Author: Momo Chan

For the past nine years,I had been secretly involved with Alpha Nick—my cousin Alpha Roger’s best friend. Our relationship was never made public.Because we believed in the power of true love between us. That night,after the Northern Moon Festival in the forested highlands,the Alphas of the pack were gathered around the longfire pit,drinking and sparring.He had a bit of wine,looked at me with that familiar playful curve on his lips,and said,“Leona,I’ll find you someone better.Stop clinging to me,will you?” I answered calmly and obediently,“Alright.” [So you’ve finally let go.] My wolf soul,Aris,murmured deep in my mind,her voice hoarse and firm.[But why do I feel pain instead of relief?] I didn’t respond.Aris was right. In my last life,I had refused his suggestion and insisted on forming a bond with him.But after the ceremony,he had grown distant and cold. Even when I was seven months pregnant and severely injured in a winter patrol across the snow ridges—buried under an avalanche,bleeding out—he had been with the heartbroken Beta selene,listening to ballads sung by bards in the Moonsong Cavern at the border market,completely unaware of the life-or-death struggle of me and our Alpha pup. It was in that moment I truly understood—he might be someone else’s salvation,but he was never my fated mate. When I said“alright,”Alpha Nick froze where he stood.He hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. The shadows of wolves flickered beside the fire pit in the wind.His handsome face was tinged unnaturally red,but his eyes were sharp—clearly not drunk. I sat on the wolfskin rug,composed and poised,my lips curled into a faint smile as I looked at him. At that moment,all his laziness vanished.He straightened up abruptly,his tone serious.“Leona,did you hear what I just said?” I nodded.“I heard you clearly.” [You didn’t cry.] Aris’s voice softened slightly.[That’s not like you.Every time he hurt you before,you’d call me out at night,curl up in a cave corner and cry yourself to sleep.] I replied quietly inside,[I’ve cried enough.] In the past,whenever he said things like this,I would plead,act pitiful,beg him not to walk away.But now,my emotions were still as water,as if I were just an outsider watching someone else’s play unfold. “Leona,you—” He didn’t finish.My cousin,Alpha Roger,had returned,his hunting cloak draped over his shoulders,a familiar smirk on his lips.“Guess who I just saw at the northern watchtower?” He didn’t wait for our response.“I saw your ex-girlfriend.She was drunk and collapsed on the patrol trail.Two warriors carried her to the Moonshade Shelter—” Just before Alpha Nick could dash toward the mountain path,a deep voice rose beside the long ceremonial fire pit—it was Elder Rovan. “Nick,I heard there’s a young girl around you lately?The tribal council wants to confirm whether you’ve already selected a potential mate.” All eyes immediately turned to him. Alpha Nick frowned slightly.His gaze brushed past me,but then he chuckled and said,“It’s a misunderstanding.She’s just Roger’s sister—I see her like a sister.” My hand froze mid-air,crushing the orange segment between my fingers. “I see.”The elder smiled.“Then would you be willing to attend next month’s‘Mate Selection Ceremony’as a candidate?” He nodded.“Of course.” The entire gathering fell into stunned silence. Alpha Roger blinked,turned toward me,about to speak—but I raised a hand to stop him. I stood up,graceful and composed,and said,“Alpha Nick,I wish you the best in your selection.” {You’re still not giving up?}Aris growled low in my mind.{He denied you three times—in front of an elder—just to make it clear.What more proof do you need?} Before he finished,Alpha Nick had already rushed off into the mountain path. Soon,the forest corridors echoed with the sound of snapping branches and low,enraged growls.Someone must have crossed a line.His Alpha instincts had awakened—I knew his eyes must be glowing golden now,a sure sign that the wolf had surfaced. I remained where I was,unfazed,calmly picking up a peeled orange segment from the fruit basket and placing it in my mouth. Alpha Nick liked fruit but hated peeling.It had always been me—carefully removing the skin,placing it before him—only then would he eat a few bites,satisfied. Alpha Roger used to tease me,“You treat him too well.I’ve never seen you do that for me.What,do you like him or something?” Many times,I wanted to tell him the truth about me and Alpha Nick. But Alpha Nick would always beat me to it,ruffling my hair with a chuckle,“Maybe,in Leona’s eyes,I’m her real big brother.What’s wrong with a sister doting on her brother?” Eventually,I understood what he meant.He never wanted anyone to know what we were. So,I chose silence too. For nine years,no one knew the secret between Alpha Nick and me. Aris had warned me many times,deep in my heart: [Do you really believe he’s your mate?You’ve never once felt his wolf soul resonate with yours.You’ve never truly completed a soul merge.] I gave a bitter smile.[I was too stubborn.] Now,Alpha Roger stood at the edge of the mountain path,watching the chaos unfold in the distance. I popped the final orange slice into my mouth and shook my head.“My arms are thin,legs weaker—I’d only get in the way.” Alpha Roger raised an eyebrow,said nothing,and walked off. I stayed in place a long while,until the forest quieted again.Then I rose slowly,making my way north along the Moonshade Corridor. Just as I crossed the stone bridge,I saw Alpha Nick—carefully cradling another woman in his arms. It was his ex-girlfriend,Beta selene. She was dead drunk,her limbs limp as if she had no bones,completely leaning against his chest. Alpha Nick didn’t push her away.Instead,he held her tighter,as if afraid she might slip from his arms. Aris let out a long,heavy sigh inside me. [He chose her.Not you.Do you understand now?]

There was a flicker of something in Alpha Nick’s dark,deep-set eyes—concern,maybe even a trace of anger.Perhaps even he didn’t realize it. Alpha Roger strolled over lazily,raising an eyebrow as he joked,“Leona,you think the two of them might rekindle something?” He didn’t speak loudly,but it was more than enough for Alpha Nick to hear clearly. Alpha Nick abruptly looked up at Roger,then his gaze quickly fell on me.Guilt flashed in his eyes. “I never meant to get back together with her,”he explained in a rush.“She was just drunk…” I gave him a faint smile and shook my head.“Alpha Nick,I understand.Selene really is quite drunk.You should take her home.” [Listen—“she was just drunk.”How familiar.] Aris,my wolf soul,let out a cold laugh,her tone thick with mockery. [Every time he betrays you,he coats it with calm logic.As if your pain only matters when it’s inconvenient enough.] I didn’t respond.But Aris was right. In my previous life,I had married Alpha Nick,thinking I had finally won the bond I longed for—thinking the Moon Goddess had blessed us.But there was never peace. At my eighteenth birthday ceremony,standing before the sacred Moonstone Circle,I saw him for the first time.My wolf soul trembled.I thought it was the call of fate. [It wasn’t fate.] Aris’s voice dipped,as though sparing me shame. [That tremble wasn’t joy.It was instinct.I sensed a strong Alpha’s presence,and you twisted that into meaning.] I froze for a beat,then chuckled softly.[You never said that before.] [You wouldn’t have listened.] She huffed,a touch of exasperated anger lacing her tone. On my birthday,I just wanted to spend a quiet day with him during my ritual season.But he said coldly,“Celebrating birthdays is a waste of time.I’m busy.” That same night,Selene’s spirit message appeared—pictures of them camping in the silver fir forests of Northridge. [Do you remember what you told me that night?] Aris asked suddenly. [You said,‘Maybe if I try a little harder,he’ll remember my birthday.’There was still light in your eyes then.] My throat tightened.I had said that. When my stomach ulcer flared up,I asked him to go with me to the Sacred Well Healing Hall.He replied impatiently,“I’m not a healer.Even if I went,I couldn’t cure you.Stop bothering me.” Later,I found out he had taken Selene to a high-ranking pack healer for a mild fever—and even gifted her a custom-forged purification crystal. At seven months pregnant,I was in a car accident.Bleeding heavily,the pack doctors called him to authorize the emergency spell-signature.His response was icy:“Is she dead?If not,don’t call me.” The call hadn’t even ended when I heard Selene’s cheerful voice through the spirit link:“Alpha Nick,the Moonsong Cavern performance was so worth it!The soul-chanting heir finally took the stage!” The connection snapped.Blood surged like wildfire through my body.The silver-etched spellmat beneath me soaked through,turning crimson. Even now,I remember the despair of that moment. [You nearly died that day.Do you even realize that?] Aris’s voice crashed through me like thunder. [I was at the edge of your soul.I felt the silver poison block your transformation path.I thought I’d never see you again.] In my past life,I finally realized—he had only ever seen me as Selene’s substitute. “Alpha Nick,we need to talk.” “What is it?” He looked impatient,and his eyes flicked toward the distance,as if hoping to be anywhere but here. I took a deep breath,forcing down the storm churning inside me. “All these years…everything you did for me—was it just because I reminded you of Selene?” “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Stop pretending!”I suddenly raised my voice,my eyes welling up. “On my birthday,you left me to go find her.When she got sick,you panicked.But when I was bleeding out,you didn’t even flinch!Looking back now,all your tenderness toward me…was just because I reminded you of her!” Alpha Nick turned his face away,silent for a long while before finally speaking. “You do look a lot like her.The way you smile,the way you speak…seeing you brought back memories—of the time I had with her.” His voice was low,tinged with a trace of something like nostalgia. “So my years of love meant nothing to you?It was all just a joke?” My voice trembled as tears finally spilled over. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?Why did you have to hurt me like this?” “What difference would it have made?” He snapped his head back toward me,frustration flashing in his eyes. “Selene was gone.And you—”his tone turned cold—“you were there.You filled the void she left behind.Isn’t that good enough for both of us?” I lowered my head,pressing my hand against my chest.A bitter smile escaped me. That night,Alpha Roger carried me home silently.We crossed through the moon gate just before the curfew bells rang—set by my mother for all unmated females returning to the pack. The next morning,groggy and bleary,I instinctively reached for my communicator crystal—only to find a message from Selene waiting. It was a picture of Alpha Nick sleeping in her home,with a caption: [Alpha Nick spent the night with me.] [Such a bold challenge.] Aris scoffed. [She knows you’re still waiting.That’s why she sent it—to make sure you give up.] I stared at the photo without emotion.I replied with a single word:“Oh.” Then she sent another photo—breakfast. [He made me my favorite heart-shaped pasta today~] Alpha Nick never once set foot in a kitchen with me.He always said an Alpha had no business in a cooking space—it was Omega territory. For him,I learned to cook.I learned lunar diet balance,ceremonial recipes,fire invocation spells.As long as I was home,he never missed a hot meal. But now,seeing him cook for someone else—remember her favorites—I finally understood. I had never been his mate. Only a habit. I glanced briefly at her message.I didn’t reply.Calmly,I continued eating my breakfast. Two minutes later,Alpha Nick sent a spirit message too. He didn’t mention the night before.He simply wrote: [The corn soup you made last time was pretty good.Make another and bring it to the council spire.] [And this time,don’t add onions.]

When I saw the message,my expression darkened slightly. Alpha Nick wasn’t someone who avoided onions.In fact,he’d always said onions enhanced flavor—especially in soup,where they were essential. I hesitated for a moment,then sent a simple reply: [Okay.] Without a second thought,I opened the food delivery app and randomly ordered a corn chowder.I added a note—”no onions”—and had it delivered straight to his office in the Council Tower. That evening,I went out to dinner with Alpha Roger. Just as we arrived at the restaurant,I saw Alpha Nick and Selene walking in,arms linked,laughing sweetly. The moment Alpha Nick saw us,he instinctively let go of her hand and walked toward us. [See that?That wasn’t guilt.It was instinct.] Aris let out a scoffing breath. Selene smiled brightly.“We’re late,and it looks like there are no empty tables left.Mind if we join you?” She hadn’t even finished speaking before Alpha Nick had taken the seat right next to me. Alpha Roger’s eyes went wide.He immediately stood up and yanked him to another spot.“Are you insane?Sitting next to her—does that seem appropriate to you?” Reluctantly,Alpha Nick moved to the seat across from me.His Alpha gaze held shadows,like he was waiting for me to say something. I avoided his eyes,handed the menu to Selene.“Go ahead and order whatever you like.My brother and I already chose ours.” “Leona,your corn soup is amazing—better than anything you can get from restaurants,”she said with a smile. That one line confirmed what I’d suspected:the soup Alpha Nick asked me to make was meant for her. [How does it feel,being used?] Aris said coolly. [Every spoonful you made for him became her badge of victory.] I didn’t reply.I just smiled faintly. Alpha Roger chuckled.“She suddenly wanted to learn how to cook a while back.I thought she’d blow up the kitchen,but she surprised me.Honestly,I keep wondering who the lucky guy will be that gets to eat her food every day.” Alpha Nick had been smiling,but at that moment,the smile disappeared from his face.He slowly sipped his tea,his voice casual but tight:“Leona,are you thinking about dating lately?” I blinked,not immediately understanding why he asked. Remembering what he’d said the other day—”I’ll find you someone better”—I nodded.“I’m twenty-seven.It’s time I started thinking about it.If you know someone suitable,feel free to introduce us.” “You’ve finally come around!”Alpha Roger was more excited than anyone.“I’ve wanted to set you up for ages,but you always refused.Now that you’re open to it,I’ll find you the best.” Alpha Nick’s jaw visibly tightened,his sharp gaze locked on me. Selene,noticing the tension,laughed.“Leona,your brother’s wonderful—I’m jealous.But I actually think Alpha Nick is amazing too.What if—” “Don’t say things like that.Leona is my sister,”Alpha Nick cut her off,frowning. I nodded with a light smile.“Exactly.Alpha Nick is like a big brother to me.Don’t joke like that,Selene.” I paused,then added,“Honestly,I think you and Alpha Nick are a better match.” His expression darkened instantly.A cold laugh slipped out:“Is that so?Then how about I set you up with someone?Would you go meet them?” “Of course,”I said brightly.“Thank you,Alpha Nick.” As we were leaving the restaurant,Selene suddenly stepped in front of me,smiling sweetly as she handed me a black velvet box. “Did you leave this on Alpha’s office desk?He said it might be yours.” I took it with a puzzled expression.When I opened it,inside was the silver double-moon pendant I had custom-made two months ago—the one I had prepared as an anniversary gift for us. Beneath the pendant lay a handwritten note: “Nick,I know you’re not into flashy things,but this design is from the day we first met.You drew it in my palm.I remember.” My face went pale. That note—I had burned it long ago. I looked up sharply.“How did you get this?” Selene feigned innocence.“It was in the second drawer of Alpha Nick’s desk.There was no name on it,so I thought maybe it was mine.The moment I opened it,I thought it was just so pretty—I wanted to try it on.I had no idea you made it.” She gave a light laugh.“Don’t worry,I didn’t take it out…I just snapped a quick photo and shared it in the group chat.” My head buzzed. {She did it on purpose.} Aris growled through gritted teeth.{She wanted you to see it—wanted you to know that even your most private feelings meant nothing to him.} I tightened my grip on the box,my gaze calm as the sea.“Thanks.I’ll remember to put my name on it next time.” I returned alone to the house Alpha Nick and I once shared. As I pulled into the driveway,I spotted his car immediately—parked crookedly,its windows fogged. I quickened my pace.The sound of ragged breathing filtered through the glass—Alpha-level rut breathing.Heavy.Primal. I reached for the door handle,my hand trembling. The moment the door opened,the world stopped spinning. Selene’s head was tilted back,her face painted with satisfaction.Alpha Nick sat beside her,expression void of emotion—as if I didn’t exist. [Now you see it clearly.] Aris growled low in my mind. When they stepped out of the car and fixed their clothes,Selene looked straight at me and smirked. “Sorry,Leona,”she said mockingly.“I’ve always wanted to try it in a car.Alpha Nick was kind enough to help.Still as incredible as ever.” She tossed a crumpled tissue to the ground at my feet.“You should probably clean that up.We made quite a mess.” My cheeks burned with humiliation.My fingertips went numb from the cold in my blood. Alpha Nick’s voice sliced through the silence,detached and cruel.“While you’re at it,go inside and make us dinner.I’m hungry.” [He’s still giving you orders.You’re not his Omega.You were his mate.But he’ll never admit it.] Aris rasped,sharp and firm. I turned without a word,climbed into my car,and drove off. In the days that followed,I didn’t reach out.He didn’t either. But Selene showed up. That day,Alpha Roger and I were both at home. As the door opened,Alpha Roger stepped forward,gripping his Alpha token,and said coldly,“Speak.Now.”

