The Borderlands served as the pack's execution ground, located at the edge of a cliff where bitter winds howled year-round.

The next morning, two warriors dragged me there like a rag doll.

My spine was broken. I had no feeling in my lower body. I could only crawl across the ground littered with sharp rocks, leaving a long trail of blood behind me.

Julian arrived with Linda, and Kyle. A warrior held Kyle by the scruff of his neck, dangling him in the air.

Kyle's little face had turned purple. His limbs flailed weakly.

"Julian, I had a witch verify it last night. She said Kyle isn't werewolf blood at all. He's a bastard Ella had with some Rogue! She's been lying to you this whole time!"

This was the greatest insult to an Alpha. Julian's face turned black as coal. He stared at Kyle, his disgust so thick it was almost tangible.

"No wonder he's so weak," Julian ground out through clenched teeth. "Three years old and he still can't shift. He's a mongrel."

"No, that's not true..." I crawled desperately toward Julian, my fingers digging into the dirt. My nails tore back, leaving them bloody and raw.

"Julian, he's your pup! He really is! Please, don't believe her! Don't hurt him!"

"Shut up!" Julian kicked me in the jaw.

"I don't care if this pup is mine or not! I'm going to kill him anyway!"

My mouth filled with blood. My teeth loosened, but I couldn't focus on the pain.

"Julian, kill me instead. Please spare Kyle. He's only three. He's innocent!" I slammed my head against the rocks over and over.

"I'm begging you. He called you Daddy!"

Julian let out a cold laugh and pulled a silver knife from his belt. But he didn't act himself. He handed the knife to Linda instead.

"Linda." Julian stroked her hair. "You do it. Clear your name and rid the pack of this stain."

Linda took the knife, her face twisting into something vicious. She stopped pretending. The malice in her eyes was like a snake's.

She didn't rush. Instead, she seemed to savor the moment, her gaze moving between Kyle and me like we were works of art.

"Ella, since you look so pitiful, let's play a game."

She glanced at Julian in the distance. The lofty Alpha stood with his arms crossed, watching everything with a blank expression.

"Since you want to save this little bastard so badly..." Linda's lips curved upward. "Do it yourself. Julian broke your spine, so your legs don't work anymore. But the bones are still intact, and they're an eyesore."

She pointed at the rocks on the ground. "Break them. Smash your own leg bones to pieces. Then I'll let Kyle go."

"Okay." I didn't hesitate for even a second.

If Kyle could live, I'd give not just my legs but my life without question. I grabbed a sharp-edged rock nearby. My spine was shattered, so my lower body was completely numb.

But that made it easier, didn't it?

The first blow took all my strength. The sound of breaking bones rang out, and my right shin bent at a grotesque angle. The werewolf warriors around us sucked in sharp breaths.

Without pain, I might as well have been smashing a piece of rotten wood. Meanwhile, Julian's eye twitched, but he still didn't move.

"One more." I panted, my voice hoarse from exertion.

The second blow shattered my left tibia. I dropped the blood-soaked rock and braced my hands against the ground. Like a broken animal, I lifted my head.

"Let him go. Please, let him go."

Linda covered her mouth and took a theatrical step back. "Oh my God, you actually did it? That sound gave me goosebumps. What a shame you can't feel pain. You're not even screaming. This is so boring."

Linda crouched down and pressed the pure silver blade against my cheek. The moment silver touched werewolf skin, acrid white smoke rose into the air. Searing pain shot through me.

"A she-wolf's face is what she treasures most, isn't it?" Linda's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Especially this face. You were so proud of it when you seduced Julian, weren't you?"

She held the knife handle out to me.

"Ruin it. I want wounds so deep they reach bone. Silver poison that will never heal. I want your face to scare pups when you walk down the street."

My hands trembled as I took the knife. The silver handle burned my palm like a red-hot brand.

I looked at Kyle. He was frozen in terror, unable to even cry.

After everything he'd endured, Kyle was desperately weak. He could only stare at me with wide eyes, his little hands grasping helplessly at the air.

I mumbled, "Don't be afraid, baby. Mommy's here. It doesn't hurt."

I gritted my teeth and aimed the blade at my cheekbone. The sharp silver edge pierced my skin. It felt like acid had been poured over me, the burning sensation exploding instantly.

I didn't pause. I pressed down hard and dragged the blade.

Flesh peeled back. Blood gushed out, mixing with black smoke from the burning silver. This wound was beyond even my werewolf healing abilities.

I was in so much pain. Cold sweat soaked through my back, but I didn't make a sound.

I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of hearing me scream. I wouldn't let her draw pleasure from my suffering.

A vicious gash cut across half my face, carved into what had once been smooth skin. I must have looked like something crawled out of hell.

"Is that enough?" I dropped the knife. Blood dripped from my chin into the dirt. "Let Kyle go."

Linda picked up the knife, now covered in my flesh and blood. She lifted it to her nose and sniffed, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "So obedient."

She stood and brushed at nonexistent dust on her skirt. Then she walked past me, straight toward the warrior holding Kyle.

"You did well, but… Julian said we need to eliminate the stain."

She reached out and wrapped her hand around Kyle's small throat. Linda looked into my eyes and mouthed the words silently. "I lied."

"No... no..." My voice came out in a hoarse cry, blood frothing from my throat.

Linda raised the knife and aimed it at Kyle's tiny heart. Kyle said weakly, "Ms. Linda, you said you wouldn't hurt Mommy anymore."

"Silly. Why would I ever let you live?"

The blade fell, and blood sprayed everywhere. Kyle's body jerked violently. The light in his eyes faded fast.

He looked at me. His little mouth opened as if he wanted to call for me, but no sound came out.

His head dropped. Time stopped at that moment, and I could feel my entire world collapsing.

An inhuman howl tore from my throat. My pupils contracted to pinpoints, and the whites of my eyes flooded red with blood. Overwhelming grief and hatred shattered my body's limits.

Though my shattered spine prevented a full shift, my head and arms forced themselves into wolf form. Gray fur erupted wildly across my skin. My nails extended into razor-sharp claws.

I slammed my head against the ground over and over as if something had possessed me. Blood and dirt mixed together.

My pup. My darling Kyle. He was dead. Murdered right in front of his own father by that vile woman.