She Stole My Bloodline, My Alpha, And My Death Sentence Chapter 03

She Stole My Bloodline, My Alpha, And My Death Sentence Chapter 03

But he quickly slipped back behind his cold mask, as if the pain that had ripped through his soul had never existed.

He turned and walked toward Elara, who stood waiting beneath a tree.

She wore a flowing white dress, and the moonlight draped over her like she was the Moon Goddess stepping out of legend. When she saw Corvin coming, she looped her arm through his with practiced ease and sent a pitying smile in my direction.

I ignored them and headed toward the wolf keep.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, its pale light brushing gently against my skin.

I used to dread nights like this.

The brighter the moon, the worse the pain in my chest.

For the first time in years, I walked into the moonlight without needing anyone to shield me.

Pine needles. Moss. The scent of the deep forest carried on the breeze. My wolf opened her eyes inside me. She was not curled up in agony this time. She was urging me forward.

Run.

I kicked off my shoes and shifted into a silver wolf.

I burst forward. When my paws hit the earth, I could barely believe it was my own body.

A heartbeat later, I had already cleared the underbrush.

Branches scraped through my fur. Dewdrops flew off in tiny silver beads. The night wind skimmed past my ear tips, carrying scents from the valley beyond: wild mint, blackberry, cold springs, moonbloom, and the faint territorial warnings left by an unfamiliar pack along the boundary. My wolf let out a low, joyful cry.

I charged up the ridge, claws scraping the edge of bare rock, sending pebbles tumbling down the slope. Wind surged up from the valley floor and tore the heavy clouds apart. The full moon hung directly overhead, huge and bright and silent.

I stood at the highest point of the ridge, lifted my head, and let out a long, piercing howl.

Far away, a few patrol wolves answered.

I could not help the exhilarated cry that ripped from my chest.

Tonight, all of this moonlight was mine.

—

The moment I pushed open the front door, the rich scent of medicinal herbs hit me.

My mom was coming out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of freshly stewed venison. When she saw me, she instinctively lowered her voice. “You’re home? Come sit down and rest. You shouldn’t be outside for too long.”

My dad emerged from his study with contact information for yet another healer scrawled on a piece of paper, anxiety written all over his face. Werewolf healers had been powerless against my curse. Lately, he had been considering reaching out to vampire healers.

I looked at the gray streaking through their temples, all of it earned worrying about me. Then I strode forward and pulled them both into a tight hug.

“Dad. Mom. I think my curse is gone.”

My mom nearly dropped the bowl. She pressed her hand to my forehead. “Sweetheart, what are you talking about?”

I did not explain. I grabbed their hands and ran to the nearest Moon Goddess altar. Right in front of them, I danced the Moonlight Dance.

The elder stood leaning on his cane, his gnarled fingers trembling against his long beard. The expression on his face could only be described as having seen a ghost.

“This is nothing short of a miracle in the history of werewolf medicine! The Silver Moon Curse has actually been cured!”

My mom covered her mouth and burst into tears on the spot.

My dad, the Alpha King who never let his emotions show, gripped the edge of his cloak so hard his knuckles went white. Tears welled in his eyes.

On the walk home, they clutched my hands like they were terrified this was all a dream.

“Phoebe, tell me. What happened? How did it just suddenly—”

I kept my voice calm. “Dad. Mom. Someone exchanged my bloodline. From now on, I won’t have the Moon Goddess’s powerful blessing anymore. No noble aura, no combat talent, no hunting instinct. I’m not Corvin’s Luna. But the Silver Moon Curse is gone too. Are you disappointed?”

My dad pulled me into a fierce embrace, then turned away, his eyes red. “Disappointed? You’ll find a mate who truly accepts you for who you are, and your life doesn’t have to revolve around Corvin! Even if you spend the rest of your days as a lazy princess doing absolutely nothing, I can take care of you till you’re a hundred!”

My mom threw her arms around me and sobbed. “Yes. As long as my daughter is safe, I’d be happy even if she turned out to be a little fool.”

That night, I packed every gift Corvin had ever given me into a large box.

I slept deeply and sweetly. No nightmares. No racing heart. Just a peace I had never known before.