Category: English

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

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

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

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606199Cn2oeI6u3 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni071808”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The end-of-season hunt concluded the same way it always did in the Grey Stone Pack. Alpha Elena stood at the head of the carcass and called the kill division, her voice carrying the full weight of her rank. Jax stepped forward and claimed the prime organs. He snatched the heart and liver while they were still steaming, taking the raw cuts only high-ranking wolves were allowed to touch. He held them in both hands and never once looked in my direction. I was handed an insult wrapped in gristle. Elena tossed me the bones Jax had already cracked open and sucked dry. His saliva still clung to the marrow, and the stench of his satisfaction was baked into every fracture. It was the kind of scrap a wolf throws to a stray. For five years I had kept Grey Stone’s walls from crumbling. I built their Silver-Trap Boundary System from salvaged wire and old ward components. I reset the perimeter triggers by hand and worked three straight nights during the Rogue siege so the rest of the pack could sleep in their dens. Now I was expected to feast on Jax’s leavings. Alpha Elena found me at the equipment shed later that evening. She leaned in the doorframe with her arms crossed, a smile cutting across her face like a blade. “Silas,” she said, her voice laced with false warmth. “The north ridge ward-triggers are failing again.” “I know,” I said, keeping my back to her. “Regional Alpha Greaves arrives in nine days. We need the perimeter running clean before he sets foot on our land.” She stepped closer. “Fix the wards, Silas. Do this for the pack and I’ll personally push your Transfer Order to the Royal Pack.” I set my wrench down and stared at the dark wooden wall. She had made this exact promise when I rebuilt the flood barrier. She made it again when I ran the emergency generator alone through the siege. For five years she used that Transfer Order as bait, but Jax was always the one who walked away with the reward. “No,” I said. The word came out flat and final. Elena’s smile didn’t move, but her eyes sharpened. “Excuse me?” I turned around and met her gaze. “I said no. I’m done being your pack mule, Elena.” The shed went quiet. Elena studied me for a long moment. “Don’t be reckless. Stay and fix the wards, and I’ll personally guarantee the next Release Order goes to you. No committees. No delays. You have my word as Alpha.” Before I could answer, Jax appeared in the doorway. He was still picking bits of liver from between his teeth, dark blood staining his chin like a badge of his unearned rank. “Elena’s doing you a favor, Omega,” he sneered, dragging the word out like he was scraping mud off a boot. “You should be on your knees thanking her for even noticing you.” He leaned against the frame with a gap-toothed grin. “Tell you what, I’ll let you smell my heart-cut. Maybe that’ll cheer you up.” I wiped the last of the grease from my hands and looked past him to Elena. “Don’t bother. I’m transferring to the Blood Moon Pack. They’ve already offered me the position of Master of Wards with thirty pounds of fresh kill every month, and they put it in writing.” Elena’s composure cracked. “Blood Moon? You go there and you’ll be a masterless stray with a tool belt. They only want your skills, Silas. The second you stop being useful, they’ll drop you like a Rogue carcass.” I buckled on my tool belt and stepped toward the door. “You’ve used me for five years while I starved. At least Blood Moon is honest about what my work is worth.” Elena’s warmth vanished completely. Her eyes went cold and flat. “You need my Alpha’s Seal on your Pack Severance Order. Without my mark, you go nowhere. You will stay in Grey Stone, Silas, because I am the law here. Now fix those ward-triggers. That is a command.” She turned and walked out without a second glance. Jax lingered a moment longer, whistling a taunting tune before following her into the dark. I stood alone in the shed. I thought about the seventeen Rogues who never breached our territory because of the traps I built. I looked at the gnawed bones in the rag, smelled Jax’s stale scent on them, and made my decision. I walked to the north ridge boundary panel and stripped out every custom piece I had ever installed. I pulled the hand-tuned silver-trigger pulses and the pressure wards I had calibrated with my own sweat. Pack property could stay. But my work was leaving with me. On my way back I stopped at the supply post. Old Bren didn’t look up from his pipe. “Nothing for you, Silas. Alpha Elena reallocated your ration to Jax for his supply run to the High Council. You’ll have to manage.” A hollow laugh escaped me. Elena’s “guarantee” was already being paid for with my stolen food. As I walked away I heard Bren muttering to a woman nearby. “Serves him right, playing the hero over those ridge trees when we could have sold the timber.” I didn’t stop. Three years ago I saved those trees because they formed a natural flood barrier keeping the pack dens dry. They called me a traitor then. They were starving me now. I had chosen their lives over their gold, and I would make that same call again. But from this moment on, the fate of the Grey Stone Pack was no longer my concern.

Jax sauntered up to Bren’s window with his hands in his pockets, acting like he owned the whole ridge. “What’s all the noise about?” he asked, all false concern. Bren filled him in on my refusal with obvious pleasure. Jax listened with his head tilted like a patient elder, then turned to me with the look of a man watching a rabid pup. “Silas, man,” he called out, loud enough for the crowd to hear. “Walking out on your pack over a few scraps? What does that say about your loyalty to the bond?” A woman behind Bren shouted her approval. The crowd pressed in tight. Jax’s mouth curved into a slow, satisfied grin. “He told Elena flat out that Grey Stone was beneath him. He called every wolf here a stray.” A massive wolf named Cutter stepped forward and jabbed a finger at my face. “That true, Silas? You calling us strays after everything this pack gave you?” I looked Jax in the eye, my voice flat. “When did I ever say that, Jax?” Jax blinked with wide-eyed innocence. “Right there in the Alpha’s office. That’s why she stormed out. You going to deny it now?” The crowd erupted. Insults flew. They called me an ungrateful traitor and a mutt. Cutter spat at my feet and accused me of refusing to fix his signal-stone because I thought I was better than everyone else. “Cutter,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Your stone cracked because you dropped it off the watchtower. I lent you mine for three weeks, and you still haven’t returned it.” I turned to Marta at the gate post. “The east wards failed because lightning hit the power relay. I spent the whole night on that post so the pack’s entire grid wouldn’t burn out. I got to your triggers the next morning.” The noise dropped. The truth has a way of doing that. But Jax stepped in quickly to keep the anger alive. “That’s the problem with Silas. He keeps score. Every job is a transaction to him, not an act of loyalty.” “Spoken by a wolf who has never done a real day of work,” I said, and pushed past him. I walked to the equipment shed with Bren scrambling behind me, yelling about pack property. I opened the control panel and turned to face him. “Pack property stays, Bren. I’m only taking what’s mine.” I pulled out the custom silver-trigger pulse and the hand-built scent nodes I had assembled from salvage. Bren started sweating the moment he realized I was gutting the heart of the system. “You’re killing the boundary!” he hissed. “I’m removing my parts,” I said, straightening up. “The system will run at forty percent. That’s exactly where it was before I arrived.” I looked over at Jax in the doorway. “You’re the star now, Jax. Fix the wards with that silver tongue of yours. I’ll be watching.”

I went home and slept deep and dreamless for the first time in weeks. Without my custom triggers, the boundary was wide open. A determined Rogue could find the gaps in a matter of hours. By evening, Bren was pounding on my door with three Enforcers behind him. “Silas! The east perimeter is throwing dead zones!” I didn’t open my eyes. “Ask Jax,” I said. “Jax doesn’t know how to—” “Ask. Jax.” I heard them shuffle away into the dark. That night, Jax spent his own gold at the Council outpost to buy generic replacement parts. He came to my window at dawn to brag. “See? The pack doesn’t need you, Omega.” I watched him from behind the glass. He had no idea the generic parts were incompatible with my custom housing. He didn’t know about the manual recalibration the cold required, or that the two systems would fight each other until they failed completely. The Regional Council visit was in eight days and the temperature was dropping. I smiled and went back to sleep. That evening, I caught the Blood Moon signal: two low owl calls spaced three seconds apart. I slipped out the back to find their Beta, a massive wolf named Drum, waiting in the shadows. He handed me a bundle of fresh venison and a flask of dark ale. “Alpha Rhen sends his regards,” Drum said quietly. “He says you’ve been patient longer than anyone should have to be.” “Where do we stand on the severance?” I asked. “Alpha Rhen went straight to the Regional Council to bypass Elena. It’ll take six more days for the Emergency Release to process. Hold on until then, Silas. Whatever they put you through, it ends soon.” I nodded. The warmth of a good meal settled over me. Six days. I could wait six days.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606195W4jA2zvmQ 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni214377”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

A package arrived. VIP contract from the city’s most exclusive Elite Postpartum Retreat. Patient name: Elena Morrison. I stared at it, confused. Then I called Leon. “Babe, why are you booking this so early? I’m only three months along!” Silence on the other end. A few beats too long. Then his gentle voice came through. “Sweetheart, I’m new at this whole dad thing. I want everything perfect for you. Don’t worry about it—I’ll handle it when I get home.” My chest warmed. I teased him for being ridiculous. “You’re not clueless. You’ve been amazing.” Leon was everyone’s golden boy—the perfect husband who anticipated my every need through this pregnancy. Attentive. Thoughtful. Loving. But when I pulled out the contract, my fingers froze. Estimated delivery date: next month. My baby was only three months along. The realization hit like ice water. His “first time being a father” wasn’t about my child. His experience came from another woman. *** It’s a printing error. Had to be. That’s what I told myself, even as my fingers betrayed me and pulled up the retreat’s website. I dialed. My voice stayed steady. “Hi, I need to verify an order. Last four digits 8867. Patient name Elena Morrison.” “One moment, please.” The receptionist’s voice dripped with professional warmth. “Ms. Morrison, your reservation is confirmed. Estimated delivery date is the 15th of next month. You’ve booked our premier suite. Mr. Morrison paid in full. The contract has been mailed!” My hand trembled around the phone. “You’re certain it’s… Elena Morrison? My ID number is—” “Confirmed, Ms. Morrison.” She cut me off. “Mr. Morrison specifically noted that you’re carrying twins and will need special care. Rest assured, we have state-of-the-art facilities and a 24-hour medical team. You and your babies will be in excellent hands.” Twins? I ended the call. Sat on the couch. My hands and feet went numb. The name was right. ID number matched. But I was carrying one baby. Only three months along. This retreat was expensive—the kind of place that could handle a walk-in delivery the day before labor and still provide white-glove service. So why book months in advance? Whose babies were being born next month? *** Leon came home after midnight. I sat in the dark, the contract spread on the coffee table. I’d read that line so many times I could recite it from memory. “Elena?” He flipped on the light. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” I didn’t answer. Just looked at him. He walked over, eyes soft, leaning down to kiss me. I turned my head away. “Elena?” Confusion crept into his voice. “Leon.” My voice came out calmer than I expected. “I got the contract today.” “Why does it say the delivery date is next month? And twins?” He paused mid-motion. Then he laughed. Crouched in front of me and took my hands. “I was going to tell you—their system made an error. I already contacted them to fix it.” He looked up at me, eyes filled with that familiar tenderness. “Babe, you’re pregnant. You can’t stress yourself out like this. It’s not good for the baby.” If this were before, I would’ve believed him. But this time, I didn’t miss the flash of panic in his eyes.

