Wolf Moon Oblivion

After the witch's memory severance ritual, my mind was a blank slate-every trace of my past erased, as if it had never been.

I forgot the Alpha I'd been fated to, whom I'd loved fiercely for seven years.

I forgot the Omega girl I'd sponsored since childhood, the same one who'd slithered in and stolen everything that mattered.

I forgot the Blackwood Pack, my home territory, and all the laughter, battles, and bonds that had defined me.

With my pack severance papers signed, I joined the Lunar Guard and was soon deployed to a war-torn overseas zone.

The Blackwood Pack mocked me, thinking I'd crumble in the mud and blood and beg to return.

They were dead wrong.

Five years later, helicopters descended on our Lunar Guard outpost, their markings glinting as armed wolf warriors secured the area.

Under a blinding searchlight, an emissary from the North American Wolf Alliance stepped out.

He fixed his gaze on me, his face draining of color, shock etched into every line of his features.

"After all these years," he said, his voice trembling, "why did you never contact Alpha Michael of the Blackwood Pack? Do you have any idea he's been waiting for you-five whole years, Jessica?"

I blinked, confusion pooling in my chest like cold water.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice steady but empty, "I underwent a memory severance ritual a long time ago. Who... who is Michael?"

The air went dead silence, so quiet that I could hear the whir of the helicopter blades overhead.

A sudden, sharp panic seized my chest, tight and suffocating, and I instinctively craned my neck upward.

There, in the helicopter's open hatch, stood a man in tactical gear-tall, broad-shouldered, his frame rigid as stone.

His eyes, red-rimmed and raw with unshed grief, were locked on mine, as if he were staring at a ghost.

...

I found out about Michael and Sophia on the night of our bonding ceremony.

The moon hung full and bright in the sky, casting a silver glow over the pack grounds, but Michael was nowhere to be found.

I searched every corner-our cabin, the feast hall, the training fields-until the sound of hushed whispers led me to the terrace of the pack leader's cabin.

There he was, pinning Sophia- the Omega girl I'd supported for a decade, the one I'd treated like a little sister-against the stone wall, his mouth devouring hers as if she were the air he breathed.

I walked over, my steps steady even as my heart screamed in betrayal, and slapped him hard across the face.

The crack echoed through the night.

The next thing I knew, a sharp push sent me stumbling backward-Sophia had shoved me, her eyes cold and triumphant.

As I plummeted off the terrace, a strange sense of inevitability washed over me, heavy and bitter.

It was happening again.

Everyone I cared about, everything I held dear, was eventually stolen by Sophia.

She was the orphaned daughter of my father's old war buddy, a pitiful Omega with a tragic backstory that made everyone soften.

I'd taken her under my wing when she was twelve, paid for her education, brought her into my social circle, found her a comfortable administrative job within the pack.

She was clever, charming, bright-like a little ray of sunshine that everyone couldn't help but adore.

My family, my pack mates, even the Elders who'd initially been wary of her-they all fell under her spell.

"That little Omega is so much more likable than you."

I'd heard those words more times than I could count, each one a tiny knife to the heart.

And now, even my Alpha-the man I'd loved for seven years, the one I was about to officially bond with under the Moon Goddess's watch-had fallen for her act.

When I woke up in the pack infirmary, Michael was sitting by my bed, his jaw tight.

But he wasn't there to check on my injuries, to ask if I was in pain.

The only name on his lips was Sophia's.

"Jessica, that kiss... it was a mistake," he said, his voice strained.

"It will never happen again."

"And as for Sophia, you've taken care of her for years. Her life is already hard enough. Don't hold this against her, okay?"

I looked into his golden eyes-the mark of an Alpha, once warm and familiar, now cold and distant-and a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Michael, you're saying all this because you're scared I'll ruin her reputation, scared I'll have her kicked out of the pack. Isn't that right?"

His face darkened, and he grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron, digging into my skin.

"I know you're angry, but as the future Luna, your actions affect the stability of the entire pack. Let this go. We're about to be bonded. Don't make this messy."

