Chapter 1
On the night of the full moon, the frozen woods swallowed the last trace of warmth.
My Alpha, Caleb Bloodmoon, took my winter cloak in front of the entire pack.
He draped it over Serena Thorne's shoulders and bent down to fasten the straps for her.
Then he said to me, "The lycan frenzy in early winter requires soothing. She needs this more than you.
"You're just a low-rank Omega. One night in the cold won't kill you."
Serena curled into his arms, clutching the cloak tight, a smug smile on her lips.
On countless moonlit nights, I soothed his shattered wolf spirit with my instincts and beating heart.
I never thought a few fake tears could break our mate bond.
It turned out my life meant less to him than her single complaint about being cold.
The wind and snow masked my scent, and I severed our last bond with my own hands.
Before everything went dark, a fierce, commanding scent washed over me.
The legendary, cold-blooded king of the Shadow Empire lifted me into his arms, gently brushing the frost from my face.
His voice thundered. "Who left my fated mate out here in the snow?"
In the distance, hoofbeats shattered the border's silence.
The Bloodmoon Pack's nightmare had just begun.
*****
"Give me back my cloak," I said, reaching for the black leather clasp on Caleb's arm.
Before I could touch it, Serena flinched.
She leaned into Caleb, letting out a soft cough. "Caleb, don't be mad at Elara. She's not used to the cold.
"I'll be fine. I am a noble Omega. My wolf spirit's a lot more stable than hers, anyway."
A few Betas nearby immediately turned to look at me.
Someone snickered under their breath. "A low-rank Omega like Elara sure knows how to pick the worst time to fight for attention."
I looked up, my tongue so frozen it felt wooden and hurt against my teeth. "Serena's not afraid of the cold.
"Her wolf spirit is Silver Tier. In winter drills, Silver Tier Omegas can generate their own warmth from within."
Serena's hand froze at the edge of the cloak.
She looked up at me, snowflakes dusting her lashes, but not a hint of a shiver.
The next moment, she slumped into Caleb's arms.
Her voice sounded weak. "I didn't, Elara. Why do you always have to call me out in front of everyone?
"I was only trying to help Caleb settle down during the full moon. What did I do wrong?"
Caleb's gaze bore down on me. "Isn't that enough, Elara Veyra?"
I felt the mate bond pull tight in my chest.
Back then, whenever Caleb lost control, he'd look at me like this, frustrated and needy.
But he'd always settle down once I got close. He'd rest his head on my shoulder and whisper my name.
Now, he shoved me out in front of everyone, making me take the fall for Serena's drama.
I gripped the cloak straps tight.
"Tonight's the Winter Run before the full moon. An Omega without a cloak will die out there.
"Caleb, I'm your mate," I said, looking into his eyes.
Serena wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand. "Sure, Caleb's mate is important, but the pack matters too.
"Caleb's frenzy has been severe these days. My calming scent doesn't last long."
She pulled a tiny silver vial from the small leather pouch at her hip, its stopper carrying a herbal scent I knew all too well.
A cold chill twisted in my stomach.
That was the calming extract I'd hidden deep in the apothecary. I'd mixed it with my own blood and spiritual power.
When Caleb saw the vial, his expression softened a bit.
He snapped at me, "Serena's spent so much for me, and you still want to fight over a cloak?"
I stared at the vial. "That's not hers."
Serena quickly hugged it to her chest. "What, you want to snatch my healing potion now?
"You're already his mate, and you still want to steal my credit as a healer?"
Murmurs around grew louder.
"Wow, Elara has got guts."
"Everyone's seen how Serena's stayed by our Alpha's side all these days."
"Elara's just a crippled Omega with a busted wolf spirit who can't even shift, and she thinks she can heal anyone?"
I opened my mouth, cold wind rushing straight down my throat.
Caleb stepped forward, and his Alpha aura made my knees go weak.
"That's enough," he said. "Elara, let go."
I didn't release my grip.
The leather clasp was wet from melted snow in my palm, and I could still feel the lingering warmth inside the cloak.
It was the only thing keeping me alive tonight.
"I just want this cloak," I said.
Caleb grabbed my wrist. "I don't need a mate who only takes and never gives."
My bones throbbed, but I refused to let go.
"You can favor her all you want, but don't stake my life for her sake," I said.
His face darkened, his Alpha command thundering in my ears. "Let go."
My knees slammed into the snow, and my hand was pried open against my will.
It was instinctive obedience, bred into my veins by the pack's hierarchy.
Serena stepped forward and knelt before me, brushing snow from my shoulders as her fingertips brushed my collar.
She leaned in, her voice a whisper meant only for me. "A lowborn Omega ought to know her place. So what if you saved Caleb? He only acknowledges me."
I lifted a hand to push her away, but Caleb had already stepped in front of her to shield her.
"You even want to hurt her?" he snapped.
"I didn't," I said.
"I saw it with my own eyes," he said, wrapping the cloak around Serena and pulling the collar up for her.
Then he turned to me. "You'll be at the back of the line tonight. If you fall behind, make your own way back to the pack house."
I pushed myself up from the snow.
The mate bond still burned in my chest, making me lower my head, surrendering to his Alpha dominance.
I watched Serena pull my cloak tighter around herself, then tuck the tiny silver vial further out of sight.
For the first time, I stopped letting my soothing scent spill out like I always did.
It was a subtle pullback, but the wolves around me immediately started pawing at the snow, restless and agitated.
A young Beta let out a low growl, only to be pulled back by his packmate.
Caleb frowned, scanning the group. "What's going on?"
Serena quickly uncapped the vial and applied a drop to his wrist.
"It's probably the full moon frenzy. Let me calm him down," she said.
Caleb sniffed at the scent, his expression still tight.
I watched them, and whatever warmth was left in my heart got stripped away.
As the pack moved on, not a single soul looked back.
I lagged far behind, the snow piling deeper beneath my feet.
With every step, the mate bond kept urging me to chase after Caleb, to beg him, to cling to the only place I ever belonged.
But up ahead, Caleb was supporting Serena.
She turned back, giving me a silent smile.
I stopped in my tracks, letting my scent retreat completely into myself.
Not far away, a wolf let out a low, uneasy whimper.
Caleb finally turned around.
I stood in the snow, pressing my hand to my chest.
I said coldly, "Caleb, if anything happens tonight, don't come looking for me."