Selene put on a shy little act,glancing at me from the corner of her eye before turning to Alpha Roger. “Alpha Roger,you know Alpha Nick and I grew up together.We’ve always had feelings,even if we’ve broken up a few times.” “It was impulsive of me to end things last time.But this time,I want to confess seriously.I want us to get back together.Will you help me?” If it were the old me,I might’ve jumped up and said,“Impossible!He’s my Alpha!” But now,I simply smiled—faint,indifferent. I had already survived a marriage without blessing,without bond resonance,without even a whisper from our wolf souls. I knew very clearly—Alpha Nick did care about her.He might not admit it aloud,but there was a primal compatibility between them.Maybe that was what others called being fated mates. [No.] Aris cut in sharply from the depths of my mind. [Fate isn’t about instinct.It isn’t Alpha lust.It’s the merging of spirits,the moonlit link between wolf souls.If you’ve never felt Selene’s wolf,it’s because she doesn’t have the right to stand in that bond.She’s a thief.Not fate.] “Of course,”Alpha Roger said easily.“Come on—who hasn’t noticed Nick still has feelings for you?If you confess,he’s bound to say yes.” The triumphant gleam on Selene’s face was clearly meant for me.She even raised an eyebrow slightly,as if to say,“See?You were never the one.” I remained still.No emotion.Only a strange sense of clarity rising in me. Two days later,Alpha Roger and Nick’s friends organized a dramatic“crisis confession”scene—whitewater rafting in the Northern Highlands. The scenery was beautiful.The river was fierce.The kind of setting where Alphas could show off their strength and protective instincts. I hadn’t planned to go in the water.I can’t swim.But Selene grabbed my arm. “Leona~We’re sisters,aren’t we?Just once!I’m scared to go alone—you wouldn’t let me shiver in the raft by myself,would you~?” [She’s baiting you.] Aris’s voice dropped into a deadly chill. [She knows you can’t swim.She also knows exactly where the deepest bend in the current is.Don’t fool yourself—this isn’t innocence.It’s intent.] The raft surged downstream.Selene clung to Alpha Nick the entire way,her nails digging into his skin like she was trying to brand him with her Alpha’s authority. Alpha Roger,knowing exactly what was happening,stayed beside me and gave my shoulder a friendly pat.“Don’t worry,I’ve got you.” But just as we were nearing the rapids,Selene suddenly turned—and threw herself at me,feigning a loss of balance. I wasn’t ready.The raft jerked violently. Before Alpha Roger could react,I was hurled into the freezing water. As I plunged into the river,I clearly heard her whisper: “Oops.Sorry,Leona.” She did it on purpose. Cold water flooded my nose and throat.I struggled,desperate,unable to stay afloat. I saw Alpha Nick dive in after us.A spark of naive hope flared in my chest. I reached out—maybe he’d see me.Maybe he’d pull me to safety. But I watched,with horrifying clarity,as he swam right past me.Straight toward Selene. Leona.What are you still hoping for? [You saw it,didn’t you?] Aris growled,a snarl scraping across my thoughts. [You are not his first choice.You never were.You were just a convenient Omega—never his Luna.Never his match.Never his fate.] I stopped struggling. Thank the Moon,Alpha Roger dove in and pulled me out in time. I collapsed on the shore,soaked and shaking,gasping for air. Alpha Roger gave my shoulder a gentle pat.“Don’t dwell.The confession scene’s ready.Come on,let’s watch the fun.” I stood up,head still spinning—not just from water,but from that voice,that whisper:“Oops.Sorry,Leona.” Selene wanted to hurt me. She wanted me gone.Out of the way.So she could monopolize every bit of Alpha Nick’s attention.His guilt.His comfort. And I— I had no words. On the lawn,the pack’s friends had arranged a massive heart of flowers,filled with shared memories:handwritten letters,photos,holiday gifts,birthday tokens. Alpha Nick stood in the center,dripping wet,staring blankly at it all. Selene,bouquet in hand,walked toward him,eyes shining with tears. A breeze passed across the lake.The surface rippled—and so did something inside me. [If you turn away now,I won’t blame you.] Aris’s tone had softened. [But if you stay—if you watch this—then do it for yourself.Clap for your own freedom.] People shouted,“Say yes!Be with her!” I clapped too.Loud and bright. “Say yes!Be with her!”I cheered. Alpha Nick turned sharply toward me,shock twisting his face. “Leona,are you insane?Have you forgotten you’re my—” “No,Alpha Nick.” I cut him off gently,clearly. “I,Leona,rejected you,Alpha Nick,as my mate.” “Our bond died the moment you swam past me.”

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The wind at the cemetery was as sharp as a blade, cutting against my face and numbing my skin. I stood before the cold stone, staring at the name engraved on it—Noah. “For the glory and safety of the pack, he was sacrificed.” Leon stood beside me, his voice chillingly calm, as if the”sacrifice”he spoke of was not our son, but merely a disposable piece on a chessboard. I turned to look at him, rage burning in my chest, threatening to consume me whole. “Sacrifice?”I repeated each syllable slowly, “Are you telling me that you personally killed our son for the glory of the pack?” Leon’s gaze darkened slightly, his voice devoid of emotion.”Yes.” My fingers trembled slightly, my palms turning pale from the tight grip. I knew that if I continued to press him now, he would respond with the same icy indifference—or worse, complete silence. But I couldn’t ask. I couldn’t let him realize that I already knew the truth—Noah didn’t die for the pack.He died for Selina. My sister. The woman he truly loved. A chill ran down my spine, but I forced myself to maintain my composure.I took a slow, deep breath, making my voice sound as steady as possible.”So that’s your final answer?” Leon looked at the tombstone, his expression showing no guilt—only the absolute certainty of a man who believed he had made the right decision. “This is the truth, Evelyn.You need to accept it.” Accept it? My hands clenched tighter, nails digging into my palms. How I wanted to rip apart his mask, to demand why he didn’t even bother lying to me, why he didn’t offer a single excuse to ease my pain. But I couldn’t. If I exposed him now, what would he do? Show remorse? Explain himself?Deny it? No, he wouldn’t. He would simply give me the same cold stare and say, “It’s done.You can’t change it.” And then, he would start guarding against me—perhaps even eliminate me first. I couldn’t let him know that I had seen through everything. So I had to endure it. I slowly loosened my grip, making my emotions appear more controlled. Lowering my head, I fixed my gaze on Noah’s tombstone, as if I was truly accepting Leon’s so-called”truth.” “I understand, “I said softly, my voice devoid of any discernible emotion. Leon studied me for a few seconds, as if trying to gauge my reaction.Finally, he nodded and turned to leave the cemetery. Only when his figure disappeared completely from sight did I unclench my hands. The deep crescent marks left by my nails had broken the skin, and droplets of blood dripped onto the black marble tombstone, merging with the engraved letters. I gently traced Noah’s name, whispering, “Mommy won’t let your death be in vain.” A few days ago “Mom, why hasn’t Dad been training with me lately?” Noah looked up at me, his dark eyes filled with confusion and a hint of disappointment. I crouched down, running my fingers through his soft hair, offering a gentle smile.”Your dad has a lot of responsibilities right now.Once he’s done, I’ll ask him to take you hunting, okay?” Noah frowned slightly, reluctant but still nodding.”But he promised me.” My heart clenched.I had long grown used to Leon’s coldness, but Noah was still just a child.He didn’t understand the burden of power, nor did he know how ruthless his father could be. “Then…can you train with me, Mom?”he asked expectantly. I smiled warmly.”Of course.” His face instantly brightened as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the training grounds. After practicing some basic techniques, Noah suddenly stopped, looking at me with serious determination.”Mom, I’m going to get really strong.When I grow up, I’ll protect you.” My chest tightened, my eyes burning with unshed tears. I cupped his cheek gently, my voice soft.”Alright.Then Mommy will wait for the day Noah grows up to protect me.” But Noah would never get the chance to grow up. Leon and Selina’s Conversation The dimly lit room smelled faintly of medicine. Selina lay on the bed, her face pale, her breathing weak.Leon stood beside her, gazing down at her with conflicted eyes. “What are you hesitating for?”Selina’s voice was frail but firm, carrying an unshakable determination.”I’ve already checked.Noah’s liver is a perfect match for mine.” Leon’s hands curled into fists.He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice, “He is my son.” Selina’s lips curved into a weak smile, a hint of mockery in her expression.”But he is also Evelyn’s son.” The room fell into a brief silence. “Leon, we don’t have another choice, “Selina whispered, her voice barely audible.”Do you know what the doctors said?If I don’t get the transplant soon, I won’t live past three more months.” Leon’s breathing grew heavier.He looked at Selina’s frail face, memories of their past flashing through his mind.The conflict in his heart slowly crumbled, replaced by a chilling resolve. Finally, he nodded, his voice low and unwavering.”I understand.”

The night was dark and silent.The entire house seemed to be swallowed by an endless abyss. I pushed open the study door and walked cautiously towards the safe in the corner. Leon’s safe—there must be secrets inside that he didn’t want me to know. My fingers hovered over the keypad, quickly running through possible combinations in my mind.I tried Noah’s birthday first—incorrect.Then, I entered my own birthday—still incorrect. My heart sank. Finally, I tried entering Selina’s birthday— Beep— The electronic lock clicked open. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.This man…he actually used Selina’s birthdayas the password?! A bitter taste filled my mouth as my hands clenched into fists, my palms damp with cold sweat.Leon, let’s see what you’ve been hiding! Taking a deep breath, I reached out with trembling fingers and pulled the safe door wide open.A stack of documents was neatly arranged inside. My eyes darted over the papers, flipping through them rapidly. A bank transaction record caught my attention. —Leon had transferred a huge sum to a surgeon at a private hospital. Then, I found a death certificate.My fingers trembled as I traced over the name—Noah.At the bottom, Leon’s signature stood clearly in black ink. Next, a medical report made my blood run cold— Donor:Noah Recipient:Selina Organ:Liver transplant My body swayed, and I had to grip the desk to steady myself. So his so-called‘honor and safety’were all lies.He killed our son, not for the pack, but for Selina! I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The pain was the only thing keeping me from breaking down. I pulled out my phone and quickly snapped pictures of every single document. Leon, I will make you pay for this! I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.My heart felt like it was being strangled, the pressure unbearable. Leon’s phone lay on the nightstand, its screen dark yet tempting, like an unspoken invitation. I needed to know what else he was hiding. Carefully, I reached out and picked up his phone.I entered the passcode—Noah’s birthday.Incorrect.My birthday.Incorrect again. My fingers clenched tighter around the device. Taking a deep breath, I entered Selina’s birthday. Unlocked. My heart pounded as I scrolled through his messages. Soon, I found his conversation with the doctor— Leon:I don’t want any loose ends.You understand? Doctor:Don’t worry, all records have been erased.Even an autopsy won’t find anything unusual. Leon:Good.Once the transplant is done, I don’t want to hear Noah’s name ever again. My grip on the phone tightened.Not only did he kill Noah, but he also made sure to cover it up, making it look like an accident… But the worst was yet to come.I kept scrolling and found his messages with Selina— Selina:Now that Noah is dead, we can finally be together forever, Leon.I love you. Leon:Once you recover, everything will be easier. Selina:It’s so exhausting pretending to care about Evelyn every time I visit her. Leon:I know, but you have to keep up the act so she doesn’t suspect anything. My hands trembled, my stomach twisted in disgust. Selina had been coming to visit me all this time, pretending to be a loving sister, while secretly sleeping with Leon behind my back.And I had been completely blind to it. Bile rose in my throat.I had never felt so sick in my life. At that moment, Leon shifted in his sleep and opened his eyes. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”His voice was low and groggy. He reached out and pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on my head before pressing a kiss to my forehead. My body went stiff, every fiber of my being screaming in revulsion.But I forced myself to remain calm, to act as if nothing had changed. “Just couldn’t sleep, “I whispered, managing a small smile as I quickly placed his phone back. Leon didn’t seem to suspect anything.He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep. But I lay awake, staring at the ceiling until morning. At breakfast, Leon’s phone buzzed.He glanced at the screen, then stood up abruptly. “I won’t be home tonight, “he said hastily before grabbing his coat and heading out the door. I watched him leave, my lips curling into a cold smile. Was he going to see Selina? Just then, a wave of nausea hit me. My stomach twisted violently, and I barely made it to the bathroom before retching into the sink. A terrifying thought struck me.Could I be…pregnant? My hands trembled as I dialed the hospital to make an appointment. An hour later, I arrived at the hospital for a check-up. As I walked toward the examination room, familiar voices drifted from the hallway. I turned my head, and my breath caught in my throat. Leon and Selina were standing together, their expressions uneasy.Selina’s hand was gently placed on her stomach. “How far along?”Leon’s voice was low and urgent. “Almost two months, “Selina said softly, a small smile playing on her lips. I froze in place, my body turning to ice.Selina was pregnant.With Leon’s child. Leon reached out and held her hand.”Don’t worry.I’ll take care of everything.” My fingernails dug into my palm.My head spun, but I forced myself to walk past them without a word. Five minutes later, I sat in the doctor’s office, gripping the edges of my chair as the doctor studied my test results. “Congratulations, Evelyn, “the doctor said with a smile.”You’re pregnant.” I stared at the test results in shock, my mind going blank. I was pregnant.With Leon’s child. My hands trembled as I clutched the paper. Outside, in the hallway, Leon and Selina were discussing their future with their unborn baby. And I stood there, holding my own pregnancy results, my heart drowning in pain and uncertainty. Should I keep this child?

I stared at the ceiling of the hospital room, my mind slowly filling with the bitter reality. I lost the child. The doctor’s words hit me like nails, driving into my heart with such force that it became hard to breathe. I had decided to keep him.I had made up my mind. But in the end, I couldn’t protect him. When the doctor announced the results, my mind went blank.I didn’t even shed a tear. I don’t remember how I was wheeled out of the operating room, nor how I made it back to the hospital room. It wasn’t until there was a soft knock on the door that I looked up, seeing a man standing in the doorway, his expression a complex mix of emotions. I raised my head, and the moment I saw him, countless memories flashed through my mind. “Ethan…”I whispered, my voice hoarse and strained. Ethan, Selina’s husband, and Leon’s subordinate, an Omega. In their family, Omega was at the bottom of the hierarchy, and Ethan’s life was nothing short of miserable. His wife was cold and selfish, and his Alpha was a man who would sell out everything for his own gain. He, like me, lived in that house as nothing more than a joke. Ethan stepped inside and pulled a chair to sit by my bed, silently watching me.His gaze held no sympathy, only suppressed anger and a hint of…expectation? He asked softly, “Do you want revenge?” My fingertips trembled slightly, and my gaze wavered. Revenge? Leon killed my son, betrayed our marriage. Selina took my husband’s heart and even killed my child just to survive… They both owed me—blood debts. But…should I seek revenge? I closed my eyes, exhausted, leaning back against the pillow, my voice low:”I need time to think.” Ethan nodded, not pressing further.He simply sat quietly by my bed, giving me a brief moment to breathe. The day I was allowed to leave the hospital, it was drizzling outside.The air smelled of dampness, and the cold seeped into my bones, making me shiver uncontrollably. Back at home, I waited for Leon’s call. But nothing came. I waited all day, but not a single message from him. No concern, no apology, not even a token greeting. I moved from disappointment to anger, and finally, all that was left was an endless despair. He had killed our son for Selina’s liver.Now, I had lost our child again, and he couldn’t even spare a word. I let out a bitter laugh, the emotions churning inside me threatening to drown me. Leon, so you’re not even trying to pretend anymore, are you? Just as I was about to head upstairs to rest, my phone screen suddenly lit up. I quickly grabbed the phone, a glimmer of hope flashing in my heart.But when I opened the message, I saw it wasn’t from Leon—it was from Ethan. A photo. When I saw the image, my blood froze, and the fury swirling in my chest almost drove me insane. In the photo, Leon and Selina were lying on the bed, their bodies pressed together.Leon’s hand was shamelessly roaming over Selina, their lips tangled in an intimate kiss, lost in a passionate embrace. The photo was taken today. Just a few hours ago, I had been discharged from the hospital and returned to this empty house, waiting for Leon’s call. I stared at the photo, my nails digging into my palm. So, my pain meant nothing to him. He doesn’t care about me, or the unborn child. And Selina, she didn’t just want my husband.She wanted me to lose everything. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my breathing.But my anger, like a fire, couldn’t be extinguished. My hand slowly clenched into a fist, my knuckles whitening, and my gaze became cold. Leon, Selina, do you really think I won’t do anything

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I clutched the pregnancy test results in my hand,heart pounding in my chest,the word“positive”still ringing in my ears like a distant melody of hope.I had to tell him—William had to know. I rushed toward the construction site of the amusement park he was overseeing.The carousel gleamed in the distance,spinning slowly under the early morning sun. That’s when I saw them. William…and Quinn. His arms were wrapped tightly around her,his face buried in her hair.And her belly—Swollen.Pregnant. I froze. His voice floated toward me,sharp and careless.“So what if she finds out?” The ground shifted beneath my feet.Loose stones crunched,giving me away. Both their heads whipped in my direction. William’s eyes widened when he saw me.He let go of her like he’d just been caught stealing.“Caroline?What are you doing here?” Quinn turned too,a smug expression blooming across her face like a poisonous flower. William stepped forward,his voice trembling with guilt—or maybe just fear. “How long have you been standing there?Look,it’s not what it looks like—don’t misunderstand—Quinn and I,we just—” “Save it.”I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.“What exactly are you going to explain,William?That you’re just comforting her?That this is all some…big misunderstanding?” “I—Caroline,I—”He stuttered,scrambling for excuses,but the look in his eyes said everything. I raised the envelope in my hand,shaking slightly. “I used my money to save Ember Claw Pack.I didn’t do it to buy you.If you didn’t want the Moon Ceremony,why didn’t you just say so?Why go through with it and then do this behind my back?” His mask slipped.The lies,the shame,the rehearsed apologies—he dropped them all. “Caroline,please,”he said,his voice quieter now.“I never meant to hurt you.I didn’t plan for this to happen.” I stared at him,my chest hollowing. “When did it start?”I asked,my voice barely more than a whisper. William looked away. “After my brother died,”he said finally.“Quinn jumped into the river.Everyone thought she drowned.” I nodded slowly. “So you started sleeping with her after that?After we were married?” His silence was an answer enough. A bitter laugh escaped my lips.Of course. I had been a fool—believing that love could grow where betrayal already had roots.I thought if I worked hard enough,sacrificed enough,he’d eventually see me.If I became his Luna,his mate in every way that mattered,he would learn to love me. I was wrong. I was always the second place.A consolation prize.Gratitude in the shape of a bride. The wolf inside me howled in pain,clawing at the walls of my soul.But the grief was too heavy.It choked out my shift,drowned out my strength.I could feel something breaking inside me—something deep and primal. A year ago,William’s brother died of cancer.And Quinn—his fated mate—threw herself into the river in grief.Nobody was ever recovered.William spiraled into a darkness I couldn’t reach. So I tried.God,I tried. I organized search teams,begged elders for blessings,scoured the banks myself until my feet bled.I searched for her,mourned her with him. All this time…she wasn’t dead.She was alive.Living in secret.Sleeping with my mate. And now she was carrying his child.

