When a She-Wolf Reborns, Everyone Pays

Selene's lithe form pressed against Haymanor, her scent a sickly-sweet.

His voice rumbled low: "Luanne, Selene's heart grows weaker. Where are the lycan potions you promised?"

Once, I'd have raced to deliver them-those elixirs took my blood to brew, each drop mixed with lunar herbs to soothe a warrior's wounds.

But Haymanor didn't know I'd fed him my own essence for years, believing it mere "medicine".

Now Selene's cheeks glowed with my stolen vitality.

"She looks healthier than me," I sneered, tracing the silver scar on my wrist.

"That 'weak heart' seems to thrive on my sacrifices."

"Watch your tongue, Luanne Smith!"

She nuzzled his arm, faking a wheeze:

"Brother, please-she didn't mean it."

Her nails dug into his forearm.

I caught the glint in her eye-she knew those potions held my wolf's life force, draining me to strengthen her own half-bred core.

Haymanor's golmanor eyes burned as he clamped my wrist.

"She's my sister-soon your packmate. Can't you behave?"

I wrenched free, lip curling.

"Your packmate? "

His pupils constricted.

"What are you mad at? Over a hairpin? You have trunks of jewels! What's one for Selene?"

Selene whimpered, pressing against his side.

"Brother, please... Princess is highborn; I shouldn't have touched her-"

My mother's jade phoenix pin-the last thing she'd pressed into my palm before her wolf's heart failed.

I'd scoured Jade Flower Palace for it, weeping until my eyes swelled.

Then I saw it in Selene's hair, her smirk slicing deeper than any silver blade.

"Princess or not," she'd bragged to her lackeys,

"when she mates into House Luis, I'll rule this manor."

Haymanor had heard her, only sighing: "Mind your tongue around Luanne."

She'd nuzzled his neck, purring: "What's she to do? You'll always choose me, big brother."

His smile then-soft, adoring-was a dagger in my gut.

Now, I turned on my heel. "Yes, I'm petty."

Behind me, Haymanor's snarl shook the air.

"Fine! Mock Selene now, but on our mating day, I'll make you howl for this!"

Back in my chambers, the dizziness of rebirth-like a wolf's soul snapping back into its skin-still thrummed in my temples.

Judith burst in, her scent reeking of terror:

"Princess! General Luis and Miss Luis have stormed your herb valley! They've trampled Lady 's moonbloom roses-and surrounded the valley with silver-clad guards!"

I shot to my feet.

In my past life, Selene had purred: "Brother, I've never seen lycan herbs grow. Wouldn't it be thrilling?"

Racing to the valley, I found guards blocking the path, silver swords bared.

"General's orders, Princess-no interruptions."

My snarl shook the air.

Moonbloom roses-mother's pride, their petals laced with wolfsbane to repel dark spirits-lay crushed.

My carefully tended vitality moss-the kind that mends a werewolf's torn flesh-had been ripped from the earth.

"How dare you!"

My palm connected with a guard's cheek, his silver armor burning my skin.

"These herbs sustain the alpha's Heart-Calm Talisman! Are you plotting his death?"

Guards dropped to their knees, baring throats in submission.

I charged in-then stopped, blood turning to ice.