“System error?” I slowly pulled my hand away. “Then how did they get my pregnancy timeline wrong too?” Three months ago, when I found out I was pregnant, he cried. Said he’d never forget that day. But now this contract had two dates—and neither one matched my pregnancy. I looked at him, hoping he’d give me a reason I could believe. He said nothing. I felt my throat tighten. “It’s because their premier suites are so limited, isn’t it? That’s why you rushed to book it.” “Elena—” Leon stood, turning his back to me. His shoulders were rigid. Finally, he spoke. “Her name is Liana. She’s an intern at our company.” The name hit me like a gunshot. His voice dropped. “Last year at the holiday party, I had too much to drink… She’s young. She’s under a lot of pressure right now…” Too much to drink? I almost laughed. Didn’t anyone tell him that when he’s drunk, he can’t even get it up? “After that night, she got pregnant. Turned out to be twins.” His voice got quieter. “She wanted to terminate, but I said no. They’re two lives…” I finished for him: “So she’s giving birth at the retreat under my name?” “That way you get to keep your ‘perfect husband’ image.” “After all, your wife—Elena Morrison—is pregnant.” “Everyone will assume I gave birth to them. And your bastards become legitimate heirs.” Leon’s eyes stayed down. “You even made yourself a cover story,” I said, smiling through tears. “How thoughtful.” “Elena, I love you. I’ve only ever loved you.” He crouched down again, gripping my hands. “She was an accident. I have no feelings for her. I just…” “I just couldn’t let a young girl go through an abortion. It would damage her body. Once the babies are born, she’ll leave. I promise.” I looked at this man—the one I’d married three years ago, the one I thought I’d grow old with. My heart turned to ash. “You couldn’t bear to make her terminate… So I should?” Pain flickered across Leon’s face. Then he went silent. No more explanations. No more protests. No more declarations of love. That silence cut deeper than any words. He was waiting for me to say it. He didn’t want my baby. The thought struck like lightning. My entire body went cold. “Elena.” He looked up, pain still in his eyes—but what came out of his mouth was colder than anything before. “That girl has been… unstable lately. Threatening to hurt herself because the babies won’t have legal status.” He paused, the sympathy in his eyes undisguised. “Two days ago, she slit her wrists with a fruit knife. We caught her just in time.” He lowered his gaze to the floor. “Your body is strong. You recover fast. And you’ve had a miscarriage before, so one more time won’t matter.” My blood turned to ice. “What did you just say?” He didn’t look at me. Kept staring at the floor. “She’s different,” he said. “She’s only twenty-three. First pregnancy… She’s alone in this city, no family, no support.” I opened my mouth. No sound came out. “I know this hurts you.” His grip on my hand tightened. “But we can try again later. Your body is resilient—you got pregnant again after the last miscarriage. This time will be fine too.” He looked up, actual tears in his eyes. “Just… do this for me. Please?” I stared into those eyes. Heard every word. And I laughed. “Leon.” My voice came out soft. “Do you remember why I miscarried last time?”

He froze. “Because your mother thought I wasn’t good enough for you. We argued. She pushed me down the stairs.” His face went pale. “I was twenty-three then too. First pregnancy. All alone—I’d left my city, my parents, everything to be with you.” My tone stayed flat. “You don’t remember, do you?” “Elena, my mom didn’t mean to—” “I know.” I cut him off. “That’s why I forgave her.” “I believe she didn’t mean it. She looked terrified afterward.” “She just didn’t expect that you were standing right behind me… and you didn’t catch me.” Leon’s face drained of color. “Elena, how can you think that?” His voice rose. “That was my first child too. How could I deliberately not catch you?” I looked down at his hand gripping mine. That hand hadn’t caught me three years ago. And now, three years later, it was asking me to terminate again. “So.” I pulled my hand away. “Your mom pushed me, you failed to catch me, we lost that baby—all just accidents?” “Yes! Accidents. Nobody wanted that to happen.” “Then tell me.” I locked eyes with him. “Is this time an accident too?” He went silent. “Her pregnancy was an accident? You demanding I abort is an accident?” Each word landed like a hammer. “Leon, how is it that all your family’s ‘accidents’ happen to me?” His face flushed red. The room stayed quiet for a long time. So long I thought he wouldn’t speak again. Then he did. “Elena, what do you want me to do?” He looked up, eyes bloodshot. “It’s you on one side, her and two babies on the other—what the fuck am I supposed to do?” I stared at him. “What am I supposed to do? That’s what I should be asking you.” My voice cracked into a scream: “She’s young, first pregnancy, abortion would hurt her body—so she can’t be harmed, but I deserve it?” “That’s not what I meant—” “Then what DID you mean?” He said nothing. I looked at this face I’d known for three years. Suddenly it seemed like a stranger’s. So unfamiliar I didn’t even recognize who he was anymore. “Leon.” My voice steadied. “You’re asking me to kill my own child to make room for someone else’s. Do you know what that’s called?” His lips moved. “It’s called murder.” Each syllable deliberate. “You want me to murder my baby so I can raise your bastards.” “Elena—” I slapped him. The crack echoed through the room. His face whipped to the side. He stood frozen. My palm stung, but my chest hurt worse. “That slap was for my baby.” My voice didn’t shake. “Remember—you’re the one who didn’t want him.” “We’re getting divorced.”

He clutched his cheek, and there was even grievance in his eyes. “You can hit me. But don’t you dare say divorce.” “I told you—I never wanted to cheat. Our marriage is fine—” His phone rang. He hesitated for a few seconds, then walked away to answer. When he came back, his eyes held conflict. “Emergency at the office. I need to go.” I didn’t respond. “Just… cool down. We’ll talk when I get back.” He took a step toward the door, then turned back. “Given her condition, I have a responsibility to look after her right now.” “She’s about to give birth. I won’t have time for you these next few weeks. You’d be miserable anyway, heavily pregnant with nobody around.” “Better to do it while it’s early… You’ll suffer less.” “Once her babies are born and registered under your name, you’ll still be Mrs. Morrison. The children will be legitimate. Between us, nothing will change.” He looked at me, waiting for me to nod. But I had no energy left to deal with him. He sighed and left. The door closed. I stared at it and laughed. He made such perfect sense. She was giving birth. He had no time for me. I’d be alone, pregnant, with nobody. So better to terminate first? The night outside was deep. I sat motionless until dawn. The doorbell rang. I finally moved to answer it. Leon’s mother stood there with my sister-in-law Olivia, who’d just married into the family. “Elena, sweetie.” Olivia grabbed my hand immediately. “Mom got the call last night and couldn’t sleep. We came at first light to check on you.” The old Mrs. Morrison pulled me to sit on the couch. “I know you’re hurt. I’ll talk to Leon. But Elena, you need to understand his position too.” “That girl is carrying twins. Two lives.” I looked at her kind face, listening to her talk about “understanding” and “compassion.” “Mom.” My voice came out hoarse. “So you agree with Leon? I should abort my baby?” Her expression didn’t change. “They’re all my grandchildren. Of course I’d rather not lose any. But that girl threatened suicide. One wrong move and it’s three deaths.” She patted my hand. “The Morrison family can’t do something so immoral.” Immoral? Making me kill my own child wasn’t immoral? I yanked my hand back and stood. “I can’t do it.” My voice was firm. “This is my baby. Three months along. He has a heartbeat. I won’t abort him.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Ff0pDy0BM0 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni337128”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

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

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

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

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

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619q9lF14mf7J 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni814713”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Five years ago, my husband personally put me behind bars. When I got out,his ride request hit my app— and found him tangled up with my best friend who put me there. I’m doing unlicensed rides now.It’s the only work I can get since they stripped me of everything. So when the pickup request comes in from outside Club Nero — one of Dominic’s places — I don’t think twice. I just pull up and kill the engine. Then the door opens. Dominic stares at me like he’s seen a ghost. Maybe he has. “Elena.” His voice drops. “You’re out. Why didn’t you come to me?” Before I can answer, the woman hanging off his arm tips up on her heels and kisses him. Drunk. Sloppy. He fumbles to steady her, and that’s when I see her face. Sienna. My best friend. The woman who drugged me, set me up, and smiled through the glass while I was processed into a cell. I pull my cap lower and hold out my hand for the keys. “Sir, you ready to go? Five stars if the ride’s smooth.” “Elena.” Dominic knocks the keys out of my hand. He grabs my shoulders, eyes glassy. “Come home. My God.Do you know how much I’ve missed you? How much your family has missed you?” I peel his hands off me and turn to get my folding bike from the rack. My prosthetic clips the bumper. The sound is small but it cuts through everything. Dominic goes still. He stares at my leg. Then his eyes go red. I don’t understand what he’s crying about. He’s the one who handcuffed me himself.His own attorney’s badge, his own evidence, his own signature on the filing that put me away. He believed I’d slept with his brother Marco. He didn’t ask a single question. He just buried me. “Elena — your leg. What happened to you in there?” Sienna stirs at the sound of his voice. She blinks at me and her mouth curls. “Well, well. Little Elena.” She slurs it like a taunt. “When’d you get out? You should’ve called, girl. I’d have rolled out the welcome mat.” She leans into Dominic, wrapping both arms around him, pressing herself against his chest. Dominic frowns at her. “Sienna. You’re drunk. Stop.” “I’m not wrong though,” she says, pouting. “She did wrong, she did her time, whatever I always prayed she’d come out a better person.” Then she kicks my folding bike off the curb. Dominic lunges to catch her as she stumbles. “Watch it.” His voice is soft. Careful. Like he used to be with me. Once she’s settled, he looks back at my prosthetic. “Tell me what happened. The whole five years,what did they do to you?” His eyes are wet. I don’t answer. I just right the bike. “Excuse me. You’re in the way.” My pants catch the wind and the metal brace shows — cheap chrome, bulk-ordered. Dominic’s jaw tightens. “Elena, please. Come with me. Let’s talk. Let’s fix this.” He reaches for me. I step aside. “Sir, you canceling the ride or not? Because I can close it out from my end.” I hold up my phone. Professional. Blank. Sienna laughs. “Dominic, why are you even talking to this whore? She went after Marco. Didn’t even flinch.” She breathes liquor and venom in equal measure. “Losing that leg was the least she deserved.” Five years ago, she was the one who poured my drink. She’s the one who got me into that hotel room. When I woke up, Marco was half-dressed beside me,and Dominic was kicking the door in with two of his soldiers behind him. He didn’t let me speak. He slapped me in front of all of them. And then, because Dominic is one of the sharpest legal minds in the New York underworld, he personally represented Marco’s accusation and buried every defense I had. I come back to the present. Sienna has her arm hooked through Dominic’s, his brow creased— but he’s not pushing her away. Sienna opens her mouth to say something. “Sienna, enough.” He looks at me. “Let’s keep the ride going, Elena. You need the money.” He’s not wrong. I get in the car. The drive takes thirty minutes. Sienna whines for him to rub her temples. He does it. I watch the road and keep my foot steady on the gas. We pull up to a gated property in Westchester. Marble columns, iron fence, private security. It used to be our home. “One-eighty,” I say, and hold out my hand. Sienna pulls a thick fold of hundreds from her clutch and throws it at my face. “Keep the change. Buy yourself a decent leg. Stop embarrassing yourself out here.” She walks away on Dominic’s arm without looking back. Dominic stops by the door, staring at the bills scattered across the seat. “She didn’t mean it. She was drunk.” He pulls out his own roll. “Take all of it. And tomorrow come to the firm. I’ll find you something. A real position.” I pick up exactly what the meter said. One hundred eighty dollars. I leave the rest. “I don’t take dirty money, Mr. Ferrano.” “Don’t forget to rate the ride.” Sienna spins around, furious, and lunges . Dominic catches her. I clip my helmet on, unfold the bike, and ride into the dark.

