Category: English

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

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

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

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

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After my husband gives away our tenth child to his mistress, I marry his childless godfather. I give Damien St. Clair nine babies. Every single one of them disappears before their first birthday. Nine kids. Nine empty cribs. Nine times he kneels in front of me, swearing he’ll find them. Nine times I shatter into pieces and have to glue myself back together. By the seventh, I stop eating. By the eighth, I stop sleeping. By the ninth, I’m popping three different pills just to keep myself from losing my mind completely. But Damien never leaves. Every panic attack at 3 a.m., every time I scratch my own arms bloody because the pain has nowhere else to go, he’s right there. Red eyes, shaky voice, holding me so tight like if he lets go, I’ll fall apart for good. “We’ll try again,” he whispers. “I’ll love you forever.” And I believe him. God help me, I believe every word. I let him back into my bed. I get pregnant for the tenth time. When that baby turns one, I show up at his private lounge to surprise him. That’s when I hear everything. His boys are drinking, laughing, kicked back on leather couches like kings. And Damien is standing right in the middle of them, handing MY child to some woman I’ve never seen before in my life. One of his buddies smacks his shoulder. “Bro, your wife’s basically a baby factory. You’re living the dream.” Another one cracks up. “Dude’s out here gifting whole ass kids to his side chicks. A car, a condo, AND a baby? Instant mom, zero labor pain. What girl says no to that?” Damien laughs, lights a cigarette, blows smoke at the ceiling. “Come on, they’re young girls,” he says, like it’s nothing. “You think I’m gonna let pregnancy wreck their bodies? Nah. Leave the heavy lifting to the specialist.” The whole room roars. And me? I’m standing right outside that door. Six months pregnant. Ice cold from head to toe. …… His newest fling, Sophia Mercer, is holding my baby. She looks down at the little face and scrunches up her nose. “Ugh, another girl? I already have one of those.” She tugs on Damien’s sleeve, full pout mode. “Babe, I want a new one. Something different. I don’t do hand-me-downs.” Damien wraps his arm around her, all smiles, all warmth. “Whatever you want. I’ll have her make as many as you need.” The baby starts squirming, fussing in Sophia’s arms. Sophia pinches the kid when no one’s looking. The baby screams. Sophia slaps a hand over her mouth. “Shut up,” she snaps. My heart stops. My nails dig so deep into my palms there’s blood running down my fingers. I can’t feel it. My whole body is shaking. Sophia keeps whining. “A whole year before I even get her? Obviously she doesn’t know me. Next time, I want one fresh out of the delivery room.” Damien tips his head down, smiling at her like she hung the moon. “Babe, babies under one are a nightmare. Let Claire deal with all that mess. Why would I let you suffer through it?” He leans in close to her ear. “If I ever saw a single wrinkle on you, I’d lose my mind.” Sophia giggles and slaps his chest playfully. One of his friends shifts in his seat. “But real talk, man… your wife keeps having these kids, and they keep vanishing on her. Isn’t she gonna snap at some point?” Damien goes quiet for half a second. Then shrugs. “She pops ’em out easy. Giving away a few, what’s the big deal? Worst case, I settle down in a couple years, let her keep a few. Call it even.” The room gets louder. Filthier. One guy actually says he wants me to have a baby for HIM so he can bring a grandkid home to his parents. Damien laughs and nods. Every single request, he agrees to. Like he’s passing out party favors. My legs give out. My brain goes blank. I press both hands against my belly and run.

I lock myself in the bedroom and shove my fist in my mouth. Not a sound. Not one. Every time I thought I was going crazy from grief, every time I wanted to die because another baby was gone — it was him. My husband. Their father. He planned every single one. New girlfriend, new baby. That’s how it worked. Every woman he moved on to, he took one of my kids as a gift. And now it’s Sophia Mercer’s turn. His childhood sweetheart. I cry until my voice breaks. Until I’m just choking on air. I beat my fists against my own stomach. I want this baby out. I want every last trace of Damien St. Clair scraped out of my body. I used to love being pregnant with his children. Now everything about him makes me sick. It’s past midnight when he finally comes home. He walks in already teary-eyed, drops to his knees, grabs my hands. “Baby, I’m so sorry. The nanny took her out this morning and she just… she’s gone.” I stare at him. He moves closer, squeezes tighter, eyes all big and desperate. “I’ve got people looking everywhere. We’ll find her. I swear.” Tenth time he’s fed me that exact line. Funny how he never once delivered. He’s waiting for me to fall apart. Screaming, sobbing, clawing at my own skin like I always do. But this time I just look him dead in the eye. “Okay.” His whole face goes blank. Before he can ask questions, his phone rings. He picks up, and I hear her. Sophia. That whiny little baby voice: “Babe, this little girl is SUCH a pain. I want the one Claire’s carrying right now…” I stop listening. I don’t need to hear any more. The second he leaves the room, I grab my phone. No hesitation. I book an appointment to erase my identity. Five days out. Then I dial the other number. When his voice comes through, I choke back my tears and keep my voice steady. “I’ll do it. But my condition is this — our baby will be your heir.” He says yes without blinking. I hang up. Almost right away, Damien comes back. Wraps himself around me from behind, nuzzling my neck, cooing like I’m a puppy. “There’s my good girl. See? No tears, no tantrums. That’s my Claire.” I let him hold me. My face is completely dead. Oh I’ll be good, Damien. So good you won’t even see me leave. Oh I’ll be good, Damien. So good that by the time you notice, I’ll be married to the most powerful man in London.

Next morning, Damien’s up early. That never happens. He takes my hand, all soft and sweet. “Hey, let’s go get you a checkup today. You’ve lost weight. I’m worried about you and the baby.” Before yesterday, that would’ve melted me. Now it makes my stomach turn. I let him lead me to the car. The second we get there, the passenger window rolls down and there she is. Sophia. Batting her lashes, whiny as ever. “Babe, what took you so long?” Then she turns to me, all sugary. “Oh, Claire! I haven’t been feeling great either. You don’t mind if I tag along, right?” I shoot Damien a look. He doesn’t even flinch. Just leans in close and whispers, “Let her come. Don’t make a scene. I’ll make it up to you later.” And just like that, it clicks. This whole checkup isn’t about me. It’s about Sophia getting a preview of my unborn child. Shopping before the delivery. I almost laugh. “Sure. I don’t mind.” Damien lets out a breath, lifts me into the back seat, buckles my seatbelt like the perfect husband. Sophia plants herself in the front. Shotgun. She throws me a little smirk over her shoulder and snuggles up to Damien, baby voice on full blast. I don’t say a word. Not in the car. Not walking into the hospital. Not when I sit down in the exam chair. The doctor runs the wand over my belly and asks the routine question. “How many pregnancies have you had?” I stare at the ceiling. “This is number eleven.” The doctor doesn’t react. But the women in the waiting room outside? They have plenty to say. I can hear every word through the thin walls. “You see how that man looks at the other girl? THAT’s the couple. The pregnant one’s probably the side piece.” “Eleven?! She’s gotta be popping them out for different rich guys. What a tramp.” Damien barely flinches. Doesn’t say a word to defend me. Sophia catches my eye and smirks. Then she spots the baby on the ultrasound screen. Her whole face lights up. She leans forward, can’t help herself. “So, doctor? What is it?” The St. Clairs own this hospital. So whatever Damien wants to know, he gets. He and Sophia follow the doctor into the back office. I’m left sitting alone on that exam chair. When they come back out, Sophia’s face is dark. She stares at me like I’m something stuck on the bottom of her shoe. Damien grabs my hand. Big apologetic eyes. Gentle voice. “Claire, I’m sorry. The doctor says there are serious complications with the baby. It’s not going to be viable. We need to terminate.” The doctor nods along right on cue. “It really is for the best. Carrying to term would only mean more suffering.” I look at the three of them. Here’s something Damien forgot. I was a med student once. Top of my class, actually. Until a one-night stand with him got me pregnant and I had to drop out. I saw that ultrasound screen. That baby is perfectly healthy. The only problem? It’s not what Sophia ordered. She already has a girl. She wants something new, something different. So Damien needs this baby gone so I can start over and try again. I look him dead in the eye. “What if I say no?”

Damien’s whole expression shifts. That fake softness vanishes. “Claire. You’re being ridiculous right now.” I’m done. I turn and head for the exit. But Sophia runs up behind me and grabs my arm, putting on her best worried face. “Claire, wait. Is this because I came? Are you mad at me? I’m sorry, I really am…” Her nails dig into my skin hard enough to draw blood. I try to shake her off. “Get your hands off me.” That’s when Sophia stumbles. Her body tips backward, she hits the floor. But as she goes down, she grabs my arm and shoves me forward with everything she’s got. I go down the staircase. My body flips, rolls, slams against every step until I hit the bottom. Damien sprints toward us. But the name he screams isn’t mine. “Sophia!” He drops to the floor next to her, hands shaking, checking her face. “Where does it hurt? Show me, baby, show me.” Sophia dabs at her tears, whimpering. “My ankle… I think I twisted it… it hurts so bad…” Damien’s eyes go red. He scoops her up and rushes toward the ER. Doesn’t look back. Not once. And me? I’m crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, both hands on my belly, shaking so hard I can barely see straight. Someone in the crowd yells out, “She’s bleeding! That woman is bleeding!” Pain tears through my lower belly. Something warm spreads between my legs. Bright red. Soaking through my white dress. Damien freezes. He turns around. Looks down at me on the floor. And his face isn’t panicked, isn’t guilty. It’s pissed off. “You know what, Claire? You pushed Sophia. YOU did this. So don’t you dare blame anyone else.” I shake my head, over and over, tears pouring. My voice is barely there. “I didn’t… it wasn’t me…” Damien pulls Sophia closer. His voice goes soft. Gentle, even. But what comes out is the coldest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. “Just deal with it. We were getting rid of that baby anyway. This just saved us a trip. But Sophia dances for a living. Her ankle actually matters.” Then he steps right over me. Like I’m a piece of furniture in his way. Carries Sophia into the ER and never turns around. I’m curled up in my own blood, screaming at the people staring down at me. “Help me… please, somebody help me… please…” They stare. They whisper. They pull out their phones and start recording. Not a single person moves. The last thing I see before everything goes dark is a doctor running out, shouting for a stretcher. …… Three days later, I open my eyes. The doctor is sitting at my bedside. She can’t look at me. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t save the baby. Please try to rest.” I smile. Gone. Good. My baby doesn’t deserve to be born into this family. And everything about Damien St. Clair makes me sick now. I check myself out. Go straight home. Pull together every document I need for tomorrow and shove them into a bag, hidden out of sight. One more day. And I’m gone for good. Then arms wrap around me from behind. My whole body locks up. “Get off me!” Damien nuzzles into my neck, voice dripping honey. “Hey, hey. You’re still mad? Babe, come on. I told you, there were complications. That baby was only gonna cause you more pain. I did it for you.” I laugh. Short. Ugly. “One baby after another after another. Gone. And you just shrug it off like it’s nothing?” He pulls me in tighter. His voice drops, and for the first time there’s a crack in it. “Babe… you make it look so easy. It’s never even hard on you. So we lost one. We’ll just make another one. What’s the big deal?” My whole body shakes. What kind of person says that? What kind of thing walks around looking human and says that to someone’s face? Before I can pull away, he grabs me by the waist, lifts me up, and throws me onto the bed. His eyes go dark. “Claire. Let’s try again.” I stare up at him. I can’t even process what’s happening. “Are you out of your mind? I just had a miscarriage!” He pins me down and kisses me. Hard. Like it’s not a question. “One more. Be a good girl. We’ll get it right this time.” I slap him across the face.

