At night, Erwin knocked on my door.

"Alyssa wants stew. Go make some."

I looked down and silently walked to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, I prepared the ingredients mechanically. Cold water ran over my hands. My fingertips felt numb from the chill.

Suddenly, I recalled how Erwin used to love the stew I made.

Back then, he liked to wrap his arms around my waist from behind and say, "My future mate is such a good cook."

The steam blurred my vision.

I raised a hand and wiped the liquid from the corner of my eyes. I didn't know if it was from the steam or my own tears.

Three hours later, I stood outside their door with the finished stew.

"Come in." Erwin's voice came from inside.

When I pushed the door open, I saw Alyssa leaning against the headboard while Erwin sat beside the bed. He was peeling fruit for her.

He had a very particular way of peeling fruit. The peel came off in one long unbroken strip. It was something he had once learned specially for me.

"The stew is ready." I set the bowl on the nightstand.

Alyssa lazily picked up a spoon and took a sip. She immediately frowned.

"It's too salty! What on earth were you thinking?"

I pursed my lips. "I'll make it again."

When the second bowl was brought over, Alyssa only tasted a mouthful before pushing it away.

"It's as bland as water. Make it again!"

When the third bowl arrived, Alyssa had barely touched the rim before she shrieked.

"How am I supposed to drink something this hot?"

She suddenly raised her hand. The entire bowl of boiling stew splashed all over me.

"Ahh!" I cried out. My chest turned red instantly.

"Erwin!" Alyssa held up her slightly reddened fingers. "It hurts!" She cried out tearfully.

Erwin's expression darkened. He kicked me aside. "Do you have a death wish?"

The kick sent me stumbling backward. My back slammed into the wall and my vision went black with pain. "It wasn't me. She knocked it over–"

"Shut up!" Erwin snapped with a cold gaze. "How dare you talk back to me?"

He pressed the call bell. Two guards immediately appeared at the door.

"Lock her in the dungeon for a day," Erwin ordered coldly. "Watch her closely. Don't give her a chance to kill herself."

As I was dragged away, the last thing I saw was Erwin carefully holding Alyssa's hand while gently blowing on it.

The moment the dungeon door slammed shut, the biting wolfsbane seeped into my bones.

I curled up in the corner and trembled uncontrollably.

The wolfsbane slowly spread through my limbs, and I began to lose consciousness.

"Lara! Lara!"

In a haze, I thought I heard Erwin's voice. It was filled with a panic I had never heard before.

It had to be a hallucination.

The werewolf he was now would never be that worried about me.

When I woke up again, the strong smell of herbs told me I was in the healer's den.

I heard the healer's stern voice nearby.

"Alpha, Lara is in an extremely bad condition. She only has a few days left–"

"Healer." I suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice. "I know my own body very well."

The room instantly fell silent. Erwin stood by the window. With the light behind him, I couldn't see his expression clearly.

"As long as she doesn't die, that's enough," he said coldly. "You don't need to tell me anything else. I don't care."

The moment he finished speaking, his phone rang.

I saw his expression soften instantly.

"Alyssa, be good. I'll come and keep you company right away."

After ending the call, Erwin left without looking back.

With difficulty, I picked up my phone and opened the pack's message feed.

Alyssa had just posted an update. The picture showed Erwin sitting beside her bed.

"It's just a tiny burn, but someone got so nervous he stayed by my side all night without sleeping. If it weren't for paying medical fees for that burdensome shewolf, he wouldn't even have left!"

Looking at the gentle expression in Erwin's eyes in the photo, I understood everything.

The reason I was sent to the healer's den was purely incidental.

I pressed a hand to my chest. My wolf spirit let out a mournful cry.

There were only six more days until the life-exchange curse placed inside me eight years ago activated.

On the fifth day of the countdown to the end of my life, I was discharged.

Dragging my weak body out of the healer's den, I ran straight into the wolves I least wanted to see.

Erwin stood beside that familiar off-road vehicle with his arm around Alyssa. His eyes were cold as if he were looking at a stranger.

"Get in," he said coldly. "You're visiting my parents' graves."

I gripped the hem of my clothes so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I knew all too well what was waiting for me.

The vehicle drove toward the cemetery on the outskirts.

Along the way, Alyssa leaned against Erwin's chest. She occasionally laughed softly as she fed him pieces of fruit.

I sat in the front seat. Watching their intimate acts through the rearview mirror, my chest ached repeatedly.

When we reached the cemetery entrance, Erwin got out first.

I was about to follow when the sight before me froze me in place.

From the entrance all the way into the cemetery, a three-mile path was completely covered in burning charcoal that glowed with a terrifying red under the sunlight.

Erwin held Alyssa in his arms. His voice was cold as ice. "Lara, your entire family are sinners. Your parents are dead, so you'll atone for them."

He pointed at the blazing path.

"Kneel on it. Crawl all the way to my parents' grave and repent."

My legs trembled. I knew the consequences of refusing would be worse.

The moment my knees touched the charcoal, the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

The pain made my vision go black for a moment, but I could only clench my jaw and continue moving forward.

Behind me, I heard the off-road vehicle rolling slowly over the ground.

Erwin's car followed right behind me at the slowest speed with its windows lowered.

I could clearly see his fingers intertwined with Alyssa's. I could see him kissing her fingertips.

My knees had already become a bloody mess, and my palms were burned black.

Sweat mixed with blood dripped onto the charcoal and made hissing sounds.

By the time I finally crawled to the gravestones, I was almost unconscious.