I wrenched my hand free, my skin stinging, and stared at the full moon outside the window, its light mocking me.

He opened his mouth to say more, but his Beta burst in, leaning in to whisper frantically in his ear.

Sophia was having an emotional breakdown.

She needed him.

Michael glanced at me, his tone softening slightly-though it felt more like pity than concern.

"There's trouble with some rogue wolves on the border. I have to handle it myself. You get some rest."

He was gone before I could answer, rushing out the door without a backward glance.

He never came back.

I lay motionless in bed, my eyes fixed on the screen of my phone, where a hidden forum ad glowed faintly: [An ancient witch's memory severance ritual. Break the chains of your past. No regrets, no pain.]

I've always been decisive.

And I have zero tolerance for betrayal.

I never wanted something that was already tainted, something that had been broken beyond repair.

So, whether it was Michael, the seven years we shared, or the Blackwood Pack- I was done.

Finished.

I walked out of the witch's hidden cottage an hour later, my mind feeling strangely clear, yet terrifyingly empty.

Parts of my past were now locked away in a magically sealed box, buried deep within my consciousness.

I knew they were there, lingering just out of reach, but I had lost both the key and the desire to open it.

The ritual required two stages.

I had to return in five days for the final session, to seal away the last fragments of my past for good.

Following the faint, hazy memory of an address, I returned to the Blackwood Pack's territory-my territory, once.

The guards recognized me, their expressions a mix of surprise and awkwardness, but they let me pass with a respectful nod.

I opened the door to my house, only to be greeted by raucous laughter and chatter.

"Sophia did great! She won first place in the Alliance Hunt!"

"She's really made our pack proud-such a strong Omega!"

I froze in the doorway.

There, in the center of the room, Sophia was surrounded by a crowd of my friends, her face blushing with pride, a trophy in her hands.

Michael stood beside her, his posture relaxed but proud, a soft smile of approval on his lips-as if she were the one he was supposed to bond with, the one he loved.

One of them noticed me, and their smile faded instantly.

The lively room fell silent, the air thick with awkwardness.

A flicker of discomfort crossed Michael's face as he walked toward me, his hand outstretched.

"Jessica? You're back? Why didn't you tell me you were out of the infirmary? I would have picked you up."

I stepped away from his outstretched hand, my voice flat, devoid of any emotion.

"What? Did my return to my own home interrupt your party?"

The atmosphere turned icy, so awkward you could cut it with a knife.

Ashley, a pack mate I'd fought and bled with for years, a friend I'd trusted with my life, stepped forward, trying to smooth things over.

"Jessica, you're just in time. We're celebrating Sophia's victory. We all pitched in for a gift, and since you've looked after her for so long, it's only right that you give it to her."

Before I could refuse, she shoved a small, beautifully wrapped box into my hand.

I hesitated, then, not wanting to drag this out any longer, held it out to Sophia.

The moment her fingers brushed mine, the box slipped from my hand, crashing to the floor.

The wolf totem inside-carved from moonstone, a symbol of the pack-shattered into a hundred pieces.

Sophia's eyes filled with tears instantly, her lower lip trembling.

"Jessica... you still can't forgive me, can you? That night was just an accident... I didn't mean for it to happen. I've been so worried about you while you were recovering..."

Seeing her cry, everyone turned on me, their words sharp with blame, like daggers.

"Jessica, honestly, Sophia's life has been hard enough-cut her some slack!"

"Can't you just let her have one happy day to celebrate her achievement? You're being so petty!"

I looked around at the faces accusing me-faces I'd once called friends, faces I'd trusted.

In the center of it all, my fianc of seven years stared at me with pure disappointment, as if I were the one who'd betrayed him.

My heart felt like it was being pierced by silver needles, each one more painful than the last.

I could barely stand, my legs shaking beneath me.

"That's enough," Michael said, his voice low but carrying the full weight of his Alpha authority.

The murmuring stopped instantly.

He walked to my side, his voice a low growl, so only I could hear.

"Jessica, stop being childish. Sophia earned this honor through her own hard work. Even if you're upset, know your time and place."