The cold hits my face on the ride back. By the time I get home, the prosthetic socket has rubbed through. I unbuckle the harness and the stump is a mess.Raw, bleeding, ugly. I sit on the edge of the bathtub and press a rag against it. Five years ago, Sienna came to visit me inside. She sat across the glass and smiled the whole time. “You know how good Dominic is in bed, Elena? Every. Single. Night.” She tilted her head, lips curling. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him very well taken care of. The house, the firm,all of it.” I lost it. I slammed my hands against the glass and screamed until my throat gave out. That same night, three women dragged me into a blind spot.No cameras, no guards. They had an iron rod. They took their time. “Someone paid a lot for this,” one of them said. I was on my back for six months. The infection got bad enough that amputation was the only call left. I hated them for it. But five years inside turns hate into something quieter. Something closer to nothing. The next morning, a hard knock pulls me out of sleep. I figure it’s my landlord again. It’s not. It’s Dominic. Standing in my doorway holding a container of soup. “Bone broth,” he says, like that explains anything. He walks in without being asked. “Don’t take what Sienna said to heart. That’s just how she is.” He sets the soup on my counter and turns around. “I came to talk about your future.” I lean against the doorframe and look at him. “I drive illegal taxi. I don’t have a future.” “Go on back to wherever you came from, Dominic. Don’t get your designer suit dirty.” He sighs. Turns to face me fully. “Elena. Stop.All you have to do is make a public statement admitting your private life was a mess, and sign over whatever shares you have left.I’ll bring you back into the firm.” He pauses like he’s offering me a gift. “Not as an attorney, obviously. But there’s a cleaning position. Five grand a month. That’s enough to live on.” He lifts his chin. Waiting. I actually laugh. “You want me to apologize to the man who lied about me?” Dominic’s face hardens instantly. “You still don’t get it, do you?” His voice rises. “If I hadn’t pushed for leniency,if I hadn’t used every favor I had,you’d have gotten twice the sentence. You should be thanking me.” He steps forward like he’s going to grab my arm and drag me out himself. I push his hand away. “Dominic. Did you ever actually read the case file?” “The hallway camera,why did it go out that exact night?” “And what was in my drink?” He stops. Just for a second, something flickers across his face. Then it’s gone. “Enough.” He cuts me off. “You think Sienna and Marco set you up? You think that’s what happened?” He shakes his head. “I’m here trying to help you. Don’t be stupid about it.” I point at the door. “Get out.” He stares at me like I just spoke another language. “You think you’re still the hotshot attorney you used to be? You’re a convict, Elena. You’re a woman with one leg and a gypsy cab app. That’s what you are now.” He slams the door on his way out. That afternoon I open the app to pick up a few ride requests. A notification hits before I can accept anything. My account has been permanently suspended. Reason cited: a passenger complaint. Inappropriate conduct by the driver. I stare at the screen. Dominic. Of course. He couldn’t even wait a day.

I haven’t even locked the door behind me when the landlord shows up with three heavies at my back. “Elena. Someone just offered me ten times your rent. You’re out. Now.” I don’t get a chance to argue. They throw me and everything I own onto the street. My clothes land in a puddle. The rain is already coming down hard. My prosthetic aches in the wet cold. Then a Maybach rolls up and stops right in front of me. It splashes mud across my legs. Sienna leans out the window, cigarette between her fingers, smoke curling. “Look at you. The big-shot attorney, living like a stray dog.” She exhales slowly. “God, Elena. You’re embarrassing.” Dominic gets out. He opens an umbrella and holds it over my head. “Stop being stubborn. Just apologize to Marco, keep your head down. I’ll sort the job, I’ll sort the housing. Why are you doing this to yourself?” I push myself up off the ground. “Get that umbrella out of my face. And take your girlfriend somewhere else.” Dominic’s jaw tightens. “Sienna was there for me when you were gone. She held things together. I’m standing here trying to help you and you’re acting like I’m the enemy.” He pauses. “Your parents have been asking about you. Don’t shut them out too.” And right on cue，two figures come running through the rain. No umbrella. Moving fast. My parents. I haven’t gone to see them since I got out. I was afraid the rumors had reached them. Afraid they’d been hurt by all of it. My mother reaches me first. She slaps me across the face before she says a word. My father gets the other cheek. “You have the nerve to show your face?” My mother’s voice is pure venom. “You’re not our daughter. You never were.” “Sienna is our family now. She’s the one who deserves that name.” My father’s eyes are cold. “A whore like you should’ve died in that cell.” Five years I spent worrying about them. Five years scared they’d been poisoned by the lies. I never expected them to take Sienna in as their own. Sienna steps out of the Maybach and takes both of them by the arm, guiding them back toward the car. “Mom, Dad. She’s not ready to admit what she did. Don’t waste your energy.” She glances back at me. “We’ve got the firm. You can both retire in peace. Leave her to figure it out.” My parents exchange a look, then turn on me with pure disappointment. “If Sienna hadn’t been running the firm all these years, everything we built would be gone.” My mother’s voice is sharp. “You want to keep playing the victim? Fine. Don’t expect us to catch you when you fall.” The Maybach pulls away. I stand in the rain until the taillights disappear. I limp two blocks to a diner I passed on the way out of my building. I need work. Any work. The manager takes one look at my prosthetic and waves me off before I can speak. “Get out of here. We don’t hire cripples. who’s gonna cover it when you get hurt?” I grab his arm and hold tight. “I work clean and I work fast. Half wages. Just feed me.” The manager huffs, impatient, and moves to shove me off. Then a woman in a cleaning uniform spins around from behind the counter. “Oh my God.” She stares at me. “Miss Elena?” I freeze, studying the woman in front of me. She grabs my arm and pulls me into the corner, eyes darting left and right. Then she reaches into her apron pocket and pulls out a small voice recorder. “Miss Elena, I am so sorry.” Her voice drops to almost nothing. “Five years ago, I was a cleaner at the hotel. Sienna paid me a hundred thousand dollars to kill the camera feed that night. But I recorded her. Her and Marco planning the whole thing. Every word. I kept it because I couldn’t live with myself.” She presses it into my hand. “Please don’t tell anyone it came from me. I just……I needed you to have it.” Five years. A destroyed leg. A prison sentence for something I never did. And the proof was sitting in a cleaning woman’s apron pocket the whole time.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619PhdE4mScnY 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni522267”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The instant I was reborn,I had a single goal:to gather my pack and prepare a massive feast.I ground two hundred and fifty kilograms of meat and called every wolf in the territory to join me in making meatballs. This wasn’t just for fun.No,it was a form of vengeance.In my previous life,my stepmother,Odessa Wren,had betrayed me in the most cruel way.She had an affair with a secret wolf shifter and became pregnant with his pup.But instead of facing the consequences,she schemed.She caused a ruckus at the market,making a scene over some discounted eggs.During the chaos,she was shoved and fell,losing the pup she had so carelessly conceived. Back home,she played the victim,sobbing as she told my father,“If it weren’t for Tempest dragging me to that market for eggs,I wouldn’t have fallen and lost our precious pup…” I tried to defend myself,but before I could speak,my fiancé,Beta Peregrine Wolfe,stepped in with a cold fury.He shouted,“Tempest Ellington,I’m deeply ashamed of you! “You’ve always been selfish,taking what isn’t yours,sneaking off to hunt at night,stealing from the pack’s food stores,and more.But this time,you’ve gone too far.You’ve caused Auntie’s loss for some cheap eggs.I can’t marry a woman like you.I’m calling off our bonding!” My father,enraged by this accusation,lashed out.He slapped me repeatedly,then bound me and sold me to an old Omega in the village.I was locked in a wolf den,where I was left to die,tortured until my blood spilled and my life ended. It was only after my death that I discovered the full extent of their treachery.My mate,who I thought was meant to bond with me,had been chasing after my stepmother all along.Our supposed”bonding”had been nothing more than a ruse for them to be together. When I opened my eyes again,I was back to the day of that fateful market trip,where my stepmother would fake her miscarriage over those eggs. Holding my fur cloak tightly,I couldn’t contain my grief as the memories flooded back.Then,my phone rang.It was Odessa.I answered,instinctively.Her voice was casual,as though nothing had happened.“Tempest,it’s almost New Year’s.I’m going hunting and won’t be home to cook.You take care of the pack and make dinner for your father and grandparents.Understand?” Her tone was as if it was an order I had no choice but to obey.Before I could protest,she added,“Don’t tell your father where I am.If he finds out,he’ll chase me down again,and I won’t have a moment’s peace.” “Alright,it’s settled then.You’re my good little pup.When I come back,I’ll bring you something nice!”Odessa hung up abruptly,rejecting my call before I could respond. I tried calling her back several times,but the line was busy every time.Then it hit me.She’d blocked me.A chill ran down my spine as realization dawned on me.I had been reborn,sent back to the day my stepmother would stage the loss of her pup to cover up her affair. In my past life,she had rushed to marry my father,believing he was an Alpha,hoping to become Luna and claim his wealth.But on the wedding day,she discovered the truth:my father was a Beta,and all the wealth he had was actually intended for me,not her. Though disappointed,she had no choice but to marry him anyway. That New Year’s Eve,she had called me with the same excuse as always,saying she needed to get some fresh air and wanted me to take care of the pack.I agreed,assuming it was a routine request,and didn’t return home until the evening to join the New Year’s dinner. But when I entered the house,the atmosphere was suffocatingly silent.In the living room,my stepmother was sobbing uncontrollably while my father glared at me with hatred in his eyes.Tears streaked her face as she accused me,“Tempest,this is all your fault!If you hadn’t dragged me to that market for eggs,I wouldn’t have been crushed by the crowd and lost the pup…” I was stunned,desperate to explain myself.“Mom,that’s not true!I was working all day,even stayed late!I never went to the market with you!” Before I could show proof with my work records,Peregrine stormed over,ripped my phone from my hands,and crushed it under his boot.His voice dripped with disappointment.“Tempest,I’m done with you.” “You’ve always been selfish,from sneaking off at night to hunt to stealing food from the pack’s stores.But this time,you’ve gone too far.You caused Auntie’s loss over a few eggs!I can’t marry someone like you.I’m ending our bonding!” That was all it took for my father to turn on me.He finished his cigarette,his eyes burning with fury.“You wretched girl!You’ve cursed our pack by killing my son!”he screamed,sealing my fate. In that moment,I realized how blind I had been to their deceit.But this time,I would not be the victim.This time,I would make them pay.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair,his claws scraping painfully into my scalp,and slapped me over and over,each strike like a warning.The vicious blows kept coming until he shackled me in silver chains—cold,unyielding metal that burned my skin.He sold me then,like an object,to an older,solitary Omega in the village. It wasn’t until I was captured and tortured by a rival pack that the truth finally emerged.My stepmother,Odessa,and my supposed mate,Beta Peregrine Wolfe,had been having an affair all along.The pup she had lost wasn’t even my father’s—no,it was Peregrine’s.Their affair had been reckless,and their failure to use protection left them exposed. Fearful of their secret being revealed,they devised a plan—a plan to frame me for their betrayal.It was almost impressive how far they went in their deceit…if only it hadn’t come at the cost of my life.But I wouldn’t allow those traitors to get away with it this time. A malicious smirk twisted on my lips as I made my decision:I wasn’t going to let them dictate my actions any longer.Instead of stepping out to confront them,I orchestrated my own plan.Two hundred and fifty kilograms of fresh venison was delivered right to our doorstep—more than enough to keep them talking. As for work,I sent my superior,a high-ranking wolf in the pack,a terse message requesting to work from home during the moon cycle.He was a crucial part of the pack and highly valued me.Without hesitation,my request was granted. Everything in motion,I got out of bed leisurely,washed up,and prepared for what was to come.When my family and I sat down to eat breakfast,the doorbell rang. The butcher stood there,unloading the two hundred and fifty kilograms of venison,barely acknowledging us as he left in a hurry.My father,grandfather,and grandmother stood stunned,their eyes wide at the mountain of meat. They immediately turned to me,bombarding me with questions.With a shrug,I deflected the blame onto my boss.”The pack had trouble settling some dues by moonrise,and my boss pushed for payment.So,they decided to settle with goods instead.” “Being in the meat trade,my boss just turned this year’s bonus into venison for the employees to take home.We’re making meatballs for the pack.” Grandma blinked in disbelief.”That’s got to be at least two hundred and fifty kilograms!It’ll take ages to turn this into meatballs!” Grandpa sighed,his patience thinning.”Well,looks like my plans to meet old packmates for a game of chess are dashed.Guess I’m stuck here today.” After sending the butcher off,I turned to my father.”We can’t waste this meat.Grandma and Grandpa already said so,so you’d better wash up and start working with us.” Grumbling under his breath about the pack’s incompetence,my father reluctantly rolled up his sleeves.Within moments of chopping vegetables and herbs,beads of sweat formed on his brow. While the rest of the village celebrated the New Moon’s Eve with fireworks and laughter,our family worked tirelessly,turning the venison into meatballs.As the strongest wolf in the household,my father did the heavy lifting,chopping,mixing,and sweating through the morning. By noon,the hunger set in,and that’s when my father noticed Odessa was still absent.”It’s past twelve-thirty,and she’s still not home.What’s taking her so long out there?” Feigning innocence,I shrugged.”I don’t know.I called her several times this morning,but she blocked me.Maybe she’s mad at me?Why don’t you try calling her,Dad?” Frowning,he pulled out his phone and dialed Odessa’s number. “Ring…Ring…Ring…” He tried three times in a row,but she still didn’t answer.His frustration grew,his anger palpable as he turned toward me.”Did you two argue?Why won’t she answer?” “Tempest,you’re twenty-five!You’re too old for this!Stop acting like a pup and upsetting your mother!” I pouted and pretended to be hurt,then pulled out my phone,playing a recording of a howl. “You’re blaming me again,Dad?This time,it’s clearly your fault she won’t come home.”I played the recording for everyone to hear—Odessa’s voice clearly rejecting my father’s attempts to find her. When my father heard her words,his face turned a dark shade.Without a word,he lit a cigarette and smoked in silence,his expression grim. Grandpa and Grandma tried to console him,but I seized the moment to place an order for four sets of takeout from the pack’s kitchen. “Dad,Grandpa,Grandma…since Mom’s not coming home and we’re stuck making meatballs,let’s just order takeout for now.”

