Author: Momo Chan

It was past midnight outside the bar when I got the Uber request from my ex-wife. When she climbed into the front seat and saw my face, her jaw dropped. “Ethan.” Her voice cracked. “Ethan Cole — you’re out. Why didn’t you come find me?” But Vivian had barely finished speaking before the drunk man beside her hauled her into his arms and pressed his mouth against hers. She fumbled to steady him, and that was when I recognized him. Derek Walsh. My best friend. The man who had accused me of sexual assault and put me behind bars. I tugged my cap lower and opened the rear door on autopilot. “Sir, let’s get you in. Please leave a five-star review when we’re done.” Vivian’s control shattered. She slapped the keys out of my hand, tears already streaming, and grabbed my shoulder with both hands. “Ethan, come home with me right now. Do you have any idea how much Mom, Dad, and I have missed you all these years?” I quietly pulled her hand off me and turned to pick up the keys from the ground. My prosthetic knocked against the bumper. Vivian stared at my leg. The tears came harder. I couldn’t understand what she was crying about. After all, she was the one who had believed I assaulted her best friend — and as a lawyer, she had personally handed me over to the police. ——— “Ethan, what happened to your leg?” Vivian’s question broke through Derek’s drunken haze. He squinted at me, a sneer curling his lips. “Well, well. If it isn’t brother Ethan.” “When did you get out? You should’ve told me, I would’ve come to pick you up.” Derek leaned against Vivian’s shoulder, eyes bleary with liquor. Vivian wiped her face and shot him a reproachful look. “Derek, you’re drunk. Stop talking nonsense.” Derek just shrugged, then hooked his arm around Vivian’s waist and pulled her against him. “What nonsense? Ethan did wrong, went in, and I was praying every single day he’d turn himself around.” He swung a kick at my fold-up walking cane. Vivian gasped and reflexively steadied Derek before he could topple over. “Derek, you’re drunk — stop moving around.” The tenderness in her voice was identical to how she used to speak to me. Once Derek was settled, she looked back at my prosthetic. “Your leg… Ethan, what did you go through in there?” Her eyes were red-rimmed. I ignored her and bent to pick up the cane from the ground. “Excuse me. Could you move?” The movement was clumsy, and a gust of wind lifted my trouser leg, exposing the cheap metal brace. Vivian pressed a hand over her mouth, tears falling freely. “Ethan, please. Come back with me. We need to talk — we need to clear everything up…” She reached for me. I stepped aside. “Ms. Grant, are we still doing this ride? If not, I’ll cancel it.” I held up my phone, businesslike, and looked at her. Derek let out a short, contemptuous laugh and yanked Vivian into his chest. “Vivian, why are you wasting your breath on this rapist?” “He couldn’t even keep his hands off your best friend Sophie. He got what he deserved.” “If you ask me, losing a leg is getting off easy.” Derek spat the words reeking of alcohol, every one of them driving straight into my chest. Five years ago, this man — my closest friend — had gotten me blackout drunk and left me in a hotel room. By the time I woke up, Sophie had run out in tears, her clothes in disarray. And Vivian had walked in with the police right behind her. She hadn’t let me say a single word. She slapped me right there in the doorway. What made it truly absurd was that she — the sharpest attorney in the city — had personally served as Sophie’s legal representative and put me away. I pulled myself back to the present and looked at Vivian. She was still pressed against Derek’s side. She frowned, but she didn’t push him away. “Derek, enough.” A soft reprimand. Then she turned to me. “Ethan. Let’s just do the ride.” “You need the money.” I didn’t say anything. She wasn’t wrong — I was broke. I adjusted the seat out of habit. By the time I finished, Vivian had already helped Derek into the back. The car was silent the entire way. Only Derek mumbled now and then. “Vivian… my head hurts… can you rub it…” Vivian murmured back to him, coaxing and gentle. I stared at the road ahead, expression blank, keeping the accelerator perfectly steady. Half an hour later, I pulled up in front of a gated luxury villa community. It used to be Vivian’s and my home. “Here we are. One hundred and eighty dollars.” I held out the receipt toward the back seat. Vivian handed me two hundred. “The twenty’s a tip.” I took it without a word. Derek pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills and flung them at my face. “Thank your lucky stars. Someone like you still getting paid — consider this charity. Buy yourself a decent prosthetic.” “Stop dragging that leg around in public like you’re begging for sympathy.” He smirked, then steered Vivian out of the car. Vivian stood there staring at the money scattered across the ground, her brow creased. “Ethan, don’t take it personally. Derek’s just like that when he’s had too much.” “Take the money. Tomorrow, come by the firm. I’ll find you something proper to do.” I stepped out and collected only my $180. “I’m not worth much, Ms. Grant. But I’m not worth Derek Walsh’s dirty money either.” “Don’t forget to leave that five-star review.” Derek lunged forward to swing at me, but Vivian caught his arm. And I started the engine, drove the car back to the rental company before dawn, and let the dark swallow me whole.

December in Houston. The wind cut like a blade. Where the prosthetic met my residual limb, blood had already soaked through. I gritted my teeth and made it back to my rented room. When I undid the harness, the stump beneath was raw and mangled. In the first weeks after my conviction, Derek had come to see me in the visitation room — grinning like he’d won the lottery. “Ethan, you have no idea how good Vivian is in bed.” “Don’t worry about a thing in there. Your wife, your house, your firm — I’ll take real good care of all of it.” I had thrown myself against the glass partition screaming until my throat tore. That same night, three inmates dragged me into a blind spot with no cameras. They used an iron rod. They broke my leg, inch by inch. “Somebody paid good money for this.” I spent six months flat on my back. The infection spread. In the end, amputation was the only option. I had hated, back then. But five years in prison had hollowed that hate into something closer to despair. The next morning I was woken by urgent knocking. I thought it was the landlord again about the rent. It was Vivian. “Ethan, I made lasagna. With the crispy pancetta you always loved.” She let herself in. “Don’t let Derek’s words get to you. That’s just his way.” “I came today to talk about your future.” I leaned against the doorframe, watching her coldly. “What future does an Uber driver have?” “Ms. Grant, you should head back. Don’t want to get that designer outfit dirty.” Vivian turned around and sighed. “Ethan, stop being stubborn. If you go to Sophie and apologize — sincerely — I’ll bring you back to the firm.” “You can’t practice law, obviously. But there’s a cleaning position. Five thousand a month. Enough to get by.” She raised her chin slightly, waiting for my gratitude. A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Vivian. You want me to apologize to the woman who fabricated the entire thing?” The color drained from Vivian’s face. “Ethan! You still refuse to take responsibility?” “If I hadn’t argued for leniency — out of respect for our marriage — do you think you’d have gotten only five years?” She stepped toward me, reaching to drag me toward the door. I shoved her hand away. “Vivian. Did you ever actually read the case files carefully?” “Why did the security camera in that hotel corridor go down at the exact right moment?” “And what exactly was in the drink I had that night?” My questions made her hesitate. Then her impatience flared. “Enough, Ethan! Are you seriously suggesting Derek and Sophie conspired to frame you?” “I came here to help you. Don’t throw it back in my face.” I pointed at the door. My voice was flat. “I don’t need your help. Get out.” Vivian’s eyes went wide, as if she couldn’t believe I was speaking to her this way. “You are completely unreasonable! Do you think you’re still the hotshot lawyer you used to be?” “You’re a convict, Ethan. A cripple.” She slammed the door behind her. That afternoon, just as I was about to log back in to take rides, I got a notification from the platform. My Uber account had been permanently deactivated following a customer complaint. The stated reason: disabled pervert driver attempted to assault female passenger. I didn’t even need to think about who was behind it. Derek. He couldn’t even wait a day.

I hadn’t even locked my door before the landlord arrived with two large men blocking the entrance. “Ethan Cole, someone offered ten times the rent. Get your stuff and get out. Now.” Before I could process it, I was standing on the sidewalk. My belongings were thrown out after me. It had started raining. A downpour. The prosthetic throbbed in the cold water. A Maybach rolled up and drenched me in a wave of muddy runoff. “Look at that. The great attorney, brought this low.” Derek exhaled a lazy ring of smoke. “You really are an embarrassment, Ethan.” Vivian jumped out and held an umbrella over my head. “Ethan, stop fighting it. One apology. That’s all.” “I’ll give you a job. I’ll sort out your housing. Why do you keep driving yourself into a corner like this?” I pressed my palm to the wet ground and forced myself upright. “I don’t need any of it. So could you two please get the hell away from me?” Vivian flinched. “Ethan. When you went to prison, Derek was the only one who was there for me. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it through.” “I’m trying to help you. Why do you have to act like a wounded animal?” “Even if you don’t want my help — at least think about your parents. They’ve been looking for you.” As if on cue, two figures came running from the far end of the street. My parents. No umbrella. Rushing straight toward me. But the first thing they did when they reached me was each raise a hand and slap me across the face. “How dare you show yourself out here! You are no son of ours!” “Derek is our son now — you rapist. You should have rotted in that cell.” All this time, I hadn’t dared visit them. I was afraid the rumors had reached them, afraid they were being hurt by the talk. I hadn’t imagined they’d already adopted Derek as their own. Derek hurried over and guided my parents toward the car. “Mom, Dad — Ethan still hasn’t come to terms with what he did. He won’t even apologize to the victim.” “Let’s not worry about him. With me and Vivian running the firm, you two can retire in peace.” My parents looked at me with withering contempt. “Ethan. If Derek hadn’t been managing the firm all these years, our life’s work would’ve been gone.” “If you still won’t take responsibility, then you’re on your own from here.” The Maybach pulled away. I walked alone into the dark. Even my own parents didn’t believe me. What a failure I’d made of being alive. But to survive, I made my way to a construction site and asked for labor work. The foreman took one look at my prosthetic and shook his head. “No. We don’t take injured workers. Liability.” I grabbed his arm. “I’m strong. Half wages. Just feed me.” The foreman was about to shove me off when a cleaning woman nearby suddenly let out a sharp sound. “You… are you Mr. Cole?” I froze. I studied the woman. She grabbed my arm and pulled me around the corner, glancing left and right first. “Mr. Cole, I’m so sorry. Five years ago, Derek paid me a hundred thousand dollars to break the camera.” “But I secretly made a recording. The conversation between him and Sophie — where they planned the whole setup — it’s all there.” “My conscience wouldn’t let me destroy it. Please don’t tell anyone it came from me.” That night, I held the voice recorder in my hands. The tears came without warning. So that was how it was. Five years behind bars. A missing leg. A life in pieces. And now, finally — the truth.

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I never thought my life would unfold like this—so violently,so catastrophically. The news hit me like a punch to the gut,cold and unforgiving. My mate—my Alpha,the one I chose—was rushed to the Pack Doctor’s clinic,nearly choking to death on his own lust.Suffocating.Dying.All because of a reckless coupling that went horribly wrong. I raced to the Pack Clinic,my heart hammering,but what greeted me wasn’t the sterile scent of antiseptic.No,it was something far worse—the lingering scent of another woman.Her scent,tangled with his,soaked into the air like acid. My Alpha,the one who promised me forever,was there with her.His Beta lover.Unconscious.Naked.The betrayal wasn’t just there in the air—it was right beside him,her body pressed up against his like they had just shared something they’d both thrown me away for. I felt nothing but rage.But it was the kind of rage that burned so cold it felt like a void inside of me.A deep,aching emptiness.The betrayal wasn’t what I expected—it was so much worse. The Pack Doctor,his face grim with discomfort,barely met my eyes as he spoke,each word laced with unease. “The patient…he was using a toy.It got stuck inside him.We’re working on removing it.This is all we can do for now.” His eyes flickered nervously,clearly avoiding mine,as if he could somehow escape the storm I could feel brewing inside of me. I stood there,the words hanging in the air like a suffocating fog,choking me. Then came the question—the one that was always asked when a packmate’s loyalty was called into question: “What’s your relationship to the patient?” I turned my face away,unable to let them see the fire inside me.“Just a packmate,”I whispered,the words feeling like poison on my tongue. Once,I would’ve torn this place apart—screamed,demanded answers.But now?Now I was hollow.Empty.Just a shell of who I used to be. I signed the papers with a steady hand,not sparing another glance at the two tangled in their disgusting display of affection.They deserved each other.But I would have no part in it. I stormed out into the cold night,the bite of the air sharp and cleansing.My phone buzzed in my hand.I didn’t need to look to know who it was. I dialed my father’s number. “I accept the arranged bonding,”I said,my voice calm,unwavering.“In three days,I will take my new mate.” As soon as I ended the call,my phone buzzed again.Alpha Lorcan’s name flashed on the screen.I answered,my heart still cold,still seething. “Galadriel,my car got towed.Handle it when you get back and drive it home.”His voice was smooth,too smooth,like velvet over steel.The voice that used to make my heart race. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,I would’ve never believed this was the same man—the one who once swore I was his only mate. Then I heard it.A soft groan in the background. “Mm…” My fingers tightened around the phone,my grip almost painful.Before I could react,Lorcan’s voice rushed in,trying to cover up the sound. “I kicked the leg of the chair,”he said,his words too casual,too dismissive. The audacity. He didn’t even know that I had just left the clinic where he was.That I had seen everything. I didn’t answer him.Only two words left my mouth:“Got it.” The plan had been simple.I was supposed to be away on a pack mission,away from everything.If I hadn’t decided to come back early,to surprise him…I would’ve never caught him in the act. But the worst part?The car—the car I had given him,the one I trusted him with—was now a symbol of his betrayal.I had to collect it.I couldn’t let him take that piece of me. When I reached the car,the smell hit me first.It was sickening.Rot.Heat. The sight?Worse. A crumpled men’s dress shirt lay across the driver’s seat,discarded like it was nothing.Nearby,pieces of torn lace—clearly feminine—were strewn on the floor,a testament to their indiscretions.But the worst was the backseat. Dark,sticky stains still clung to the upholstery.Evidence of their twisted passion,illuminated by the dim streetlights. My stomach turned,nausea rising fast.I slammed the door shut like it could erase the image burned into my mind.But it was too late.My body rejected it all at once,and I bent over,vomiting violently onto the cold pavement. A warm hand landed on my back,steady,comforting. I tensed.The touch was light,yet it sent an electric shiver up my spine.Slowly,I turned to see who it was. Standing there,watching me with unreadable eyes,was the Pack Doctor—Beta Aurelian.No longer in his white coat,he wore a simple black shirt that clung to his broad shoulders,his sharp eyes framed by gold-rimmed glasses.He had known me since I was a child,and now,he was the last person I ever expected to find in this moment. “Beta Aurelian…why did you follow me?”My voice came out softer than I intended,the shock of the moment sinking in. “I was worried about you,”he said,his tone calm and distant,as it always had been.Detached.Professional.The way he kept himself separate from the pack. A pause lingered before he asked,his voice quieter,questioning,“You agreed to the arranged bonding?” I nodded,too numb to say anything else.The decision was made.There was no turning back. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips,rare and unsettling.“Good.In three days,I’ll be waiting for you at the bonding ceremony.” I nodded,my energy drained. He offered to drive me home,but I refused.Instead,I called a driver to take me back,the car that now represented betrayal left behind to be cleaned,scrubbed of every trace of him.I would sell it.I never wanted to see it again. As I rode through the pack territory,moonlight casting long shadows,I thought back on the last seven years.Seven years with Alpha Lorcan,and now it felt like nothing more than a lie. I remembered the way he used to look at me—like I was the only person who mattered.His eyes full of love.He had called me pure.Innocent.The sweetest she-wolf. Now?I was just another scar on his heart.Another shattered promise.