He bent down, picked up the broken gift, and tried to hand it back to me.

"Give it to her again. After all, you two will have to get along in the future."

His voice was gentle, but the hand on my shoulder was applying pressure-a silent command, a reminder that he was still my Alpha, that I was supposed to obey.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay steady, and stepped away from his touch.

"There's no need," I said softly, my voice never wavering.

"She and I... probably won't be living together anymore. I actually came back today to pack my things."

The moment I finished speaking, Sophia's crying intensified, her body shaking with sobs.

"Jessica, what do you mean by that? Are you kicking me out?"

She looked at Michael, her eyes pleading, her voice broken.

"Michael, what can I do? You promised me... you promised you'd protect me."

Michael's brow furrowed, frustration and weariness etched into his face.

He turned to me, his voice laced with Alpha's authority, a edge of exhaustion he couldn't hide.

"Jessica, do you really have to take it this far?"

Before I could even explain-before I could say that I wasn't kicking her out, that I was leaving- I was drowned out by the accusations of my former friends, their voices loud and angry.

"Jessica! That's way too far-you can't kick her out!"

"If you kick Sophia out, where will she go? It's dangerous for an Omega out there alone, with rogues everywhere!"

"What if something happens to her? How could you live with yourself?"

Ashley looked at me, her face full of pity-for Sophia, not for me.

"Just let it go, Jessica. Look how much you're hurting her. She's already been through so much... you're being cruel."

I stared at Ashley, my heart turning to ice.

A few years ago, she'd been captured by rogue wolves, beaten and tortured, clinging to life.

I was the one who'd risked my life, sneaking into their den alone, fighting off half a dozen rogues to rescue her.

She'd cried in my arms, swearing she'd never forget what I did for her, that we'd be friends forever.

Now, she stood against me, defending the girl who'd kissed my fianc, the girl who'd stolen my life.

"Ashley, even if we are friends, this is my family matter... Besides, I'm the one moving out. This house..."

Michael cut me off, his voice sharp.

"That's enough, Jessica. Ashley is just trying to stand up for Sophia. In the end, this is all because you're still angry about me and Sophia. But she's suffered enough. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don't take it out on her."

Faced with one accusation after another, I suddenly felt tired.

So incredibly tired, like all the strength had been drained from my body.

I swallowed the explanation that was on the tip of my tongue-the truth that I was leaving, that I didn't want any of this anymore-and turned to go to my room.

But Sophia lunged forward, grabbing my arm, her nails digging into my skin, her eyes swimming with tears.

"Jessica, please don't be mad at me. I promise I'll never speak to Michael again... I'll leave the pack if you want me to. Just don't hate me."

Her grip was tight, painful, and I instinctively shook her off-not hard, just enough to free my arm.

But Sophia stumbled backward, her body going limp as she fell dramatically to the floor, sobbing harder.

I reached out to help her, my instincts kicking in, but Michael shoved me away, so hard I stumbled into the wall.

"Don't you touch her!"

I'd never seen him so frantic, so desperate-like Sophia was the most precious thing in the world to him.

A sharp pain shot through my chest, worse than any physical wound.

"Michael, my ankle... I think it's sprained," Sophia cried out, clutching her leg, her tears flowing freely.

Michael scooped her into his arms instantly, holding her like she was a fragile piece of glass, his face filled with worry.

He looked back at me, his eyes burning with thick, suffocating disappointment.

"You know how crucial mobility is for an Omega's survival, yet you still let your petty jealousy hurt her. Jessica, you're a fucking disgrace to this pack."

My heart felt like it had been stabbed with a silver icicle, the chill spreading through my entire body, freezing my blood.

I forced my back straight, my chin up, refusing to collapse, refusing to let him see how much he'd hurt me.

The others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of sympathy for Sophia and disapproval for me, and most of them followed Michael out the door.

The last to leave was a young wolf, one of Sophia's admirers, a boy who'd once looked up to me.

As he passed me, he sneered loudly, loud enough for me to hear.

"Someone just can't stand that Sophia is more popular than she is. A pathetic old bitch."

