Chapter 5

"It's my fault for trusting the wrong wolf. That's why I failed."

I looked calmly at Liam.

He seemed stunned. Maybe it was the first time someone had spoken to him like that. His expression darkened visibly.

Of course, as the Alpha heir, he was always surrounded by admiration. Who would dare to talk back?

I thought he'd explode in anger, the way arrogant Alphas do.

Instead, Liam pressed his lips together and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry."

I froze. Then, suddenly, I couldn't help but laugh. Bitter, and hollow, the sound fell straight into my heart.

I would've preferred if Liam had argued with me. I would've rather he lost his temper.

But I never imagined he could suppress it all—for Chloe.

He really loved her that deeply.

---

In the end, the academy gave the competition spot to Chloe.

Before she left for the tournament, she made sure to glance at me.

"Sorry, sister," she said sweetly. "The academy made the decision. There's nothing I can do. The championship's mine."

A classmate jeered, "Harper didn't even qualify. She must be dying of jealousy."

I quietly continued working through my tactical questions, not bothering to respond.

The next day, Chloe returned from the competition. Everyone immediately turned to her.

"Chloe! You must've taken first place this time, right?"

Her face paled. She stammered, unable to answer.

That's when my phone buzzed with a message.

[It's a pity you weren't here. I took first place.]

My hand paused.

Then someone in the classroom gasped.

"This year's champion is Ethan!"

"Ethan? That rogue werewolf people say is cursed? I heard if he's competing, the rest are just fighting for second."

Chloe quickly tried to save face.

"I only lost because I ran into that lunatic. If my sister had gone, she would've lost even worse."

The others nodded, murmuring words of comfort.

Just then, one of the classmates who had been checking something on his phone looked at me, eyes wide.

"But the champion from the last two years... was Harper Evans!"

The news slammed through the room like a bomb.

Chloe's expression froze.

The classroom went utterly silent. All eyes turned to me.

Even Liam couldn't help lifting his gaze, staring at me intently.

Someone said in disbelief, "No way. It's probably someone with the same name."

"It's definitely Harper," another replied. "There's even a picture..."

The murmurs grew louder and louder.

"Maybe they should've let Harper go instead..."

"She might've even won a prize."

As the whispers swirled, Chloe's face turned green, then white. She bit her lip and glared at me.

I looked up just as Chloe stumbled over to my desk. Her face was pale. She covered her head and sobbed.

"I'm sorry, sister... it's all my fault. I stole your spot..."

What kind of performance was this now?

I frowned and was about to speak when Chloe suddenly collapsed backward.

I stood, startled, just as Liam rushed forward and caught her.

He shot me a cold look, then carried Chloe out, his arms tight around her.

I stood there for several seconds, stunned. Then I pressed my lips together and followed.

At the school infirmary, just as I reached the door, Liam grabbed my wrist hard and glared at me.

"Is a trophy so important to you? So important that you'd ignore your sister's health just to stand in the spotlight?"

My wrist felt like it was about to snap under his grip, but I didn't struggle. I just stared at him and said through clenched teeth, "I didn't say a single word."

Was I the one desperate to be in the spotlight? Or did Liam just hate seeing Chloe suffer, even a little?

Liam stared at me, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Sometimes the ones who act like they don't want anything... are the most calculating."

His words pierced my heart like a needle dipped in aconite poison.

I stared at him, stunned. It took a long moment before I found my voice again.

"Is that really what you think of me?"

Even if I did nothing, I was still in the wrong.

But no matter what Chloe did, she remained pure, untouchable.

Liam looked down at me. It was as if he suddenly remembered he was supposed to be pretending to be a weak omega. His anger froze on his face. Slowly, he released my wrist.

"I just want you to always be the Harper I first met. Kind, just... someone who never fought or schemed."

I gave him a bitter smile. "And I wish you could always be the Liam I knew."

The Liam I knew was the one who stood by my side, who never blamed me because of someone else.

But deep down, I knew that Liam had never existed. He was just a lie. A dream that would never become real.

Liam's heart clenched, as if something inside him stirred. He spoke without thinking, "Of course. I'll always be Liam."

I looked at him until my eyes stung. Then I reached out my hand.

"Then let's make a blood oath. Let's promise we'll never change. Deal?"

Liam frowned at my outstretched pinky finger. He didn't move. He probably thought it was childish.

I stared at him quietly.

After a moment, he gave in and hooked his pinky with mine.

"Fine. We pinky swear. We'll never change."

My heart ached.

I knew Liam was lying.

But I still pressed my thumb hard against his, sealing the promise.

"Liam," I whispered, "a wolf who breaks a blood oath will be abandoned by the Moon Goddess..."