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My five-year-old pup staggered into the house, her small body quivering as she fell to her knees in front of me. Her arms wrapped around my leg, desperate, as she whispered with trembling lips, “I never want to go back. Please, don’t make me go.” I knelt to her level, gently cupping her tear-streaked face. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? What happened at daycare?” Her golden eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she didn’t speak, shaking her head in fear. Instincts flaring, I carefully lifted the hem of her shirt—and my heart clenched at what I saw. Her soft skin was marred with deep gouges from claws, bruises blooming around the wounds. My wolf snarled within me, a growl rising in my throat. I snapped a quick photo, sending it through the pack’s communication link with a fury that could not be contained: [Who did this?!] The response came within seconds. [I told my son to do it!] The name that followed was Lucy. I growled louder, two more images appearing in quick succession. The first showed Lucy standing proudly next to my mate, Alpha Ethan, during their mating ceremony. The second was an old photo of me, my pup, and Alpha Ethan, taken years ago. [You disgraceful Omega! You had the audacity to steal my mate and bear a bastard child? It’s a miracle I didn’t let my son finish the job!] The pack chat exploded. Insults poured in from wolves who had once been allies or even friends, calling my pup and me names, mocking our very existence. Even the Beta teacher from the daycare joined in, tagging Lucy with a message: [Liam performed well today. He’s definitely getting a gold star tomorrow.] Lucy responded with a smug emoji. [If you’re upset, come find me. My son and I are still here at the daycare.] My claws twitched, and without a word, I scooped up my pup and marched toward the daycare, every step filled with the need for retribution. As I walked, I quickly typed a message to my pack’s enforcers: [Get the challenge papers ready. According to the Westwood Pact, Ethan gets nothing.] [Also, my daughter was attacked. I want the culprits punished severely.] [How dare that weakling Ethan betray me, claiming another as his Luna?] When I arrived at the daycare, Lucy was standing outside, clearly relishing the attention, surrounded by several high-ranking she-wolves who practically bowed at her feet. Their eyes were full of admiration and awe. “Lucy, you’re so humble!” one of them gushed. “If we hadn’t known better, we wouldn’t have guessed your mate is the Alpha of Westwood Pack.” “Exactly!” another added. “No wonder you exude such power—being the true Luna has its perks, doesn’t it?” “We’re all here to support you,” another chimed in. “We won’t let some lowborn Omega take your rightful place.” “And look at Liam,” said another. “He’s already showing dominance, even at such a young age! He’s the true heir to Westwood Pack.” The Beta teacher, her posture stiff, even bowed slightly. “Luna Lucy, let me know what Liam likes to eat. We’ll make sure the daycare caters to his tastes from now on.” Lucy soaked in the praise, her chin high, savoring every word of their adoration. Ever since Ethan joined our pack, my father stepped down and made him the Alpha. For years, Ethan had lived off my pack’s wealth, contributing nothing of value. I had allowed him to oversee a minor part of Westwood Pack’s trade business just to keep him occupied. Now, Lucy used that very position to elevate herself, basking in the limelight. As I approached, the whispers from the crowd turned into sneers, their eyes filled with disdain. They looked at me like I was nothing but a rogue contaminating their sacred grounds. The Beta teacher stepped forward with icy resolve. “Selene, I have orders from the Alpha. Your daughter is expelled. Effective immediately.” My wolf seethed within me. “She was attacked. And instead of seeking justice, you expel her?” The Beta’s lips curled into a sneer. “This is an elite daycare, reserved for pups born of noble lineage. An Omega’s child has no place here.” I stepped forward, my voice dangerously low. “Perhaps you should investigate who the real homewrecker is before you speak so freely.” Before I could say another word, Lucy stormed toward me. A sharp slap cracked against my face, echoing in the still air. My wolf howled in fury, but I restrained her, for now. Lucy’s smirk was laced with venom as she spoke. “How dare a rogue like you show your face here?” She bared her teeth, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. “Did you honestly think birthing a bastard would make you the Luna of Westwood Pack?”

The sharp slap left me dazed, a sudden shock coursing through me. The pack members gathered around, their laughter cutting through the air as they pointed and jeered. “You don’t look like much, so why are you stooping to be with a rogue? And having a pup, too?” “Some wolves act so innocent, but the second they see a strong Alpha, they’re desperate to submit and be claimed!” “Rogues are a disgrace to the pack, and their pups are even worse!” The insults piled up, drawing more onlookers who began to point and laugh. A few even pulled out their phones to take videos, adding fuel to the fire. Some spat in my direction, their contempt thick in the air. Fury bubbled within me as I ripped off my custom-made Luna cloak and tossed it aside, the fabric crumpling into the trash. Turning to face Lucy, I spoke with cold precision. “You had your son bully my daughter, and now you slap me in front of everyone. Who do you think you are to act like this with no consequence?” Lucy’s response was dripping with arrogance. “It’s only fitting for a Luna to slap an Omega. And besides, I’m the Luna of the Westwood Pack. Hitting you and your filthy pup is nothing. I could take your life without a second thought, and it wouldn’t even matter!” The pack members jumped in, sneering and mocking me. “If you hadn’t been a rogue, Lucy wouldn’t have slapped you. You brought this upon yourself.” “You’re just a filthy omega. Instead of hiding your shame, you’re out here provoking us. A slap is the least you deserve.” “Yeah, so you think you can act all innocent just because you caught the attention of an Alpha? Stop pretending to be the victim. We’re not fools, blinded by scent bonding.” Even the bystanders joined in, their words biting deeper with every passing second. The more they mocked, the more emboldened Lucy became. She glanced at my car behind me, her eyes flashing with rage. “You filthy woman, spending my Alpha’s money like it’s nothing! How dare you drive a Rolls-Royce? A lowly rogue like you doesn’t deserve this!” “I hate rogue mates. Every single one of them should be driven out, or better yet, put down like the traitors they are!” With a cruel grin, Lucy pulled out a key and began slashing it across my car, leaving deep scratches in its surface. “Rogues must die!” she spat. I stared at the scratched metal, my voice cold and unwavering. “You’ll regret those words soon enough.” Lucy’s face twisted with fury. “You filthy woman, acting like you’re above everyone else just because you’re living off my Alpha’s money. Today, I’ll make sure you pay for every penny you’ve taken!” She picked up a brick from the ground and smashed it against my car’s window with a resounding crack. She didn’t stop there. She destroyed everything—windows, headlights, the hood—until nothing was left untouched. The other pack members, energized by her violent outburst, grabbed whatever they could find and joined in. They smashed the car with wild enthusiasm, tearing it apart piece by piece. Once the windows were shattered, they climbed inside, slashing at the seats and ripping apart the interior. The luxury vehicle that had once gleamed with pristine elegance was now nothing more than a wreck. Suddenly, one of the women opened the trunk, gasping in shock. “Look! There’s a bunch of expensive stuff in here!” she exclaimed. Lucy approached, pulling out a painting, her sneer widening. “A rogue mate trying to act all classy? How pathetic.” She ripped the painting in half and tossed the torn pieces onto the ground, stomping on them. “Someone like you doesn’t deserve such things. You only belong with trash!” One bystander, clearly an art enthusiast, inspected the torn remnants and gasped. “This looks like an authentic James! I’ve heard these go for 300 million at auction!” Lucy scoffed, her voice dripping with arrogance. “So what if it’s worth 300 million? It’s all my Alpha’s money! My Alpha’s wealth is mine to do with as I please. If I want to destroy my own things, who dares question me?” Her words struck me with a cold, biting anger. Let’s not even mention Ethan—he was just an Omega without a pack when I first met him. Even when I let him manage Westwood Pack’s business affairs, his incompetence had nearly cost us half the pack’s worth. If he weren’t my fated mate, I would have cast him aside long ago. Yet Lucy and these wolves treated him like some grand Alpha. They looked at him with admiration, as though he were the greatest of leaders. With Lucy leading the charge, the others eagerly joined in, tearing through my belongings. They destroyed everything in my trunk, including precious collectibles I had just bought at auction that morning. In mere moments, they turned them into worthless debris. I stayed calm, pulling out my phone. “Why aren’t you here yet? I need you in front of me in five minutes!” Before I even got a response, a pack member snatched the phone from my hand and slammed it to the ground, shattering it. “Trying to call for help? Where do you get the nerve?” “Who do you think you are, pretending to be important?” “She’s probably calling one of her lone wolf friends to put on a show for us! Hahaha!” The pack erupted into laughter, mocking me without restraint. I stared at my shattered phone on the ground, my voice low and cold. “I hope you’ll still be laughing in a few minutes.” I turned to the teacher, my gaze hardening. “You knew my daughter was being bullied at school, didn’t you?” The teacher sneered at me with disdain. “So what if I did?” she spat. “A bastard pup of a rogue mate isn’t worth anything. Liam was just putting her in her place. What’s the problem?”

The moment Lucy spoke, a wave of applause and cheers erupted from the gathered parents. “That’s why you’re Luna! You deal with everything so decisively and fairly!” “Exactly, this is a prestigious Pack. Not just anyone can belong here.” “Why would an Omega’s daughter need schooling? You should be teaching her how to seduce Alphas, like you did. Maybe she’ll even outdo you and find a more powerful mate!” Lucy’s audacity grew even bolder. “See that? This is what happens when you’re an Omega rogue. You and your daughter will always be at the bottom of the Pack, despised by everyone!” The crowd’s jeers and insults rained down on me. The more they spat their venom, the broader Lucy’s smile grew. The teacher, a timid Beta, saw an opportunity to flatter her. “Mrs. Turner, the Alpha mentioned that if you’re pleased with how things have been handled, he hopes you could do us a favor.” “You know we’re planning to expand the Pack’s territory, and all the land around here is owned by Westwood Pack. What do you think…” Lucy, arms crossed, gave a condescending smile. “Don’t worry. I’m very satisfied with how this was resolved today. When the time comes, I’ll make a call, and my husband, the Alpha, will ensure you get all the land you need.” The teacher’s grin widened. “Thank you in advance, Mrs. Turner.” “Lucy, my husband’s worked with Westwood Group before. Could you keep us in mind for future Pack business?” “My company’s looking to shift industries. I’d love to partner with Westwood Group someday.” “Lucy, here’s a no-limit shopping card from my mall. I hope we can stay close.” In an instant, parents were scrambling to win her favor, each one trying harder than the last to impress her. Some even slipped their Pack tokens into her bag. Lucy basked in the adoration, her arrogance radiating from every inch of her. She raised her chin high as she strutted past me, then sneered, “See that? This is the power of wealth and Pack influence. “You, a rogue Omega, will spend your life serving stronger men, hoping for the smallest scraps. “But me? I’ll live the kind of glory you’ll never even imagine. “I’m giving you one day. Take your bastard daughter and leave this territory. If I see you near my mate again, I’ll bury that little pup of yours alive!” My daughter clung to me, trembling. “Mom, I’m scared. My foot… it hurts so much…” Her voice quivered with fear and pain. I quickly removed her boot and gasped in horror—one of her toes was gone. The wound was grotesque, blood pooled inside her shoe. It felt as though a dagger had pierced my heart, and I couldn’t stop the tears that flooded my eyes. How had my fragile, pain-sensitive daughter endured this without a word? Fury exploded within me as I glared at Lucy. “Did your son, the Alpha pup, do this to her?” Lucy glanced at me nonchalantly. “Why are you making such a fuss? Be grateful I didn’t have my son, the Alpha heir, take that brat’s life.” Before she could finish her sentence, I slapped her across the face. The force of my anger powered the strike, sending her stumbling back. As I prepared to strike again, a Beta Pack member grabbed my hair, and other parents joined in, kicking and punching. “You filthy Omega! How dare you lay a hand on Mrs. Turner? Are you begging for death?” “Yeah, your pup isn’t dead yet. Why rush to join her in the grave?” “Your kid’s lucky Liam, the Alpha pup, gave her a lesson. With a mother like you, she deserves whatever happens to her, even death!” The teacher, full of righteous indignation, kicked me too. “Stop hitting my mom!” my daughter screamed, trying to defend me. But a pudgy pup kicked her down to the ground. The teacher patted him on the head, grinning. “Liam, you always know how to deal with troublemakers. Such a good pup. I’ll make sure to praise you in front of the whole Pack tomorrow and give you a reward!” Liam grinned smugly. “Hmph, it’s what I’m supposed to do. I’ll beat that brat every time I see her.” Lying on the ground, seething with rage, I grit my teeth. “You’ll regret this!” The crowd erupted in laughter, as if I’d just told the most ridiculous joke. “Did I hear that right? A lowly rogue Omega daring to make threats?” “Hilarious! This wench actually thinks she’s important. Mrs. Turner is the Alpha’s Luna. Crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant!” “This worthless Omega can do nothing but throw tantrums. Hahaha!” “What a disgrace. If I were her, I’d have already ended my life.” The parents held me down, continuing to mock and humiliate me. The onlookers were just as cruel, spitting at me and taunting. Lucy, relishing in the attention, shoved her sharp heel into my face. “Hahaha! Regret? I’ve never regretted a single thing. I’d love to see how someone like you could make me regret anything!” At that moment, a line of luxury cars screeched to a halt at the school gates. Strong, silent Alpha men in suits quickly poured out of the vehicles…