After Alpha Lorcan claimed me as his Mate,he showered me with endless praise,whispering sweet words that I was the perfect woman—virtuous,dignified,the ideal Luna.He made me believe I was the one he’d always wanted,the one he’d been destined for.But now,those words feel like a cruel joke,a hollow promise whispered by a wolf that never truly cared—just a faint echo carried away on the wind. Seven years.We had spent seven years together,yet the moments of true connection between us were scarce,fleeting like wisps of smoke.I wonder now if he ever truly desired someone like me.Was I nothing more than the proper choice,the duty?Or was it Marigold—his Beta sister-in-law,wild and untamed,with a free spirit that could never be caged—that he truly craved? I returned home to find our shared space—a place once full of love and laughter—now suffocating.It felt like a gilded cage.I couldn’t stay another moment.Without a second thought,I grabbed a suitcase and began hastily packing,my hands shaking with fury and desperation.The home I had carefully decorated with love felt foreign now.A battlefield of lies,betrayal,and the broken promises of an Alpha who never saw me. As I rummaged through the shelves in the study,my fingers brushed something cold,metallic.A laptop—one I didn’t recognize,hidden beneath a pile of old documents,buried like a dirty secret. I hesitated only for a moment.The beast of curiosity in me was awakened,its claws digging into my chest.I powered it on,only to be met with a password screen. First,I tried my birthday.It didn’t work. Then,a dark thought crept into my mind.I typed in Marigold’s birthday. The screen clicked open. A chill raced down my spine as the desktop loaded.Inside the hard drive,hidden away like poison in a dark corner,were folders—so many folders.I opened the first one without hesitation. Photos.Videos.Explicit images.Dozens of them. Alpha Lorcan and Marigold. My heart stopped.My stomach twisted,but I couldn’t look away as the vile images flashed on the screen—twisted scenes of them together,every depravity laid bare.Marigold,dressed in nothing but a teasing grin,bound in knots,exposed,violated.It sickened me to my core. They’d done it everywhere—his office,my home,the bed we had once shared,the dining table where we had once eaten together.Even here,in this very study,his mark had been left.I was suffocating,drowning in the images of my betrayal. Fury burned through me.I had to act.Without a moment’s hesitation,I connected a portable hard drive and began copying every file.I wasn’t just a scorned Luna—I was a woman wronged,collecting the evidence of his treachery like a predator preparing to strike. Just as I finished,I heard the front door creak open.Alpha Lorcan was home. He had returned late,probably rushing from the Pack’s medical facility,panicked that I would discover the truth—the truth he had tried so hard to keep buried. I snapped into action,shoving the laptop back into its hiding place,closing my suitcase as if I had been nothing more than tidying up.But my body screamed with rage. He entered the study,his sharp gaze sweeping over the mess I had made,a glint of suspicion flickering in his eyes.“Why are you tidying up all of a sudden?”he asked,his voice cold,his wolf instincts already on alert. “The place was filthy.I’m cleaning.”My voice was flat,emotionless—a well-placed mask.Inside,I was a storm ready to break free. Alpha Lorcan chuckled,stepping closer with that fake tenderness he always had,his eyes narrowing as if to soften the moment.“You must be tired from your trip.Let’s leave it for tomorrow.I’ll call a cleaning service.” He reached out,pulling me into his arms,but I shoved him away with a force I didn’t even know I had.The rejection was brutal,sending him stumbling back. “Go take a shower,”I said,my voice sharp like a whip.“You stink of hospital sweat.” He just laughed,oblivious to the rage brewing inside me,his wolfish grin never leaving his face.“Alright,alright,I’ll go shower.” Before disappearing into the bathroom,he casually mentioned,“We should stop cleaning.We’re getting bonded soon anyway.Let’s renovate this place,or maybe even buy a new house.” His words used to make my heart flutter,the idea of our future together filling me with warmth.But now,all I felt was ice. I didn’t respond.I couldn’t. Mistaking my silence for exhaustion,he urged me to rest before vanishing into the bathroom.I gave a half-hearted reply and retreated to my room. Lying in bed,I stared at the ceiling,trapped in my thoughts.The images from the laptop haunted me like a specter,choking me,making it impossible to breathe.I couldn’t sleep. Moments later,the mattress dipped beside me. Alpha Lorcan had finished his shower and slipped under the covers,wrapping his arms around me,as if nothing had changed.His chest pressed against my back,one arm beneath my neck,as if to protect me. But I wasn’t his to protect anymore.I was no longer the innocent Luna who needed him.I was the betrayed woman,suffocating beneath the weight of his lies. I held my breath,the words clawing at my throat,desperate to escape. “Alpha Lorcan,let’s break u-” But before I could finish,his phone buzzed on the nightstand. With one arm still wrapped around me,he reached for it with the other.The screen lit up,and in the dim glow,I saw it—the images from the laptop.Marigold.Him.The same explicit photos. My heart thundered.The blood rushed in my ears,drowning out everything else.My fingers curled into fists,nails biting into my palms. Alpha Lorcan hastily set the phone down,a flush creeping up his neck as he tried to pretend nothing was wrong.But his body stiffened,his wolf instincts suddenly alert,as if sensing the shift in the air. He sat up abruptly,his eyes wild,as if a fuse had just been lit inside him. I had never seen him like this.But the truth was out now,and so was my revenge.

“Galadriel,there are Pack matters I must attend to.Go ahead and sleep.I’ll handle this.” Alpha Lorcan’s voice was clipped,sharp—commanding,almost as though he couldn’t wait to get away.No time for pleasantries.The door slammed shut behind him,and his boots echoed down the hallway,each step a reminder of the distance growing between us. I stayed frozen for a moment,my chest tight.When I finally moved,my fingers were shaking as I unlocked my phone,trembling so violently that I nearly dropped it.My breath caught in my throat as the surveillance feed flickered to life. Alpha Lorcan stood in the study,his arms wrapped around Marigold.She tilted her head back,her body pressed into his,as though they were one.His lips brushed against her neck,possessive,intimate,a sharp contrast to the cold detachment he’d shown me moments before. “What’s the rush,Luna?Aren’t you excited to help me with this?”His voice was low,dripping with power,like he was the sun and she was merely another planet in his orbit. “I need the medicine,Lorcan…but you know,I can’t reach it.”Marigold’s voice was a honeyed whisper,a challenge in every word.Her tone,sultry and unrestrained,made my blood run cold. Alpha Lorcan chuckled darkly.“I’ll take care of it for you,Marigold…”His voice wrapped around her like a rope,tethering her to him,a predator offering his protection to its prey. The image of them,so close,so intimate—just a wall away—sent a blade of pain through my heart.The bond I thought was unbreakable?It was nothing more than an illusion. I collapsed back onto the bed,my body trembling not from cold,but from the sheer weight of betrayal.I had believed in him.I had trusted him.And yet,here he was,tangled with the very woman I had fought to protect. Marigold.Alpha Lorcan’s Beta sister-in-law.A woman he had taken in after the death of his brother—a death that had altered everything.No one had expected the accident to happen,but the consequences had rippled through our lives.Marigold had come to him broken,alone,and Alpha Lorcan had taken her in,offering her everything she needed.The line between kindness and obsession had blurred—and I had failed to see it. Now,I could see it all too clearly.What I had once thought was his mercy had become something far darker.A sickening,twisted loyalty that tied him to Marigold in ways I had never imagined. “You still don’t know who excites me more,do you?”Marigold whispered,her lips brushing his ear as she taunted him.“Your Galadriel,or me?” I could hear Lorcan’s smirk even through the screen.“Forget about her.You’re the one who thrills me,Marigold.Don’t pretend otherwise.” Marigold’s eyes flicked toward the camera,her gaze icy and unrepentant.She knew.She knew I was watching.And she wanted me to see.Every word,every glance,every touch—they were meant to rip through me.To destroy me. Tears blurred my vision as I shut the app.It felt as though my soul had been cleaved in two.What was I even fighting for anymore? Alpha Lorcan and I were done. In two days,I would bond with another.A new wolf.Someone who wouldn’t turn his back on me the moment his past caught up with him. The thought should have been comforting.But it wasn’t. I forced myself out of bed,to wash the evidence of the nightmare off me,to start packing.My hands moved mechanically,my heart a void as I sorted through the remains of a life that had never been mine.Not really. Alpha Lorcan was already gone by the time I finished,oblivious to my departure,lost in his endless meetings and Pack duties.But as always,he had one last demand.A business banquet.His voice was casual,almost indifferent when he mentioned it. “You’ll come,won’t you?”he asked,as if his absence had meant nothing to me. When he mentioned the banquet would be held at my family’s hotel,I felt a surge of resolve.I had avoided it for too long.Distanced myself from my true Pack to protect his fragile ego.But now?Now,I was going back.The place where I truly belonged. A cold finality settled over me as I called a moving company.Nothing from Alpha Lorcan—no gifts,no tokens of his affection—would come with me.Every memory of him,every gesture,had been tainted by his betrayal. I arrived at the hotel’s top-floor suite,the shower a small act of defiance.I scrubbed away every trace of him,every trace of us. When he called again,I was already dressed,waiting in the lobby.The irony wasn’t lost on me.He would never know that everything had changed. Alpha Lorcan entered the lobby with his usual presence—demanding,cold,every inch the Alpha.His tailored suit was flawless,but it couldn’t conceal the truth anymore.The way the women ogled him,the way Marigold hovered just behind him—claiming him in plain view—it was all a game now.And I was done playing.

Marigold’s presence was magnetic,a delicate porcelain beauty whose every movement seemed to captivate the room.The luxurious red gown she wore clung to her like a second skin,accentuating every curve,and her skin gleamed under the chandelier lights—flawless and untouchable.Her eyes were sharp,calculating,as she turned to survey the men in the room,each one unable to tear their gaze away from her. But not Alpha Lorcan.The moment his eyes locked with mine,they softened,a flicker of something unspoken passing between us.He didn’t just look at me—he saw me.Without a second’s hesitation,he crossed the room,his strong,capable hand sliding around my waist,pulling me into his embrace with a possessiveness that felt like a claim.His touch used to be a comfort,a promise.But now,it was a reminder of how tangled our fates had become. He presented me to the room with a pride that seemed almost possessive,as though I were a rare treasure on display,an object to be admired,yet held at a distance.But Marigold,standing at the edge of it all,her expression tight,watched us with a barely concealed hatred,her smile a perfect mask for the fury behind her eyes. The banquet continued around us,laughter echoing,glasses clinking,yet there was a tension in the air,an unspoken promise of something more.And then,as though the world had shifted on its axis,my gaze collided with Marigold’s. Her smile was icy,lips twisted in a thin line,but her eyes—those eyes—burned with venom.It was a look that said everything,even before her lips parted. Then,as if to break the silence,Alpha Lorcan leaned back in his chair,exuding an effortless power that made the room fall still.He was preparing to speak,when suddenly—Marigold’s voice shattered the calm. “Lorcan,”she gasped,her voice high with panic,“the USB…it’s gone!” A wave of tension washed over the room.All eyes shifted from her to him,and in that instant,Alpha Lorcan’s demeanor darkened.His expression hardened,every inch of him radiating dangerous stillness.His sharp eyes locked onto Marigold,and his voice—low,filled with cold fury—cut through the room like a blade. “Are you serious?How could you be so careless?”His words echoed off the walls,and Marigold flinched,shrinking under the force of his anger. But then—something snapped inside her.Her eyes flickered with a plan,a sudden,sharp shift in her behavior.With trembling hands,she pointed directly at me. “It was her!”she shouted,her voice dripping with false desperation.“She touched my bag earlier—I saw her!” Her eyes welled with fake tears,and she took a step toward me,her face a picture of pleading innocence.“Galadriel,please…I know we don’t get along,but that USB is crucial to the Pack’s future.If you don’t return it,Alpha Lorcan’s whole future will be destroyed!Please,don’t ruin everything we’ve worked for!” The room fell silent,the air thick with suspicion.Every pair of eyes turned toward me,narrowing with doubt.I could feel their stares,hot and accusing,crawling under my skin.My heart hammered in my chest,and I took a deep breath,the pressure suffocating. “I didn’t take it!”I practically screamed,my voice sharp,desperation flooding my veins.“Stop twisting the truth!” But before I could protest further,Marigold lunged forward.Her hands clawed at my dress,frantic and wild,her fingers searching,desperate to find any evidence that might prove her lie. Fear surged through me like wildfire.This was no longer just about the USB.It was about everything—the lies,the betrayal,the shattered trust.And now,I had to fight to clear my name,to hold onto the truth. I turned to Alpha Lorcan,my eyes pleading with him to see beyond the chaos,to see me.To see the truth.But his face remained unreadable.His brow furrowed in frustration,the shift in his demeanor telling me everything I needed to know:He was losing patience. When he spoke,his voice was cold,like a glacier.“Galadriel,”he said,“if you took it,just hand it over.We don’t have time for these games.” A shiver ran down my spine.His words—his accusation—cut deeper than I could ever have imagined. Marigold’s search was fruitless,but Alpha Lorcan didn’t pause to question.He acted on impulse,his hands rough as he grabbed my arm,pulling me too forcefully toward him.The fabric of my Luna gown tore with a resounding rip,the sound of it ringing through the hall like a death knell. Gasps filled the air,and my world tilted on its axis.The once-proud gown,meant to symbolize my status,was now a ruined heap of shredded fabric.I froze,humiliated beyond belief.My hands shot to my chest,instinctively trying to cover what little I could of myself,but it was futile.Every eye in the room was on me,and I felt their judgment like a physical weight pressing against me. But then—something strange happened.A soft,metallic clink echoed across the hall,followed by the sound of the USB sliding across the smooth floor.It stopped dead center in the room,the tiny device gleaming in the harsh light. Silence. For a moment,the world stood still.The whispers began again,but this time,they were full of venom,laden with accusations and disbelief.It was like the entire room had turned against me in the blink of an eye. Alpha Lorcan’s eyes dropped to the USB,and I saw the shift in his expression.The anger,the confusion—it all crystallized into something darker.Something colder.His voice,when it came,was a blade being drawn,each word coated with fury. “Galadriel,”he said,his tone low,unyielding.“I never thought you were capable of this.I trusted you.This is how you repay me?” His words hit me like a physical blow.The man I had trusted,the man I had loved—he was looking at me like I was a stranger.Like I was the enemy. And in that moment,I realized:Nothing would ever be the same again.

