Chapter 3

A second later, Damian’s name flashed on my screen. He was calling.

I ignored it.

He called three times in a row before finally sending a barrage of voice notes on Snapchat.

"Kira, can you stop throwing a tantrum?"

"Things are already bad enough. Your current physical state is not fit for the Lunar Gala."

"We are both noble packs. Don't make things difficult for the Blackwood Pack."

I was so angry I laughed out loud.

He threw me away like garbage, and now he was blaming me for ruining his reputation.

I opened the digital brochure for the Lunar Gala schedule.

The public ceremony consisted of three parts.

First, the heirs would toast the Ancestral Flame.

Second, the heirs of each pack would walk arm-in-arm down the grand ballroom.

Third, the heirs would together light the Sacred Beacon.

In the group chat, pack members were already mockingly praying for Ellis Crow.

"Who designed the third part? Kira is lighting the beacon?"

"She can’t even shift. How is she going to summon her wolf flame to light it?"

"It’s fine. It’s just another chance for the Blackwoods to make fools of themselves."

The man they were talking about, Ellis Crow, hadn't said a single word in the chat.

His background was a complete mystery; no one could track his whereabouts.

Yet, the entire Northern Coalition seemed terrified of him.

They were vicious when mocking me, but whenever Ellis's name was brought up, they only dared to whisper in private. No one dared to challenge him to his face.

Just as I was about to close my laptop, my best friend Maggie FaceTimed me.

The second the call connected, she screamed.

"Kira! Has that asshole Damian lost his mind?!"

"He breaks the engagement and then drags you through the mud? What a manipulative piece of trash!"

I blinked, startled.

"How do you know already?"

"It’s literally all over the pack Snapchat groups!"

Maggie paced back and forth in front of her camera, fuming.

"I’ve already memorized the name of the guard who leaked that photo. When we get to the Lunar Gala, I’ll throw a sack over his head, and you can keep watch while I beat him up."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Seeing that I could still smile made her even more protective.

"What’s the plan? Are you going to post a current selfie and slap them all in the face?"

"No."

"Why not?"

I opened my closet and let my eyes slide over the gowns hanging inside.

"A photo is too easy to dismiss."

Photoshop, filters, old pictures—if they didn't want to believe it, they would find a hundred excuses.

I wanted them to see me in person.

I wanted them to regret it in real-time.

Maggie’s eyes lit up as she realized what I meant.

"You’re actually going?"

"Of course. My flight is booked."

"Hell yes!"

She slammed her hand on her desk.

"Not only are you going, but you are going to look so drop-dead gorgeous that they’ll collectively choke on their own spit."

"Damian bet fifty thousand that you wouldn't show? Let’s take his money and ruin his pride."

Just as she said that, a knock sounded on my door.

My mom, the Luna of the Blackwood Pack, walked in carrying a plate of sliced fruit.

She froze when she saw the gown laid out on my bed.

"The Lunar Gala is tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

She hesitated for a few seconds before asking softly, "Are you... going to see Damian?"

I went quiet.

To heal and reclaim my place in the Blackwood Pack, I had endured two years of grueling, agonizing treatment. Especially during the last three months of intense detox, the venom would claw through my veins, leaving me curled up in bed, shaking and biting on a towel to keep from screaming in pain.

From 180 pounds.

To 150 pounds.

To 120 pounds.

And finally, to a lean, toned 110 pounds.

My mom had helped me adjust my dress sizes seven times.

She had watched me stand on the scale countless times, my eyes red but refusing to cry.

She knew how much I had looked forward to this night.

But she didn't know that my hope had already rotted away.

My mom set the fruit plate down.

Before leaving, she gently stroked my hair.

"Kira, no matter what anyone else says, whether you can shift or not, you are my daughter, and I love you."

The moment the door closed, a wave of emotion hit me, making my nose sting.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

In the encrypted Snapchat group, Ellis Crow had finally posted a message.

He didn't address any of the gossip. He only sent one short sentence:

"She is not a reject."

The group chat instantly went dead silent.

A few seconds later, a private notification popped up. It was a DM from Ellis.

"If you don't want to go tomorrow, you don't have to."

Damian immediately jumped into the main chat.

"Ellis, this is private business between the Frostmane and Blackwood packs. Stay out of it."

Ellis didn't reply to him.

I stared at the words *“She is not a reject”* and, for the first time, looked up his profile.

The new Alpha of the Shadowcrest Pack.

For some reason...

This man felt strangely familiar.