Chapter 1

Elena's POV

My Alpha mate, Adrian Blackwood, was always threatening to sever our mate bond just to force me to give in to my twin sister, Vivian.

My parents, both Betas, had repeatedly threatened to disown me unless I sacrificed everything for my frail, sickly sister.

I used to wonder why they treated me so unfairly. I would cry, scream, and demand to know what I had done to deserve it.

But when Adrian slammed the papers onto the table for the hundredth time, demanding that I become the test subject for Vivian's ritual, I finally agreed.

I didn't just agree. I even promised to do whatever Vivian wanted.

Everyone in the Nightfall Pack praised me as their Luna, saying I had finally learned to put my family first. But no one knew the truth.

I was already dying.

A Luna with only days left to live had no use for pride or love.

The pack healer had just informed me that my Wolf Spirit was deteriorating. It was essentially a death sentence.

And right then, Adrian shoved the mate bond dissolution papers in front of me again.

"Elena, Vivian's Wolf Spirit is getting weaker by the day. This ritual hasn't been tested, and the risks are enormous. She won't survive it. If we can't restore her Wolf Spirit within a month, she'll die."

"You two are twins. Your genes are almost identical, and your Wolf Spirit is much stronger than hers. The witch says you can undergo the ritual first to determine whether it's safe."

"If you refuse, I'll sever our mate bond. Vivian doesn't have much time left. Her final wish is to have me by her side."

I listened quietly as he delivered those ridiculous demands without so much as blinking.

The truth was, they had been planning this ever since Vivian developed a slight cough when the seasons changed.

My parents and my Alpha mate had taken turns pressuring me.

This wasn't persuasion. It was outright coercion.

My parents threatened to strip me of my family's protection and my place in the pack if I refused to help Vivian. They would leave me with nowhere to go, forcing me to live as a Rogue.

And Adrian once again used our fated bond as a bargaining chip.

By then, my health had already deteriorated so badly that even maintaining my human form took tremendous effort.

So, instinctively, I refused.

The moment I said no, disgust flashed across Adrian's face. My parents pointed accusing fingers at me and shouted.

"Your sister is dying! How can you be so heartless? You stole all her nutrients in the womb, and now you won't even help save her life?"

"Elena, you've disappointed us! If you refuse to help Vivian, there will be no place for you in this family!"

Even now, remembering those cruel words sent a sharp pain through my chest.

But that was all in the past.

My Wolf Spirit had now reached the final stage of deterioration. The healer said I had only seven days left to live.

If death was inevitable, then perhaps it was better to die on that cursed operating table than to have my body left to rot somewhere in the wilderness.

At least I could play the hero in their little story.

Seeing me remain silent, Adrian frowned. He looked ready to use his Alpha command to force me into submission.

But I lifted my head, a faint smile touching my pale lips.

"Fine."

"I'll test the ritual for Vivian."

Adrian froze. He looked up at me, surprise and delight filling his eyes.

"Really? Elena, you've finally come around! Now we can focus on getting Vivian better!"

He hurried out to the balcony and used the Mind Link to share the good news with my parents.

Watching him rush away in excitement, I let out a bitter laugh.

My gaze fell on the mate bond dissolution papers he'd left on the table. I reached for them.

Taking a pen from my bag, I signed my name without hesitation.

The first wave of pain from the severed bond made my hand tremble uncontrollably. I swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat.

When Adrian returned, he caught me putting the signed papers back where they had been.

He stopped, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

"What are you doing?"

I smiled and slipped my bloodstained fingers behind my back.

"Nothing. Just tidying up the table."

Seeing how obedient I seemed, a trace of guilt crossed his eyes. He quickly stuffed the papers into his briefcase.

"I was just angry earlier. I didn't mean what I said. You're my mate, and that will never change."

I gave a quiet nod, my expression unreadable.

Adrian studied me for a moment but said nothing more.

However, on the drive back to the Alpha residence, he did something completely out of character.

He asked whether I'd been feeling tired lately and even made a detour to the market to buy some expensive healing herbs.

But I knew exactly why he was doing it.

He wanted my body to be in better condition so I could endure the experiment for as long as possible.

I tossed the herbs onto the back seat and stared blankly out the window.

The sunlight was so beautiful today.

What a shame I would never see it again.

The moment we stepped inside, I heard my parents cheering excitedly.

My mother, Catherine, was holding Vivian, who was pretending to be weak, and wiping away tears of relief.

"My precious Vivian, you're going to be saved! You won't have to worry about the side effects of the ritual anymore..."

My father, Edmund, was clearly afraid I might change my mind. Before I had even taken off my shoes, he pushed a prepared consent form into my hands.

He didn't relax until he watched me sign it.

"Elena, you've finally grown up. This is what a good older sister should do."

"Don't hold it against us. Your sister was born frail because of the complications when we delivered you both. You're healthy, so naturally she needs more protection."

"But we won't treat you unfairly," my mother added, wiping her tears. "Once the experiment is over, the family property and land will be divided equally between you and Vivian. You won't lose what belongs to you."

I shook my head, swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat.

Then I pushed the signed consent form back toward them.

"Give everything to Vivian. I won't need any of it."