Through my blurred vision, I saw Erwin holding Alyssa as they stood before the grave.

"Dad, Mom, I've found the love of my life," he said with an unbelievably gentle voice. "I brought her here specially to meet you. I've already taken revenge on the enemies who caused your deaths."

Alyssa obediently offered flowers. "Mr. Keller, Mrs. Keller, don't worry. I'll take good care of Erwin."

"Bow," Erwin suddenly said as he turned toward me. His gaze was cold again.

I bent down with difficulty and slammed my forehead heavily onto the ground in front of the gravestone.

After my atonement, Erwin said I was soiled and left me in the cemetery.

He wrapped an arm around Alyssa and walked away.

On the way back, it suddenly started raining heavily. I dragged my broken body forward step by step.

Every step sent rainwater washing over the wounds on my knees. It stung like crazy.

By the time I finally crawled back home, night had already fallen.

Erwin sat in the living room reading documents. When he heard the noise, he looked up.

Seeing my miserable state, a strange flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, but it quickly returned to indifference.

"Tomorrow is Alyssa's birthday," he said calmly as he closed the file. "I'm throwing her a grand party. You'll organize it."

I froze where I stood.

"Do it the way you used to describe your dream marking ceremony," he added with a cruel smile.

My heart clenched in pain.

I had described my dream marking ceremony to him countless times.

There would be a bonfire dance. Moonlight flowers would cover the entire pack territory.

The pack members would play the oldest songs of blessing.

Yet now, the ceremony I once dreamed of was nothing more than an ordinary birthday party for Alyssa.

"Stop wasting time." Erwin frowned and tossed me a tube of ointment. "Nothing can go wrong tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

The ointment fell to the floor. I picked it up and threw it into the trash.

Dragging my battered body around the venue, I began preparing for the party. I didn't sleep the entire night.

The bonfire at the birthday party burned dazzlingly bright.

I leaned against a stone pillar in the corner while listening to the pack members whisper among themselves.

"Alpha Erwin really does dote on Alyssa. It's only a birthday party, but he's spending a fortune."

"Of course. I heard Alyssa once saved his life."

"Compared to Lara, this must feel like true love."

Their gossip reached my ears clearly.

Expressionless, I took a sip of water and forced myself to endure the pain brought on by the curse.

When the party reached the gift-giving part, Alyssa stood in the center. She was surrounded like the moon among stars.

The gifts Erwin presented were each more extravagant than the last. There were limited-edition fur garments, custom-made jewelry, and territory deeds.

"Thank you all for the gifts." Alyssa smiled sweetly. Her gaze suddenly landed on me in the corner. "But it seems someone still hasn't given me a present."

Every eye turned toward me. I tightened my grip on the glass in my hand until my knuckles turned white.

"Forget it, I won't make things hard for you." Alyssa waved her hand as if being generous, but her gaze fixed on my neck. "That emerald necklace you're wearing is quite pretty. Why don't you give it to me as a birthday gift?"

I subconsciously reached for the necklace.

Years ago, Erwin had given it to me. He said it was a family heirloom that was meant only for the future Luna.

That day, he had knelt on one knee and promised to love me for the rest of his life.

Now that I thought about it, it was nothing but a carefully planned lie.

"Alright." Calmly, I unclasped the necklace and handed it to Alyssa.

Erwin's expression instantly darkened.

"So whatever Alyssa wants, you'll give it to her?" His voice was as cold as ice.

I looked at the necklace in my hand and suddenly laughed.

Right. I was about to die anyway. What was there I couldn't give?

"Yes." I lifted my head and looked straight into Erwin's eyes. "Whatever Alyssa wants, she can have it."

A strange flash of anger flickered in Erwin's eyes.

"Good," he sneered. "Just in time. Alyssa healed my wolf spirit using her life. Why don't you give Alyssa some of your life force to extend hers?"

I froze.

"N-No!" Alyssa suddenly grabbed Erwin's arm in a panic. "I don't want her giving me her life force! I just want to spend the rest of my days happily with you.

"Besides, you still hold a grudge against Lara. She's filthy. I don't want to touch anything that carries a dirty smell."

Only then did Erwin's expression soften. He gently ran his fingers through Alyssa's hair. "You're right. She's too filthy. She's not worthy of giving her life force to you."

When it came time to cut the meat for the celebration, Alyssa closed her eyes to make a wish while the crowd started cheering.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

Amid the cheers, Erwin lowered his head and kissed Alyssa.

The kiss was deep and lingering. Alyssa wrapped her arms around his neck. She was practically hanging off him.

I turned around to leave, but my body was too weak. I staggered.

Leaning against the wall, I slowly walked toward the exit. The crowd's teasing chants still echoed in my ears.

After leaving the party venue, I felt the cold night breeze against my skin. Without realizing it, I walked to the edge of a cliff.

Under the moonlight, the cliff was wrapped in drifting mist. It was beautiful.

As I stood at the edge, I suddenly felt a force pushing me from behind.

Splash!

I didn't fall off a cliff. I plunged into the icy lake below.

One of Alyssa's maids had followed me out without me noticing and shoved me into the deep pool beneath the cliff.

The freezing water instantly swallowed me.

I didn't struggle. I let myself slowly sink.

Water filled my nostrils and mouth. The suffocating sensation spread through me. Strangely, it brought relief.

Erwin and Alyssa were still locked in a passionate kiss until a scream suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Someone drowned! Someone jumped into the lake!"