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Seven years of marriage. My husband ran from our wedding thirteen times. The first time, his personal assistant sprained her ankle. I stood alone under the flower arch, waiting from sunset until midnight. The second time, she had a migraine. He left the ring box on the altar and walked away. After that, every single time we set a wedding date, something happened to her. Food poisoning. Anxiety attack. A leak in her apartment. Thirteen times. Every single one. After the thirteenth, I finally decided to let go. But the moment I walked toward another man, he went insane trying to drag me back. … Seven years of marriage. Elliott Carrington and I never had a wedding. Today was our seventh anniversary, the day we’d stood in front of a city clerk and exchanged vows. It was also the day he’d promised, for the thirteenth time, to finally give me a real ceremony. At the anniversary party, I stood off to the side. Everyone was busy toasting Elliott and the woman who never left his side. I sat alone by the towering cake, drinking my own champagne. He didn’t look at me. Not once. The party was supposed to be mine. It ended with Elliott’s indifference and the guests’ carefully averted eyes. Afterward, he was supposed to come with me to the wedding studio and finalize Sunday’s ceremony. Instead, he left me on the curb. Outside the restaurant, his black Cadillac Escalade pulled up right in front of me. I reached for the passenger door. He spoke first. “Serena had too much to drink. I need to make sure she gets home safe. Handle the wedding stuff yourself.” “I won’t be back tonight. Don’t wait up.” He was already rolling up the window before I could even react. I pulled my gaze away from Serena Renée, sitting in the passenger seat where I rarely sat. Before the window closed completely, I said it. Calm. Level. “Sure. Drive safe.” Elliott had braced himself for her to scream, to cry, to demand why he was leaving again. Nothing came. She was so calm. Like she was saying goodbye to a stranger. It made something unfamiliar twist in his chest. But he was in a hurry to get to Serena. He shoved the unease down. His voice loosened, just slightly. “I’ll be there this time.” The window went up. He drove off without looking back. Late autumn in New York. The cold bit into me as I watched his taillights disappear. It wasn’t the autumn cold. It was the kind of cold that seeps out from inside your bones. Elliott rarely let me sit in his passenger seat. He never offered me that kind of careful, attentive escort. I used to think he was just a cold person. Now I understood. It was just the person in the seat who was different. I married him at twenty-two. Seven years of marriage. Not a single complete wedding. I’d known before we married that he had someone in his heart. Someone he’d loved since he was young. He agreed to marry me because his grandmother practically commanded it. And because that person had abandoned him and left for the West Coast. Now she was back. His personal assistant. Glued to his side day and night. I took a deep breath. Set my glass down. Some things need to end.

The next afternoon, I went to the wedding studio alone to finalize everything. “Ivy, are you sure you want to cut all these elements? You really don’t want to discuss it with Mr. Carrington first?” Madeleine Shaw, the wedding planner, was asking me for the third time. She’d handled all twelve of my and Elliott’s previous attempts. We went way back. I let out a tired smile. “No need. Simple is fine. He won’t care.” “I still remember the first time the two of you walked in here together. The chemistry between you, the sparks. Like something out of a movie. Bright. Happy. I don’t know why your weddings never make it to the altar, but the state you’re in now, it looks like you’ve been drained dry.” The ache in Madeleine’s voice cut deeper than professional concern. She was right. Elliott and I had once shared moments beautiful enough to survive countless heartbreaks. That time was short, but it was enough to keep me going through all the pain. It was late when I got home. I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. I looked around. Festive decorations everywhere. I’d put them up myself for Sunday’s wedding. White and champagne balloons floated in the living room. Eucalyptus leaves and ribbons draped the mantel. By the floor-to-ceiling windows stood the wedding dress I’d flown to Paris to commission for our first attempt. When I’d ordered that dress, my heart was so full. So hopeful. I’d poured every dream of our future together into it. That dress never made it through a single complete ceremony. The house was so quiet. All those thoughtful decorations, and it still felt empty. Just like my heart. I washed up, then opened a folder I hadn’t touched in a long time. My old design work. Sitting in the cloud, gathering digital dust. One by one, I looked at the jewelry designs. Some of my best work. Something warm stirred in my chest. Before the marriage, I was a jewelry designer. I had a name in the industry. After, he said he wanted me home more. I dropped everything. Poured every ounce of myself into him. Slowly, my sketchbook got shoved into a storage closet. Thinking back now, I realized what I’d lost wasn’t just a career. It was me. I wasn’t always like this. People used to say I was decisive. Efficient. Never dragged things out. These past years, I barely recognized myself. Once I saw it clearly, I made the call. I knew the number by heart. “I’ve thought about it. I’ll take the offer.” The voice on the other end paused, then lit up. “Great. I’ll book your flight right now.” I hung up. My fingers rested on the satin of the wedding dress for a moment. So smooth. And so cold. Sunday would be the last time. Two more days. Then everything would go back to where it was supposed to be. Elliott and I, we probably wouldn’t see each other again.

A little past three in the morning, my phone blew up with notifications. I picked it up. Over a dozen messages from Serena. All photos, short videos of her with Elliott, and a voice recording. I hesitated. Then I tapped the recording. The clink of glasses came first. Then Serena’s voice, tipsy and probing. “Eli, just admit it. You married her because your grandmother told you to. Right?” Long silence. Just when I thought no answer was coming, Elliott’s voice came through. Low. Rough. Not an answer. A warning. “Serena. Enough.” He didn’t deny it. She laughed. Smug. Knowing. My stomach seized. There it was. Thirteen times. It was over. I didn’t cry. I didn’t even feel sad. Just tired. Too tired to even be angry. I closed the recording. Shut out the sounds that were getting harder to stomach. I wasn’t going back to sleep anyway. I got up and started packing. There wasn’t much in this house that was truly mine. Seven years. Two suitcases was all it took. By the time I finished, the sky was starting to lighten. Elliott came home just as I’d drifted off on the sofa. I used to leave a light on for him, no matter how late he came back. Or if he came back at all. I’d hear his car pull into the driveway and walk out to the porch to meet him. Maybe time does that. Or maybe I just got used to it. This time I didn’t wait. And it turned out he’d forgotten his keys. I opened the door. His complaint hit me first. “Why did it take you so long?” “I fell asleep. Actually, you could have—” used the fingerprint lock. He cut me off. “Never mind. What are you doing? What’s with all the boxes?” He stared at the cardboard boxes in the corner. Gifts he’d given me over the years. His face flickered. “Oh. I’m going to East Hampton today to see Grandmother. Some things don’t fit here. I’ll store them at her place.” I shifted a box out of his way without a second glance. “Yeah. Give Grandmother my regards. And you know she’s older now. No need to go into details about everything.” His voice softened. I nodded. He exhaled, relief on his face, and headed for the study. I ignored him. Went back to sorting the gifts I’d once treasured. A few minutes later, Elliott came back out carrying two velvet jewelry cases. I recognized them instantly. The heirloom sets Grandmother had given me. One was an Edwardian diamond tiara. The other, an Art Deco emerald necklace. She’d said they were meant for the woman who would carry the Carrington name. Elliott had asked for them back a while ago. I understood now. They were always meant for Serena. He saw me glance at the cases. He hesitated. “Serena has a charity gala next week. She wanted to borrow these to go with her dress. She’ll return them after.” I nodded. “Whatever you want.” They belonged to that role anyway. Not to me. “You…” He stopped. Stared at me. Something flickered in his eyes. Unease. The old me would have screamed at him, fought him, forbid him from having anything to do with Serena. Would have dragged Grandmother into it. But these past two times, my reaction had been calm. Cold. Elliott felt something slipping out of his control. He just couldn’t name it. “After Sunday’s done, we could take a trip. Where do you want to go?” He said it at the door, glancing at the pile of his gifts against the wall. The words came out stiff. Forced. Then he shut the door and left.

I looked at what was left. The teddy bear had toppled over when Elliott slammed the door. I picked it up and just held it for a long time. My mother never believed in marriage. She wanted a child, not a husband. She found a sperm bank. Did IVF. I was sixteen when she landed a dream curatorial position in Paris and fell into a new relationship. She moved to Europe. Left me with her old friend, Eleanor Carrington. When I first arrived at the Carrington estate in the Hamptons, I was drowning in the grief of being abandoned. It was a warm afternoon. Seventeen-year-old Elliott walked up to me holding this teddy bear. The sun felt soft that day. He didn’t say a word. Just shoved the bear into my arms and walked away, cool and untouchable. That bear was the beginning of everything. I put the bear at the bottom of a box. On my way out, I stopped at a Goodwill donation bin by the curb. The metal lid was a little rusted. It creaked when I pushed it open. The teddy bear caught for a second, its head too big, tilting sideways before sliding silently into the dark. No echo. Nothing. Just like my seven years. “Ivy, are you sure about this?” Grandmother set a cup of Earl Grey in front of me in the old East Hampton house. Across from her sat Bill Carter, the divorce attorney she’d used for forty years. I flipped the thick prenup to the property division clause. When Elliott had me sign it back then, the terms were generous. A vacation house in the Hamptons. A substantial trust fund. “I’m sure, Grandmother.” I picked up the pen and signed my name on the divorce papers. “According to the agreement. The money and the house, I’ve authorized Bill to sell them. The proceeds go to my alma mater’s scholarship foundation.” Grandmother watched me do it all. Silent. She took my hand. Her eyes glistened. “You’re a good girl. He doesn’t deserve you.” “It’s not about deserving, Grandmother.” I held her hand, meeting those eyes that had seen so much. “These years, the problems between Elliott and me, you didn’t cause them. You’ve only ever been good to me.” “Four years ago, I saw hope. I thought he was finally getting serious about you. You two had a stretch of real marriage. And then Serena came back right at that moment. It’s my fault. I let you suffer all these years.” She was right. I’d spent three years trying. Slowly melted his ice. We’d had a brief stretch of something sweet. Something real. I thought everything was finally getting better. Then Serena returned from Los Angeles. Everything stopped. Elliott pulled away harder. Grew colder. More cruel. I promised Grandmother again and again that I’d visit. Only then did she let me go. I left the estate, her reluctant gaze following me out. At the end of the driveway, a black Escalade sat waiting. “The wedding’s tomorrow. I’m coming home tonight. Thought I’d pick you up.” Elliott rolled down the window before I could speak. I nodded. Got in. Said nothing. The drive back was dead silent. Elliott seemed to hate it. His fingers tapped the steering wheel, restless. He started to say something several times, then swallowed it. Finally, he broke. “How’s Grandmother?” “She’s fine. You should visit her more.” Silence again. Elliott pressed his lips into a hard line. He didn’t speak for the rest of the drive. When we got home, he went straight to the study and closed the door. Maybe I imagined it, but he seemed angry. The thought lasted about three seconds. Elliott never had much of an expression around me anyway. I showered and was about to say a final goodbye when he came to me first. “Serena’s not feeling well again. You know she doesn’t have many people here. I’ll go check on her. Try to come back soon.” Something was different. He sounded almost guilty. Almost like he was asking permission. I swallowed the words I’d meant to say. Put on a clean, practiced smile. “Okay. Drive safe.” Relief washed over his face. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry. I said I’d be there Sunday, and I will.” He grabbed his jacket. Changed his shoes. The promise fell with the slam of the door. I let out a bitter laugh. He wasn’t coming back tonight. I’d wanted to say goodbye in person. Guess that wasn’t happening.

