Category: English

It wasn’t until they saw the butchered remains of every woman and child in the village that the men finally believed me. The pirates were real. The sight of the scattered corpses sent them into a violent frenzy. “Captain! You said your wife was just jealous! You told us she was lying so we’d stay and protect you and Sarah Cole while you celebrated her birthday! Now look… my son is dead! My wife is gone!” Julian Reed turned deathly pale, his voice failing him. I looked at the blood-soaked ground, tears finally breaking through. In my past life, when the pirates launched their surprise attack, Julian—the Captain of the Guard—had taken every able-bodied man out to sea to celebrate his “platonic” soulmate’s birthday. I was pregnant back then. I crawled through the filth of the sewers to find them, dragging the men back just in time to save the islanders. But in the chaos, a straggler caught his precious Sarah. She was brutalized and killed. Julian didn’t say a word after he finished off the pirates. He waited. On the day I gave birth, he broke my legs, sliced open my abdomen, and tossed me into the deep ocean. He watched as scavengers ripped me apart while I was still alive. “You were so jealous of her that you lured the pirates here just to ruin her day,” he had hissed, his eyes cold. “If you love competing with her so much, you can die just like she did.” I opened my eyes and found myself back on the day of the raid. This time, if he wants to play hero for his little sweetheart, he’s more than welcome to. Back in the present, I watched the pirate speedboats cutting through the waves toward the shore. A cold shiver ran down my spine. Without a second thought, I slammed my hand onto the emergency lever. The siren’s wail pierced the air, echoing across the entire island. But when I looked toward the harbor, the evacuation vessel—the only vessel large enough to carry the women and children to safety—was gone. My best friend stumbled toward me, her voice breaking. “Lily, the pirates are hitting the beach! Where are the men? Where did everyone go?” “The ship is gone,” she sobbed. “What are we going to do?” Before I could answer, a crowd of panicked women and children swarmed around me. Their eyes were wide, desperate for an answer I dreaded giving. “Julian took the men and the weapons,” I said, my voice hollow. “He took the vessel to international waters to celebrate Sarah’s birthday.” My mother-in-law let out a sharp, jagged curse. “Is he insane? He knows the raids happen this time of year! He took every able-bodied man on the island!” “That little tramp, Sarah!” she spat. “I knew she was trouble the moment he brought her home. Always playing the victim to lure men in. Now she’s going to get us all killed!” Her outburst snapped a string. The crowd erupted into a chorus of frantic curses, all aimed at the woman who had charmed their husbands away. In the distance, the roar of speedboat engines grew louder. They were hitting the sand. “Listen to me!” I shouted, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Everyone into the tunnels! Now!” Because our island was so isolated, we had built a network of underground tunnels for exactly this reason. We scrambled inside, packing into the damp, narrow space. Above us, we could already hear the heavy boots hitting the pavement and the chilling, rhythmic laughter of men hunting for prey. Panic began to rot the air inside the tunnel. There was only one way to save everyone: someone had to crawl through the drainage pipes to the hidden cove, take a jet ski, and bring the men back. My mother-in-law grabbed my hand, her grip bruising. “Lily, you know how to pilot a boat. You have to go. Find Julian. Tell him to bring the men back to save us!” I let out a bitter, dry laugh. “Even if I find him, he won’t come back for me.” The tunnel went silent. Everyone knew it was true. Ever since Julian rescued Sarah three months ago, he had been glued to her side. He claimed he was just “rehabilitating” her, but they were inseparable—fishing together, training together, whispering in corners. The whole island joked that they looked more like a couple than we did. Faced with the crowd’s teasing, he didn’t bother to keep his distance—if anything, he became even more intimate with her. I confronted him again and again, shouting, asking who his wife was supposed to be. He didn’t even flinch—he only blamed me for being small-minded and consumed by jealousy. Our marriage had died the day she arrived. Just as the silence became unbearable, my sister-in-law, Chloe, stepped forward. “I’ll go,” she said firmly. “I know the guys in the Guard, and Lily is pregnant. If something happens to the baby, Julian will never forgive me.” Without waiting for an objection, she dropped into the filth of the drainage pipe and began crawling through the muck toward the outside world.

