From the very beginning, I was drawn to Balthar, even before my wolf awakened and the whole mating bond became a part of my life.

What started as innocent puppy love grew into something deeper. I found myself constantly pursuing his attention, doing everything I could to make him notice me, hoping that one day he’d look at me the way I looked at him.

But perhaps I tried too hard. Somewhere along the way, he began to resent me for it.

After his coming-of-age ceremony, when he learned that I was his true mate—not Nayra—he only grew colder. Everything I had done to get closer to him, all the gifts, surprises, and efforts to win his heart, he turned around and did for her.

Even though I knew my love was hopelessly one sided, I still stayed by his side. I came to ask myself why I didn’t walk away. Wouldn’t it have been easier to let Balthar go and let Nayra have him?

Was it because of what my parents had said?

They warned me that rejecting a mate bond was a rebellion against the Moon Goddess herself, and it would brought a huge shame on our family. My father always said that no matter how hard we fought it, we werewolves would eventually return to our fated mates. The bond was inevitable.

And so, I continued to love Balthar, even as our families arranged our marriage. That led him to temporarily stop pursuing Nayra, though it didn’t change his feelings. Regardless the chaos of that time, my sister chose to leave, moving to another pack to study. It was there that she found her fated mate.

Balthar’s resentment toward me only deepened after that. He made every effort to avoid any involvement in our mating ceremony, openly declaring in front of both families that a forced marriage didn’t deserve any celebration.

In the end, neither of us could fight the power our families held over us, and the marriage went through.

Years later, Nayra unexpectedly returned from the neighboring pack. Along with her completed studies, she brought news that her fated mate had died in a tragic accident.

Despite finding her whole situation rather odd, I didn’t dwell on it much since my parents didn't really fuss about it too. What I knew was that Nayra would linger around Balthar, and my fated mate would devote his attention for my sister.

Then it struck me.

I understood why Balthar resented me, but why did he treat Balto with such coldness? What had my son done to deserve being treated as if he didn’t even exist?

"Alpha Balthar, I feel nauseous again," my sister suddenly said, leaning into him for support.

My eyes narrowed as I watched them. Their interaction sickened me.

Balthar used to be so handsome, his muscular and masculine features almost mesmerizing. But now? All I could feel was disgust.

Nayra seized the moment and escalated it even further. With her eyes glistening with unshed tears, she pressed closer to him, prompting Balthar to cradle her in his protective embrace.

"My cheek hurt too. Can you check if it’s swollen?" she asked, her voice fragile and pleading.

The scene felt painfully familiar, like a déjà vu.

I'd seen Nayra pull this act many times when we were younger—be it with our parents, the council elders, or our teachers. Always playing the victim, always seeking attention.

She’d always harbored a silent grudge against me. I couldn't pinpoint when it began, but after the Lunaria comet shower, the day sacred to our Dawnwynd Pack, her animosity grew bolder.

That day marked a tradition—the passing of the Lunar Crystalis from the previous holder to someone they deemed worthy. And I was chosen.

The stone was said to strengthen the bond between a wolf and its spirit, granting the wielder an unbreakable connection. But despite possessing it, I had never summoned its power. I had been too afraid.

Now, with Balto gone, I had nothing left to cling to. Even though I knew my bond with my wolf was weak, I lost the will to even try to repair it.

"Apologize to your sister, Elmyra," Balthar demanded, his glare cold and piercing.

I lifted my chin defiantly, meeting his gaze. "No way!"

I could tell by the silence and the flicker of shock in Balthar’s eyes that he hadn’t expected my defiance.

If it were me a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have dared to disobey him. Back then, I was always careful, doing everything I could to stay on his good side, terrified of losing what little trust he had left in me. More than anything, I feared that my mistakes would put Balto at an even greater disadvantage.

But now, something had shifted within me.

Balthar quickly regained his usual calm, the stoic mask he’d perfected as alpha of the Night Howl pack slipping back into place.

“You wouldn’t want to see me angrier than I already am,” he said, though his voice had softened, his previous fury noticeably fading.

I felt a surge of skepticism at his words.

Why should I care? No matter how much I devoted myself to him, he had never truly acknowledged it. Especially when Nayra was still by his side.

Then, a faint ringing echoed in my mind, the familiar whistle signaling the pack alpha’s call through the mind link. Moments later, Balthar’s wolf guards emerged from various directions, standing ready to block my path.

The alpha crossed his arms over his chest. To anyone else, it would look like confidence, but I knew him too well—he was hiding his anxiety. He tried to maintain his cold, detached expression as he addressed me.

"I’ll give you another chance. Apologize to Nayra."

Nayra’s eyes lit up immediately. Her feigned frailty disappeared, replaced by a smug, victorious smile. She tugged gently on Balthar’s sleeve, her voice soft but dripping with false sweetness.

"You didn’t have to call your warriors, Alpha. I’m sure Elmyra didn’t mean to slap me."

Balthar chuckled darkly. "You’re too kind, even after what she’s done. She said it herself—she doesn’t care that you’re sisters."