William watched the rage bloom in my eyes,shifting from hurt to fury.Finally,he opened his mouth,as if that could fix what was already broken. “Don’t twist things into something they’re not,”he said,his tone sharp and defensive. He looked at Quinn,then back at me. “She was alone.Wandering the streets.I only took her in because she loved my brother so much.I pitied her—nothing more.” “And what?One drink too many and you accidentally slept with her?”I snapped,my voice rising. His lips parted.“I wasn’t thinking clearly.I—I thought she was you.” I stared at him,stunned.But he wasn’t finished. “It wasn’t intentional,”he continued,his voice cracking.“Just think of it as me…forcing myself on her.It’s all my fault.Every bit of it.” Quinn’s eyes welled up with tears as she clung to his arm. “Don’t say that,William!This isn’t your fault,”she cried,the picture of innocent guilt.“If anyone should be blamed,it’s me—for being stupid enough to jump into that river in the first place!” I snapped.“Shut up!” My voice echoed through the open space,stopping her fake sobs in their tracks. “You don’t get to speak.This isn’t your business—it’s ours.” I turned back to William,my blood boiling. “You’re unbelievable.You waited until she was almost due to show me this?To rub it in my face like I’m nothing?” “I’ve spent the past year tearing myself apart trying to find her,thinking she was dead.Comforting you.Nursing your mother like she was mine.And this—this—is how you repay me?” “You’re despicable.” When his older brother died,William’s mom collapsed from grief and ended up in the hospital.For over six months,I stayed by her side,practically living in that cold hospital room.I bathed her,fed her,watched over her night and day. In her second month there,her organs started to fail.The hospital issued a critical notice.It was touch-and-go.I was terrified. I called William all night.He didn’t answer.Not once. I paced outside the operating room alone for hours,clutching my phone until my fingers went numb.And when he finally showed up the next morning,he reeked of whiskey—and there was a hickey on his neck. A goddamn hickey. He’d told me he was at a client banquet.He looked me in the eyes and lied. Then he saw his mother and started sobbing—calling himself a bastard,slapping himself in front of me. And I forgave him.Because I loved him.Because I was stupid. I didn’t even realize Quinn was already back…already in his bed. William said nothing now.Just stood there,head bowed,letting me pour it all out. I pulled myself together and met his gaze with ice in my veins. “You want to fix this?”I said,my voice low but clear.“Then get rid of the pup.Tell Quinn to leave.” “Or I swear to the goddess,I will never forgive either of you.” Quinn gasped like she’d been stabbed.She bolted toward the door—but William grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him like a shield. “Caroline,are you outta your mind?”he snapped.“The pup is almost full-term!You want her to abort it now?” “You’re acting like some bitter woman—jealous that someone else can give me what you can’t!” I blinked,stunned.“What…did you just say?” “My brother is gone.You can’t have children,”he said,like it was some damning fact.“Do you want Ember Claw Pack to lose its only Alpha heir because of your insecurities?” “You’re cruel,Caroline.And selfish.There’s a limit.” His words hit me like a slap across the face.Each syllable was a poisoned dagger. I laughed.A bitter,broken sound.Then tears came. “Tell me something,”I whispered.“Why can’t I have a pup?” He didn’t answer.He didn’t need to. “You don’t remember?”I asked softly.“That day…You were an hour late.That was all it took.An hour.” “Your mother was attacked.By a rogue.If you’d been there,William—if you’d shown up when I begged you to—I wouldn’t have had to jump in front of her.I wouldn’t have been stabbed three times by a Feral Wolf.” I lifted my shirt slightly,revealing the scars along my abdomen. “The Pack Doctor said I was lucky to survive.That if he hadn’t arrived in time,I would’ve died.And even if I lived,I’d never be able to shift again.” “You cried at my bedside,remember?You held my hand and told me you didn’t care.You said we didn’t need children.That we could adopt.That you’d walk away from the Pack if the Council didn’t accept us.” “You swore to protect me.To fight for me.” “But now?Now I’m cruel?Selfish?”I shook my head,my voice trembling.“No,William.You’re the one who’s changed.You’re the one who betrayed everything we built.” The man standing in front of me wasn’t my mate. He was a stranger.

After William’s brother passed,everyone in Ember Claw Pack whispered the same thing behind closed doors:William needs an heir. And I heard every word. I watched the pressure weigh him down,and even though my heart broke for him,I pushed my own pain aside.I became a woman on a mission:hunting down every Pack Doctor,every healer,every witch rumored to possess ancient magic.I paid in blood,gold,and sleepless nights. And for what? To earn his love? To become more than just a placeholder in his life? To thank me,William handed over all his passwords—his phone,his laptop—telling me he wanted transparency,that he had nothing to hide.I believed him.Goddess,I believed him. When I found out I was pregnant,I thought…maybe now,he’ll see me.Maybe now,he’ll be happy. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next. William’s eyes were ice-cold when he turned to me. “I’ll do anything you want,”he said flatly.“Except ask Quinn to abort the pup.” Then he actually added,like it was a gift,“Once she gives birth,I’ll let you raise him.He’ll carry my bloodline,and it’ll be like you had him yourself.” He was serious. “And from now on,you won’t have to see any more doctors or take those disgusting herbs.This is the best outcome for everyone.You’re not losing anything,Caroline.Nothing.” He stepped closer,eyes hard.“Unless you want to be cursed forever as the Luna who couldn’t bear an Alpha heir?” I felt the air leave my lungs. Then he had the nerve to check his watch. “I still have to prep for Mom’s discharge banquet,”he muttered.“You should head back.” Like we’d just had a polite conversation. Quinn stepped toward me,her voice syrupy and fake.“Please don’t be mad at William.This was all my idea.I—I didn’t mean for things to get so messy.” “I promise,once the pup’s born,I’ll disappear.You won’t ever have to see me again.” Behind her,William paused and looked over his shoulder.For a split second,guilt flickered in his eyes. Then he took her hand and walked away with her. And just like that…the sky darkened. Thick clouds rolled in,throwing shadows over the half-built amusement park.It felt fitting.The place we once dreamed of building together now stood hollow,just like us. I bent down and picked up the crumpled pregnancy report from the dirt,brushing it off with shaking hands. I walked away. Alone. — The recovery banquet was held at Ember Claw Pack’s luxury estate hotel.I sat silently in the back of the taxi,watching the familiar streets blur past. It all looked the same.The city hadn’t changed. But I had. Memories hit me like a wave. I’d chased William for four years in college.He was already the crown jewel of Ember Claw Pack—the Alpha heir every she-wolf wanted.To stay close to him,I turned down a prestigious graduate program my parents had arranged.I worked at his side,watching him shine,while he barely noticed I was there. Then the crisis hit.Ember Claw Pack nearly collapsed. And me? I sold everything—my parents’inheritance,my future—to keep the pack from falling apart.To save him. When the deal closed,and Ember Claw Pack was safe,William dropped to one knee and proposed with a diamond ring. I thought it was love.I thought I had finally earned my place beside him. But now I know…it was gratitude.Nothing more. Our Moon Ceremony was broadcast for three days.Three whole days of joy I thought was real.I stepped into the role of Luna,ran the pack’s affairs,buried my own dreams just to stand by him. And now…I was just another disposable woman he had to manage. A pawn to be blamed for her own broken womb. Tears welled up,but I blinked them away. I picked up my phone and made the call. “Hello?I’d like to schedule a termination.” — By the time I arrived at the hotel,the banquet was already winding down. Laughter echoed through the hall.But when I stepped in,it died. My mother-in-law was beaming.She grabbed Quinn’s hand like it was a lifeline. “Quinn is a blessing to this family,”she declared,loud enough for everyone to hear.“She’s carrying the only Alpha heir Ember Claw Pack has left!” She cast a sharp glance in my direction. “Not like some people,”she snapped.“Three years of marriage,and not even an egg to show for it.” The crowd laughed. Then she reached down and removed a gleaming jade archer’s ring from her finger—Ember Claw Pack’s Luna ring. She placed it into Quinn’s hand with reverence. “From this moment forward,”she said with pride,“you are Ember Claw Pack’s Luna.And if anyone dares question it,they’ll answer to me!” Applause broke out.Cheers.Congratulatory words. And then silence,as everyone turned to me. Their expressions were a mix of disgust and pity. “She’s actually here,”someone muttered. “How shameless can one woman be?” “I heard she’s barren.Poor William,he must’ve been suffering these last three years.” “She should’ve left ages ago.She’s clinging to the Pack like a leech.” “She’s cursed.I swear it.Everything went wrong the moment she showed up.” My nails dug into my palms until they bled. But I didn’t flinch. Because I had already made my decision. This was the last time they’d ever look down on me. The last time they’d ever laugh behind my back. I may have walked in alone…But the next time I came back—They’d all kneel.

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On my eighteenth birthday,my grandfather laid out profiles of several eligible men in front of me and asked me to choose one for an engagement. Without hesitation,I chose Julian Howard from the Howard Family Group. Everyone present was stunned. After all,it was common knowledge in our circle that Shirley Lennox,the heiress of Lennox Corporation,had been deeply in love with the eldest son,Miles Howard. At my coming-of-age banquet,I had even publicly declared that I would marry no one but Miles Howard. In my previous life,I got my wish and married Miles Howard. But just three days into our marriage,he couldn’t wait to tell me that he planned to take my stepsister,Mia Sullivan,under his wing as well. My mother was furious and immediately arranged for Mia Sullivan to marry one of my father’s protégés. Miles Howard was convinced that I had sabotaged his plans and came to despise me. From then on,he was constantly embroiled in scandals,and every one of his companions bore a striking resemblance to Mia Sullivan. He allowed those women to humiliate me in every possible way. Ultimately,on the day he inherited the family business,I was poisoned to death. Reincarnating with a second chance at life,I decided to stay far away from him and let him be with Mia Sullivan. But to my surprise,as soon as the news of my engagement to Julian Howard was announced,he lost control and publicly opposed the marriage. … After leaving the chairman’s office,I didn’t expect to run into Miles Howard. He had just concluded an important company meeting,surrounded by executives and industry elites. Upon seeing me,the group burst into laughter,teasing,“Shirley Lennox,are you chasing General Manager Howard all the way to the company headquarters?If your father knew how persistent his daughter is,he’d probably have a hypertensive crisis and take a sick leave!” Miles Howard looked at me with disgust,his tone icy:“You came to the company—did you think my father would directly order us to get engaged?Let me warn you,without my consent,don’t act crazy again.” I was all too familiar with that look of disdain in his eyes. Suppressing the sting in my heart,I spoke calmly:“The chairman asked me here to arrange an important coming-of-age ceremony for me.It has nothing to do with you.” No sooner had I finished speaking than the room erupted:“Coming-of-age ceremony?” I knew why they were shocked. The company founder,Miles Howard’s grandfather,had left a will stating that the fiancé chosen by the youngest daughter of the Lennox family at her coming-of-age ceremony would become the next heir of the company. My words had effectively announced that the successor was already decided. After the shock wore off,everyone rushed to congratulate Miles Howard. “It seems it won’t be long before we have to call you Chairman Howard,”they said. A look of satisfaction crossed Miles Howard’s face,but when he looked at me,his tone was filled with mockery. “Shirley Lennox,you’ve chased after me for so many years,and now that you’ve finally gotten your wish,you must be over the moon.” As he spoke,he stepped closer,lowering his voice in my ear:“I won’t repeat the same mistakes,so there’s something you must agree to before I even consider marrying you.” “The day we get married,I’ll have Mia be my assistant and enter the company with you,”he paused,his tone growing even deeper. My heart sank in disbelief. It was clear—he too had been reborn. Before I could respond,a delicate voice came from behind:“Sister.” It was my stepsister,Mia Sullivan.She looked frail as she walked over. Her face was pale,and Miles Howard immediately stepped forward with concern,gently supporting her:“Mia,why did you come to the company?” Mia Sullivan covered her mouth and leaned into his chest,her voice trembled with tears:“Today is sister’s coming-of-age ceremony.I couldn’t not come.But my health isn’t great—I’ve caught a bit of a cold.I hope sister won’t blame me.” Miles Howard glared at me sternly:“How could you be so heartless?Just for a coming-of-age ceremony,you had to bring someone who’s ill?” With that,he swept Mia Sullivan into his arms:“Mia,let’s go to my office.I’ll have a doctor check on you.” Before leaving,he didn’t forget to warn me coldly:“Shirley Lennox,reflect on your behavior.If you keep acting so arrogantly,our wedding will be put on hold.” And with that,he carried Mia Sullivan away without looking back.

