The day I was born, the midwife who touched me aged ten years in an instant. Every servant who made contact with me withered rapidly, their bodies collapsing into dried husks. The pack whispered I was a cursed thing—a creature that fed on life force itself. Father ordered me drowned in the lily pond. The moment they tossed me into the water, the pond dried up. Every water lily shriveled to ash. Fish and frogs became bone. Terror swept through the estate. Father’s face went from pale to green. Finally, he had me locked in the abandoned wing to die alone. I thought that would be my end. Then my sister Elara saved me. Every day, she’d slip me her own scraps—pastries, stew—feeding me through a wooden spoon so she wouldn’t touch my skin. Against all odds, I survived on Elara’s kindness. Mother and Father knew she was keeping me alive. They turned a blind eye. When I turned three, a traveling witch came through our territory. She cured my affliction. I finally became a normal pup. My parents breathed easier. They let me move out of the abandoned wing but still barely acknowledged my existence. Only Elara held me close, crying tears of joy. From then on, I followed her everywhere, her loyal shadow. But it didn’t last. When Elara turned eighteen, she was sent to the Inner Court to become the Alpha King’s consort. The day she left, Elara wiped my tears. “Don’t cry, Lyra. I’ll send for you soon.” I never saw her again. A year later, servants from the palace arrived carrying a coffin. Inside was Elara’s body. The head steward said Elara’s wolf had turned feral in the Inner Court—that she’d lost control during a shift, gone mad, and drowned in the lily pond. I didn’t believe a word. Elara perfect controlled over her wolf. She’d never lose herself to the beast. This was no accident. I tried to see her body. The attendant blocked me. “Insolent! This coffin was bestowed by the Alpha King. Once sealed, it must not be disturbed—any violation would be a grave insult to the Alpha!” I stared at that heavy black coffin, nails digging into my palms. A royal gift—a coffin that denied me even a final goodbye. How could I rest without seeing her one last time? That night, I slipped back to the mourning hall. Candles flickered. Two old servants dozed by the door, their voices drifting: “Such a waste. Lady Consort Elara was so beautiful. Only a year in the palace and she’s dead.” “I heard she crossed Luna Selene. They tortured her beyond recognition.” “Good gods. She died like that and the Alpha King did nothing?” “The Alpha allowed it. Otherwise, would Luna Selene dare? Hush! Walls have ears.” So Elara was murdered. Rage erupted in my chest like wildfire. I stormed into the hall, shoved past the servants, and pried open the coffin. A rotting stench hit me. I saw. Elara’s clothes were torn. Her body covered in blood. Trembling, I lifted her sleeve. Whip marks carved into her arms. Her fingers bent at unnatural angles. Her legs twisted—shattered, deliberately broken. I bit down on my lip to keep from screaming. A single thought crystallized with absolute clarity: Luna Selene and the Alpha King will pay in blood. *** To get revenge, I had to enter the Inner Court. Soon, the Alpha King announced a new selection of consorts. I knelt outside Father’s study, begging to be sent. Mother and Father had only two daughters. With Elara freshly dead, Mother refused to let me go. She had me confined to my quarters. So I disguised myself and snuck out to the selection ceremony. The great hall was empty except for two figures behind silk curtains. Luna Selene’s voice dripped with mockery. “Another daughter from the Hale family. Your sister just died, and here you are. Does your family think the Inner Court brings good fortune?” Each word a needle, aimed to wound. I kept my head down, voice steady. “What happened to my elder sister is a loss to our family. I come only to serve, with no expectations beyond that.” Selene laughed coldly. “But I’ve heard you were born cursed. That you drain the life from anyone near you. And you dare present yourself here?” I stayed calm. “Curses are nothing but superstition. My sister was known throughout the pack as blessed—before she entered the palace.” Behind the curtains, Selene’s breath caught. The Alpha King, who had been silent until now, let out a soft laugh. Then a pale hand parted the curtains. He was younger than I’d imagined. Sharp features, cold eyes that studied me with curiosity and something darker—amusement. He watched me for a long moment, then spoke, his tone light. “Interesting. Since you’re here, you might as well stay.” Just like that, I was accepted into the Inner Court and assigned to Moonward Hall—one of the residences closest to the Alpha King’s own chambers. That very night, Kael took me to his bed. The entire encounter was mechanical, cold, devoid of feeling. Yet utterly inescapable. I closed my eyes, swallowed my nausea, and buried my hatred deep. Afterward, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he leaned against the headboard, watching me. “Aren’t you afraid?” I knew what he meant. Elara had died here. Was I not terrified of becoming another corpse in the Inner Court? I met his gaze. Kael’s eyes held no emotion. Only pure, detached curiosity. I lowered my lashes and leaned into him. “Alpha, to serve you is my greatest honor. My sister simply lacked the fortune to enjoy such privilege.” He studied me in silence, then let out a low laugh—impossible to read. Then he moved, sliding something off his own wrist. A bracelet. Blood-red, with thread-like patterns swirling inside it, glowing faintly in the candlelight. He slipped the bracelet onto my wrist. It fit perfectly. The crimson looked striking against my skin—beautiful and ominous. “Wear it. Don’t