Grandpa and Grandma lavished praise on me,calling me a good Omega.But my father remained silent,his mood dark,heavy with unspoken tension.The air thickened with an oppressive silence,stretching on until the nightfall. After what felt like an eternity,we finally finished preparing two hundred and fifty kilograms of meatballs.My hands were sore,fingers stiff from the repetitive work,and every movement sent pangs of discomfort through my body. My father slipped out to grab a pack of cigarettes,leaving me alone on the couch.Grandpa and Grandma moved into the kitchen,beginning the slow process of cooking the meatballs.I scrolled through my phone idly,glancing out at the night sky with a faint,almost bitter smile. Today had been a rare one,a day spent within the confines of the house.I hadn’t left for a single moment,determined to avoid any more accusations.No one would pin the blame for my stepmother’s miscarriage on me again—not if I could help it. But as I took a sip of water,the front door slammed open,and in staggered my supposed mate,Beta Peregrine.His steps were unsteady,one arm wrapped around my stepmother,Odessa,who was visibly pregnant now—carrying the pup of another wolf. The moment her eyes locked with mine,they burned with fury.Her wolf’s rage boiled over,and she shrieked,“Tempest!You heartless wretch!I’ve done nothing but show you kindness,and you’ve made me lose my pup!” Before I could respond,Beta Peregrine’s voice rang out,filled with bitter disappointment.“She’s right,Tempest.I never thought you could be this cruel.I’m ashamed of you.I can’t be mated to someone like you…The bonding is off!” I blinked in confusion,feigning innocence.“What are you talking about?Mom,you’re really pregnant?Since when?Why didn’t I know about this?” Odessa’s tears spilled over as her anger reached a fever pitch.“Don’t act like you don’t know!I told you last night that I was carrying a pup!Then this morning,you tricked me into going to the market for discounted eggs,knowing it would be crowded.You made sure I was pushed around until I miscarried!” She sobbed bitterly.“I nearly died in the hospital,and here you are acting like you have no idea what happened!” “How could you do this to me,Tempest?We’re supposed to support each other,as women!But you…you have no heart!”she screamed,her voice rising higher with every word. Our Pack still lived in the old courtyard house,despite the modern apartment we owned in the city.Tradition,they called it,and Grandpa was insistent on keeping the old ways alive. Tonight,being the night before the Full Moon,the Pack had gathered outside,some building snowmen,others lighting fireworks.Their curiosity got the better of them when they heard Odessa’s screams,and they began to gather outside our door,eager for drama. Odessa,always the drama queen,stood in the doorway,making sure to shout her accusations loud enough for everyone to hear. The Pack members,hearing her words,turned their eyes to me—those eyes filled with suspicion and wolfish judgment. “I always thought Tempest was such a sweet Omega.Who knew she had such a dark side?” “Looks can be deceiving.We’ve seen her grow up,but we never knew what she was capable of.” One older Omega shook her head in disbelief.“I’m warning my family.No one is safe around her.I don’t know what she might do to my pack one day.” Others chimed in,their voices growing louder in agreement.“Keep her away from our pups.She’s dangerous.” Tears welled up in my eyes,but not the helpless kind I once knew.No,these tears were different—this time,they were born of something else entirely.Excitement. Odessa,assuming my tears were those of guilt,became even more theatrical,painting me as the villain in front of the Pack. Meanwhile,my supposed mate,Beta Peregrine,didn’t even give me the chance to explain.With a rough grip,he yanked my arm,forcing me to kneel in front of Odessa. “You’ve not only disrespected your stepmother,but you’ve also caused her to lose her pup!”he shouted,his voice cold.“You will apologize to her.You will make things right.” “As an Omega,your duty is to obey your father,and once mated,to obey your mate.It is my responsibility to teach you a lesson,”he added,his grip tightening. With a cruel jerk,he grabbed my hair,forcing my head to bow.Again and again,he made me lower my head,pushing me down with force until my forehead hit the floor with sickening thuds. Blood trickled down my face,but Peregrine didn’t even glance at it.No,he pressed on,relentless. “An apology isn’t enough to make up for the loss of a pup,”he declared coldly.“There must be compensation.” “Tempest,”he said,“hand over your year-end bonus for your stepmother’s nutritional supplements.And sign over your apartment to her,so she has a proper place to recover.”