On my grand birthday banquet,Miles Howard arrived late with Mia Sullivan,looking as if they had just finished some mischief. Most of the guests had already left,leaving only a group of trouble-loving second-generation heirs,all waiting for me to lose my temper. Mia Sullivan’s hair was disheveled,her eyes dazed,and her cheeks flushed—a clear sign that something was off. Miles Howard,on the other hand,wore a look of triumph,with a fresh strawberry mark on his neck. Anyone with a clear eye could tell where the two of them had been,and they were all waiting for me to erupt. In the past,I would have thrown a tantrum,crying and making a scene. But now,I simply picked up my teacup and took a gentle sip. Miles Howard had already placed Mia Sullivan behind him,waiting for me to kick up a fuss so he could scold me. Unexpectedly,I acted as if nothing had happened,seemingly oblivious to them,and even gently set my teacup back down. His brow furrowed,clearly displeased. But then,as if remembering something,he laughed and said,”Shirley Lennox,are you pretending to be a lady now,fearing that I might call off the wedding?Not bad.To be my fiancée,you need to be more magnanimous.After all,today is your birthday.” As he spoke,he pulled a cheap pendant from his pocket,about to hand it to me,when Mia Sullivan snatched it away. “Brother Miles,this pendant is so shiny,”Mia Sullivan said in a cooing voice. Miles Howard immediately replied,”If Mia likes it,then it’s yours.” Mia Sullivan feigned reluctance,glancing at me with a smirk that she couldn’t quite hide:”But that’s the gift you were going to give your sister.What will she do if I take it?” Miles Howard disdainfully glanced at me:”Her?She’s easy to deal with.” He casually grabbed a disposable plastic fork from a passing waiter’s tray and threw it in front of me,his tone contemptuous:”This is for you.”Then,with a smile,he said to Mia Sullivan,”Anything I give her,she’ll accept.” The fork knocked over my drink,splashing liquid all over me. The onlookers stifled their laughter behind their hands. Looking at the fork in front of me,I suddenly felt utterly tasteless. In the past,I used to pester him for gifts. He would buy me a plastic bracelet from a street stall for just a few dollars,and I would be overjoyed,wearing it every day. Everyone in the circle mocked me,saying that even if Miles Howard gave me trash,I would treat it like a treasure. I took a deep breath,not wanting to ruin my own birthday banquet.I handed the fork back to the waiter and said softly,”The young master was just joking with me.You may leave.” The waiter,frightened,quickly retreated. Seeing my indifference,Miles Howard became even more displeased,his expression darkening. He pulled Mia Sullivan to sit beside me,and the two of them flirted shamelessly,completely ignoring me. While indulging in their affection,he stealthily observed my reactions. I found it all incredibly tedious,stood up,and prepared to leave. Miles Howard noticed and grabbed my arm,smirking triumphantly:”What’s the matter?Already jealous?Shirley Lennox,you’d better get used to it.I’ll never be yours alone.Jealousy is a cardinal sin in a wealthy family.” I hastily shook off his hand and said coldly,”There’s a distinction between men and women.Young master,please behave yourself.” He paused,then suddenly laughed again:”What’s this new act?We’re about to be engaged.You’re already mine.Can’t I even touch you?” I was so angry I almost laughed.If it weren’t for my uncle’s warning not to reveal my choice yet,I would have slapped him hard. For now,I could only retort,”Miles Howard,how can you be so sure that I chose you?” He froze for a moment,then burst into laughter. The crowd around us,unable to contain themselves any longer,joined in the mockery. Tears streaming down his face from laughter,Miles Howard said,”Not to mention that everyone in this circle knows you’re determined to marry me,but even if we look at the other eligible young men—Number Three is already married,Number Four has a prearranged marriage with a foreign tycoon’s daughter.Surely you’re not considering being their mistress?As for Number Two,he’s in poor health;who knows…could you be aiming to be a widow?So,Shirley Lennox,tell me,who else could you possibly marry besides me?”

Everyone was waiting for me to embarrass myself,eager to see how I would respond. Recalling my uncle’s warning,I lost all interest in arguing with him. After all,it wouldn’t be long before everyone knew who I was going to marry. On the way home,I shared a car with Mia Sullivan. She looked at my dress,soaked from the spilled drink,and laughed loudly. “Even if you become the president’s wife someday,what does it matter if you can’t win Miles Howard’s heart?You’re still worse than a lowly assistant.” Now that she no longer had Miles Howard’s support,she finally dropped her act of vulnerability. Looking at her smug face,I recalled my past life. My mother forced her to marry my father’s assistant,a man of humble origins who later achieved great success. Grateful for my father’s mentorship,he doted on Mia Sullivan in every way. Her life was far more comfortable than mine as the president’s wife. In this life,I would absolutely not allow my mother to meddle in her marriage. I couldn’t wait to see what fate had in store for her. Thinking this,I ignored her taunts and simply said,”Then I wish you and Miles Howard a lifetime of happiness together.” She froze,her arrogance deflating like a punctured balloon. I ignored her further and got off the car. At my uncle’s birthday banquet,I followed my mother to pay respects. To avoid the young masters attending the banquet,I found a quiet corner in the garden to rest. Unexpectedly,I ran into Mia Sullivan there. I heard that recently,Miles Howard had been sending her various luxury gifts nonstop. She was now decked out in jewels and dressed more flamboyantly than I,the legitimate heiress. Seeing me,she swayed her hips and walked over,speaking in a coquettish tone:”Sister,isn’t my dress beautiful?Brother Miles had a designer create it specially for me—it’s a one-of-a-kind global limited edition.” I completely ignored her,but she persisted in showing off:”Brother Miles also said that my wedding dress has to be top-notch!He promised that mine will definitely be shinier and more dazzling than yours!” As I was about to scold her to be quiet,my gaze was drawn to the bracelet on her wrist,and my heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand. That bracelet was identical to the one my grandmother left me before she passed away. I loved the Ruyi(a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune)design,so my grandmother had a skilled craftsman carve the bracelet into the Ruyi pattern. I cherished it so much that I couldn’t bear to wear it myself. Just as I was about to take a closer look,Mia Sullivan suddenly covered her face and screamed:”Sis!What are you doing?I know you’re jealous that Brother Miles dotes on me,but you can’t just hit me!” My wrist was grabbed tightly by someone. A cold voice came from behind:”Shirley Lennox,what are you doing?” Miles Howard glared at me:”What’s gotten into you now?” I shook off his hand and stared straight at Mia Sullivan,asking,”Where did you get that bracelet?” A flash of panic crossed Mia Sullivan’s face,but seeing Miles Howard standing by her side,ready to defend her,she straightened her back:”Brother Miles gave it to me.” “You’re lying!That bracelet was custom-made for me by my grandmother,one of a kind in the world.” “Fiona,go take it off!” My assistant,Fiona,started to step forward to remove the bracelet from Mia Sullivan’s wrist. But Miles Howard slapped her to the ground. “You wretched woman,who gave you permission to touch Mia?!” He roared at me like an enraged lion,pointing his finger in my face:”Shirley Lennox,I never expected you to resort to such despicable tactics to smear Mia and drive a wedge between us!I,Miles Howard,declare here and now that I personally gifted this bracelet to Mia!” After hearing his words and seeing the blood at the corner of Fiona’s mouth,my anger flared. This jade bracelet was a gift from my grandmother,and Miles Howard had seen it before. Now,he was blatantly lying to protect Mia Sullivan and even resorted to violence against my assistant. “Miles Howard,hitting my assistant is equivalent to slapping me in the face,”I said.I had never raised my voice at him before,and my sharp gaze stunned him,making him instinctively want to explain. Mia Sullivan theatrically wiped the corner of her eye,feigning distress as she took off the jade bracelet and held it out to me:”If sister likes it,take it.Don’t quarrel with Brother Miles anymore.” She pretended to push the jade bracelet into my hands but deliberately let it slip,causing the bracelet to shatter into pieces on the ground with a”clack.” I was so enraged that my whole body trembled,and I raised my hand to slap her,only to be pushed aside by Miles Howard. “Shirley Lennox,you are forbidden to harm Mia!Look at you now,acting like a shrew!”he roared. I stumbled from the push and fell to the ground,sitting there in disarray. Mia Sullivan weakly leaned into Miles Howard’s embrace,a triumphant sneer curled at the corners of her mouth. Seeing me fall,a flicker of panic crossed Miles Howard’s eyes as he reached out to help me up. But Mia Sullivan clutched his hand tightly. With tearful eyes,she whimpered,”Brother Miles,my chest hurts so much…” Miles Howard immediately became anxious,lifting her into his arms and urgently called for a doctor. Bystanders,witnessing the drama,began to point and whisper. “Isn’t that the daughter of President Lennox?Causing a scene over a man and fighting with her own family’s illegitimate daughter—truly disgracing the Lennox family name.” Miles Howard stared at me,his face livid:”Shirley Lennox,have you had enough of your theatrics!Apologize to Mia right now!You madwoman,you’re unworthy of being my fiancée!” The group of second-generation heirs behind him burst into laughter. “Miss Lennox,if you’re this jealous,just wait until our General Manager Howard has multiple wives and concubines—won’t you be literally worried to death?” Amidst the cacophony of mocking laughter,Miles Howard strode up to me,his tone oozing certainty. He looked down at me and said leisurely,”I heard that my father is announcing our wedding today.If you still want to marry me,you’d better behave.” “After the news is made public,you can plead with my father to allow Mia to marry into the Howard family alongside you,as my mistress.” “I’ll magnanimously overlook this incident and even let you earn a reputation for being‘virtuous and generous’—killed two birds with one stone.” I stared at him in disbelief.Although I had always known what kind of person he was, his shamelessness still shocked me. Seeing my silence,he assumed I had acquiesced and said triumphantly,”If my father agrees to this arrangement,I’ll consider preparing a dowry for you on par with Mia’s,so you won’t lose face when you two marry me on the same day.” His smug expression was as if he had already cornered me and was certain of his position as the future head of the Howard Family Corporation. Fiona ran over,crying,trying to help me up. The surrounding colleagues all covered their mouths,waiting for my humiliation. Just as the farce was escalating,a thunderous rebuke cut through the air:”What is going on here?!” Everyone turned to see Julian Howard and Secretary Fitzgerald approaching. Julian Howard quickly stepped forward,carefully helping me to my feet,and looked at my soiled dress with concern,asking,”Are you alright?” Secretary Fitzgerald,on the other hand,announced sternly,”The chairman has something to say—” Hearing this,Miles Howard and the group of rich second-generation heirs knew the announcement of the marriage news was imminent. The crowd beamed with anticipation,clustering together to await the good news. Miles Howard cast a triumphant glance my way,as if to say,”You’ve lost.” He didn’t forget to lower his voice and threaten me,”Don’t forget what I just told you.Hurry up and plead with my father to let Mia Sullivan marry into the family with you!” One of the heirs beside him was already whispering congratulations to Miles Howard,”Congratulations,General Manager Howard,on inheriting the family business and securing two Lennox heiresses as your wives.Double joy indeed!” However,the jubilant atmosphere didn’t last long. “The chairman has declared that Shirley Lennox,the Lennox Corporation heiress,is talented and virtuous,and is to be wed to Julian Howard. An auspicious date will be chosen for the wedding,”Secretary Fitzgerald announced. Everyone present froze in shock. The engagement the chairman had announced was between me and Julian Howard.

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I sat in the bridal chamber of the Goldenflame pack’s ceremonial hall,dressed in full wedding attire.The gown felt heavier than armor. In my hand was the ceremonial mate ring Alpha Liam had given me.My fingers were ice-cold. Then my phone buzzed. I tapped it out of reflex. [Image]—Alpha Liam and Omega Shirley beneath the Moon Tree,their blood marks merged. [Text]—“I’m sorry.I love her.” I stood up.The hem of my dress scraped loudly against the floor. “What’s going on?”my bridesmaid Ayla rushed over. I handed her the phone.Her face went pale in an instant. “He…they…How could he?!This is your wedding!” I said nothing.Outside,the ceremonial drums continued,slow and pounding. “Let’s go.”I adjusted my veil and headed for the altar. As I stepped out,the entire hall fell into silence. The guests turned to me—all eyes wide,the altar empty. No Alpha Liam.No groom. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. “I heard the wedding’s off.” “Seriously?What about the bride?” I kept walking.No one came to help me.No one dared speak. Suddenly,a long wolf’s howl cut through the air. Thundering hooves followed. The grand ceremonial doors slammed open. A squad of black-cloaked warriors rode in.Leading them was a man in the Nightfog Pack’s battle armor—Alpha Adrian. “What are you doing here?”a Goldenflame elder barked. He ignored the elder and strode straight toward me.Then,before everyone,he dropped to one knee. “Marry me,Luna Ivy.I’ll give you half of the Nightfog Pack.” He didn’t speak immediately.His gaze locked onto mine,unwavering. “You’ve been crying,”he said softly,like it was both an observation and a confession. “Marry me,Luna Ivy.I’ll give you half of the Nightfog Pack.” He paused.“Not because you’re convenient,”he added in a low voice,“but because you’re worthy.” I searched his face for mockery.Instead,I saw something that looked like restrained pain.Not a performance—something real. The hall exploded. “What?!The Nightfog Alpha is proposing?!” “Right now?!” I stared at him.His lips curled slightly,but there was no warmth in his eyes. “I’m not your fated mate.” “You are.”His gaze pierced mine.“I felt the bond resonate.” “Now’s not the time for games,”I said coldly. He lifted a hand.One of his guards brought forward a projection orb. “Let me show you something.We’ve had feelings for a long time.” The images flashed—me training with my sword,sitting alone under the moon,feeding wolf pups. Each frame soft,quiet,carefully edited to look like a long-term crush. “You spied on me?”I gritted my teeth. “I protected you,”he said smoothly. Goldenflame elders glared at me. “Luna Ivy,what is this?”one demanded. “I’ve never had any personal involvement with the Nightfog Alpha,”I said firmly. Alpha Adrian straightened and faced the crowd.“Then let it start today.” And just like that,my wedding turned into a spectacle. My life was rewritten in front of hundreds of watching eyes. That night,I sat in a strange room in the Nightfog estate—my new“home.” Alpha Adrian walked in. “Getting used to it?”he asked. I said nothing. He stepped behind me and gently removed my headdress.“You should rest.” He stood behind me,hands removing the ceremonial headdress gently. “You should rest.” His fingers brushed past my temple,pausing for a moment. “Ivy,”he murmured,“you looked beautiful today.” I turned.“You don’t need to fake sweet words.” He studied me in silence.“Not sweet words.Just truth.You don’t need anyone to validate you—you shine on your own.” Then,quieter:“I was just too late to see it.” I turned to face him.“You planned this from the beginning,didn’t you?” He didn’t deny it.“Since the day you agreed to marry Alpha Liam.” “So,everything—including that video?”I stepped closer.“It was all staged?” “You planned all of this,didn’t you?”I asked. He didn’t deny it.“Since the day you agreed to marry Alpha Liam.” “But you noticed me long before that,didn’t you?” His eyes flickered. “The first time…it was when you trained alone outside the Moon Temple.You thought no one saw.” “How long have you been watching me?” He let out a soft breath.“Too long.At first,I thought it was curiosity.” He hesitated,voice dropping.“But later…the name I called out in my dreams—it was yours.” His voice remained calm.“You think I did this just for romance?No,Luna Ivy.I did it for the bond written in the stars.” I scoffed.“And what about her?” I showed him the portrait I had found in his study—Omega Shirley at fifteen. On the back,it said:“My one and only in this life.” He hesitated for half a second. “She’s just an old friend,”he said casually. “You’re a good liar,”I muttered. The next morning,I felt a wave of nausea. I rushed to the washroom,retching into the basin. Alpha Adrian entered soon after,holding a steaming bowl. “Drink this.It’s an herbal fertility tonic.” I took it from him,watching his hands tremble slightly. I looked up.“What are you afraid of?” He didn’t answer.Instead,he smiled faintly.“Afraid you won’t drink it.”

“This is honeygrass decoction.Good for the womb and pregnancy.Drink it,you’ll feel better.” Alpha Adrian placed the bowl in front of me,his voice soft.He even stirred it gently,like a caring husband. I held the bowl,forcing a smile.“You prepare this every day.Aren’t you tired?” He paused for a moment,then offered his usual smile.“You’re my Luna.I’ll do anything for you.” I lowered my head and took a few sips.The taste was a bitter mix of herbs and sweetness. “I’ll be late tonight.Meeting the elders at the border.”He stood up.“Stay here.Don’t wander.” “Where else could I go?”I said under my breath. He didn’t respond—just gave me a lingering look before leaving. The door shut.I set the bowl aside. This was my seventh pregnancy. Since marrying into the Nightfog pack,every pregnancy had ended in tragedy.At first,I blamed my body.Then the moon’s phases.By the third time,I started doubting everything. Now,I didn’t even dare to hope. The pain came in the afternoon. It started sharp,twisting deep inside,spreading like fire.I could barely breathe,soaked in cold sweat. I hit the comm-stone weakly.“Call Dr.Ryan!Now!” Ryan rushed in minutes later. “Don’t panic,don’t panic.Just lie back and relax,”he said,helping me down gently. After checking my pulse,he frowned.“Same issue.Weak constitution.You need strict bed rest.” I stared at him.“I don’t believe you.” He froze. “You’ve said the same thing every time.But every time,I lose the pup.Is it really my body…or is it the medicine?” His expression twitched,but he kept smiling.“You’re overthinking.You should trust your Alpha.” I laughed coldly.“Should I?” I struggled to stand and dragged over a small bottle from the waste bin.I threw it at his feet. “Then tell me what this is.” His face changed instantly. The label read:Concentrated Abortifacient—Wolfflower Extract. “Explain,”I said through clenched teeth. Before he could,the door swung open. Alpha Adrian. “What’s going on here?”His voice was ice. Ryan jumped up like a guilty child.“Alpha,she accused me of tampering with her medicine!She’s holding up trash as‘evidence’!” Alpha Adrian’s gaze landed on the bottle,then on my pale face. “You’re accusing me?”he said slowly. “I just want to know why none of my children survived.” Silence fell. Then suddenly,Alpha Adrian stepped forward and grabbed me by the throat,slamming me against the wall. “You think you can question me?In my Pack?” His voice was soft,but every word sliced like a dagger. I gasped for air,my nails digging into his wrist. “If you want to live…keep being my Luna.” He let go.I collapsed,coughing,my throat burning. He turned to Ryan.“Keep monitoring her.Anything suspicious—report it immediately.” That night,I pretended to sleep.My body was frozen stiff. The comm-stone buzzed quietly.Alpha Adrian’s voice came through. “How is she?” A man replied,“Stable,for now.But the cord blood extraction has to wait until the fetus is more developed.” Alpha Adrian sighed.“Omega Shirley’s leukemia…we don’t have time.” “So you’re going to make her get pregnant again?” “It has to be her child.No other blood will work.” I stayed still.My tears soaked the pillow. Early the next morning,I went to the kitchen. The Beta housekeeper flinched when she saw me.“Luna?You—why are you here?” “Yesterday’s tonic.Who made it?” She panicked.“D-Dr.Ryan arranged it.We just followed instructions.” “And the herbs?” “Alpha Alpha Adrian gave them directly.” I nodded and walked away. Back in my room,Omega Shirley was sitting on my bed. I froze.“How did you get in here?” She turned slowly,her smile cold.“Alpha Adrian brought me.He said you needed company.” “You know I’m pregnant,”I said. She nodded.“Thank you,Luna Ivy.I really needed this opportunity.” “You’re not afraid I’ll die?” Her smile deepened.“He promised.One more miscarriage,and the cord blood will be enough.” She leaned closer.“You’re such a good person.That’s why I trust you.” After she left,I sat on the edge of the bed and placed my hand over my flat belly. “I’m sorry…pup…” I whispered again and again,voice hoarse. That night,Alpha Adrian sat beside me,thinking I was asleep.His hand rested lightly on my belly. “This time…it has to work,”he murmured. I didn’t move. When he left,I opened my eyes,staring at the ceiling. I knew everything now.And yet,I couldn’t resist.Couldn’t escape. I picked up my comm-stone and searched:“Repeated miscarriages consequences.” First result: “Permanent infertility.Uterine rupture risk.” I slowly touched my abdomen. It felt like a grave—emptied,hollowed out by betrayal.

