Fury and sorrow tore through me like twin hurricanes, ripping apart whatever fragile calm I had left. The instant I stumbled beyond the banquet’s polished doors, my lungs seized, drawing in ragged, uneven breaths. A raw burn flared beneath the torn mating mark at my neck, licking through arteries like liquid metal. My wolf—once fierce—whined somewhere deep inside, worn thin, barely recognizable beneath layers of pain and exhaustion.
There was nothing for me here anymore.
Not my sister—buried and forgotten.
Not my so‑called mate—who had traded our bond for power.
Not even the pack—who cheered while I bled.
A fresh stab of agony made sparks dance across my eyes. Legs turned to water; joints folded. I crashed onto the marble, its icy surface leeching heat from my skin. A copper tang flooded my mouth. I hacked, crimson droplets spattering the immaculate floor like fallen petals. Somewhere at the edge of consciousness came startled gasps—servants’ voices—but they blurred, sucked into the shadows closing around me.
---
Awareness returned slowly. The musty odor of aged timber, damp bedding, and lye soap curled into my nose. A cramped, half‑lit chamber—the servants’ wing. They must have dragged me here to keep the party spotless, not out of mercy. The cot under me felt like planks; blankets scratched like burlap. I pushed upright, every muscle screaming, bones hollow as reed stalks.
I could not remain.
Unsteady, I rose and spotted my old travel trunk slumped in a corner. Dust layered the cracked leather. With trembling fingers I brushed it clean, flipped the rusted latch, and stuffed in the few garments still mine. I didn’t need many things—only distance.
A blotched mirror above the dresser caught my eye, halting me. The figure staring back scarcely resembled the she‑wolf I once knew. My green irises, once bright as spring leaves, had dulled to muted moss, circled by bruised crescents. Lips blanched, skin waxen. The mating bite gleamed an inflamed scarlet brand—a relic of everything lost. A humorless laugh slipped out, brittle as glass. Empty eyes, empty heart.
No more tears, Alice. Save none for traitors.
I hoisted the suitcase, inhaled shakily, and reached for the exit—only for the panel to sweep inward.
Tommy filled the threshold, presence heavy as a thunderhead. Those gilded eyes swept from my luggage to my face; amusement tugged at his lips.
“Planning a little excursion?”
My grip on the handle tightened. “What does it look like, Alpha?”
He stepped in, shutting the door with deliberate quiet. Instinct shoved me back until rough planks pressed between my shoulder blades. I despised the recoil, but my body acted before thought.
“Gracious, you look dreadful,” he said lazily, arms folding. “I half‑expected you to perish on that hallway floor.”
“Sorry to ruin your expectations.”
His grin sharpened. “Always obstinate. Running off without a farewell—how ungrateful.”
“Isn’t departure exactly what you crave?” My voice quavered yet held. “You’ve secured your new prize. There’s no need for me.”
The mockery faded; something unreadable surfaced. He advanced and I could retreat no farther. My pulse hammered—not with fear, I told myself, but with incandescent rage.
“I still require you,” he murmured, tilting his head in mock pity. “Just once more.”
Ice slithered through my stomach. “Clarify.”
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear; the tenderness felt obscene. Cold fire lit my nerves.
“Monica hasn’t fully stabilized. Your potent blood is still knitting her to life. One additional transfusion, and she will reign unbreakable.” He spoke as though convening strategy over trade routes.
The room reeled. “You’re jesting.”
“Entirely earnest.” Two fingers lifted my chin, forcing eye contact. “Gift me a final draught, and I’ll grant your freedom—no chains, no pursuit. Vanish wherever you wish.”
I slapped his hand away, fury igniting every vein. “Ask again? After orchestrating Susie’s death, siphoning me dry, parading my humiliation—”
“And nevertheless,” he cut in, voice glacial, “you breathe.”
Claws ached to unsheathe.
His mouth drifted toward my ear, breath cool. “Accept the bargain, little wolf. I never break promises. Comply, and walk away alive.”
My fists shook. Exhaustion weighed like lead, urging surrender—one more wound, then escape. But if I yielded, I’d strengthen Monica, empower the monster who murdered Susie.
Jaw set. “Burn in the Abyss.”
Annoyance flickered across his perfect features. He exhaled, massaging his temple as if I were a bothersome pup. “Must you complicate matters?”
I straightened despite the ache. “I’m finished serving as your reservoir. My essence belongs to me alone. You’ll never taste another drop.”
He studied me, then chuckled low. “Courageous, yet foolish. Leave without permission, and my enforcers will track you like prey. You’ll be carcass before sunrise.”
“I’d rather be shredded by rogues than feed you again.”
His stare darkened into storms. “Ingrate till the last heartbeat.”
Lightning fast, his hand snapped forward. A crack split the silence as his palm met my cheek, hurling me sideways. Pain detonated, but I strangled the scream, tasting iron as my lips split.