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Julian’s lungs rattled with the Silver Rot, each breath a death rattle echoing through the packhouse. Seraphina heard whispers that a Lupine Heart could cure anything, even the blood-blight eating him alive. She didn’t hesitate. She ordered her guards to slaughter the Silver Soul-Wolf that had been bound to me for a millennium. Carve out its heart while it still beat. A millennium of Primal Guardian Essence turned to ash in seconds. I threw myself over the dying wolf. Every slash of the silver blade tore through my own chest like they were cutting into my ribs. “You know what I am!” I gasped, blood soaking through my shirt. “When the Soul-Wolf dies, I die with it!” Seraphina sneered. She peeled back the silver fur with her own hands, blood coating her fingers like war paint. “Only the Matriarch believes your lies about being some ancient guardian,” she hissed. “You think I’ll fall for this pathetic act?” Her eyes were cold, merciless. “It’s just a wolf. I’ll buy you another one if it means Julian gets to breathe.” My Primal Guardian Essence drained out in waves. My vision blurred as the bond shattered, and my eyes bled from silver to ash-gray. I stumbled toward the Matriarch’s chambers, clutching the jar that held what remained of my Soul-Wolf. “I’ve shielded your pack from disaster a hundred times.” My voice came out hollow, broken. “I’ve repaid the debt. My power is destroyed.” “Let me go.” — White smoke rose from the Soul-Wolf’s severed body like a departing spirit. The Pack Healer shook his head, his expression grave. “They struck the heart and spine in one blow. Whoever killed this wolf knew exactly what they were doing.” He met my eyes. “There’s no bringing it back.” I placed the bloody remnants into the jar. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. The Soul-Wolf was linked to me through ancient magic. I felt phantom pain slice through my lower back where the blade had severed its spine. My face burned like the skin was being flayed off in strips. The Matriarch steadied me as I swayed. “I warned her a thousand times that the wolf was your life force!” Fury made her voice shake. “And she dared to carve out its heart with her own hands, watching you collapse!” My legs went numb. I forced myself to walk. Seraphina knew about the Soul-Link. Of course she did. But she still brought down that blade, her eyes locked on mine as I screamed. She grabbed my neck and hissed in my ear, her breath hot against my skin. “You’re a good actor. This is how you fooled the Matriarch, isn’t it?” Her smile was cruel. “You really thought I’d fall for your Guardian bullshit?” She ordered her men to cut out the heart. I fell to my knees, screaming until my throat bled. She threw the wolf’s corpse at my feet like roadkill. “If you really had a millennium of power in that thing, it must be potent medicine.” Her eyes gleamed. “If it cures Julian’s blood-blight, I’ll get you a new wolf to keep up your charade.” The butler rushed in while I was drowning in pain. He shoved a cardboard box into my hands. Seraphina’s orders. Bring it immediately. I forced my shaking hands to open it. A hawk burst out, yellow eyes locked on the jar. The hawk dove. I threw myself over the jar as talons tore into my spine. I tried to summon my power, fingers forming the ancient signs. Nothing happened. My Primal Guardian Essence was gone. I could only curl my body around the jar, protecting what little remained. Everyone knows wolves fear hawks the way prey fears predators. Even in human form, the terror was bone-deep. Primal. The hawk pecked holes into my back until the Matriarch’s guards beat it to death with iron rods. I lay motionless on the clinic floor. Then I heard a heavy thud beside me. The Matriarch knelt before me, her head bowed in shame. “Ethan, I never imagined my granddaughter could commit such an atrocity against her own fated mate.” Her voice cracked. “You are this pack’s Sacred Guardian, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.” “I will find you a sacred place to restore your bloodline. Please, for the sake of your debt to my grandmother, forgive Seraphina this once.” I didn’t know how to respond. My mind was too fractured. A hundred years ago, the Matriarch’s grandmother found me dying in the mountains from a hawk attack. She brought me home, bandaged my wounds, nursed me back to health over long months. Out of gratitude, when I achieved my full ancestral power, I sought her out. I vowed to protect her bloodline for generations. Later, to save Seraphina from a death curse, I broke the Sacred Moon Vow. I took human form, trapping all my power inside the Soul-Wolf. But now Seraphina had destroyed the wolf herself. My power was gone. I looked at the Matriarch kneeling before me. My voice came out cold, hard. “I promised your grandmother I would shield her descendants from calamity. I’ve kept that vow for a century.” “But I’ve lost my Guardian powers. I’ve turned back a hundred disasters and sacrificed my immortality to save Seraphina when the Moon Goddess herself marked her for death.” “Consider your grandmother’s debt repaid in full. Let me leave this territory before what remains of me dies here.”

I limped home, the jar clutched to my chest. My legs barely held me. Before I reached the door, I heard moaning from inside. The sound made my stomach turn. “I heard ancient guardians have insane stamina from all that primal power.” Julian’s voice was lazy, satisfied. “Did Ethan keep you up all night with that freaky supernatural shit?” He laughed. “Now that I’ve eaten his Soul-Wolf’s heart, want to see if I’ve got his strength?” Seraphina’s arms wrapped around his neck. “He was never the one. You’re the only one who’s ever satisfied me.” I slammed the door open. The frame cracked. Seraphina didn’t even look at me. She stayed on Julian’s lap, lips locked, like I was invisible. Nothing. But Julian saw my eyes turning ash-gray in real-time, the silver light dying to nothing. He shoved Seraphina off, clutching his chest as he coughed violently. Blood speckled his lips. He pointed at me with a shaking finger. “Monster! Freak!” The more he yelled, the worse his coughing became. Seraphina rushed to pat his back. Then she whirled on me. Her hand cracked across my face hard enough to split my lip. “What trick did you just pull?” she screamed. “Are you trying to curse Julian to death?” Her heel ground into my foot with deliberate cruelty, pinning me in place. On the couch, Julian caught my eye and smirked. Still pretending to gasp for air. Then he pointed at the jar in my arms with greedy eyes. “Seraphina, my Luna, Ethan’s pet wolf’s heart worked so well for my Silver Rot.” He coughed between words. “I bet the meat would be even better medicine.” His smile was vicious. “How about some wolf stew to finish the cure?” Both of them turned their eyes to the jar. Predatory. Cold. I held it tighter against my chest. “Seraphina, you know I’m Soul-Linked to this wolf through my bloodline.” “If you turn it into stew, the boiling water will cook my organs while I’m still breathing.” She didn’t let me finish. She knocked the jar from my hands with one vicious swipe. It shattered on the floor. She ordered the butler to take the wolf’s remains to the kitchen immediately. The heat hit me within minutes. It felt like being thrown into a furnace. My insides cooking as the water boiled. I dug my nails into my thighs hard enough to draw blood, trying to fight through the pain. Diving into cold water didn’t help. Seraphina stormed in. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back. “Did you dye it on purpose? Planning to run to the Matriarch and get me in trouble?” She snarled in my face. “You always used your magic tricks to manipulate the old woman.” “You even claimed you traded your immortality to save my life! But Julian told me the truth.” Her grip tightened. “He’s the one who flew overseas to buy the real medicine. He fed it to me while you kept me locked in that room, refusing treatment, hoping I’d die!” She yanked me from the tub. Watched me writhe on the floor as the burning intensified. “You know this pack has a Sacred Guardian who grants the Alpha Female’s mate the Lunar Blessing of prosperity and long life.” Her eyes were full of contempt. “If I hadn’t believed your lies about saving me, I never would have accepted you as my mate!” “That blessing should have gone to Julian from the start. You need to step aside and let the right wolf claim what’s his!” I lifted my head. Forced a bitter smile through the agony. “He wants to steal the Moon Goddess’s blessing of longevity? That’s a fantasy.” He’d already destroyed the pack’s fate. There was no blessing left to steal. Hours later, they brought The Profane Feast to the table. A pot of stewed Soul-Wolf meat, its scent thick with ancient power and my own lifeblood. Julian devoured it like a starving animal, laughing as I collapsed against the wall, blood pouring from my nose and mouth. My organs were being cooked alive from the inside. Every bite he took was another layer of agony carved into my flesh. When he finished, he threw the empty bowl at my feet. “See? I’m cured! No more coughing fits!” He flexed his hands, grinning at Seraphina. “And I feel stronger than ever.” “Your precious Guardian was just a fraud all along.” Seraphina smiled at him with adoration. Then she turned to me with disgust. “The Matriarch is hosting a banquet tonight to celebrate Julian’s recovery.” Her voice was cold. “You’re banned from attending.” “I don’t want your cursed face ruining the celebration.” I crawled to my feet, using the wall for support. My vision was darkening at the edges. “The Moon Goddess doesn’t grant blessings to those who desecrate the Sacred Hunt.” My voice came out broken, weak. “You’ve destroyed my power. You’ve consumed what was never meant for mortal consumption.” “Now watch what happens when the Goddess withdraws her protection from this pack.” Julian laughed in my face. “Still threatening us with your make-believe curse?” “You’re pathetic. Get out of our sight.” I stumbled toward the door. Before I left, I looked back one last time. Seraphina was already in Julian’s arms again, kissing him like I’d never existed. Like she hadn’t just destroyed her fated mate and invited divine retribution upon the entire pack.

The Matriarch’s banquet hall glittered with expensive chandeliers and decorated tables laden with prime cuts of venison and roasted game. Pack members filled the space, celebrating Julian’s miraculous recovery from the blood-blight that should have killed him. Julian stood at the center of attention, soaking in the praise. Seraphina clung to his arm, her smile radiant. The Matriarch had banned me from the celebration. So I sat outside in the cold, my back against the stone wall of the packhouse. Listening to their laughter echo through the night. At midnight, the sky turned black. Storm clouds gathered from nowhere, blocking out the moon completely. The first bolt of silver lightning struck the packhouse roof. Then another. And another. The Silver Storm descended on the pack like divine judgment, each lightning bolt infused with lunar power that burned through flesh and stone alike. Inside the banquet hall, screams replaced laughter. Pack members ran for cover as the roof collapsed in sections, silver fire consuming everything it touched. The Matriarch rushed outside, her face pale with terror. She grabbed my shoulders. “Ethan, please! Whatever anger you hold, whatever curse you’ve called down on us—stop this!” “I’ll make Seraphina apologize! I’ll exile Julian myself if that’s what it takes!” I looked at her with hollow eyes. My hair had turned completely white in the hours since Seraphina destroyed my Soul-Wolf. “This isn’t my doing, Matriarch.” My voice was empty. “This is the Moon Goddess withdrawing her protection.” “Your pack’s ancestors desecrated the Sacred Hunt for profit a century ago. I was the only thing standing between your bloodline and divine retribution.” “Now that my power is gone, she’s collecting what you owe.” Another bolt of silver lightning struck, this time hitting Julian directly. He screamed as lunar fire seared through his chest. The Soul-Wolf’s heart he’d consumed began to burn inside him, cooking him from within. Seraphina ran to him, trying to shield him with her own body. The lightning threw her back, leaving scorch marks across her arms. “Ethan!” she screamed, her voice raw with panic. “Ethan, please make it stop!” “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for everything! Just make it stop!” I didn’t move. Didn’t respond. Julian collapsed to his knees, coughing up chunks of blackened flesh. The Silver Rot he thought he’d cured was returning with a vengeance, multiplied by the divine power now destroying him. The Soul-Wolf’s heart was rejecting his body, tearing him apart from the inside. “Ethan saved you once before, at the cost of his own immortality.” The Matriarch’s voice shook. “He broke the Sacred Moon Vow to give you human life.” “And you repaid him by destroying his Soul-Wolf with your own hands.” She grabbed Seraphina by the throat, rage overtaking grief. “You’ve damned this entire pack for your selfish cruelty!” Seraphina tore herself free, running toward me on her knees. Blood streamed down her face from cuts left by falling debris. “Ethan, I was wrong! I was so wrong!” Tears mixed with blood on her cheeks. “Please, I’ll do anything!” “Just save Julian! Save the pack!” I looked down at her without emotion. “The Moon Goddess doesn’t forgive those who betray their Sacred Guardians.” My voice was cold as winter frost. “This is her judgment, not mine.” “Pray for mercy if you want. But I’m done protecting you.” I walked away from the burning packhouse. Away from the screams and the smell of silver fire consuming everything I’d once protected. The Matriarch’s pleas followed me into the darkness. But I didn’t look back. My debt was paid in full. Whatever happened to them now was between them and the Goddess.

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Three years into my paralysis, Ethan came home from the border — and he didn’t come back alone. He’d brought a woman with him. I was mid-swing, hand raised to strike Ash again, when the words flickered across my vision like a broadcast only I could see. [Look at the villainess go. Still throwing tantrums from a wheelchair. Didn’t learn a thing.] [The General and his mate already bonded on the battlefield. Once he rejects her completely, she’s done.] [And her own son will watch without blinking as she’s driven out of the Pack House to rot in the Outcast Woods. Serves her right.] [Our girl Seraphine gets everything she deserves after this. She’ll make the perfect mate for the General~] My hand froze mid-air. I glanced at the father and son across the room — identical expressions of cold indifference, waiting for my next outburst. When I lowered my arm without striking, both of them frowned. I let out a dry, hollow laugh. “Ethan. You want to bring her into the pack. Fine. I consent.” Silence. Ethan lifted his head and looked at me, a flicker of something like disbelief in his eyes. I caught myself. A man like him — he’d never make someone he actually wanted settle for a lesser rank. I waved a hand. “If you want to name her your official mate, I don’t care. Whatever you need.” Ethan’s frown deepened. He was kneeling on the floor, spine perfectly straight, wearing the particular look of impatience he reserved only for me. “Lara. What are you playing at now?” “Is this another scheme to get the Council to strip my rank? Take my border commendations?” I opened my mouth — but Ash spoke first. Eight years old, crouched on the floor, the welts from my cane still visible across his back. His voice was flat, as though narrating someone else’s problem. “Mom. Are you finished?” “If so, I’ll take my leave. I have assignments to finish.” The feed scrolled past again. [See? Even her son can’t stand being in the same room with her for one more second. She earned that.] [She burned through every ounce of his love, one screaming fit at a time. What did she expect?] [She’s probably scheming to cry to the Alpha once Ethan accepts Seraphine. Save your breath — after three years of this, even the General is done with her.] I pressed my lips together. My brother was sick of me. I knew that. Ever since the fall three years ago — the ravine, the shattered spine, the wheelchair — my wolf had grown more and more volatile. And I’d grown with her. I hated that I couldn’t walk to the bathroom without help. I hated watching other women draw close to Ethan and being able to do nothing. I hated that raising a cane took everything I had left. So I snapped. I raged. I made sure everyone kept looking at me. I had forgotten that no one’s patience is infinite. Not my brother’s. Certainly not Ethan’s. And not Ash’s either. I looked at the boy in front of me — eight years old, spine straight, welts across his back, face utterly blank. I pushed my wheelchair forward. Tried to reach for him. Ash shifted back on his knees before I could touch him, putting distance between us. His knuckles were white where they pressed the floor. Then he rose, unhurried, and didn’t look at me once. “It seems you have nothing else. I’ll go find my tutor.” He turned and walked out. At the doorway, I caught a flash of pink fabric disappearing around the corner. The feed lit up again. [How long is the villainess going to keep hogging the General? Seraphine’s been standing outside this whole time!] [They shared a saddle on the whole ride back from the border. They already did anything they can do. And last night — they held each other for warmth.] [Our girl deserves everything~] My chest felt as though a fist had closed around it. That flash of pink — that was Seraphine. The woman Ethan had brought back from the border. She was a medic embedded with his unit. She’d saved his life three times. The third time, he had carried her out of the massacre with his own hands, and after that, he’d never looked at anyone else the same way. I drew a slow breath. I’d been too reckless, too long. My brother had grown tired of me. My legs were broken and I depended on everyone. The feed said my ending was the Outcast Woods. Even so, I raised my head and looked at Ethan. “She’s been waiting outside. Go to her.” Ethan’s expression stilled. He held my gaze for a long moment, said nothing, stood, and left. The door clicked shut. Through the wood, I heard Seraphine’s soft voice: “Are you alright, Ethan?” And his low reply: “Fine.” I looked down at my legs — useless, unfeeling — and found myself smiling. But tears hit the backs of my hands without warning.

