A deep, powerful voice echoed in the darkness of my mind, the only thing I could cling to.

"As you wish."

The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying on a cold, white bed in the Pack Infirmary.

"You're awake." Healer Samson stood by my bed, a complicated look in his eyes.

I didn't have to ask. My hand went to my flat stomach.

Samson’s silence, the way he dropped his gaze, was the only answer I needed.

"You lost too much blood. You miscarried," he said, avoiding my eyes. "Harper, your body… it's badly damaged. It'll be difficult for you to carry a pup again."

My heart fractured into a million pieces, but my eyes were dry. I was too empty to even cry.

"And," Samson added, his voice heavy, "your wolf has gone dormant. From the grief. You might feel very weak for a while."

Weak? Yes, my limbs felt like lead.

But what Samson couldn't see was the faint but scorching heat coiling in my veins.

It was an ancient, forgotten power, woken by absolute agony and hatred.

The blood of the Royal White Wolf.

It was already stitching my broken body back together, filling the void my sleeping wolf left behind.

I'd had a chance to go home.

When I first met my Fated Mate, Ethan, the Royals sent for me.

But I refused.

I was naive enough to believe the Moon Goddess's gift was a better home than my own blood.

For him, I hid who I was. I suppressed my power. I played the part of a weak Omega, good for nothing but her healing essence.

What a fucking joke.

A knock at the door. Ethan's Beta walked in, his face blank, a document in his hand.

"Harper. The Alpha sent this for you."

I took the file. The title read: "Submission Contract."

"Tomorrow is the Luna Ceremony," the Beta read in a monotone. "The Alpha requires you to publicly hand over the Moon Stone to Bella and accept your demotion. In exchange, you may remain on pack lands."

Otherwise, exile.

And just like that, I understood his sickening plan.

An ancient curse protects the last of the White Wolves. If he rejected me—or I, him—the backlash would shatter his power. He craved the strength our Fated Bond gave him, but he was ashamed of me.

So this was his solution. He wasn't kicking me out. He was keeping me.

He wanted me here as his living trophy. Forcing me to crown his whore with my own hands. Forcing me to publicly admit I was nothing but a nameless accessory.

He wanted me alive, but broken. A shadow for Bella’s glory. A power source to keep locked away.

My Alpha. My Fated Mate.

Arrogant. Selfish. Cruel.

But he had no idea. The price for being publicly rejected by a Royal White Wolf... was far higher than he could ever imagine.

"I understand," I said, my voice calm.

After the Beta left, silence filled the room.

I stared at the contract. Every line was designed to make me kneel before my sister's and my child's murderer.

Just then, Ethan's voice boomed from the speakers in the plaza outside.

"To honor the memory of Lily Moon, who sacrificed herself in the Rogue attack, I hereby announce the creation of the 'Memorial Sanctuary'…"

Such a noble lie.

"…and its founder and primary donor is our Luna-to-be—Bella Cross!"

I sneered at the cheering wolves below.

They had no idea where that "donation" came from.

It was Lily's death benefit.

The compensation that should have been mine was now a tool for Bella to buy herself a good reputation.

"Miss Bella's kindness and generosity are exactly what this pack needs!"

More applause. More cheers.

I turned from the window and waited.

Sure enough, the door soon opened.

Bella swept in, wearing a gorgeous silk gown and the glittering Luna Tiara on her head.

The crown that should have been mine.

"Harper!" she feigned surprise. "You look so much better!"

Her fake concern made me sick.

"I heard you're still thinking about the contract?" Bella walked to my bedside, making sure I got a good look at her tiara. "Don't overthink it. This is for the best."

"Is it?" I asked calmly.

"Of course!" Bella’s smile widened. "Do you know how much Ethan spent on this tiara? Half a million dollars! He said only the best is good enough for his Luna."

She stroked the diamonds on the crown.

"Too bad you'll never know what it feels like to be cherished like this."

I said nothing, just watched her perform.

Seeing no reaction from me, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. Her tone turned vicious.

"Actually, I came here today to share a little secret with you."

She leaned close to my ear, her voice a low whisper.

"The day the Rogues tore your sister apart, I was standing right behind a tree, watching."

My body went rigid.

"Her screams," Bella continued, her eyes gleaming with a sick excitement, "were more beautiful than the diamonds on this crown."

The blood in my veins boiled.

"Especially when she was screaming your name. 'Harper! Help me! Harper!' Hahaha…"

"Enough," I said, my voice trembling.

"You know what the funniest part was?" Bella wouldn't stop. "She thought you were coming to save her, right up until the very end. But where were you? At home, waiting for your Alpha to come back to you."

The last thread of my sanity snapped.

My wolf may have been sleeping, my body weak, but the urge to tear her apart consumed me.

I lunged, pulling the silver letter opener I'd hidden under my pillow.

It was a "welcome gift" Rogan had sent me earlier, delivered by shadow.

"Go to hell!"

I threw myself at her, the blade slicing through the air, aimed straight for her disgusting face.

Bella, not expecting me to fight back, screamed and scrambled away, but she was too slow.

SLASH—

The sharp blade slashed across her cheek, from the corner of her eye down to her mouth.

Blood sprayed, staining her white lace dress.

“AH! My face! My face!” Bella collapsed, clutching her cheek. “Ethan! Help! She’s trying to kill me!”

The door burst open instantly.

Ethan stormed in like a hurricane.

When he saw Bella, covered in blood, his eyes turned a furious, demonic red.

“Harper!”

He didn’t even ask what happened. He just raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

The force sent me flying into the wall.

"You bitch!" Ethan roared, scooping Bella into his arms. "You used silver on her!"

I pushed myself up from the floor, blood dripping from my lip, but my eyes were cold.