His gaze hardened as he turned to me, his voice cold and final. "Anyone who hurts you will pay the price. Blood ties be damned."

My ears twitched at his words, and before I could react, the wolf guards forced me to my knees, pushing my head down. When I looked up, I caught the satisfied smirk playing on Balthar’s lips.

Just then, Nayra stepped forward. "Alpha, stop!"

Balthar hesitated, then signaled the guards to release me.

"Your guards are strong," Nayra said, casting a glance at me. "I’m afraid my sister won’t survive their strength. She’s still my sister, after all. If anyone should teach her a lesson, let it be me."

I gritted my teeth, my body tense with rage. Her intervention wasn’t kindness—it was a calculated move and I knew it all too well.

Balthar gave a curt nod of approval, and before I could brace myself, Nayra slapped me across the face. Not once, but twice. The sharp sting burns both of my cheeks.

A gasp escaped Nayra’s lips soon after, her tone masked in horror. “Oh no…” Her voice trembled with regret, but her expression betrayed her. If Balthar were in my place, he’d see the triumphant gleam hidden beneath her feigned remorse.

She turned to him, her voice quivering. “Alpha, I... I’ve hurt my own sister. Am I doing the right thing?”

Balthar chuckled, a cold, short sound as he stepped forward, ruffling her hair as if she were a child. “I've told you, Nayra. You’re too kind. She slapped you first, and this is what she deserved,” he said, his tone dismissive.

The guards finally released me, and I crumpled to the floor. Balthar’s gaze was locked on me, unyielding, as though I were something beneath him. “You still owe Nayra an apology.”

Like hell I did! Nayra was the one who started this.

She was the one who slandered Balto, accusing him of faking his illness. How could this Alpha be so blind to the truth?

I glared up at him, my voice laced with venom. “She owes ME an apology!” I shouted, a feral snarl tearing from my throat.

I could feel my wolf stirring inside, weak but simmering with rage, threatening to overtake me. My gaze bore into Balthar, burning with loathing. “Curse you, Balthar. I pray you rot in the deepest part of the abyss.”

His brow furrowed, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of unease cross his face, unsettled by the fury behind my words.

“How dare you speak to the alpha that way?” one of the guards bellowed at me.

He was about to strike but Balthar intevened. “Hold it!”

"Elmyra," he said, his voice attempting a note of reason, "you really need to work on your emotions. I’ll ignore what you had just said and let your disrespect pass this time. Just apologize to Nayra and I’ll give you whatever you want. You want me to celebrate your son’s birthday? Fine, we can make a schedule for one day for that."

I balled my hands into fists. The fact that he used Balto to win over felt like an ulitmate insult to my pride, as a wolf, as a woman, as an omega.

I came to realize that my decision to stay mostly at home could at least safe his face from the gossiping mouths, that Balthar was having an affair with my sister.

Then I remembered, that man, he often brought Nayra into his important events, showcasing his own achievement in having unfaithful relationship with her current legal Luna of the pack.

Lastly, the fact that my son had already dead doubled the anger that already settled in my heart.

I hated Balthar.

I despised him.

I had enough of him!

"That’s kind of too late, don’t you think?” I replied. “You need not to do anything. We’re done, Balthar. I’m leaving this hellhole, just as you’ve always wanted. Enjoy your new life with Nayra." I turned to grab my my belongings and walked towards the road.

The carriage that I had ordered was already there with its driver sticking out his head looking over my direction seemingly worried.

“You’ll effectively be exiled if you stepped out of Night Howl territory, Elmyra!” Balthar shouted from afar. It seemed my departure was beyond Balthar’s comprehension. His sneer betrayed his disbelief.

“That’s great! I’ll make sure I’ll step out of this spiteful territory then!” I replied after I asked the driver to open the door to load my luggage first.

"Elmyra, you need to stop acting childish and causing troubles to our Alpha!” Nayra interjected.

I’d given her what she wanted, to live freely with Balthar, why she protested?

Ah, whatever.

I ignored her and closed the luggage trunk. Just before I was about to step into the passanger seat, Nayra shouted.

“If Balto were really dying, then why are you leaving then? Aren’t you deceiving the alpha this way?"

“Shut your fucking mouth, Nayra! You’ve gotten what you wanted!” I glared at her, my hands gripping to the carriage door. “You have no right to speak of my son."

Nayra’s face fell, hurt masking her satisfaction. "Alright, I won’t mention him again. Don’t be mad at me, Elmyra."

I rolled my eyes.

I could see Balthar’s irritation was palpable as he witnessed my hostility towards Nayra. Yet I continued to get into the carriage.

Then, in that moment, I could hear Balthar’s voice in my mind link. I hissed. Why didn’t he just exile me already?!

"Yuriel!" Balthar called out too his Beta, his voice commanding, "find out where my son is. Bring him to me."

“Alpha Balthar…” through the telepathic link, Yuriel's voice was hesitant and cautious, "Sir Balto had passed away days ago. It happened during the night of you leaving for the the glowing apple festival in the Mapple Baum Pack."