1

The treatment center was unusually crowded today. Everyone was gathered around the TV, watching the live broadcast of the Alpha King coronation ceremony.

I sat in my usual corner, waiting for my monthly moonwort treatment, trying to ignore the excited whispers around me.

My hands trembled as I counted the remaining pills in my bottle. Only three left. Each one represented another day of keeping the curse at bay.

On the screen, Mateo stood tall and proud, his ceremonial robes flowing in the wind. Seven years hadn't diminished his presence - if anything, he commanded even more power now.

The Grand Elder Andrew's voice echoed through the speakers: "As part of the coronation ritual, the future Alpha King must confess a regret or acknowledge a loss that shaped his path to leadership."

My heart skipped a beat. The cursed silver in my blood seemed to pulse harder.

Mateo's voice carried across the ceremonial grounds. "Elder Andrew, may I reach out to someone directly?"

The Elder nodded, surprise evident on his ancient face. No Alpha had ever made such a request during their coronation.

Without hesitation, Mateo pulled out his phone. The entire audience fell silent.

My phone rang.

The other patients turned to stare as my ringtone broke the silence of the treatment center.

I made a show of muting my phone and quickly ran into the bathroom.

My hands shook as I answered, knowing thousands of wolves across the country were watching this moment.

"When you left me because you couldn't handle being an Alpha's mate anymore," his voice was cold enough to freeze blood, "did you ever regret it?"

I looked down at my treatment bill - another month of moonwort infusions that would drain my savings. A bitter smile crossed my lips.

"Mateo, since you're so powerful now, could you lend me 500,000 for the treatment?"

The line went dead instantly.

On screen, Mateo's face hardened into a mask of ice. His golden Alpha eyes flashed dangerously as he addressed the crowd:

"Now I have no regrets."

Back in the waiting area again, the watching patients whispered and pointed at me. I could hear their judgments, their assumptions about the mate who abandoned the future Alpha King.

They didn't know that seven years ago, when that cursed silver dagger pierced his heart,

I had secretly channeled my wolf's power to him, taking the curse upon myself.

The treatment center erupted in cheers as the ceremony concluded. My phone buzzed with a notification.

500,000 dollars had been transferred to my account.

I stared at the numbers, my vision blurring with unshed tears. Even his generosity was meant to hurt - to remind me of what I'd thrown away.

After paying for my treatment, I heard a commotion in the hallway.

Through the gap in the door, I caught sight of his familiar silhouette.Still so handsome, the man I fell in love with when I was 14, my once destined mate.

Seven years had passed, but time seemed to have carved strength into every line of his body, while it had only eaten away at mine.

The only thing that had truly changed was the woman at his side. No longer me.

The coronation ceremony had just ended - he was still wearing his ceremonial robes, the silver crown of the Alpha King glinting in his dark hair.

He had rushed here immediately, all because his new mate Everly had complained about a headache from the moon's pull.

I watched as he tenderly supported her, his large hand spanning her waist. The gesture was so familiar it made my cursed blood burn.

My wolf, or what remained of her, whimpered in our shared pain.

I lowered my head, trying to slip away unnoticed, my hand reaching for the door to close it quietly.

Mateo's arm shot out, catching the door before it could shut. The wood splintered under his grip.

Startled, I looked up. Our eyes met for the first time in seven years.

His gaze, sharp as an alpha's fangs, swept over my weakened form. I knew what he saw - pale skin, dark circles, the shadow of the woman who had once been his equal.

"It's been a long time..." his voice was deceptively soft. "Not even going to say hello?"

I looked at him, my lips parting slightly. A thousand words crossed my mind. I wanted to tell him everything - about the curse, the pain, the lonely nights spent fighting the silver in my veins.

Instead, all that came out was:

"Mateo, lend me another 300,000 for the treatment."

He froze, his golden Alpha eyes flickering with fury. The temperature in the hallway dropped several degrees.

His hand shot out, gripping my wrist. The force of an Alpha King's touch sent sparks of pain through my curse-weakened body.

"After seven years, this is all you have to say to me?!"

In his grip, I felt the curse pulsing through my blood.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

"Alpha King has so much power now. I wouldn't dare ask for anything else, in case Luna Everly misunderstands."

Mateo's grip loosened slightly, his eyes flickering with something that looked almost like pain.

Before he could speak, Everly wrapped herself around his arm like a vine claiming territory.

"Darling, is this your former mate?" Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

She looked at me with expertly crafted pity, her perfectly manicured hand stroking Mateo's chest - right where the cursed dagger had once struck.

"What can 300,000 do? The ceremonial robe I wore for the coronation cost 500,000!"

Her eyes gleamed with malice as she twisted the knife deeper.

"It's such a shame you didn't cherish what you had, Caroline. If you hadn't heartlessly abandoned Mateo when he needed you most, how would I have ever met him?"

I remained silent, my curse-weakened wolf curling tighter around my heart. If only they knew - every beat of Mateo's healthy heart, every surge of his restored power, was bought with my sacrifice.

But some prices were worth paying in silence.