“Only then will you prove you’re truly remorseful for your actions toward your stepmother!” As Beta Peregrine spouted his pompous,self-righteous words,I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.The absurdity of the situation hit me like a slap,but at the same time,everything fell into place with frightening clarity. It was clear now:Beta Peregrine and Odessa had conspired against me.They didn’t just want me gone;they were after my year-end bonus,my property—everything I’d worked for! The pieces of the puzzle finally clicked together.It explained why Beta Peregrine,who had barely paid me any attention before,had suddenly become obsessed with me,relentlessly pursuing me right after Odessa,my stepmother,had bonded with my father as his Mate.In just a few days. At first,I had wondered what had changed.Why had our humble Ellington Pack suddenly become the most desirable matchmaking market in the region?Now,I understood. Realization hit like a bolt of lightning.I wasn’t going to let them get away with it.Without a second thought,I leaned forward and spat directly in Beta Peregrine’s face. “Pfft!She just lost her pup,and now you think you can take my money and my property?What kind of audacity do you have?” Both Beta Peregrine and Odessa stood frozen for a moment,but soon their shock turned to fury,their eyes burning with anger. Odessa broke into exaggerated sobs.“Peregrine,stop talking.Tempest has never seen me as her mother.She’ll never listen!” “Forget it,”she wailed dramatically,clutching her chest.“I’m hated wherever I go.Outsiders despise me,and now even my own family wants to destroy me.If I had known this was coming,I’d have preferred to never have been born!” Seeing her make a spectacle of running toward a tree to bang her head,Beta Peregrine quickly stepped forward,pulling her back gently and whispering soothing words,“Auntie,don’t cry.I’ve already called Uncle Thomas—your mate,the lead warrior.He’ll fix everything.” “Everything Uncle Thomas says is law.Tempest will have no choice but to obey him,”Beta Peregrine added,his voice full of mock sympathy. The neighbors,who had gathered outside,nodded in agreement.They abandoned their chores,set out stools,and waited for my father to arrive. “Thomas needs to teach that girl a lesson.She’s gotten too bold,even daring to defy her elders.” “Didn’t you hear?She called Odessa’s pup a bastard!”one of them muttered. “That’s downright disgraceful!Having such a wicked daughter is punishment enough!” Odessa’s eyes flickered with satisfaction as she overheard their condemnation.She threw me a smug,triumphant look,sure that she had me cornered. But I wasn’t phased.Meeting her gaze,I only curled my lips into a cold,mocking smile,not bothering to engage. She was about to be very disappointed. She never expected that the person most desperate for my father’s return wasn’t her—it was me. It didn’t take long.My father had only stepped out to grab cigarettes,but he quickly returned,his cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.Seeing the large crowd gathered in front of our house,he paused,confusion flashing across his face.But before he could ask a single question,Odessa was already rushing toward him,pressing herself against him like some delicate,fragile woman caught in a storm. Tears welled in her eyes,her face crumpling with sorrow.“Thomas,you have to stand up for me!Tempest killed our pup!The Pack doctor said…it was a boy.He would’ve been a strong little pup!” My father’s expression immediately darkened,his body rigid with anger.He turned to me,his voice booming with authority,“Tempest,get over here!What’s going on?” Before I could speak,Beta Peregrine stepped between us,blocking my path as he fanned the flames of fury.“Uncle Thomas,it’s all Tempest’s fault!You need to seek justice for Aunt Odessa!” “That’s right,Thomas!”Odessa cried,clinging to my father’s arm.“You need to punish Tempest,to avenge our pup!” She wailed dramatically,“This morning,Tempest insisted on dragging me to the supermarket for discount eggs.I told her I was pregnant,that I wasn’t feeling well,but she insisted.When we got there,it was packed.She wouldn’t go in herself,so she shoved me into the crowd.” “There were so many people…someone knocked me down,and then the crowd kept pushing me…and I lost our pup.” Odessa’s sobs grew louder,her voice a broken wail.“Wu wu!Thomas,our precious pup!He never even had the chance to be born,and Tempest took his life!” She continued crying,completely unaware that my father’s face was growing darker by the second,his expression a storm of anger,confusion,and disbelief.His face looked like a canvas of red,black,and green—an angry storm on full display. But Odessa was oblivious,too wrapped up in her theatrical demands for sympathy and compensation for her“loss.” “Thomas,you’ve spoiled Tempest too much!That’s why she disrespects her elders and even harms her own brother!You should beat her…punish her severely!” “And while you’re at it,take her year-end bonus and her house!What does a girl need so much money for,anyway?If she’s obedient,she should have saved at least a few tens of thousands!”Odessa ranted,her voice growing louder,more frantic with each word. But as her rant continued,she slowly realized something was wrong.The entire courtyard had fallen silent.Even the neighbors who had been watching this drama like it was a soap opera were now staring at her,their eyes wide with tension. Odessa stopped,her breath catching in her throat.She turned slowly toward my father,only to meet his furious,murderous gaze. Her words faltered.“Thomas,why aren’t you saying anything?” My father clenched his teeth,his jaw tight as he glared at her.“So,let me get this straight.Early this morning,Tempest dragged you out for discount eggs,and that’s when you lost the pup?”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619zgYMCwKYFV 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni767275”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Ryan Carter, the famous playboy heir in Harbor City, openly declared that he only dated women on short-term arrangements. However, there were still lots of women eager to be his temporary girlfriend. Because if he was in a good mood, he’d reward them with a villa. If he wasn’t, they’d still walk away with a million-dollar breakup fee. People in Harbor City all laughed at me, saying I was the most miserable wealthy wife in history. They all thought I’d endure it for the rest of my life. I was going to, until Ryan brought a college student named Kelly Smith home. The girl looked ordinary, yet she was the first woman he kept longer than a month. Ryan gave me two choices. Accept an open marriage and let Kelly stand on equal footing with me. Or just divorce him, split half the assets, and go our separate ways for good. His friends were there, watching the show. They were certain that I’d keep being a pushover, enduring everything, for the sake of money. But I chose the latter without hesitation. In my previous life, I chose to endure, and what I got in return was Kelly pushing her luck further and further. She forbade Ryan from touching me, forbade him from giving me any assets. In my later years, I couldn’t be more envious of Kelly, who got everything, money and kids. Even after Ryan died, his will didn’t grant me anything. All his inheritance was left under Kelly’s control. I had been his lawful wife, but ended up with nothing at last. Reborn into this life, I finally figured everything out. This time I just wanted to take the money and leave. I picked up the divorce agreement, read it carefully from beginning to end, and was about to sign my name. Ryan finally spoke, his tone carrying a trace of tension even he hadn’t noticed. “Anna Taylor, think this through. Once you sign, there’s no turning back.” I didn’t stop. I quickly wrote my name down. “I’ll pack my things and leave right now.” Why the hell would I turn back? In my previous life, I thought bringing Kelly home was just another one of his tricks to mess with me. Naively, I believed that after all these years of marriage, he must have had at least a little affection for me. I was a fool. He and Kelly had kids one after another and grew old together in love. And I, in that house, was like an awkward outsider, mocked by others for my whole life. Not until my later years did I hear him talking with Kelly in a hospital room. He said that back then, the dramatic scene of catching a guy in my bed, had been arranged by him personally. “I was just tired of her and didn’t want things to get too ugly, so I staged the whole thing.” There wasn’t a shred of guilt in his clouded eyes, “That way, anything I did afterward seemed completely justified.” So that was it. No wonder every time I desperately tried to explain, all I got was his cold disbelief. Because from beginning to end, he knew the truth. He didn’t love me, yet he used a fabricated crime to trap me for fifty years. He could have ended it cleanly with one stroke, but instead chose to slowly torture me to death. Looking at the young yet still cold face before me, I felt nothing but hatred. He stared blankly at the signed agreement, his eyes filled with shock. Outside the door, the faint sounds of whispering abruptly stopped. The next second, my distinguished parents-in-law rushed in cheerfully. My mother-in-law grabbed Kelly’s hand, looking her up and down, clicking her tongue in praise. “Oh my, look at her! So young and so energetic!” My father-in-law, who had always treated me with hostility, was smiling kindly at this moment. He shot me a pointed glance and then said, “Finally, we can send away that useless one. It’s been so many years, but there’s no kid at all!” Kelly lowered her head shyly, pretending to be modest. “Sir, Madam, please don’t say that. I’m not that much younger than Madam Anna…” She paused, her face flushing, “Actually, I’m already one month pregnant. It’s just still early, so I planned to tell you about it later.” I looked at her and frowned. As expected, still the same familiar sarcasm, the same nauseating tone. Only this time, I didn’t care anymore. All these years, in order to be a useful wife, I worked myself to the bone at Carter Group during the day. At night, I still had to serve these two picky bastards. Just past thirty, yet plenty of white hair had already crept into my temples. I did look kinda old. I turned back to my room and began packing my pitiful little bit of luggage. And I was already planning where I should go first to properly relax after getting the money. Didn’t notice Ryan following me in. “It’s so late. There’s no need to move out immediately. Leave tomorrow.” “Isn’t the villa in the west of the city still empty? You can stay there for now. I’ll visit you when I’m free.” “Anna, I know you still love me. Don’t be mad anymore, okay?” He seemed to recall something and smiled. “But I really can’t let you be my legal wife anymore. I can’t let my child grow up being labeled as illegitimate.” I didn’t respond. I just picked up my suitcase, walked past him, and headed straight for the door. “There’s nothing left to say between us. I’m very happy we’re divorced.” “If you really still have a conscience, hurry up and pay me what you owe.” The night wind carried fine snow as it rushed toward me, biting cold, yet unable to extinguish the fire burning in my heart.

Ryan’s efficiency was, as always, impressive. When I woke up, three billion was already in my bank account. With the money, the first thing I did was book Harbor City’s most luxurious private club. Haircut, full-body spa, and everything. The haggard woman with graying temples in the mirror was gone. In her place stood a sharp-eyed beauty with flamboyant red hair. Just as I finished changing, my best friend Iris Allen called. She immediately burst into a fit of shouting. “Anna Taylor! What’s going on between you and Ryan? Have you lost your minds? What the hell happened?” I held the phone a little farther away and asked lazily, “What’s wrong?” “And you still ask what’s wrong? Haven’t you seen the news yourself?” Iris’s voice was full of disbelief, “The headlines are all photos of Ryan attending a banquet with that mistress!” “He said in front of all the reporters that that bitch is his only wife! He even said they’re holding a wedding soon!” “Your snobbish parents-in-law were right there too, saying that bitch deserves it!” Her voice dropped, filled with cautious concern. “Well, are you okay?” I never got such public acknowledgment, such recognition. Ryan had now given it to her. “I’m fine.” Admiring my brand-new look, I spoke calmly. “We’re already divorced.” “What? Divorced?” Iris didn’t believe it. She’d watched me love Ryan for more than ten years. She watched me bend over backward for this marriage, give up myself, wagging my tail like a dog, begging for scraps of affection. I didn’t explain further. I just laughed and said, “Are you free tonight? Let’s go get a drink. My treat.” In Harbor City’s most extravagant bar, the booths were piled high with the priciest wine. Several young, handsome male models surrounded me, attentively pouring drinks for me. Iris stared at me and said, “Holy shit, I believe it now. You really have let go. You were never like this before.” Back then, to prove to Ryan that I wasn’t after money, I calculated cost-performance for everything. I had been afraid he’d think I was wasteful or didn’t care about the family. Now, sitting in this luxurious private room, I looked at the woman reflected in the mirrored glass. The flamboyant red hair, the perfectly tailored haute couture dress, was strange, yet familiar. Iris raised her glass and clinked it hard against mine. “You look a bit like that once-in-a-century genius beauty from the finance department at Ace University.” She downed a huge gulp of wine and then complained, “Back then, so many venture capital firms were fighting to invest in you. If you’d started your own group, you’d have crushed Carter Group long ago!” “Spending over a decade being a servant for his family, and after the divorce you only got this much money.” “Girl, I really think you deserve better.” I had been a servant for them for more than a decade. In my previous life, Carter Group, under my control, once dominated the national rankings as the strongest enterprise. Yet in my old age, I couldn’t even afford a box of painkillers. In the end, I was thrown out by Kelly’s children and died of illness beside a trash heap on a winter night. The business empire I built with my entire life went to Kelly and her children. Thinking of this, I drained the wine in my glass in one go. The spicy liquid burned down my throat, yet ignited the fire deep in my heart. I swore I would get back at them. Without me, could they really live so well? The very next day, news of my group registration spread like wildfire, stirring the entire circle. Some people sensed opportunity and rushed overnight with proposals, hoping to invest. But more people mocked and waited on the sidelines, waiting for the Carter family’s reaction. Someone clearly gave instructions to the media, so paparazzi articles were all belittling me for overestimating myself. I looked at the push notifications on my phone and swiped them away expressionlessly. I just didn’t expect to receive a call from Ryan. “Anna, just stop it.” “Starting a company isn’t child’s play. That little bit of money of yours won’t last many days. I haven’t removed your position at the group. Come back.” I refused coldly, “None of your business.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. He seemed displeased, but still spoke patiently, “Anna, can’t you be a bit more understanding? I’ve just found true love.” “Besides, instead of starting some small broken group, wouldn’t it be better to stay at Carter Group?” “That southern district merger you were handling before…” I hung up the phone directly. As expected. He had just remembered that I was still useful. That southern district project was a tough nut I’d been working on for over half a year. I drank until my stomach perforated for it. Without me, Carter Group wouldn’t even know where to start. At Carter Group, although I was the president, my monthly salary was only three thousand. All because my distinguished father-in-law said we were family and shouldn’t be so calculative. I once naively believed that was his test for me. Now it seemed I was nothing more than an exceptionally capable yet ridiculously cheap laborer they had recruited. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I made up my mind at that time. I would take over all those projects I brought to Carter Group in my previous life. Even if my new group couldn’t deal with them, I would personally hand them over to Carter Group’s deadliest rivals. After the call was cut off, Ryan slammed his phone to the ground in fury. All these years, he had grown used to my obedience, expecting me to show up on command and disappear at his whim. Now that I’d hung up on him so decisively, he felt really mad. At that moment, his special assistant awkwardly came in holding a stack of documents he couldn’t even understand, asking him to sign them. Days of exhaustion, plus years of unfamiliarity with group affairs, had left him truly overwhelmed lately. Kelly followed the assistant in, took Ryan’s hand, and said with eyes full of concern, “Ryan, don’t work yourself too hard. I’m your wife now. Let me help share your burden.” He hesitated, somewhat uneasy. “You’re still young and unfamiliar with group operations. Go rotate through the departments first.” Kelly’s eyes immediately reddened with grievance as she questioned him, “Anna Taylor could be the president. Why can’t I?” Ryan subconsciously wanted to say that at least Anna was a top graduate from Ace University’s finance department. But the moment he met Kelly’s eyes, all his rationality was thrown away. His heart softened, and he just nodded. Kelly broke into a smile through her tears, hugged him, and said affectionately, “I’m just worried about you. Look at you, you’ve lost so much weight lately.”

