Rosa had just returned to the fortress when she noticed servants hurrying in and out of the room next to their main bedroom.

That room was where she kept her wedding gifts and Henry's keepsake, and besides their main bedroom, it had the best light in the entire fortress.

Kyle was standing on the stone steps, directing the servants as they dragged Rosa's belongings out and haphazardly piled them in a dark corner of the corridor.

"You're back?"

He regarded Rosa from above. His tone was full of entitlement as he said, "Ivy's been having nightmares lately. The full moon is tomorrow. Since she's a captive with no family to protect her, I'm letting her stay here."

Rosa's gaze fell on Henry's portrait, which was dumped on the floor. The anger she felt instantly became more intense than the pain in her hand. "On top of being from another pack, she's a captive!"

Rosa rushed forward to stop the servants. "By Pack Law, captives can only stay in the dungeons or outer barracks. They have no right to stay inside the fortress! Kyle, what you're doing is an insult to my father!"

Kyle's eyes turned cold, and his Alpha aura exploded from him. "The Alpha sets the laws. In this pack, my word is law!"

No longer wanting to hear another word from her, he swung his hand hard. Before Rosa could even react, she was flung back by a powerful, invisible gust of wind.

She slammed into a stone pillar in the corridor. Blood ran down over her eye, turning half the world before her red.

Clutching her forehead, she stared at the man who had once sworn he'd take a knife for her in disbelief. "Kyle, you actually laid a hand on me?"

Even Kyle seemed startled by the strength he'd used on her. He approached her, using his thumb to wipe the blood from her temple.

"I know that you said Ivy is a war captive and doesn't deserve to stay here. But since you're injured and can't get around easily now, she can move in to take care of you. She knows a bit about herbs after all. She'll simply be serving you."

Rosa froze. Wow. What a perfectly justified excuse.

Not only was he letting the other woman move in, but he was also dressing it up as "taking care of her"? What kind of twisted logic was that?

Holding her bleeding forehead, Rosa stared at Kyle through her blurred vision. Somehow, he seemed like a stranger to her.

Back when they first bonded, she had slipped in the bath and scraped her knee.

Back then, Kyle's eyes had gone red with worry. He then replaced all the carpets with the thickest plush ones and even padded the corners of the tables. He had said, "Rosa, I'll never let you get hurt in my territory again."

And yet, now, he had made her bleed with his own hands. How ironic.

Just then, a slender figure appeared at the doorway. Ivy, who was wearing a thin white dress, looked proud and aloof. "Luna Rosa, I think you've misunderstood."

She continued in a cold voice, "I'm not the one who wants to move in… It's your mate. He's just too overbearing. I'm just a captive Omega. I can't refuse the orders of someone more powerful than me."

Though she spoke of being forced, she stepped inside naturally, as if this place had always been hers.

She gave Rosa a look that was totally devoid of respect. "Luna Rosa, I made this herbal decoction just for you. It's very effective on external injuries. You can use this on the wound on your forehead. Consider this my compensation to you."

Ivy approached Rosa, wanting to apply the decoction to her wound.

However, the moment the soaked cloth touched Rosa's wound, a searing pain overwhelmed her.

Rosa broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. That mixture wasn't for pain relief at all. A tiny amount of wolfbane had been added. Though the mixture wouldn't blister her skin, the pain was excruciating. "You…"

Rosa's vision was starting to go dark from the pain, and she instinctively shoved Ivy away.

The decoction spilled everywhere. Ivy fell backward before hitting her head on the floor.

She let out a startled cry, and tears spilled down her face. "Luna Rosa, I know you hate me, but I just wanted to ease your pain. Why did you have to do that to me?"

Kyle helped Ivy up, then turned his glare on Rosa. "Rosa, Ivy was just trying to help you! How could you push her? When did you become this nasty? Have you forgotten that as the Luna, you're supposed to be tolerant of your pack members?"

As wolfsbane had seeped into her wound, the pain rendered Rosa unable to speak. And yet, her mate turned a blind eye to all of it, caring only for the she-wolf who hadn't even gotten a scratch.

Ivy cried as she struggled to leave. "Alpha Kyle, if I'm not welcome here, then I'll leave…"

"Who dares make you leave?"

Kyle stopped her before coldly ordering Rosa, "Apologize to Ivy. If you don't, you'll regret it!"

Rosa lifted her head. Her blood and cold sweat mingled. "You're going to force your Luna to apologize to a captive from a different pack?"

Kyle said coldly, "It's so you'll learn some manners. Don't make me repeat myself!"

Rosa squared her shoulders. Her teeth were clenched, and she was determined not to lower her head. "I see."

