Chapter 1

When I first met Henry Carter, he was nothing but a rogue drenched in blood.

Later, he became Alpha Henry of the Iron Ridge Pack. He tattooed my name over his heart and handed me full command of the Pack’s warrior guard with a single sweep of his hand.

Everyone knew Vera was his life.

Until today, when the Omega he kept on the side walked right through my front door.

Resting a hand on her swollen belly, she smiled sweetly and gave me some advice:

"Luna, are you going to leave with some dignity now, or do you want to wait until my son grows up and kicks you out?"

I raised my hand and ordered my men to drag her downstairs to "deliver the pup." When Henry saw the pool of blood beneath her, he lost his mind.

He grabbed my throat, snarling, "Vera, you need to learn when enough is enough!"

I let out a soft laugh, drew the silver dagger he had once gifted me, and aimed it straight at his chest.

"Your heart really did change. Lucky for me, mine didn't."

"My truest love has always been my ambition."

I drove the dagger down.

The body that hit the floor belonged to Limp, the shadow that had trailed Henry for years.

"You love her that much? Makes sense. Limp trained that little she-wolf himself just to slip her into your bed. Making you lose your temper like this with me... I guess she really is something."

I glanced down at the glint of silver pressed against my throat.

With a smirk, I said:

"Still not going to strike? You never used to hesitate like this, Henry."

"Why are your hands shaking just holding a blade?"

My mocking stare cut right through him. In the battle of wills, he was the one who broke first.

He lowered his dagger and sank back onto the sofa.

"Limp served me for ten years. You're too ruthless, Vera."

I offered a faint smile and signaled my men to drag Limp's corpse away.

"He wasn't you."

"You're the only person I ever had a soft spot for."

Henry looked at me, his eyes clouded with conflicting emotions.

"I want to keep Vivian."

"This path is soaked in blood and claws, Vera. I’m exhausted. Vivian is like a breath of fresh air. She makes me feel like an ordinary man who can just go grocery shopping, cook dinner, and live a normal life."

I didn't answer right away. I set the dagger on the side table, struck a match, and lit an herbal cigarette.

After taking a slow drag, I spoke.

"Normal?"

"Henry, did you ever tell her about the blood on your hands? The dirty territory cash? The enemies hunting you in the dead of night? Shoving her little fairy-tale routine into your world..."

"That's not living a normal life. That's suicide."

Henry's brows furrowed in irritation at my words.

"Vera, I'm not asking for your permission."

"I'm giving you notice."

He stood up and walked into the back room to scoop Vivian into his arms. The Pack Healer was already wrapping a silverleaf-infused bandage around the gash on her calf, whispering a healing chant under her breath. The unconscious girl’s pale face leaned against his chest. Under the dim, flickering light, she looked at least seventy percent like I did when I was younger.

"Vera, just focus on being my Luna."

"This is your final warning. If you touch Vivian again, I won't hold back."

Henry walked out, his men trailing behind him.

The heavy front door swung open, and the sudden draft blew out the glowing tip of my cigarette.

Behind me, Mike Cole stepped forward, bowing slightly as he struck another match to light it for me.

"Your blade swerved," he murmured. "Did your heart soften, Luna?"

Through the swirling gray smoke, I repeated the word with a cold edge of amusement.

"Soften? I never intended to kill him today."

"Taking Henry's life only requires one clean strike. What I want are the keys to the Pack vault, the real territory ledgers, and every legally deeded hunting ground under his name."

"Death is far too easy an escape for him."

Mike had looked uneasy when he thought I was going soft, but hearing my cold declaration made his breath hitch.

He asked an almost naive question:

"Don't you love him anymore?"

Countless memories flashed through my mind, leaving behind only a faint, weary shadow of nostalgia.

"Of course I love him."

"If I didn't, do you think I would've spent ten years taking silver and claws for him just to play house?"

"But love is a painkiller. Power is oxygen. When it hurts, you pop a pill to take the edge off. You can survive without it. But cut off your oxygen, and you're dead in minutes."

The moment the words left my lips, the antique clock in the hall struck the hour.

Mike checked his phone, his expression tightening as if he had just received an urgent report.

"Breaking news from Moonstone Pack. Alpha Sam Black is dead. Word is... bloodline failure."

"Good."

A single word. Cold, detached, completely indifferent.

Mike took half a step forward, unable to mask his bewilderment.

"You're... not surprised? He was your father."

The corner of my lips curled into the faintest hint of a smirk.

"Why would I be surprised?"

"I did it."

Mike’s breath hitched in his throat. His pupils shrank, and the color drained completely from his face. Watching him turn ghost-pale, I spoke as casually as if I were commenting on the weather:

"I've cleared plenty of stumbling blocks out of my way."

"A biological father... is no different."

The cigarette burned down to the filter. I ground it out in the crystal ashtray and looked at Mike.

"Any more questions?"

Mike bowed his head, too shaken to speak.

I stood up, picked up the silver dagger, and gestured toward one of the guest rooms.

"Didn't Henry say he wanted Vivian to stay? Then let her stay."

"A good show is always worth watching to the end."