Less than half a month after my group started up, everything was already running smoothly. During this time, Kelly sent people over more than once to cause trouble. Just some petty tricks, all of which I brushed aside with ease. After all these years in Harbor City, the connections I’d built were far beyond what a little girl like her could compare to. Those senior employees at Carter Group whom I personally trained had long wanted to leave after hearing I’d gone solo. Especially since after Kelly started working there, she kept suppressing them, making their days suffocating. I didn’t rush to bring them over. I had them stir up a little chaos before they left, a small token of allegiance to me. Kelly thought losing a few people was no big deal, even secretly rejoicing that she’d cleared out some remnants of me. But she didn’t understand, some of them were critical for the group. Projects fell through one after another, and Carter Group’s stock price plunged again and again. Meanwhile, on my side, with capable team members, we unleashed astonishing power, consecutively landing several deals worth tens of millions. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the conference room, looking at the jubilant team below, I announced loudly, “Tonight at OTK Club. It’s all on me. No one leaves sober!” “Awesome!” Amid the thunderous cheers, I led everyone out of the group building in a grand procession. At the entrance, a familiar black Rolls-Royce was parked quietly by the roadside. The car door opened, and Ryan stepped out with an arrogant look, waving at me. I didn’t even glance his way, leading my people straight ahead. His special assistant stopped me. Ryan followed, his face openly showing displeasure and restrained anger, “Anna Taylor, what do you mean? Didn’t you see me? You’ve really grown bold now.” A little impatient, I looked at him coldly and said, “Mr. Ryan, do you need something?” He seemed slightly taken aback by my attitude, but still got straight to the point, issuing an order, “Shut down your group and come back to Carter Group.” I was so angered by his self-righteousness that I laughed. He took my laughter as hesitation, and his tone softened a little. “Anna, I’ve really been exhausted lately. Don’t keep fighting with me, alright?” He paused, as if making a huge concession. “If you really mind Kelly, I can have her move somewhere else for now.” Looking at this pompous man before me, I couldn’t help but question my own judgment back then. “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I cut him off coldly. “Mr. Ryan, we’re already divorced. Please don’t interfere with my life anymore.” His patience ran out, his voice suddenly rising. “I’ve already compromised!” “What more do you want?” “The group needs you right now, and you choose this moment to put on airs?” I suddenly felt there was no reasoning with him at all. In his world, everyone was supposed to revolve around him. “If you’ve got any issues, Mr. Ryan, why don’t you go bother your precious wife, Kelly Smith?” “I’m just an outsider. I have no obligation to clean up your mess.” He seemed to have realized something and said, “You care about the status?” “Anna, once Kelly gives birth, I’ll think about it.” “But you have to promise me, no going public. I don’t want Kelly to be hurt.” I stared at him, enunciating every word: “I’ll say it one last time. Get lost! Don’t let me see you again!” “I’m never getting back together with you. Ever.” Ryan’s face darkened with rage. “Anna Taylor, don’t push your luck!” “Don’t forget this is Harbor City. If I want to crush a low-tier little group like yours, it’s easy as pie!” Just then, a clear, slightly lazy male voice cut in. “Oh? Mr. Ryan sure has a bad temper.” “Not only openly harassing my fiancée, but also threatening to destroy her group?” Ryan turned his head and was totally stunned. It was Alex White, another rich young man in Harbor City, and Ryan’s nemesis. Alex strolled over lazily and naturally wrapped an arm around my waist. Leaning his head intimately against my shoulder, he whined, “Darling, I’ve been waiting in the parking lot forever. Turns out you were here stopped by a bastard.” Ryan trembled with fury, pointing at me. “Anna Taylor! Give me an explanation! Why did you betray me?” Then, as if he suddenly figured something out, he put on a smug, all-knowing expression. “I get it now! You’re acting, aren’t you! You deliberately found Alex to piss me off!” Alex rolled his eyes dramatically and dragged me away. “Let’s just not waste time with him.” “Stop right there!” Ryan tried to chase after us. But he was too agitated, and with his recent chaotic schedule, his abdomen suddenly seized with sharp pain. “Damn… ” He doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Anna. My stomach hurts…” I didn’t slow down, in fact I walked even faster, not turning my head even once. Behind me were his suppressed groans of pain, and his assistant’s panicked screams. *** Alex didn’t give me any chance to look back. He directly shoved me into the passenger seat of his flashy red Ferrari. The sports car roared out of the parking lot. Only then did he take off his sunglasses and smile at me sideways. “Well? Not bad acting, right?” I didn’t speak, just watched the cityscape speeding past outside the window. “Hey, Anna, don’t be so indifferent.” He nudged me lightly with his elbow. “I helped you out, you know. Not even a thank you?” “Thank you.” I kept it brief. He pouted, clearly dissatisfied with my coldness. But he didn’t say more, only turned up the volume of the car music. That very night, the headlines of Harbor City’s financial and entertainment sections were all dominated by Ryan Carter. #Carter Group President Chasing Former Love, Suffers Stomach Spasms and Is Hospitalized# The accompanying photos showed him being taken into an ambulance by his assistant and bodyguards. The comment section exploded. Some mocked Ryan for bringing it on himself, saying he should’ve expected this day back when he flaunted his mistress. Others claimed Kelly Smith was inferior to me, which was why Ryan turned back, and that the two of us would soon remarry.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Dn0pvr27ki 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni042404”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

It was the first year of Gabriel Anderson and Serena Lynch’s “business marriage.” Gabriel had jumped from a third-story balcony, breaking his leg just to prove a point. Clutching his parents’ hands, he’d hissed through the pain, “I will only ever love Chloe Shaw. No one else.” Meanwhile, Serena, my supposed best friend, spent the entire night crying with me. “Don’t worry, Chloe,” she whispered, never leaving my side. “Once we take control of our family companies, I’ll give him back to you. I’ll keep an eye on him for you—I won’t let him hurt you.” Everyone said I was the luckiest girl alive. I had a boyfriend who would die for me and a best friend who treated me like a sister. But that was five years ago. Now, in the fifth year of their engagement, I stood in our living room and handed Gabriel Serena’s positive pregnancy test. “We’re done,” I said. Gabriel didn’t flinch. He let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Serena is my fiancée, Chloe. Isn’t it normal for her to be pregnant?” Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and snapped my ring finger. I gasped in agony as he ripped the engagement ring off and tossed it into the trash. “Stop using these pathetic ‘breakup’ stunts to get my attention,” he sneered. “It’s getting old.” I looked down at my hand, trembling as I pulled it away from his grip. The pain was blinding, but I didn’t scream. For five years, I had screamed. I had cried until my throat was raw. Yet all my pain did was fuel the fire between him and Serena. Every tear I shed only drew them closer together. I looked up, my voice steadier than I expected. “Gabriel, you told me to wait. I waited five years for… this.” “I’m done wasting my life on you. It’s over.” He didn’t even look at me. He walked casually into the living room and saw my packed suitcases. Leaning back against the sofa, he gave me a look of pure derision. “Quite the performance. But let’s be real—everything in those bags was bought with my money. It’s a bit tacky to take them, don’t you think?” He tilted his head, his eyes cold. “Be honest, Chloe. Can you even survive a day without me?” He was certain I’d stay. He was used to me folding, used to me accepting his excuses. He always claimed he “owed” Serena. He acted as if keeping her in our lives was some great sacrifice on her part. And so, time after time, he lowered his bottom line for her. “Serena is only doing this ‘fake’ engagement so we can be together,” he used to say. “She’s giving up her best years for us. We can’t be cruel to her.” But that “kindness” turned into passionate hugs, then gentle kisses, and eventually, her in his bed. Whenever I found the photos—the ones that felt like a serrated knife to my chest—he would come crawling back. Once, he even knelt at my feet, pressing a blade to his own stomach until he bled. “I just wanted to show her what it felt like to be loved, Chloe. I was just compensating her. I swear, it’s the last time. Please, don’t think I’m dirty.” I believed him. I let his blood stain my dress and I forgave him. But then came the videos. Each one worse than the last. I had reached my limit. I had fought him, hit him, and even sent him to the hospital once in a fit of rage. I had said “it’s over” a thousand times. And over those five years, his reaction had shifted from desperate terror to cold indifference. I walked to the suitcase, opened it, and pulled out only my passport and legal documents. “Your things? You can keep them. I don’t want a single reminder of you.” I looked him dead in the eye. “And Gabriel? There isn’t a person on this earth I can’t live without. Especially not you.”