Running out of patience, Kyle leaned in close to Rosa. "If you don't apologize, then your father's old guards won't be needed anymore. I'll send them to the deadliest edges of the territory as cannon fodder."

They were the last elite guards Henry had left for the pack, the pack members who had watched her grow up. Rosa shuddered violently.

As she looked at the man who was no longer the one she once knew, the last bit of affection she held for him disappeared entirely.

How dare he treat Henry's guards like tools for that woman?

Rosa stared at him, feeling utterly empty inside. She could've sworn Kyle used to be different.

In the past, if anyone so much as disrespected Rosa, Kyle would've torn out their throat without hesitation and said, "My Luna bows to no one."

Yet, he was now forcing her to apologize to a captive who, by right, should've been kneeling at her feet.

"Forget it, Alpha Kyle. How could a lowly Omega like me deserve an apology from the noble Luna?" Ivy said magnanimously, as if sparing Rosa.

That only made Kyle angrier. "Apologize!"

The servants nearby whispered among themselves. Some even muttered that Kyle was going to replace his Luna.

Rosa took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll apologize."

She slowly bent at the waist toward Ivy, enunciating each word as she said, "I am sorry."

"Louder! Did you skip a meal or what?" Kyle barked.

Rosa clenched her fists. "I'm sorry!"

A flicker of triumph crossed Ivy's gaze, though she acted all flustered and afraid on the surface. "It's alright, Luna Rosa. Next time, try not to do a good person wrong.

"After all, you'll be addressing the pack at the Full Moon Run tomorrow night. Me being wronged is nothing. Losing the trust of the pack would be the real problem."

She got behind Kyle and lightly tugged on his sleeve, no longer resisting his touch as she had earlier.

Kyle stiffened. His face lit up with excitement like a child who'd just been handed candy.

His reaction hurt Rosa more than words could. Kyle frowned deeply as he stared at the silent Rosa.

"Ivy's talking to you. Why aren't you responding? Don't forget that you're the one who hurt her. If you want to show sincere remorse, then you should personally help her integrate into the pack during the Full Moon Run tomorrow night."

Rosa was about to refuse when Kyle added in a tone that brooked no argument, "You're the Luna. Ivy's new and in a sensitive position. If even you refuse to support her, how do you expect the others to respect her?

"Don't test my patience. If I don't see you tomorrow night, those guards will pay the price."

The mention of Henry's guards left Rosa no choice but to agree bitterly.

…

At the gathering, young werewolves crowded around Ivy, eager to win their Alpha's approval.

Ivy approached Rosa with two cups of honey wine. "Luna Rosa, I specially made this for you. I added herbs that can calm the nerves. Drink this, and let's put everything that happened behind us."

The color of the wine looked slightly off, so Rosa didn't want to drink it. Just as she was about to refuse, Kyle shot her a sharp look.

Without a choice, she took the cup and downed the wine in one gulp. As the atmosphere grew livelier, someone suggested playing a game called Hunters.

To make Ivy happy, Kyle deliberately lost again and again, giving away his finest furs and gemstones.

When Ivy won another round, the onlookers began to jeer playfully, "Giving away things is boring. How about a kiss instead?"

"Forget kissing! Go for a playful neck bite!"

Biting someone's neck in public was no joke. For werewolves, it was practically a public courtship and marking.

Rosa refused to believe Kyle would go along with such a frivolous suggestion. Yet, in the very next moment, he agreed to it.

All she could do was watch them act intimately in a daze. It felt like her heart was being sliced apart piece by piece.

Soon after, Ivy lost a round. The crowd roared again.

Ivy blushed, staying quiet.

"Kyle…" Rosa called out instinctively, hoping to stop him.

Ignoring Rosa, Kyle grabbed Ivy and leaned in for a bite.

Ivy staggered away as she avoided his touch. Her tone held a mix of embarrassment and indignation.

"What do you take me for, Alpha Kyle? I'm not that kind of she-wolf."

The others exchanged glances.

Someone whistled, teasing, "Can't even handle a she-wolf? Maybe Alpha Kyle isn't capable of it."

"Who says I'm not?"

Kyle's desire to dominate was stirred. His gaze darkened with desire as he looked at Ivy.

Ivy fled, while he chased her. Afraid of hurting her, he held back each time he caught her.

Despite his flirtatious bites being cut short again and again over several rounds of the cat-and-mouse chase, rather than being discouraged, Kyle only got even more worked up.

Finally, Kyle pinned Ivy down on the couch. Shamelessly, he leaned in to bite her neck in front of everyone.

Howls erupted from all around. The energy in the air reached a fever pitch.

Everyone was caught up in the excitement—everyone except Rosa, who was sitting alone in the corner. Not only was her heart in agony, but her body was starting to feel off.

The searing pain in her throat made it nearly impossible to draw a breath.

It dawned on Rosa that there was something wrong with the honey wine. It had been laced with silver powder.

Rosa struggled to her feet and grabbed Kyle's sleeve.

"Kyle… There's silver in the wine… Save me…"

Swept up in excitement, Kyle didn't even glance at Rosa when he heard her. "How annoying! You pick now to ruin the mood? Ivy's just a captive. Where would she get silver powder?"

"I didn't… say…"

"Enough!"

Shoving Rosa aside, Kyle lowered his head again to bite Ivy. A low, beastly growl escaped him.

This time, Ivy didn't resist. Just as Rosa collapsed, Ivy wrapped her legs around Kyle's waist.

"I once swore I'd never let an enemy's teeth near my neck. But if this is just a game, I don't mind you leaving your mark on me."

She tilted her head willingly, exposing her throat.

Watching the woman who had fought tooth and nail just moments ago finally give in, Kyle became so consumed with excitement that he forgot everything else, including Rosa, who was in the corner.

As the poison reached Rosa's heart, her vision went black, and she fell unconscious.

At the last second before darkness swallowed Rosa, all she heard was the pack's cheers and Ivy asking, "Why is Luna Rosa unconscious?"

Right away, an urgent voice called out, "Rosa!"

How noisy. Rosa thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she just died right then. However, with only four days left until their bond dissolved, dying now would be such a waste.

When Rosa came to again, she was lying in the healing hall.

Her throat burned like it was on fire. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. Outside the door, she could hear someone sobbing.

"I'm sorry… I really didn't know that there was silver in it."

Ivy's voice sounded broken and helpless. "If anything happens to Luna Rosa, I'm willing to give my life to make up for it…"

"What are you saying?"

Kyle's voice rang out, but he wasn't scolding Ivy. "Don't talk about giving up your life so casually. She has a strong body. She won't die."

Rosa stared blankly at the ceiling. Her eyes felt rather dry. Even though she had nearly died, in his eyes, she simply wouldn't die.

The portiere rustled, and Kyle stepped in.

There was hardly a flicker of relief or joy in his eyes when he saw that Rosa was awake. He merely remarked, "You're awake? Ivy spent half the night kneeling outside because of you. Since you're fine, let's call it even."

Rosa stared at him, questioning him with nothing but her gaze.

Kyle frowned. "What's with that look? It's not like Ivy did it on purpose."

Then, without giving Rosa another glance, he took Ivy, who was still wiping her tears, by the hand and strode away.

For the rest of the day, Rosa lay alone in the healing hall.

She could hear the cheers of the pack from the window.

Kyle had taken Ivy hunting in the forest. Rosa had begged him to take her there for three years, but he never did.

Rumor had it that Ivy caught a snowshoe hare, and Kyle was so pleased he rewarded the whole pack.

Rosa shut her eyes, burying the bitterness deep within her. On the day of her discharge, the sky was overcast. A storm was approaching.

Kyle's car was waiting in front of the healing hall, but he wasn't there for her. He was holding a bouquet of white irises. Seeing Rosa come out, he tossed them to her. "For your father's memorial."

Rosa caught the flowers, thinking maybe Kyle hadn't completely forgotten about her after all. However, as she opened the car door, she found Ivy already seated in her seat.

Instead of making a scene, Rosa silently got into the back seat. By the time they reached the cemetery, it was already pouring.

The guards watching over the cemetery rushed over. Worry was etched on their faces. "Alpha Kyle, the recent heavy rains have loosened the soil on the hill. The previous Alpha's tomb is at risk of collapse. We need to relocate the urn immediately."

Kyle nodded. "Alright. Get to it."

Rosa struggled up the slippery stone steps. Her body was still weak.

The guards quickly dug open the tomb and took out the urn.

"I'll take it," Rosa said, waving the guards aside before picking up the urn.

She pressed the icy urn to her chest, and it gave her a faint sense of long-lost comfort.

"Luna Rosa, the rain's coming down hard. Allow me to shield you with this."

Ivy came up beside her without warning. She was holding a black umbrella.

"There's no need!"

Just as Rosa tried to move aside, Ivy slipped and fell forward in a panic.

Rosa, who was already weak, lost her balance from the impact and fell backward.

Her back slammed hard against the edge of the stone steps. The sudden pain made her vision go dark, and her hands fell slack on reflex.

The obsidian urn slipped and flew from her grasp. With a crisp crack, it shattered into pieces.