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When I finished studying design abroad and returned home, my grandfather told me that he had arranged a childhood betrothal for me long ago. The moment I returned to the country, he brought me straight to the Parker family to discuss the engagement. I found it too boring, so I wandered off alone to stroll through the Parker family garden. Suddenly, a woman rushed over and slapped me hard across the face. “Where did you come from, you pathetic thief? How dare you steal from me!” I covered my face, stunned. She lifted her chin arrogantly, her tone full of condescension. “That ruby you’re wearing was a birthday gift from Ross to me! You poor bitch! Why is it with you?” I opened my mouth, about to say that it was mine, but she suddenly slapped me hard again. “Do you even know who I am? I’m Ross Parker’s future wife! The entire Parker family will answer to me!” I took out my phone and, right in front of her, sent a message to my fiancé Ross. “Ross, there’s a crazy woman in your house. Are you going to do something about it?” To my surprise, the message failed to send. I laughed in anger. The engagement hadn’t even been settled yet, and he had already deleted me. “How did you sneak in? Hurry and give that back to Ms. Lester!” A Parker family maid lunged at me aggressively, but I dodged her with a quick sidestep. “I’m a guest here at the Parker family estate. How can you treat me like this?” Karen let out a scornful laugh and immediately took out her phone to call Ross, who was actually my fiancé. In less than a second, a gentle, low voice came through the line. “What’s wrong, Karen?” I listened closely. His voice was nice, and I kinda liked it. It seemed my grandfather did have good taste. “Ross! There’s some woman here claiming to be your fiancée—and she stole my ring!” I cut off her sugary, affected voice and introduced myself to Ross so he wouldn’t misunderstand the situation. “Mr. Parker, I’m Diana Summers, your fiancée.” He paused for a moment, as if processing my name, then his tone turned cold. “What fiancée? Anyone who enters my house needs an invitation. Otherwise, it’s trespassing.” After saying that, his voice softened again. “Karen, don’t be upset. It’s just a ring. When I get back, I’ll buy you another one.” That pigeon-blood ruby of mine was my parents’ love token. There wasn’t a second one like it in the world. As I was thinking about how reliable this marriage alliance really was, Karen beside me was already laughing so hard she could barely stand straight, looking me up and down with contempt. “You? Wearing trash without even a brand on it! And you dare claim to be Ross’s fiancée? Hilarious!” I had been studying design abroad, and all the clothes I wore were designed and tailored by myself, so of course they had no brand logos. My designs were already sought after by many wealthy ladies overseas, yet she couldn’t recognize them. That made me start to doubt her identity instead. After this mess, I completely lost interest in strolling through the garden and turned to leave. But Karen stepped in front of me. “Didn’t you hear Ross? You need an invitation to enter the Parker family. Didn’t you say you’re a guest? Where’s your invitation?” I rolled my eyes and reached into my pocket to look for it, but couldn’t find anything. Then I remembered my grandfather saying that we didn’t need invitations to visit the Parker family. Karen thought I couldn’t provide one, so the mockery on her face grew even stronger. “So you really are a liar! Someone, take the ring off her hand, tie her up, and throw her out!” I covered the ring with one hand and stepped back, glaring at her with a dark expression. Several servants approached me and tried to persuade me. “Miss, you’d better return it to Ms. Lester now. Otherwise, you will be in serious trouble.” “That ring is a love token between Mr. Parker and Ms. Lester. They’ve been close since childhood. If Mr. Parker finds out, he won’t let you off.” “I saw it with my own eyes last time. Someone only dirtied Ms. Lester’s skirt, and his hand was gone the next day!” Their words only made the mockery in Karen’s eyes grow. “Did you hear that? Get on your knees, put the ring on my finger, and then get lost. Otherwise, your fate will be the same as the person who dirtied my skirt!”

All my life, I’d only ever had others kneel and beg in front of me. The last person who dared speak to me like that already disappeared for good. I stepped forward and slapped Karen across the face. She turned her head, eyes wide in disbelief. “How dare you?” She instantly covered her face and pointed at me, ordering several maids to rush over. I looked at them and smiled. When I first went abroad, my grandfather worried I might get bullied, so he taught me Sanda himself. They were just a few maids. I took them all down in under a minute. “Weak.” I rubbed my slightly numb knuckles and turned to leave amid Karen’s furious screams. Suddenly, a maid shouted, “Mr. Parker is back!” I looked up to see a man in a perfectly tailored suit striding over with a cold expression. Karen’s fierce expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a pitiful look. Then she threw herself into Ross’s arms. “Ross! You’re finally back! I got bullied!” To be honest, Ross was quite good-looking. Even in the entertainment industry, he could carve out a place for himself. Unfortunately, knowing full well that he was engaged to me, he still got too close to his childhood sweetheart. I frowned at them. I needed to call my grandfather immediately. This marriage was impossible. So I ignored their clingy display and walked straight toward the garden exit. “Stop! You hurt my girl and think you can just leave like that?” Ross didn’t even look at me. He lowered his head and wiped Karen’s tears. Several bodyguards quickly stepped forward from behind him and blocked my path. I took a deep breath and turned to look at him. “Mr. Parker, my grandfather is currently in your grandfather’s study discussing our engagement. Do you want them to know about all this?” When I mentioned Ross’s grandfather, the servants’ expressions shifted slightly. “What? Is she really Mr. Parker’s fiancée?” “So what if she is? Look how much Mr. Parker cares about Ms. Lester. This marriage might not even happen.” “Exactly. We’d better not say anything and offend Ms. Lester. With her temper, we might all suffer later.” When Ross heard the word engagement, his face darkened more. “What engagement? I never agreed to it. Besides, Grandpa has always doted on me. How could he possibly force me to marry some shrew like you?” Karen lifted her head from his arms and looked at me smugly. “Ross and I are childhood sweethearts. A thief like you actually dares to covet the position of his wife?” I nodded but said nothing. That scumbag and that shameless woman were a perfect match. They deserved each other—better they stay together than hurt anyone else. It was just that my grandfather had said the Parker family had put in the most effort among all the families who were proposing back then. I had met Mr. Nick Parker a few times. He was a very decent elder. How would he react if he found out that the alliance he worked so hard to secure had been ruined by his own grandson? It would probably be a disaster. But there was no helping it. His own grandson ruined everything.

I shook my head regretfully and was about to leave. Suddenly Karen screamed sharply, “Can’t let her go! Ross’s ruby ring is still on her hand!” As soon as she said that, several bodyguards restrained me at Ross’s signal. Then they reached straight for the ring without any explanation. But the ring had been specially adjusted to fit my finger, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t move it even a little. “Karen, if this really belongs to you, how is it exactly the same size as my finger?” I looked at her teasingly. Instead of backing down, she became even angrier. She grabbed Ross’s arm and shook it hard. “She must have thicker fingers! She forced it on, that’s why it won’t come off!” “Then use a drill!” I was kinda flustered, because I hadn’t brought any bodyguards with me today. Ross’s bodyguards were tall, strong, and far more numerous. After resisting for a short while, I was caught off guard and pinned to the ground. Karen immediately squatted in front of me excitedly, her blood-red nails pinching my chin. “Weren’t you so arrogant? Come on!” After saying that, she used all her strength to slap me across the face. Sand scraped against my cheek, leaving several bloody scratches. Ross stared at me for two seconds, then smiled. “Karen, does your hand hurt? Want to see something even more fun?” Karen’s eyes instantly lit up. “Tie her to the boat in the pond!” I widened my eyes and looked at Ross’s faintly excited expression. Did he know something? “No! You’ll regret this!” Karen’s face was full of scorn and excitement. “Regret? I’ve never regretted anything.” “As for you, today I’ll make you regret stealing from me!” The bodyguards dragged me to the pond in the center of the garden. They tied me up with a rope before throwing me onto a rickety old canopy boat by the shore. Before I could even open my eyes, they flipped me over. Then an electric saw was started and brought straight toward my fingers. The intense pain made me scream uncontrollably. Very soon, my blood stained the pigeon-blood ruby. That made it look eerily sinister. “Looks like that girl is dying here today.” “Such a pretty young girl, but she’s just too stubborn. Look at her. Mr. Parker won’t let her off. She’s gonna lose her finger or even her life!” “This is too cruel. I can’t bear to watch anymore.” The maids and servants chattered among themselves at the edge of the pond. I could no longer hear them clearly. The pain in my hand made me struggle violently. The old boat, long overdue for repairs, creaked and splashed against the water under my movements. It was eerily similar to the scene when my parents died at sea. The fear buried deep in my heart was instantly dragged back out. My face turned deathly pale. My hands moved on their own to clutch my head tightly. Bright red blood streamed down my cheeks. “No! Don’t! Let me go back up!” But Karen and Ross stood on the shore, watching like this was a show. They even stretched out a foot and kicked me toward the center of the pond. I forced my eyes open and saw Karen holding the ring with a smug smile. Ross had an arm around her and said gently, “The ring’s been stained with that bitch’s dirty blood. Throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one.” After that, amid my screams, they casually tossed the ring into the lake. “Ross! Aren’t you afraid my grandfather will come after you for this?”

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“Your wife’s medical application has been rejected. Again.” Three years in a row. Her leukemia had progressed from early stage to terminal. Standing outside her husband’s office door, she heard him say: “She’s been traveling with the military her whole life. What serious illness could she possibly have?” The slots are limited. Give them to someone who needs them more.” The person he deemed “more in need” was the female student he sponsored. For a mild concussion, he mobilized every medical resource he had. The seven years of savings she had put aside to save her own life — he spent them on a New Year’s gift for that girl. She didn’t push the door open. Didn’t cry or make a scene. She just turned and walked into the freezing snow. Three days later, she collapsed. When he finally opened her medical file, he saw the diagnosis: Leukemia. Terminal. He fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness. She signed the divorce papers with a smile. …… “We are so sorry, Dr. Elara. Your application for the Military Family Medical Coverage has not been approved. We apologize.” This was the third rejection. Elara accepted her fate. “You denied Elara’s Medical Coverage application again this year?” Colonel Hayes’ voice was laced with confusion. After the rejection, she had made a simple decision. She would spend whatever time she had left by her husband Liam’s side. That was all she wanted. She had not expected this. Three days on a train, exhausted and worn to the bone, and the first thing she heard standing outside his office door was that single sentence. She went completely still. The door was slightly open. Warm yellow light bled into the dark hallway. The voices inside were sharp and heated. “You know how rare this slot is. Once a year, one chance. The last two years I kept quiet because you gave it to your comrades. But this year you handed it to Chloe for a mild concussion?” Every word reached her ears. Elara’s expression froze solid. The cold started at the soles of her feet and crept slowly upward through her whole body. It was like being dropped into ice water. Chloe. A college student Liam had been financially sponsoring. A girl from a broken home. Gambling father. Dying mother. Elara’s jaw clamped shut. The first time she had applied for the Coverage, her leukemia was still early-stage. When she was denied, she assumed she simply was not sick enough to qualify. The second time, she decided she had been unlucky. Someone else had needed the slot more. This was the third time. And it came at the exact moment she had made peace with her fate. The exact moment she had stopped fighting and come home simply to be near the man she loved. That was when she heard the truth. “I am the Commander,” Liam said. “She is the Commander’s wife. If she cannot push through a minor difficulty, she does not deserve that title.” “Chloe grew up with nothing. She never had enough food or warm clothes. Her body is naturally weaker. ” “Elara spent years traveling with the military. What illness could she possibly have that would justify wasting a slot this valuable?” “Liam!” Colonel Hayes’ voice shot up. “You rejected her application without reading a single word of it?” He had not even known what illness she had. The realization made Colonel Hayes visibly angrier. “I know Elara,” Liam said. “No matter how hard things got, she never once complained. She is fine. The New Year is one week away. When she comes home I will take her to the hospital myself.” “I genuinely cannot figure out what Chloe has done to get inside your head like this.” “This has nothing to do with Chloe,” Liam said. “I would have made the same call for anyone.” Colonel Hayes’ voice dropped, heavy with resignation. “And if Elara has something life-threatening, Liam? If blocking her application is the same as blocking her only chance to live?” The office fell completely silent. Outside in the corridor, Elara slowly lowered her outstretched hand. So it had never been fate working against her. “It had been him. The one person she had spent her entire life loving.” She wanted to push that door open. She wanted to look him in the eye and demand an answer. “Everyone else’s pain mattered to him. Did hers mean nothing?” She stood there for two full seconds. Then she turned and walked away without a sound. On her way out of the base, she stopped at the guard post and pressed the gift she had brought into the hands of the soldier on duty. “Do not tell the Commander I was here,” she said softly. She turned and walked straight into the bitter wind. Liam. Since I was never worthy of your slot, I do not need it anymore.

