Chapter 2

Someone asked Lucas, "Sienna was clearly set up this time. Are you really not going to intervene?"

Lucas's voice sounded detached.

"I'm the one who set the trap. Mia said Sienna humiliated her in front of everyone when she first joined the pack. She's held that grudge for years; I had to let her blow off some steam."

"Aren't you worried she might actually leave? She was our Beta, after all. Her combat skills are terrifying."

Lucas burst into laughter.

"Cut the crap. We've known each other for eight years, and she's been with me for seven. When has Sienna ever failed to crawl back the second I say the word?"

"If she actually has the guts to leave, maybe I'll finally respect her."

I leaned against the outer wall, biting down hard on the back of my hand to keep the sobs from escaping.

My father was once a senior warrior of the Moonstone Pack, managing the Eastern patrol territory for decades. Ever since Lucas handed that territory over to Mia, my father's command was revoked, his resource allocations were cut off, and he even had to pay out of pocket for basic healing herbs. The loyal men my father left behind were reassigned one by one, and old acquaintances began avoiding our family like the plague.

I had begged everyone I knew, yet not a single person lent a hand. It turned out Lucas was pulling the strings all along.

All because of a single tear Mia shed three years ago.

My open cuts stuck to my sweat-drenched clothes, tearing at my skin with every move I made.

Thinking of my mother lying weak in the clinic, and remembering the healer's warning that she wouldn't last much longer without the herbs, I slapped myself across the face. Twice.

"You idiot. If you hadn't fallen for him, you wouldn't have dragged Mom into this dead end."

I never imagined that giving my life to someone would lead to this.

The Moonstone Pack ruled half the underground werewolf world. A single word from Lucas could decide life and death.

Because he wanted to appease Mia, nobody in the entire werewolf community dared to help me.

I stood on the edge of the bay bridge, completely broken, watching the violent currents below. A part of me wanted nothing more than to jump.

Yet I couldn't bring myself to do it.

If I died, what would happen to my mother?

"Right... Mia Lane."

The memory hit me.

Three years ago, during an inter-pack summit, I had brought her along as a fresh recruit.

In the lounge area, an Alpha from another pack had tried to grope her thigh while drunk. I caught him in the act and stepped in to protect her.

Back then, I was giving Lucas the cold shoulder because of some rumor between him and another female wolf.

To spite me, Lucas had smirked in front of everyone and declared, "Since when does Sienna love playing the hero? Newbie, you report directly to me from now on."

I never expected that moment to be the start of our three-way nightmare.

I didn't even know when Lucas had developed feelings for Mia.

He gave her top-tier gear, hired the best combat instructors for her, and assigned her to the most crucial patrol routes.

To make sure she never felt slighted, he handed over an entire piece of pack territory as her birthday present.

Whenever Mia so much as frowned, I didn't even need to ask why.

Lucas would cut contact with me beforehand, then apologize to other packs in my name.

He once told me, "Mia is pure. She shouldn't have to deal with this."

She couldn't be slighted, so I had to be the one who took the hit.

Stumbling through the night, I rushed to the private club hosting Mia's celebration party.

The guards at the entrance stopped me cold.

"Sorry. The Alpha gave strict orders: no one disturbs Miss Lane."

This private club was a place Lucas used to bring me to all the time.

Now that I was an outcast, no one spared me any respect.

The night wind bit through my thin shirt. My wounds flared up again, sending chills through my teeth.

"Let her in."

I looked up. Lucas was standing under the veranda, looking down at me.

Something flickered in his eyes, but it vanished instantly into cold detachment.

"Who are you putting on this pitiful act for? Don't you know catching a chill triggers your old injuries?"

He was right. I had once taken a strike from a silver weapon to save his life. The internal damage never fully healed, and whenever I caught a cold, it triggered high fevers and agonizing pain.

Back when things were good between us, he would wrap me in his heavy coat and stay by my side through the night.

I kept my head lowered. "I want to speak with Miss Lane."

Lucas's brow furrowed, a mocking smirk touching his lips.

"Still the same, aren't you, Sienna?"

He was afraid I would pick a fight with Mia.

After all, I had a history.