Gabriel’s smug grin vanished instantly. Just then, the front door swung open. Gabriel’s cold expression shifted in a heartbeat as he deliberately shoved past me, his shoulder slamming into mine. He rushed to the door to catch Serena Lynch. “Serena? What are you doing here?” His voice was thick with worry. “This place is a mess—be careful, you might get hurt.” Serena reached out, looking like she wanted to help me, but she stumbled. Gabriel caught her hand immediately. They stood there, fingers interlaced right in front of me, their matching engagement rings on full display. When Serena noticed me staring, she pulled her hand away with a practiced look of panic. “Today was my prenatal checkup… I’m so sorry, Chloe. Did I interrupt? I’ll tell Gabe to come see you after we’re finished today.” Gabriel grabbed her hand back and kissed her knuckles. “Why are you even explaining yourself to her? She’s like a rabid dog lately, biting anyone who gets close. I don’t even want to see her face. Let her rot here.” His gaze flicked to me out of the corner of his eye. Seeing no reaction from me, he slammed the door and walked away. My broken finger was still throbbing with a dull, rhythmic ache. I grabbed my documents and headed to the hospital. As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I saw them again. Gabriel—a man so obsessed with cleanliness he used to avoid public benches—was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging Serena’s calves. He looked like he was handling a priceless artifact. I had no desire to watch. I turned toward the orthopedic wing, but Serena was waiting for me in the hallway. When she saw me, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face, quickly replaced by a look of firm resolve. “Chloe,” she started, blocking my path. “I think it’s best if you don’t see Gabe while I’m pregnant. The baby needs his father’s full attention. You love Gabe so much. I’m sure you wouldn’t want anything to happen to his child, right?” Then, she pulled out a thick stack of cash. In front of the crowded hallway, she shoved the money into my arms. “Take this. Consider it… compensation.” She didn’t lower her voice. I felt the weight of a dozen judgmental stares. I even heard someone whisper “mistress” under their breath. Serena flinched at the murmurs, lowering her voice to a theatrical whisper. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for them to hear.” She grabbed my hand, just like she used to in college when she wanted a favor. “Please… just stay away from Gabe for a while. The baby needs a father.” In the middle of the crowd’s insults, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face. “Serena, aren’t you tired of playing the victim? You stole him. Just enjoy the prize and shut up.” Heavy footsteps thundered behind me. Serena collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face instantly. “Chloe, I’m sorry! I said the wrong thing!” Gabriel rushed over, hauling her up. When he looked at me, his eyes were filled with pure loathing. “Chloe Shaw, are you a literal animal? Putting your hands on a pregnant woman? Get on your knees and apologize to Serena right now. Or I promise you—this time, I won’t let you off easy.”

This was the thousandth time. The thousandth time Gabriel Anderson blindly took Serena’s side without a second thought. If this had been a year ago, I would have fought tooth and nail, arguing until I proved my innocence. But now? I just felt an all-consuming exhaustion. Serena knew me well. Before I could even speak, she reached out and timidly tugged on Gabriel’s sleeve. “Don’t talk to Chloe like that, Gabe. It was my fault… I just tripped.” Predictably, her “defense” only made Gabriel’s eyes turn colder. “You don’t need to cover for her, Serena. We both know exactly what kind of person she is.” He looked at me, his voice dropping to a threat. “Chloe, if you want to walk out of this hospital in one piece, you’d better apologize to Serena right now.” I was done with the drama. I pointed to the security camera on the wall. “The truth is right there. Watch the footage yourself.” I tried to step past him, but a hand suddenly clamped onto the back of my head. Gabriel yanked my hair back with such force that I was forced to look him in the eyes. “You think you can just hurt Serena and walk away?” he hissed. Serena’s tears started flowing instantly. “Gabe, stop! What are you doing? I told you, I fell! Let her go!” My scalp felt like it was being torn open. I winced, but Gabriel—the same man who used to panic if I so much as got a paper cut—looked at me with nothing but disgust. “Stop acting,” he mocked. “You aren’t a pampered princess like Serena. You expect me to believe this actually hurts?” I struggled to break his grip, but he moved faster, slamming his foot into the back of my knee. I hit the floor hard. “Apologize.” Looking up at his face, I felt a strange sense of vertigo. I remembered him at eighteen—wild, reckless, and in trouble. I had taken a literal knife for him back then. He had held me, his eyes bloodshot and his voice breaking, promising that he would never let anyone hurt me again. And now, every bit of pain I felt came directly from him. I closed my eyes and took a jagged breath. “I will not apologize for something I didn’t do.” “Gabe, please, just let it go…” Serena sobbed, trying to help me up, but Gabriel pulled her back behind him. Then came the slap. He didn’t hold back. The force of it sent my head snapping to the side. The hallway went silent. Serena stopped crying, her eyes wide with shock as she lunged forward to shield me. “Gabe! Stop it!” Gabriel ignored her struggle and pulled her into a protective embrace. He glanced at the red, swelling mark on my face without a shred of remorse. “I’m warning you for the last time,” he said. “We owe Serena for the mess this relationship has caused her. If you’re angry, take it out on me. But if you touch her again, I will make you pay for it a thousand times over.” I forced myself up from the floor, my legs shaking. Then, I hauled off and slapped him back—hard. “You already gave her your body and your soul as payment, Gabriel,” I spat. “What exactly do I still owe her?” He stumbled back, stunned. “Chloe Shaw!” I didn’t stay for the rest of his roar. I turned and walked away. That night, I checked into a hotel, staring at the ceiling until dawn. My phone buzzed in the dark. A message from Serena: “I’m so sorry, Chloe. I had no idea Gabe would get that worked up. I scolded him for it, so please don’t be mad, okay?” I didn’t reply. I just turned the phone off. The next morning, I took a taxi straight to the airport. I called a senior from my university days. “Evan Carlson, I’ve arrived at the airport. I’ll be back in Rivercliff soon.” After years of being Gabriel’s shadow, I was finally going back to the research project I had abandoned for him. I used to be the top of my class, a girl with a brilliant future—a future I had set on fire to keep Gabriel warm. But as I approached the boarding gate, three men in black suits blocked my path. They didn’t ask questions; they forced me into a car and drove me straight to the Anderson estate. Gabriel’s mother sat in the drawing room, looking down at me with practiced elegance. “Miss Shaw, I used to think you were a sensible girl,” she said coldly. “But I never imagined you’d have the audacity to lay a hand on Serena. When you do something wrong, you have to face the consequences.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Jmlx7CYS9l 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni216654”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

On my mating ceremony with Alpha Prince Kael, his childhood sweetheart, Tessa, slipped wolfsbane barren-draft into my wine. When she was caught, she only whimpered, “I was just playing a joke, kael. I didn’t know Elena would actually drink it.” She dropped to her knees, baring her neck further in submission. “I’ll make it up to Elena. Let me be kael’s personal breeder. Every pup I bear will be raised by Elena.” Kael stared at me like I was the problem. “Elena, you’re my chosen mate. You should be gracious. Now you don’t even need to endure pregnancy. Tessa will bear the heirs for you. What more could you want?” From that day forward, I became the barren mate. Tessa lived in Alpha Kael ‘s room, warming his bed whenever he needed an heir. She bore him two sons and two daughters while my womb stayed empty and cold. Soon, the entire pack knew of Tessa, Kael’s precious breeder. No one remembered me, Kael’s true mate at all. I withered away in the back quarters. My inner wolf stopped answering when I called. On my deathbed, Kael and Tessa stood over me, a cup of poison in their hands. Tessa’s lips curved into a smirk. “Elena, you’ve held the title long enough, haven’t you? If we didn’t need your father’s power to put Kael on the throne, why would we let you keep breathing?” Kael’s eyes held nothing. “Elena, tomorrow I will be the Alpha King of the Moon Pack. My Luna can only be Tessa. If you stay alive, what will happen to her?” They forced the poison down my throat. I died the day Kael was crowned to the Alpha King. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my mating ceremony. “Prince kael and his bride, please drink the wine together!” The elder’s voice rang through the room. I stared at the wine cups before me. That Tessa was so impatient. She hadn’t even wiped the powder from the rim. My wolf, Lily, snarled, but I kept my face impassive. I subtly lifted Kael’s cup and pushed mine toward him. “May I exchange cups with you, Alpha Prince Kael?” I kept my eyes down, let my voice shake just enough. “I heard that sharing each other’s cup brings a lifetime bond.” The elder clapped. “Great! You in me, me in you—An eternal bond!” Kael lifted the cup. We drank, arms intertwined. The pack members erupted in cheers and howls. But before the cup even touched the table, the door burst open. “Oh my! Did you already finish the ceremonial wine?” Tessa. Her dress was cut low, breasts pushed up. Her eyes went wide when she saw my empty cup. Tears instantly welling in her eyes. She spun to Kael, her voice breaking. “Prince Kael, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to prank Elena a little! You know how human traditions have wedding games? I thought it would be funny to put something in her wine.” I let out a gasp, my face turning pale. “Who are you? What did you put in my wine?” The guests murmured amongst themselves. Someone stepped forward. “Miss Tessa, even if you grew up with the Prince Kael, he’s mating today. How could you joke about poisoning his bride?” “This is their mating night!” Kael stood. Moved in front of Tessa like a shield. He frowned at me. “Elena, this is Tessa. My nanny’s daughter. We were raised together. She’s spirited. Don’t take it to heart..” Then he turned to her, stern but soft. “What are you doing here? I told you not to cause trouble today. How could you make such a joke?” I didn’t look at them. Kept my voice flat. “Miss Tessa. Tell me exactly what you put in my wine. Now.” My handmaiden jerked to attention. “Someone fetch the Healer!” Tessa clutched Kael’s sleeve, sobbing. “kael, I swear I didn’t mean any harm! On my way here, I passed an apothecary and saw them selling wolfsbane barren-draft. I thought it looked interesting so I bought some.” “I was going to stop Elena before she drank it. I just want to scare her a little so she’d be more obedient to you. But I tripped outside and came in too late! I didn’t think she’d actually drink it!” I gripped the table edge. Sank into a chair. “Wolfsbane barren-draft? That wine was blessed by the Alpha King himself, and you dared poison it? Guards, take her!” Tessa shrieked. Threw herself into Kael’s arms. “kael, please! I didn’t mean it! And… and we don’t even know if the poison is real! What if it’s fake?” Her voice sharpened. “Would she really have me killed over some mystey powder that might not even work?” Kael wrapped his arms around her. His gaze hardened on me. “Elena. Tessa’s young. She only meant it as a joke. She never intended it to go this far.” “Don’t worry. You’re my mate, chosen by the Alpha King himself. Even if you drank the poison and can’t bear pups, I’ll never abandon you. You will be my mate forever.” Tessa’s eyes shimmered. She dropped to her knees. Thud. “It’s all my fault! I’m so sorry, Elena! But it’s too late now.” She pressed her forehead to the floor. “If Elena drank the poison and can’t have pups, then… then I’ll be Prince Kael’s personal breeder. Any pup I bear will be raised as hers, to make up for my mistake.” Lily laughed bitterly. The exact same script as my past life. But this time, I wouldn’t be fool enough to fall for it. I let my voice cut. “You tried to destroy my ability to bear heirs—that’s treason against the Royal bloodline. That’s a death sentence. How dare you?”

