I stared at Craig with a heavy, gnawing sense of disappointment eating away at me. There was a time when I admired every line and curve of his face, thinking of it as a masterpiece brought to life. Now, seeing him filled me only with revulsion and bitterness.

Just as Craig was about to speak, Sonya cut in, her voice laced with fake pain and melodrama. “Alpha, I’m feeling dizzy again, and my cheeks are burning. Can you check if they’re swollen?”

Craig’s attention immediately snapped to her, genuine concern flashing in his eyes. Sonya wasted no time, collapsing dramatically into his embrace with a heavy sigh. The handprint I had left on her pale cheek stood as a vivid testament to the rage I had unleashed.

Tears glistened in Sonya’s eyes, and the Alpha tenderly brushed them away with a gentle touch that felt too familiar. I recalled a time when he had shown that same kindness to me. When we were younger, he would have helped me up if I stumbled and comforted me just like that. But now, those moments of warmth seemed like nothing more than distant memories.

His face hardened abruptly, transformed into something chilling and ruthless. “Kristen, apologize to your sister.”

I lifted my chin defiantly, locking eyes with him, unwavering in my stance. “No.”

Craig’s surprise was evident, his eyebrows rising in shock at my bold refusal. In the past, when he held nothing but disdain for me, I treaded carefully around him, desperate to earn even the smallest shred of his approval. Despite the depth of my feelings for him, it never seemed to be enough, especially with Sonya always in the picture.

Looking back, Sonya’s hatred for me had been clear from early on. Since childhood, she resented me for being better, more capable—a bitterness that only grew stronger when I was entrusted with the Moonstone, an heirloom she had coveted for years.

When she found out about my feelings for Alpha Craig, she deliberately started vying for his attention, pretending affection. But I never expected her to come back to Moonridge after her fated mate’s death and cause even more chaos in my life.

Craig’s moment of surprise lasted only a few seconds before he settled back onto the couch, still cradling my sister protectively. His voice cut through the thick silence, sharp and commanding. “Kristen, don’t push me.”

Suddenly, the wolf guards—summoned by Craig’s mental command—appeared and stopped me from leaving. Their presence was stern, cold, and authoritative as they escorted me back to face both Craig and Sonya.

Craig reclined on the couch with a casual ease, but the tension in the room was suffocating. He looked at me with a detached, almost bored expression. “Apologize to Sonya.”

Sonya’s grin was a mix of smug satisfaction and silent challenge. She turned to my mate, speaking softly and sweetly. “It’s fine, Alpha. Kristen didn’t mean what she said.”

Craig’s eyes filled with pity as he looked back at her. “You’re too kind. Even though you’ve always been nice to her, she’s never accepted you as her sister.”

Then his gaze chilled as it locked on me. “Anyone who harms Sonya will pay dearly.”

His meaning was clear—he wanted me to suffer. He motioned to the guards, who stepped forward and forced me down onto my knees. As I bowed my head in submission, Craig’s lips curled into a satisfied, almost cruel smile. One of the guards raised his hand, ready to strike.

But Sonya intervened just then. “Alpha, she’s still my sister. I’m worried the guards might hurt her too badly. If anyone should punish her, it should be me.”

Craig nodded approvingly at that. Sonya lifted her hand and slapped me twice across the cheek, her nails digging into my skin, leaving sharp, burning lines.

She glanced at Craig, conflicted. “Alpha, I hurt Kristen. What should I do now?”

Craig’s reply was icy and dismissive. “She had it coming. You’re too soft, worrying about her after she hurt you first.”

The guards finally stepped back, releasing me, and I crumpled awkwardly onto the floor. Craig’s gaze remained cold and unyielding as he looked down at me. “You owe Sonya an apology.”

Owe her an apology? Sonya was the one who insulted my son, accusing my baby of lying! Dustin would never deceive anyone! Yet this worthless Alpha always sided with her, no matter the truth.

I glared up at him, my voice thick with bitter resentment. “In your wildest dreams.”

“I hate you, Alpha!” I yelled, the words ripping from my throat.

As I fixed my eyes on Alpha Craig, there wasn’t a single flicker of affection left—only a raging, burning hatred simmering beneath the surface. His brow drew together tightly, clearly unsettled by the fierce intensity of my stare.

“Kristen,” he said, trying to sound calm and reasonable, “just do as I say, and you’ll get whatever you want. We can hold the celebration for your son’s birthday—just like you wished.”

But his words rang hollow, bitter, and mocking. What was the point of celebrating now that Dustin was gone? My mate had already made his priorities clear—Sonya came first, while our son was pushed aside. Everyone in the pack knew it; Craig had always favored my sister’s presence at every banquet and public event, leaving me alone and disrespected in my role as Luna of Moonridge.

Now, with Dustin dead, Craig was using the promise of a birthday celebration as a manipulative tool to bend me to his will. It was a cruel, disgusting tactic—playing on my grief just to force me back under his control.

I fought hard to keep the anguish from breaking through my expression as I met his gaze without flinching. “No need, Alpha. It’s over. I’m leaving this place—the nightmare you wanted me trapped in. Enjoy your perfect little world with Sonya.”

Craig’s reaction showed he couldn’t believe what I was saying. A sneer twisted his lips in contempt. “What? You’re not coming to me? Pretending you still need me to care for your son?”

His voice dripped with disdain, a tone I was well accustomed to. Before I could answer, Sonya cut in, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “Kristen, don’t lie to our Alpha. If Dustin was truly dying, why would you be here by yourself?”

That was the last straw. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Shut your mouth! You have no right to speak about my son.”

Sonya’s expression changed instantly, a mix of wounded hurt and smug satisfaction crossing her face. “Fine, I won’t mention him again. Don’t be mad at me, Kristen.”

Craig watched my fierce anger toward Sonya with visible irritation. He let out a cold, amused chuckle, then pulled out his phone and dialed Beta Yuriel. To make sure I caught every word, he switched the call to speaker mode.

“Beta Yuriel,” Craig commanded, his tone sharp and commanding, “find out where my son is. Bring him to me.”

He glanced at me with a smug smirk, as if summoning Dustin would somehow prove he still held power over me.

I forced a bitter, weary smile, overwhelmed by the hopelessness of my situation.

Then Beta Yuriel’s hesitant voice came through the speaker, trembling but clear. “Alpha… Dustin passed away days ago. It happened the day after you left the territory with Sonya.”