Ethan had probably forgotten. Eight years ago, he had ridden through every street of the city, howling my name to anyone who would listen — telling the whole pack that Lara Wren was the only woman he would ever claim as his mate. Even the Alpha had heard about it. He had tracked down the rarest white wolf-pelt from the northern borderlands and had it rushed back by courier, all because I ran cold. For eight years after that, he had given me real, tangible love. So when I woke up at the bottom of that ravine, legs gone, and the pack doctor confirmed I would never walk again — I hadn’t cried. I had come apart entirely. I had believed Ethan would hold me through all of it, unconditionally. I was wrong. Love has limits. And enough of the wrong things can erode it. Family bonds. Mate bonds. Both. Three years of volatility had cost me not just Ethan but Ash — my son had slowly gone quiet inside my daily storms, until one day he simply stopped coming to me at all. He no longer told me about the funny things that happened at his lessons. He no longer trailed after me asking for the honey cakes I used to make. I tilted my head back. The tears came faster. An empty room. Just the sound of my own muffled crying. Lara, you really did this to yourself. You had something good and you ground it to nothing. I swallowed the ache, refused to let myself look back any further, and when the worst of it had passed, I wheeled myself to find Ash. I had brought medicine for his welts. I hadn’t even reached his door when I heard Seraphine’s voice inside. “Ash, sweetheart. Hold still — almost done.” I stopped. Through the gap in the door I could see Seraphine perched on the edge of the bed, carefully pressing salve into the marks on Ash’s back. The boy lay flat and still, not making a sound. They looked like a mother and child. The feed drifted past. [Seraphine is so gentle. This is what a real mother looks like.] [Ash must be so moved. When has the villainess ever once tended to his wounds? All she ever does is make new ones.] [Exactly. Does she even deserve to be called his mother?] My fingers tightened around the medicine jar. Behind me, footsteps. Ethan had appeared at my back, studying me with a furrowed brow. “What are you doing here?” He glanced at the jar in my hands, then at the scene through the door. His voice was flat. “You can’t move easily. Stop wandering.” I swallowed the sting and pushed through the door. “I came to dress Ash’s wounds.” Ash turned at the sound of my voice. Eight years old, and already his face had stopped carrying expressions around me. He looked at me and the corner of his mouth pulled into something thin and cutting. “Mother’s hands are too fine for this kind of work.” “Besides — I should thank you. You’re the one who gave me all these marks.” He turned over. His back was covered in crossing welts. I went still. I had struck him countless times over the years. Every time, he had said nothing — appeared the next morning as though nothing had happened. I had never understood, until now, how hard I had been hitting. The feed erupted. [Is she even human? He’s a child!] [Thank the moon for Seraphine. She was thinking about him even during the border campaign — brought him a carved toy horse. Worth ten of that woman.] I followed the feed’s gaze to the bedside table. A small wooden horse sat there, delicately carved — clearly not from anything sold in the city. Ash finished dressing, climbed down from the bed, and stepped in front of the horse — half-shielding it behind him — then looked up at me. “Do you need something else?” His eyes were cold. Ethan stood at his side, watching me with the same chill. It felt like a needle pressed between my ribs. I looked away and left. Back in my room, I dug through the chest at the foot of my bed until I found a small carved pendant at the very bottom. My brother Dominic had made it for me when I was five. I could still hear his voice, lifting me over his head, laughing. “Lara. I’ll always be here.” I closed my fist around it and felt a sudden, overwhelming need to see him. I sent a message through the pack channel asking for a visit. The reply took a long time. When it came back, the messenger wouldn’t meet my eyes. “The Alpha says… he has pack business today. He asks that you come another time.” A pause, then: “He also says — if you need anything from the house, to request it through the steward.” I gave a small, bitter smile. Understood. My brother was done with me too. Dusk came. I had dinner brought to my room, ate a few bites, and set it aside. Ethan didn’t come. In the early years after battle campaigns, he had always spent the first nights back in my room. Tonight I waited until long past midnight. He never appeared. The feed drifted past, lazy and merciless. [Don’t bother waiting. He’s in Seraphine’s room.] [It’s their honeymoon phase. Of course they’re together. Stop embarrassing yourself.] [He came home at all. Be grateful.] I blew out the candle and lay in the dark, staring at nothing. It’s fine. It’s normal. He loves Seraphine. It’s normal.

I woke to thunder. My body curled inward before I was fully conscious. I had been afraid of storms my whole life. As a child, Dominic had held me through them. After the mating, Ethan had. Tonight — The door opened. Ethan walked in fast, still dressed from the day, his expression tight with something urgent. He found me folded into the corner of the bed, crossed to me immediately, and sat. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” He drew me against his chest. My cheek pressed to him. I heard his heartbeat — quick, steady. I breathed him in and held on. I wanted to ask him to stay longer. But before I could speak, he pulled back. “You’re alright. Good.” “Seraphine needs me. I should check on her.” The feed lit up instantly. [Oh, she actually thought he came for her. Hilarious.] [He came out of duty. Nothing more. Whatever he felt for her is long gone.] [Did you see his eyes? Not a flicker of real tenderness.] [Back to our girl now. Bye.] The door closed. Thunder still rolling outside. I sat up slowly and watched the lightning cut through the window, one strike after another. I thought about what the feed had said my ending would be. Driven out of the Pack House. Left to rot in the Outcast Woods. I gripped the edge of my blanket. And felt, quite suddenly, a very clear want. The next morning, I asked my attendant to contact a neutral escort service — human couriers who operated outside pack territory. Not to move cargo. To move a person. My whole life I’d been confined — first in the Alpha’s compound where I grew up, then in the General’s Pack House. When I could still walk, I was never allowed far. Now that I couldn’t, I was allowed nowhere at all. But I wanted to go out. I wanted to see something wider than these four walls. Even if I died on the road. Better than rotting in here. The escort liaison had barely left when Ethan appeared. He spotted the business card on the table and frowned. “What do you need an escort service for?” I slipped the card into my lap, calm. “Nothing important. Sending something to Dominic’s.” Ethan looked at me once, didn’t press, and left. Same as always. I swallowed something bitter and went back to packing my things. That evening I sent another message to Dominic — I wanted him there for my birthday. Just once more, before I left. He declined before the message had even settled. “The Alpha has a full schedule. A birthday celebration happens every year. Skip it this once.” I had been talking myself through it from the moment I sent the message: it’s not practical, it’s fine to skip it. Then the formal announcement came through. An official pack decree: Seraphine, for distinguished service during the border campaign, was hereby granted the title of Pack-Honored and a celebration in her name. When I raised my head, Seraphine was framed in the doorway — pale rose dress, face like something in bloom. Ethan stood beside her. His eyes were soft in a way I hadn’t seen in years. The feed came alive. [Your own brother would rather throw a party for a stranger than see you. That’s how done with you he is.] [No Alpha’s protection, no General’s love, no family — you’re just a paralyzed woman with no place in this pack anymore.] [Look at the way he looks at her though~ so sweet~] My fists tightened until my fingers went white. He hadn’t been busy. He just didn’t want to see me. Ash stepped out from the inner courtyard and bowed to Seraphine, perfectly formal. “Congratulations, Seraphine.” He didn’t look at me once. I wheeled myself back to my room and sat looking at the emptiness. The attendants had begun moving things — not my things. Seraphine’s. She was being given rooms. Ethan was escorting her. The entire Pack House, and I was the only one left in it. No — not quite. There were the crutches propped against the wall. And my own shadow. I looked down at my legs, and found myself smiling. Fine. Quiet, at least. I pushed slowly back to my room and curled my fingers around the small carved pendant. Dominic didn’t want me. Ash didn’t want me. Ethan didn’t want me. That was alright. I still had myself.

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Three years after I died, nothing grew near the estate. The grass turned black. The trees twisted inward, skeletal and choking. Anyone who wandered too close collapsed within hours—fever dreams, screaming fits, unexplained wounds opening across their skin. The tabloids called it a plague. A curse. They called it me. The headlines screamed: “Dead Detective’s Vengeful Spirit Terrorizes Town—Former Fiancée Breaks Silence.” Serena had no choice. The board was watching. Her new luxury development—the crown jewel of her empire—sat less than two miles from my rotting estate. Investors were pulling out. The press was circling. So she did what she always did. She came to finish me off. — The black SUVs rolled up the gravel drive in a slow procession. Rain hammered the windshields. The manor loomed ahead— Serena stepped out first. Designer boots. Black trench coat. Her face was beautiful. Julian climbed out behind her. Golden-haired. Soft-eyed. The picture of wounded innocence. She pulled him close, shielding him from the wind. “Stay behind me,” she murmured. The Occultist emerged last. Dr. Miriam Ashford. Grey hair pulled tight. Wire-rimmed glasses. She carried an old leather case, buckles clicking as she moved. Serena surveyed the estate. “God. Even dead, my husband Ethan’s a nightmare.” Julian’s voice was small. Trembling. “Serena, are you sure we have to do this? He’s my brother. Maybe we should just—” “Your brother?” She turned, eyes cold. “Your brother was a liar and a cheat. He’s dead, Julian. And he’s still making my life hell.” She looked back at the house. “I should’ve buried him at sea. Let the sharks have him.” But she didn’t know. I was standing right next to her. My ghost. Invisible. Weightless. And my body? Rotting beneath her feet.

The manor swallowed us whole. Inside, the air was thick. Wrong. Even at noon, the light couldn’t penetrate. Shadows pooled in corners like oil. Julian was sweating. His hand clamped around Serena’s wrist. “Serena, please. I don’t feel good. Can we leave?” She shook him off. Irritation flashed across her face. Dr. Ashford moved slowly through the foyer, her equipment humming. EMF readers. Infrared scanners. Sigils drawn in chalk. She stopped in the center of the room. Her face went pale. “This place…” Her voice was barely a whisper. “The resentment here is catastrophic.” Serena crossed her arms. “Can you fix it or not?” “Maybe.” Dr. Ashford’s jaw tightened. “But first, we need the body.” “Then find it.” “It won’t be easy. Whoever did this… they knew what they were doing.” She pulled a small obsidian blade from her case. Black. Gleaming. “We’ll need this. It’s the only thing sharp enough to sever the tether.” Serena didn’t blink. “Then let’s dig.” — They found my grave behind the manor. Overgrown. Forgotten. The headstone had toppled. The inscription was illegible, covered in moss and cracks. Serena gestured to the workers. “There. Dig.” Julian looked sick. “Serena, this is—” “Shut up.” Her voice was ice. “You’ve been having nightmares for weeks. This ends today.” The workers broke ground. One meter down, they hit wood. The coffin was cheap. Rotting. The lid sagged inward, half-collapsed. Serena stepped closer. “Open it.” The workers pried it open. Silence. No body. Just medals. Dozens of them. Service commendations. Citations for bravery. Detective of the Year. All of them stained dark—rusted, crusted with something black. Blood. One of the workers picked one up. “What the hell…?” Dr. Ashford leaned in. Her face drained of color. “This is an array,” she breathed. “A ritual.” Serena’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of ritual?” “The worst kind.” Dr. Ashford pulled a compass from her bag. The needle spun wildly, then locked—pointing directly at the manor. “The body isn’t here. It’s inside.”

They entered the manor again. This time, the air felt alive. Watching. The compass went berserk the moment they crossed the threshold. The needle spun so fast it cracked. Dr. Ashford cursed. “We’re standing on top of it.” “Then where—” A crash. Serena whirled around. Julian had stumbled into a side table. A porcelain vase shattered on the floor. “Jesus, Julian—” “I’m sorry, I—” He froze. “Wait.” Among the shards, something small and leather-bound. A journal. Serena picked it up. Flipped through it. Blank pages. Nothing. She sneered. “Of course. Even his diary is useless.” She moved to tear it apart. Dr. Ashford snatched it from her hands. “Don’t.” “Excuse me—” “This isn’t blank.” Dr. Ashford’s voice was sharp. She began muttering under her breath—Latin, old Welsh, something ancient. The pages began to shimmer. Words bled through. Ink appearing like wounds opening. “It’s a death diary,” Dr. Ashford whispered. “Written by the deceased. Hidden by a curse.” Serena’s face twisted. “Read it.” Dr. Ashford opened to the first page.

Dr. Ashford read aloud. Her voice was flat. Clinical. “Today is my twentieth birthday. Serena came to the house to celebrate with me. I was so happy. But Julian was there. Always there. He kept cutting between us. Wouldn’t let me talk to her. Pressed himself against her side like a child. I tried not to be jealous. He’s my brother. He’d never hurt me. I remember the day they found him. Ten years lost. Ten years of Mom and Dad crying, searching, praying. I swore I’d protect him. But after he came home, everything changed. Mom and Dad stopped looking at me. It was like I didn’t exist. I burned my hand making them breakfast once. They didn’t even notice. Just threw the food away. But Julian? He brought them a cheap souvenir from a trip, and they carried it everywhere. Showed it to everyone. Bragged. It’s fine. He deserves it. He suffered. At least I still have Serena. She’ll never leave me.” — Dr. Ashford paused. Serena’s face was stone. Julian shifted uncomfortably. Dr. Ashford continued. “Julian got hurt doing one of his extreme sports stunts. Damaged his kidney. Mom and Dad asked me to donate mine. I said no. I was in the middle of my detective certification exams. The surgery would take months to recover from. I’d miss my shot. They begged. Guilted. Screamed. But it was Serena who strapped me to the operating table. Serena. I woke up with one kidney and no future.” Serena’s jaw clenched. “That’s a lie.” Dr. Ashford didn’t stop. “Thunder last night. The worst storm in years. Serena used to be terrified of storms. She’d curl up in my arms, shaking. But last night, she locked me in my room. And went to Julian’s. He called her. Said he was scared. She didn’t even look back.” “October third. I’ll never forget this date. A car hit me. I was bleeding. Broken leg. I begged them to call an ambulance. Serena refused. She said I was faking. Said I just wanted an excuse to see ‘that doctor.’ I don’t even know who she’s talking about. She locked me in a room. Alone. For a full day. By the time she let a medic in, the damage was permanent. I’ll never be a detective now. She said she loved my dream. My dedication. My desire to serve. But she clipped my wings herself.”

