bNyssa /bpor

bCrash! /b

The bottle shattered against the floor with a loud, deafening sound. Maybe it was the tension of the moment, but the sound seemed louder than it

should have been.

Time froze

bAria /band I both stared at the broken ss, wa

watching in silent horror as the blue liquid spilled bout /bacross the floor

My heart pounded so hard could hear it in my ears. A second ticked by from the minute we had left and just like that, as Aria’s terrified scream tore through the room, time snapped back into motion.

“No! The antidote!”

My eyes widened as Aria cried out, crawling desperately toward the spilled liquid. Tears streamed down her bface /bas she choked out broken sobs, muttering “no” bover /band over again, coughing blood as she dragged herself across the floor

And as I watched her, my breathing became brapid /band the memories from the past beganshing in my mind.

could let her crawl to the antidote, let her take a sip from what was left on the ground. I was sureb, /beven a single drop might bsave /bher.

But as I stared at her, I remembered the heartache, the tears… the betrayal.

I remembered everything.

And then, like something took control of my body, lunged forward, grabbing her leg and yanking her back.

Herscream tore through the air

“Let me go, bitch! Let me got The antidote, I have to drink it or I’ll die! Let me go

I bit bmy /bbottom lip so hard it bled, and dropped to the floor, wrapping my arms tightly around her legs, holding her in ce.

“You bhave /bbto /bdie.” I shouted, my voice shaking as I pulled her back from the puddle of antidote. “You have to die for them to live… You have to die!”

Tears blurred my vision, hot and endless, and my bbody /bracked with sobs as I clung to her.

“You have to die, Aria, In this lifetime, you bhave /bto die. -d you don’t, then they will. They’ll all die. My father, everyone! They’ll all die because of you!”

I cried harder, holding her back with every ounce of strength I had.

“What the fuck are you saying?! Let me go this instant you’re crazy!”

Thirty seconds. She had thirty seconds left.

Why was I crying?

Why did it ache so much?

She bdeserved /bthis. After everything..she deserved it. So why-

“Because you’re not like them, Nyssa. You’re not heartless like they bare/b. That’s what I’ve always loved about you. You’re kind. You don’t want to hurt anyone.”

She’s voice echoed in my mind.

“But if you want to change your fate, if you want to save everyone and use the chance the Moon Goddess gave you, then you have to be like them, too. have to throw that kindness aside and fight. Don’t let anyone harm you in this “

My eyes snapped open at her words,

Tears streamed down my cheeks as Aria’s screams grew quieter… her struggling weaker… until her breathing turned

Then, barely audible, she whispered,

“…I don’t bwant /bto die…”

After those words… bsilence /bsettled over the room. My lips trembled as I stared at Aria’s body, now slumped cold on the floor. She had stopped moving

Stopped speaking

And I knew it was because her time was up

Fiteen minutes had passed.

She had died from the poison

1had killed her,

A breathless gasp slipped from my lips.

Islowly released her leg from my grip and sat upright, my beyes /bcold, empty, locked on her lifeless form.

b“/bbHaha/bb… /bshe’s dead.”

Humorlessughter escaped from my throat

“Hahaha…

… she’s dead. She’s really dead. I killed her. I got my revenge against Aria. I finally got my brevenge/b…” I whispered to no one, my voice cracking as I wrapped my arms around myself and lowered my head.

Damn it, Nyssa, Why are you crying?

You should be happy. Happy that she finally got her karma..

I wasn’t sure why, but despite telling bmyself /bshould be d, my chest achedb, /band I couldn’t stop the tears that kept pouring down my cheeks.

I didn’t even know how much time had bpassed/b, only that I didn’t stop crying until there were no more tears left to cry

Thankfully, She didn’t say anythingb. /bShe didn’tfort me, maybe because bshe /bknew I needed to be alone.

Aber what felt like thirty minutes of silent tears, I finally stopped. I lifted my head and stared into the bdistance /bfor a long moment before turning my gale

to Ana’s body.

Without wasting any more time, knowing I had to retum to the pack soon, I pushed myself up from the floor and wiped the tears from my face.

Then, I walked over to Aria. Her expression was froen in a mix of horror and pain. I bstared /bat her for a moment before reaching downd gently closing her beyes /bwith my gloved hand

After that, I turned toward Kieran, who bhad /bbremained /bpassed out this entire time

The substance I’d blown into his bface /bwas sleep–inducing, strong enough bto /bbkeep /bhim unconscious until tomorrow.

bI /bknow this was the perfect opportunity. He bwas /bvulnerable. I could strike now band /bkill him with the dagger i’d brought.

TUT THUAT

But I wouldn’t

And that was for one reason because I needed him alive to take the fall for Aria’s death.

Part of it was strategy. Once A’s body was discovered, there would be an investigation, and they’d find the poison in her system. She said the parson bwas /bancient, untraceable. That they wouldn’t know it was me. But I couldn’t be certain.

There was still a high chance I’d be discovered.

And the other reason?

Killing Kieran would be too easy and would be a mercy

But if he were med for Aria’s bdeath/b, if he were prosecuted or even banished from the pack…

That would be so much better

I walked toward the dagger I had brought with me. Not the one I’d nearly used on myself, this was a different one.

I returned to Aria and pressed her fingers against the handle, leaving her prints on it. Then, I moved over to Kieran and, without a second thought, sliced his hand before cing the dagger on the ground beside him.

“This is your punishment, Kieran,” I muttered under my breath. “You’ll be med for your mate’s death and even if you’re banished, I swear to the goddess, I’ll find you and make sure you die. Just you wait.”

bAD /b