When The Alpha's Mark Fades

Jacob only remembered that Caelia and I had been taken to the same infirmary.

He was determined to find me and make me answer for what happened to Caelia.

Just as he left Caelia’s room, a gurney covered with a moonlight cloth was pushed past him.

I knew instantly that it was me.

Though my body was covered, my hand was left exposed.

On my hand was the ring that symbolized our mate bond. He had given it to me when our bond was confirmed eight years ago, and I had never taken it off.

I was certain he could sense the ring.

My spirit hovered beside him, desperate to make him see.

He just needed to take a closer look.

I wondered what he would do if he knew he had personally pushed me, and our pup, to our deaths.

Would he feel even a flicker of remorse?

Would he break down?

Or would it all mean nothing to him?

"Please make way," the werewolf escorting the gurney requested as it drew near.

Jacob frowned, glanced at my exposed hand, and then stepped aside with an impatient look.

In the end, he didn't even sense me.

The past eight years of my life felt like a joke.

After they took my body to the Sanctum's Chamber of Rest, Jacob stormed into the room where I had died.

"Where is Elara Vance? I remember she was staying here," he asked a nearby healer.

Seeing him, the healer quickly replied, "Alpha, did you know Miss Vance? She has passed away from silver poisoning. There was nothing we could do."

"Her father has already fainted from grief, and we are making her final arrangements... If you knew her, perhaps you'd like to come with me to..."

Before she could finish asking, Jacob rudely interrupted her.

"Does that woman have no shame? Getting others to play along with her act? Caelia was struck down too, and she's perfectly fine now!"

I had already guessed he wouldn't believe it.

Caelia was fine only because Jacob, being an Alpha, had reached her in time, pouring his power into her.

And I was left to let the silver poison consume me, waiting for my last breath to be stolen.

Startled by Jacob's reaction, the healer dared not say more and left, shaking her head.

Having failed to find me, Jacob returned to Caelia's side.

Caelia had already heard the rumors of my death.

"Shouldn't you go see Elara? What if something really happened to her?"

She feigned concern.

In reality, it was she who had pushed me to my death with a dagger laced with silver powder.

She continued, "I'm sure Elara didn't mean to attack me. It must have been an accident... You're her mate-to-be. Shouldn't you go check if she's hurt?"

"You're too kind, Caelia," Jacob commented, his expression then twisting in anger.

"I know what kind of wolf she is. She's always been jealous of you, always misunderstanding our relationship. Did you know she even tried to stop me when I wanted to take you to the infirmary? I'm sure a viper like her did it on purpose."

"It's okay, I don't blame her. I'm just worried she might be hurt too..." Caelia said, the very picture of a saint.

"Impossible!" Jacob said with conviction. "She loves to trick me like this. Once, she pretended to be exhausted from Pack duties when she was perfectly fine. I almost rushed back from another territory to be with her!"

"I know her games. She's the last wolf I would ever trust!"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

My health was indeed poor, a fact Jacob knew.

However, not wanting to tarnish his prestige as an Alpha, I always went to the Sanctum to pray by myself, without letting him know.

Sometimes, my weakness during my recovery would show, and he would joke, "What, are you trying to trick me into staying to take care of you again?"

Playing along, I would usually reply, "You caught me."

While I was putting on a brave face, Caelia would contact Jacob every few days, claiming she was unwell and wanted him to check on her.

The strangest part was, Jacob always fell for her ploys.

I was furious when I first found out.

I went to Caelia and asked her directly what she was planning.

We had only exchanged two sentences before tears started streaming down her face.

I couldn't get another word out of her after that, so I left.

Not long after, Jacob confronted me, his voice tight with rage.

"Why did you have to humiliate Caelia? We grew up together, isn't it normal for me to accompany her for a check-up?" As he spoke, he took out a communication crystal and showed me an image.

"Is violence all you know? Why did you have to ruin the Pack's ceremony?"

I stared in shock at the image in the crystal. A vicious scratch marred her cheek.

I hadn't even touched a hair on her head!

I didn't know how to explain something I hadn't done.

And even if I could have explained, Jacob wouldn't have believed me.

He pointed at me furiously and warned, "If you're unhappy with me, take it out on me. Don't go hurting innocent wolves!"

At that moment, all I could think was, *what had I ever done to deserve this from him?*

The irony was that Caelia, the one he called innocent, was the one who cruelly pushed me to my death.