“Shit! Hey, kid! What the hell are you doing?!” I shouted at the young man standing outside the ruins.
Did he not know the curse of this place? Entering meant death.
I could smell his blood. A Lycan. Why was a Lycan in a place like this? Was he trying to kill himself?
Before the ruins sealed, I grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. He collapsed, limp, eyes glazed as if under a spell.
“Hey! Wake up!” I slapped his face lightly, but he didn’t react.
Then his body convulsed. He coughed—once, twice—then blood spilled from his lips. The scent of it stirred something dark inside me, but I forced the hunger down. He’s dying.
And he’s my enemy.
Should I let him die?
I exhaled sharply. I couldn’t.
Scooping him into my arms, I used my speed to carry him to the nearest Lycan camp.
“Help! Somebody, help!” I called out, then swiftly hid myself—masking my scent.
Guards rushed toward him.
“It’s the Alpha’s heir! It’s Lucas! What happened to him?!” one of the older men cried.
“Tell the Alpha! His son is sick!”
From the shadows, I watched as two young figures approached. Their expressions flickered between worry and fear.
“Go on. Check on him so he won’t suspect you did this on purpose,” the boy muttered.
He bore the same features as the unconscious boy—were they brothers?
The girl beside him was stunning, but I caught the scent of both a witch and a Lycan in her blood. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke.
“But what do we do now?” she whispered. “Lucas is still alive. That means… you can’t take his place. You won’t be the next Alpha, Leo.”
Shock spread through me. So this girl—she was the one who bewitched Lucas?
“It’s fine,” Leo answered. “If I can’t take his place as Alpha…”
His lips brushed her ear. “Then can you do something for me, Amethyst?”
The girl gazed at him, utterly devoted.
“Of course. Anything,—I’d do everything for you.”
Then, without hesitation, she pulled him into a tender kiss.
A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t understand their full connection yet, but something was undeniably twisted here.
Moments later, Amethyst entered the camp’s base, only to be stopped by a guard.
“Are you here to visit Lucas?”
“Yes, I am,” she said sweetly.
“Who are you, Miss?”
She smiled—innocent—gentle, nothing like the scheming woman I’d just witnessed.
“I’m Lucas’ girlfriend. His mate. Please, let me see him. I need to make sure he’s safe.”
My lips parted in shock.
She was claiming to be Lucas’ mate—the same boy she’d just tried to lead to his death? Right after she kissed another man?
I followed Leo after—who had taken another path. A smug smile played on his lips— disappearing and reappearing as if something else lurked beneath his skin.
“Leo! Where have you been?!” an older woman scolded. “Did you hear about your cousin? You’re his future Beta! You should’ve been by his side, or you’ll never get the position!”
I scoffed silently.
So that was it. Leo was supposed to be Lucas’ Beta. But that wasn’t enough for him—he wanted more. And he had used Amethyst to try and kill Lucas.
And I—I had just saved him.
Years passed before I saw Lucas again. This time, as my future husband, the man I was forced to marry to secure peace between our clans—vampires and Lycans.
At the time, I had no idea he's the same boy I had saved that day. I didn’t know he's the boy being played by his own cousin and the woman he loved.
By the time I learned the truth, Amethyst was still beside him. Leo stood proudly as his Beta. And I could smell danger.
But Lucas never trusted me. I had no proof, and even if I did, he wouldn’t believe me. So I kept quiet.
I protected him in secrecy.
“I cannot die,” I reminded myself every time Lucas nearly killed me. “If I die, no one will protect him. No one will stop his downfall—orchestrated by his Beta and the woman he thinks loves him.”
I ran my fingers through Lucas’ hair. He slept, unmoved by my death.
“I cared for you, Lucas, but you wasted it,” I whispered. “Now, I’ll protect myself—even though it's hurting your reputation—heart—position.”
The clock struck midnight.
My third day here.
I couldn’t waste time.
—
The next morning, I faced Lucas, my eyes hollow as he greeted me with a warm smile.
“Good morning,” I said flatly. “Sit down and eat. Your schedule today is the ceremony for your wife, Selene, and your child. You need to be there, Lucas.”
His brows knitted together, concern flickering in his gaze.
“Will it be okay for you if I stand beside her coffin?”
My heart clenched, but I steeled myself.
“I will be okay, I promise.”
Instead of taking his seat, he pulled me into a tight embrace, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“It will always be you, Amethyst. Always you,” he murmured.
I didn’t respond.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror—at the body I now possessed.
Amethyst's body.
I would use her to expose everything.
To destroy Leo.
To make Lucas see the truth.
I would possess his love, steal his kisses, his warmth—even if it meant using the body of the woman who had betrayed him.
His greatest love.
My greatest rival.