If that was the case, she refused to accept her fate. A thought took hold of her. If no one was coming to save her, she would save herself. She sat down at the desk and wrote a letter. A new application. This time, in her own name. After finishing it, she gathered up the savings she had accumulated over the years. “In the seven years she had been married to Liam, she may not have held the same standing as him, but she was far from an ordinary Combat Medic. She was a Mortuary Restorer for Fallen Heroes.” And it was precisely this role that might allow her to apply for a partial military medical subsidy. Combined with the money she had saved over the years, perhaps it could save her life. After doing all this, she felt a flicker of appetite for the first time in a long while. She walked into the kitchen and made herself a bowl of noodles. The clock on the wall showed it was nearly eleven at night. She made a quiet plan: first thing tomorrow morning, she would go to the post office and mail the application. Then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Liam pushed it open and stopped when he saw her. “You came back and didn’t tell me?” At the sound of his voice, she looked up. Across the room, the radio on the low cabinet crackled with static. The snow outside was interfering with the signal. Liam glanced at it, walked over, and turned it off. “I’ve told you not to listen to the radio.” “It’s late. The base’s subsidies haven’t come through yet this year. Cut back.” No word of welcome. No question about how she had been. She had spent three days on the train. Even a casual acquaintance would have asked if she was tired. Elara’s chest ached with a dull, persistent pain, but her voice remained steady. “I haven’t eaten all day. I was starving. And I only used a little.” By the time she finished the sentence, bitter tears were already silently slipping from the corners of her eyes. The truth was, she could barely eat anymore. Her body no longer had the strength to digest food properly. Liam was a commander. His monthly salary alone exceeded a thousand dollars, plus additional supply subsidies. There was no shortage of food. But in his eyes, she was made of iron. She didn’t get sick. She didn’t need to eat. Yet for Chloe, a mild concussion, he had unhesitatingly mobilized medical resources. Bitterness spread through Elara’s chest, growing heavier and heavier, until it was almost suffocating. Then, without warning, a sharp, piercing pain erupted in her chest. Moments later, the metallic taste of blood filled her nose. A single drop of blood fell onto her pale hand, blooming outward. She instinctively raised her hand to wipe it away. But the blood kept coming. Before she could stop it, it had splattered across the lower half of her face. Liam walked toward her, his voice impatient. “I was just reminding you. There’s no need to lose your temper at me.” “You—” He stopped mid-sentence, staring at the blood spreading across her face. His tone shifted. “What… what’s wrong with you?” Her voice came out weak and choked. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Fighting through the pain and the grievance, she forced out the words, one by one: “That is my blood, Liam.” The emotional turmoil made everything worse for a body that was already barely holding together. Her legs gave way beneath her. She swayed, steadying herself only by gripping the edge of the table. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at Liam. And she realized—she no longer recognized the man standing before her. Had these years together been nothing but her imagination? It was Liam who had pulled her out of that suffocating, backward family. It was he who had used every connection he had to persuade a military doctor to take her as an apprentice, so she could stay by his side. He had broken his own principles. Just this once. All for her. “You’re bleeding so much… Are you—” As she thought this, the light in Elara’s eyes dimmed, leaving behind only emptiness and numbness. Perhaps he would have done all this for anyone. Perhaps she had never been special. Perhaps she had simply been lucky. After all, he had broken his principles again. For Chloe. He had given up a spot without hesitation. For a girl with a minor injury. She wanted to ask him why. But before the words could leave her mouth, a searing, needle-like pain stabbed straight through her chest. Breathing became difficult. She forced herself to endure it. “It’s nothing.” Then, without another word, she turned and walked out of the room, step by unsteady step, until she reached the courtyard.

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Before the wedding, Alpha Kendrick stood before me, his jaw tight, his eyes shadowed with a storm of hesitation and hope. “Can you give me a month?” he asked, his voice low, almost pleading. “A month for what?” I shot back, my tone sharper than I intended, though my heart already braced for the answer. He exhaled deeply, ignoring the edge in my voice. “A month to try rekindling my relationship with Elena Manwaring. She’s my fated mate, and… this might be the Moon Goddess’s blessing.” Ah, fated mate. I should’ve guessed. Kendrick and I were never fated mates. I was his convenient choice, never his destined one. “So, if it doesn’t work out, then what? Another month?” I tilted my head, forcing a faint smile that practically screamed, Go ahead. Rip my heart out. “If it doesn’t work,” he said, his gaze steady, “I’ll come back to you. I’ll marry you and leave her behind—forever.” “Forever,” I echoed, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. Zara, my wolf, growled faintly in the back of my mind. Let me claw him. Just once. But I didn’t argue. Instead, I gave him the faintest of smiles and replied, “Go ahead. Give it a try. Life’s too short for regrets, right?” Relief washed over his face, so palpable it made my chest tighten. That night, he drove off, lighter and freer than I’d seen him in years. And me? I quietly packed my belongings. I called home. “Mom,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me, “the wedding’s off. I’m coming home to help with the Moon Eclipse Pack.” My mother didn’t even feign surprise. If anything, she sounded downright gleeful. “Finally! Your father and I always said that man wasn’t reliable. Ten years, and he still couldn’t commit!” she scoffed. “Honestly, sweetheart, we thought you’d lost your mind.” I let her rant, offering a few hums here and there. “Perfect timing,” she added. “The pack just allied with the Blue Moon Pack, and they’re looking for an experienced wolf trainer. I’ll set everything up.” “Sure,” I murmured, cutting the conversation short. The thought of diving into training rogue wolves or mentoring pups sounded perfect—anything to keep my mind occupied. I glanced around my apartment, taking in the scattered wedding souvenirs. Personalized candles. Silk napkins embroidered with our initials. Zara huffed again. Ten years with that jerk. Ten years of being second choice. You should’ve let me bite him. I said nothing, just stared at the remnants of a dream I had built and lost. It hadn’t always been like this. Once, I believed in Kendrick. I stood by him when his pack struggled, when he had nothing to offer but empty promises. I turned down my rightful place as Alpha of the Moon Eclipse Pack to stay by his side. I had a choice. I could’ve gone home, inherited my pack, and become Alpha. Instead, I chose him. Without hesitation. His Red River Pack was small, insignificant, a speck along the Mississippi River. Nothing compared to my family’s power. But I didn’t care. I just wanted him. I imagined a life together—building something from the ground up, proving that love was stronger than destiny. So, I waited. While my friends built their lives—marrying, having kids, moving on—I stayed. I turned down every opportunity my parents offered and let year after year slip by, waiting for him to finally say, “Let’s get married.” Reunions were the worst. “So, when’s the wedding?” someone would always ask, followed by laughter. My friends covered for me, claiming I just wasn’t ready for the “grave of marriage.” I played along, smiling and pretending it didn’t sting. But deep down, I wanted it more than anything. To be Luna in more than just name. To be his partner. His future. But the truth was, Kendrick wasn’t waiting for the right time. He was waiting for her. The Return of Elena Manwaring Three months ago, Elena came back. I ignored the signs because Kendrick proposed to me. Suddenly, he threw himself into wedding plans. He helped pick out the dress, sat through endless food tastings, and obsessively debated wedding favors. He was attentive. Patient. Always there. And I let myself believe it was real. That he had finally chosen me. That illusion shattered one late night. I woke to the faint glow of light beneath his study door. Curiosity—or perhaps something more desperate—led me down the hall. Quietly, I peeked inside. He wasn’t working. No spreadsheets, no maps. No Alpha duties. In his hands were Elena’s things: a scarf, a journal, and a trinket box she’d left behind. He held them like treasures, his fingers brushing the scarf’s fabric with an unbearable tenderness. The look on his face—a mix of longing and love—made my stomach twist. It was the kind of look you give someone who owns your heart. Someone you’ve never let go. I froze in the doorway, torn between stepping inside and walking away. He didn’t see me—too absorbed in the memories those objects carried. And in that moment, I saw everything. The way his shoulders slumped under an invisible weight. The quiet sigh that slipped past his lips. This wasn’t just nostalgia. It was longing. This was about Elena. Her ghost—or at least the memory of her—hung heavy in the air. Whether Kendrick and I got married or not didn’t depend on love or destiny. It depended on her. On whether she decided to take him back. And me? I was just a placeholder. A stand-in. The second choice. They say the things we can’t have in our youth haunt us forever. If a missed opportunity or a forgotten dream can ache like that, how much worse must it be for someone who once meant everything? I stepped back into the shadows before he could notice me and returned to our bedroom. The bed felt too big. Too cold. I lay there staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself I didn’t care. But the tightness in my chest told a different story. The days leading up to the wedding blurred into chaos. Flowers. Seating arrangements. The Luna ceremony rehearsal. I threw myself into every detail, hoping the frenzy would drown out my doubts. I told myself it was fine. That Kendrick’s occasional distracted glances and absentminded smiles didn’t mean anything. That his late nights in his study were just wedding stress. Then, one afternoon, we received a shipment of wedding souvenirs—delicate, hand-painted glass favors engraved with our initials. I picked up one of the boxes and frowned. The packaging was careless, the wrappings half-done. One of the glass favors tumbled out, landing in my palm. It was beautiful, no doubt. But as I stared at the etched initials—K&E—my breath caught in my throat. K&E. Not Kendrick and Me. Kendrick and Elena. My fingers tightened around the fragile glass as the truth crashed over me. This wasn’t an accident. It was a sign. And in that moment, the delicate favor shattered between my fingers, sharp edges cutting into my palm. But I barely felt the pain. Because the real wound was deeper. It had been there all along.

