Chapter 2
Three years ago, at the Blood Moon Ritual, Sage and I were meant to undergo our first shift together.
But that night, neither Sage’s wolf nor mine ever emerged.
I barely had time to process my confusion before I was told that my place at the elite werewolf academy had already been taken.
Finn and Sage vanished at that very moment.
They were spotted boarding a train to the capital–the same city where the academy resided. I knew it couldn’t be a coincidence. I rushed to inform the Calloways, hoping they would help me contact Finn. Instead, they
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reprimanded me, ordering me to let it go.
“Let me be honest with you,” Finn’s mother May told me, her voice devoid of guilt. “Finn has always had feelings for your sister. Convincing you to delay your turn at the Blood Moon Ritual so Sage could take your place–that was his idea.”
I stared at her, my body still frail from hunger, the silver poisoning keeping my wolf at bay.
“Sage is different from you,” she continued. “She’s been weak since childhood. Just let her have this. You can try again next year.”
That was my birthright. My destiny.
How could they expect me to simply forget?
And as if that betrayal wasn’t enough, Sage had already stolen my boyfriend.
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I tried to fight back, but the Calloways weren’t about to let me ruin their perfect little arrangement. They bound me in silver chains, dragged me to the woodshed, and locked the door behind them.
They feared I’d cause trouble. So, they starved me.
Seven days of agony.
My body grew weak, fevered. The silver seared into my flesh, keeping my wolf imprisoned. Rats scurried through the tiny room, nipping at my skin. My wounds festered, infection setting in. I hovered on the brink of death.
Then, just as I had accepted my fate, the door creaked open. A shadow loomed over me, and a warm hand lifted my head.
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Alpha Ryder Calloway.
Finn’s older brother knelt beside me, a bowl of food and healing herbs in his hands.
“Keep going, Amber,” he urged, desperation lacing his voice. “You can’t give up now. You have a future to fight for.”
Ryder defied his family to save me. He carried me on his back to the town healer. When I was too weak to eat, he placed the medicine in his mouth and fed me himself, bite by bite.
I owed my life to him.
One evening, as I lay weak on the cot, Ryder knelt beside me.
“Amber, I’ve always loved you, he confessed.
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“I never said anything because of Finn, but I can’t keep it inside anymore.”
He took my hand in his, golden eyes pleading.
“Marry me. Let me make up for everything Finn did to you.”
His words moved me to tears.
I had lost my boyfriend. My future had been stolen. But in the wreckage, there was still Ryder–steady, unwavering, willing to give me everything.
And so, I said yes.
We married.
For three years, Ryder kept his promise. He refused to let me work, insisting I focus on
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but I
gig
tr training for my first shshift. In gratitud hi his devotion, hdedicaceted myself to th tratraining young wolveses and holding th totogether in his absencece.
EvEveryone said I was luckyky to have a liklike him–powerful, strong anand kind.
FdFor a time, I believed it toooo.
Uruntiknow.
Thehe realization struck me likelaththun -Ryder was the reason I had nevever
The sosound of ceramic shattering onom floorgofalted me from my thoughts.tRyd hand frozeze imid–air, the letter he wasa slipping forom his fingers. His head sha toward theheadoor, his footsteps echoing silencece.
n
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When our eyes met, he wasn’t surprised.
No.
His gaze turned cold. Piercing.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was sharp, accusing–like I was the intruder. “And how long have you been standing there?”
Two simple questions, yet they carried the weight of everything unspoken.
I met his gaze, my chest tightening. After everything he had taken from me, had he ever felt guilty?
But I already knew the answer.
He felt nothing.
Like Finn, his heart had always belonged to
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SSage.
I Isswallowed the words Ilongegled to say and fforced a smile, pretending eveverything was fifiirae.
“I’ljusst got here,” I said casually! Helaeard your paneents were visiting, so I made themesosome herbaabbroth. But… I spilled it.“t
Ryder’ssggaze flickered to my reddenededemand. For a moontent concern crossed his facecel He gentlyytooddemy hand and pulled me insidede.
“You,” he siggleed, shaking his head. “Didn’t’t I tell you todéaaveet things like this to me? You’re always so reokkiess.” His voice was soft asabehe led me to theckkittheen. “Let me put some oiloil on the burn. Theen)‘ll take you to the healerter.”
His fingers were gentle as he rubbed thehe ointment onto myysskin.
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Beyond him, I saw the Calloways watching from the corner, their usual sugary smiles in place. But today–today, there was something different.
A trace of guilt.
The acceptance letter was gone. They had hidden it.
Still, I couldn’t resist provoking Ryder.
“Ryder,” I began, feigning innocence, “I heard the Council sent letters to those chosen for the next shift. Did mine-”
“I already checked,” he interrupted. “Yours wasn’t there.” His tone was flat, indifferent.
“Don’t look so disappointed,” he said, meeting my gaze. “After all, you don’t need to
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worry about the future. I will provide for you for the rest of your life”
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