Chapter 2
Ryan returned with the medicine just in time to see my stepbrother Leo Ravenwood, in his massive black wolf form, charging
toward him.
Leo nearly knocked him over. Ryan stumbled back and cursed.
But Leo couldn’t hear anything anymore. He stood before my corpse, his amber eyes filled with tears. He reached out to touch my
hand but flinched back from the icy coldness.
He finally broke down, his voice cracking as he spoke to me, “Tiana, why are you lying here all alone? Why didn’t you become my Luna when you had the chance? I would never have let you suffer like this!”
Tears must be contagious. I’d been surprisingly numb since my death, but seeing Leo cry made my own essence ache.
Leo was the Alpha of the Shadow Ridge Pack. If he’d arrived this quickly, he must have crossed dangerous territories without
hesitation.
Too bad he was still too late.
I was an orphan, taken in by the former Alpha of Shadow Ridge, Leo’s father, Victor Ravenwood, who raised me alongside Leo as
his ward.
Leo hadn’t liked me at first. He used to call me “Runt” and “Stray.” We fought constantly. But later, something changed. Every time someone mocked my origins, he was the first to bare his fangs and claws in my defense.
I left Shadow Ridge because of Ryan.
Victor had taken me in for political leverage, a gift to offer other packs for alliances.
I knew Leo cared for me, but I also knew Victor would never permit us to be together. Leaving was the better choice.
Leo understood this too, which explained why he’d covered for me when I escaped Shadow Ridge.
“Run! Run faster!” The wind had carried his voice to my ears. That day, I thought I was running toward freedom.
But in the end, I still needed Leo to collect my corpse.
He carried my body outside and happened to bump into Ryan.
Vivian had complained that the medicine was too bitter and wanted honey to sweeten it. Ryan was preparing to journey to a distant pack to trade for the finest clover honey.
He had never bothered when I’d merely asked him to bring back some food on his way home.
“Move. Get out of my way!” Leo’s voice was sharp and hostile. Seeing Ryan’s face now made his blood boil with hatred–there was no chance of politeness.
Chapter 2
+20 Bonus
Ryan glanced at the corpse in his arms with an unreadable expression. Instead of confronting Leo, he simply stepped aside.
But just as they were about to pass each other, Ryan’s eyes landed on my arm.
“Wait!” He frowned and asked suspiciously, “Who is that you’re carrying?”
I watched Leo anxiously, unsure how he would answer.
Part of me didn’t want him to reveal my identity. Disappearing from Ryan’s world like this seemed fitting. But another part
wanted him to know–I wanted to see Ryan’s reaction to my death.
Leo gave Ryan a cold glance and said, “This is my Luna.”
Both Ryan and I froze.
Ryan knew Leo loved me. He had even enjoyed flaunting our relationship in front of him until Leo eventually stopped visiting.
Ryan asked, “When did you take a Luna? Who is she? Why wasn’t I informed?”
Leo had no desire to waste words on him. “What business is it of yours?”
Ryan’s temper flared. He sneered. “And here I thought you loved Tiana so deeply. Turns out you’ve already moved on. So much
for your so–called devotion.”
Leo took a deep breath, his gaze turning icy. “Oh, please. Is there any Alpha in this world who loves his Luna more than you love
yours?”
With that, he turned and left.
I knew Leo had said that for me. Ryan knew the truth of his own feelings.
Floating unseen, I watched shame and rage twist Ryan’s handsome features. For the first time, he looked ugly to me.
I placed a spectral hand over where my heart once beat. I realized I didn’t love him quite as much anymore.
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