I was drinking my daily dose of honeygrass tonic when the Goldenflame matriarch summoned me. “The Grand Matron wants to see you,”the servant said coldly.”She said something about the lineage records.” I put down the bowl.”Alright.” As I stepped out,I glanced back at the tonic.The taste had become too familiar—bitter,sweet,and laced with something darker. Old Luna Lily sat at the far northern end of the Goldenflame Pack. Inside the study,the Matriarch sat in a tall-backed chair,stern as ever. “There,”she said,pointing to a shelf.“Seventh scrollbook.Your branch.” I obeyed,pulling the thick volume down and flipping through it. Tucked in the back was a sheet of parchment and a small silver key. “What’s this?”I asked cautiously. She didn’t answer—just gestured toward the adjacent room. The bedroom was clean,almost too pristine.A portrait on the wall stopped me cold. It was Omega Shirley,in her youth.Wearing white.Smiling sweetly. On the back,in old Nightfog script:“My only love.” My fingers trembled. Alpha Adrian had never hung a single portrait of me.Not even our ceremonial mark. I scanned the room and found a lockbox hidden beneath a chest. I typed in a number—0715.The date of my first miscarriage. Click. Inside was a thick photo album. Page one:Omega Shirley at thirteen,feeding a wolf pup.Caption:“Her first time feeding our cub.” Page two:Omega Shirley dancing by Nightfog Lake.Caption:“My forever love.” Page after page,Omega Shirley’s entire youth was documented—her,with Alpha Adrian.Her,in white.Her,glowing. I was never meant to be anything but her stand-in. She couldn’t carry children.I could. I was just a temporary vessel. I slammed the album shut.My comm-stone buzzed. It was Omega Shirley. “Hi,Luna Ivy,”she cooed.“Thanks for testing the medication for me.” I said nothing. “My twins are doing so well.Dr.Ryan says we’ll be able to harvest the cord blood in just three months.” “You’re dreaming,”I snapped. She chuckled.“Maybe.But you’re living in my dream.” “What do you want,Omega Shirley?” “You alive.The baby alive.So I can live too.”Her voice dropped cold.“Don’t tell me it took you this long to figure that out?” I cut the call. Back in the study,the Matriarch sipped tea calmly. “Finished browsing?”she asked. “You knew,”I said.“From the beginning,I was just a replacement.” She smiled thinly.“At least your womb still works.That’s more than we can say for her.” “I’m a living person,not a tool.” She stood,slapped me hard across the face. “You’re Nightfog’s Luna.Stop playing the victim.” My ears rang. She tossed a scroll at my feet.“Take a look.Omega Shirley’s latest prenatal exam.She’s carrying twins.And you?You can’t even keep one.” I bit my tongue until I tasted blood. “You’re only useful if you deliver that thing safely.” I lowered my head,voice hoarse.“You’ll regret this.” “Regret?”She scoffed.“You think Alpha Adrian will pick you?” I didn’t answer.I just walked out. But the tears had already started to fall. Back in my room,I found a small cloth bundle on the bed. Inside:a photo and a note. The photo was our wedding portrait. Alpha Adrian stood stiffly,not even holding my hand.He wore his own sigil ring. As if keeping a distance. The note was from Omega Shirley. “Luna Ivy,you really are made to be a perfect stand-in.Even in pictures.” I sat on the edge of the bed,staring at the photo. My fingers traced the ceremonial mark. I was never his fated mate. I was a borrowed womb.A polished shell.A“wife”they could parade around while slaughtering me inside.

It was nearly midnight. Alpha Adrian had left hours ago,saying he had”tribal business.”He didn’t even glance at me.I sat on the edge of the bed,untouched tonic in hand.The herbal scent made me nauseous. I opened my comm-stone and typed in a banned tracking command—Alpha Adrian’s lifebond beacon. Match Found. Location:West District,Shadow Wolf Guesthouse. I clenched my fist and threw on my cloak. The guesthouse catered exclusively to noble Alphas.There were Nightfog guards stationed at the front. I approached.One of them stepped forward nervously.“Luna?It’s quite late…” “Alpha Adrian is inside,isn’t he?” He hesitated.“I…I’m not sure.” “Move,”I said coldly,brushing past him. I followed the signal to the far end of the third floor.One door was slightly ajar.A faint scent drifted out—Omega Shirley’s signature incense. I crept closer.Through the gap,I saw them. Alpha Adrian was seated at the bed’s edge.Omega Shirley knelt in front of him,wearing a silk robe that barely covered her.Her belly was slightly swollen. He was gently massaging her stomach.“This time,everything’s perfect.I’ll keep you and the baby safe.” “But she’s still alive,”Omega Shirley murmured.“And she’s carrying…I don’t want to think about it.” Alpha Adrian pulled her into his arms.“Once the cord blood is harvested,she can disappear.” “Really?”Omega Shirley’s voice trembled.“I thought you said she was your fated mate…” He chuckled low.“Fate?I’ve never even touched her.You’re the only one I’ve touched.” My hand shook violently.I nearly burst through the door. Then Omega Shirley“accidentally”dropped a glass vial. “Oh no…”she bent down to pick it up. The vial rolled to my feet. Inside was something horrifying—a fetal specimen.Tiny,curled. “What the hell is this?!”I slammed the door open. Alpha Adrian shot to his feet. Omega Shirley screamed and ducked behind him.“She was spying on us!” “What is this?!”I shouted,pointing at the vial.“Is this my…my baby?!” Alpha Adrian’s eyes darkened.Without a word,he backhanded me. I crashed into the table.Blood filled my mouth. “Alpha Adrian!”I choked.“What did you do to me?!Are you even human?!” He leaned in,eyes cold.“I’m gentle only to my woman.” “Then what am I to you?!” “A tool,”he whispered.“You knew that long ago.” I forced myself up and tapped the hidden rune behind my comm-stone. A shimmer of light.The recorder activated.Everything in that room—captured. Omega Shirley gasped.“You’re recording?!” I smirked.“Crystal clear.” Alpha Adrian’s face twisted.“You dare—” He kicked me in the stomach.Pain exploded through my body. I collapsed,gasping,hands over my abdomen. He ignored me and shielded Omega Shirley.“Don’t worry,I’ve got you.” In the projection,I looked like a beaten dog—bloody,trembling,collapsed. I activated a second comm-stone,hit Broadcast Live. Comments flooded in: 【“That’s the Nightfog Alpha?!He’s hitting his pregnant Luna?!”】 【“She’s bleeding!Someone stop him!”】 【“Didn’t Omega Shirley lose her womb?What’s going on?!”】 Alpha Adrian lunged for the device,but just then,the screen lit up— Flight CA1231 to Icefang Island:Check-in Confirmed. He froze.The note read:Passenger:Omega Shirley Nightfog.Private Suite:2 seats. His eyes narrowed.“You tracked me?” I laughed through the pain.“You’re running away with her,aren’t you?” Omega Shirley whimpered,clinging to him.“She’s crazy…she shouldn’t be here…” I stared at them.My mouth filled with blood. Footsteps echoed outside. “What’s going on?We saw the livestream—” “Out!”Alpha Adrian barked. But it was too late.The entire pack had seen it:Alpha Adrian kicking me,calling me a tool,holding Omega Shirley while I bled. I was dragged back to my room.No one came to check on me.Not Alpha Adrian.Not Omega Shirley. I lay there all night,pain wrapping around my stomach like a noose. Eyes wide open.Listening to my body scream. I couldn’t fight. I could only survive—like a corpse that wouldn’t die. But I remembered everything. And one day,they’d remember me too.

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I collapsed in the rain. Soaked to the bone, I curled up like a dying cat on the edge of the slums. My calming brews had worn off, and the Omega scent markers inside me were spiraling out of control. I vaguely heard a car door open. “Is she still alive?” “Breathing, barely. Looks like she hasn’t had any calming brews in a while.” “Bring her back.” The low, commanding voice cut through the storm. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a warm, unfamiliar bed. “You’re awake?” A deep, magnetic voice reached my ears. I turned my head and met a pair of icy blue eyes. “You…” My voice trembled, hoarse and weak. “You’re… Alpha Ethan?” He didn’t deny it. “Alpha Ethan Foster.” The Alpha of the Foster Pack. A legend. A pureblood Alpha born into power and ruthlessness. “You don’t remember me?” I asked, voice barely a whisper. He glanced at me for a second, then looked away. “I didn’t save you because I know you.” “Then why?” He stood, back straight and cold like a sculpture. “Your blood type is rare. A perfect match for someone I need to save.” My fingers clenched the sheets. “Who?” I already knew. “Luna Chloe.” He said her name quietly, and for the first time, his tone held a trace of warmth. “She’s… everything to me.” I felt my heart shrink. “She’s relapsing. The doctors say she won’t survive two more months without a transplant.” He turned to me, eyes devoid of emotion again. “You’re the only viable donor.” “So you brought me back… for my heart?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he placed a contract on the bed. “What is this?” “A marriage agreement. Sign it, and I’ll give you a wedding and this—” he pulled out a deep blue sapphire necklace and tossed it onto the pillow, “—a Foster heirloom.” I stared at the necklace. Years ago, he once said, “When you’re grown up, I’ll give this to you.” Now, it was Luna Chloe’s. “You want me to marry you… just so you can legally take my heart?” I asked. “I want no delays,” he said flatly. “Sign it, or go back to the slums and die.” “You love her?” My voice was barely audible. “She is everything,” he said simply. I nodded and picked up the pen. “Good,” he said, not even glancing at the signature. “Don’t be late to the ceremony.” The wedding was quick. I wore white. Outside, it drizzled. He stood at the altar with the elegance of a born Alpha. When Luna Chloe entered the chapel, his entire expression softened. I had never seen him look at anyone like that. The priest asked, “Do you take this Omega—” “I do,” Alpha Ethan said gently. Applause. Laughter. Happiness. And me, standing like a ghost among the living. After the ceremony, he approached me, clipped the necklace around my neck with cold fingers, and said, “Keep quiet. Don’t ruin the arrangement.” “I will,” I murmured. “Don’t worry—I won’t beg for anything.” He paused. “Then why are you crying?” I wiped my cheek. “Must be the wind.” The operating room was cold. I lay on the surgical bed, numb. Nurses whispered as they prepped the equipment. “Did you hear? This Omega was specially found by Alpha Ethan. Her blood type is almost extinct.” “Luna Chloe’s so lucky. He even married someone else just to save her.” “And gave her the heirloom necklace too. That’s love.” I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. My chest burned. My vision blurred. And then On the overhead screen, a live wedding broadcast played. Alpha Ethan kissed Luna Chloe under the stained glass window. Their scent markers intermingled like moonlight and fire. My heart stopped on the table. And in my final moment, all I could think of… was that boy from the orphanage who once knelt beside me with a needle and whispered: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.” Turns out, he wasn’t talking to me after all.

I knew I was dying. The rejection response spread like fire through my veins, tearing me apart from the inside out. My chest throbbed. Every heartbeat felt like a countdown. “Acute rejection onset!” “Massive internal bleeding—she’s crashing!” “calming brews aren’t working, pressure’s falling fast!” Their voices sounded distant, like I was at the bottom of a deep ocean. My limbs were ice. I could no longer lift my eyelids. I wanted to ask—where was Alpha Ethan? He promised he would stay. Promised he would be there when I went into surgery. So… where was he now? On the other side of the city, a grand wedding was underway. The camera panned across white roses, crystal chandeliers, and guests dressed in finery. In the center of it all, Alpha Ethan stood beside his bride, tall and regal in his black suit. His gaze was fixed on her—Luna Chloe. “The ceremony begins,” the priest announced. “Do you, Alpha Ethan Foster, take Luna Chloe Harrison to be your bonded Luna?” “I do,” he said softly, the kind of softness he’d never once used on me. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a familiar object. The Foster pack’s heirloom sapphire necklace. The one he once promised to give me when I came of age. Now he clasped it gently around Luna Chloe’s neck, whispering, “You’re my only Luna.” I lay dying in an ICU bed, watching him declare eternal love to someone else. The nurses beside me were whispering. “She’s so lucky. Alpha Ethan even married another Omega just to get a heart for her.” “He gave her the pack heirloom too. That’s real love.” I wanted to scream. But my throat had closed up. My body no longer obeyed me. I looked at the monitor beside me. It streamed the moment Alpha Ethan leaned down and kissed Luna Chloe. Their scent markers intertwined like fire and starlight. It was beautiful. Perfect. And then, my heart stopped. My pupils dilated, fixating on the image of him kissing her while I died. The last thing I remembered… was the little boy from the orphanage who once said: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.” Turns out, he wasn’t talking to me after all. But then, something strange happened. I opened my eyes. Sunlight. Warm and blinding. “Miss, you’re awake. The Marcus pack car is waiting outside.” I sat up, heart thudding—strong, steady, but foreign. I ran my fingers along my chest. No scars. No pain. I wasn’t Emily anymore. A mirror reflected a stranger’s face. Sharp cheekbones. Amber eyes. Alpha aura. “You said I’m… who?” “You are Alpha Evelyn Marcus,” the elderly butler said, bowing deeply. “The long-lost Alpha heiress of the Marcus Pack. Missing for sixteen years, now finally returned.” An Alpha. I had been reborn. No longer the poor Omega girl they used and discarded. No longer the weak one begging for affection. I was Alpha Evelyn now. I stood up, smiled faintly. “Then let’s not keep the world waiting.” Somewhere in the city, bells were still ringing from Alpha Ethan’s wedding. But I was no longer the girl dying in a hospital bed. I was the Alpha who had come back from the grave. And this time—I would burn everything down.

