The Fellhart mansion blazed with lights the night of the birthday banquet.
Everything I set up for Lilith—from the roses to the imported wine—screamed elegance.
Guests kept rolling in, wide-eyed and gushing. Couldn’t wrap their heads around me going all out for a stray she-wolf crashing with us, let alone calling her my pack sister.
I smiled like I didn’t notice the whispers and nudged Caden.
“Let Lilith lead the first dance. Tonight’s hers.”
When gifts rolled out, Caden dropped a bomb—an entire rose garden.
Not just any patch of flowers. The biggest in Moonhowl Pack. The one that made the Fellhart name golden.
After that, everyone looked at Lilith like she wasn’t some random she-wolf anymore. Caden didn’t see her as just a guest—or even just a sister.
I didn’t say a word. Just handed her the box.
“Happy birthday.”
Inside was a thin, high-end bracelet I’d fought for at auction. Pricey, polished—nothing wild, but safe.
Or so I thought.
The second she popped the lid, a snake launched out, hissing and snapping.
She screamed, stumbling back. Caden moved like lightning, knocking it away.
Lilith grabbed her stomach, face twisted in fear.
“Brielle, why would you do this to me…”
Caden scooped her up, eyes like ice.
“I actually thought you’d grown up, Brielle. Thought this party meant something. But you used it to attack her.”
His voice dropped, lethal.
“If anything happens to the pup, I’ll never forgive you.”
No—he had it all wrong. There was supposed to be a ruby bracelet in that box. Not a snake.
I opened my mouth to explain—
Sharp, searing pain ripped through my hand.
The snake wasn’t done. While no one was watching, it slithered back and sank its fangs deep into my palm.
My head spun.
Caden didn’t even glance my way. Just turned and walked out, Lilith in his arms.
Not a word.
“Oh Moon Goddess—Luna, you’ve been bitten! That snake’s venomous!”
Only then did the crowd snap out of it.
They swarmed me, panic rising, and rushed me to the healing center.
By then, my palm was pitch black.
The nurses hovered, useless.