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Ten years with my fiancé Blake Carrington. I said, “Blake, I’m pregnant.” The documents in his hands hit the floor. His brow furrowed hard. “The company IPO is at the most critical stage. This is the worst possible time for a baby.” “It’s fine. Your career comes first.” I smiled softly. He didn’t catch my meaning. I was pregnant. But he wasn’t the father. —— The tenderness in his eyes had died long ago. All that remained was raw impatience. The look on his face—like I was some kind of baggage he couldn’t shake off. He saw I hadn’t moved. He must’ve realized he’d gone too far. He cleared his throat. His tone eased up. “Madison, think about it. Once the company goes public, we’ll have the life we always wanted. Listen to me. This baby is bad timing. And your body’s never been that strong anyway. Sometimes stress, or a little too much exertion… you know how it is. First trimester. Things happen.” I froze. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. I knew he was ruthless. I didn’t know he’d turned this cold. He thought I was carrying his own flesh and blood. And the words coming out of his mouth were about how the problem might just “take care of itself.” “Could you find time to go to the clinic with me?” He slammed the documents onto the desk. “Madison. I thought I made myself clear. I can’t get away right now. Handle this yourself. Don’t bother me with it.” He grabbed his phone and sent me a transfer. “For the medical bills.” I stared at the four-figure amount on my screen. A thousand dollars. Less than what he spent on one dish at the Michelin-starred restaurant he took Olivia to last week. That’s what I was worth to him. Me and this child. “Blake, what’s with the temper?” We were locked in stalemate when Olivia pushed the door open and walked right in. She stepped behind him. Her fingers found his shoulders. Kneaded softly. Neither of them acted like his fiancée was in the room. Oh, now she’s playing gentle? Two years ago when she called him out of my investor meeting, she didn’t have this face on. He’d been in a meeting that day. Got a call. Rushed out. I found out later. His university obsession, Olivia Violet, had returned from Europe. Of course he dropped everything to pick her up at the airport. At first I let it go. Until Olivia became VP of the company. I confronted Blake. What exactly were they? He just looked annoyed. “She’s an old friend.” I believed him. A week later, the two of them took a “business trip” to Napa Valley. Arms linked. Tasting rooms at a boutique winery. After that, I could count on one hand the nights he slept at home. At the office, they stopped pretending entirely. Arrived together. Left together. New hires assumed they were the couple. “Seems some people never grow out of stealing other women’s boyfriends.” My voice was ice. Olivia’s face collapsed. Her hand flew to her mouth like I’d slapped her. Tears pooled in her eyes. Exactly the right amount. Blake’s expression darkened. “That was out of line. This company wouldn’t be standing without Olivia. Everything you eat, everything you wear—it’s all paid for by this business. You could at least show some gratitude instead of attacking her.” Everything paid for by her? I was the one at Soho House. Swallowing stomach pain, drink after drink, pitching his incoherent valuation models to arrogant VCs. Convincing them his technology deserved investment. That night, I left the party in an ambulance. I lifted my head. Looked at him. “You know what, Blake? I just realized. You’re not the man I fell in love with. You’re just the man I built. And frankly, my creation is a piece of shit.” I knew there was nothing left to say. I grabbed my bag and turned to leave. Behind me, Blake was already comforting Olivia. “Ignore her. She grew up in foster care. She never learned how to act in a normal family.” Olivia wiped her tears. Brave. Forced a smile. Shook her head. “It’s fine. I understand. Madison probably just misunderstands me. I’ll try harder with her. She’s your fiancée. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.” Blake let out a long sigh. “You’re always so considerate.” I couldn’t stomach another second. I walked out.

In the car on the way home, I hesitated. Then I dialed my mother’s number. The international video call took three tries to connect. “Mom. It’s me.” Silence on the other end. Her voice trembled when she spoke. “Maddie? Is it really you? Do you have any idea how long it’s been since you called home? When I wouldn’t approve of you being with that penniless boy, you cut us off completely. Do you know how much that broke my heart?” When I’d announced our engagement, my parents hadn’t approved. They’d pulled his credit history. Found nearly two hundred thousand dollars in student loans and business debt he’d hidden. My father didn’t yell. He just slid a background report across the table. His tone left no room for argument. “Madison. Two hundred thousand in hidden debt. This man sees you as a ladder, not a partner. He’s using you.” I was blinded by love. I rejected their objections. Cut all ties. All these years, Blake still believed I was an orphan. No family. No roots. I’d stood beside him from nothing to everything. Helped him pay off every cent of that debt. He became the respected Mr. Carrington. And in his eyes, I became dead weight. Disposable. “Mom. I’m pregnant.” A crash on her end. Something had hit the floor. Silence stretched. My mother sighed. “You called. That means you’ve already made your decision. Book a flight home three days from now. We’ll handle this together.” I hung up. Leaned back in the taxi. Watched the Manhattan skyline slide past the window. That hard shell I’d built over a decade of surviving New York alone finally cracked open. I wasn’t fighting alone anymore. I needed you, Mom. Home. The apartment. Cold and empty. Same as always. Last time Blake came back? Two weeks ago? Maybe longer. A bitter smile crossed my face. I set my things down. Headed toward the bathroom. My phone buzzed. A message from a friend. “Girl, did you see Olivia’s story? The audacity. She tagged your man.” I opened her profile. The photo hit me like a fist. A hotel mirror selfie. Topless. A man’s arm wrapped tight around her waist. His face cropped out. If they were actually a couple, it’d just be bedroom fun. But that arm. Near the shoulder. A scar I knew better than my own reflection. Blake. Back when we were still in love, he didn’t have money. Our only entertainment was hiking. Free state parks. A rock slide on one trail. I was in the path. He shoved me out of the way. The rocks caught him instead. Left that scar. I’d sobbed. Swore in my heart I’d stay with him forever. Men’s hearts change fast. Tears blurred my vision. I read Olivia’s caption. “He said the scar was ugly. He’s getting a tattoo. My name. To cover it up.” I didn’t need answers anymore. That photo was every answer I needed. The man who once risked his life to save me was now wrapping that scarred arm around another woman. Naked. In a hotel room.

I was the first one at the office the next morning. Not out of passion for the job. I was there to finalize my exit. My steps didn’t hesitate as I walked into the building. One last thing to do. Make him sign me free. Final step of the exit process. CEO sign-off. That meant Blake. I paced outside his office. The door swung open. “Blame you. Last night was insane. My back’s still killing me.” Olivia’s voice. Laced with laughter. My whole body went rigid. I turned toward the sound. Blake was beaming. One hand on her lower back. Kneading gently. An expression of tenderness I’d never once received. The moment they saw me, panic flickered in their eyes. Olivia coughed. “Madison. It’s not what you think. We went to the gym together last night. I pulled my back.” Her words said one thing. The flush creeping up her face said another. I knew she was baiting me. I didn’t give her the reaction. I just handed the document to Blake. “Sign this.” Blake frowned at me. “Everything’s been approved already. What business is this?” He started flipping through the papers. My heart shot into my throat. The next second, Olivia snatched the document from his hands. “Oh, this? That ancient contract. The one that’s been bleeding us dry for months. Finally resolved. You know the one. Blake, just sign it. Before any new problems pop up.” I heard what she was saying. I was the “problem.” The troublesome vendor she’d spent half a year trying to cut loose. “That’s what this is. Good. I trust you to handle things.” Blake’s eyes brimmed with indulgence. He didn’t examine the papers further. Just scrawled his signature. The breath I’d been holding. Released. Silent. I was free. He caught my expression. Suspicion crept in. “This document’s that important? You look relieved.” I stared at the floor. “It is important.” He glanced at the papers again. But he trusted Olivia. He didn’t push. Olivia winced. Made a show of pressing her back. Blake looked at me. Testing. “Madison. Olivia’s really uncomfortable. You don’t mind if I help her with her back, do you? She’s got to meet clients for the company this afternoon.” “I don’t mind at all. You’re partners. You should take care of each other.” My smile was pure innocence. I’d gotten what I came for. Who cared what he did now? He’d braced himself for a fight. The same screaming match I’d always given him. My calm threw him off. “You… you mean that?” I nodded. Generous. “Of course. Like you said. Without Olivia on the front lines, I wouldn’t have this comfortable life. I should be thanking her.” Something in my words needled him. He couldn’t pinpoint it. He just stared. I swung my bag over my shoulder. “Take good care of Olivia. I’m heading home.” Maybe he realized he’d pushed too far. He cleared his throat. Reached for my arm. “I’ll come home for dinner tonight.” “No need. I’ve got plans with friends.” I smiled. Slid my hand free. Walked out under his stunned gaze.

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On our mating ceremony day, another she-wolf bet my mate wouldn’t leave me at the altar. He proved her wrong. Liam dropped my hand right there on the altar steps. Turned to his packmates. Laughed. “Emily’s soft. A few nights without my scent and she’ll come crawling back.” His packmates erupted in catcalls. They called me a weak she-wolf. A bitch begging for a mark. Chloe sauntered up the aisle. Plucked the veil right off my head. Looped her arm through Liam’s. Walked out of the chapel laughing. Every wolf in the chapel stared at me. I didn’t cry. I didn’t move. I stood there with the same composed expression I’d worn walking in. But only I knew the truth. I wasn’t enduring anything. In that moment, I was carving him out of my life. One clean cut at a time. Deep inside me, my wolf let out one final whimper. And went dead silent. Liam glanced back over his shoulder. Almost approvingly. He left me with one last line. “That’s the composure a future Luna should have. Go home and wait for me.” I watched him walk away and almost laughed out loud. Composure? No. I was just done with him. My wolf was done with him. Three years later. Liam Fox showed up at my boutique with nine black Maybachs and a pink diamond ring. “Cooled off yet?” He smiled like the last three years had never happened. “I’m here to keep my promise.” I didn’t even look at him. I cradled my belly and said flatly, “Excuse me. My mate is waiting for me at the infirmary.” “Cute. You strapped on a fake silicone bump for the drama?” Liam had one hand in his pocket. His gaze slid lazily across my stomach like he was watching a bad joke unfold. His voice carried that smug certainty I used to mistake for confidence. I met his eyes without flinching. “Mr. Fox. Move.” The front of my boutique—Lambert & Co. on Madison—was sealed off by all nine of his blacked-out Maybachs. A drone hovered overhead trailing a banner across the morning sky. MARRY ME, EMILY. Pack members had started to gather. My staff stood pressed against the glass storefront. Phones were coming out. Whispers rippled around us. Liam didn’t seem to register any of it. He stepped closer and held out a bouquet of red roses. “Three years, Emily. The tantrum’s gone on long enough. Time to come home.” He looked at me with what he thought was indulgent affection. “You know how I feel about she-wolves who throw fits. But for you—” he tilted his head “—I made an exception. I gave you three whole years.” I looked at the roses in his hand. Three years ago, I’d been hooked up to an IV at the pack infirmary. Hives. Pollen reaction. He’d sent the exact same bouquet that day. Told me Chloe had picked them. Told me I should be grateful. I didn’t reach for the flowers. I slid a hand over my stomach and took a small step back. “Liam. I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I held his gaze. My voice was quiet. “I’m mated. I’m five months pregnant.” Liam’s pupils contracted. He drew in a sharp breath through his nose—instinctively, trying to catch my scent. Trying to confirm what his wolf was already telling him. But the only scent on me was Damien’s. Possessive. Absolute. Wrapped around me and my wolf like armor. His face darkened. But he still refused to believe it. He laughed softly under his breath. Then he tossed the roses into the trash can at the curb like they were used napkins. “You’d really make up a lie like that just to get a rise out of me?” He pulled a Tiffany-blue velvet box from his inside pocket and snapped it open. A pink diamond. Six carats, easy. “We didn’t get to finish three years ago. I’m making it up to you now.” He didn’t even kneel. He just held the box out. “Put it on. Tomorrow we’ll pick out a Mating Gown. This time, I swear on the Moon Goddess—I won’t walk.” I almost laughed when I heard that. The Moon Goddess doesn’t bless an Alpha who abandons his mate at the altar. He said it like he was handing me the keys to heaven. I looked at the diamond and felt nothing. That night three years ago, I’d peeled the dress off alone in my apartment. I’d taken a pair of scissors to the stained hem. Then I’d thrown both the scraps and the engagement ring into the fireplace and watched them burn down to ash. The part of my wolf that had once belonged to Liam Fox had let out one last whimper that night. And gone silent forever. From that moment on, Liam Fox was dead to me. “I don’t need it.” I stepped around him toward the curb. Liam’s brow finally creased. He reached for my wrist. I twisted away. His hand grabbed empty air. “Emily. Enough.” His voice dropped, low and warning. His Alpha aura flared. A few low-ranking she-wolves nearby flinched. Bared their necks on instinct. But I didn’t move. “My patience has limits. Who is this performance for?” Right then his phone buzzed. A custom ringtone. A she-wolf’s voice—breathy, sweet, helpless. “Liam? Did you find Emily yet? I’m not feeling so good… I’m really dizzy…” The kind of helpless little tone that had always worked on him. Liam’s expression softened instantly. He held the phone up and pressed the voice reply. “Take something for it, sweetheart. I’ll bring her home soon.” Then he turned back to me. Harder again. “Chloe’s sick. And she’s still worried about you. You need to stop being so hostile toward her.” A note of reproach crept into his voice. “What happened three years ago was a joke. The Sinclairs spoiled her—she doesn’t always think things through. You’re the mature one, Em. Why hold a grudge against a girl like that?” Sinclair. The pack his family had spent decades trying to bond with. Chloe’s father was Liam’s father’s strongest pack ally. A mating between their bloodlines had been the Foxes’ lifelong dream. I had been Liam’s college rebellion. The she-wolf he’d picked up at a frat party because she wasn’t on his mother’s approved bloodline list. I watched him stand there—righteous, certain—and felt my stomach turn. It was the pregnancy. But the man in front of me made it worse. I drew in a slow breath and pushed the nausea down. “Liam. Do you not understand English?” I pointed to the Uber pickup zone. “My mate is waiting at the infirmary. Move.” Liam’s face went cold. His eyes dropped to my stomach. “Emily. You’re really not going to stop? You’d stoop this low just to force me to apologize?”

“Stoop this low?” I rolled the words around in my mouth. They almost made me laugh. “Think whatever you want.” I was done arguing. An Uber pulled up at the curb. I went straight for it. I yanked the door open. Slid into the back seat. One hand cradling my belly. Liam slammed his palm against the door before I could close it. “Which infirmary? I’ll drive you.” He stared down at me — every inch the entitled Sinclair heir. “I want to see for myself which rogue you hired to play house with you.” I stared at his hand on the door. “Let go.” “Emily. Don’t push it.” His patience was gone. He yanked open the front passenger door and got in. I sighed and gave the driver the address of a private pack infirmary in Midtown. The driver glanced from me to Liam. Hesitated. Liam tossed a handful of hundreds onto the dashboard. “Drive.” The car merged into traffic. The silence was suffocating. Liam leaned back against the headrest, head tilted toward me. “You used to flinch at a flu shot.” His gaze settled on my stomach, sharp and assessing. “And now you’re walking around with a fake bump just to spite me?” “Take it off. Aren’t you boiling in there?” I zipped my coat all the way up to my chin. Closed my eyes. Stopped answering him. Any adult Alpha’s wolf should have been able to read what was written all over me. The mating mark scent on my skin didn’t belong to him. He just refused to accept it. ⸻ Thirty minutes later, the car stopped at the infirmary. I got out. Liam followed. The lobby was hushed — the kind of quiet that only money could buy. I walked straight to the self check-in kiosk and tapped my insurance card. Liam stood at my shoulder, eyes on the screen. Obstetrics – Follow-up. 20 weeks. A muscle twitched at the corner of his jaw. Then he composed himself. “Quite a commitment to the bit.” A cold little laugh. I took my slip and walked toward the elevators. He stayed glued to my side. On the third floor, I found an empty seat in the waiting area. I’d barely settled in when the elevator chimed again. Chloe Sinclair stepped out in red-soled stilettos, cradling a bouquet of white roses against her camel cashmere coat. She spotted us instantly and made a beeline over. “Liam. Em.” She thrust the bouquet at me, all wide-eyed innocence. “I heard you were pregnant. I just had to come and congratulate you.” The pollen hit me like a slap. I jerked my head away and sneezed hard. Liam frowned at her. “She’s allergic to pollen. Keep them away from her.” Chloe bit her lower lip. Her eyes welled up on cue. “Oh — Em, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot.” She pressed a hand to her chest, eyes wide. “I was just so excited for you.” Then she dropped the bouquet on the empty chair beside her and slid right down next to Liam, settling in like she belonged there. “But Em…” Her gaze drifted theatrically across my belly. “Isn’t this all a little fast, though?” She covered her mouth with her fingertips and giggled. “The baby’s already this big. You didn’t just marry the first rogue who looked at you to get back at Liam, did you?” “And on such an important day — where is your Alpha, anyway? Did he leave you here all by yourself?” Liam didn’t stop her. Didn’t even glance her way. He was watching me. Waiting. Almost curious to see how I’d react. “Her Alpha’s too busy to bother,” he supplied for me, the sneer curling under the words. “What kind of paid actor takes a gig like this seriously?” I sat there listening to the two of them play off each other. Something cold and clear settled behind my ribs. This was the Alpha I had loved for seven years. He could stand in an infirmary waiting room and watch another she-wolf humiliate his pregnant ex — and pile right on for sport. “Excuse me — is Mrs. Lockwood here?” A healer’s assistant appeared in the doorway of the exam suite, chart in hand. “That’s me.” I stood up. The healer assistant’s eyes flicked from me to Liam, then to Chloe. “For your appointment today, I’ll need your mate to sign some consent forms. Which one of you is the mate?” Liam stepped forward without thinking. “I am.” I turned. My voice cut between us — flat, final. “He’s not.”