By the time I decided to request a return for the souvenirs, the merchant’s stubbornness had worn me down. After what felt like hours of fruitless arguing, I gave up. The souvenirs were coming home with me—packed or not. It was nearly 3 AM by the time I finally sat down to finish wrapping them. My muscles ached, my eyelids were heavy, and exhaustion tugged at me like a relentless tide. Still, I pushed through. Alpha Kendrick wasn’t back yet. He’d gone to another pack for an event, and his flight had landed hours ago. Just as I reached for my phone to check on him, the front door unlocked with a soft click. He walked in carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers and a box of gifts, his presence warm but strangely heavy. He greeted me as he always did, with a soft kiss on the cheek. “Felicia,” he began, his voice gentle but tinged with something somber. “Thank you for staying with me all these years.” My heart tightened. I knew where this was going. When Kendrick graduated, he had a wild, impossible dream. He didn’t want to follow the Red River Pack’s traditional path. Instead, he wanted to forge his own. No one believed in him—not his family, not his friends. Except me. I defied my parents, sold the shops and houses under my name, and handed over every penny of my dowry to help him build his dream. I gave up everything for him, believing he was worth it. Time proved me right. Kendrick transformed the Red River Pack into a powerhouse, admired across the Mississippi River territory. Young, successful, and driven—he became everything he’d ever wanted to be. But now, standing before me with that bouquet, he looked like a man ready to sever ties. “I’m moving out,” he said, his tone calm yet resolute. “I don’t want to carry regrets. You wouldn’t want me to still think about someone else after we’re married, would you? If I don’t succeed, I’ll let her go completely. I’ll dedicate myself to you for the rest of my life.” His eyes were red, his voice thick with emotion. It should have moved me. It should have made me feel closer to him. Instead, all I felt was the hollow ache in my chest. How could I say no? I had always known where I stood in Kendrick’s heart—second place, behind Elena. On my eighteenth birthday, when I shifted for the first time, I begged the Moon Goddess for a miracle. I prayed Kendrick would be my destined mate. But fate had other plans. The Moon Goddess chose Elena Manwaring for him—a picture-perfect beauty adored by everyone. At the mate ceremony, they were the golden couple, basking in admiration, while I endured the searing pain of rejection alone. Then, Elena left. And I saw my chance. I pursued Kendrick relentlessly, ignoring the whispers and judgment. I believed love could be earned through effort alone. From the start, he had been honest. “I still love Elena,” he’d told me. “If that bothers you, you shouldn’t be with me.” I thought I could wait. I thought time would fix everything. But now, as he stood before me, asking for my permission to chase after her, I realized how naive I’d been. “Okay,” I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside. “Go.” Kendrick studied my face for a moment before smiling. “Thank you for understanding me,” he said. Then, without hesitation, he turned away, packing his things with an eagerness that made my heart crack. Minutes later, he drove off into the night, leaving behind only the faint scent of his cologne and the echoes of my own foolishness. I glanced at the wedding souvenirs scattered across the floor—once a symbol of hope, now a cruel joke. What a waste. They’d never be sent out. My eyes fell on the bouquet he’d brought. Among the petals, I noticed a small card tucked away. Curiosity prickled, and I hesitated before flipping it over. Elena, long time no see. I hope you’re doing well. The name hit me like a punch to the gut. So, he’d bought two bouquets—one for me and one for her. And in his rush, he’d grabbed the wrong one. How fitting. Without a second thought, I tossed the bouquet into the trash. Later that night, my phone buzzed with a message from my mother. The flight is booked for a week from now. You’ve been with the Red River Pack for so many years—use this time to say goodbye. I stared at the screen for a long moment before typing a single word. Okay. While Kendrick chased his past, I spent my days letting go of mine. I had dinner with friends, revisited familiar places, and wandered the packlands that had once felt like home. Every evening, his calls came in like clockwork. “Felicia, what are you up to? I miss you.” “Nothing much,” I replied, my voice steady. “Just packing up at home.”

I told him the truth. Alpha Kendrick didn’t push for more, though he continued calling, updating me on where he was and what he was doing. He mentioned, almost hesitantly, how nervous he felt about seeing Elena after all these years. It was odd—this routine we’d fallen into. Over time, we’d grown accustomed to sharing everything. Whenever he traveled for work, it was second nature to exchange “I miss you” and recount the trivialities of our days. Even now, as he prepared to reunite with her, he still called me, as though nothing had changed. Habit, I realized, is a cruel master. I let the silence stretch between us for a while. “Are you upset? Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked, his tone edged with concern. “No,” I replied softly, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “I wish you the best.” How I managed to say it, I’ll never know. He went quiet, the silence thick and heavy, before finally speaking in a low voice. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. No matter what happens, I love you.” For a fleeting moment, I wanted to believe him—maybe I even did. But belief wouldn’t change anything now. This time, I was ready to let go. Three days later, Alpha Kendrick returned. I hadn’t expected him back so soon, but what truly stopped me cold was the sight of who stood beside him. Elena. I remembered our first meeting vividly. Back then, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Elena was the kind of woman who shattered expectations with reckless ease—a little wild, magnetic in ways that demanded attention. She was stunningly beautiful, radiating confidence and an undeniable charm. The air between us now hung heavy, burdened with years of unspoken history. Her natural charisma was something I could never replicate. Where she embodied freedom, I was a product of discipline and carefully cultivated propriety. She still carried that untamed elegance. A tattoo curled along the curve of her neck, her sunglasses perched casually atop her head, loose curls spilling over her shoulders. “Felicia, long time no see,” she said, her voice familiar but softened by weariness. This wasn’t the same Elena I remembered. She politely asked if she could come in, and though I was too stunned to speak, I stepped aside. As she passed, her arm brushed against a decorative bear wearing a wedding bow tie. The little figure toppled to the floor. Without hesitation, she crouched, retrieved it, and handed it back with a faint, almost apologetic smile. “I forgot to congratulate you,” she said. “I wish you and Alpha Kendrick a happy wedding.” Her words were polite, even kind, but they carried an undercurrent I couldn’t quite place. I nodded, unsure how to respond. Elena’s gaze drifted around the living room, taking in the sparse furnishings. The house felt hollow—most of my belongings had already been sent to the Blue Moon Pack’s territory. What remained were things that belonged to Alpha Kendrick or shared mementos I couldn’t bring myself to sort through. Alpha Kendrick noticed too. His brow furrowed as he glanced around. “Felicia,” he said, confusion coloring his tone, “why does the house feel so empty?” “I’ve just been organizing and clearing out a few things,” I said casually, brushing off his concern with a vague excuse. Elena sat down and removed her sunglasses, revealing deep bruises around her eyes and faint scars etched across her face. In that moment, I understood why she seemed different. The unshakable confidence she once radiated was gone, dulled by hardship and loss. “As you can see,” Elena said softly, her voice steady despite everything, “I’m not doing well.” She told me how her life hadn’t unfolded the way she’d imagined. The rogue king she once called her true love had never planned to marry her. “To him, I was just a passing distraction,” she admitted, bitterness lacing her words. Trapped in the Rogue Lair, she had spiraled into depression, unable to return to the life she once knew. “It wasn’t until I reached out to Alpha Kendrick that things started to change,” she said quietly. “Thanks to his help over the years, I never lost myself completely.” Beside me, Alpha Kendrick tensed. His unease rolled off him in waves. It wasn’t just about her confession. It was the confirmation that they had never truly lost contact. Elena didn’t stop. Her voice remained soft, steady—almost gentle. “Alpha Kendrick spends a month with me every year. Always at the end of the year. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it through.” The words landed like a punch to the gut. Suddenly, everything clicked. His so-called “wolf pack business trips.” The vague excuses every December. The expansion efforts, the alliances he claimed to be securing. None of it had been real. He hadn’t been tending to the pack. He had been with her. Elena glanced at me, gauging my reaction before continuing. “When Alpha Kendrick started growing his pack’s business, I heard you sold your dowry to give him the startup capital. Even from afar, I admired your loyalty.” I said nothing. The weight of her words pressed down like a lead shroud. Loyalty. That’s what I had given him. Unwavering. Absolute. And in return? “I was in trouble at the time too,” Elena admitted, her voice quieter now. “My life was… falling apart. So, Alpha Kendrick sent me $200,000 to help.” The number rang in my ears. $200,000. Suddenly, I remembered the missing funds from the Red River Pack’s accounts. The ones brushed off as a bookkeeping error. It hadn’t been an oversight. It hadn’t been a mistake. It was a secret. A carefully concealed piece of Alpha Kendrick’s life with Elena—one I was never meant to uncover.

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Eight years. That’s how long I rotted in a cell for a murder I never did. And there he is. My husband. Waiting at the gate with roses and our twins, smiling like he didn’t put me there himself. His eyes fill with tears. “Vivian. Baby. You’ve learned your lesson. From now on, you’ve got me and the kids. That’s it.” The reporters swarm in. They’ve been waiting for hours. “Vivian Hayes! You used to be America’s sweetheart. Tell us, what was going through your head when you tortured that poor delivery driver?” “How did you feel when his family set the fire that killed your parents?” “Your CEO husband got down on his knees on live TV for you. Your kids grew up labeled the children of a killer. Any regrets, Vivian?” The cameras and mics push at my face like weapons. Every question wants me dead. I don’t say a word. Then someone shouts over the rest. “Chloe Bennett has confessed her love for your husband on camera. Multiple times. Will you finally let him and the kids go? Give them a way out?” A way out? I almost laugh. They’re the ones who never gave me a way out. Damon was the one who begged me to take the fall for Chloe. ……. All those vicious questions, and Damon didn’t say one word to defend me. But the second someone says Chloe’s name? He snaps his fingers. The bodyguards move in. “Sorry, folks. Ms. Bennett is a respected actress. Please leave her name out of this.” My own kids look like they want to swing at the reporter. “Chloe is beautiful and kind! How dare this killer even say her name!” I gave birth to these two in prison. I worked the laundry shift during the day with one of them strapped to each side of me. At night I rocked them for hours so they wouldn’t wake the other inmates. The day Damon came to take them, I asked him for one thing. “Send them overseas. As far as you can. And whatever you do, keep them away from Chloe.” Now I’m out. And I find out the two babies I almost died for were raised at her knee. Turned into knives. Pointed at me. The car ride home is silent. Damon reaches over and takes my hand, careful, like he’s testing the water. “About what happened back then. I want to thank you. For Chloe.” I don’t move. “You were already married. Pregnant. You’d been talking about retiring anyway. Chloe had just graduated. Her whole career was in front of her.” I laugh. It comes out ugly. “So?” I turn and look at him. “So the real killer walks free, and I’m the one who has to bury my parents and lose my kids? Is that what you’re telling me?” He doesn’t answer. When he finally speaks, his voice breaks. “Her parents saved my life, Vivian. I owed them. Blame me. Hit me. Yell at me. I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” Eight years of cold concrete. The reporters tearing me apart at the gate. All of it falls apart in my chest the second he says it. I start shaking. The sobs rip out of me. He pulls me against his chest. His voice is low. Steady. The voice I used to fall asleep to. “It’s over, baby. It’s all over. We’re gonna have a beautiful family. Just us and the kids.” It’s such a beautiful picture. It shatters the second I walk through the door and see her. Our house. Exactly the way I left it. Brighter, actually. Warmer. Because the day they put me in cuffs, Chloe moved in. She walks up to me like she owns the place and grabs my hand. “Vivian! You’re finally home! I made dinner. We’ve been waiting all afternoon.” I rip my hand away like she’s diseased. Damon’s face turns to ice. “Vivian. I get you’re pissed. Take it out on me. Don’t take it out on her.” He steps between us. “Yeah, you took the fall. But she’s the one who raised our kids while you were gone. She put her whole career on the line for this family. Drop it already.” “Drop it?” Nothing in prison ever hurt the way that sentence just did. “You want me to thank her, Damon?” I want to scream the rest. Why wasn’t he at our anniversary dinner that night? Why was he at her birthday party instead? Why did he throw his own pregnant wife in a cell to save her? Chloe jumps in before it can blow up. “It’s okay, Damon. Really. She needs time. I knew this would happen.” She gives me a soft, sad little smile. “You two eat. I’ll get out of your way.” Her eyes go red right on cue. The picture of hurt. But she doesn’t let a single tear fall. She just spins around and runs back to her room.

Every dish on the table was made by Chloe. Just looking at them makes me want to throw up. Damon says it’s my first family dinner since I got out. Says I should sit down and act normal. At least for the kids. But the kids don’t even let me sit. Noah grabs a meatball off the plate and chucks it at my face. “Why does she get to eat Chloe’s food?” “Chloe and Daddy love each other! Why are you trying to steal him, you killer?” Nora’s already wailing next to him. “Daddy, please don’t let her live here. I’m scared.” Damon scoops her up like she’s made of glass. Chloe comes flying out of the kitchen the second she hears crying. She presses herself right up against him. Pretends to wipe Nora’s tears. Her hands are doing way more than that. “Aw, Nora, sweetie. She’s still your mom. And the police taught her her lesson. She won’t kill anyone anymore.” Nora hears the word kill and sobs harder. Eight years. Eight years I missed with these kids. Eight years they got called the children of a murderer at school, on the playground, everywhere. Now my baby girl’s face is red and swollen because of her, and something inside me snaps. “Chloe. What the hell did you just say?” I shove between her and Damon and grab her arm. “Won’t kill anyone anymore?” “You know exactly who did it. Better than anyone in this room.” Every ounce of rage I swallowed for eight years comes roaring up at once. My hand flies up to slap her. Damon catches my wrist mid-air. “Vivian. Jesus. Prison actually made you crazy.” He throws my arm down hard. I stumble. My lower back slams into the corner of the table. Pain shoots up my spine so sharp I almost black out on my feet. But that’s not what hurts the most. “Chloe was trying to calm Nora down. She was defending you, for God’s sake.” “Just go to your room. You’re not okay right now.” I stare at him. The tears are right there, burning behind my eyes. The same man who promised me the rest of his life an hour ago in the car. Now he’s screaming at me to protect her. I drag myself down the hall. Lock the door behind me. I pull up my shirt in front of the mirror. The whole side of my lower back is already turning purple. Black at the edges. Hideous. This bedroom is twice the size of my cell. Bright. Clean. And somehow I’ve never felt colder or more alone. In prison, rats ran across me at night. Roaches in my hair. I didn’t care. Because every single day I told myself the same thing. Get out. Get back to Damon. Get back to the kids. Build the life you were supposed to have. That’s what kept me breathing. And now? Even with the door shut, I can hear them laughing in the living room. I hear my kids piling food onto Chloe’s plate. Calling her Aunt Chloe in that sweet, sticky voice. I hear my husband ask her, soft and worried, “You okay, baby? She didn’t scare you, did she?” That life out there. The warm one. The happy one. That was supposed to be mine. No. It was supposed to be more than that. If somebody hadn’t leaked my parents’ address eight years ago. If the victim’s family hadn’t shown up with gasoline and a match. I’d have a house full of grandparents and babies right now. A real family. Loud. Messy. Whole. I’m crying so hard I can barely breathe when there’s a knock at the door. “Vivian. May I come in?”