We huddled deep in the tunnel, barely daring to breathe, praying we wouldn’t be found. But our luck ran out. A sharp-eyed pirate spotted the concealed entrance. “Found a hatch! I bet all the pretty things are hiding right under our feet!” “I knew it! No way an island this big is a ghost town.” “I’ve been at sea for six months,” another growled, his voice thick with lust. “I’m going to enjoy this.” The heavy thud-thud-thud of sledgehammers hitting the iron door echoed through the cramped space. The women turned ghost-white, their eyes fixed on the vibrating metal. Every strike felt like a heartbeat skipping. Our only hope was that the men were on their way. About thirty minutes later, the sewer grate rattled. Chloe Reed crawled back in, covered in filth and smelling of waste. A small cheer went up—everyone thought she had brought the cavalry. But then we saw her face. She was trembling, tears streaking through the grime on her cheeks. “I’m so sorry…” she sobbed. “They wouldn’t come back.” My mother-in-law grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. “What do you mean they won’t come? Their wives and children are in here!” Chloe broke down completely, biting her lip until it bled. “Julian… he said I was a liar. He said there’s no way the pirates would attack today. He told me I was just helping Lily pull a prank to ruin Sarah’s party. Then… then he slapped me.” She turned her head, revealing a bright red handprint on her cheek. The tunnel erupted. The women cursed Sarah, calling her every name in the book. They cursed Julian for abandoning his post and leaving his people to die for the sake of a mistress. Suddenly, a massive BOOM rocked the ground. Dust rained from the ceiling. They were using explosives on the door. That iron hatch had an hour left, at best. “Listen to me!” I shouted over the crying. “Peel Island is only twenty minutes away by water. They have their own militia. I can get help from them.” My mother-in-law gripped my arm, her calloused hands slick with cold sweat. “Lily, we’re counting on you. Please… bring them back.” I nodded, ignored the ache in my pregnant belly, and forced myself back into the narrow, stinking drainage pipe. I crawled until my knees bled, finally reaching the hidden cove. I jumped onto the backup jet ski and tore across the waves toward Peel Island. As I skidded onto the sand of the neighboring beach, I saw several armed men waiting for me. My heart leaped with relief when I recognized the man in the lead. It was Marcus Johnson, Julian’s second-in-command. Why is he here? I wondered. He was supposed to be on the cruise ship with Julian. I didn’t have time to think. I stumbled toward him, gasping for air. “Marcus! Thank God! The pirates—they’ve taken the island—” Before I could finish, he lunged forward, grabbing my arm with bone-crushing force and yanking me off the jet ski. He looked at me with pure, unadulterated loathing. “Lily Wilson,” he spat, his voice dripping with disgust. “I didn’t think a human being could be as pathetic and disgusting as you.”

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I poured all the freshly boiled herbal medicine into the toilet. With a whoosh, it was all gone. Mom rushed in, trembling with anger, and slapped me hard across the face. “Fiona! We bought the medicine with the money that your father earned from selling his blood! Are you crazy?” My face burned with pain. I clenched my teeth and didn’t cry. I had to act worse, so that when I died, they wouldn’t be too sad. This morning, I saw the ultrasound report. It was twins. How nice. Our family could only afford two kids, not three. I was the extra one. “The medicine is too bitter! I hate it! I hate you two!” I shouted, shoved Dad away, and crawled into bed. Under the blanket, I pressed my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t make a sound. It hurt again. Something inside me was biting and chewing, and I couldn’t stop it. It was okay. Ferryman had already come once. In a few days, they would be able to raise those two little babies. “Good night, Dad, Mom. This is the last time I make you angry.” *** The bathroom was full of the smell of herbal medicine, bitter and astringent. The dark liquid ran down the white porcelain and was finally swept away by the water. Mom stood at the door, breathing heavily, still holding the empty bowl. “Fiona, do you know how much this bowl of medicine costs?” I lowered my head and looked at the hole in the toe of my shoe. I’d worn these shoes for three years. My big toe always poked through. “Two hundred.” Mom slammed the bowl to the ground. The bowl broke, and one piece cut across my calf. Blood seeped out, warm and sticky, but I barely noticed. Nothing