Chapter 1

My mother, Maren Emberly, called out anxiously from inside the treatment room, "Alva, hurry up and come check on Riven! She just took a fall near the wolfsbane patch!"

She was gripping Riven's hand tightly, pushing her toward the healer, Alva Redpaw.

My sister, Riven Vexmoor, looked completely untouched. She had nothing but a bit of wolfsbane sap smeared on her ankle. In fact, there wasn't even a scratch on her.

Alva was silent for a moment. Then, she said wearily, "Riven just got a little sap on her. A quick rinse at the river will do. Please don't waste our medical resources on trivial things like this."

My father, Flint Vexmoor, cut her off in disagreement. "How can you say that? Wolfsbane is highly toxic. If Riven's been poisoned, there's no way she could handle it."

Just then, my fiance, Kael Ironfang, spoke up as well. "Give her an antidote right now!"

Alva looked very reluctant. She tried to talk Kael out of his absurd idea.

"Alpha Kael, the attack caught us off guard, and our stock of medical supplies is running low. I think precious medical supplies should be reserved for those who truly need them."

"Are you questioning my decision?" Kael thundered, the oppressive weight of his Alpha aura spreading through the room.

Alva immediately turned pale and dropped to her knees.

"My apologies, Alpha Kael. I'll see to it right away."

Riven nestled quietly into Kael's chest, softly trying to reassure everyone. "I'm really fine. I just accidentally brushed against some wolfsbane while we were running away."

Mom touched her forehead tenderly and patiently reasoned with her. "But that's poisonous. We can't take this lightly. Just listen to Kael and take the antidote. That way we can all rest easy. When I heard a she-wolf was trapped among the Rogues, I nearly had a heart attack."

I, Lenore Vexmoor, huddled in the corner of the treatment room with the other injured pack members, black blood steadily oozing from my knees.

To shield Riven when she fell into the wolfsbane, I had used my own body to break her fall. The sharp stones, laced with the highly toxic wolfsbane, had driven deep into my flesh.

When the nurse approached me with bandages in hand, her face went pale with shock.

"Good grief, you've been poisoned. You need to take the antidote immediately!"

She dashed into the supply room, but soon returned, her expression grim.

"I'm sorry. The antidote is all gone." She glanced indignantly in Riven's direction. "That she-wolf was perfectly fine, yet she wasted a whole vial of antidote for nothing.

"There were only two vials in the entire town, and the remaining one has already been diluted and split among five patients."

I squeezed at my wounds in silence. As I watched the black blood trickle down my calf and onto the floor, a sudden ache settled in my chest.

Riven and I were twins.

I was born only ten minutes before her, yet for some reason, I was a pure-blooded werewolf, while Riven was a wolfless Omega.

Everyone always said I had stolen everything from Riven in the womb, that I owed her a debt I could never repay.

Fragile, delicate Riven was cherished and protected by the entire family, while my strong, resilient body was treated as my original sin.

Growing up, the words I heard most often were that I was indebted to Riven, and so I had to protect her with my life.

During those dark days, Kael was the only one willing to be my friend.

Time and again, he comforted me, telling me it wasn't my fault, that my gifts should never be a reason for anyone to despise me.

But now, the one wolf who had ever accepted me had withdrawn his favor too.

I forced my weakened body upright and continued filling out the application form in my hands.

Just moments ago, I had been approved to join the Southern Border Patrol. As soon as I submitted this form, I could leave the pack and head south with the patrol unit.

The patrol captain, Caspian Leif, double-checked in disbelief.

"Lenore, are you absolutely certain you want to join us? This is no leisurely excursion. The journey is brutally harsh. There's no guarantee you'll be able to endure it.

"Besides, soon you're supposed to hold your mating ceremony with Alpha Kael and become the pack's revered Luna. Are you truly willing to give all of that up and leave with us?"

Without hesitation, I signed my name on the application form.

"There won't be a mating ceremony," I said, "and I won't regret leaving the pack."

Caspian let out a soft sigh. "The patrol unit departs the day after tomorrow. You have two days to change your mind. If you still insist on leaving then, you can come with us."