My eyelashes trembled, but I held back my tears, clinging to the last shred of my dignity.

I wouldn't let them see me break.

Michael's call came while I was with the Pack Elders, my fingers hovering over the paperwork to leave the pack.

"Elder, I wish to apply for release from the pack to join the Lunar Guard."

The Elder looked surprised, his eyebrows shooting up.

"But you're about to be bonded with the Alpha. Why would you want to go to a place like that? It's dangerous, Jessica-no place for a she-wolf who's been through what you have."

I managed a bitter smile, the corners of my mouth twisting.

"The bonding is off. Michael and I... it's over."

"Jessica, what did you just say?"

I realized with a jolt that my phone had somehow connected the call, that Michael had heard every word.

The Elder gestured for me to answer it, his expression sympathetic.

"Nothing," I said into the phone, my voice flat, "It's just a movie. I was quoting a line."

Michael was silent for a long time, probably trying to figure out if I was lying, if I was just trying to hurt him.

He must have believed me, because he didn't press it.

"Your silver bullet necklace is at my place. When are you coming to get it?"

Seven years ago, on a mission gone wrong, he'd taken a silver bullet for me.

It had missed his heart by an inch, had nearly killed him.

After it was removed, he'd polished it until it shone, made it into a necklace, and fastened it around my neck himself.

"My heart is yours now," he had whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

For seven years, I had treasured that necklace, worn it every day, a symbol of our bond.

Now, it stirred nothing in me-no warmth, no sadness, just a hollow emptiness.

"You can hold onto it for now," I replied coolly, "We'll sort it out later."

After hanging up, I formally completed the paperwork to leave the pack and join the Lunar Guard.

The Elder knew enough about my situation not to argue, not to try to change my mind.

He just sighed, signed the papers, and wished me luck.

I went back to my house and fell into a heavy, dreamless sleep-exhausted from the lies, the betrayal, the weight of it all.

When I woke up, the room was dark, and Michael was sitting on the edge of my bed, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight.

His voice was hoarse, tired.

"You're awake? I came to check on you, and... to bring you this."

He pointed to the silver bullet necklace on the nightstand, glinting faintly.

I glanced at it but didn't move to get it, didn't feel a thing.

"Thanks, but you didn't have to bring it over so late."

He shook his head, leaning forward slightly.

"This necklace is important. Seeing it reminds me of everything we've been through... the battles we fought together, the nights we stayed up talking, the promise we made to each other. We've overcome so much, and now we're fighting over something so small... It's not worth it, Jessica."

I remembered the past, too-fragments of it, anyway.

I remembered him driving through a blizzard in the middle of the night to buy me medicine from a human town when I had a fever, nearly crashing his car in the snow.

I remembered when my father died, when I was broken and alone, he defied the Elders and rushed back from a border patrol to stay by my side, holding me while I cried.

I remembered the day I was awarded the Pack Warrior medal, when he stood beside me, beaming with pride, and announced to everyone that I was his pride and joy.

Those were good times-happy times, times I'd once cherished.

But they were tainted now, ruined by betrayal.

I shifted slightly, the bruises and cuts on my body from the fall still throbbing, still visible.

He didn't seem to notice.

He just kept talking, his voice softening, as if he were trying to charm me back, to make me forget.

"The pack gossip has been really hard on Sophia. Her mental state is fragile, and she can't handle her duties right now. Could you go to the Elders and explain that what happened was a misunderstanding? So she can go back to work, so people will stop talking about her?"

I looked at him calmly, my eyes clear, no longer clouded by love or pain.

"Michael, in what identity would I be explaining this? As your fated mate? Because I don't want to marry you anymore."

His jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists, and a suppressed rage flared in his golden eyes-anger, not sadness, not regret.

"Jessica, would you just stop this bullshit. I've explained it a million times, the kiss was a mistake. Why are you still saying things just to piss me off?! "

I let out a low, bitter laugh, the sound hollow and empty.

Michael, how fucking arrogant do you have to be to think I can't live without you?

To think this is just a game, a tantrum I'm throwing to get your attention?