I never let Damon see me like this. I spin around fast and scrub at my eyes. Too late. He’s already clocked the red rims and the wet streaks down my cheeks. He sets down a bowl and pulls me into his chest. “Hey. What’s all this? The kids spent eight years getting called a murderer’s children. Of course they’re cold. Give them time.” I nod into his shirt. “I know.” Then I look up. “That thing I asked you to look into. Who leaked Mom and Dad’s address. Did you ever find out?” His face shifts. I feel his whole body go stiff against mine. “Babe. It’s been eight years. There’s nothing left to trace.” I frown. “I was at the peak of my career. I bought them that place in the Hamptons specifically to keep stalker fans out. The address was locked down.” “Whoever knew where they lived was someone close to me.” “Damon.” I grab his hand like it’s the last rope on a cliff. “Please. You have to find out who did this. They burned alive. There wasn’t even enough left to put in the casket.” After dinner, Damon takes the kids upstairs. I run myself a rose-petal bath. Partly to scrub eight years of prison off my skin. Mostly because tonight is supposed to be the first time my husband and I share a bed in nearly a decade. I dig out the black slip he used to lose his mind over. I sit on the edge of the bed. And I wait. He doesn’t come. Eventually I pad down the hall. The kitchen’s dark except for the fridge hanging half open. That’s when I see them. “Damon. Are you seriously going to sleep with that old bitch tonight?” Chloe’s in a red lace slip. Barely there. She drags one finger down his chest. He catches her wrist. “Chloe. Don’t talk about her like that. She did eight years for you.” She laughs in his face. “Sweetie. You had more money than God. One phone call and a hundred women would’ve lined up to take that fall for me.” She leans in. “And let’s be real. The night her parents walked in on us? The night they said they were going to the press? You’re the one who handed their address to the victim’s family.” “Damon.” She winds his tie around her finger and pulls him in until their mouths are almost touching. “Just say it. You wanted me. That’s why you put her away.” Their breath is mixing. He breaks. Grabs her by the jaw and bites down on her lip. Between gasps, he’s still talking. “When I married her, I swore I’d never cheat. But you and me, baby, we go back to kindergarten. The only way to keep my word to her and my word to you was to put her somewhere she’d never find out.” Then they’re kissing again. Loud. Hungry. And I’m standing in the dark feeling my heart get carved up in strips. The man I gave every piece of myself to. He killed my parents. The “girl he grew up with” he introduced me to at our engagement party? She was never a little sister. She was the love of his life. I don’t remember walking back to the bedroom. My legs aren’t mine anymore. I collapse on the floor. My phone is buzzing on the nightstand. My old agent. I can’t reach for it. I’m up before sunrise. I drive to my parents’ grave. I drop to my knees in front of the headstone and slap myself across the face. Hard. Mom. Dad. I’m so sorry. You raised a fool. Then I hear footsteps. A lot of them. Coming fast.

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They took me. Two men. Zip ties. A warehouse. My husband, the sheriff, sent every deputy he had to save his first love. She’d swallowed a bottle of pills. She was dying. I didn’t call him. I let them hurt me. Last time, I called. He came. His team took the kidnappers down. I walked out alive. The next morning, Hannah Brooks was dead. She’d called him seventeen times while he was saving me. He never answered. He told me he didn’t regret it. I was his wife. I was carrying his child. Saving me was the only choice. I believed him. The night I gave birth to our daughter, he dragged me out of the hospital. Fresh stitches. Still bleeding. Our newborn in her carrier. He drove us to Hannah’s grave. Snow howling. Wind like a knife. He kicked me to my knees on frozen ground. “The kidnappers never touched you. You let her die because you were jealous.” He was laughing. “Hannah was so pure. So gentle. How could you let her die?” He poured ice water over my head. Left us there. I held my baby as my body turned to stone. Her cries got quieter. Then stopped. I died in the cold with my daughter in my arms. Then I opened my eyes. The warehouse. The zip ties. The same two men. I didn’t call him this time either. *** They shoved a phone in my face. “Call your husband.” I kept my mouth shut. The beatings started. I still didn’t speak. Frustrated, they dialed his number themselves. The one with the scar across his face held the phone to my ear. “Marcus Kane? We’ve got your wife. You want her alive, come alone. Old warehouse. Dockside. We need to talk.” Marcus sounded annoyed. “Olivia. Really? Hannah’s in trouble. I’m taking my team out there right now. Can you not do this today?” A string of accusations. Then the line went dead. He didn’t believe me. Hannah had spent months telling him I was unstable. Dramatic. Desperate for attention. He’d been primed to see me as the villain. I listened to his verdict. A knowing smile settled on my lips. The scarred man lost it. “You useless bitch.” His backhand sent my skull cracking against the wall. Blood flooded my mouth. He hauled me up by my collar. Spit flying. “What the hell is wrong with your husband? Make him believe it. Or I swear to God, I’ll end you right now.” I knew he wouldn’t kill me. I’d lived this before. I just hadn’t expected to land in this exact moment when I came back. I looked at his furious face. I let tears well up. “Just kill me. I don’t want to live anymore.” They froze. Scarface recovered first. “Don’t play games with me.” His hand connected with my cheek again. I broke down. Sobs tearing out of me. “Save me? He wants me dead. He mortgaged our house. Our joint house. To buy that whore presents. My baby. I lost my baby. Because of him. All of it. Because of him.” “He’s scum. He won’t come for me. God. What’s the point of living.” I started out pretending. Then last life’s grief took over. Real howling. Real tears. Scarface glanced at the bald one. Baldy walked over. Kicked my chair over. “Shut your mouth. Shut up.” He dialed Marcus again. Ten calls. All rejected. On the eleventh, the line went to voicemail. Marcus had decided I was lying. He only cared about his precious first love. Scarface was pacing. “What the hell is wrong with this guy? His wife is missing and he doesn’t care?” He shoved a filthy rag in my mouth. Oil and mold. I was barely three months pregnant. The smell made me retch. Baldy stayed calm. “We wait. By tomorrow, the sheriff’s office will notice their boss’s wife is gone. Then they’ll care.” Scarface spat in my direction. “Useless.” They dragged me to a corner. Ate microwaved pasta. My stomach burned. I couldn’t eat. Morning came. No Marcus. Even Baldy started sweating. Then he kicked me in the stomach. Pain tore through my abdomen. My face went white. Scarface pointed. “She’s bleeding.” Baldy’s expression flickered. “Hey. What’s wrong with you?” I could barely whisper. “Help me. Please. I’m going to die.” Sirens wailed outside. Baldy looked at the blood pooling beneath me. Looked at the cop cars through the window. “We’re out of here. Let this be a lesson to Marcus.” The sirens got closer. My stomach kept cramping. Was I going to lose this baby too? Tears slid down my face. Please. Please hold on.

Overnight, I lost the husband who loved me and the child I carried for ten months. Marcus Kane shredded every scrap of love that night. All that remained was bone-deep hate. Now, maybe God took pity on me. I woke up back on the day of the kidnapping. I made the kidnappers wait an hour longer than last time before they called Marcus. They wanted him to release one of their crew from county jail. They weren’t killers. Last time, they barely touched me. I was cooperative. This time, I’d made them angry. I watched Scarface’s face flush red. I let tears fall. “Just kill me. I really don’t want to live.” Scarface slapped me again. I wailed. Spilled my misery. “Save me? He wants me dead. Our house. Our joint house. He mortgaged it. For that whore. Gifts for that whore. My baby. I lost them all. Because of him.” He was scum. He wouldn’t come. God, what was the point. The words poured out. Real grief bleeding through fake tears. Scarface looked at Baldy. Uncertainty in his eyes. Baldy’s face was grim. He strode over. Kicked my chair. “Shut it. Shut your mouth.” He kept dialing. Ten calls. All rejected. On the eleventh attempt, the line went dead. Disconnected. Marcus had made up his mind. I was lying. His precious Hannah was all that mattered. Scarface was losing it. “Is this guy brain-damaged? His wife is in trouble and he’s not worried at all?” Baldy stayed cold. “Wait. The sheriff’s office will notice by morning. Then they’ll care.” They ate their microwave pasta. I sat in the corner. Rope biting my wrists. Dawn came. No Marcus. Baldy’s composure cracked. Then he kicked me in the stomach. Agony. White-hot. My vision swam. Scarface pointed. “She’s bleeding. A lot.” Baldy’s face shifted. “Hey. What’s wrong.” I couldn’t form words. Barely a whisper. “Help. Me. Please. I’m going to die.” Sirens screamed outside. Baldy looked at the blood. Looked at the cops. “We leave. Now. Let Marcus deal with this mess.” The sirens closed in. My body was failing me. Again? I was going to lose my baby again? Tears dripped off my chin. Baby. Please. Just hold on a little longer.

The door burst open. Uniforms flooded in. No Marcus. Of course. He was with Hannah. Holding her hand. Stroking her fragile, trembling fingers. My heart clenched. Then nausea rose. Every ounce of pain he gave me. Every drop. I would make him taste it all. A small figure shoved through the cops. “Olivia!” Jessica. Jessica Lynch. My best friend. My only friend. She’d called the police. “Olivia, what happened? Oh God. Paramedics. Someone get paramedics. She’s dying. Please. Help her.” Her frantic voice followed me into the ambulance. I woke up in a hospital bed. Everything hurt. Lashes across my back burned. I ignored them. My hand went to my stomach. Jessica stirred beside me. “You’re awake.” She saw my hand. Her face crumpled. “Olivia. You need to rest. Don’t be too sad, okay? The baby must have really wanted to be an angel. God just called her back early.” I closed my eyes. Tears slid into the pillow. I couldn’t keep you either. Jessica squeezed my hand. “Thank you, Jess.” “Don’t be stupid.” She wiped her eyes. “Let me get the doctor.” She walked out. A familiar voice stopped at the door. “Olivia. Really committing to the performance, aren’t you.” Marcus. Jessica spun around. “Marcus, you bastard. What the hell are you talking about?” He smirked. “Still playing victim? You took it all the way to the hospital. You know you’re wasting emergency resources, right?” I didn’t get a chance to answer. Jessica exploded. “Are you insane? Your wife was kidnapped. You’re the sheriff. You didn’t lift a finger. You took your entire office to rescue some bitch pretending to die. Now your wife just had a miscarriage and you have the audacity to blame her?” A figure in a hospital gown stepped out from behind Marcus. “Miscarriage? Really, Olivia? I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”

