It took a long time before Tharina could gather enough strength to rise. Her limbs felt weak, her spirit even more so. At last, she pushed herself up and went to collect her belongings.
Inside the carved wooden wardrobe lay everything she had prepared for her unborn pup. Tiny garments woven from soft fur cloth, small boots meant for first steps, and a thick patchwork blanket her mother had sewn during many full moons. Each stitch carried a blessing from the Moon Goddess.
She meant to take every single piece with her.
But the moment she pulled the doors open, a cold dread spread through her chest.
The space had been turned upside down. Nothing remained. The garments were gone, as though they had been taken by the wind.
Her steps grew sharp as she descended to the lower hall. She found the servant wolf nearby, her voice low but shaking with anger.
"Where have my things been taken?"
The servant lowered her head at once, unable to meet her eyes. Her voice faltered, and without thinking, her gaze flickered toward the training grounds outside.
Tharina felt her heart sink. She followed the distant laughter echoing across the territory, each step pulling her closer to something she didn’t wish to see.
When she reached the open field, her blood seemed to burn.
Elodie stood upon the grass, smiling as she played with a young hound. The beast was dressed in the very clothes Tharina had prepared for her pup, the soft fabrics stretched across its body in cruel mockery.
The blanket her mother had sewn was no longer whole. It had been torn into strips, its blessing ruined. One piece was tied loosely around the hound’s neck.
And the charm her mother had received from the sacred altar, meant to guard both her and her pup, was clenched between the beast’s teeth, being ripped apart.
Elodie laughed softly, stroking the hound with delight.
"My Rina is so lovely. You look perfect in these."
"Such a good girl, Rina."
Rina?
That name struck deep into Tharina’s heart. It had once belonged only to her, spoken in quiet nights by Malven, filled with warmth and closeness.
Now it sounded like a curse.
Her hands curled tightly at her sides, claws almost breaking through skin. Rage rose within her like a beast ready to break free.
Every insult, every silent wound she had endured within this pack, shattered all at once.
She stepped forward without hesitation and struck Elodie across the face. The sound echoed sharply through the territory.
"Tharina, have you lost your mind??"
Elodie cried out, clutching her cheek as tears fell instantly.
Malven rushed out from the alpha hall, drawn by the noise. His eyes went first to Elodie, trembling and in tears.
The moment she saw him, she ran into his arms.
"Alpha, the Luna struck me, and she even hurt Rina."
Malven’s expression darkened as he turned toward Tharina.
"Tharina, what are you doing?"
Her voice came out rough, filled with anger and pain.
"You allowed her to touch what belongs to me."
His face turned cold.
"Those useless scraps? That hound wearing them gives them more value than they ever had."
Tharina’s breath grew uneven. She pushed past him, rushing toward the hound, desperate to save the charm.
Before she could reach it, the beast growled low and lunged. Its fangs sank into her leg, tearing into flesh. Pain shot through her body. Its claws pressed against her as it tried to climb higher.
In that moment, she ignored the pain. Drawing on what strength she had left, she struck the beast away with force.
The hound yelped and rolled across the ground, curling into itself.
Blood flowed from her wound, warm and steady. At the same time, a sharp pain twisted in her lower abdomen, forcing her to bend forward.
"Tharina!"
Malven stepped toward her, clearly shaken. He had not expected her to fight back like that.
But before he could move closer, Elodie grabbed his arm, her voice filled with fear.
"Malven, Rina is bleeding. What if she dies?"
His movement stopped. His gaze shifted to the injured hound. He hesitated for a long moment, then steadied Elodie.
"Don’t be afraid."
He lifted the hound into his arms, held Elodie close, and walked away from the field without looking back.
Tharina stood there, watching his retreating figure. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall. In her heart, she repeated the same truth again and again. He was not worth her pain.
With unsteady steps, she forced herself to move. She left the territory and called for a carriage, making her way to the healer’s den alone.
The moment she stepped inside, the strength she had been holding onto finally broke. Darkness swallowed her sight, and she collapsed.
When she opened her eyes again, a new day had come. Her wound had been treated, and she was told she could leave.