Seeing the pain on my face-pain from his arrogance, pain from the betrayal-he softened his tone, reaching out to touch my cheek.

"Just rest for now. But deal with the explanation as soon as possible. I'm going to the infirmary to check on Sophia. She can't move well, she shouldn't be alone."

The moment the door clicked shut, I got up and locked it, sliding down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

Then I crawled back into bed and wrapped myself tightly in the blankets, as if I could shield myself from the world, from the pain.

I didn't sleep at all that night.

My mind raced, replaying every betrayal, every lie, every moment I'd been a fool for loving him.

I woke up the next morning with a heavy head, a dull ache throbbing behind my eyes.

As I reached for a glass of water on the nightstand, I accidentally knocked the silver bullet necklace off the table, sending it clattering to the floor.

I bent down to pick it up, my fingers brushing the cold metal-and my blood ran cold.

On the side of the bullet, tiny and faint, an inscription was carved into the metal: [LOVE SOPHIA]

Sophia.

There was no question who this necklace belonged to.

It had never been mine-not really.

I got up, my hands shaking, and opened my safe.

There it was-my necklace, the one he'd given me seven years ago, with the letter 'J' carved into it, lying right where I'd left it, untouched for months.

I stared at it for a long time, and then I started to laugh.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face, burning as they fell, until my chest hurt, until I could barely breathe.

So, Michael had already given his heart to someone else-had been giving it to her all along.

I'd just been a fool, blind to the truth.

After settling the paperwork, I checked into a cheap motel in the human town nearby-far away from the pack, far away from Michael and Sophia.

My days were spent either finalizing my duties with the Elders or at the shooting range, firing bullets until my hands shook, until the anger and pain faded into numbness.

*****

Michael and Sophia felt like a distant memory, a bad dream I was finally waking up from.

For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of peace-a fragile, hollow peace, but peace nonetheless.

Until Michael called, his voice roaring through the phone, full of Alpha authority and rage.

"Get to the pack infirmary, now! That is an order from your Alpha! Do not disobey!"

I didn't want to go, didn't want to see him, didn't want to be anywhere near the pack.

But my release from the pack wasn't finalized yet.

He was still my Alpha, and I couldn't defy a direct command-not if I wanted to leave without trouble.

When I arrived at the intensive care wing, the hallway was crowded with pack members, their faces somber and tense, their voices hushed.

The air smelled of antiseptic and fear.

The second Michael saw me, his eyes blazed with fury.

He stormed over, his boots thudding against the floor, and grabbed my arm, his grip so tight it felt like he was going to break it.

"Tell me! Why did you do it!" he roared, his face inches from mine.

"You knew Sophia has had severe trauma ever since her father died! And you hired someone to threaten her? Jessica, when did you become so fucking cruel?"

Pain shot up my arm, but I didn't flinch.

I tried to pull away, but his grip was like a steel trap, unyielding.

The others just watched, saying nothing-no one defended me, no one asked if it was true.

They just stared, their faces filled with condemnation.

"It wasn't me," I said, my voice steady, my eyes clear.

"I haven't even seen her. And I had no idea she had any trauma."

Ashley couldn't hold back, stepping forward with a scowl on her face.

"You still deny it? Then how did you use your authority as her former guardian to prevent the doctors from giving Sophia her sedatives? If Sophia had gotten her medication on time, she wouldn't have been triggered! Are you still lying? Do you have any idea she almost died?"

That's when I saw Sophia, cowering behind Michael, her body trembling, her eyes wide with fear.

She looked like a frightened animal.

"Sophia? What's wrong?"

I asked, my voice softening slightly-instinct, more than anything.

At the sound of my voice, she flinched violently, covering her ears and screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Stay away! Don't hurt me! You can have Michael! You can have everything, just leave me alone!"

Before I could react, she scrambled for the vase on her nightstand and hurled it at me.

I couldn't dodge in time.

It smashed against my forehead, the ceramic shattering into pieces.

A deep gash opened up, and blood poured down my face, stinging my eyes, soaking my hair.

Michael immediately shielded Sophia with his body, his back to me, and roared at me.