“What? Does it hurt to see her in pain? Did you feel this way when she killed Lily? Did you feel this way when she drank my blood and killed your child?”

“SHUT UP!” Ethan bellowed. “Bella is innocent! You’re the one causing all the problems!”

“After the ceremony, I’m exiling you to the Badlands!” he snarled. “Since you want to be with your sister so badly, I’ll grant your wish!”

Exile. Just as his Beta had threatened.

Stripped of my name, cast out of the territory, left to be hunted by Rogues without an Alpha's protection.

But I wasn’t afraid.

I was no longer the Omega begging for his mercy.

“Fine,” I said, wiping the blood from my mouth, my gaze like ice. “I’ll be waiting.”

Ethan seemed momentarily stunned by the coldness in my eyes, but he quickly recovered his arrogant Alpha posture.

“You will be there tomorrow. Whether you walk or crawl.”

He carried the wailing Bella to the door, then stopped and delivered his final threat.

His voice was as cold as a snake.

“You will kneel and present the Moon Stone to Bella. And if you try anything…”

“I will have your sister’s grave dug up and her ashes scattered in the filth.”

Drums thundered like a heartbeat. The Luna Ceremony had begun.

The plaza was packed with Alphas and nobles from every territory. They were here to see a new Luna crowned. And to watch me, the forsaken mate, take my final, pathetic bow.

Ethan stood on the altar in his perfectly tailored black Alpha suit, radiating power. Bella was beside him, her face veiled, but her eyes gleaming with the thrill of her victory.

"Let's welcome the former mate, Harper, to the stage to complete the final rites!" the Elder announced.

The gates opened, and I walked out in a drab, gray robe of submission.

I kept my head down, my steps slow, hiding every bit of my fire beneath its humiliating folds.

A wave of hushed snickers and cruel whispers rolled through the crowd.

"Look at her. That's what she deserves to be wearing."

"Pathetic. Dumped and still has to show up to this."

"Serves her right. Too weak for our Alpha."

The words were like needles, but I forced myself to endure them.

My plan was simple.

I wouldn't step down. I would expose the truth.

I would reject Ethan in front of everyone. And I would watch the backlash tear his power away, leaving him in agony.

And then I would wait for Rogan to arrive. For the real celebration to begin.

I could feel his power drawing near.

I walked up the altar steps and pulled the cold Moon Stone from my robe. The moon climbed the sky, bathing everything in silver light.

The window for the ritual was about to close, and Bella was getting impatient. She strode up to me, holding out her hand. "What are you waiting for?" she snarled through our mind link. "Hand over the Moon Stone and kneel!"

Just then, she snatched a black wooden box from an attendant and waved it in my face.

"Look what I have," her mental voice dripped with sick excitement. "Look familiar? Ethan just made empty threats yesterday. But me? I follow through."

My blood ran cold.

It was Lily's urn.

His threat from last night… I never thought she'd actually do it.

"Don't you touch her!" My mind screamed with rage. "Bella, I swear to you, don't you touch her!"

"Oh? Are you scared now?" Her mental laugh was gleeful. "Then give me the stone. Or I can't promise I won't 'accidentally' drop this."

Her threat was a blade to my throat. I looked at the urn, and my entire plan teetered on the edge of chaos.

"Fine… I'll give it to you," I forced the words out, slowly extending the Moon Stone.

The moment Bella's fingers closed around the stone, I reached for the urn.

But she "casually" tilted her wrist.

Clatter.

The black box slipped from her grasp and hit the cold stone altar. The lid popped open.

A gust of wind swept across the stage.

Gray-white ashes… a cloud of hopeless dust… lifted into the cold night air and scattered.

"NO—!"

A raw scream tore from my throat. I lunged forward, my hands shaking, desperately trying to catch the last fading specks.

But my fingers closed on nothing.

My only family. The sister I swore I'd protect. And now, even her ashes were gone, scattered in this filthy place.

Lily's bright smile, her last terrified cries… they flooded my mind.

Why did I stay in this hell for a mate who didn't love me? Why couldn't I even protect her last shred of dignity?

Regret and agony crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Ethan frowned. He clearly had no idea what just happened. He looked at the empty box and the dissipating dust. "What is that?" he asked Bella, confused.

It seemed Bella had used some kind of dark magic. No one but me could sense Lily's presence.

"Just some ceremonial moonlight dust," Bella answered dismissively. She turned to the crowd, raising the Moon Stone high. "My beloved pack, from this day forward, I will—"

"Wait."

A voice that was cold, raw, and clawed its way up from hell cut her off.

I slowly pushed myself up from the ground.

All my tears were gone. All that was left was a dead, raging calm.

Ethan's eyes narrowed with impatience. "Harper, stop making a scene. The ceremony is not over."

"You're right," I smiled, a chilling, soulless smile. "It's not over."

In that instant, the Royal blood in my veins erupted.

RRRRIP—!

The gray robe of submission was torn to shreds by an invisible force, fluttering away like dead leaves.

And beneath it was a flash of blinding, blood-red silk.

"You…" Bella stared at me in horror, like she was looking at a ghost that had clawed its way out of the grave.

I walked toward her, my eyes empty of everything but a burning fire.

"I told you not to touch her. Now, it's your turn."

I raised my foot and slammed it into her knee.

"Ah!"

Bella shrieked, tumbling down the altar steps. The expensive Luna Tiara clattered to the ground, shattering.

"Bella!" Ethan roared, lunging to help her, but my next words froze him in place.

"Is this your chosen Luna? A manipulative murderer who'd do anything for power?"

I turned to the stunned crowd.

"You all want to know the truth? Then open your eyes and watch!"

（卡）