Chapter 4

Trapped here for years under Ethan's threats against my family, I had lost my freedom, my life, and my dignity.

All I could do was stare blankly at the empty estate day after day.

There had always been a simmering rage buried deep inside my chest.

And now, being tortured by this pathetic copycat pushed me past my breaking point.

That buried anger detonated into pure, unadulterated hatred.

Catherine walked over and ground her heel right into my cheek.

"Still barking at me? Since nothing pleasant ever comes out of that filthy mouth of yours, you won't be needing it anymore."

"Cut out her tongue!"

With a snap of her fingers, one of the guards behind her pulled out a silver-edged dagger and stepped forward.

One of her more timid friends hesitated, looking around nervously.

"Catherine... this is still Alpha Ethan's private property. If we take it this far, won't there be trouble?"

Catherine didn't flinch.

"Trouble? Ethan is my Alpha! His territory is my territory! I'm just putting a shameless bitch in her place on my own land. Who's going to say a damn thing to me?"

"Besides, Ethan loves me to death. Even if I kill her right here, he wouldn't even furrow his brow at me."

The others immediately backed her up:

"Right! Catherine is the Alpha's favorite. There's nothing she isn't allowed to do!"

"When Alpha Ethan gets here, he'll only feel bad that our Catherine had to exhaust herself dealing with trash like her."

Reassured by their words, the hesitant girl relaxed and prepared to enjoy the show.

I lay pinned to the dirt, watching the silver blade gleam as it moved closer and closer.

Terror crashed over me like ice water, but the moment it hit my heart, something primal and ancient ignited inside me.

My bones began to vibrate. It wasn't trembling—it was a call from the deepest part of my bloodline. The dormant wolf inside me snapped awake, baring its fangs like a trapped beast backed into a corner.

My spine twisted. A sharp, tearing pain shot through my fingertips as my nails blackened, lengthened, and curved into razor-sharp claws. My inner wolf roared, desperate to break free and tear apart the creatures daring to harm us.

A low, guttural growl tore from the depths of my throat. My pupils contracted into amber slits, and dark fur began rippling just beneath my skin. The sheer force of the shifting energy knocked the girls holding me back, sending them stumbling in shock.

Yet, just as my teeth lengthened into fangs and my body was on the verge of completing the shift—

Catherine scoffed. Her heavy boot slammed down onto my transforming wrist.

"Trying to shift? You think I'm going to give you that chance?"

She signaled the guard. Without a second thought, the guard plunged the silver blade straight into my shoulder blade.

The moment the silver pierced my flesh, an explosive, burning agony ripped through me. I felt my inner wolf let out a horrific, wounded wail—shrinking back, burned, smothered, and forced into submission by the toxic silver. My stretching bones snapped back into place. My claws blunted, and my amber eyes faded back to human darkness.

My shift was violently broken.

Like an empty shell stripped of all life, I collapsed limp onto the ground. Faint gray smoke rose from the wound in my back—the silver devouring my flesh, shutting down my healing, and locking my wolf deep inside the dark.

Paralyzing terror washed over me. I choked out through cracked lips:

"I really am the Luna! Alpha Ethan will tear you all apart for this!"