The council hall was lit like a coronation chamber. I walked across the red carpet, each step of my heels clicking like a countdown. “Is that… Alpha Evelyn Marcus?” “The long-lost Alpha heiress? She was supposed to be dead.” “Looks insane to me.” Let them talk. I didn’t come back to be silent. Alpha Ethan sat on the high seat, dressed immaculately as always, his gaze sharp as a blade. “Miss Marcus,” he spoke, voice calm but cold. “Is your presence today political… or purely theatrical?” I smiled, pulling a bottle of wine from behind me. “A celebration, of course.” Then I uncorked it and threw the entire glass at his tailored suit. Gasps filled the room. Alpha Ethan’s scent markers flared immediately—pine and blackwood, crashing down like a storm. But I didn’t flinch. I released mine—cold iron and silver fox. The scent sliced through the air like a dagger. He stumbled back. “She’s suppressing his scent markers!” “She’s a top-level Alpha!” I stepped closer. “What’s the matter, Alpha Ethan? Can’t handle a woman who doesn’t bow anymore?” A silver haired man stepped forward, watching me with faint amusement. “Miss Marcus,” he said in a smooth voice, “Alpha Daniel Reyes. Alpha of the Silver Pack.” He extended a hand. “Would you honor me with a dance?” I was about to answer when another presence brushed against my senses. A cool, restrained scent—cedar and snow. An Omega? He passed by me silently, but for one brief moment, our scent markers intertwined. We both stopped. He turned his head slightly. “You are?” “Omega Silas,” he said. “Omega.” For a heartbeat, we simply stared. Alpha Ethan’s expression darkened from across the room. I smiled. So you can discard me like trash but get jealous when others look my way? Later, in the dressing room, I went to change—only to find a stack of old photographs inside the locker. I frowned and pulled one out. A faded picture. Children from the orphanage. There I was—Emily—curled up in the corner with messy hair and too big clothes. On the back of the photo, a child’s handwriting circled one boy in red ink: “I will always love Alpha Ethan.” My throat tightened. I traced the words with my fingertip. I wasn’t Emily anymore. But the girl who once loved him with everything she had… she was still somewhere in here, quietly breaking. “You love her now,” I murmured. “Then don’t you dare look back.” A soft knock broke the silence. I quickly wiped my face and turned. It was Omega Silas. “You again?” He leaned casually against the doorway. “You unleashed a lot of scent markers earlier. Gave me a bit of a headache. Came looking for a calming brew.” I handed him a vial from the cabinet. As he took it, his fingers brushed mine. “You were… sad,” he said softly. I froze. “Omegas are sensitive,” he added. “You can lie with words, not with scent.” I looked at him. His eyes were gentle. Steady. “You can talk to me,” he said. “…Thanks,” I whispered. He smiled, pressing his thumb lightly against my palm—a quiet promise. The door suddenly slammed open behind me. Alpha Ethan. His eyes were like ice. “Am I interrupting something?” I turned, completely calm. “You’re just in time to leave.” That night, I didn’t sleep. The orphanage photo lay beside me on the pillow. You used to love him so much. But now? Now it was his turn—to break.

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The Pack headquarters was silent in the dead of night. My breathing was rapid, and blood was dripping down my skin, soaking my clothes. My feet fluttered on the carpet, and the drops of blood on the ground were like an angry warning, telling me that everything was beyond redemption. I was covered in scars all over. Last night, in order to save the Alpha, Caden Westbrook, I alone led away the assassination operation of the hostile Rebellion Pack. At that time, I thought that everything I did for him would eventually earn a response and a trust. Now, standing at the door of his office, I find myself completely wrong. Through the half-open door, I heard his deep voice interwoven with another she-wolf’s light laugh. That voice was all too familiar to me – it was Ava, Beta , one of the members of the Wolf tribe whom I once regarded as friends and companions. “You are really becoming more and more charming.” Ava’s voice was sweet, interspersed with a teasing tone, as if nothing had ever happened. Alpha Caden’s voice was deep and lazy, as if he were enjoying all of this. “You know, I’ve been tired of her for a long time.” Alpha Caden’s cold voice rang out, “I didn’t completely abandon Seraphina because she was my Mate and the Council elder.” At that moment, it seemed as if the whole world had fallen silent. I stood there motionless at the door, my heart feeling as if it had been crushed by some heavy object, unable to breathe. I pushed the door open forcefully. Immediately, a strong smell of alcohol and perfume hit me in the face, so intense that it made me want to vomit. On the sofa, Alpha Caden and Ava were entangled with each other, hugging and kissing, while I, standing before them, was like an insignificant prey. I said nothing, just lowered my head, feeling completely humiliated from the inside out. “Alpha Caden!” I gritted my teeth and almost squeezed out these two words through the gaps between them. He slowly raised his head, his gaze wandering. There was a look of shame in his eyes, but also a kind of natural coldness. “What are you doing here? Have all the people from the Rebellion Pack been diverted?” At that moment, I could hardly believe his words. He showed no concern for me at all, and such a shameless expression appeared on his face. My eyes were pricked by the light and felt a little moist. Ava smiled even more smugly, closing in step by step, and contemptuously lifted my chin: “Why pretend to be pitiful? When you were a hostage for Alpha Caden back then, weren’t your eyes in such good condition?” I suddenly had a sharp pain in my head. In the kidnapping case three years ago, I was taken hostage instead of Alpha Caden. Feral Wolf shone a powerful flashlight directly into my eyes to force me to obtain the confidential password of Pack, resulting in eye damage. At that time, my eyes had already begun to have problems. Although I tried my best to endure, I couldn’t fully recover. Nowadays, my right eye still goes blind from time to time on rainy days, and my left eye is always photophobia and tears. I wanted to fight back, but I was powerless to hold on. Standing at the door, I even found it hard to catch my breath. “Did you hear that? He said he was tired of you.” Ava approached me, sneering coldly and pinching my neck with both hands. “How can you be worthy of being Alpha Caden’s Mate in your current state?” Alpha Caden stood up, casually pushed aside Ava’s hand and walked up to me. He slowly lit a cigarette, with a sarcastic smile on the corner of his mouth: “Since you want an answer so much, then let you take a good look.” He looked at me coldly and casually threw the lighter onto the marriage contract we once signed together. It was at my 18th coming-of-age ceremony. After the Moon Goddess decided on him as my Mate, he urged me to sign. How tender and affectionate she was back then, Alpha Caden’s attitude took a sudden turn for the worse after that kidnapping case three years ago. I tried my best to save her, but it still ended up in this situation today. The firelight ignited that piece of paper, spreading rapidly and burning up all the former promises and memories. I looked at him, and tears couldn’t help flowing down. The flames on that piece of paper shone on Alpha Caden’s collarbone, where the traces of Ava’s kiss were still clearly visible – he once said that only I could leave a mark on him, but now, it was clearly Ava who had taken my place. My hand feebly touched the eye drops in my pocket. Enduring the excruciating pain in my eyes, I dropped a drop. The liquid, along with the blood streaks, dripped onto the charred marriage contract. The firelight made everything even more dazzling. My vision blurred a little, but I still stared fixedly at Alpha Caden’s face. “Seraphina, do you think you deserve him? ” Ava suddenly grabbed my hair and forced me to raise my head, “Haven’t you always lived a comfortable life?” Back then when you were taken hostage, there was nothing wrong with your eyes. I felt a chill coming from between her fingers, and that sneering scent made me tremble uncontrollability. Every word Ava said was like a sharp knife, cutting across my heart. Don’t go too far. I raised my head, trying to resist with all my might, “We once -” “Once?” Ava interrupted me, and the smile on her face became even more sinister. “Do you think it ever had any meaning?” Now you are just a burden. Alpha Caden finally came up to me. He didn’t look at me again. Instead, he threw the burned marriage contract into the trash can and casually left me behind. If you keep making a fuss, I’ll make you disappear completely. Alpha Caden said coldly, her tone devoid of any emotion. He pressed the bell on the table and a Warrior in a black uniform came in. Take her away. I was coldly dragged away by Warrior, with almost all my strength drained. My eyes began to blur. Blood dripped onto the carpet and I felt like I was about to fall. But no matter how I struggled, I was always powerless. Thrown into the solitary confinement room, I curled up in the corner in pain. The intense pain on my ribs almost made it impossible for me to breathe. Last night’s assassination hurt two of my ribs, and today’s betrayal has completely broken me down. I tried hard to hold back my tears, unable to believe that all this could happen to me.

I lay on the hospital bed, my eyes fixed on the white chandelier above my head. My heart felt as if it were being pressed by heavy stones, and my breathing became heavy. I clenched the bed sheet tightly, feeling the sweat on my palms soaking through. The risks of the surgery are like a knife hanging over one’s head, refusing to go away. Before, I didn’t dare to have surgery. The risk of death during the operation deterred me. I’m afraid that Alpha Caden will be sad after my death, and I can’t accept leaving her either. But now it’s different. He’s as if he has never cared about me. Similarly, I should also get out of the current predicament. Pack Doctor pushed the door open gently and came in. His deep voice broke the silence of the room: “Seraphina, are you ready for it? The operation can be carried out at any time, but you know, the risk of death during the operation cannot be avoided.” I took a deep breath and avoided the doctor’s gaze with my eyes. I once kept delaying because I was too afraid to face the possibility of leaving Alpha Caden. Now, I have been severely hurt by him, breaking all my self-protection. I finally understand that continuing to endure and remain silent is no longer the life I want. “Pack Doctor, I… I decide to have an operation.” Pack Doctor raised his eyebrows slightly, as if sensing my determination. He approached, picked up the scalpel and gently stroked it: “This is a decision concerning your life. I will do my best.” I closed my eyes, held back the tears at the corners of my eyes, and nodded weakly, “I can’t wait any longer.” The surgical process is like a silent dream. “The operation was very successful. ”Pack Doctor said. I woke up from the anesthesia in a daze. The world before my eyes was still blurry, as if everything was shrouded in grey mist. But I could feel the intense pain in my eyes. My right eye seemed to be torn apart, and it seemed that every blink would trigger the pain in my heart. I squeezed my wrist hard and forced myself not to shout. A few days later, when I regained my sight, the severe pain in my right eye did not ease at all. Every time I open my eyes, the light around me stings me so much that I almost have to close my eyes to resist it, but that stinging pain seems to remind me of those unbearable memories from the past. I curled up in bed, holding the sheet tightly, my teeth crunching. Pain keeps me awake and unable to escape. At this moment, a slight sound of footsteps was heard outside the ward door. I forced my eyes open and saw Pack Doctor walk in, expressionless, as if he had been worn down by work and had no emotions at all. He lowered his head, examined my eyes, and a trace of concern flashed in his gaze: “The recovery period might be longer than expected, but you will get better gradually.” Bear with it. The pain is temporary. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly, my voice hoarse: “The pain is temporary, but how can the pain in the heart heal?” Pack Doctor didn’t answer. He just nodded silently. His expression became more serious and he said in a low voice, “Seraphina, what you need is time and patience.” Relax and stop thinking about those unimportant things. However, all of this still cannot let me go. Because I know very well that my pain doesn’t just stem from the recovery after the surgery. The real pain comes from the person I once deeply loved – Alpha Caden. A few days later, despite the intense pain in my eyes, I went home from the hospital and walked into the living room. As soon as I stepped into the living room, I heard the noise outside the door. Ava suddenly pushed the door open and entered, carrying a box of rotten roses in her hand. She gave a contemptuous smile and threw the flower box in front of me. “Alpha Caden said that. He said this flower suits you best.” ” Her voice was full of disdain, and there was that disgusting smug on her face. The scent of her perfume mingled with the familiar scent on Alpha Caden, instantly breaking my heart. I stared fixedly at the pile of rotten petals in front of me, my eyes filled with question and anger: Is Alpha Caden really that cold-blooded? I once trusted you so much. How could you cheat on me behind my back? I said angrily. Ava disdainfully kicked over the scattered project proposal on my desk: “Luna, what do you think you are?” You don’t even deserve to know the confidential password of the Alpha safe! Alpha Caden said, “Since you haven’t shown up for so many days, you might as well stay a little further away.” Ava sneered, “Your things have already been thrown into Omega’s room. You’ll be living there from today on.” As she spoke, she sneered and looked at me with malice in her eyes. I wanted to refute something, but found my voice choking up in my throat. Every word she said seemed like a knife stabbing at me. That night, the intense pain in my abdomen prevented me from sleeping. I bent down, holding my stomach with both hands. The intense discomfort made it almost impossible for me to breathe. I hurried into the bathroom and picked up the test strip that I dared not face – the pregnancy test strip. When I saw the two bright red bars above, the whole world seemed to collapse. I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, looking at my pale face, and suddenly felt that I had become so strange. My heart was racing and my mind was filled with chaos. Soon, Omega’s servant came in. His eyes casually swept over the test strips on the table, and he immediately reported it to Alpha Caden. Late at night, I lay in bed, holding the pregnancy test report tightly in my hand, and tears couldn’t help but spill out of the corners of my eyes. Suddenly, the cheerful sounds from the next room came to my ears. The familiar breathing sounds became even clearer in the dead of night. I knew it was Ava and Alpha Caden. Hanging out next door to me was Ava’s deliberate request, and Alpha Caden, seeking excitement, half-heartedly agreed. Alpha Caden’s voice kept ringing in my ears. He panted and whispered, “Seraphina is pregnant now. When the baby is born, I’ll find an opportunity to get you into Council.” At this moment, all reason and self-respect were cast aside. I held the report tightly, and tears finally slid down silently. I once thought he was everything to me, but I never expected that he would be so heartless and so indifferent.

I stood in the corridor of the hospital, my hands tightly grasping the confirmation of the surgery appointment displayed on the phone screen, my heart filled with countless contradictions. At that moment, I knew I should make a decision – either to let go or to continue this relationship that was doomed to break up. “Can you really do it?” I asked myself, my voice weak, yet reverberating in the empty room. Everything before my eyes is blurry. The moment I made the appointment for the surgery, deep down in my heart, I had actually made a choice – I no longer wanted to stay in this city, by the side of that man named Alpha Caden. However, when I stood at the hospital entrance, that uncontrollable confusion swallowed me up again. Is turning around and leaving, leaving the child behind, really the best choice? Instinctively, I raised my head to look out of the window. The drizzle was falling, the traffic was surging, and from time to time, figures hurried past on the street. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage and dialed Alpha Caden’s phone number. “Hey, Alpha Caden…” My voice almost vanished on the other end of the phone, and my words were swallowed up in the wind and rain. However, there was silence on the other end. There was still no response on the other end of the phone. Just at this moment, I heard footsteps coming from behind. That kind of gait was all too familiar to me. It was Ava’s gait. I turned around sharply and saw Ava standing in front of me with a sneer. A look of disdain curved at the corner of her mouth: “Want to run?” Do you think you can escape? Behind her, the tall and burly man, Warrior, stared at me coldly, holding a knife in his hand, with an undeniable coldness in his eyes. I struggled backward desperately, and my entire heart felt as if it were being torn apart. Why was Alpha Caden so cruel to me? Does he really not want this child anymore? Stop right there for me! Ava suddenly let out a furious shout. Immediately, she rushed up to me, grabbed my wrist and pulled me into her arms with all her might. She sneered in my ear in a low voice, “You should be glad that Alpha Caden doesn’t think highly of you. At least you’re alive.” And you, this child of unknown identity, have no value at all. “Let me go!” I struggled desperately and pushed her hand away with all my might, trying to break free from her restraint. However, Ava seemed to have been well-prepared. With a precise hand knife strike on my neck, my body immediately lost its strength and I fell to the ground. Stop struggling. Don’t waste any more time. Ava’s voice carried a cold sneer. She crouched down, ready to pour a bottle of unknown liquid into my mouth. The smell of that bottle of medicine was pungent. I could hardly stand it. I wanted to struggle, but I was weak all over and simply couldn’t resist. Just as Ava was about to force the liquid into my mouth, Warrior said, “Be careful she might bite you?” She has no chance anymore. Ava’s lips curled up slightly, and her eyes revealed a vicious look. Just then, the rain poured down like a deluge. I felt a violent impact, and immediately a warm liquid flowed out of my mouth. I know. That’s my blood. The excruciating pain almost made me faint. All the suffering, all the powerlessness, all the despair condensed in this moment. Ava seemed to finally let go of me and looked at me coldly. An indescribable sadness welled up in my heart. Alpha Caden, the man I once deeply loved, is actually so heartless. Could it be that he really doesn’t care about me and the child in my womb at all? My mobile phone finally rang at this moment. “Alpha Caden?” Almost subconsciously, I grabbed my phone and saw that his name was displayed on the screen, but the call wasn’t answered. I dialed his number again, but still couldn’t get through. I finally realized that perhaps Alpha Caden really doesn’t care about me at all anymore. Just then, I saw Alpha Caden’s figure clearly appear on the LED screen not far away. He was announcing that Ava would become a member of the Council. Look at what the person you love is doing now. Ava sneered, her tone brimming with sarcasm, “He doesn’t care about you anymore, not even showing contempt.” My heart seemed to be torn in two. I can’t bear this kind of pain any longer. My hand trembled as I almost unconsciously dialed the Healer, Zane Whitford’s number. He once saved me. It was he who rescued me from the desperate situation in that kidnapping incident three years ago. “Zane Whitford…” I whispered, with a hint of choking in my voice. The call was connected, but soon it was snatched from my hand by a cold hand and thrown directly into the pudd on the ground. “Do you want to ask for help? There is no chance now. ” Warrior sneered. His figure was blurred in my sight. The phone was submerged in water and had no signal at all.

