Chapter 7: The Corpse in the Cellar

Seven days after my death, Ryker finally arrived at Morwen's cellar.

My parents and Ivy followed closely behind him.

My mother smiled excitedly.

"Now that the ritual has been proven safe, Ivy can finally undergo it without worry."

My father nodded proudly.

"Everything Harper sacrificed was worth it."

Hearing those words, my soul let out a silent laugh.

Even now...

They still believed I was alive.

Morwen stepped out slowly, her face unusually pale.

"You finally came," she said quietly.

"Where's Harper?" Ryker asked.

"Bring her out."

"She's been dead for seven days," Morwen answered coldly.

"I told you over the phone."

The smiles instantly disappeared from everyone's faces.

"Enough with this ridiculous joke," my mother snapped.

"Where is my daughter?"

Morwen didn't argue.

She silently unlocked the heavy wooden door at the end of the cellar.

A foul smell escaped the room.

Everyone instinctively covered their noses.

Inside, my body still lay on the cold stone table beneath the gray cloth.

Morwen slowly pulled it away.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

My scarred face had become frighteningly pale.

The brands across my cheeks were impossible to mistake.

My hands were still covered in dried blood from Silvermoon.

My body showed no sign of life.

Ryker stood frozen.

"Harper..."

His voice cracked.

He staggered forward and touched my cold hand.

It was stiff.

Lifeless.

The moment he realized the truth, the broken mate bond exploded with unbearable pain.

"No..."

"No... this isn't possible..."

My mother collapsed to her knees.

"Wake up... Harper... stop scaring Mom..."

My father stumbled backward, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"She was healthy... she couldn't have died..."

Morwen looked at them with undisguised disgust.

"Healthy?"

"Her wolf spirit had already begun fading long before she arrived here."

"She was dying from the beginning."

"She endured eighteen days of torture without once asking for help."

"Not because she was strong..."

"But because she already knew she wasn't leaving alive."

Every word struck them harder than any weapon.

Ryker's legs gave out beneath him.

He dropped beside my body, tears falling uncontrollably for the first time in years.

"Why didn't you tell me...?" he whispered.

My soul watched him quietly.

Because...

You never listened.