lose it.” “Thank you, Your Majesty.” I touched the cold, heavy weight at my wrist and bowed my head. Kael said nothing more. He rose and left. Within days, the Alpha’s Decree arrived. Kael elevated me to the rank of Lady Consort—skipping every rank between me and a nameless selection candidate. Overnight favor. Unprecedented elevation. In the Inner Court, this kind of attention was rare. I stared at the blood-red bracelet on my wrist, a chill settling in my bones. This wasn’t favor. This was Kael painting a target on my back. Sure enough, the next morning, Selene arrived. Selene swept into my chambers in full regalia, frost in her gaze. “Sister, you have quite the talent,” she said, her smile cutting like ice. “One night, and you’re already a ranked consort. It seems the women of the Hale family are gifted at servicing men.” The servants held their breath, frozen in terror. I stood and offered a respectful bow. “You flatter me, Luna. The Alpha praised how fresh and appealing I am—the perfect age. Unlike you, who has served him for years. That must be exhausting.” Selene’s smile froze. Fury flashed across her carefully maintained face. “You—” Her voice choked. Then her eyes landed on my wrist. Disbelief flickered across her features, followed by deeper rage. She lunged forward and grabbed my arm. “Why do you have this bracelet?!” Her voice turned shrill, dripping with jealousy. “He gave you this? You filthy little bitch—you don’t deserve to wear it!” She reached to tear it off my wrist. I yanked my arm back, hard and decisive. Selene stumbled forward, nearly crashing into a flower stand. She caught herself, trembling with rage. “How dare you!”
I feigned surprise, looking at Selene with wide, innocent eyes. “Luna, this was a gift from the Alpha. How could I give it to anyone else?” “A gift?” Selene sneered, looking me up and down. “Your sister was far more favored than you, and he never gave her anything like this.” I met her contemptuous gaze. “Luna is right,” I said evenly. “But the Alpha placed this on my wrist himself. If you truly believe I’m unworthy, feel free to ask him directly.” “You—!” Selene’s face twisted. She clearly hadn’t expected me to talk back repeatedly. Her hand flew toward my face. “Bitch! How dare you speak to me this way!” I dodged before she could strike, then slapped her across the face in return. Crack! The sound echoed through the empty hall. Selene’s head snapped to the side, her ornate headpiece trembling violently. She froze, as if unable to believe what had just happened. Several heartbeats passed before she slowly turned back. A vivid handprint was already blooming across her pale cheek. Selene touched her face, eyes widening. The rage in them could have set the room ablaze. Her voice came out strangled, shrill. “Hold this insolent bitch down!” Two burly servants rushed forward, twisting my arms behind my back and forcing me to my knees before Selene. I struggled but couldn’t break free. Selene crouched in front of me, prying at my fingers. Bones cracked under the pressure. The pain was blinding. My grip finally loosened. She ripped the bracelet off my wrist, examined it briefly, then raised it high and hurled it at the floor. The blood-red bracelet shattered on impact, breaking into several pieces. Tiny shards scattered, slicing into my ankle. Selene picked up the largest fragment and pressed it against my cheek. “Your sister probably caught his eye with this face too. And what good did it do her? She died without even an intact corpse. You’re even more shameless than she was…” Her voice dropped to an icy whisper. “Tell me—if I destroy this face of yours, will the Alpha even glance at you again?” I knelt there, arms wrenched back, unable to move. I could only tilt my head to look up at her. The Alpha had said he’d visit after morning council. Calculating the time, he should arrive any moment now. This performance between Selene and me needed an audience—the Alpha himself. I looked into Selene’s eyes and smiled, deliberately provocative. The smile made her eye twitch. Fury deepened. She raised the shard, ready to carve into my face. Just then, a voice called from outside: “The Alpha approaches—”
Selene panicked, clearly not expecting Kael at this moment. I seized the opportunity to wrench free from the servants, collapsing to the floor in tears, playing the picture of wounded innocence. Selene quickly tossed the shard aside and hurried to Kael, her voice instantly taking on the perfect tone of grievance. “Alpha!” She bowed low, her fingertips trembling as she pointed at me. “Thank the moon goddess you’re here! Lady Consort Lyra has been utterly brazen! I merely came to teach her proper etiquette, but not only did she refuse to listen—she struck me!” She turned her face to display the handprint fully, her eyes reddening on cue. “I was so shocked that I had my servants restrain her briefly, but she fought back and destroyed the gift you bestowed. I was terrified, not knowing how to explain this to you, Alpha.” She lowered her head, shoulders trembling slightly, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice and fright imaginable. Kael said nothing at first. His gaze fell on the shattered bracelet, his expression unreadable. Then he slowly scanned past Selene before finally settling on me. I sat crumpled on the floor, hair disheveled, clothes torn from struggling. My appearance alone told the story. At times like this, admitting fault always earned more sympathy than explanations. I lifted my face, tears spilling without warning. I sniffled, voice choking. “The Luna is right. It’s all my fault.” I buried my face deeper, shoulders hunching. “She asked for the bracelet, and I should have removed it immediately and offered it with both