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Everyone knew my husband Seth’s inner wolf was cold toward me. Then I walked in on him pinning my stepsister against the kitchen counter, his nose buried in her neck, breathing her in like she was something his wolf had been searching for. It came out at a family dinner. Seth wanted out. He’d found his True Mate in Serena. Serena’s husband, Callum, had no ground left to stand on. His Pack had just lost their territory in the border wars. He had nothing left to fight with. So he took me instead. Two couples. Two bonds. Swapped clean. Callum looked at Seth across the table. “If my Pack hadn’t fallen — if Serena hadn’t been yours — I would never have walked away.” Seth pulled Serena close and left. I stood in front of the leftover food and didn’t know where to go. It didn’t matter. I was dying anyway. I didn’t say that out loud. I swallowed it back down. Along with everything else I’d been swallowing for years. — The dinner broke up. The waitstaff cleared the table. I stood in the doorway of the private room with nowhere to go. Seth had already carried Serena out. His arm around her waist, down the hotel corridor, into the elevator. His wolf had found what it wanted. He never looked back. Not once. Callum was still there. Waiting. “Let’s go.” He finally spoke. “Back to my place.” I didn’t want to. “You have nowhere else.” His voice was even. “Your father’s Pack won’t take you back. Where else would you go?” I looked at him. He always knew exactly where to press. He waited. When I didn’t answer, he reached out and took my hand. His hand was warm. Knuckles sharp under the skin. Thin calluses on his fingertips. Years ago, he’d held my hand the same way on the day we made our bond. “Let’s go,” he said. I didn’t refuse again. Because he was right. I had nowhere to go. — In the car, Callum sat behind the wheel and said nothing. Then, after a long silence: “You hate me.” I turned to look at him. He kept his eyes on the road. Streetlights swept across his face one after another. I didn’t answer. Hate? I used to. After the bond was severed, the hate kept me up most nights. It sat in my chest like something I couldn’t swallow down and couldn’t spit out. I hated him for bonding with me and then rejecting the bond. For being soft toward Serena in front of my face. For the way he started looking through me like I wasn’t there. But what I hated most was the needle. The one he arranged. The one he held me down for. I had just found out I was carrying his pup. I walked in with the scan still warm in my hands. I thought he’d be relieved. I thought maybe this was the thing that would finally give us something to build on. He let me finish. Then he was quiet for a moment. “Serena heard about it,” he said. “She’s not happy.” Serena wasn’t happy. So the pup had to go. I got on my knees. I told him it was his. That the scan showed a heartbeat. That it was beating right now, on that printout, that it was alive. He didn’t react. He picked up his phone and made a call. I don’t know who he called. I only heard his side: “Right. Home visit. As soon as possible.” Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. A woman in plain clothes came in with a small white case. She glanced at me, then looked at Callum. He nodded. I got up to run. He grabbed me and pinned me to the bed. I fought. I kicked him. I bit down on his hand until I tasted blood. He didn’t let go. The needle went into my vein. My whole body locked up. The fluid moved down the line, drop by drop, into me. I still remember the pain. I rolled. I clawed the sheets apart. My inner wolf screamed for help until I had no voice left. Nobody came. He stood outside the door all night. He heard me scream. He heard me cry. He heard it go quiet. The sheets were soaked red. The pup was gone. The next morning he came in and looked at me. “Rest up,” he said. Then he left to see Serena. She’d been upset about all of it. He went to comfort her.

My body never recovered after that. The Pack doctor said the damage was permanent. My wolf’s healing ability had been stripped down to almost nothing. Likely unable to carry again. I heard it and felt something loosen in my chest. Good. A pup nobody wants shouldn’t have to come into this world. “Vera.” Callum’s voice pulled me back. “That procedure,” he said. “I know it left damage.” I looked at him and said nothing. “How are you — how’s your wolf now?” Not dying. Not living either. My inner wolf had gone so quiet I sometimes forgot she was there. Cold weather and my joints ached bone-deep. Every change of season brought the cough. Some nights it went on for hours, and there was blood in what came up. A doctor had told me I had a few years left if nothing changed. I wasn’t going to tell Callum any of that. “Don’t worry about it,” I said. He nodded. Didn’t push. The car moved through one red light, then another. I closed my eyes. — Callum Hart was my first mate. We grew up on the same territory outside Boston. Same Pack schools, kindergarten through college. Both families had known each other for decades. Everyone said we were the obvious pair. I was twenty when everything changed. Serena’s mother showed up at our Pack with Serena in tow. My mother found out her mate had a daughter nearly my age that she’d never known about. My mother died that winter. A brain bleed. She was already gone by the time anyone reached her. The funeral day, Callum came to pay his respects. He took my hand and said: “The bonding ceremony still stands. When the mourning period is over, we’ll make it official.” The first months of our bond, he was good to me. He was. But it didn’t last long before he fell for Serena. He told me straight. Said he’d split everything fifty-fifty. Said he wanted to sever the bond. I said no. I cried. I begged. I knelt in front of him and asked if he remembered I was his bonded mate. He looked down at me. No disgust. No pity. Nothing. “Vera,” he said. “You can’t force a wolf to feel what it doesn’t.” He loved Serena and he didn’t hide it from anyone. When Pack members talked about her, he went after them. When she cried, he stayed up all night. When she said she was unhappy, he gave her whatever she asked for. Including my unborn pup. The car stopped. “We’re here.” The Hart den was right in front of us. The living room light was still on. Callum’s mother was on the couch in her robe. She saw me walk in and her face went flat. “Why did you bring her here?” “She is cursed. Her own mother dies, our Pack loses its territory — and you walk her through our front door?” I said nothing. I stood there with my eyes down. Callum said nothing either. She got louder. Went through everything — my bloodline, my family, my standing in the Pack hierarchy. She went for a full fifteen minutes before Callum spoke. “Mom. It’s late. Go to bed.” She shot him a look, shot me another, and went upstairs still cursing under her breath. Just the two of us. Callum stood with his back to me. “Don’t take it personally.” “Where do I sleep?” I said. He turned, looked at me once, and led me upstairs. He stopped in front of a bedroom door. The room we’d shared when we were bonded. He pushed it open. Everything inside had been redone. Pink curtains. Serena’s things lined up on the vanity. Her photo on the nightstand. Callum gestured at the room. “You can stay here. Don’t move anything. She might come back someday — I don’t want her walking in to find it changed.” I walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. He was still in the doorway. Waiting for something. I didn’t look back. “I’m tired.” He stood there a moment, then turned and walked away. His footsteps faded down the hall. — That night I couldn’t sleep. The room carried Serena’s scent. Something thick and sweet that made my wolf flinch. I turned over and over. My mind wouldn’t stop. After the bond with Callum was severed, I’d gone back to my father’s den. I thought — my father’s house, at least. He wouldn’t turn me away. I was wrong.

The housekeeper stepped back when she saw me in the doorway. My father looked at me like I’d tracked something in. Said I’d shamed the bloodline. My stepmother wanted me out. Every day she had a name for me — a Pack elder with bond rejected, fifty-something, looking for someone to keep his den. She said I should consider myself lucky. “You’re a severed mate,” she said. “What exactly are you holding out for?” That was when Seth came. It was the worst I’d been. My stepmother had nearly finalized it — the Pack elder, the second bonding I hadn’t agreed to. My father said nothing. His silence was enough. Then Seth showed up and asked to court me. Said he’d thought about me for a long time. My father said yes. My stepmother threw a cup at the wall. The day I moved into Seth’s den, I thought: maybe this is finally it. He treated me well. He put toothpaste on my brush before I woke up. When I coughed, he made pear tea. On the nights I couldn’t sleep, he lay beside me and patted my back until I went still. I thought I’d found solid ground. I thought maybe things were allowed to be okay now. Then came the day we visited my family after the bonding ceremony. Serena was in the yard. She was wearing a white sundress. The wind caught the hem. She turned and glanced back. Just once. That was all it took. Seth’s feet stopped moving. His wolf had caught her scent. After that, everything changed. He started going to the estate constantly. Said he was checking on my father. He started bringing her things. Small gifts, then larger ones. He started bringing her up in conversation. How perceptive she was. How warm. I knew exactly what was happening. I didn’t say a word. I just thought: maybe this is just what my life is. The people I love always leave. In the end, it was at the family dinner. He dropped the papers on the table in front of me and walked out with his arm around Serena. — I lay in bed thinking through all of it, and somewhere in the middle of it I fell asleep. The next morning I was woken by shouting. “Still in bed? The sun’s been up for hours!” His mother’s voice exploded next to my ear. I opened my eyes. She was standing over me, hands on her hips, face full of contempt. She grabbed my arm. “Get up and make breakfast. This pack doesn’t feed those who don’t pull their weight.” My whole body hurt. It was like this every month. My lower back locked up. A grinding cramp low in my stomach. Even breathing felt like effort. I pushed myself up on one arm, pulled on a jacket, and got out of bed. “What’s taking so long? Callum’s waiting to eat!” I made breakfast and brought the food to the table. Callum was already seated, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t look up. I set the congee in front of him. He stood up. “What’s wrong?” his mother asked. “I’m not eating.” He was already at the door, picking up his keys. “Serena’s wolf is unsettled. I’m going to her.” His mother sat at the table staring at the full spread. Her expression curdled. I stood still. Eyes down. Didn’t move, didn’t speak. Crack. Her palm hit the table. “Look at yourself.” She pointed at me. “Can’t keep a bonded male, takes half the morning to cook a meal he won’t even touch — what are you even here for? You’re deadweight.” When I still didn’t respond, she grabbed a dish off the table and threw it at me. It hit my forehead and split in two. Broth ran down into my eye. “Useless!” She turned and walked out. The broth stung. I blinked. Reached up and wiped my face. My forehead had split open. Blood mixed with the broth, running down. The floor was a mess. I crouched down and started picking up the pieces one by one. When the shards were cleared, I got the cloth and knelt on the floor and wiped up the broth.

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One of us had to go. That’s what Mom said when she called us into the living room. My sister Ruby and I. Two daughters. One slot left in the trust fund payout—but only if someone completed the Smokejumper Tour. Two years. Dangerous as hell. The lawyers had tied Dad’s estate up tight. “We’ll draw straws,” Mom said, her voice flat. She’d been flat since Dad died. Ruby reached for the straws. I didn’t let her touch them. “I’ll go.” Mom’s head snapped up. Ruby froze, her hand hovering in midair. “You’ll what?” “I’ll do the Tour. Ruby can marry Pierce and fulfill the contract.” My voice didn’t shake. I’d practiced this in my head a thousand times since I woke up in my twenty-three-year-old body again. Since I remembered dying. Mom stared at me. “You and Pierce have been inseparable since high school. You love him.” “I’m going.” I didn’t tell her that in my last life, I’d drawn the lucky straw. That I’d married Pierce Hawthorne in a white dress while Ruby packed her bags. That Ruby lasted six months at the remote fire station before Chief Miller’s son—Lenny, the unstable one—cornered her in the supply shed. That she killed herself three days later. That Pierce blamed me when he found her suicide note. That he dragged me to her grave and made me pay for her death in ways I still felt in my bones. The door slammed open. Pierce. He stormed in like a wildfire and locked eyes on Ruby. He pulled her into his arms. “Thank God. I thought I was too late.” His voice cracked. His eyes were red-rimmed. He turned to Mom, still holding Ruby. “Mrs. Brennan, I love Ruby. I want to marry her. I know you wanted me to marry Clara, but I don’t love her. I never did.” He dropped to one knee in front of my mother. “Please. Let me marry Ruby.” I stood there. Numb. He’d come back too. He remembered dying—no, he remembered killing me. And he’d chosen her again. “Pierce—” “Save it, Clara.” He stood, and the look he gave me was pure venom. “I’d rather die than marry you.” That look. I knew that look. I’d seen it before when he held me down and let Lenny— I shook my head. Cleared the memory. Mom coughed softly. “Clara already volunteered for the Tour. You’re free to marry Ruby.” Pierce blinked. Then his face split into a grin, and he kissed Ruby’s forehead. “God. Finally.” He didn’t look at me again. He grabbed Ruby’s hand and pulled her toward the door, already talking about wedding dates and venues. Just before he left, his eyes flicked to mine. “Stay away from us.” they said.

I went to the outdoor supply store to buy gear for the Tour. Heavy boots. Fire-retardant pants. A pack that could carry forty pounds of equipment. I turned the corner past the camping section and saw them. Pierce and Ruby. Standing in front of a white lace gown on a mannequin. Last time, I’d wanted that dress. Pierce said no. Too expensive. Too flashy. His dad was the Deputy Director of the Regional Fire Authority—we couldn’t draw attention. Now he was pulling out his credit card without hesitation. Ruby caught sight of me. Her smile widened. “Clara! What a coincidence!” She looped her arm through Pierce’s and walked toward me, her hips swaying. Pierce’s hand settled on her lower back. “We set the date. Three days from now. You have to come, sis. I’d be devastated if you missed it.” “I need to prep for the Tour—” “If you don’t show up,” Pierce said quietly, “I’ll kill Ash.” My blood went cold. Ash. The little black mutt that Pierce’s mom gave me for my sixteenth birthday. She’d loved me like a daughter. When she died, Ash was all I had left of her. Pierce knew that. “You wouldn’t.” “Try me.” Ruby touched my wrist. Her fingers slid over the silver bracelet—Pierce’s mom’s bracelet, the one she’d clasped onto my wrist on her deathbed. You’ll be my daughter-in-law someday, she’d whispered. Ruby’s thumb rubbed the metal. “You know, sis, this bracelet should really go to the actual daughter-in-law. Don’t you think?” My throat tightened. “It’s not a family heirloom. She gave it to me.” “Clara, if you love it that much, I have others at home—” “Stop.” Ruby’s eyes filled with tears. Her voice broke. “You’re doing this because you’re jealous, aren’t you? Because I’m marrying Pierce and you’re not?” Her tears fell. Loud sobs. People turned to stare. Pierce’s jaw clenched. “Take it off.” “Pierce—” “Take it off.” I looked into his eyes. Saw the same cold hatred from before. My hands trembled as I unclasped the bracelet. Ruby reached for it. And dropped it. The silver hit the tile floor. The clasp broke. Beads scattered like buckshot. “Oh no.” Ruby’s hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes went wide with fake shock. “Clara, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—” “You bitch.” My voice shook. “You did that on purpose.” Ruby’s tears came harder. Louder. “I just wanted something to remember Pierce’s mom by! You’re so selfish! You don’t want me to marry him, so you broke the bracelet to punish me!” The crowd murmured. A woman next to us glared at me. “Disgusting. She’s jealous of her own sister.” “Breaking a dead woman’s bracelet? That’s evil.” I knelt. Started picking up the beads. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely hold them. Pierce crouched next to me. His hand shot out and crushed mine into the broken clasp. Sharp metal bit into my palm. Blood welled up hot and fast. He leaned in close. His breath was warm against my ear. “Try that again, and I won’t just hurt you. I’ll erase you.”

I walked home with the beads wrapped in a scarf, my hand throbbing. When I got there, Mom had already left for work. Ruby was waiting in the kitchen. She smiled. “Hungry, sis? I made stew.” She pushed a huge pot toward me. Steam rose from the top. The smell hit me like a fist. Meat. Rich. Gamey. “Where’s Ash?” Ruby’s smile widened. “Oh. You know. I figured you’d want a good meal before the Tour. You won’t get food this good out in the wilderness.” My stomach turned. “You didn’t.” “He was just a dog, Clara. And you’re leaving anyway.” She laughed. “Waste not, want not.” I lunged. My hand connected with her face hard enough to snap her head sideways. She hit the floor, clutching her cheek, and I stood over her, shaking. “We’re sisters. Why are you doing this?” She looked up at me. Smiled through the red mark blooming on her skin. “Because Mom rigged the draw last time. She told you which straw to pick. She chose you.” Ruby’s voice turned cold. “Do you know what Chief Miller’s son did to me? Do you know what it’s like to be locked in a room for six months while a man twice your size uses you like a toy?” Her eyes glittered. “This time, you get to suffer. You get to lose everything I lost.” “I didn’t know—” “Shut up.” She stood slowly, still smiling. “And by the way? That fire that killed Pierce’s mom? I started it.” My breath stopped. “She found out about me and Pierce’s uncle. I locked the door from the outside. I was going to let her burn.” Ruby tilted her head. “But you had to play hero, didn’t you? You ran in and saved Pierce. Got those ugly scars on your legs.” She stepped closer. “Pierce still doesn’t know it was you. He thinks I pulled him out. I made sure of it.” Before I could respond, she threw herself backward into the table. The pot of stew tipped. Boiling liquid and chunks of meat spilled across her arms and chest. She screamed. The door slammed open. Pierce. He took one look at Ruby on the floor, covered in burns, and his boot caught me in the stomach. I hit the ground. Couldn’t breathe. He grabbed my hair and slammed my face into the tile. Once. Twice. Three times. Blood filled my mouth. “I told you what would happen.” His voice was a growl. “I told you to leave her alone.” He picked up Ruby like she weighed nothing. Carried her to the sink. Ran cold water over her burns. Then he turned back to me. His hand closed around my throat. I clawed at his wrist. Couldn’t get air. The edges of my vision went dark. Ruby’s voice, faint and breathless: “Pierce, stop—you’ll kill her—” “Good.” Just before I passed out, he let go. I sucked in air. Coughed blood onto the floor. Pierce grabbed my hair again. Dragged me to my knees in front of Ruby. “Apologize.” I couldn’t speak. He slammed my head into the floor. Again. Again. Again. “This is your warning. Next time, I’ll cut off whichever hand you used to push her.” He left. Ruby went with him, wrapped in his jacket. I lay there until the bleeding stopped. Then I packed my bag. Left the house. And caught the first bus to the Fire Base.

