Chapter 1 Chapter 1

The healers had given me a death sentence, and my death would be the ultimate revenge against my oblivious Alpha and the family that had relentlessly tormented me. The moment the words left my mouth, the doors to the hall were thrown open with a violent shove. Caleb's roar echoed through the hall. "Elena! What the hell do you think you're doing?" I turned to see his dark eyes burning with fury. Behind him, Lydia hurried in, her face a perfectly crafted mask of concern. "Of all days, you had to cause a scene today?" Caleb stormed up to me in a few long strides. "Lydia was just promoted to Lead Warrior. The entire pack is celebrating her, and you choose today to pull this stunt?" Without another word, he struck me. A sharp, stinging slap cracked across my face. The force of it sent me stumbling back, my cheek instantly swelling and hot. It took me several seconds to realize what day it was. It was Lydia's celebration. Caleb had specifically postponed a two-day patrol of our territory just to celebrate her promotion to an elite warrior. And I, his mate, was in the final stages of spirit decay. My wolf spirit was fading, and my only crime was reaching out to him, begging for help. Only for him to accuse me of misusing our bond. Tears blurred my vision, but I fought to keep them from falling. I was about to speak when a violent coughing fit wracked my body. Droplets of blood splattered onto the floor, blooming like dark red flowers on the white marble. I struggled to steady myself, my voice trembling as I tried to explain, clinging to one last shred of hope. "Caleb, I really didn't..." Caleb's brow furrowed for a moment, perhaps at the sight of the blood on my lips, but he said nothing. Lydia's delicate voice cut in at the perfect moment. "But, sister, the Alpha came all this way just for you...""I told you both to just leave her be. She's nothing but trouble," my mother Sarah's voice came through the mind-link. " She's been pulling stunts like this for attention since she was a child. Does she really think we'll fall for such a pathetic trick?""Elena, would you really hurt yourself just to lure me here and ruin Lydia's celebration?" Caleb advanced on me, grabbing me by the collar. Lydia rushed to pull him back. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at me, her voice a trembling plea. "I'm so sorry, sister. I shouldn't have accepted the promotion. It's all my fault! Please, just stop hurting yourself! The Alpha is already worried sick about you. If you can truly repent, I swear I'll never accept another honor again!" Her words were daggers, each one stabbing me in the heart and making me out to be the villain. Sarah's tone instantly softened with affection. "Sweet girl, this isn't your fault. You are so exceptional, you deserve every honor you receive." Though I had seen this display of mother-daughter affection countless times, each time it felt as if my heart were being carved out with a dull blade. It had been so long since I had felt the maternal love that was supposed to be mine. Now, it was all poured onto Lydia. But it didn't matter anymore. When you're dying, you tend to let go of many things. My heart was a barren wasteland. Another wave of metallic-tasting blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. Caleb snatched the medical report from my hand. After a quick scan, he scoffed, "Wolf Spirit Decay? You can't even come up with a believable lie." The report was torn to shreds, the pieces fluttering down around my feet. His gaze lingered for a second on my paper-white face. Meeting his eyes, I remembered the brilliant green that had once sparkled with wonder at my eighteenth birthday ceremony. Now, they were as dull and lifeless as stagnant water. I raised a trembling hand to wipe away the blood, my body swaying as I turned back to the council official. "Please complete the severing ritual. I want no delays when my spirit fades in three days." Caleb's body jolted. He seized my wrist. "You'd drag a council official into this farce just to ruin Lydia's celebration!" His voice was thick with fury. "This is absolutely absurd!""Elena, come back with me right now. Stop making a spectacle of yourself." With an arm around Lydia's waist, Caleb turned and walked toward the door without a backward glance.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I looked down at my reddened wrist and gave a small, humorless laugh. I should have known. He never believed me, did he? I forced my ailing body through the rest of the ritual on my own. On the day of my death, Caleb would receive the petition to dissolve our mate bond. In the last three days of my life, I severed our mate bond with my own hands. And my Alpha mate was holding another woman, celebrating her triumph. I staggered back to the Alpha's villa, though I had no intention of dying here. I just wanted to gather my few belongings. But as it turned out, there was almost nothing to gather. When I went to my old room, I found it had long since been turned into a storeroom. My vanity was shoved into a corner, covered in a thick layer of dust. The books and photo frames I had once treasured were all tossed carelessly