervene."

He wanted me to mediate. To fix Alex and Ethan's relationship.

The audacity was breathtaking.

After they'd all stood by and watched me get humiliated.

After what Ethan had done to me...

But I thought about Alex. His loyalty to me was costing him everything.

"Alright, Marcus," I said slowly. "I'll talk to Alex. Maybe we can arrange a meeting to clear the air. For Alex's sake."

My brother deserved to have his pack and his position intact.

I could do this one last thing. Then I would leave.

I convinced Alex to come.

A few days later, in the pack house, we attempted an unwilling reconciliation.

The air was thick with unspoken tension.

Ethan was there, with Victoria clinging to his side, her face a mixture of triumph and false concern.

Alex stood rigid, refusing to look at Ethan.

The argument started almost immediately.

"Ethan needs to apologize to Sylvia," Alex said firmly. "For pushing her. For everything."

Ethan scoffed. "Apologize? She should apologize to Victoria for cursing our child! She said the Moon Goddess would never let a bastard be born!"

"That's bullshit and you know it," Alex snarled. "After all these years, don't you know what kind of person Sylvia is? She would never curse anyone's child."

Victoria stepped forward, her voice dripping with fake sympathy.

"Alex, honey, please don't blame Ethan. I'm pregnant, and he was just so worried about me. The stress made him react badly."

She skillfully deflected blame, painting Ethan as a protective hero and me as some unstable threat.

Alex wasn't buying it. "She's my sister. I know her better than anyone. She's not capable of the things you're accusing her of."

"Your sister has been obsessed with me for years!" Ethan shot back. "Following me around like a lost pup! She attacked Victoria out of jealousy!"

The old accusations flew, and the argument escalated quickly.

Marcus and the other pack members intervened, always the peacekeepers when pack unity was threatened.

"Hey, guys, come on," Marcus said. "Let's not fight. How about a truce? For the pack. For the northern territories."

Marcus suggested something ridiculous to break the tension. "Let's do a hunting competition. See who can bag the most game. Get some of that Alpha aggression out in a healthy way."

So we found ourselves in the pack's hunting grounds, with bows and arrows.

The hunt began, and Marcus took aim at a deer in the distance.

His arrow flew wide, completely missing the target.

Instead, it sailed directly toward where Victoria was standing.

She let out a piercing scream.

In a blur of Alpha speed, Ethan appeared in front of her, catching the arrow with his bare hand just inches from her face.

Victoria looked up at him with pure adoration. "Oh my god, Ethan! You saved me!"

Ethan tossed the arrow aside and glared at Marcus. "Watch where you're shooting, you idiot."

Marcus just laughed. "Come on, man. I gave you a perfect hero moment. You should be thanking me."

They all burst into laughter, and I watched it all with detached calm.

Later, Victoria played up her helplessness dramatically.

"I can barely even hold this bow," she said with exaggerated weakness. "Ethan, can you teach me? I need your strong hands to guide me."

The display was nauseating. Ethan positioned himself behind her, his arms wrapped around hers as he "taught" her to aim.

"Like this, baby," he murmured into her ear. "Feel the power flow through you."

She giggled and pressed back against him. "You're so strong. I feel so safe with you."

Their public affection was over the top, theatrical. But everyone seemed to eat it up.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

I slipped away from the hunting party and found a quiet spot near the edge of the woods to rest.

The silence was a relief after all that forced cheerfulness.

Then I heard voices carrying on the wind. Ethan's voice, loud and slightly slurred from the drinks they'd shared after the hunt.

He was talking to Marcus, and they must have been just around the bend in the trail.

"I've been in love with her for years, man. Victoria. From the moment I first saw her."

My blood turned to ice.

"She's everything I want in a mate. Smart, ambitious, sexy as hell. She gets me, you know? She's not some... some little pup following me around with puppy dog eyes."

The casual cruelty in his voice hit me like a physical blow.

He continued, his voice filled with an emotion I'd never heard from him before.

"Everything I do is for her. This marking ceremony, the pack resources... I'd give her the world if she asked. She's a real woman, Marcus. Not some kid who doesn't know anything about life."

The raw, unfiltered sincerity in his voice was undeniable.

He genuinely, deeply loved Victoria.

And he always had.

All my years of waiting, all my carefully planned dreams around his careless promise...

It had all been meaningless.

Worse than meaningless.

It had been a complete waste.

The last tiny ember of hope in my heart finally died.

Ethan was still talking, his drunken confession pouring out.

"I used to send her flowers anonymously when she worked at her old pack, before she even knew who I was."

My goddess.

He wasn't incapable of that kind of devotion.

It just wasn't for me.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I swallowed it anyway.

Beyond a numb, dull ache of acceptance, I felt nothing else.

My love for Ethan had always been nothing but a one-sided fantasy.

It was time to wake up.

I was about to leave when I heard footsteps approaching. Alex appeared through the trees, his face dark with anger.

He'd heard everything too.

"So that's how you really feel about my sister," Alex said, his voice deadly quiet.

Ethan spun around, his face flushing with embarrassment and alcohol. "Alex, I—"

"If this is how you've always felt, you should never have given her hope," Alex continued, his Alpha power radiating outward. "All these years, letting her believe there might be something between you. That was cruel."

