Seven‑Year Fate: The Alpha Begs My Return

According to the rules of the Obsidian Wolf Pack, if an Alpha invited an unbonded member of the opposite sex to the Blood Moon Banquet, it was equivalent to publicly releasing a courtship signal.

So when my lover, Kenton Moran, reached out to Zessia Dixon, all the mocking eyes in the crowd turned to me.

They expected me to react as I always had before-to barge in and cause a scene. But this time, I simply stood there, watching Kenton and Zessia dance passionately, and my chest ached slightly.

Just an hour ago, the Moon Priestess had examined the dark poison marks spreading through my wolf veins and pronounced my fate. "Norya, the Eclipse has begun to invade your heart. You can live until the next full moon at most."

For once, I didn't feel like fighting anymore.

...

"I knew it! Mr. Moran would choose Zessia!"

"They're perfect for each other. Zessia is from Highborn Lycan, after all."

"Unlike some people, who think being the fated mate gives them the right to cling to Alpha every waking moment."

The werewolves around me sneered loudly, their taunts unrestrained.

Perhaps it was because when I knew I was about to die, many things that I used to think were of importance suddenly didn't seem so important anymore.

Seeing Kenton and Zessia together hurt less than I expected.

The pain in my chest, I told myself, was just the poison's doing.

As the bonfire dance neared its end, Zessia reached up to brush her hair away from her face.

It was in that fleeting moment that I saw it-something around her neck. It was a white wolf fang pendant.

My gaze froze instantly.

That was the blood oath pendant I gave to Kenton.

Seven years ago, when Kenton was on the brink of death, I had sealed my own blood into that pendant and placed it around his neck. He had worn it ever since, never once taking it off. Yet now, it hung around Zessia's neck.

I stared at it for a moment, then set down my cup and walked toward the heart of the bonfire.

Zessia noticed me, and her steps faltered. Her hand, which had been resting on Kenton's shoulder, instinctively tightened.

Kenton sensed her unease and followed her gaze, locking eyes with me across the flames.

As the final drumbeat fell, Zessia steadied herself just as I came to a stop in front of them.

She was the first to speak. "Norya, don't misunderstand. Kenton only invited me for a dance. If you're upset..."

"I want my pendant back, now." I cut her off mid-sentence.

Zessia froze.

Kenton also frowned.

"What?" Zessia was stunned.

I raised my hand, pointing to the wolf fang hanging from Zessia's neck. "The blood-oath pendant. It's mine."

Zessia's expression changed, and she touched the wolf fang before looking at Kenton, as if she didn't know what to do.

Kenton stepped in front of her, blocking her from my view entirely. "Norya, haven't you had enough? All I did was dance with Zessia, and now you're demanding to take back something you gave me seven years ago?"

So, in his eyes, my actions were nothing more than petty jealousy.

Ignoring him, I extended my hand toward Zessia once more. "Give me the pendant."

Kenton's face darkened. He grabbed my wrist, forcing my hand down. "Enough!"

I yanked my hand free and repeated my demand to Zessia. "Give the pendant back to me, and I'll go."

Kenton looked down at his hand that had been flung away and only looked up again after a few minutes.

"Want the pendant?" He seemed to be angered by my attitude. He turned around, picked up a bottle of wine from the long table next to him, and slammed it down in front of me.

The liquid inside sloshed violently, releasing a sharp, bitter scent that filled the air. It was a wine brewed with aconite, a deadly, wolf-crippling poison.

During the Blood Moon Banquet, rogue werewolves often wandered close to the territory, drawn by the festivities.

Patrol warriors kept this potent alcohol on hand, using its high concentration of aconite to suppress the werewolves' ability to shift temporarily.

Kenton leaned against the table, his lips curling into a cold smirk. "You want the pendant? Fine. Drink this, and I'll make sure she gives it back."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Even Zessia looked startled, grabbing at Kenton's sleeve. "Don't do this! The aconite is too strong-if she drinks it, who knows what might happen?"

Kenton ignored her, his gaze fixed firmly on me, his expression cruel. "This is her choice."

Perhaps standing here today and being humiliated by him was my own choice.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward and grabbed the wine.

Kenton's arms, which had been crossed over his chest, fell abruptly to his sides. His expression shifted to one of shock. "Norya..."

Before he could say more, I tilted my head back and took the first gulp.

The burning liquid seared my throat, and the potent aconite worked its way into my bloodstream instantly.

A sharp, unbearable pain seized my chest, and my hand trembled against the bottle.

Kenton's face turned ashen. He reached out to snatch the bottle from me, but I dodged his grasp and took another swig.

"That's enough," he tried to stop me.

It was already too late. The aconite had flooded my system, setting my body ablaze from the inside.

My vision blurred, and a metallic tang rose in my throat.

Kenton looked at me and couldn't help but roar. "Norya, is a meaningless pendant really worth all this?"

I looked at him, and suddenly, his question seemed laughable.

Seven years ago, he had been so injured that he couldn't even maintain his wolf form.

I had cut my hand open and painstakingly sealed my blood into that pendant, then stayed awake for nights, terrified he wouldn't survive until morning.

When he finally woke, he clutched the pendant and promised he would treasure it forever.

And now, he was asking me if it was worth it.

I lowered my gaze, refusing to answer. Instead, I snatched the bottle from his grasp and drained the last of its contents. "It's very important to me," I said.

I finished the drink in one gulp and slammed the empty wine bottle back onto the table. "Now, can I have my pendant back?"

Kenton's face twisted into an unreadable expression, but he said nothing.

Zessia, however, was visibly flustered. She quickly unclasped the pendant and held it out to me. "Norya, I never meant to take what's yours. If it means this much to you, here."

The wolf fang pressed against my hand, carrying traces of her scent.

I rubbed it gently with my thumb before curling my fingers around it.

Kenton stood by the fire, his earlier impatience replaced by something harder to decipher. He stared at me, unmoving. "Seven years ago, you said you'd only take that pendant back if you stopped loving me."

I froze for a moment. So he remembered. But what did it matter?

"Yes, and that's why I'm taking it back now," I answered.

Kenton's expression stiffened, his features frozen in place.

I didn't look at him again. Turning away, I walked out of the Blood Moon Banquet.

Once I was far enough from the crowd, I clung to a tree for support, blood surging up my throat and spilling onto the snow, staining it a dark crimson.

My legs trembled, and I slowly slid down the tree trunk, unable to hold myself upright. But my hand never loosened its grip on the wolf fang pendant.

The Moon Priestess's words echoed in my ears once more.

The Eclipse had reached my heart. I only had until the next full moon. By my count, it wasn't far away.