into cardboard boxes. Only the bed remained in its original place, but the sheets had been replaced with a coarse, grey cloth. There was also a worn-out jewelry box. Inside was the only birthday gift Caleb had ever given me: a cheap silver chain. I sat on the edge of the bed and brushed the dust from the tabletop. My fingertips paused on a photo frame. It was a picture from my eighteenth birthday ceremony. In the photo, I was wearing a moon-white gown, and my eyes still held a spark of light. Now, that same face was ashen, my eyes filled only with a dead stillness. Even Lydia's dressing room was four or five times larger than this storeroom. Only her cast-offs were tossed in here. The suite meant for the Luna, my suite, had been converted into Lydia's private training room two years ago. It had the best equipment and the most comfortable environment. And I had been banished to this windowless storeroom. The sudden ring of my phone broke my reverie. "Hello, this is the Angel's Bay Spirit Sanctuary." A gentle female voice came from the other end. "Miss Elena, are you still interested in the crystal crypt you inquired about?""If you place a deposit now, we can hold it for you for seven days. Otherwise, it will be offered to other clients." It was the final resting place I had inquired about a month ago. Surrounded by pure moonstone, with an exquisite crystal casket that would glitter under the moonlight. A place where a faded wolf spirit could find eternal peace. It was the end I longed for. But it cost eighty thousand dollars. I glanced at the few hundred dollars in my wallet and paused. "No, I don't need it. Thank you." Someone who couldn't afford treatment for Wolf Spirit Decay certainly couldn't afford a peaceful death. Just as I hung up, the sound of the door opening made me look up. Caleb walked in. He was used to the faint, pleasant scent that permeated every corner of the villa, the unique scent of jasmine and moonlight that belonged to his mate. But now, the stale, dead air in this room repulsed him, filling him with an instinctual sense of loss. His brow furrowed slightly, and he took a deep breath, trying to catch that familiar scent. But there was nothing. Only dust and mildew. Caleb quickly suppressed his discomfort. "What was that on the phone about a spirit sanctuary?" he demanded, glaring at me. "Elena," he said, his voice cold as frost, "I've told you before. Stop this morbid game of yours. Cursing yourself to get sympathy? Do you think this is some kind of game?" I hadn't wanted to say anything, but an instinctive denial slipped out. "Caleb, I didn't...""Didn't what?" he cut me off, his tone growing harsher. "There's nothing more to say between us. And you will not take what belongs to Lydia.""Some things were never yours to begin with." Tears streamed down my face. He was saying the celebration, the Luna title, even all the love, belonged to Lydia. But what about the things that were supposed to be mine? Had he forgotten all of it? I looked up, meeting his gaze directly. "I just want to ask you one question.""Do you remember my eighteenth birthday?"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Caleb's expression froze. His eyes flickered involuntarily to the photograph on the table. But he quickly looked away, his voice cold. "What are you trying to say?""That day, you promised you would hold my Luna ceremony," I whispered. "But later, you said I was too weak, that I was unworthy of being Luna.""So?" Caleb's tone grew impatient. "You forgot my nineteenth birthday. And my twentieth. And my twenty-first," I continued. "But you never forgot a single one of Lydia's.""Elena!" Caleb spun around abruptly. "Enough! You always make such a big deal out of everything, so full of self-pity!""If you weren't so damn fragile and sensitive all the time, maybe I wouldn't have to be this way." I stared into his cold eyes, feeling the crushing weight of his Alpha's dominance. So that was it. In his eyes, my very existence was a mistake. I said softly, "You're right, Caleb. I'm not good enough." I turned away, no longer looking at him. "The documents are in the second drawer on the left," I said, my voice hollow. "There's something for you in there. Don't open it for three days." He said nothing and left. The clock struck midnight, and the room returned to its dead silence. I hugged the old photo frame, feeling life drain away from me, little by little. Two days left. I didn't sleep at all that night. At dawn, I heard the sound of a car engine from downstairs. My parents had returned with Lydia. I heard their angry accusations before they even stepped inside. "Elena, you have the nerve to come back here?" The door was thrown open violently. The fury in my father, John's, eyes looked ready to devour me whole. "You ruined Lydia's celebration! Do you know she cried so hard her wolf nearly lost control, begging us to forgive you?""And you don't feel the slightest bit of guilt?""Apologize to Lydia at once!" