Chapter 1

Mira’s POV

I returned from the border forest after sunset, covered in dirt, blood, and torn hunting clothes. My boots were covered in mud, and a fresh cut hurt across my palm. The cloth bag on my shoulder held the moon herbs I had spent the whole day gathering for Caden and Torin.

I had also killed three low-level beasts along the northern path. Their cores could be sold for food and medicine. Caden and Torin needed supplies whenever their Beast Rage became difficult to control, and I always tried to provide everything they needed.

The house was unusually quiet when I reached it. I pushed open the front door and stepped inside. “Caden? Torin? I’m back.”

No one answered. I placed the bag of herbs on the table and removed my damaged gloves. Then I heard Lyra laughing inside the bedroom at the end of the hall.

I walked toward the room. The door was not fully closed. Through the narrow opening, I saw clothes scattered across the floor. Caden’s shirt lay beside Lyra’s silver dress.

I pushed the door open and found Caden in bed with my sister. Lyra quickly pulled the blanket over her body, but she did not look ashamed. Her cheeks were red, and her hair was loose around her shoulders. Caden turned toward me with an annoyed expression.

Torin stood near the window with his arms crossed. He was fully dressed, as though he had been waiting for me.

For several seconds, no one spoke. I looked from Caden to Lyra, then to Torin. My fingers tightened around the door handle. “How long?” I asked.

Caden reached for his trousers. “Does it matter?”

“Yes,” I said. “How long have you been having sex with my sister?” Lyra lowered her eyes. “Mira, please don’t make this worse.”

I stared at her. “You are in my home, in my bed, with one of my bonded males. You have already made it worse.”

Caden’s face hardened. “Do not speak to Lyra like that,” he said.

His words hurt me. I had returned injured after working for him, but his first concern was protecting Lyra from me.

Torin moved away from the window. “This has continued for long enough. We should settle it tonight.”

I looked at him. “You knew?” But Torin did not answer.

Caden finished dressing and stood beside the bed. “Lyra has been calming us for months. Your moon power is too weak. Every time our Beast Rage rises, you can barely help us.”

“I have still tried,” I said. “I gather herbs, hunt beasts, and pay for your medicine.”

“We did not ask you to work until you became injured,” Torin replied. “We needed a moon-bearer strong enough to calm us.”

Lyra reached for Caden’s arm and held it. “I never wanted to hurt you, Mira. But they need someone who can stop them from becoming feral.”

I looked at her hand on Caden’s arm. “So you protected them by having sex with Caden?”

Her expression changed, but Caden stepped in front of her. “Enough,” he said. “Lyra is a Silver Moon female. Her power works. You should be grateful that she helped us.”

His words hurt even more, but I kept my face calm. “Grateful?”

Torin looked at me coldly. “You are weak, Mira. You have always been weak. We cannot continue pretending that this bond works.”

Caden nodded. “Break it.”

I had feared hearing those words for years. I had worked even when my hands were injured because I thought my effort could make up for the power I lacked. I believed that if I gave them enough, they might stay.

Now Caden stood beside my sister, while Torin looked at me without any care. Lyra watched me closely. She expected me to cry, shout, or beg them to change their minds, but I would not give her that.

I lifted my chin. “Both of you want the bond broken?”

“Yes,” Caden answered at once. Torin waited for a moment before answering. “Yes.”

I nodded. My throat hurt, but I forced myself to speak. “Then I will break it.”

Caden looked surprised, and Lyra’s fingers tightened around his arm.

I turned away before they could see how close I was to crying. I walked down the hall, passed the herbs I had brought home for them, and opened the front door.

Torin called after me. “Where are you going?” But I did not answer.

I felt the cold night air hit my face when I stepped outside. I kept walking until the house was far behind me. My eyes filled with tears, but I refused to cry until I was far enough away from them.

The path beyond the pack grounds led toward the lake. I followed it because I had nowhere else to go. I stopped near the reeds and pressed one hand against my chest. It still hurt. I breathed slowly until my body stopped shaking.

Then I heard a weak sound from the bushes near the water. I wiped my eyes and moved closer. “Who’s there?” I said.

The sound came again, but it was weaker this time.

I pushed aside the reeds and found a small grey wolf lying on the wet ground. One of his back legs was trapped in a silver snare. Blood covered his fur, and his whole body trembled each time he tried to move.

“Stay still,” I said gently.

The wolf showed me his teeth, but he was too weak to attack. I knelt beside him and examined the trap. The silver had already burned the skin around his leg.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said. I removed my cloak and placed it over him to keep him warm. Then I held the trap with both hands. The silver burned my fingers, but I continued pulling until the lock opened.

The wolf gave a sharp cry and tried to crawl away. I caught him before he reached the water and held him carefully against my chest. “You’re safe now,” I whispered.

His body slowly relaxed in my arms. I wrapped him inside my cloak and carried him away from the lake.

Later, when I found a safer part of the forest, I placed him gently on the ground and watched him limp into the dark trees. I thought I was only saving a wounded wolf. I had no idea he was Riven.