Chapter 5

Mira POV

My rejection declaration plunged the entire hall into deathly silence.

On Zane's handsome face, the mocking expression froze for an instant, then transformed into an even deeper sneer.

He released suffocating Alpha pressure, looking down at me from above.

"Don't want to be my Luna anymore?"

He laughed scornfully.

"Mira Glace, you've played this playing-hard-to-get trick no less than a hundred times. Give it a rest. I don't love you and never will."

The surrounding pack members immediately echoed, not hiding their mockery.

"Using this method to attract the Alpha's attention again. Truly disgusting."

"Who does she think she is? She hasn't even been marked by the Alpha. Everyone knows Sophia is the Luna Alpha Zane chose. If not for the wolfsbane poisoning, how could Zane possibly look at Mira, this walking blood bag?"

Contemptuous gazes and harsh comments wrapped around me like a net.

My father's face turned iron-blue.

To show loyalty to Zane and for the pack's interests, he barked an order to the wolf guards:

"Guards! Throw Mira Glace into the dungeon!"

The dungeon—that was where the Silver Moon Pack imprisoned rogue wolves and traitors. Cold and damp.

My pupils contracted sharply.

I couldn't be locked up. My escape plan had just begun!

"Let me go! You can't do this to me!"

I struggled hoarsely.

But from prolonged blood draws for Sophia, my body was already extremely weak. My resistance was useless.

I turned my desperate gaze to Zane. "Zane, you can't let them do this to me!"

"Why can't I?" A cruel sneer curved Zane's lips.

I wanted to say, because I'm still your mate in name, the Luna of the Shadow Phantom Pack.

But before I could speak, a wolf guard impatiently raised his hand and struck hard at the back of my neck.

Sharp pain hit me, my body went limp, and my consciousness plunged into complete darkness.

...

The bone-chilling cold woke me.

I lay on the icy stone floor, surrounded by darkness, permeated with heavy smells of blood and mold.

This was the dungeon.

I couldn't die here.

A strong survival instinct supported me. I dragged my drained body toward where I remembered the iron door to be.

"Open the door... is anyone there..."

I hoarsely pounded on the heavy iron bars.

Outside the door—no response.

Just as I was about to despair, the sound of high heels approached from far to near.

"Mira, are you in there?"

Sophia's voice came through the iron door, carrying a strange pity.

"How pitiful. You're the legitimate Luna, aren't you?"

My heart was stabbed hard.

Sophia looked down at me condescendingly and continued mockingly. "But what good is a Luna in name only? The one who isn't loved is the most pitiful. From beginning to end, you've been nothing but my blood bag."

She let out a light laugh.

Just then, a phone rang.

Sophia took out her phone. Seeing the caller ID, she smiled with satisfaction.

She pressed speakerphone, and Zane's deep voice came through.

"Sophia? Where are you?"

Sophia immediately switched to a soft, pitying tone. "I... I wanted to come to the dungeon to check on Mira."

Zane's nervous and heartbroken voice instantly came through. "That place is cold and dark. What are you doing there? Come up quickly. Your body can't handle the cold."

"Mm, I'm coming out now."

Sophia gave me a triumphant look and hung up.

I felt my breathing begin to freeze.

He knew the dungeon was cold and dark, yet he didn't care at all that I, his "Luna" who had just had blood drawn, had been locked in here for a full day.

Just like countless times before, I thought my compromise and sacrifice could earn a shred of his mercy, but in his eyes, I was just using tired old tricks again.

But this time, I wasn't using tricks.

Because I could finally stop loving him completely.

The last bit of strength in my body was drained. I slowly closed my eyes, allowing myself to sink into endless darkness.