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Two more days. I just had to endure for two more days. He hadn't always been this way. He once treated me with that same warm protectiveness. Back then, when my wolf was slow to awaken, my father would patiently reassure me, "It's okay, Elena. Everyone moves at their own pace." When I fell behind in combat training, he would personally teach me the basic stances, over and over, without a hint of frustration. But after Lydia arrived, everything changed. At fifteen, she could hunt on her own. By sixteen, she was a top prospect in the warrior reserve. And me, at eighteen, my wolf was still pathetically weak. Shifting was an agony, and my combat skills were the worst in the entire pack. She replaced me, becoming the perfect, obedient daughter in our father's eyes. But ever since Lydia arrived, a strange weakness had taken hold of me, growing worse for reasons I couldn't understand. I was often dizzy and nauseous, my stamina during training was abysmal, and I couldn't even perform a simple healing ritual. The pack healers said it was a congenital weakness and that I needed more nutrition. But no matter how hard I tried, my condition only worsened. Disappointment began to creep into my father's eyes. "Elena, look at Lydia, then look at yourself. You both receive the same training. How can the gap be so wide?""You are an Alpha's mate! How can you protect the pack with such weakness? How can you possibly share Caleb's burdens?""If it weren't for the Moon Goddess's decree, I would truly doubt whether you deserve to be his mate." Eventually, his disappointment turned to shame. It was as if my very existence was his disgrace. And Lydia was the daughter who made him proud.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I looked up at Lydia, who was standing in the doorway. She was watching me with those big, innocent eyes, her face a mask of concern. "Sister, let's make up, please? Just like old times." Her voice was gentle, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears, making her look utterly pitiful. This was her specialty. "Do you remember the moonlight flower crown you wove for me?" Lydia continued. "Tomorrow is the Full Moon Festival. Could you make another one for me? As a gift to celebrate my promotion." A flicker of relief crossed Sarah's face as she quickly urged me, "Isn't that the one thing you're actually good at? Lydia is offering you an olive branch, Elena. You should be grateful and just do it." I didn't move. The moonlight flower crown pulled my memories back seven years. Lydia had just been brought home by my father. I had excitedly woven a crown for her, carefully picking the most beautiful moonlight flowers. Just because she had once said she loved them, I had woven her a crown, enduring the countless burns the flower's sap left on my fingers. For a weak wolf like me, the sap was like diluted silver, and every touch was agony. But I gritted my teeth and persisted, creating a perfect crown. But when Lydia put it on, she had an allergic reaction and fainted, her entire body breaking out in a red rash. The pack healer said it was the pollen. When she woke up, the first thing she did was cry in Caleb's arms. "Alpha, the crown was a token of Elena's goodwill. She said it would be fine if I just wore it for a little while. Please don't blame Elena. It's all my fault for being so willful!" I still remembered standing helplessly before the medical bay, withering under Caleb's resentful glare. "I didn't know Lydia was allergic to moonlight flowers. She never told me..." Caleb didn't listen. He locked me in the pack's cells for three whole days. It was a living nightmare. No food, no water, not even basic sanitation. I curled up in a dark corner, listening to the sounds of laughter and celebration from outside as they toasted to Lydia's "recovery." By the time I was released, I was so weak I could barely stand. "Have you forgotten?" I now said, looking at Lydia's flawless face. "You're allergic to moonlight flowers." At the mention of this, the atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense. Just then, Caleb pushed the door open. He heard our conversation and paused mid-stride. In truth, even when I was delirious in that cell, I had felt it through our mate bond. He had secretly come to see me in the dead of night. But none of that mattered anymore. Now, he was completely on Lydia's side. "Allergic?" Lydia laughed softly, though I caught the nervous tremor in her voice. "Sister, that was so many years ago." She stepped closer. "I'm much stronger now. I've long since overcome that allergy. My warrior training has built up my resistance." As she spoke, she held out her hand, as if to prove her point. "See? I'm not afraid of moonlight flowers at all now." Her nails dug into my skin, the pressure increasing. When the pain made me finally wrench my arm away, she stumbled back, falling to the ground as if she'd been pushed. As she fell, I saw her other hand brush discreetly against her sleeve. "Ah!" She hit the ground hard, letting out a pained groan. Almost simultaneously, red blotches began to appear on her pale cheeks. "Lydia!" Sarah shrieked, rushing to her side. "Gods, she's breaking out in a rash!" The rash spread with visible speed, from her cheeks to her neck, and down her arms. It certainly looked like a severe