Chapter 3

The patrol guards pulled me out, their hands careful—avoiding the places the thorns had torn open.

By the time I made it back to my room, my clothes were damp with cold sweat and my bones felt full of sand.

The fever hit.

Hot and cold chased each other through me until I couldn't even feel my own body. My soul seemed to float above my skin.

Morning came, it finally eased a little.

It was close to noon. I'd changed out of my bloodstained clothes and forced myself upright to drink some water when the door pushed open.

Kade walked in. He looked at me, and—miraculously—his expression loosened, just a fraction.

“Someone reported you went into the forbidden zone last night.” His voice stayed flat, but there was a strange flicker of concern, almost curiosity. “Why would you go there for no reason?”

I didn't answer. My throat burned. My knee throbbed beneath the bandage. The wound at the back of my neck pulsed, once and again.

Kade stared at me, still waiting. I stayed silent.

After a moment, he let out a short breath, and the words came like a handout. “Yesterday… I was too rushed.” He paused, like the admission tasted wrong. “—Just forget it. You're still my secretary.”

Secretary.

Not mate. Not Luna. Not even fiancée.

A title he could take away whenever he wanted—and give back whenever it suited him.

“Change,” he said. “Tonight you're coming with me.”

I forced myself to lift my head. “Where?”

He'd never let me attend at his side before. Not as anything close to a companion.

“An auction.” The corner of his mouth barely tugged. “Territory business.”

I got in the car anyway. Like he said—I was still his secretary.

But the moment I saw Seraphina in that car, I understood. Whatever “companion” I'd imagined was a joke.

I was only decoration.

---

By evening,Kade arrived with Seraphina at his side.

The room shifted like grass under wind. Heads turned. Whispers spread.

“So that's her.”

“The Alpha's Luna …but she is not the original Alpha..."

"Shh, don't say it."

I stood a step behind, the way a secretary was supposed to.

Kade introduced Seraphina to everyone worth fearing.

“This is Seraphina,” he said, voice smooth.

No explanation. No disclaimer. Just declaration.

A server passed with a tray of drinks. Seraphina reached for a flute, then paused with a pretty frown.

Kade didn't even look at me when he said, “Moira.”

I understood the cue. I stepped forward.

My stomach clenched at the scent of alcohol. With my wolf-soul dying, everything burned differently—like my body couldn't decide what poison to reject first.

“I shouldn't,” I said, low. “It—”

Kade's eyes flicked to me, cold warning. “Secretary,” he murmured. “Don't be difficult. Do your job.”

Do your job.

So I took the drink meant for her, and I drank it.

One after another.

The liquid slid down like fire. My throat spasmed.

I managed to keep my face still until I reached the restroom.

Then I bent over the sink and threw up until my vision spotted white.

When I stumbled back into the hall.

That's froze.

Kade had someone slammed against a marble column, one hand fisted in the man's collar. The man's feet scraped the floor as Kade lifted him like he weighed nothing.

Blood ran from the man's lip.

The wolves around them formed a loose circle—close enough to watch, far enough not to be blamed.

“What happened?” I asked, voice hoarse.

A woman beside me whispered, eyes shining. “He made a comment about Seraphina. Something…about ‘sharing brothers.'”

I remember there was once a wolf leader who placed his hand on my waist and then slid down. I was horrified and pushed him away. But Kade - with a light-hearted remark, as if I was merely complaining about a stain.

Now, for Seraphina, he was ready to tear.

Kade had change to half-wolf. His nails lengthened. His pupils flared gold so bright they looked lit from within. A hint of fang.

The man choked as Kade leaned in, snarling, voice gone rough with animal. “Say it again.”

“Kade,” I heard myself say.

I stepped forward before I could think.

“Kade—stop.” I grabbed his wrist.

For a heartbeat, his gold eyes flicked to me.

Nothing softened.

His arm swung.

The world tilted. Air left my lungs in one brutal punch.

I flew.

My shoulder hit the champagne tower first. Glass exploded like ice. Then my back. Then my knee. Shards rained down, biting into skin, embedding in muscle. Pain flared everywhere at once, bright and indiscriminate.

I lay there shivering, staring up at the glittering wreckage.

Wolves shouted. Someone cursed. Someone laughed nervously.

Through the chaos, I saw Kade shrug off his jacket.

Not for me.

He draped it around Seraphina's shoulders, pulled her close, and lifted her into his arms as if she'd been the one to fall.

Seraphina's gaze met mine over his shoulder—wide, innocent, victorious.

Then Kade carried her away.

Then the lights stretched. The voices blurred.

---

I woke to the smell of antiseptic and human fear.

A doctor's face hovered above me, mouth moving fast. “We can't get anesthesia right now,” he said, voice low. “The Alpha demanded we treat his Luna first.You need to hold on for a while.”

Luna.

Not me.

The ceiling swam. I tasted blood.

“Just… take them out,” I whispered.

The doctor hesitated.

I closed my eyes, because crying would waste oxygen. Because begging had never saved me.

“Do it,” I said.