chapter 4

"I made the potion like you asked. Once you drink it, your scent will completely disappear within three days. No one from your pack—including your marked mate—will be able to trace you anymore.

"You'll be cut off from your pack entirely. Even the spiritual link will be broken by force."

The witch's calm voice floated out from inside the wooden cabin.

Without hesitating, Audrey grabbed the glowing violet vial.

"I'm sure," she said.

She tilted her head back and swallowed the contents in one gulp.

The moment the liquid hit her throat, it felt like fire spreading through her body from her spine to her fingertips. Her hands started to tremble, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

She gritted her teeth, gripping the table's edge tightly, but her legs never faltered.

This was the only way to keep Ethan from finding her—using an ancient potion to break their bond without his knowledge.

This wasn't just physical pain.

This was the agony of tearing apart a spiritual link that was never meant to be broken. It was the price she had to pay to escape Ethan's Alpha influence over her mind.

She no longer belonged to the Moonshade Pack.

She no longer belonged to him.

Three days from now, her scent would vanish completely.

No Alpha—no werewolf at all—would ever be able to catch her scent again.

The witch spoke again, her voice low, "Your wolf is much stronger than you think."

Audrey stopped, and a flash of her wolf Lilith—wild and fierce—crossed her thoughts.

She didn't answer. She just turned and walked away without looking back.

She didn't want to hear anything about the white wolf. Everyone feared its power, and that fear always came with mistrust. Audrey only wanted peace.

And she had fought hard for that peace.

By the time she got back to the Moonshade Villa, night had already fallen.

As soon as she walked in, Ethan came over with a box of red velvet cake and a gentle smile that tried to look apologetic.

"Audrey, we're going to be mates soon. That means Lucy will be family too. I've been spending more time helping her out—don't take it the wrong way. I've loved you all these years. You should know you're the one I care about."

Audrey didn't understand how his acting was so good.

That bakery was at the southern end of the Moonshade Pack's land, past half the city. People waited for at least three hours in line just to get a cake.

She could still smell hospital-grade disinfectant on his sleeve—the exact scent used in the place where Lucy worked.

He'd never done this for her.

But for Lucy, he would put in the effort over and over again and act like it was nothing more than "being a good brother-in-law."

Audrey was worn out. She didn't have it in her to pretend anymore. For the first time, she turned him down without trying to soften the blow.

"I'm not feeling well. I need some rest."

She didn't wait to see how he reacted. She just walked to her room and shut the door.

Ethan stood there stunned. He thought Audrey was still upset about him leaving earlier to help Lucy. Wanting to make up for it, he'd cleared his entire schedule to spend the day with her.

He stayed with her through lunch and then a quiet dinner by candlelight. Every moment of the day was meant for her.

Later, he suggested they go all the way to the northern edge of Moonshade Pack land. Past the forest was a wide-open field where the North Star looked brightest in the sky.

Audrey didn't turn him down. She smiled and followed along with whatever he planned.

If it weren't for the tired look in her eyes, the night could've passed for the perfect date.

They had just settled on the grass when a sudden noise broke the peace. A group of well-known she-wolves burst into the clearing, surrounding someone in the center.

It was Lucy.

Ethan didn't show it much, but Audrey could feel how distracted he became.

He kept glancing toward Lucy. Even though the North Star was fading as the sun began to rise, she knew he hadn't really been looking at it in the first place. It wasn't until she softly called his name that he blinked and looked back at her. "What is it, Audrey?"

"I'm not feeling well. Can we head back?" she asked quietly, like it was nothing serious. He glanced at Lucy one more time but chose to help Audrey up and leave.

Just as they stepped out of the woods, chaos erupted behind them. People started running and shouting.

"Fire! The woods are on fire!"

As the words reached him, Ethan's face changed instantly. He turned to run toward the flames but stopped when he saw Lucy's group running out.

He rushed toward them, questioning each person with a voice strained by panic and desperation. "Where's Lucy?!"

The girls exchanged nervous looks, and after a moment, panic spread across their faces. "Lucy ... she didn't make it out ... "

The moment the words hit him, it was like lighting a fuse. He exploded with anger, shouting, "I told you to keep an eye on her!"

He didn't even wait for a response. He spun around, ready to charge straight into the burning woods.

That's when Audrey's wolf, Lilith, finally let out a quiet sigh.

"He never picked us."

Before Ethan could run far, a Beta stepped in front of him. "Alpha, it's too dangerous in there! Let the patrol team handle it—"

But Ethan didn't let him finish. He roared back, "Move!"

Tuning out everyone trying to hold him back, he pushed through the crowd, running straight toward the raging fire.