The healer’s assistant froze mid-step. Her eyes flicked back and forth between me and Liam. Liam’s outstretched hand — the one already reaching for the chart — hung in the air, suspended. His face darkened. “Emily. Don’t do this.” He lowered his voice. The warning underneath it was sharp. “This is an infirmary. Not the place for one of your scenes.” I didn’t look at him. I kept my eyes on the healer’s assistant and offered her a polite, almost apologetic smile. “I’m sorry — I don’t know these people. They followed me in. My mate is on his way. He’ll be here any minute.” The healer’s assistant nodded smoothly — the way assistant do when they’ve seen worse — and tucked the chart back under her arm. “Of course, Mrs. Lockwood. Please wait out here until he arrives. Some of these forms have to be signed by the mate in person.” She turned and disappeared back into the exam suite Liam’s hand fell slowly to his side. He slid it into his trouser pocket — that same casual, in-control gesture I’d watched him use in a hundred Pack Council meetings. But his eyes had changed. There was something dangerous in them now. “Mrs. Lockwood. Strangers.” He let out a short, brittle laugh. “Three years, and look at you, Em. You won’t even let me sign as next of kin?” Chloe shot to her feet and clutched at his arm. Her white roses were forgotten on the seat behind her. “Liam, please. Don’t get worked up.” Then she turned to me. Right on cue, her eyes filled with tears. “Em — are you still upset about that silly little joke three years ago?” She sniffled. Voice quivering at exactly the right register. “I just made a bet with him. I was trying to make the reception more fun. How was I supposed to know you’d take it so personally and run off for three whole years?” She had reduced an Alpha walking out on his Luna at the altar to a silly little joke. She had reduced my breaking point to not being able to take a joke. I stared at her tear-streaked, doe-eyed face. I almost admired the sheer nerve of it. “Turning a mating ceremony into a bet — that was a joke?” I turned to Liam. “Leaving me at the altar in front of my parents and two hundred guests — that was a joke?” I looked back at Chloe. “Stepping on my gown. Yanking the veil off my head. Putting it on yourself and laughing all the way out of the chapel. Calling me a low-ranked she-wolf begging for a mark. Was that a joke too?” Chloe shrank back and ducked behind Liam. Liam’s brow tightened. He stepped between us — putting himself in front of her like a shield. “Enough.” His voice was hard now. “Chloe grew up with everything handed to her. Her wolf is still young. You’re older than her, Em. Just once, can’t you be the bigger person?” He looked at me with open disappointment. Like a parent at a pup who’d let him down. “You take one small thing and turn it into a three-year grudge. You weren’t always this petty.” This petty. I held his gaze. For that mating ceremony, I had stayed up half the nights of an entire month. Hand-stitching his initials — L.F. — into the inner cuff of his groom’s shirt. By candlelight. Because I’d wanted something only the two of us would know about. I’d waited until two in the morning for him to come try on his tux. He’d never showed. Just a text. Too busy. I’d thought our mating day was the start of everything. It turned out to be the glass of poison he handed me with a smile. “Liam.” I said his name quietly. “Do you really believe that all you have to do is crook your finger, and I’ll come crawling back, baring my neck?” His eyes flickered. “That’s not what I said.” He shifted, recalibrating. “I just don’t think you needed to mate with some random wolf to make a point.” He paused. Softened his voice — that low, coaxing tone he used on the Council elders when a vote started slipping. “This so-called mate of yours can’t even make it to a prenatal appointment on time. You really think he knows you better than I do?” He even remembered. “You hate needles. Someone always has to talk you through a blood draw. Does he know that?” I looked at him — that arrogant, self-satisfied tenderness on his face, like he thought he was being deep. Something close to pity prickled along the inside of my chest. “He doesn’t need to know.” I rested a hand on my stomach. “Because he’s never let me face any of this alone.” The door to the exam suite opened again. The healer’s assistant stepped out with a slim stack of papers. “Mrs. Lockwood — these are from your previous intake. Could you confirm the information is correct?” She held them out to me. Liam was taller. He read over my shoulder in a single glance. His eyes snagged on the spouse signature line. And stayed there. Two words. Black ink. Confident, slanting strokes. Damien Lockwood.

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When the storm came, my knight chose another woman. By the time he returned, my little brother was dead. I will never forget his first choice. I was oiling my husband’s sword when I found it. A dried white rose petal. Pressed flat into the lining of the leather sheath. The kind Bianca always wore in her hair. He walked in from the training yard then, sweat on his brow, and saw what I was holding. “Court audience yesterday,” he said, not missing a beat. “Royal Choir performed afterward. She handed it to me on the steps. I didn’t want to be rude.” “Mm,” I said. “It’s fine.” I dropped the petal into the hearth and watched it curl into ash. Lorenzo Castellani. My husband. Knight Commander of the Sun Kingdom. Commander of every sword and lance under King Leo’s banner. They said the Crown Prince of Tide Kingdom would take a three-day detour just to avoid crossing his path. A man like that had no shortage of women trailing perfume through his audience hall. But only Bianca Conti could make him sit through an entire performance with a petal hidden in his sheath. Later, on the battlefield, I threw myself between him and death. I nearly bled out digging a Tide arrowhead from his chest. By the time the healers arrived, I was the one slipping away. But he was the one who shattered. He knelt at my bedside and swore on his Knight Commander’s blade. “I, Lorenzo Castellani, swear by my sword. Outside the duties of the crown, I will never see Bianca Conti alone again.” That was five years ago. He saw me turn back to the medicine chest. Watched me sort dried yarrow and willow bark like nothing had happened. Something flickered behind his green eyes. He crossed the room in three strides and caught my wrist. “Sera.” His voice was too careful. “You’re not going to say anything?” I looked up at him. At the man I had bled for. At the man who had promised me the world on the steps of King Leo’s throne room. I twisted my wrist out of his grip. Once, I would have torn his audience hall apart over a single white petal. Not tonight. I picked up the willow bark and went back to work. Lorenzo wasn’t letting it go. He stood behind me, voice pitched low. “Sera. It was one petal.” I kept sorting. “Bianca’s father gave his life for me at Westmark Strait. Marco Conti took five arrows meant for my chest. She is the last of his blood. As Knight Commander, watching over her is my duty.” I closed the medicine chest. Set the willow bark on the shelf. Wiped my hands on my apron and went to fetch water from the well. He followed me. “What is this really about? Talk to me.” I drew the bucket. Carried it in. Washed my hands at the basin. The herb stains under my nails wouldn’t come out. They never came out. He hated my hands. He had told me, once, after too much wine, that Bianca’s hands were like fresh-peeled pearls. Mine were too rough. I dried my hands. Reached into the cedar drawer where I kept my work. Pulled out the bound manuscript I’d been writing for three months. A hundred and sixty pages. Coastal herbs. Tide-poison antidotes. Field amputation procedures. Things my old master had taught me with his last breath. Things I’d discovered on my own pulling soldiers back from the brink. Last week, Master Klaus — the man who ran the Royal Academy of Healing — had ridden all the way from the capital to read it. He’d turned the last page in silence. Then he’d told me, eyes wet, that I was his pick. It was the highest training a healer could receive in the Sun Kingdom. The dream of every coastal apothecary. I had been twelve years old when I first heard the name Royal Academy. I had whispered it into my pillow like a prayer. I handed the manuscript to Lorenzo. He flipped through it. Barely looked. He set it on the corner of the table, on top of yesterday’s correspondence. “I’ll have it forwarded when I have a free morning.” I didn’t answer. I went to the kitchen to start supper. He didn’t speak again until I set the bread down. Then, very lightly: “There’s only one apprentice spot.” The ladle paused over the soup. “I know.” “Sera, you’re already the best healer on this coast. You’ll be respected here whether you go to the Academy or not.” I looked up. “But Bianca,” he said, “is different. Her health is failing. Dancing in the Royal Choir is killing her. The Academy is her only path out.” I set the ladle down. “Her father took five arrows for me. I owe him that life until the day I die.” A pause. “So I submitted her application alongside yours.” The blood drained out of my hands. “Lorenzo. Master Klaus told me, with his own mouth, that the spot was mine.” “Nobody promises anything in this life. Best candidate gets it.” His voice hardened. “And Bianca’s record is stronger than yours. A martyr’s daughter. Lead dancer of the Royal Choir. Her file’s stronger than yours. Yours started in a fishing village.” He saw my face. Tried to soften. “Don’t be small about this, Sera. My stipend can keep you in silks for ten lifetimes. If you stay at the village clinic forever, no one will think less of you.” “But Bianca can’t go back to the Choir. That world will eat her alive. The Academy is her only way out.” I didn’t say anything. I set down my spoon. I couldn’t eat another bite. In bed that night, he huged for me from behind. I pushed him away. He went still. “Now what?” “I’m tired.” “Sera Russo.” His voice cooled by ten degrees. “You’re becoming difficult.” He rolled onto his back and faced the wall. I lay in the dark with my eyes open. The wind off the harbor rattled the shutters. Somewhere in the village, a dog was barking. I thought about the first time I’d ever seen his face. A boy of twenty-two, half-dead on a horse blanket, blood foaming at his lips. He’d opened his eyes when I cut the leather of his cuirass. Green eyes. The color of the sea after a storm. He’d looked at me and tried to smile. “Are you,” he’d whispered, “the Healer?” A month later, in the audience chamber, on his knees before King Leo, he’d taken my scarred hand in both of his. “This hand,” he had said to the entire court, “saved the Knight Commander of the Sun Kingdom. I will spend my life trying to deserve it.” I’d believed him. What a fool I’d been. That girl in the white silk gown — nineteen years old, the scar on her finger still pink — she had believed every word. That girl, I realized, had been dying for a long time. Tonight she was finally done.

It was late afternoon when I passed the Choir’s practice hall on my way to the apothecary. Bianca was on the steps with a half-dozen other girls. Pale silks. Ribbons in their hair. Voices light as glass. She saw me. I knew she saw me. Her voice rose half an octave. “Oh, Renzo is too honorable. I told him I wasn’t strong enough for the Academy. But he insisted. For my father’s honor, he said. He even drafted the application himself.” A girl beside her giggled. “Bianca. You and the Knight Commander are made for each other. A hero and a beauty. Whereas Lady Castellani—” Bianca lifted her fan to her mouth. “Stop. If Sera hears you, she’ll think I’m bullying her again. You know how she is. Fishing village girl. Such a temper.” I tightened my grip on the apothecary basket and kept walking. I didn’t stop to confront her. There was no point. I went to Lady Cass’s. Wife of Duke Bell. The King’s oldest friend. The gentlest man in the Sun Kingdom court. Three years ago, the Duke had taken a Tide bolt while inspecting border defenses. I had ridden through the night from Castellammare and pulled the barb out of his thigh by lantern light. He had lived. Lady Cass opened her own door for me. She always did. She’d looked at me like her own daughter from the first day I rode through her gate. “Sera.” She read my face. “You and him fighting again?” I followed her inside. I shook my head. “Lady Cass. I need to ask about the Academy.” She exhaled, long and slow. “That husband of yours.” Her eyes were tired. “Sera, the spot was yours. Master Klaus chose you himself. Renzo went over his head. Submitted Bianca’s name alongside. Used the old Knight Commander’s name.” “Vittorio Castellani has been retired five years. But his old students are scattered across the royal council, the King’s Guard, the Academy review board. When the Castellani name asks for a favor — even now — people listen.” My stomach dropped. So it wasn’t just an application. He fought for it. Against me. For her. That was the moment I knew. I left the Duke’s manor as the sun was setting. The sea wind off the harbor was harder than usual. It scraped at my face. I pulled my hood up. I heard the footsteps before I heard the voice. “Sera.” I turned. My little brother. Matteo. Fifteen years old. Half a head taller than me. Squire’s leathers. A short blade at his hip. A face still soft with boyhood. He came at a run. “Sera, what happened. What did he do.” “Nothing, Teo.” “Don’t lie to me. I saw Lady Cass’s groom. I saw your face.” I tried to smile. He grabbed my sleeve. “Tell me.” I told him. Just the Academy. Just the application. His face went red. Then white. “That lying little—” “Matteo. Don’t.” “No, Sera, listen to me. You nearly died pulling that arrow out of his chest. You took a barb through your hand for him. Your hand still doesn’t close properly. And he—” “Stop.” “He forgot. That’s what he did. He forgot.” His voice cracked. “Eight years and he forgot. And now he’s giving your spot to that—” “Teo. We don’t say that here.” I clamped my hand over his mouth. That was the rule. Lorenzo had told me himself, a month into our marriage. Sera. A Knight Commander does not owe his life to his wife. Anyone who hears that — anyone — will think less of me. So I’d buried it. For eight years. Matteo tore my hand off his mouth. His eyes were wet. “I’m going to make her say it to my face.” “Matteo—” He was already running. …… By the time I caught up, it was too late. Two of the King’s Guard had Matteo face-down on the steps of the Choir hall. His cheek was pressed against the stone. There was blood on his lip. Bianca was sobbing into Lorenzo’s chest. Her hands were trembling on his cuirass. Tears streamed down her face. “Renzo,” she whispered. “I only wanted to explain, her brother — he came up the steps and he — he put his hands on me—” “I never touched her!” Matteo thrashed under their hands. “She’s lying through her teeth!” Lorenzo’s boot came down on his back. “Quiet.” Then again. Harder. “You think the royal court is your tavern, boy?” I shoved through the guards and threw myself between them. “Lorenzo. Stop.” He looked up at me. I had seen those green eyes on a battlefield. I had seen them across a dying soldier. I had seen them on our wedding night. I had never seen them like this. His eyes were ice. “Sera. Move.” “He put hands on a daughter of the Royal Choir. Two witnesses. He’ll be tried in the morning. Move, or you’ll be charged as an accomplice.” I didn’t move. He looked past me. At the Captain of the Guard. “Take him.” They dragged Matteo off the steps. His leathers scraped the stone. He was crying — not from the pain, I realized. From the look on my face. They hauled him through the archway and he was gone. Bianca raised her tear-streaked face from Lorenzo’s chest. And in that heartbeat, I saw her flicker of triumph. Then she was sobbing again. His hand came up and cupped the back of her head. Voice softer than he’d ever used on me. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” I stood three steps away from them. A woman watching her own funeral. …… I went to his study that night to beg. He was at his desk, polishing the gold lion brooch King Leo had pinned to his cloak three years ago. The Golden Lion Cross. Three men in the kingdom had been granted one. He was the youngest. He didn’t look up. “It’s discipline, Sera. He put hands on a court woman. The law’s the law.” “He didn’t touch her.” “Two witnesses say he did.” “They’re Choir girls. They’d say the sky was green if she told them to.” “And you have nothing but a brother’s word.” He set the brooch down. I stared at him. “He is the only family I have left.” His mouth tightened. “I told you to manage him.” He stood. Walked around the desk. His voice was very quiet. “You want me to break the law of the court — for your family. After everything I have done for you.” The words tasted like iron. “I expected better from you.” He picked the brooch back up. “The Academy spot has been confirmed. It’s Bianca. The announcement goes out Monday.” He polished the gold lion’s eye. “I’ll do what I can for your brother. No formal record. But he serves his confinement, and he takes the reprimand. That’s the most I can give you.” The most he could give me. Like he was sliding a copper coin across a table to a beggar. I turned around and walked out. The door clicked shut behind me. In the dark corridor, with my back against the cold stone, I finally understood. The world I had built for the last eight years had been a painted curtain. And tonight, somewhere behind it, the whole world went black.

