Chapter 3

Elder Vance rushed across the field under the blazing sun.

He took one look at the scattered formation, then his eyes landed on that dark brown puddle. His brow furrowed deep.

"Alpha, what's going on? Where's Luna?"

Lucian didn't move. His voice was flat.

"In there. Thinking about what she did."

Vance's face shifted.

He stepped closer. Glanced at the locked door. Then at the puddle.

"Alpha…" His voice wavered.

"This kind of heat—locking Luna in there with no air—something could go wrong. Maybe we should open the door?"

Lucian looked down at him.

On paper, Vance was his equal. Elder rank. Council seat.

But Alpha was the one who really ran things. Vance's authority only went so far.

In front of Lucian, he was just a mouth that could talk—nothing more.

"Elder Vance," Lucian said, not even flinching. "I'm the Alpha of Silvermoon. I'm in charge of these drills. This is Pack discipline. You should stay out of it."

Vance clenched his fists. Let out a low sigh.

"I get that rules are rules… but Luna has that blood sickness. I saw the report from Pack Hospital."

"Just let me open the door. Check on her. That's all I'm asking."

Lucian let out a cold laugh.

He pulled the silver padlock key from his belt, twirled it between his fingers.

All the young wolves' eyes locked onto it.

Then he let go.

The key dropped straight into the storm drain grate beside them—swallowed up by the dark below.

Vance froze.

His lips trembled a few times before he managed to speak.

"Alpha… what are you doing…"

Lucian's voice went cold as iron.

"We'll deal with it after drills. Have Wolf Guard bring bolt cutters."

"If she still hasn't learned to admit she was wrong by then? She can stay in there longer."

He lifted his gaze, looked past Vance, and locked onto that door.

"This Luna your Council handpicked—she's deliberately defying the whole Pack."

His tone was flat.

"I'm disciplining her for you. You're welcome."

Vance's fists stayed clenched. In the end, he didn't say a word.

He turned and walked away, heavy steps carrying him toward the Watchtower.

The young wolves couldn't hold it anymore.

The formation erupted with growls and curses.

"Luna, just give up already! Because of you, the whole Pack's baking out here!"

"She wants to drag us all down with her!"

"Faking death and dragging the whole Pack down with her—she's not even wolf enough to deserve a collar!"

Wave after wave.

I floated in the air, watching Vance get smaller and smaller. He was the Pack's senior Elder. But when Alpha said no, he couldn't push back.

I watched those young wolves—the ones who used to smile at me—lean forward and scream curses at my dead body.

I watched that same cold, smug smirk on Lucian's face. The one that never left.

I used to think if I was just a little better, a little quieter, Lucian would one day look at me like I mattered.

I thought that medical report might buy me even a sliver of pity.

Now I know.

My life never meant more to him than one lie from Anya's mouth.