allergic reaction. John glared at me, his voice trembling. "Elena, what did you do to her?" I hadn't done anything. I had only pulled my hand away. But I had no way to defend myself. Lydia leaned against Sarah, whimpering painfully. "Mom, it's so itchy... Sister, I didn't mean to..." Even in her supposed agony, she defended me, which only fueled their anger. Seeing Lydia's swollen skin, John turned and roared, "Elena! You've gone too far!""I... I didn't..." The words died on my lips, sounding weak and pathetic even to my own ears. "You didn't what?" Caleb strode over, his eyes burning with rage. "Again! You've hurt her again!" He carefully lifted Lydia into his arms, his movements unnaturally gentle. "I told you, I've overcome the allergy," Lydia whispered weakly against Caleb's chest, her voice barely audible. "It might be... some other reason..." As she spoke, her eyes were on me, and in them, I saw a flash of triumph. A look only I could see.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

"What other reason?" Caleb glared at me. "Who else touched her but you?" Watching this perfectly staged scene, a profound despair washed over me. She had planned everything, including the allergen she'd hidden in her sleeve. "Elena!" Caleb roared, lunging at me and clamping a hand around my throat. "I should have known how twisted you are!" His grip tightened. I couldn't breathe, and my vision began to blur. But the instant his fingers tightened, a searing agony erupted through the bond. It wasn't my pain. It was his. The mate bond was lashing out at him for harming his destined mate. His face instantly turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He instinctively let go. I slammed against the wall, the dull thud echoing in the room as the taste of blood filled my mouth. "Caleb!" Lydia cried out in alarm. "Are you okay? Why do you look so pale?" He shook his head, fighting back the stabbing pain that shot up from the depths of his spirit, and looked at me again. The fury in his eyes burned even hotter, as if he wanted to reduce me to ash. "If I had known your spirit was this venomous, I would curse the Moon Goddess for binding us!""Get out! And don't ever let me see you again!" I slumped to the floor, with nothing left to say. Because I knew this was the last time. I would never again feel the pain of their distrust. Because my heart was already completely dead. For a heartbeat, as she saw the blood trickling from my lips, something flickered in Sarah's eyes. Pity. But the next second, Lydia's cries grew more pathetic, and Sarah quickly averted her eyes, turning to comfort the daughter who truly needed her care. "Sweetheart, how are you feeling? Do you need to see a healer?" I wiped the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand and slowly pushed myself up from the floor. In the corner was a worn-out suitcase containing the few clothes I owned. I had already packed. They watched me with surprise, which was quickly followed by biting sarcasm. "What, you think you can just run away from home now?""The pack disciplines you for your own good, Elena. Why can't you understand that this is for your own good?" My father watched me, his face devoid of expression. "You think running away will solve anything?" Sarah sneered. "Elena, you've been like this your whole life. The moment you face a problem, you try to escape.""Just like your father said. We've raised a coward." Caleb gently placed Lydia on the bed and turned to face me. There was no warmth in his eyes, only cold disgust. "Where do you think you're going?""Away from Black Moon Pack territory.""Elena!" his voice boomed like thunder. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?""The moment you step out of this territory, you will no longer be a member of the Black Moon Pack!" Too much disappointment had accumulated, and my heart was too numb to feel any more pain. Having heard this threat for the thousandth time, I was no longer afraid of losing this so-called home. Because this pack had never truly given me a sense of belonging. "Good," I said, my voice flat as I dragged the suitcase toward the door. "I was never worthy anyway.""I will never look back. And whoever breaks this vow will lose their one true love for all eternity." I dragged my suitcase and walked toward the main door without turning back. The moment I stepped out of the villa, a night breeze rushed past me. It carried the scent of freedom, but also the premonition of death. Caleb stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching me leave. My final words sent a shiver down his spine. He knew I wasn't well. He worried that running out into the cold night would harm me further. He wanted to say that his words about banishing me were spoken in anger, that he never meant for me to leave. He took an instinctive step to follow, but Lydia's sweet voice stopped him. "She'll be back, Alpha. Once she realizes she has nowhere else to go, she'll come crawling back to you, begging.""Then she'll understand that without your protection, she's nothing." Hearing this, a strange irritation welled up inside Caleb. He silently retracted his gaze. No one saw the slight tremble in his clenched fists, or how his nails dug deep enough into his palms to draw blood.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