"Get out! Don't come near her! I never want to see you again!"

I took a deep breath, pressing my hand to my bleeding head to stop the flow, and walked out of the room-slowly, steadily, refusing to run, refusing to show weakness.

Through the crack in the door, I saw Michael holding Sophia gently, whispering reassurances in her ear as if she were a fragile piece of glass, as if I were the monster.

The others crowded around them, their faces etched with concern, their words of comfort directed at her-no one spared me a second glance, no one asked if I was okay.

I found the nurse's station and got my forehead patched up, the nurse's hands gentle but silent, her expression sympathetic but wary.

Just as she finished tying the bandage, Michael found me.

His face was still a mask of fury, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes-maybe guilt, maybe regret-when he saw the bandage on my head.

But his voice was cold as ice, unforgiving.

"Sophia's condition is unstable. She's not in control of her actions. You should... try to be more understanding."

I shook my head, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

"It's fine. I'm not going to argue with a patient. It must be hard for the Alpha, having to take care of a patient on top of all your duties."

He was taken aback, clearly not expecting me to be so "mature" about it-clearly not expecting me to let it go.

The lecture he had prepared, the anger he'd been ready to unleash, died in his throat.

"It's good that you... understand," he said, his voice uncertain.

He reached out to check my wound, his fingers hovering inches from my forehead, but I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

His hand froze in mid-air before he slowly lowered it, clenching it into a fist, his jaw tight.

"What happened to Sophia has nothing to do with me," I said, my gaze clear and steady, no longer holding any emotion for him.

He retorted instantly, his Alpha certainty unwavering, his voice sharp.

"All the evidence points to you! Do you really think Sophia would frame herself? She's not that manipulative-she's too kind, too fragile."

I looked at his absolute conviction, at the way he defended her without a second thought, and suddenly, defending myself felt pointless.

What was the use?

He would never believe me, not when Sophia was there, playing the victim, pulling at his heartstrings.

I didn't argue. I just said, "Michael, let's just bre-"

Before I could finish, Ashley came running up, her face panicked, her voice breathless.

"Alpha! It's bad! Sophia had a breakdown because you were gone for too long-she's screaming your name, she won't calm down!"

Michael's face changed instantly, all his anger and uncertainty vanishing, replaced by panic.

Without a second of hesitation, he turned and sprinted back toward the hospital room, his only thought to get to Sophia.

Watching his desperate retreat, I stood there, silent, and said goodbye-to him, to the pack, to the life I'd once loved.

In three days, I would have my second and final memory severance ritual.

Then, everything about them, about the pack, about the betrayal and pain, would be locked away for good.

I would be free.

I turned to leave, ready to walk away and never look back, but someone grabbed me from behind, a strong hand clamping down on my shoulder.

Before I could struggle, a sharp pain exploded at the back of my head, and everything went dark.

I woke up with a splitting headache, my skull throbbing as if it had been split open.

I was in a cold, windowless stone room, the air thick with the smell of mold and silver.

My hands and feet were bound to a stone slab with leather straps etched with silver runes-runes that burned against my skin, sending waves of searing pain coursing through my veins, cold and unrelenting.

The door creaked open, and Michael walked in.

He was wearing the black tactical uniform of the Alpha, his expression as hard as granite, no trace of the man I'd once loved-no warmth, no kindness, just cold, unyielding anger.

"Michael? Let me go!"

My voice trembled, a mixture of rage and weakness, the silver burning my skin, the headache making it hard to think.

He shook his head, his tone chillingly calm, as if he were ordering an execution, not condemning the woman he'd once sworn to love.

"Jessica, Sophia's mind has been shattered. The pack's shaman says the chances of a full recovery are slim-she may never be the same again."

"So what? I told you, her condition has nothing to do with me!"

I screamed, struggling against the restraints, the silver biting deeper into my flesh.

The last bit of warmth vanished from his eyes, leaving only cold, empty darkness.

"You're still denying it. Since you have no remorse, since you refuse to take responsibility for what you've done, I have no choice but to take necessary measures. I'm going to let you experience for yourself the pain of having your mind torn apart. This is the price... you have to pay."

