Chapter 3

Two massive obsidian pillars loomed over the entrance to the Blood Moon Trial, framing a set of heavy iron doors that bled a thick, metallic stench.

The entire pack had gathered to watch the execution.

Lily strutted up to me, her chin held high.

"They won't even find your bones, Mia. But don't worry." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "I'll make sure to wear the Luna's crown tonight... right in Jack's arms. I'll enjoy every second of it for you."

I looked at her desperate, ugly gloating and scoffed. "Just pray that crown doesn't snap your neck."

Lily sneered and sashayed away.

Then, Jack approached, his heavy footsteps deliberate. He waved off the guards, using his massive frame to block my view.

"This is your last chance, Mia," Jack murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear.

"Drop the dead weight right now, and I'll use my pull with the Council to spare his miserable life. If you die in there, Lily inherits your bloodline, and I become Alpha anyway. You lose either way."

He was so utterly convinced I would break.

I looked at him like he was a rotting piece of meat.

"You make me sick, Jack."

I took a step back, putting distance between us, my voice dropping to absolute zero.

"Save your breath. Take your pathetic mate and get out of my way."

Jack's expression darkened instantly. Veins bulged against his forehead.

He stared at me, grinding his teeth. "Fine. Perfect. Take your damn pride and be a Luna in hell."

With a deafening, metallic screech, the heavy doors to the forbidden grounds slowly ground open. A bone-chilling wind howled from the abyss.

Without a second of hesitation, I grabbed Ryan's cold wrist and marched straight into the dead woods bathed in crimson moonlight.

*BOOM.*

The doors slammed shut behind us, cutting off all light and sound.

Inside, a dark red mist clung to the rotting trees.

According to the ancient texts, the outer edge of the Trial only held low-level Frenzied Beasts. With my Pureblood Omega agility, I could easily protect Ryan and survive the first night.

But we hadn't even walked a mile before the air violently warped.

The protective barrier meant to keep the deadliest monsters deep inside flickered with a sickly green light. It had been intentionally sabotaged.

A second later, blood-curdling howls erupted from every direction.

The ground shook. Ten massive, mutated beasts tore through the fog, roaring as they boxed us in.

But what made my blood run cold was what stepped out from behind them.

Dozens of massive Rogue Wolves, their eyes glowing a rabid crimson.

Rogues. Exiled, bloodthirsty killers. They had absolutely no business being inside a monitored trial ground.

Unless someone had deliberately broken the wards and let them in.

I clenched my jaw. Jack never intended for us to survive even a minute.

"Get behind that rock! Do not come out!"

I shoved Ryan toward a massive boulder, leaving no room for argument.

There was no time to think. I let out a low snarl. Razor-sharp claws extended from my fingertips as I launched myself at the first beast that lunged.

Blood instantly sprayed across the dead leaves.

Tapping into the absolute strength of my royal bloodline, I moved like a ghost through the pack, my claws tearing out throats.

But there were too many.

The Rogues didn't fear death. They threw themselves at me in endless waves.

Because I refused to move from the boulder protecting Ryan, I couldn't dodge. I had to take the brutal hits head-on.

*Slash!*

A Rogue's claws ripped across my back. Blood poured down my spine, soaking my clothes.

I grunted, kicking the wolf away, my chest heaving.

My stamina was draining fast. My vision blurred from the blood loss.

Dozens of red eyes closed in through the fog. Death had its hands around my throat.

Just as I prepared to detonate my inner wolf core—ready to burn my soul to ash for one final, suicidal strike...

Ryan, who had been completely silent behind me, slowly lifted his head.

He looked at the encroaching Rogues. There was no fear in his eyes. Only a bottomless, tyrannical apathy.

In my blind spot, he raised his pale hand. Pinched between his fingers was a black wolf-fang pendant, pulsing with an eerie, dark energy.

*Crack.*

He crushed the fang into dust.