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“I’ll say it one last time—if that acquisition doesn’t go through before the quarterly report,we pull out of the entire northern market.” I sat at the head of the table,eyes sweeping across the board. “I’ve already lowered the base price.What’s left is whether you have the guts to bet.” The Delta on the other end froze for a second,then started to speak,but I cut him off with a wave. “No excuses.Thirty minutes.That’s all you get.” “Yes,Luna,”he muttered. I ended the call and leaned back,exhaling.Just as I was about to stand,a sharp chime came from my terminal. 【Did you see Felicity’s wedding post?Are you really not coming?】 My brow furrowed. The high school group chat—dead for ten years—had come alive like a zombie. 【She’s marrying an Alpha of Blackthron Pack!Hundreds of luxury cars at the wedding!The whole class is here!】 【You still alive?Haven’t spoken in a century—how miserable are you?】 I glanced at the terminal,my finger swiping out of reflex…and then I saw it. My heart skipped a beat. Felicity in a white gown,beaming with joy.Standing beside her,in a tailored tuxedo—Logan. My husband. The office fell into a dead silence. “You okay?”My Beta Anna knocked and stepped in.“The board just wrapped up—next up is…” “Anna,”I interrupted,my voice icily calm.“Tell the driver to bring the car around.” She paused.“Where to?” I slid my phone across the desk. She saw the photo and gasped.“Holy hell…is that Logan?” I smiled,but there was no warmth in it. “Looks like I’ve got a wedding to crash.” In the car,I dialed Logan’s number. “Hey?”He sounded casual. “Where are you?” “At work.Client dinner.Why?” “Dinners usually involve wedding tuxedos?”I asked,voice like steel. He paused for two seconds.“You saw the picture.” “Want to explain?”I said flatly.“You’re marrying someone else.And that someone is my old classmate.” “Meghan.”He sighed.“You know our marriage was just a family arrangement…” “You married me to gain a seat on the Holloway board,”I snapped.“How long have you and Felicity been screwing around?” “Don’t make a scene,”he said,voice lower.“Let’s end this gracefully.” I almost laughed.“Gracefully?After you cheated,lied,and married my enemy?” There was a pause,then a quiet chuckle.“Let’s not pretend we were ever in love.” He hung up. I stared at the black screen,fingers digging into my palm. At the wedding hall. I walked in wearing black.Like a storm wrapped in silk. Felicity was in the middle of the crowd,glowing like a star.When she saw me,her smile brightened. “Meghan!You came!”she chirped.“I thought you’d hide!” I stepped forward,eyes locked on Logan. He stiffened.“You shouldn’t be here.” Felicity hooked her arm in his.“She’s my classmate—and your…old friend.Of course she should come.” “Really?”I leaned in close,whispering,“You stole my husband and want me to clap for you?” She grinned.“Let go,Meghan.He chose me.” I turned to Logan.“Say it to my face.Did you marry me?” His jaw clenched.“Yes.” “Then what the hell is this today?” He said nothing. Felicity tilted her head.“Just love,darling.” I tore up the invitation in my hand and let the pieces scatter at their feet. “Remember this,”I said,voice cold as ice.“This isn’t the end.It’s the beginning.” That night,back at home. I stood on the balcony,staring at the moon. A silver light bathed my skin.Then I heard it—a voice,ancient and powerful,echoing from nowhere. “True-blooded Luna,your time has come.Awaken.” I spun around—empty. But my heart was pounding. I looked up at the moon,lips curling into a calm,dangerous smile. “Very well,Felicity.” “You want everything I have?” “Then prepare to lose everything you’ve ever known.”

“Welcome!Are you a friend of the bride?” The hostess at the entrance greeted me with a dazzling smile. I took off my sunglasses and met her gaze. Her smile froze instantly. I didn’t answer.I walked straight inside. The venue was a parade of decadence—crystal chandeliers dripped with imported flowers,a red carpet led to a glass altar,and a dozen photographers circled the couple like vultures around royalty. And there she was—Felicity Simons—draped in a wedding gown that shimmered like sunrise,standing beside my husband,smiling like she owned the world. Logan leaned down to kiss her on the forehead,the cameras eating it up like they were the perfect couple. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and stepped forward. The buzz in the room dimmed.Chatter faded.All eyes turned as I approached. Felicity spotted me.Her smile flickered—then returned,wider,almost gloating. “Oh!Meghan?”she chirped.“I thought you wouldn’t dare show up!” “You asked me to handle cleanup,didn’t you?”I replied sweetly.“Figured I’d come see what mess needs mopping.” Logan walked over,tension creeping across his face.“What are you doing here?” “Attending the wedding of my‘friend’and my husband,”I said,locking eyes with him.“Got a problem with that,sweetheart?” Silence rippled across the room. Guests began whispering: “Wait—is she really Logan’s wife?” “I heard it was just a business marriage…yikes.” “This is getting wild…” Felicity didn’t flinch.She looped her arm through Logan’s. “Oh Meghan,don’t be so dramatic.We just happened to find happiness first.” I stared her down.“Sleeping with someone else’s husband is happiness to you?” “Correction,”she smiled,“your ex-husband.Divorce papers are filed.Just waiting on your signature.” “You really do love promotion.”I snorted.“From‘classmate’to‘sister’to‘bride’—quite the ladder you’ve climbed.” Her face twitched.“So,you know.” I leaned in close.“You thought you could hide it forever?” “Felicity Simons,”I said slowly,“you’re the illegitimate daughter of my father and a fallen wolf tribe woman.You were never a Simons.You’re a Holloway.” Her pupils trembled,but she kept smiling.“And yet,even as your sister,Logan chose me.” I turned to Logan.“Do you even know who she is?Do you care how she wormed her way into your life?What do you love more—her pedigree or the pup in her belly?” Logan stayed quiet,gripping Felicity’s hand tighter. “You’re pregnant?”I looked at her. She stroked her stomach proudly.“Three months.You never could conceive,right?Guess Alpha blood only works for true love.” I nodded.“How poetic.” Then I pulled a folded ultrasound from my clutch and flung it at her. “Too bad I’m pregnant too.Two weeks ahead of you.” Gasps exploded from the crowd. Felicity’s expression shattered.Even Logan’s mask cracked. I addressed the guests: “I endured all his betrayal and coldness because I once believed I’d chosen him.But now I see—he was never a partner.Just a parasite.Feeding off my family,my position,and my name.” I looked Logan straight in the eye.“You weren’t beneath me—you were never even worthy of me.” Finally,he spoke,voice low.“Meghan,calm down…this isn’t what you think—” “Isn’t what I think?”I laughed,voice shaking with fury.“Then explain the wedding tux,the vows,the kissing photos.Is this some twisted theatre piece?” He hesitated,glancing at Felicity. I stepped closer,voice like a blade.“You’ve been planning this escape,haven’t you?” A pause. “You know our marriage was never real,”he said softly. “Don’t feed me that family-arranged crap,”I snapped.“You were the one camped outside my pack begging for attention.The one who begged to come to the Alpha council banquet.The one who called me‘Luna’in bed while promising forever.” His jaw clenched.“I never said I didn’t love you.” “You never did,”I said,seething.“You loved the board seat.You loved the Beta pass I gave you.You loved what I built—and you stole every bit of it.” His voice turned cold.“And you?You used me too—as your husband’s title for your own leverage.” I laughed.“If I were using someone,I’d pick a far better option than you.” Felicity tried to step in.“Alright,that’s enough.Don’t torture yourself like this,Meghan—” I turned on her.“Shut up.You don’t get to play peacemaker in the story you ruined.” I stepped right up to Logan,locking eyes with him. “You chose betrayal.Don’t expect mercy.I’ll make sure you never take another step in wolf society.Even if you crawl to the fallen tribes,I’ll see to it that you stay an Omega forever—unawakened.Forgotten.” Logan’s face finally dropped. I turned and walked down the aisle,my heels biting into the red carpet like punishment. That night,in the Holloway estate. I sat on the balcony,scrolling through dozens of voice messages from Felicity. 【You think this is over?】 【You don’t have the guts to keep that pup.】 【You think you’re the main character?Please.I’m the one your daddy left behind.Not you.】 I played every one,calm as ice. “Anna,”I said,lifting my phone. “Yes,Luna?” “I need a drone,a paternity test,a hidden camera file,and—contact Elias.” “…Beta Elias?Are you sure?” “Tell him,”I said,smiling.“The game’s about to begin.” Outside,the moon blazed too brightly.Silver light poured over me like judgment. And then—time seemed to freeze. Lunara’s voice echoed,powerful and cold: “She seeks to steal your destiny,not knowing— the true Luna cannot be replaced.” I closed my eyes and whispered back: “Then I’ll rip their masks off,one by one.”

Felicity stormed after me down the aisle,one heel missing,gown dragging behind her like a broken promise. “You can’t be pregnant!”she hissed,catching up to me.“Pack doctor said after that accident you—” I held a finger to my lips and smirked.“Shhh.Looks like you’ve been snooping more than I thought.” Her pupils shrank.“You planned this?” “Pregnancy is a blessing from the Moon Goddess,”I said coolly.“You think your tricks would be enough to steal Logan and the Alpha bloodline all to yourself?” She trembled with fury,lips pale. I turned,walking toward the exit. “Watch yourself,Meghan,”she called after me,voice suddenly smooth.“You think I’m your only enemy?You don’t even know who you are.” I stopped. She smiled—sweet and venomous. “Maybe you should ask your mother how she found out about me in the first place.” I turned back slowly.“My mother knows about you?” “Of course she does,”Felicity said,stepping closer.“You think I just coincidentally transferred to your school that year?You were thirteen,remember?Just brought back from foster care into the Holloway estate.And I—well,I was placed right next to you.” Something flickered in the back of my mind—long-forgotten images. A girl who mimicked my clothes,copied my handwriting,even stole my lunchbox.Teachers said we were“like sisters.” She pressed on.“Remember those nightmares you had?Someone stealing your father’s hugs?Not dreams,Meghan.Memories.” My throat burned. “You’re lying.” “Am I?”Her grin widened.“Then go get a DNA test.See if we share the same father.” My fists clenched.“You’ve hated me since we were kids?” She tilted her head.“Not hate.Jealousy.I have your blood,but not your face,not your title.Not your throne.” I looked at her for a long second. “So you didn’t just want Logan,”I said softly.“You wanted to erase me completely.” Her voice was almost a whisper.“You said it yourself—wolves honor bloodlines and fate.And while you were busy believing you were chosen…I’d already stolen your destiny.” I walked away without another word. Back at the estate,I unlocked a door I hadn’t opened since coming of age—the family archives,sealed with the Holloway crest. Tonight,I needed answers. Scrolls,letters,records covered the shelves like ancient bones.I found a letter written in my father’s own hand: “Regarding F.S.,her existence must be concealed.Her mother,of fallen blood,ensnared me years ago…a daughter was born…” My fingers trembled. He’d admitted it. I pulled out a silver ring—Holloway’s blood verification artifact.Prick the finger,drop the blood—if compatible,the Moon Crest glows. I bit down,let the blood drip. The ring shimmered.Twin crests emerged—my blood and hers. They matched the wolf tooth pendant Felicity wore since high school. We were sisters. That night,a video anonymously exploded across the wolfnet: 【Logan Ridley,still married to Meghan Holloway,secretly engaged to Felicity Simons.】 【Felicity Simons:revealed to be Holloway’s illegitimate daughter.】 【The two colluded to seize Luna inheritance and connect with fallen tribes.】 Comments blew up like wildfire: 【No wonder the wedding wasn’t streamed—guilty much?】 【Meghan is the rightful Luna!】 【This is more dramatic than our favorite werewolf soap—LOVE IT.】 I closed the app,smirking. “Now they’ll see what it feels like…to burn in public.” Late at night,Elias knocked on my study door. He stood tall,composed as always,but there was fire in his eyes. “You finally called me.” I didn’t answer.I simply tossed him my father’s letter. He scanned it,jaw tightening. “She really is your sister.” “She doesn’t just want Logan,”I said.“She wants my name.My blood.My place.” “What will you do?”he asked. I stared at the moon outside. “I’ll make her watch everything she stole be ripped from her fingers.And I’ll make Logan beg to lose everything.” Elias’s voice was quiet.“This path…it won’t be clean.Every step from now on is war.” I looked him dead in the eye. “I’ve never been afraid to fight,”I said.“I was just too merciful before.”

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