I spent three days and three nights saving a dying alpha named Ryder. I cast a life-binding spell that tied our souls together — the price? My voice. Gone. The deal was simple: if he chose me as his mate, the curse would break. If he didn't, it would drain me dry. Then came his birthday banquet. He laughed in front of everyone and said: "A pathetic mute? Worthy of an alpha? Please." I raised my glass and signed a toast with my hands. Nobody saw me shatter inside. "Are you sure about this? Accepting a mate-bond with the Northern Alpha?" I lit the flame on the Moon Goddess altar. My wolf was howling at me, furious. She was getting weaker. So was I. The life-binding spell — it was feeding on me. That was the price of saving Ryder. Everyone assumed he'd choose me. But two weeks ago, I saw them in the garden. Ryder and Freya. His hands on her face. Their lips together. "You're the only one worthy of me." "What about the mute girl?" "Her? Don't even put her in the same sentence as you." I pressed my hand over my mouth. The pain hit me like a blade to the chest. My wolf screamed. The life-binding spell tightened around my throat like a rope — and I couldn't breathe. The mute girl. That's what they called me. He had no idea I lost my voice for him. "If you leave, he'll be devastated," my wolf said. "He'll find out eventually." The later, the better. I just wanted out of here. Alive or dead — I didn't care anymore.
I gathered everything Ryder ever gave me. Jewels. All of it. I was going to give it back. A gemstone ring. Silver earrings. A pearl necklace. Every single piece engraved in the same elegant cursive — Ryder & Evelyn. His name. And mine. He'd given them to me when we first returned to the pack together. "This is too much. I can't accept this." I signed frantically. "You deserve the best." He clasped the pearl necklace around my neck before I could stop him. In the mirror, he looked so stunning. So gentle. My heart wouldn't slow down. Back then, I thought it meant something. I thought it meant — I choose you. But now he'd thrown me away. His words echoing — that lowly mute. He'd chosen Freya. And soon, the spell I cast to save him would finish off what was left of me. Dead girls don't need jewelry. I carried the jewelry box down the hallway. Whispers trailed behind me. "Why didn't the Alpha pick her? She's way prettier than Freya." "Doesn't matter how pretty you are if you can't even speak." Then — an arrow. It grazed my ear and sliced across my cheek. Blood ran down my face instantly. Another inch and I'd have been dead. The jewelry box hit the ground. The pearl necklace snapped apart. Pearls scattered everywhere — like tears rolling across stone. I dropped to my knees, ignoring the gash on my face, and started collecting them one by one. That's when I saw it. The arrow. Engraved on the shaft, in that same elegant cursive — Ryder & Freya. Identical to my jewelry. Just with a different name where mine used to be. My chest caved in. I had to press my hand to the floor just to keep from collapsing. Then someone stepped on my fingers. "Oh — sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'll make it up to you." Freya crouched down, bow still in hand. Her red heels were still on my fingers. My wolf went feral. I opened my mouth — the pain nearly split me in two — but not a single sound came out. Blood soaked through my hand. "Oops. Didn't see you down there." She stepped back. Finally. "Why didn't you say something?" A beat. Then — "Oh right. I forgot. You can't." She picked up one of the pearls, turning it over with a look of pure disgust. "This necklace is ugly. The pearls are so small. So dull." She smiled. "Just like you." She grabbed my hand and pulled it up — right where she'd crushed it. The wound split back open. Blood dripped onto the ground. "I heard you saved Ryder's life. Is that true?" She slid a diamond bracelet off her wrist. "Here. Consider this your compensation." "Once I'm the Alpha's mate, you can be my handmaiden. I don't mind being friends with you." She moved to clasp it on me. I shoved her away. I didn't want her compensation. I didn't want her friendship. We struggled — and my blood smeared across her dress. Freya laughed. Then she let go. The bracelet slipped from her fingers — and fell over the cliff's edge. "Evelyn! What did you do?!" "Ryder gave me that as an engagement gift! Even if you didn't want it, how could you just—" Liar. I turned to walk away. "Stop." Ryder was standing right behind me. Looking down at me like I was something he'd scraped off his shoe. "Where do you think you're going?" "What did you do to Freya? Why is there blood all over her?"
Watch? https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619T3IdS24GtE ? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "Novelix" app ? search for "ni010706", and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix