Avelyn’s POV
The next morning, I woke to the sound of footsteps — heavy, deliberate, filled with fury.
The door burst open, slamming against the stone wall.
Zayne stood there, his aura cold as frost, flanked by two enforcers of the Silvercrest Pack.
“Take her,” he said flatly.
My heart pounded. “Zayne, what are you doing?”
He didn’t answer. The guards seized me, their grips iron-tight, dragging me across the corridor. I cried his name, but he never looked back.
They threw me into an old moonstone cellar deep within the manor — a place long unused since the wars. Dust and the scent of rust filled the air. My knees hit the cold ground.
“This is your punishment,” Zayne said, his voice cutting like winter steel. “For what you did to Vionne during her pup-blessing.”
“I didn’t do anything!” I shouted. “She’s lying—”
“Enough!” he snapped, his power crackling through the air, making my wolf recoil in fear. “You’ll stay here until you learn obedience.”
He tossed something into the room. My heart froze — a cluster of lunar lilies. Their silvery petals shimmered under faint light. My throat closed instantly. He knew I was fatally allergic to their scent.
“Zayne, please,” I gasped, my chest tightening. “Not that… you know I can’t breathe—”
“You should’ve thought about that before endangering Vionne,” he said coldly. “Maybe the Moon will teach you manners.”
Then he slammed the door.
I clawed at it, my breath coming short. The air grew heavy, each inhale burning my lungs. I pounded until my hands went numb. My wolf whimpered weakly inside me, fading as I gasped for air.
After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open. I collapsed into the corridor, coughing violently.
Zayne stood over me, his eyes emotionless. “If you ever touch Vionne again,” he said slowly, “I swear on the Moon’s name, you’ll regret it.”
Then he turned and left.
I lay there trembling, the scent of lilies still haunting my skin. Then my crystal communicator buzzed beside me. My mother’s voice echoed softly through the rune-etched stone.
“Sweetheart… your father has arranged passage to the Crescent Isles in two days. Come home, Avelyn. Please.”
Tears filled my eyes. “I’ll come,” I whispered. “I promise.”
When the call ended, I stared at the wall until my body stopped shaking. Something inside me — something human, something wolf — broke completely.
I went to my chamber and pulled out the cedar box hidden beneath the bed. Inside were fragments of a life that no longer belonged to me — a moonstone pendant from Zayne, our mating vows sealed in silver wax, the tiny blue pelt I’d woven for our lost pup.
One by one, I tossed them into the fireplace.
The flames devoured them greedily, curling photographs and parchments into ash.
The scent of burning memories filled the air.
I packed my clothes and the signed bond-severance scrolls into my travel chest.
When I turned around, Zayne stood by the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
“So,” he said coldly, “you’re finally packing. Good. When Vionne returns from the healer’s den, she’ll move into the Alpha chamber. You can take the servant’s quarters.”
I said nothing.
He smirked. “I’m glad you’re finally learning your place. Perhaps you’re not completely useless.”
I turned back to my chest. “Is that all, Alpha?”
He ignored the bite in my tone. “Vionne’s healer says she needs a blood infusion. You’ll come with me.”
I froze. “No. I’m not giving her my blood again.”
His jaw tightened. “You will do as I command.”
When I didn’t move, he seized my arm. “You owe her for what she’s suffered because of you.”
***
The healer’s chamber was filled with silver mist, moonlight filtering through enchanted glass. The pack physician looked alarmed the moment he saw me.
“Alpha Valloren,” he began carefully, “your Luna isn’t fit for a life draw. Her essence is already weak — she might not survive another.”
Zayne’s glare silenced him. “Vionne’s life matters more. Do it.”
The healer hesitated. “If I extract more spirit blood, her wolf may—”
“DO IT!” Zayne’s roar shook the chamber.
The healer’s hands trembled as he inserted the silver needle into my arm. The chill spread instantly through my veins, and the faint red glow of my life-force began to fill the vial.
The sound of the dripping essence echoed in my ears.
Zayne stood by the wall, arms crossed, his eyes on Vionne — never on me. “Hurry it up.”
Minutes dragged by. My vision blurred. The room began to tilt, and the healer’s voice became distant. “Alpha, she’s at her limit—”
Vionne’s pitiful whimper cut through the air. “Zayne… it hurts…”
“There’s nothing—” the healer started, but Zayne’s shout drowned him out.
“Take more!”
“Alpha, she’ll—”
“I said TAKE MORE!”
The healer paled but obeyed. The needle dug deeper. Pain tore through me. My body shook violently.
“Zayne…” I whispered weakly. “Please… stop…”
He didn’t turn. He brushed Vionne’s hair from her face, whispering softly, “It’s all right, love. You’ll be fine.”
Each drop of blood felt like my soul slipping away. My skin turned cold, my heartbeat faint.
“Alpha!” the healer cried. “She’s going into shock!”
“She’s faking it,” Zayne said coldly. “She always does this when she wants pity.”
My vision dimmed. The beeping from the rune monitor quickened. I could barely breathe.
Finally, the healer shoved Zayne aside and yanked the needle free. “That’s enough! You’ll kill her!”
Crimson splattered across the sheets. My body went limp.
“Stabilize her!” the healer barked to his assistants.
As the world darkened, I saw Zayne holding Vionne, murmuring, “It’s not your fault, my love. Avelyn just wants attention.”
I stared at the man who once promised to protect me — my mate, my Alpha — until the world faded into black.