He finished speaking and nodded to a witch in a black robe standing by the door-her face hidden in the shadows, her eyes empty, devoid of any emotion, like a puppet.

The witch approached, holding a piece of obsidian covered in grotesque, glowing runes, the stone emanating a cold, evil energy that made my skin crawl.

"Begin," Michael commanded, pressing a bloody thumbprint onto a parchment scroll on the wall, sealing the order-sealing my fate.

I watched in horror as the witch held the obsidian to my forehead, her lips moving in a silent chant.

My blood turned to ice, fear coursing through my veins.

"Michael! You can't do this to me!"

I screamed, my voice cracking.

"I loved you! I gave you everything!"

He didn't look back.

He walked out with a steady, determined stride, and the heavy stone door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing in the silent room- a final, irreversible goodbye.

The witch pulled on a pair of gloves made of wolf skin and pressed the obsidian against my temple, a twisted smile spreading across her face.

"Miss Jessica, someone paid extra for me to take special care of you. Don't worry, I guarantee you'll walk out of here without a single physical scar-just a mind that's as empty as a void."

She began to chant, her voice high and unearthly, filling the room.

An unearthly cold radiated from the stone, and an indescribable psychic force tore through my consciousness, ripping at my memories, my emotions, my very sense of self.

My body convulsed violently, beyond my control, as waves of excruciating pain washed over me-worse than any silver wound, worse than any betrayal.

"Ahhhh!"

I screamed, my throat raw, my lungs burning.

I thrashed against the restraints, the silver burning deep into my flesh, drawing blood, but it was no use.

I was trapped, helpless, as my past was torn away from me, piece by piece.

I don't know how many times I endured the torture-how many hours, how many days.

Time blurred into a haze of pain and darkness, my mind fragmenting, my memories fading.

When they finally unbound me, I could barely stand, my legs shaking, my vision blurred, my mind empty and numb.

Three days later, Michael came for me.

He tried to help me up, his hand reaching for my arm, but I shoved him away with all the strength I had left-weak, but determined.

I stumbled, catching myself on the wall, my legs threatening to give out.

He looked at my broken state-my pale face, my empty eyes, the silver burns on my wrists-and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes-maybe guilt, maybe regret, maybe even a flicker of the love he'd once felt.

But it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold resolve.

"I know you hate me," he said, his voice softening slightly, "but you have to believe I did this for your own good! You have to pay for what you did to Sophia. I couldn't let you bully her, couldn't let you destroy her life. Jessica, I will make this up to you... I promise."

I didn't say a word.

It wouldn't have mattered anyway.

I didn't hate him-not anymore.

I didn't feel anything.

I just wanted to get away from him, from this place, from everything that had hurt me.

As I stood there, wondering how I would escape, his Beta ran in, panic etched into his face.

"Alpha, Miss Sophia is having another episode. She's screaming for you-she won't calm down unless you're there."

Michael immediately turned, his voice urgent, all his attention back on Sophia.

"Keep an eye on her, I'm on my way!"

He looked back at me, hesitating for a split second, as if he wanted to say something, as if he wanted to stay.

But then he was gone, rushing out the door without a backward glance-just like he'd always been.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification from the Elders: my application to leave the pack and join the Lunar Guard had been approved.

I turned off my phone, tossing it into my bag, and hailed a cab, telling the driver to take me as far away as possible-to the witch's hidden cottage.

As I lay down on the familiar ritual slab, the witch's voice was as gentle as ever, a stark contrast to the pain she'd inflicted on me just days before.

"Relax, Miss Jessica. This is the final session. Forget what needs to be forgotten. Your future will be like a field of untouched snow. Clean, and new. You'll be free."

I said nothing.

I closed my eyes, letting the cold of the slab seep into my bones, letting the witch's chant wash over me.

As my consciousness faded into darkness, a single tear escaped the corner of my eye and traced a path down my temple-for the love I'd lost, for the years I'd wasted, for the girl I'd once been.

Then, even that was gone.