Chapter 2

After dragging myself from the frozen waterfall, I didn't leave right away.

I pressed my hand silently against the aching spot in my chest, drew several breaths of frigid air, and forced the rising howl back down my throat.

I couldn't collapse here. I couldn't let one sentence, one betrayal, strip me of my reason.

I would bring him down—but first, I had to leave this pack that was saturated with his power.

And my only hope lay with those who had approached me a year ago: the loyalists of the former Wolf King.

Those followers of the old king had desperately tried to tell me certain "truths," but I had refused them all.

Because Oleg had saved me. I hadn't wanted to believe his family could have done those vile things.

I quickly traced the secret runes on my bone talisman and lowered my voice. "What you told me—I still need time to verify. But I need you now. Can you help me?"

A moment of silence. Then a firm voice emerged from the talisman. "Your Highness, whenever you need us, we will be there."

That unconcealed trust and loyalty struck something raw inside me.

I hurried away from the waterfall, keeping my voice barely above a whisper.

"I want to leave this place. I need you to prepare an escape route."

"At your command."

I closed my eyes.

Perhaps I should have listened to them long ago, should have investigated those truths sooner.

But back then, I couldn't escape Oleg's tenderness. Couldn't let go of that last, foolish hope.

Now everything would be different.

I dragged my soaked body back to the main peak.

Torches flickered before the house, and the air was thick with familiar scents.

But when I pushed open the door—a she-wolf's perfume hit me first.

Then came Oleg's familiar scent.

The two mingled intimately, just like the sweetly entwined couple before me: Oleg and Liya.

They flirted viciously, as if I were nothing but empty air.

I forced down the stabbing pain in my chest and strode past them toward my room.

"Five minutes. The bathing chamber."

Liya's voice floated up behind me, light and careless.

I assumed she was speaking to Oleg.

Until she spoke again, this time in the tone of a command. "Half-blood, did you hear me? I want you to bathe me."

I stopped dead. Turned. Fixed them with a stare, my voice dropping to ice. "Why should I?"

"Because I'm your future mistress." Liya's smile was saccharine as she turned to nuzzle against Oleg. "Darling, am I not allowed, as your future Luna, to order around this servant-like half-blood of yours?"

"Of course you are." Oleg soothed her with a murmur, then turned his gaze on me—cold and flat, brooking no argument. "Liya and I will soon hold the marking ceremony. From now on, her commands are my commands. As my subordinate, you will not disobey."

Subordinate?

I felt frozen in place. In my ears, I could still hear Oleg's gentle promises from before—I've never seen you as a subordinate. We're partners.

And now he had torn that lie apart with his own hands.

My voice came out numb. "Understood. I'll be there on time."

Liya smiled with satisfaction.

...

Steam rose thick in the bathing chamber.

Liya untied her sash, letting her dress slip to the floor.

She turned slowly, deliberately displaying the marks bitten into her skin. "Oleg really is... so insatiable."

Her fingertip traced the teeth marks on her collarbone as she cooed, "Have you ever been bitten like this, little half-blood? There have always been rumors that you seduced him."

As she spoke, she yanked my collar open with a forceful tug.

The marks from last night's passion were exposed. Liya's expression darkened instantly.

I stepped back, expression blank, and straightened my collar. "What do you want me to do?"

Liya glared at me, then turned and picked up a glass jar. "Come here and bathe me. Aren't you supposed to be good at serving?"

My fingers tensed. "I'm not a servant."

"Oh?" Her smile was sweet, dripping with malice. "But isn't your kind—half-bloods—born for the dirty work?"

The next second—*splash!* Ice water from the jar crashed into my face, laced with silver powder.

Not pure enough to be lethal, but enough to sear my skin with burning agony.

"Ah!" I cried out. The silver powder burrowed beneath my skin like tiny needles.

I curled in on myself, crawling toward the pool.

"Oh my—such a dramatic reaction?" Liya crouched down, blocking my path, her eyes bright with pleasure. "I thought half-bloods weren't afraid of silver."

My jaw shook. "The rumor... that silver doesn't affect me... is false."

"Are you alright? I had no idea you weren't immune." She arranged her features into a mockery of concern. "After all, the rumors say half-bloods are so incredibly strong—not afraid of sunlight, not afraid of silver."

"And yet?" She picked up another glass bottle and slowly poured the silver-laced water down my back. "Just this little bit of silver powder, and you're already finished."

The tearing pain across my back made me grit my teeth, but I forced out a warning. "Even if you're... the princess of the Silver Vein Pack... killing the subordinate... of the Wolf King's heir... with silver... will still be punished."

"You're not going to die." Liya stood, looking down at me with a show of pity. "Oleg told me—silver can't kill you. It only makes you suffer. Leaves scars."

"Those marks all over you are such an eyesore. I'm just doing you a favor by clearing them off."

My breath stopped. Oleg had told her silver couldn't kill me?

He had handed my greatest secret to Liya.

The secret that had saved my life countless times.

Liya watched me burn under the silver while my flesh knitted itself back together, and a pleased note entered her voice. "Oleg was right. You really are the perfect toy—no matter how much you're played with, you won't die."

She nudged my silver-scorched hand with her foot. "I should thank him for giving you to me."

"I simply can't wait to find out how a half-blood like you manages not to die from silver."