The coast guard hoisted the red banner before dawn. A storm. The worst they’d seen in a hundred years. Bearing down on Castellammare within twenty-four hours. And under cover of the storm, Tide Kingdom’s fleet had been spotted off the western shore. The largest raiding force in a century. Coming to crack open the Sun Kingdom’s eastern coast like an egg. The whole harbor went to first-level war footing. Lorenzo took command from the war room in the keep. Every banner of the Knight Commander’s office spread across the long oak table. Couriers running in and out at full sprint. The whole apparatus of the realm under his hand. I had my own war. The clinic by the harbor was the only one for forty miles. I cleared the cots. I pulled down every shelf. I had two apprentices boiling linen at the hearth and counting tinctures by the lamp. Matteo’s company had drawn the worst post on the line. The eastern bulwark. B Outpost. The breakwater that ran straight into the teeth of the storm. The most likely point where the Tide raiders would try to land. If it fell, the eastern shore went with it. Before Matteo marched out, he sent a folded note up through a stable boy. I unfolded it on the clinic counter. Three lines, in his sloppy careful hand. > Sera. Don’t worry. I’m fine. When the storm passes I’ll come and stay with you. Love you, Sis. — Teo I read it twice. Then I folded it small. Tucked it inside the leather pouch at my breast, against the skin. Then I went back to boiling linen. …… The storm came in at midnight. Black wind. Walls of rain. The whole keep shook on its foundation. Slate tiles ripped from the roofs and went sailing through the dark like knives. And under that cover — exactly as the scouts had warned — the Tide ships came in. Low, dark hulls riding the swells. Sails reefed. Bowmen at the rails. They threaded the breakers in the dark and beached on the eastern shingle while the storm pinned every coastal patrol in their barracks. By the time anyone on the cliffs saw them, they were already coming up the rocks. The wounded came in one after another. Some were soldiers. Most were villagers — fishermen pulled half-drowned from collapsed roofs, an old woman with her arm split open by flying tin, a child with a scalp wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. I stitched. I poured. I bandaged. I didn’t have time to drink water. At three in the morning, the first messenger bird struck the war room shutter. I was passing through with an armful of linen when I heard the clerk read it aloud. The hand belonged to Giorgio. Captain of the Seventh. > Knight Commander. Enemy on the eastern shore. They came in under the storm. We’re holding the wall but they keep landing. We need reinforcement. Now. The ink had run with the rain. Giorgio’s neat hand had gone ragged. You could almost hear him over the wind. Lorenzo’s voice was steady as stone. “Hold the line. Reinforcements are coming.” Then a second bird hit the shutter. The clerk pulled it inside. Read the scrap of vellum. Ran for the war room. He read it out loud. > Renzo. The rehearsal hall in the choir wing collapsed. Bianca tried to save the ceremonial regalia. A roof beam fell on her. She’s bleeding. We can’t dig her out. Please send someone. She cannot die here. Lorenzo’s breath caught. I heard it from three steps away. “Is she alive?” “They don’t know, my lord. They can’t reach her.” The clerk’s voice was shaking. In my hand, the iron clamp I’d been holding hit the floor with a clean bright sound. A third bird from the Seventh slammed into the shutter. The clerk barely got it inside before it tore loose. Giorgio again. His handwriting was extremely messy. Like it had been scrawled in the middle of dying. > Knight Commander. The wall is going. The men are buying every breath with their bodies. They’ve landed three ships and another four are coming in behind. I beg you. Send the two reserve companies. Let us hold long enough to evacuate the villagers. Knight Commander — > Matteo’s bleeding. He’s your wife’s brother. He’s Sera’s brother. Please. The war room went still. Every man around that oak table understood the math. The Knight Commander had two reserve companies under his personal seal. Two. The only forces he could move on the spot, without sending up the chain. Send them one place, the other place was being told to die. I stared at Lorenzo. I didn’t run forward. I didn’t drop to my knees. I just stood in the doorway, holding a roll of bloody linen, and I waited for him to do the right thing. For a moment — just a moment — I thought he would. His eyes flicked to me. They flicked back to the war table. He closed his eyes. And then he opened them. His voice was a stranger’s. Cold as a sword laid in snow. “First reserve, full ride to the choir wing. Get Lady Bianca out alive. That is the order.” A pause. “B Outpost holds. That’s an order.”

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I had just lost my mate,Alpha Zachary Blackthorn,Alpha of the Silverfang Pack. As the Luna-in-waiting and pregnant with his child,I was granted temporary sanctuary in the Blackthorn estate. My in-laws,the former Alpha and Luna,treated me kindly on the surface—but I could feel the shift in their auras,the unease in their glances.Perhaps they pitied me. Or perhaps,they already knew the truth I was yet to uncover. After the Moon Rite that honored Alpha Zachary’s death,the elders suggested something I could barely believe—they proposed that his twin brother,Beta Ethan Blackthorn,should”unite the bloodlines,”and take responsibility for both females under the ancient law of Dual Protection. Without formal mating bonds,he would serve as guardian and provider to both me and his existing mate,Sophia Hale. Sophia,who had always treated me like a walking curse,exploded with rage upon hearing it. Her amber eyes turned feral,and before I could utter a word,she collapsed into unconsciousness. Her wolf,fragile and unstable,had taken a toll on her health long ago. That night,I approached the Alpha quarters,desperate to plead with Alpha Zachary’s parents to abandon such a humiliating idea. But just as I reached the wooden door carved with the sigil of the Moon,I heard voices from within. “You’re sure it was your brother who died?”my mother-in-law asked,her voice trembling slightly. The man who answered was not Alpha Zachary. A heavy sigh followed. “Sophia’s wolf is too weak to endure such pain.If she knew I was the one truly gone…she’d unravel.So I took my brother’s place.For her,”he said. “I never stopped loving her.I only accepted the bond with Rachel so my brother could be free.Now that she carries a pup,my duty is done.I owe her nothing.Don’t speak again of me caring for both females—it would tear Sophia apart.” The air left my lungs. The man I had grieved,the one I’d mourned and buried…wasn’t my mate. Alpha Zachary was alive. And the one who had died protecting me—was Beta Ethan. At the next family dinner,I lifted my chin and looked the elders in the eye. “You’ve been urging me to move forward,”I said calmly.“I’ve thought it through.I’ll terminate the pregnancy.And start a new life.” The male across the table—Alpha Zachary—froze mid-motion.He had been serving me stew like nothing had happened,as if he hadn’t betrayed me with a lie that reshaped my entire existence. After the funeral rites of“Alpha Zachary,”I found out I was carrying his child.For the sake of the pup,I bottled every tear,every howl of grief.My own wolf,Lyra,urged me to hold on—for him,for his legacy. Because of Alpha Zachary’s weak lycan bloodline,conceiving had been nearly impossible. This pup was a miracle.I needed injections daily to stabilize the fetus,while morning sickness wracked my body until I dropped forty pounds.I hovered between life and death. Even the elders began to soften. They advised me gently:“You’re young,Rachel.Let the past go.Heal.Abort the child,and we will guide you to a better path.” But how could I? Alpha Zachary—no,Beta Ethan—was the one who truly saved me. Years ago,I had been promised to Beta Ethan through a sacred mate-marking.But three nights before the ceremony,I was kidnapped by a rogue pack.Abused.Torn. Beta Ethan called off the bond,disgusted that I was no longer“pure.” It was Alpha Zachary—his gentle twin—who risked his life to save me.He bled for me.He knelt before my father,sword in hand,and asked for my hand in marriage,claiming he had loved me from the beginning. And under his kindness,I healed.Slowly,painfully.And I thought we had found peace. Until the car crash took his life—or so I was told. And now,the child I was desperately trying to protect was not Alpha Zachary’s,but Beta Ethan’s.Conceived during a moment of confusion,of duty—not love. I almost collapsed under the weight of it all. Still,I held on.For the child. Until,during lunch,they suggested the ancient rite of Twinned Guardianship—a ritual where the surviving twin would become protector of the deceased’s mate and offspring. Sophia lost control. “You whore!”she screamed,slapping me across the face.“You think you can seduce him just because your mate’s dead?!You’re shameless!” Before I could explain,her wolf took over,and she fainted. Alpha Zachary—no,Beta Ethan—looked at me with scorn.Then swept her into his arms like a hero from an old wolf tale,leaving me alone with the taste of blood and betrayal.

Sophia’s Slap Caused Pregnancy Complications Again Sophia’s slap made my vision go black,and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen,as if I had been sliced open. I pressed my hand to my stomach,trying to ease the overwhelming pain,but my body couldn’t control itself,and the world seemed to tilt. “Rachel!Calm down!”I heard a familiar voice by my ear,filled with urgency.”Breathe!Breathe deeply!” “Pack doctor,what should I do?”I spoke with difficulty,my voice broken by the pain. The voice belonged to our Pack doctor,Faron Ashcroft,one of the most respected healers in our pack.He moved quickly to my bedside,lowering his head to check my pulse,his expression serious.”You need to stay calm,Rachel.You have to relax so that your wolf spirit can regain its balance,”he said,placing a cold hand on my forehead,gently pressing down. “But…”I groaned in pain,my hands gripping the bedsheet tightly.”I feel it…it’s restless,it’s uneasy.” “Your wolf spirit is agitated,”Faron whispered,”If you lose control of your emotions,it will harm the baby.I’ll prepare some herbs to keep you calm.” “Thank you,Faron.”I closed my eyes with difficulty,though his touch brought a brief sense of coolness,it didn’t ease the storm of emotions inside me. “Relax,Rachel.Breathe deeply,”he reassured. I nodded,trying to quiet my mind,though the turmoil inside me still threatened to explode. Two days later,I was finally able to get out of bed. After recovering a bit of strength,I decided to go speak to my in-laws,hoping to convince them to abandon that absurd idea and never bring it up again. I slowly walked to my in-laws’room.As I reached the door,I overheard my mother-in-law’s voice,filled with confusion. “Alpha Zachary,it was clearly your brother who died.Why are you insisting it was you?” Alpha Zachary? My heart skipped a beat,and I froze in place.Did that mean it wasn’t Alpha Zachary who had died,but Beta Ethan? I was struck with shock,unable to process the words.My hands gripped the doorframe,my whole body tense as if I had been struck by lightning. I shook my head,trying to convince myself it was a hallucination.“It can’t be…it just can’t be.” But the next words shattered the fragile belief I held. “Mom,don’t let Sophia know about this.She’s always been weak,with a bad heart.If she knew it was my brother who passed away,her body definitely couldn’t take it.” Beta Ethan—no,it should be Alpha Zachary. My husband,Alpha Zachary. He paused for a moment,seemingly considering his words carefully,then continued in a cold tone,“Actually,the person I’ve always loved is Sophia.I only married Rachel to let her be with my brother.” I widened my eyes,my heart pounding.It was as if everything I believed had begun to collapse. “Now,Rachel is carrying my child,so I don’t owe her anything anymore,”he said.“From now on,I will take care of Sophia for the rest of my life,in place of my brother.Don’t mention taking care of both families again,it will only upset her.” “You…”I couldn’t help but yell.”What are you saying?What are you really saying?” Just as I was about to storm into the room,the door opened.I froze as I saw Alpha Zachary standing there,his expression serious,his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. “Rachel,”he said,his voice heavy with fatigue,“You heard everything,didn’t you?” “You lied to me!You’ve known everything all along…”I shouted,my voice filled with anger.“You’re living as your dead brother,aren’t you?You never told me the truth!” He remained silent for a moment before lowering his head.“Yes.I had to replace him to protect Sophia,”he said,his voice low.“Rachel,you don’t understand,this is all about our family’s legacy.” My rage almost consumed me.It felt like my entire being was on the verge of exploding.My wolf spirit was seething with fury.I could feel it stirring inside me,ready to break free,but I forced myself to take a deep breath to calm it. “I don’t need your explanations.I don’t need you to take anyone’s place,”I retorted,my voice trembling with a mix of fury and heartbreak. “You don’t understand,”Alpha Zachary’s voice deepened.“You don’t have a choice.We,as wolves,have our responsibilities.You’re carrying my child now,that’s a bond between us,a responsibility.” “Responsibility?”I sneered.“I thought it was love between us,not responsibility.” Just as I turned to leave,Faron suddenly appeared in front of me.“Rachel,calm down,”he said softly,his expression full of concern.“The air here is wrong.The situation is becoming urgent.” I turned to look at Faron.There was something in his eyes,a warning that I couldn’t ignore.“You know your wolf spirit is on the verge of losing control,don’t you?”he said,his voice tight. I froze,looking into his eyes.Faron’s gaze was filled with a deep,unspoken anxiety.“I understand your pain,but right now,you need to stay calm,or we won’t be able to protect you and the child.” “I understand,”I whispered,my voice quiet but firm.“I’ll stay calm.”

