Chapter 1

After returning home as the Alpha's true daughter, I told Mom about it.

I was bound by the Blood-Tie — the ancient Moon Goddess covenant.

Whatever injury I suffered, my blood kin would suffer too.

Alpha Richard let out a low, dismissive scoff. "You've been reading too much human fantasy?"

To prove it, I grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped off a small lock of my hair.

Mom's hair dropped in the exact same spot with a sharp snap.

Dad instantly clapped a hand to his own head.

Both brothers came thundering down the stairs.

"What the hell — why is there a bald patch on my head?!"

The four of them stood in the great hall, exchanging bewildered looks, their inner wolves restless and confused.

Once they confirmed it was real, Mom and Dad issued an absolute order — no one was to lay a single finger on me.

Enforcers watched over me around the clock.

When Seraphina, the fake daughter, came home, she was furious enough to draw blood.

On my first day at Lycan Academy, she had my guards pulled away and cornered me in the restroom.

A group of her followers surrounded me.

Seraphina crossed her arms and smiled coldly.

"Silver needles ready? I want a thousand holes in her."

"…"

"As long as the wounds are small, she'll have no proof to report us."

I was backed into a corner.

I watched them advance on me, needles raised, step by step.

My eyes stung. I lowered my voice in warning.

"Are you… sure you want to do this?"

The next second.

A silver needle drove into my arm.

From down the hall came a sudden, sharp howl of pain.

"Who the hell just stabbed me?!"

It was my second brother Jaxon's voice, bellowing from his classroom.

Seraphina flinched instinctively at the sound.

I pressed my hand over the wound, gritting my teeth against the burn of silver.

"Seraphina, you touched me today. Mom and Dad won't let this go."

Seraphina squeezed the remaining needles in her fist.

She recovered herself and gave me a cold smile.

"You're nothing but a stray wolf Mom and Dad dragged out of some forgotten human territory."

The girls around her burst out laughing.

"Exactly. The Silver Moon Pack took you in to guard the gates. Since when do strays think they're the Alpha's heir?"

Seraphina toyed with the needles between her fingers, smiling with satisfaction.

"You think carrying Silver Moon blood makes you better than me?"

"Mom and Dad only have guards on you because they're afraid a wild girl like you can't handle Pack life without causing trouble."

She tilted her head, her laugh low and unbothered.

"I've been raised as the Alpha's daughter for eighteen years. Every wolf in the Northern Packs knows my name."

"And you think you can shake my place just because you're their real child?"

I heard all of it and felt nothing but tired.

I stood and turned to go back to class.

Seraphina stepped in front of me.

"Want to leave? Then get yourself out of the Silver Moon Pack first."

I pressed my hand over the needle wound, frowning.

"Seraphina, what is wrong with you?"

"I didn't take your room. I didn't ask Mom and Dad to send you away."

"What gives a fake like you the right to drive me out?"

Seraphina's expression darkened at that word.

She shot a look at the two girls beside her.

"Hold her down. That last round was too light."

Just as the needles were about to come down again —

My phone rang.

Seraphina's hand froze.

She reached over and snatched it from my pocket.

When she saw the screen, she held it up in front of my face with a cold laugh.

"Impressive. You've been gone barely an hour and Mom, Dad, and both brothers are flooding your phone."

Seraphina bit her lip, and something dark crept into her eyes.

"So what would happen if you actually disappeared for good?"

My phone kept lighting up, call after call, over and over.

Every single one, she declined.

I looked up at her, voice steady.

"Seraphina, you really can't hurt me. If I'm hurt, Mom, Dad, and the brothers feel it too."

"They'll tear you apart for this."

Seraphina lifted one brow, utterly unconcerned.

The needles were rising again when her own phone went off.

The caller ID said Jaxon. Her eyes lit up.

"My brother still cares about me most."

She answered. His voice came through.

"Seraphina. Elara is missing."

The hand squeezing the needles went white. Her expression locked in place.

He wasn't asking about her.

Only me.

"Someone said she was pulled into the restroom."

"I'm already on my way."

Seraphina's head snapped up.

The next second, the restroom door shook with frantic, thundering blows.

"Open up!"

"Everyone out — now!"

Every last drop of color drained from her face.