Chapter 2

The words had barely left my mouth.

My mother pointed at my face, outraged.

"Lyra Ashford! What do you mean you won't go?"

"Don't forget Serena is the true daughter of Ashford Pack. You stole her place all these years. You already owe her more than you can pay. She's carrying a pup now. Are you trying to watch her die?"

Ever since Serena had been brought back, and my parents learned she carried a Second Chance system.

I had lost count of how many times they made me stand down for her.

She said her position felt fragile and insecure.

My parents cut me off the trueblood line and lowered me to a side-line pup, elevating Serena as the only trueborn heiress.

She said her Bond target was my mate.

Even though I was already formally Bonded to Cain as his Luna, they pushed Serena into Blackwood Manor as his Chosen Consort.

Even after Serena killed five of my pups.

They still used every means — including threatening suicide — to stop me from punishing her.

Looking at my mother's furious face.

My eyes burned. I opened my mouth, almost instinctive.

"If the one dying is not only her…"

I hadn't finished. My father cut me off, panicked.

"Enough! Lyra, stop causing trouble. Every moment you stall, Serena is closer to dying!"

Even Cain took my hand gravely.

"Lyra, I promise this is the last time. Once Serena finishes her mission, I won't force you to do anything you don't want."

With that, he pulled me into Serena's wing, allowing no refusal.

The moment we stepped in.

A dark shape lunged at me.

Serena, wild and senseless, straddled me and yanked at my hair, hitting and clawing.

The wound from my labor split open again.

The pain turned my face white in an instant.

Cain didn't even notice. He only shouted, "Hold the Luna down! Don't let her hurt Serena or the pup in her womb!"

My face was raked bloody. Every part of me hurt beyond words.

After she had beaten her fill, Serena suddenly threw herself sobbing into Cain's arms.

"My Alpha! I dreamed again — the dead pups came to take my life — I'm so scared, please —"

While Cain held her full of pity.

A Pack Healer stepped forward, face grim.

"My Alpha, from what I see, the Consort's condition is not mere night terror. It is as if something unclean has latched onto her."

"There is an old remedy I happen to recall, though…"

Elias Holloway paused, then glanced at me, as if reluctant to say it.

"The remedy requires the thing the Consort fears most in her dreams — ground into the potion. Only then will she fully recover!"

My head snapped up.

I was about to say it was absurd.

But then I saw the hesitation on Cain's face.

I stared at him, unable to believe it.

"My Alpha, our pup died so brutally. His body isn't even cold. Will you now deny him even the peace of a proper burial?"

Cain's face shifted.

He was about to ask if there was another way.

Serena suddenly coughed up blood from pale lips.

Cain's composure shattered. Every trace of hesitation vanished.

"Guards! The little heir hasn't been buried yet. Bring him to me!"

Then he turned to me. "Lyra, the dead cannot come back. If this pup can save Serena, it's a blessing. You're the Luna. Be generous."

I watched the Pack Healer take my pup away to grind into the potion.

My body moved before my mind did. I lunged forward to snatch him back.

Before I could reach them, my mother rushed in and struck me across the face. I fell.

"Enough!"

She pointed at me, tearful and furious. "Can't you just be sensible for once? Can't you see your sister is coughing blood? Are you trying to kill her?"

My father echoed her. "Stop being selfish. A dead pup isn't worth your sister's life."

In the moments they wasted.

A thick, coppery smell was already drifting out from the inner chamber.

Bloodless, I watched my pup be crushed into the potion.

My throat turned wet with the same copper taste.

And just then, the Pack Healer spoke again.

"My Alpha, the remedy is still missing a binding ingredient. We need the Luna's heart-blood mixed in as well. Only then will the potion take full effect."

Cain glanced at my bloodless face.

Regret flickered across his features.

"But Lyra is —"

Before he could finish, Serena coughed violently again.

Cain's face changed. He didn't dare delay. He waved for the guards to bring me over.

"Luna, please bear with it. There is only one dose of this potion. Nothing can go wrong."

The Pack Healer lifted the bowl toward me.

The thick smell of blood hit my face. A pup's cry seemed to echo in my ears.

I shoved him away on instinct and threw myself aside, retching.

The bowl fell to the floor.

It shattered.

The hall went dead silent.

I was still dry-heaving when Cain's furious roar split the air.

"Lyra Ashford! Did you do that on purpose?"

"My Alpha, the Pack Healer said there's only one bowl. It seems Serena isn't meant to live alongside you in this life. If it's like that — Serena would rather die with her pup than live suffering every day."

Serena tried to throw herself against the wall.

Cain pulled her into his arms just in time.

"Serena, don't say such foolish things. I won't let anything happen to you."

He turned his head, eyes gone dark and cold. "Who said there's only one bowl. There are still four other pups, aren't there? Guards — exhume the other four pups from the little-heir crypt. Bring them to me."