Kael pulled Tessa to her feet. He frowned at me. “Enough. Tessa admitted her mistake. She didn’t mean it. Today is our mating ceremony. Are you really going to execute her over some mystery poison?” “You’re going to be a Future Luna. You need to show grace. Acting like this—how can you hold that position?” He spoke like I was being unreasonable. I stared at him. In my past life, he said the same things. That I had no grace. That I was petty. Back then, I swallowed it. Thought I was being mature. That’s exactly what they wanted. And I paid for it with my life. “He hasn’t changed,” my wolf said flatly. “He was always like this.” I know. I clenched my fists. “Poisoning the Future Luna—you think letting her go is fair to me? A nanny’s daughter drugs me at my own ceremony, and you expect the my family to accept that?” Kael’s face hardened. “What’s done is done. What do you want? Kill her? She didn’t mean it.” The commotion had spread. Guests were talking outside. The Luna Queen’s attendant entered. “Elena, the Luna Queen says this matter is serious. Miss Tessa will be punished. But today is your mating ceremony. Making this bigger would shame the Royal Family.” Right. It only hurts when the needle’s in your own flesh. I looked up at Kael. “Kael, you really think poisoning someone is a small matter?” Kael was busy comforting Tessa. He waved his hand at me. “Fine. Tessa apologized. She’ll stay in her rooms for three days as punishment. No more trouble.” Three days confinement. That’s the punishment for poisoning a prince’s mate. I almost laughed. Good thing this time, I’m not the one who drank it. Some of the female guests looked uncomfortable. One whispered, “Elena, maybe we should call the Healer? Just to check?” “Yes, maybe it doesn’t work?” Tessa immediately protested. “No! Calling a Healer on the Prince’s mating day? That’s bad luck.” Kael smiled. “Tessa’s right. We can call the Healer tomorrow. No rush.” My handmaiden’s voice shook with anger. “Prince Kael, Elena is your chosen mate! She’s been poisoned and you won’t even call a Healer until tomorrow?” “Miss, let me send word to the Beta Commander Barry. Let him deal with this.” I looked at Kael again. “You really won’t hold Tessa accountable?” Kael flicked his sleeve. “I told you. Tessa was joking. It went too far, but she said she’ll bear children for you to raise. What more do you want?” “You keep making a scene over one cup of wine. You’re ruining our mating ceremony. If you don’t want to be my mate, someone else will. Someone who isn’t this petty and childish.” I smiled. I touched the cup lightly. Looked at him. “Petty? I’m doing this for you, Kael.” I spoke slowly. Clearly. “Because the person who drank my cup was you.” The words dropped like a bomb. Kael’s face went pale. “What are you talking about?” I pointed at the cup in front of him. White powder still clung to the rim. “During the ceremony, we exchanged cups. Remember? For eternal bond?” I tilted my head. “I drank from your cup. You drank from mine.” “The one Tessa poisoned.” Tessa stared at me. Then at the cups. She grabbed his cup. “You… you drank this one?” Kael couldn’t speak. Tessa screamed. Pointed at me. “You! You evil bitch! That cup was meant for you! Why did you give it to kael? You did this on purpose!” “She’s panicking,” my wolf observed. “Good.” Yes. That poison was meant for me. In my past life, I drank it. Lost my fertility. Lived the rest of my life in misery while they played happy family. My father and brother died for Kael. And in the end, he poisoned me too. In my past life, his words still echo. “Elena, you’re the Future Luna. You should be gracious. You don’t need to bear children.Tessa will do it for you. What more could you want?”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619CHqMWT3znV 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni926179”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The doctor said I was dying. Two weeks at most… My mate and husband Gavin paced in circles. He barked at the my son to ready the cart. “Two weeks is too long. Take her to the burial grounds now. I can’t wait…” “I want my wife to die quickly, let’s bury her alive!” He yanked me off the bed. “Mongrels are mongrels. Always causing trouble.” “You know Selina joins the pack tomorrow. Yet you refuse to die.” “You want everyone to say she was the mistress!” How ridiculous! He couldn’t wait for me to die so he could take his mistress home. He made me the laughingstock of the entire pack. I couldn’t fight back. I let the tears fall. Through blurred vision, I heard Gavin’s snarl. Contempt. Rage. Decades of disgust. Gavin never looked at me properly. Only when I served him would he sneer. “Just a mongrel.” Fifty years as his mate. I lost my family. My name. My life. Then I opened my eyes. I was *BACK* on my Mating Day… I chose to refuse the bond. He dropped to his knees and begged. “Please marry me, Alpha girl, I need you. I admire your strength!” — Outside the mating carriage, voices jeered. “Let us see the mongrel bride!” My body froze. My father was an alpha, but my mother was a witch, but I was definitely not a mongrel… I was Alpha blood girl! They couldn’t call me a mongrel just because my hair is red… My mother was a witch of the purest blood, and I was proud of that. Why did they call me a mongrel? That’s their ignorance! *Memories flashed like lightning.* The Moon Goddess gave me a SECOND CHANCE. This time, I won’t mate with Gavin. Then the door ripped open. “Just a cursed girl. Let them look.” I should have known his attitude long ago. He pretended to admire me, but in reality, he just wanted to cooperate with my father. He is an Alpha pf anpther pack… Young Gavin despised me. But before the bond, he was only cold. The old Gavin was cruel. He tormented me without restraint. Through the thin hood, our eyes met. In an instant, I knew. This Gavin was the one who threw me away. He made me live in fear. Sure enough, Gavin looked down at me. “I won’t dirty my hands. Take off the hood yourself.” I didn’t move. He kicked the carriage. “What’s wrong? Too ugly to show your face?” “If not for the Alpha King’s command, I’d rather mate a hooker than a cursed red-hair girl.” A pack member whispered. “She’s still alpha-blood. Don’t go too far. Just complete the bond.” Gavin laughed. “Alpha-blood? But her mother was a greedy witch! Don’t forget! We hate witches! You have no idea how much her father wanted to throw her out! Like trash!” Bullshit! I saw with my own eyes how he begged my father. It wasn’t what he said at all. He was lying! He destroyed everything I was proud of. In my past life, I removed the hood on our first night. He was stunned by my beauty. Then he mocked me. Said I looked barbaric with heavy makeup. Not elegant like the pure-blood werewolves. I explained through tears. “My mother is witch. Features are different. This makeup doesn’t suit me. I won’t wear it after the bond.” His response was harsher. “With that face, no amount of makeup can fix you. You’re a beast in clothes.” Back then, I was lost. Now, reborn, I faced his disgust with calm. “Then go mate the tavern girl. With a hooker.” Gavin froze. He ripped off my hood in disbelief. “What did you say?” The hood fell. My face was revealed. Gasps echoed through the crowd. Gavin looked shocked. He didn’t expect defiance from his bride. In my past life, I thought I wasn’t good enough. So I begged again and again. No matter how I debased myself, he only sneered. “Just a mongrel.” Even in public, he humiliated me. “An Alpha’s daughter doesn’t know how to serve her mate at meals?” “Truly raised in a pack of strays.” Every time we fucked, he made me to take birth control pills. “The pack can’t have mongrel blood.” “Your mother is an inferior witch, and I don’t want to give birth to a red-haired little girl.” “Good heavens, your red hair is so ugly!” He looked at me with disgust. As if touching me was filth. I wanted to say we didn’t have to fuck. He didn’t have to mate with me. But when I met those mocking eyes, all words died. Five years later, we still had no pup. Gavin adopted a boy from his own pack. But the pup looked just like him. Not just his face. His temper too. I suspect it was born to his mistress, but I have no proof. “It’s your fault! Everyone laughs at me for having a mongrel mother.” My so-called son screamed at me… “Get rid of that stupid bracelet! You look like a witch!” But I was actually a witch… I was both Alpha blood and the witch, and it was not my fault… He snatched the bracelet and threw it down. Stomped on it. My mother gave me that bracelet before I left. It was flattened. Broken. Silent. That pain stayed in my chest until I died. Gavin said I was illiterate. So I hired a tutor. I learned their language. Wrote perfectly. But he still laughed at my writing. Said nothing. Just sneered. I rode horses well. He called me crude. Made me drive the cart like a servant. But if I were in my own wolf pack, my father would train me to be the fiercest female warrior. I missed my father and my mother… Only at the end did I understand. Gavin never saw me as his mate. Never saw me as a person. But now I know. I stared at Gavin and spoke slowly. “I said, if you want the hooker in the brothel, go fuck her and marry her.” Gavin’s face darkened. “You threaten me?” “Fine. I’ll mate her. Watch me.” He mounted his horse and charged toward the brothel. But not before sneering at me. “A witch thinks she’s alpha-blood.” “When I mate the hooker in the brothel, you’ll be nothing but a breeder.” Calmly, I looked up and asked the question that haunted me. “Gavin, alliance mates always bond with royalty.” “If you never wanted me, why did you volunteer?”

Thre came a familiar laugh: “No one else wanted you. I was doing your father a favor.” “He’s so pathetic. He has to cater to your feelings and pretend to love you. But you’re just a stain on his reputation, a stain he wants to get rid of!” “I did him a huge favor, so he agreed to cooperate with me.” The words slapped me across the face. Gavin glanced at me. His eyes said I deserved it. Tears welled up. I turned to leave. Then I nearly collided with a woman. “Gavin, it’s your Mating Day. What are you doing?” Gavin’s eyes lit up. His voice softened. “The alpha-blood rejected me. Said I’m too low-ranked.” “Selina, since you’re here, why don’t you bond with me instead? Although you’re a hooker, I bet your wolf is definitely much stronger than hers!” Were you kidding me? Did he really want to marry a hooker? I guessed right… My tears dried instantly. My mind raced. I’d been his mate for decades. I knew him too well. His movements. His expressions. The gossip around us. In seconds, I pieced it together. Selina and Gavin had a past. But her family fell from grace. She ended up in the brothel. He wanted to use me to marry Selina. He’s an alpha, and he was afraid that someone in the wolf pack would object, so he wanted to marry Selina openly and legitimately. The person he originally wanted to marry wasn’t me at all… He needed a excuse… That’s me… A cursed descendant of a witch, a woman of noble lineage who has no fertility. So he could marry Selena, so he could have two wives, so he could openly tell the wolves how useless I was, that he married Selena, a hooker, for procreation, for an heir. In my last life, I dreamed of a happy bond. But the day after our ceremony, Selina moved into the pack house. Now I understand. Gavin mated me to free Selina from the brothel. Gavin circled Selina. His eyes never left her. Memories surged. Every insult finally made sense. Every time he degraded me, he was praising her. He humiliated me for how boring I was in bed, he humiliated my mother and my hair, and my witch blood. I blamed myself. Never thought to question them. Seeing my pale face, Selina touched her hair and smiled. She grabbed Gavin’s hand and swayed it. She coaxed him like a child. “Gavin, it’s your Mating Day. Don’t be angry.” Then she turned to me and bowed slightly. “Forgive him, Freya. He’s just blunt. He means no harm.” “I’ll make sure he completes the bond. Just be gentle with him tonight.” Gavin didn’t move. She pouted. Pulled him off the horse. Pinched his arm. “Did you forget our agreement? Go.” At her reminder, Gavin looked at me meaningfully. He walked over and bowed mockingly. “Let’s go, witch-blood. Skip the ritual. I’ll bond with you now. Satisfied?” In my past life, he never bowed once. In this life, Selina made him do it with one sentence. The absurdity swallowed me whole. I couldn’t hold back. Tears fell. “Are you done?” Gavin muttered under his breath. Selina glared at him. I wiped my tears. Stared at him without blinking. “Gavin, I am a Alpha’s daughter.” “I came for an alliance. Not to be humiliated. I told you I was an Alpha princess, and you didn’t believe me, but don’t forget what you promised my father!” “If you want to marry the hooker, tell the Alpha King yourself. Refuse his command and alliance.” Selina’s face went white. She bit her lip.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606191WHnFsCpSe 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni971764”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix