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.

The scattered ashes blended into the soil almost instantly.

Staring at the murky puddle, Rosa felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen. Just like that, Henry's ashes were gone?

"I'm so sorry! It wasn't on purpose!"

Ivy covered her mouth. "The ground was slippery…"

Unable to tolerate Ivy's act any longer, Rosa snapped, slapping her across the face. "Shut your mouth! You absolutely did it on purpose!"

Ivy clutched her face, and her voice broke with sobs. "I already apologized and explained it wasn't intentional! Why are you…"

Rosa swung her hand again, but someone grabbed her wrist.

Kyle had appeared out of nowhere. His face was twisted in anger. "Have you lost your mind, Rosa? How dare you hit Ivy? Apologize to her!"

Rosa stared at him in disbelief. She pointed at the ground. "You want me to apologize to the one who disturbed my father's peace?"

Kyle shielded Ivy in his arms. "Apologize! Don't make me say it again!"

"And if I don't?"

Rosa raised her head. Whether it was rain or tears running down her face, it was hard to tell.

"Forget it, Alpha Kyle. My face is just swollen now. It's nothing serious."

Only then did Kyle notice that Ivy's cheek was puffed up.

He turned to Rosa. His eyes were dangerously sharp. "Since you won't apologize, then an eye for an eye it is!"

In the next second, Kyle swung his hand down hard.

Rosa was knocked backward. The moment her lower back slammed into the steps, pain shot through her.

That strike was at least ten times harder than the one she had just given Ivy.

She lay in the mud, unable to get up. Even so, Kyle didn't even look her way, simply bending down and gently wiping the tears from Ivy's face.

"Feel better now?" he asked.

Ivy nodded. "Yeah… I don't blame Luna Rosa anymore."

Kyle scooped Ivy into his arms. "Let's head back to the pack. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

As she lay in the rain, Rosa watched their figures fade into the distance.

"Father…"

Burying her face in the mud, Rosa muttered in a choked voice, "Father… I was wrong. I shouldn't have ignored your advice and insisted on being with him…"

By the time she returned to the fortress, her body had gone stiff from the cold. She collapsed onto the bed, drifting into a daze-filled dream.

She dreamt of the day she turned 20, when Kyle swore at Henry's sickbed, "Alpha Henry, don't worry. Luna Rosa will suffer no harm for as long as I live. Anyone who wants to lay a hand on her will have to do it over my dead body."

Henry had placed Rosa's and Kyle's hands together. "I hope you won't go back on your word."

In the middle of the night, Rosa ran a high fever, which turned the sweet dream into a nightmare.

The gentle young man from the dream was gone. All she saw now was Kyle turning his back on her.

"Rosa… Rosa…"

Someone seemed to be calling her. Rosa forced her heavy eyelids apart, only to find herself lying on top of a giant wolf.

Its scent was all too familiar to Rosa. It was Kyle.

Whenever she didn't feel like walking in the past and acted willfully, Kyle would shift into a wolf to carry her.

Rosa croaked, "Kyle… Where are you taking me?"

Kyle's reply came fast. "That bastard, John, attacked the pack and abducted Ivy."

John? The moment Rosa heard the name, she immediately became fully alert.

John Dunham grew up convinced Rosa was his fated mate, but in the end, she chose to be with Kyle.

Heartbroken, John had taken the followers who were willing to go with him and promised never to return.

"And?" Rosa asked.

"John specifically demanded to see you," Kyle said evenly. "He said he'll only negotiate when he sees you."

Rosa finally caught on. "So, you're trading me for Ivy?"

"John liked you in the past. He won't hurt you. Ivy, on the other hand, won't survive in his hands."

Rosa couldn't help but laugh, and as she laughed, tears started to fall. "So, you do know that was the past."

"Enough complaining!" Kyle growled. "Once I get Ivy out, I'll come back for you right away. I promise."

Leaping from a high ledge, he landed in front of an abandoned mine in the wasteland.

John and a group of werewolves were already waiting.

"I brought her," Kyle said, pushing Rosa forward. "Release Ivy."

John wolf-whistled the moment his gaze fell on Rosa.

"Long time no see, my dear Rosa. Back then, you were even willing to sacrifice your life for him. It hasn't even been more than ten years, and you're already reduced to this?"

He glanced at Kyle. "You seriously have no idea how to cherish a beauty, Kyle."

"Enough talk. Swap them now!" Kyle exclaimed, fixing his gaze on John.

"You really care for your little lover, huh?"

John kicked Ivy aside, and two of his men immediately dragged Rosa over.

Tears streamed down Ivy's face. "Kyle, I'm scared."

"You're safe now. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm here," Kyle said, holding Ivy close. He seemed to completely forget Rosa's existence.

Kneeling on the ground, Rosa watched the two disappear. Her heart filled with desolation. "So, this is what you meant by 'she's just a plaything,' Kyle…"

John grabbed Rosa by the chin. "Still moping over that punk? Take a good look, Rosa. That is the person you insisted on being with, even if it meant defying the previous Alpha."

He buried his face in Rosa's neck. "Tonight, you're going to realize just how foolish your past choice really was!"

With that, John hoisted Rosa over his shoulder and strode toward the depths of the mine.

The werewolves behind him howled in excitement. "That's right, boss! Teach her a hard lesson!"