“But Rachel has already suffered enough.Back then,to break off her engagement with your brother and let your brother be with Sophia,you deliberately had someone kidnap Rachel for three days and nights,causing her to be abused.Now that she’s finally moved on and is carrying your child,it’s only right for you to take care of her…” My mother-in-law’s voice was trembling as she continued to argue,but Alpha Zachary interrupted her sharply,his voice tinged with frustration and something darker. “Enough,Mom!”Alpha Zachary’s tone was harsh,filled with frustration. He stood with his arms crossed,his gaze cold and distant.“To make up for what happened,I married her even though I knew everyone would mock me for accepting a‘tainted’woman.I took care of her for three years,helping her heal.Isn’t that enough?” I could hear the bitterness in his voice,like a snarl that was barely held back. “Do you want me to spend my whole life repaying her?I’ve suffered for three years,pretending for three years.I’ve had enough!”Alpha Zachary’s eyes flickered for a moment,and I saw something primal in them,something raw and angry. His wolf spirit seemed to be clawing at the surface,desperate to break free. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.“Living with her every day,watching her struggle…it’s been torture.Now,heaven has given me a chance to be with Sophia again.I’m not going to throw that away.” His words hit me like a slap,and the pain in my chest intensified. I heard more muffled voices from inside,but I couldn’t make out the words.All I could focus on was the deafening silence that followed. The coldness seeped into my bones,and I felt as if the very air around me had frozen. It was as though my heart had stopped beating,and every word they spoke was a dagger that cut deeper into my soul. I stumbled backward,my feet barely holding me up. I turned and staggered down the hallway,not caring about the tears that fell freely down my face. The sharp,biting cold of the night air met me as I reached my room,but it couldn’t freeze the burning pain in my chest. I fell to my knees,gasping for breath,my body trembling uncontrollably. It wasn’t just the cold,though.It was the realization—everything was a lie. The man I had trusted,the man I thought loved me,had been playing me all along. The truth hit me harder than I had imagined. Alpha Zachary hadn’t been my salvation—he had been my tormentor all along.It wasn’t just that he had pretended to love me for three years—it was that he had orchestrated everything.The kidnapping.The suffering.All of it was to push me aside for Sophia. I couldn’t breathe.I couldn’t think.The reality of it all left me paralyzed,and my mind raced back to those dark days. The kidnapping.The three days and nights of hell. I had been taken because they wanted me broken.They wanted me ruined.Alpha Zachary—no,both he and Beta Ethan—had planned it all. But why?Why hadn’t they just called off the engagement openly?Why hadn’t they simply walked away from me? Why did they have to destroy me instead? I collapsed onto the floor,my body wracked with sobs.Everything I had believed,everything I had fought for,had been shattered.And the worst part?I had trusted him. I had believed in him so completely. “I’m carrying his child…”I whispered to myself,but it felt like a cruel joke.My body was still shaking,my wolf spirit struggling to hold control.It was as though my emotions were pulling at my soul,threatening to tear me apart. The image of Alpha Zachary’s eyes—cold,indifferent,with that familiar but hidden wolf-like hunger—flashed in my mind. Meanwhile,Inside the Room Alpha Zachary’s back was to the door,his posture rigid as he spoke to his mother,voice laced with frustration. “Why do you insist on this?You think I don’t know how to carry the weight of this family?My brother’s death wasn’t just a loss for me,Mom.I’ve been pretending for years that I didn’t want to be with Sophia.I’ve been living a lie.And now,you want me to keep pretending?” His voice lowered,growing darker,raw with emotion. “You don’t understand,”he said softly,almost to himself.“She doesn’t belong with me.She never did.My wolf…”He clenched his fists,his nails biting into his palms,“She’s not my true mate.” His mother took a step back,clearly taken aback by the rawness of his words.“But Alpha Zachary,what about Rachel?She’s already suffered enough.You can’t just—” Alpha Zachary spun around,eyes flashing with a dangerous light,and his wolf instincts began to bleed into his voice.“I’ve done more than enough for Rachel.Do you think I owe her my life?Do you want me to spend my days pretending to care when all I can feel is the pull to be with Sophia?To return to my true mate?” His mother remained silent,unsure of how to respond. Back in Rachel’s Room I lay there on the floor,my body still trembling. Suddenly,the door creaked open,and Faron,the Tribal Doctor,stepped in. “Rachel,you need to calm down,”Faron’s deep voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. His presence was steadying,but I could see the concern in his eyes as he knelt beside me. His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the chaos in my heart. “Faron…”I gasped,struggling to hold back tears.”Why?Why did they do this to me?Why did Alpha Zachary—why did he—” His voice softened,and he placed a hand gently on my shoulder.“I don’t have all the answers,but I know this—your wolf spirit is fighting,Rachel.You’re not alone in this.” “But my child…”I whispered through the tears.“I can’t lose him.I can’t lose everything I’ve been fighting for.” Faron nodded,his expression grave but compassionate.“You won’t lose him,Rachel.You have the strength of your pack,and the strength of your wolf.Together,we can protect him.But first,you need to control your emotions.If you don’t,both you and the child could be in danger.” “I…I’ll try.”My voice was shaky,but something inside me stirred. It was faint,but it was there—my wolf.Lyra.Her energy was faint,but her presence was still with me. Faron stood and placed a hand over his heart,a gesture of peace and protection.”Trust yourself,Rachel.The path ahead may be dark,but you have the power to change your fate.”

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The car had only been on the road for three minutes. Daphne, Alpha Asher’s first love suddenly let out a little “Ah!” “What is it?” Alpha Asher of the Silverfang Pack immediately tensed up, his canines slightly protruding behind his lips. She pinched the hem of her skirt with her fingers, eyes reddening. “I think my hair got caught in the seatbelt… It hurts a bit.” My wolf soul, Zaia, exploded in my head: “With acting like this, she might as well be the lead at the werewolf theater.” I didn’t look back. In the rearview mirror, Alpha Asher had already turned to her, his fingertips glowing faintly gold as he carefully untangled her hair — that soothing aura appeared only when an Alpha was trying to comfort someone. “A few strands got pulled out,” Daphne pouted. “I knew I shouldn’t have worn my hair down. Such a hassle.” “Not a hassle,” Alpha Asher smiled. “It looks nice this way.” Zaia snorted. “He said the same thing to you last year. Forgotten already?” I tugged at my own seatbelt. The metal buckle was digging painfully into my collarbone. Alpha Lycan of the Blackthorn Pack suddenly let out a short laugh. Daphne immediately turned to him. “Alpha Lycan, do you think I’m being dramatic?” “No,” he replied calmly, hands on the steering wheel. “Just think your hair’s tougher than steel wire.” Daphne’s face stiffened for a second before she turned back to Asher. “I didn’t mean to…” “It’s not your fault.” Alpha Asher cut her off immediately, his eyes flicking toward me. “Kiara, stop moving around back there — you bumped into Daphne.” I froze. “I didn’t move.” “Then how did her hair get caught?” he frowned. “Can’t you be a bit more considerate? It’s her birthday today.” I laughed. “Sure.” Alpha Asher seemed surprised but said nothing. Then Alpha Lycan spoke, “Pull over at the next intersection. I need to grab some water.” The wolf fang tattoo on his wrist glinted with his movement. The car had barely stopped when Daphne made another scene. “Ah!” This time, louder, with a sob. “My bracelet!” Asher looked down. His night-vision eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light. Her wrist was bare. “It was just here…” she was on the verge of tears. “It was a birthday gift from my mom…” Zaia sneered. “Here we go. Trying to set you up again.” “Where’d it fall?” Asher bent down immediately, nose twitching slightly as he sniffed around. “Maybe it rolled to the back?” Daphne looked straight at me, eyes full of suggestion. I lifted my foot and felt something hard under my heel. Looking down, I saw the bracelet tangled in my heel. “Here.” I nudged it. Asher picked it up and without even wiping it, fastened it back on Daphne’s wrist. He rubbed her back gently, “Glad we found it. Gave me a real scare.” Daphne leaned against his shoulder. “It’s all my fault for being so careless. Kiara doesn’t blame me, right?” “If you’re not feeling well, she should give you space.” Asher’s wolf tail gently swished beneath the seat. Not feeling well? She was bouncing around downstairs fighting me for ice cream just minutes ago. I said nothing more. Pulled out my phone and started scrolling through Instagram. The first post on my feed was one from Asher — three minutes ago. In the photo, Daphne leaned on his shoulder, a visible hickey on her neck. Caption: “Birthday girl’s personal driver.” Nine-photo carousel. Not even my shadow made it in. My chest clenched. The pain radiated numbness — then came a stronger surge of fury. Alright, then. I tucked my phone away and looked at Alpha Lycan. Zaia was instantly excited. “I know what you’re about to do! Brilliant move!” He glanced over, raising a brow. “Boiling mad already?” I didn’t answer. I just unbuckled my seatbelt. “What are you doing?” Alpha Asher turned around. “Changing seats.” I slid into the open spot next to Alpha Lycan. His body stiffened slightly. “What are you doing?” Asher frowned. “Too stuffy in the back.” I let my fingers deliberately brush Lycan’s arm. “It’s cooler next to Alpha Lycan.” Zaia urged gleefully: “Closer! Let that jerk see!” A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes before he smirked. “Is that so?” I tilted my head toward Alpha Lycan. “You don’t mind, do you?” He didn’t reply. Just turned the air vent to face me. Daphne suddenly started sniffling. “Asher… I feel a little dizzy…” “Car sick?” Alpha Asher immediately forgot about me, fumbling for medicine and offering her water. Beneath my dress, my knee brushed lightly against Alpha Lycan’s thigh — closely pressed. I kept my expression calm, staring straight ahead, avoiding his gaze on purpose. But my knee stayed right there, and then… inched a little closer. Only a thin layer of fabric separated us. I could feel the firmness of his muscles, the heat radiating through. Zaia licked her imaginary paw. “Don’t stop now. Keep going.” The heat spread through the cloth, like an electric current igniting every nerve in my body.

My knee was pressed too close. The sound of fabric rubbing together was especially loud in the quiet car. My fingertips tingled, and I instinctively wanted to pull back. At that moment, it felt like my heart skipped a beat — and then started racing uncontrollably. Zaia kicked me in the mind: “What are you flinching for? Press in closer!” Alpha Lycan stared straight ahead, his side profile sharp and cold, as if he hadn’t noticed me at all. His breathing was so steady, he didn’t seem like a werewolf. “Can he not feel it?” I wondered. Zaia snorted. “You think an Alpha from Blackthorn is made of wood?” Just as she said that, Daphne suddenly leaned against Alpha Asher. “My head’s spinning,” she murmured, lips almost brushing his jaw. “Let me rest on you a bit.” Alpha Asher stiffened, but didn’t push her away or say anything. Zaia snapped: “Oh please. Keep pretending.” Daphne suddenly looked up and pecked a kiss on Asher’s cheek. “Mmm…” she bit her lip and smiled. “A reward for you.” Asher sharply turned his head, the tips of his ears flushing red. “Don’t fool around.” “What’s wrong?” Daphne blinked. “You didn’t like it?” “Kiara’s still in the back.” His voice lowered, tinged with discomfort. “She’s the one who…” Daphne cut him off, her fingers curling around his shirt button. “It’s not like I did anything inappropriate.” I let out a cold laugh. Daphne immediately looked over. “Kiara, are you upset? I’m sorry, but Asher and I have always been like this since we were kids.” “Since you were kids?” I raised a brow. “Since when did kissing someone else’s Alpha become part of childhood games?” “What are you saying?!” Asher glared at me. “Daphne only sees me as an older brother!” “Brother?” I laughed. “What kind of sister clings to her ‘brother’s’ shirt button like that?” “I didn’t!” Daphne’s eyes reddened. “I was just… just dizzy and couldn’t stand straight…” “Enough!” Asher shouted at me. “Can’t you stop picking on her?” At that moment, I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore. Be generous? Fine. But I hope you can be just as “generous” in the future. Zaia screamed: “Rip those two dogs apart!” Asher’s face turned liver-purple, his eyes gleaming. “Why can’t you just be a little more understanding?” Daphne nestled into his chest and cast a triumphant glance at me. I took a deep breath and suddenly felt… tired of it all. Then I turned to Alpha Lycan — and my heart skipped a beat. At some point, he had turned his head and was staring at me. His eyes were deep, no longer the indifferent gaze from earlier. Before I could react, he leaned toward me. Our shoulders brushed. His warmth seeped through the fabric. I froze. Zaia shrieked: “Holy hell! He moved!” Alpha Lycan didn’t say anything. He simply lifted his hand and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. His fingertips grazed my ear — it tickled a little. “You…” My tongue stumbled over itself. He curled his lips slightly — such a subtle arc, yet dazzling. “Your hair was in your eyes.” I stared at Alpha Lycan’s jawline, my heart pounding like it was going to burst. This man… he was the most unique presence in the Blackthorn Pack. Everyone said he was cold as ice — in all of his twenty-five years, he’d never been seen with a single female. All the flirting from Omegas was frozen on the spot, and Betas who tried to get close were outright ignored. He was also one of the top healers in the entire werewolf realm. The last time I got grazed by a silver bullet because of Alpha Asher, it was him who treated my wound. He was surprisingly gentle when disinfecting — completely unlike his usual aloof demeanor. His clinic always smelled faintly of herbs, and there was a steady stream of werewolves coming in, from elders to pups. I’d heard he even knew ancient healing techniques. My mind buzzed. This man… Zaia chimed in: “He’s literally the prototype of every female wolf’s first crush — distant and untouchable.” I didn’t respond. Because… she was right. “We’ve never really had much interaction,” I thought. “The only times we crossed paths were when I had chest pain and ended up at the pack hospital… and he happened to be there.” Zaia snickered. “You were blushing all the way to your neck, remember?” Who could forget? “I was embarrassed at first, but he was so professional and calm, I quickly relaxed.” “And then you scolded yourself afterward — he’s a healer. What kind of body hasn’t he seen before?”

“Continue?” I asked, feigning innocence in a whisper. Alpha Lycan didn’t respond, but his fingers slid slowly up along my waistline. Zaia shrieked, “What is he trying to do?!” I grabbed his hand abruptly—his palm was burning hot. “Stop,” I said, voice trembling. In the front seat, Asher was still panting. His wolf ears were perked up, clearly eavesdropping. Suddenly, Daphne cried out, “Oh no!” “What’s wrong?” Asher immediately turned back. “My heel broke.” She held up the snapped shoe heel, her eyes misty. “I can’t walk anymore.” “Let me see.” Asher bent down to pick it up. “No need.” Daphne tugged his arm, “There’s a shoe store nearby. Will you come with me and get me a new pair? Consider it a birthday gift?” Asher hesitated, glancing at me. “Go ahead,” I said, turning away. Zaia snapped, “Pretending to be generous! He’s probably dying to go with her!” The car door slammed shut. Asher and Daphne disappeared around the corner. The car fell silent. Now, it was just me and Alpha Lycan. The air turned heavy. His breath grew closer, pressing in like a storm. Zaia taunted, “Heart racing? Getting scared now?” I pulled out my phone, fingers shaking. “What are you doing?” Alpha Lycan raised an eyebrow. “Calling Asher,” I bit my lip. “Asking how long they’ll be.” The call connected. By the third ring, someone picked up— But no one spoke. Only the static buzz of the line, tangled with soft, shallow gasps. It was Daphne’s voice, syrupy sweet: “Don’t touch… there…” Then came Asher’s husky murmur, “What are you afraid of…” “Mmm… be gentle…” “Do you like it?” “You’re awful…” The obscene sounds poured through the receiver, stabbing into my ears. I dropped the phone to the floor mat with a loud thud. Then I grabbed Alpha Lycan’s tie and yanked him toward me. “Kiss me,” I demanded, voice laced with fury. He didn’t hesitate. His lips crashed down on mine. I didn’t expect him to actually do it. My eyes widened—I instinctively tried to push him away, but his arms only tightened. Zaia yelled, “Push him, you idiot!” I gasped, and he took the chance to slip in deeper, his kiss unrelenting. Zaia cursed, “No backbone! But… damn, what a kiss!” He chuckled lowly, then tore open my shirt. Buttons flew and bounced off the car window. His fingers traced my skin—but never forced, never rough. Outside, Daphne’s flirtatious laugh rang out, crystal clear through the closed car window. Alpha Lycan suddenly bit my earlobe and whispered, voice like sandpaper, “Say my name.” “No…” “Afraid he’ll hear you?” he ground his hips forward. “Didn’t seem so shy earlier.” Shame was drowned out by rage. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tilted my head back. The sound that escaped my lips cracked—but it was loud enough to overpower everything outside. His hand slipped under my skirt, and the heat of his werewolf body made me tremble. “Remember this,” he kissed my chest, “from now on, this only beats for me.” The phone was still ringing. Asher and Daphne’s voices were getting closer. Zaia shouted, “They’re coming back!” My shirt had slipped down to my elbows, my skirt bunched at my waist. The scent of herbs and lust thickened the air in the car. “Alpha Lycan…” “Call me Lycan.” “Lycan…” I collapsed into the seat, too weak to even lift a finger, panting hard. He calmly adjusted his tie, a smirk still lingering on his lips. Alpha Lycan curved his lips into a smile, his fingertip gently wiping the moisture at the corner of my mouth. “Kiara.” “Hm?” My eyes were dazed; I still hadn’t caught my breath. He leaned in again, planting a long, tender kiss on my swollen lips. Then, pressing his forehead to mine, he whispered huskily in my ear: “When we arrive at the birthday party in the Rose Garden, I’ll give you… much more.” Zaia screamed, “What does that mean?! Is he making a promise?!”

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