"Since Elara is being so cooperative, you can remove one of the silver runes. Make it loud. I want her to know that if she behaves, I'll let her live."
He probably thought he was being magnanimous. To my drifting soul, it was meaningless.
No matter how many runes he removed, it wouldn't bring me or my pup back to life.
Seraphina shifted, her hand stroking Kaelen's chest.
"Kaelen, don't let things get ugly on my account."
"You still have to complete the final bonding with her and spend the rest of your life with her," she said, tears suddenly welling in her eyes.
"Unlike me. She's the reason your brother is dead, and now I'm condemned to a life of loneliness."
"Don't worry, Seraphina. No matter who my final Luna is, I will not abandon you and the pup."
"You two are precious to me. No one can touch you, not even Elara. If she dares, her soul will be forfeit. It's the least she owes you."
Seraphina looked at him with eyes full of gratitude, and Kaelen likely saw himself as a selfless hero.
How ironic.
Kaelen would probably never know that the cursed relic that led to Damien Thorne's death was handed to me by Seraphina herself.
I was merely the messenger, yet I bore all the blame, accusations, and punishment for Damien's death.
In the end, it cost me and my pup our lives.
I clearly remembered Seraphina telling me she had personally chosen the relic for Damien, and that I had to be the one to give it to him.
Clearer than that memory were the words Seraphina said just before she walked into my workshop.
"Elara, can I see the gift you carved for Kaelen?" Seraphina had asked affectionately.
I naively led her to the sculpture into which I had poured the power of the moonlight, only to watch her let out a piercing scream and get thrown back by an invisible force.
Why did that happen? How could the sculpture attack her?
Suddenly, I heard a commotion outside. I ran out and saw Kaelen, his face ashen.
Before I could ask a single question, the sharp crack of a slap echoed as his hand struck my cheek. The taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.
"You vicious woman! How could you frame Seraphina with dark magic?"
"Don't blame her. I know she's always been worried that I'd steal you away after I got pregnant. I can understand. Don't be angry, Kaelen. I'm not worth it."
"The nature of this magical backlash is… unusual," the pack's magic advisor noted. "In theory, the sculpture has no offensive properties. Shouldn't we investigate its magical signature?"
"She's jealous of Seraphina, that's a fact! What's there to investigate? Lock her in the silver confinement cell. No food, no water. I want her to suffer a thousandfold!"
Everything that happened that day flashed before my eyes, until Liam's scream suddenly pulled me back to reality.
Liam came stumbling down the stairs, his eyes wide with wolven terror, pupils constricted to pinpricks.
"Elara... Elara is dead!"
"Her wolf... has withered!"