hands. It was a royal gift—I’m not worthy of wearing it. It should belong to the Luna. I shouldn’t have tried to keep it, which angered her and caused the bracelet to break…” My voice cracked with emotion, head bowed lower. “Everything is my fault. Alpha, please don’t blame the Luna. I’m willing to accept any punishment.” Selene clearly hadn’t expected this response. She pointed at me, furious words escaping. “You lying bitch! What nonsense are you spouting?!” She turned to Kael, trying to explain. “Alpha, she’s lying! She broke the bracelet herself—” “Enough.” Kael cut her off. He strode forward and stopped before me, pulling me to my feet. My legs were still weak. I could barely stand without leaning against his arm for support, but my tears fell even harder. Kael looked at Selene, his tone flat. “Selene, have I not given you enough royal gifts?” Selene trembled violently, her legs giving out as she dropped to her knees. “Alpha, please see clearly! She struck me first! I only retaliated! The Inner Court has always punished those who act above their station. I’ve managed these halls for years—never have I been…” Kael interrupted again, impatience creeping into his voice. “You destroyed a royal gift and administered private punishment. Which of these actions befits someone managing the Inner Court?” Selene’s composure shattered completely. “Alpha! I’ve always followed protocol! Today I was simply provoked by this bitch—” “Issue the decree,” Kael said, not even looking at her anymore. He turned to his head attendant. “Luna Selene has acted improperly and failed to maintain decorum. Effective immediately, she is confined to Everspring Hall for reflection. Without my direct order, she is not to step outside its gates.” “Alpha!” Selene’s voice broke in a cry of disbelief. But Kael had already turned away, his arm still supporting me as his voice softened. “Are you frightened? Return to your chambers and have the healers examine you.” His tone held no particular emotion, but the protective intent was unmistakable. I was half-guided, half-carried back into the inner hall. Behind us, Selene’s suppressed sobbing echoed. I lowered my eyes, a satisfied smile curving my lips. Luna Selene—this is only the beginning. Everything you did to my sister, I’ll repay a thousand times over.
That night, Kael returned to Moonward Hall. By candlelight, his gaze fell on my bandaged ankle. He gently stroked my hair. “Does it still hurt?” His voice was tender. I shook my head, lowering my eyes. “Thank you for your concern, Alpha. It’s nothing.” He smiled and pulled something from his sleeve, taking my hand and sliding it on. Cold and heavy. Another blood-red bracelet. This one was even deeper in color than the morning’s—so dark red it was nearly black. Under the candlelight, it looked like flowing blood. “Do you like it?” He traced my wrist with his thumb. I looked up, forcing a delighted smile. “Anything you give me, I treasure, Alpha. This color is so unique.” “Good.” He seemed pleased with my reaction, leaning down to kiss my forehead. Then he rose from the bed. “Since you like it so much, let me show you something interesting.” My heart skipped. “It’s so late. Where are we going, Alpha?” “Somewhere fascinating.” Kael pulled on his outer robe and wrapped me in a heavy cloak. He called no servants to follow. Taking only a dim horn lantern, he led me out through Moonward Hall’s back entrance. Night lay thick around us. The palace paths were silent. He guided me through a maze of turns until we reached a derelict courtyard with an abandoned well. He pressed several spots along the well’s edge. A stone slab shifted aside, revealing descending stairs. A dank, moldy stench mixed with the smell of blood rushed up to meet us. My heart pounded in my chest. Kael descended first, lantern in hand. After a short while, the space opened up. It was a massive underground chamber. The center held a sunken circular arena. Around it rose stone tiers with crude seating. Not a palace hall—a fighting pit. The place was empty now. Strange torture implements hung on the walls, some still bearing dark brown stains. “What is this?” My voice came out dry as I clutched the cloak tighter. “One of my… recreational spaces.” Kael led me to the high seats, his tone casual. “Occasionally I watch performances here. Very entertaining.” He clapped lightly. From the far end, a group of shackled prisoners were dragged out by guards on iron chains. About ten people, skeletal and covered in overlapping scars—old and fresh. My gaze locked onto them. Not just scars. Their wrists and ankles were bent at unnatural angles, swollen grotesquely. Several dragged broken legs as they moved. My breathing grew ragged. Rage swelled inside me. Those whip marks. Those deliberate breaks. Identical to the wounds on Elara’s body. I whipped my head toward Kael. He leaned on one hand, watching the prisoners with interest. Even pleasure. “Do you know, beloved,” Kael said suddenly, looking at the bracelet on my wrist, “How this treasure was made?” I shook my head stiffly, throat tight, unable to speak. Kael smiled. “With their blood. Cultivated through a special process.” The moment he finished speaking, a guard in the arena swung an iron rod, smashing it into a prisoner’s kneecap. The crack of bone echoed clearly. A raw, ragged scream followed. I sat beside him, watching this hellish scene unfold. My blood felt frozen. Hatred more intense than ever before consumed me. Now I understood. There was no losing control. No accidental drowning. All lies. Every wound on Elara’s body, every break, every moment of terror and pain—it all started here. The one who truly killed Elara, who tortured her to death, was Kael.
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