I dragged my suitcase to a dilapidated motel on the edge of the territory. It reeked of mildew and stale smoke. The wallpaper was peeling, and the carpet was covered in stains. But for me, an outcast, it was the only shelter I had. In the middle of the night, a sharp pain tore me from a nightmare. The agony of Wolf Spirit Decay was like a thousand silver needles stabbing into my bones. Every breath was a torment. I curled up under the thin blanket as memories of my childhood flooded back. I was only twelve then, just starting my combat training. Lydia would always helpfully tidy my training uniform. But every time I put on the uniform she had tidied for me, my skin would burn. The itching was so intense I would collapse on the training grounds. Everyone thought I was just too delicate, unable to even handle the material of the uniform. Only I knew it was silver powder. "Elena is so fragile. She can't even handle a little irritation," the trainer at the time had said with a shake of his head. And Lydia would rush over with concern. "Sister, are you okay? I'll go get you some medicine." At fourteen, during a hunting exercise, someone pushed me off a cliff. I broke my leg and lay in a cave for a whole night. When the search party found me, I was delirious with a high fever. Lydia's eyes would fill with tears. "It's all my fault," she'd sob. "I should have protected my sister. I should have found her sooner." She became the hero; I became the burden who needed to be saved. But the worst part was the so-called healing herbs. Whenever I was injured, Lydia would always take it upon herself to care for me. She would personally brew the medicine and gently feed it to me. I thought it was a gesture of sisterly love. But I only grew weaker. Looking back, I realized those herbs must have been laced with wolfsbane. It had been slowly, bit by bit, eroding my wolf spirit. Everyone, including myself, believed I was born weak. It turned out I had been slowly poisoned since I was twelve. Meanwhile, in the Alpha's office, Caleb sat at his desk, unable to focus on a single document. The signals of pain from our mate bond made him restless. The stabbing pain came in waves, a phantom echo of a dull knife twisting in his soul. "Damn it!" he shot to his feet, sweeping the papers off his desk. He had a powerful urge to find me immediately, to make sure I was safe. But his pride wouldn't let him. He needed a reason. When the mind-link pinged in my head, the agony of my dying body almost made me lose consciousness. It was a message from Caleb, his tone as cold as frost. "Elena, come back and apologize to Lydia at once. Don't think you can solve anything by running away." I didn't reply. I was too weak to even muster the strength to respond. I wondered if he still felt even a sliver of concern for me. But it didn't matter anymore. There was only one day left on my death countdown. The next afternoon, an apprentice from Rosa's Diner knocked on my door. He was a kind Omega boy with eyes as clear as a spring. "Miss, our owner asked me to bring you something to eat." He carefully held out a bowl of steaming hot soup, the aroma of healing herbs wafting from it. At that moment, my eyes welled with tears. In this world, there was still someone who cared about me, an outcast abandoned by everyone. Just as I was about to gratefully accept the soup, Lydia appeared. She was dressed in a tight black outfit, a perfect smile on her face. "Sister Elena, I finally found you." She strode over and shoved the boy aside. The hot soup splashed onto the floor, splattering onto my leg and making me hiss in pain. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry," Lydia feigned an apology. "But it's probably for the best that you don't drink things from strangers, sister." The boy glared at her angrily. "Why did you do that?""Little boys shouldn't meddle in adults' business," Lydia sneered, releasing a wave of her dominant pheromones. The boy's face turned pale, and he staggered back. "By the way, that council official was dismissed," Lydia said, her tone deceptively casual. "The Alpha fired him personally. For daring to process your severance ritual.""See? You're so useless you drag everyone down with you.""Now the entire pack knows you're an ungrateful traitor." Hearing her words, my world felt like it was collapsing. Even the one person who had been willing to help me had suffered because of me. I was a curse to everyone I met. "Why?" I whispered, the single word taking every last bit of my strength. "Because I hate you!" Lydia's laugh was sharp and mocking, a piercing sound in the still room. "If you're going to die, then just die already. Why are you still hanging around the Black Moon Pack like an eyesore?""Do you see Caleb believing you? From the very beginning, he's only ever seen you as a burden!" This was the real her. This was the perfect Lydia that everyone adored. My voice was calm as I spoke. "Lydia, I can honestly say I have never done a single thing to harm you.""Why do you hate me so much?"