"Look, man, I never promised her anything—"

"Get out," Alex said simply. "Take your mate and get the hell away from my sister. Don't come near her again."

Ethan opened his mouth to argue, but something in Alex's eyes made him think better of it.

He nodded curtly and walked away, calling for Marcus.

I stepped out from behind the trees, and Alex's expression immediately softened when he saw me.

"Sylvia, I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"It's okay," I said, and surprisingly, I meant it. "I needed to hear it. I needed to know."

We were halfway back to the pack house when we heard screaming.

Smoke was rising in the distance, thick and black against the sky.

"Fire!" someone shouted.

We ran toward the pack house, and my heart stopped. The entire east wing was engulfed in flames, the fire spreading rapidly through the wooden structure.

Pack members were running everywhere, some carrying belongings, others just trying to get clear of the building.

The heat was intense, even from a distance. The flames roared like a living thing, hungry and destructive.

"Everyone get back!" Alex shouted, using his Alpha voice. "The whole building could collapse!"

That's when I saw Ethan pushing through the crowd, his eyes wild with panic.

"Where is she?" he was shouting. "Where's Victoria?"

Marcus grabbed his arm. "Ethan, calm down. She's probably already out."

"No, she went back for her jewelry!" Ethan's voice cracked with desperation. "She's still inside!"

He tried to run toward the burning building, but three pack members tackled him.

"You can't go in there!" one of them yelled. "Even an Alpha won't survive those flames!"

Ethan fought against them, his eyes blazing. "She's my mate! I have to save her!"

Before anyone could stop him, he shifted into his massive black wolf. His Alpha strength broke through their hold easily.

He bounded toward the inferno without hesitation.

"Ethan, no!" Alex shouted, but it was too late.

The wolf disappeared into the flames, and for a moment, there was only the roar of the fire.

Then we heard it—a terrified scream from inside the building.

Minutes that felt like hours passed. The heat was unbearable, even from where we stood.

Finally, a figure emerged from the smoke and flames.

Ethan, back in human form, was carrying an unconscious Victoria in his arms. His skin was blackened with soot and burns, his hair singed, but he kept moving.

He collapsed just outside the building, still clutching Victoria protectively against his chest.

Most of his back and arms were severely burned, the flesh angry and raw. But he'd shielded her completely—she was barely singed.

---

The pack healer arrived within minutes, taking one look at Ethan's injuries and immediately calling for an emergency transport to the healing center.

"Third-degree burns over forty percent of his body," she said grimly. "His wolf is barely conscious. We need to move him now."

They loaded him onto a stretcher, and he was still semi-conscious, still reaching for Victoria.

"Is she... is she okay?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"She's fine," the healer assured him. "You saved her."

A weak smile crossed his burned features before he lost consciousness completely.

As the ambulance pulled away, I stood there watching, feeling strangely empty.

Even facing death, even burned and broken, his only thought had been of her.

That was real love.

Devastating, all-consuming, reckless love.

And I finally understood that I had never been, and would never be, the recipient of anything like that from Ethan.

I looked at Alex. Despite everything, his face was etched with worry for his friend.

"Alex," I said, my voice remarkably firm. "Go home. Get some rest. We can't help much here."

He tried to protest.

"Please, Alex. I need you to do this. I... I'm fine. I just need..."

I needed to leave.

He finally agreed, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion.

After he left, I went home alone.

I unpacked my suitcase.

I began packing.

A few hours later, Alex found me, a duffel bag in hand, ready to stay with me.

He paused at the door, seeing the open suitcase and the piles of clothes.

"Sylvia? What are you doing?"

His voice was soft, filled with a growing understanding and a deep, unconcealed pity for me.

"I'm leaving, Alex," I said, looking down at a folded sweater. "My flight to Europe leaves tomorrow morning."

"But... your silver dagger wound. And Ethan..."

"My wound will heal. And Ethan... Ethan has Victoria."

I finally looked at him, offering a faint, sad smile.

"It's time to have your own life, brother. Get away from all this."

The next day, I spent my time making final arrangements, wrapped in a kind of self-imposed isolation.

I carefully packed my collection of healing herbs into protective cases, along with my research notes on werewolf medicine.

Then I picked up a small USB drive from my desk.

Ever since Victoria had let slip at the hospital that the child she was carrying wasn't Ethan's, I'd had someone investigate her background. What I'd found was damning.

She'd been involved with rogue wolves, dangerous outcasts from various packs. The pregnancy was a calculated move - she wanted to pass off a bastard child as Alpha bloodline.

Even though I no longer loved Ethan, I couldn't stand by and watch the northern territories fall into chaos when the truth eventually came out.

I placed the USB drive in a small wooden box, the kind used for precious pack heirlooms.

My phone buzzed. It was Alex.

"Sylvia? Can you... can you come pick me up? I'm at Ethan's place. It's his bachelor party tonight."

His voice was slurred with alcohol and something else... despair?

Bachelor party. Of course. Even with Ethan still recovering from his burns, his friends would celebrate.

The thought of going to Ethan's apartment - the place he now shared with Victoria - made my stomach clench.

But Alex needed me.

"I'll be right there," I said, picking up the small box.