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Three years after my death, the grounds surrounding Blackwood Manor became a wasteland. Not a blade of grass survived. Anyone who ventured too close fell violently ill within hours. The tabloids called me a curse that would linger for a millennium. The media pressure mounted until Julian had no choice. He brought Silas to the estate—a renowned occultist who promised to cleanse the property and bind my restless spirit forever. The manor stood before them, ornate but lifeless. A cold wind swept through the empty halls. Julian pulled Isabella behind him, his face tight with irritation. “That bitch Seraphina. Dead for three years and still causing trouble.” “I should have left her on some remote island to rot when I had the chance.” He didn’t know the truth. My ghost hovered beside him, watching. My cursed corpse lay buried beneath his feet. Rotting. Festering. — The house that had been my prison gaped like a wound in the landscape. Though it was noon, sunlight couldn’t penetrate the windows. The darkness inside seemed alive. Silas and his apprentices surveyed the property, their expressions growing grimmer by the moment. “The resentment here is overwhelming,” Silas muttered. “This won’t be easy to resolve.” He paused, then continued: “We need to find the body first. Only by pulverizing the bones with a blade forged from consecrated obsidian can we hope to dispel this malevolence.” The method was grotesque—barbaric, even. Even Silas, who had witnessed countless horrors, struggled to suggest it. Julian didn’t hesitate. He immediately ordered someone to procure the obsidian and commissioned the finest craftsman to forge it into a knife. Then he led the group toward my grave. “Isabella’s been having nightmares for weeks. That bitch is behind it, I’m certain.” “Dig up her grave. Grind her bones to dust. I don’t care.” I’d been buried hastily. It took them some time to locate the site. Finally, they found it—beneath grass that had grown nearly ten feet high. My tombstone lay toppled and cracked in the weeds. The ground was uneven. Julian had workers prop the broken stone beneath Isabella’s feet so she could stand more comfortably. Then he ordered two laborers to dig. Word had spread throughout the county that Julian was coming to exorcise Blackwood Manor. Curious neighbors gathered to watch. They all blamed me for their misfortunes. “Filthy whore,” one man spat. “Dead and still making trouble. Should throw a diseased pig down there with her—fuck her corpse every day until she’s too exhausted to haunt us!” The old man hawked phlegm onto my grave. “Mr. Blackwood treated you like a princess when you were alive. You didn’t appreciate it then. Now you’re dead and causing chaos. How can anyone be so vile?” Another person kicked the coffin savagely. Of course. Everyone in this town knew how much Julian “adored” his precious Seraphina. Julian waved them back. He was about to signal the workers to pry open the coffin when arms wrapped around him from behind. “Julian, please. Seraphina was my sister, after all.” “Whatever she did wrong, I forgive her. Can’t we just let her rest in peace?” Julian pulled Isabella into his embrace, stroking her back soothingly. “Darling, you’re too kind to her. She repaid your goodness with betrayal. Have you forgotten all those nights you woke up screaming from nightmares?” “I locked her in that house three years ago. Today, I’ll cast her out for good.” Isabella nodded, burying her face against his chest. Secretly hiding the anxiety in her eyes. Silas directed his apprentices to open it. The workers were more respectful than the spectators. They carefully broke each lock rather than cursing the dead. The metallic clanging echoed across the wasteland. Finally, they lifted the coffin lid. But inside wasn’t the rotting corpse they expected. Instead, the coffin overflowed with blood-stained ballet shoes. Everyone stared in confusion at the mountain of pointe shoes. Only Silas stepped forward, lifting one. The satin was shredded from use. The blood had oxidized black over time. After searching through the pile, Silas suddenly announced: “This is a malevolent ritual circle.” He pulled out a jade pendant from the bottom of the coffin. The stone was so dark green it appeared black. Intricate symbols covered its surface. Julian laughed derisively. “Vicious to the end. Even in death, she left curses to torment Isabella.” “Search everything. I want to know what game she was playing.” Silas produced a dowsing pendulum. It pointed directly at the manor house. The building reeked of dark energy. Only after the apprentices established protective wards could they enter safely. Inside, the pendulum went haywire—spinning wildly without stopping. Silas ordered his team to search for any personal belongings, but everything of mine had been burned the day after my death. They found nothing. Isabella began sweating the moment she entered. Now she clung to Julian’s arm. “Julian, please. Let’s leave. I feel awful.” She whimpered weakly against him. Julian started to lead her out, but Silas blocked their path, trembling. “Mr. Blackwood, you cannot leave!” “To break the curse, you must remain. You were closest to the deceased. If you leave now, the spirit’s power will surge exponentially!” No one had dared defy Julian before. Now this occultist presumed to stop him? But Silas was renowned—untouchable. Julian clenched his fist, fighting the urge to strike him. Instead, he punched the antique vase in the center of the hall. It shattered instantly. A notebook fell from inside. Julian grabbed it and flipped through. The pages were blank. Enraged, he started to tear it apart—but Silas snatched it away. Julian’s glare could have flayed flesh from bone. But Silas ignored him, chanting over the empty notebook. The apprentices, returning empty-handed, saw their master working a spell. They formed a circle around him, joining the incantation. Slowly, writing began appearing on the previously blank pages. “The spirit’s diary from before death!” “Read it!” Julian’s patience snapped. “Let’s see what tricks she’s playing. And how that bitch Seraphina learned such dark arts!” Silas opened to the first entry.

“Today is my twentieth birthday. Julian came to celebrate with me. I was so happy. But Isabella kept inserting herself between us, preventing us from talking. She even pretended to stumble into him. It made me a little upset. I’m being petty. My sister would never hurt me. I remember the day they found her—the day she came home after being lost for ten years. Mom and Dad held her and sobbed. I stood to the side, silently vowing to protect her too. But after that day, it felt like Mom and Dad stopped loving me. They only saw Isabella. Then I went abroad to study ballet. They forgot about me entirely. Even when I burned my hand making them breakfast, they just had the servants throw it away without a word. But with Isabella? They treasured even the smallest souvenir she brought back from vacation. They carried those trinkets everywhere, showing them off to everyone. Still, she deserves all that love. She lost ten years with our parents. No amount of compensation is too much. At least I still have Julian. No matter what, he’ll always be by my side.” Silas’s voice was flat, emotionless—yet somehow it made the words suffocating. I never imagined there would come a day when Julian would leave me too. That I would be utterly alone in this world. One day after our wedding, Isabella injured herself extreme skiing. Mom and Dad demanded I donate my right kidney. It was during the critical selection period for the principal dancer position at the company. I was the top candidate. Becoming principal at a world-class ballet company was my dream. The surgery required months of recovery. I would miss my only chance. I refused. My parents begged. They threatened. They manipulated. But in the end, it was Julian who strapped me to the operating table. Julian. Julian slammed his fist into the wall, teeth clenched. “She betrayed me first. Now she’s playing the victim. Shameless!” “Isabella and your parents were so good to her, and this is how she repays them!” In the corner, Isabella relaxed slightly. She moved toward Julian, her hand gently sliding up his arm. “Julian, don’t be angry. She was just upset about not being able to dance anymore. She didn’t mean it.” “If… if they hadn’t found me that year, maybe Seraphina wouldn’t have turned out this way…” Tears streamed down Isabella’s face. Julian’s anger intensified seeing her cry. He wiped her tears, voice harsh with fury. “This has nothing to do with you. You did nothing wrong.” “Stop defending her. This is all Seraphina’s fault—that selfish bitch!” The crowd, though they’d never even met me, nodded in righteous indignation. Silas sensed something amiss. He continued reading. “There’s a thunderstorm tonight. I’m terrified. But Julian went to Isabella’s. After we married, he started staying at her place constantly. Every time, he tells me not to misunderstand. Tonight, with the thunder and wind, I begged him not to leave me alone. I’m genuinely frightened. But he said he’s comforted me through storms countless times and I never seemed scared before. He locked me in my room. Then he went to her. Because Isabella had just called him, crying that she was afraid of the thunder. Julian, did you ever consider that Mom and Dad are there with Isabella? I have no one.” “Today is October third. I’m recording the date because I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life. I’ll never dance again. I fell today. I asked to be taken to the hospital. Julian refused. He accused me of using it as an excuse to see ‘that doctor.’ He keeps saying I betrayed him. I don’t even know which doctor he’s talking about. He locked me in my room. Wouldn’t let anyone treat my injury. A day later, a house doctor finally came. By then it was too late. The damage to my leg was permanent. I’ve been practicing harder these past weeks, preparing for my next chance at principal dancer since I missed the last opportunity. Now there is no chance. Never again. Julian, you always said you loved watching me dance. You said I looked like the angel on a music box. Today, you broke that angel’s wings with your own hands.”

I watched Julian, hoping to see some flicker of nostalgia for what we once had. That would at least prove he’d cared about me, once. Instead, he grabbed a nearby ornament and hurled it against the wall. “The evidence of her affair was irrefutable! And she still has the audacity to lie!” “Keep reading!” “I want to hear what other bullshit she spews!” Silas glanced at Julian, then continued. “My leg is broken. I need rest. But Julian hasn’t visited once during my recovery. He won’t answer my calls. Mom and Dad came, though. I thought they were here to see me. I was wrong. They came to tell me to stop calling Julian. They said: ‘Isabella failed to get into the Vienna Dance Academy again. She’s devastated. Julian is helping her through it. Please don’t disturb them.’ ‘Isabella has never asked for anything her whole life. Just this once—let her have him!’ Mom and Dad knelt before me, begging. My heart shattered. They’re my parents. Now they’re on their knees in front of me. But I couldn’t agree. My whole life, Isabella took everything. My toys, my princess dresses, my parents’ love. Now she wants Julian too—the only thing I have left? When I didn’t answer, they cried harder. They were ready to kowtow. I finally nodded. Even though it felt like a knife twisting in my chest.” “Julian pulled strings to get Isabella into the dance academy after all. That’s wonderful. I wish I hadn’t seen that entertainment news segment. On TV, a reporter asked if Julian and ‘Miss Vane’ would be making an announcement soon. They didn’t specify which Miss Vane, but everyone knew they meant Isabella standing beside him. After all, Julian and I were already married. Julian smiled. He didn’t deny it. The media took it as confirmation. I was devastated. Confused. Another reporter asked if Isabella got into the prestigious academy through Julian’s connections. Julian denied it. Then he said my spot at the school had always rightfully belonged to Isabella. That I’d stolen what was hers. I turned off the television, trembling. I couldn’t bear to hear more. Everything was gone. Even Julian had left me. In the end, they even took ballet—the only thing I had left, my soul’s purpose. I stared at my useless legs and sobbed.” After these diary entries, the crowd fell silent. Only Julian spoke, voice cold. “Still pretending? Aren’t you tired? Is it that hard to admit you wanted to meet your lover?” Isabella wrapped her arms around Julian, soothing him. “Julian, don’t be upset. Seraphina was just lashing out because she couldn’t dance anymore. She didn’t mean it.” I watched them, so intimate—the way their eyes wove invisible threads between them. I sighed softly. I remembered when Julian and I were that sweet, in the early days of our marriage. But Isabella visited me constantly. One thing led to another. They ended up in bed together. That’s when I realized they’d been having an affair. I confronted Julian, crying, demanding an explanation. He ignored me. Said Isabella was pregnant and needed to be handled delicately. Then he barred me from his office. He moved into Isabella’s house. He stopped answering his phone. I had no way to reach him. I never got to tell him: I was pregnant too. Julian, irritated by the diary, snatched it from Silas and read ahead himself. “Isabella is pregnant. Julian moved into her house. I can’t see him anymore. But Isabella visits me constantly to mock me. She says our parents, our man, our dreams—everything belongs to her. I deserve nothing. I’m worthless. A complete failure. I tried to avoid confrontation. I turned my wheelchair to leave. But she deliberately walked toward me. As she passed, she threw herself to the ground. Julian and our parents rushed in. Isabella claimed I pushed her. I denied it. No one believed me. They called me a monster. Julian was furious seeing Isabella suffering from the miscarriage. He had me locked in this remote manor estate. This massive house—and I’m completely alone. The servants only clean and bring food. They never speak to me. My only companion is a crow that built a nest outside my window. People say crows sound harsh and grating. But to me, that cawing was the most beautiful sound in the world.”

But eventually, the crow died in the first snowfall. Winter came viciously to the Highlands. Overnight, the world turned white. I braved the freezing wind to check the nest—only a few twigs remained, clinging stubbornly to the eaves. The nest had collapsed. Below, on the lawn, I found the crow’s frozen body. The crow was gone. I was alone again. I wanted to die. But they’d made it impossible. Every sharp object had been removed. The manor’s upper floors were inaccessible without the elevator, and my wheelchair couldn’t reach the stairs. I tried starvation. They caught on quickly. The servants stopped bringing meals and instead administered IV nutrients daily. I couldn’t live. I couldn’t die. My mental state deteriorated rapidly. Soon I could only lie in bed, kept alive by machines. Julian didn’t want me—but he wanted me alive. One day, a servant entered my room, turned on the television, and left. On screen, Julian publicly denied all my achievements in ballet. He claimed every award, every accolade belonged to Isabella—who happened to look like me—and that I’d stolen her glory. The media erupted. I didn’t need to watch to know how the public would judge me. As expected, everyone called me shameless. Said Isabella was cursed to have a sister like me. That I was an embarrassment to the Vane family. The scandal consumed the news cycle. At its peak, my parents made a statement. “We apologize. We failed to raise our daughter properly.” “However, we hope you’ll show mercy to Seraphina for our sake.” “We spoiled her. This is our fault. We’re truly sorry.” Every word confirmed the lies. I lay in bed, too exhausted to feel angry. I thought back to years ago, when I was still a student at the academy. Before Isabella was found. When I was the only beloved daughter. Before marrying Julian, when his world revolved around me. The memories flickered past like a film reel. Was I dying? Good. Please, let it be quick. I couldn’t endure this suffering anymore. But I didn’t get my wish. I hadn’t gotten a single wish since Isabella came home. I was lost in memories when a loud thud startled me. Isabella had fallen to her knees before Julian. Apparently, he’d just asked if the diary entries were true. Isabella cried out: “Julian, is that really what you think of me?” “She’s my own sister! I’ve cherished her my whole life. How could I frame her?” “If you don’t believe me, ask any servant in the house!” Julian’s harsh expression softened. He realized he’d wronged his lover. He gently helped Isabella to her feet. “Almost let her fool me again. Yes, I said those things about her—but I also paid to bury the news. How could any reporter have been reckless enough to publish it?” He opened the diary and continued reading. “Someone broke into the house. Ragged. Homeless men, by the look of them. The servants seemed to have vanished. The men came straight to my room. My legs were broken. I’d been bedridden for months. I couldn’t fight back. Their yellowed teeth grazed my skin. They panted over my body. Then they finished. After that day, they came every day. Always different homeless men. The servants only appeared when changing my IV. They never cleaned me. Never washed away the filth. Someone save me. Or just kill me. Please.” “Isabella came today. Julian didn’t. Her elaborate manicure scraped across my face. She said I looked like a dried-up corpse now. Filthy. Ugly. She said even the men were too disgusted to touch me anymore. She wanted to preserve me at my most beautiful. So she forced a bowl of medicine down my throat. The medicine was bitter. Not as bitter as my heart. She didn’t need to force me. I would have drunk it willingly. Finally, I could die. Julian, I never want to see you again. Not in this life or the next.” The diary ended abruptly. The remaining pages were covered in dried blood. Isabella rushed to speak: “This is slander! What did I do to deserve these lies?” For once, Julian—who always defended Isabella—didn’t respond. “You don’t believe me? Julian, she’s lying!” Seeing his silence, Isabella panicked. Julian pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair. “I believe you, Isabella. I believe you.” “This is poisonous nonsense! Burn that book!” Someone moved to take the diary. But Silas slowly raised his head. “No. Something’s wrong.”

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