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

"What can I say?" Lydia stood, looming over me. "An orphan living on charity never stood a chance against a destined mate.""But I couldn't stand it. Why should a pathetic weakling like you get everything?""All of this should belong to a strong warrior like me!""You know, I know exactly why your body is so weak." She looked at me, her eyes glinting with a vicious light. "Since you were twelve, I've been putting wolfsbane in your food. Little by little, slowly eroding your wolf spirit.""The silver powder in your uniform, the push off the cliff, the poisoned herbs... It was all my work. My masterpiece." I trembled with rage, wishing I could raise my hand and slap her, but the moment I lifted my arm, she shoved me back to the floor. Of course. How could this dying body of mine possibly compete with an elite warrior? She slowly crouched down. "What? Are you angry? Do you feel cheated?""Too bad. You're too much of a weakling to do anything about it!""You don't even have the strength to kill me!" She landed a few more kicks for good measure, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as I curled into a ball on the floor, groaning. "All these years, watching you grow weaker day by day, it has brought me so much joy.""Well, once you're dead, I'll be the one and only Luna of the Black Moon Pack." The pain almost made me pass out. Lydia left the room, her mood cheerful. She was completely unaware that my phone, which I had placed on the nightstand, was recording. The small red light blinked silently, capturing every single word of her confession. I painfully dragged myself up from the floor, my clothes soaked with a cold sweat from the pain. I looked at the recording on my phone, and a real smile, the first in years, played on my lips. Finally, I could make everyone see Lydia for who she truly was. On the last day of my life. It was time for the truth to come to light. Looking at the finished recording, I sent it to Caleb and my parents with a single tap. At the same time, I sent a backup to all the pack elders. The audio file clearly captured every one of Lydia's words: "The silver powder in your uniform, a push off the cliff, the poisoned herbs... It was all my work. My masterpiece.""Once you're dead, I'll be the one and only Luna of the Black Moon Pack." Then I removed the SIM card from my phone and severed my mind-link. In the last twenty hours before my life faded away, I had finally done something that mattered. Now, I just wanted to walk the final path in peace. The sky had completely darkened, and the motel's neon sign cast a harsh glare. I dragged my weak body out of the room and walked towards Rosa's Diner. It was the only place in the world that would still accept me. Through the window, I saw Rosa cleaning a table, her movements gentle and focused. "Mrs. Rosa," I said, gently pushing the door open. She looked up and saw me, her face immediately clouding with concern. "Elena? What's wrong, child? You look so pale.""Can... can I stay here for a little while?""Of course, sit down and rest." Rosa immediately dropped her cloth. "You look so weak. I'll go make you some soup." She didn't ask any more questions, just quietly prepared food for me. This unconditional kindness made my eyes well up again. Rosa brought me a bowl of hot soup filled with fresh vegetables and healing herbs. "Drink this. It will make you feel a little better." I took small sips, the warm liquid bringing a little heat back to my cold body. "Child, why aren't you at home?" Rosa asked softly. "I don't have a home anymore," I answered, my voice quiet. "They threw me out." A flicker of pain crossed Rosa's eyes. "I used to have a daughter, about your age.""She died in an accident.""If she were still alive, she would be as beautiful as you." She reached out and gently stroked my hair, like a mother comforting her child. "Elena, would you let me take care of you? Just for a little while. Let an old woman pretend she still has her daughter." Tears I had held back for years finally broke free, streaming down my face. For the first time in years, I felt a mother's love. It wasn't because I was special or useful. It was just... love. Pure and unconditional. "Come, let's go rest in the back room," Rosa said, helping me to my feet. Her small apartment was simple but incredibly warm. A picture of her daughter, a girl with a radiant smile, hung on the wall. Rosa helped me change into a clean dress and then gently brushed my hair. "Your hair is so beautiful, just like moonlight," she said softly. I leaned against her shoulder, feeling a sense of security I had never known. Even the pain in my body seemed to lessen. "Aunt Rosa, thank you.""Don't be silly, child," her voice choked with emotion. "It is you who has reminded me what it feels like to be a mother." I closed my eyes, my consciousness beginning to fade. The flame of my life was dimming, but my heart was more at peace than ever before. At least in my final moments, I knew I was loved. I heard Rosa whisper, "Thank you, my dear, for bringing my little girl back to me, even for just a moment..." I wanted to answer her, but I no longer had the strength to speak. I just felt my body growing lighter and lighter. My wolf spirit was fading, my spirit preparing to leave this broken vessel.