Chapter 17 Myra's POV When Avelyn turned her back on us and walked out of the Moonveil Packhouse-head high, her spine straight-something inside my chest cracked. The air shifted. It wasn't just the loss of a daughter. It was something ancient unraveling inside me-a bond forged by blood and spirit, splintering right before my eyes. The bonds of blood are supposed to be sacred to us, stronger than Alpha law, stronger than the pack oath. But I failed her. Again. And this time, I wasn't sure the Goddess would forgive me. Behind me, Lexie looped her arm gently through mine, her voice honeyed with false warmth. 'Don't worry, Mom. If Avelyn doesn't want you anymore, I'll stay by your side for the rest of m ife." Her words were like a blade wrapped in silk. A clean cut-meant to soothe and slice at once And I let them in. Goddess forgive me, I let them in. For years, I convinced myself I was keeping the peace, keeping the family intact. That favoring .exie wasn't favoritism-it was a necessity. She needed more attention. She needed more love But in giving her everything, I had left Avelyn with nothing. For the first time, doubt dug into my heart like claws. Had I truly chosen the right daughter? Hac abandoned the one who needed me the most, all for the comfort of the one who knew how to urr into our ears and lie with every smile? blinked hard, trying to clear the haze in my eyes. It was too late. The damage had been done. swallowed the lump in my throat, but the ache remained. It pulsed with every heartbeat, with every breath that reminded me I had let my true daughter walk away-alone. And the last thing I saw before the great oak doors closed was Avelyn disappearing into the orest. nto the arms of a wolf who chose her. Where we never did. .exie's POV Alpha Darius, the once-proud and powerful alpha of the Nightbane Pack, was now a shattered 'ersion of the male who had once turned heads with a growl alone. After that silver bullet tore through his leg-fired by none other than Riven, that feral rogue Alpha -he hadn't regained consciousness until we reached the pack clinic in the southern hills. They say silver burns more than flesh. It scorches the soul. And Alpha Darius's soul had taken he hit harder than most. Mother and Father instructed me to stay by his side during recovery as if that would mean anything now. As if standing vigil by a crippled Alpha would earn me anything more than pity. I sat in silence, watching the faint rise and fall of his chest. This wasn't what I signed up for. I had chased Darius because he was strong, rich in status, and marked as the next Head Alpha Chapter 17 7:04 pm of the Nightbane bloodline. But now? He reeked of weakness. Magic-sick and broken. Who would want a mate who could no longer lead a pack, much less shift? I clenched my fists. I couldn't waste another moment. Riven was still out there-untamed, powerful, wild. I had seen the way his eyes never left Avelyn, the way his power flooded every room like a second moonrise. That was the kind of man I needed. I stood to leave-barely a step away before I heard the rasp of breath. "Lexie... were you the one taking care of me this whole time?" His voice was cracked, and dry, like leaves crumbling underfoot. I froze. I hadn't expected him to wake up so soon. Quickly, I slipped on the gentle mask I wore so well. "Of course, Darius. I haven't left your side." Alpha Darius groaned as he tried to sit up.. The motion ripped through his body, and I saw the sweat bead at his brow as his muscles tensed against the pain. I rushed forward like the dutiful she-wolf. "Careful! The healer said the silver tore through a major artery. It... damaged your bones too. They say you might not walk again." His entire face went pale. "You mean... I'm crippled?" I didn't hesitate. "That's what it sounds like. But don't worry, Alpha Darius. I'll take care of you. I always have. I never left your side-even when my sister and the rouge Alpha, Riven Ashton turned on you." His eyes flickered. "She had nothing to do with this," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "It was Riven. Just Riven." That one sentence set my blood on fire. Even now? Even after all this? Still, he's choosing her? "Darius-" I tried again, my voice rising in forced sorrow, but the door slammed open before I could continue. Emily Nightbane, Darius's mother and Matriarch of the Nightbane Pack, stormed in. Her energy alone made the light bulbs flicker, her presence thick with rage. "Darius! How's your leg? What in the name of the Moon happened?!" I saw an opportunity and moved like smoke to her side, my eyes wet, my voice trembling. "Elder Luna Emily, the healer said Alpha Darius's injury might be permanent. It was my sister and Riven. They didn't hold back. Not even a miracle wolf shaman could fix this." I waited for her to lash out at Avelyn. But instead- SLAP! Her hand collided with my cheek so hard, I saw stars. My wolf whimpered inside me, caged and stunned. "You again!" she hissed. "You manipulative, two-faced mutt!" 7:04 pm A 1 staggered, stunned. My hand flew to my burning cheek. "All those years ago, you chased after my son like a she-wolf in heat. Then you disappeared- right before your engagement ceremony! Avelyn came into the picture and grounded him. She gave him balance. Loyalty. She was Luna-blooded, and I saw what she brought out in him." Her eyes burned like embers. "And now you're back, crawling from your hole to pin this on her? If it weren't for you, they would've never fallen apart!" Alpha Darius tried to intervene, "Mom, this has nothing to do with Lexie-" "Shut your mouth!" Luna Emily snapped. "You're supposed to be an Alpha! Look at you now! All because you couldn't control your lust and threw away the one she-wolf who ever truly loved you!" The room crackled with tension. Emily pointed to both of us. "If you ever want to stand in this family again, Darius, you'll get down on your knees and beg Avelyn to return. Or both of you-both of you-can get out." She turned, not even sparing her son a second glance, and stormed out of the room with a growl that shook the clinic's walls. Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. Darius sank back into the bed, his eyes hollow, lips bloodless. And me? stood there-burning with shame and rage. Because even now, I had lost. Even now, Avelyn Moonveil still owned every heart I tried to steal. 7:05 pm Alpha Darius's POV