could compare to the agony twisting inside my stomach. “Your father works at the construction site and even sells blood, all just to keep you alive!” Mom rushed over and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. She was five months pregnant. Her belly bulged, trembling under that old sweater from anger. “I’m not drinking it!” I lifted my head and tried to make my eyes look fierce. “It tastes awful, like pee!” Mom slapped me again. This time she slapped me on the other side of my face. Both sides were swollen now, perfectly symmetrical. “You heartless ingrate!” The door was pushed open. Dad came back. He was wearing dusty work clothes, holding two steamed buns. When he saw the spilled medicine and broken pieces on the floor, he froze. His eyes were bloodshot. “Bella, what happened?” Dad’s voice was hoarse, completely drained. “She poured the medicine away.” Mom burst into tears and pointed at the toilet. “Freshly boiled, all poured away. She said it tasted awful.” Dad walked over. The smell of sweat and cement rushed into my nose. That smell reminded us of his fighting desperately for this family. He looked at me. His gaze went from fatigue, to disappointment, and finally to anger. “Fiona, I was drawn 400 cc today.” He rolled up his sleeve. There was a bandage in the crook of his arm, needle marks everywhere, bruised blue and purple. “In exchange for this batch of medicine.” He squatted down so his eyes were level with mine. “You poured it away?” I looked at his bruises, my heart twisting in pain. I wanted to ask him to stop selling blood, because the doctor said I was about to die soon, and no medicine could save me. I wanted to tell them that they had to save money for the two new babies. But I couldn’t say that. If I said it, they would go borrow money again, beg people again, sell their lives again. I had to be a bad, ungrateful child. “Yeah, I did.” I lifted my chin stubbornly. “I don’t wanna take the medicine bought with blood-selling money. TV says selling blood isn’t allowed.” Dad raised his hand. That hand was rough, full of calluses and dirt. I closed my eyes and waited. But the slap never came. Instead, he punched the wall beside me. Bang! A bloody mark was left on the wall. “Get lost.” He pointed at my room. “Get back to your room! Don’t let me see you.” I turned around and ran into the storage room that was less than five square meters. That was my bedroom. I closed the door and slid down against it. My stomach churned violently. I coughed up blood into my palm and quickly wiped it away with my sleeve. I couldn’t let them see. Outside the door came Mom’s sobbing and Dad’s heavy sigh. “This child is ruined. We can’t raise her right.” “We still got two babies on the way. Gotta educate them properly. Can’t raise another kid like her.” I curled up under the blanket, tears flowing into my mouth. It was salty. That was exactly what I wanted. I wanted them to hate me and despise me. And when I died, they wouldn’t be sorry. In the corner stood a tall uncle in a black suit, his face pale, holding a notebook. He was the Ferryman, guiding souls to the other side. Only I could see him. “Fiona, three days left.” “I know.” I pulled the blanket over my head. “Can you make it faster? I wanna leave tonight.” “No. The time hasn’t come yet.” Ferryman closed his notebook and disappeared into the corner of the wall. The pain gnawed at my stomach again. I bit the corner of my pillow and swallowed my sobs. Three days left. In these three days, I had to make them completely give up on me.

The next morning at breakfast, there were only two steamed buns on the table, a plate of pickles, and two bowls of steamed egg custard. I quickly finished the bowl in front of me and then stared at Mom’s bowl. “I want more!” Ever since my illness was diagnosed, all the family’s money had gone to buy medicine for me. Our food got worse and worse, and any good food was saved for me and my pregnant mom. Dad stopped eating and frowned at me. “Your mom is carrying your younger brother. She needs the nutrition.” “I want more!” I stood up and reached out to grab that bowl. “Fiona!” Dad shouted. I ignored him and stuck my hand straight into the bowl, grabbing a handful of egg and stuffing it into my mouth. It was hot, very hot. But I chewed desperately, smacking my lips, oil dripping all over my mouth. Then I deliberately tried to knock the bowl over. Mom reacted quickly and caught the bowl, but the soup spilled all over the table, and she burst into tears from anger. Dad stood up and grabbed me by the collar. “You think we won’t hit you?” “Hit me then!” I kicked my legs and spat the egg scraps in my mouth onto his face. “Beat me to death and you won’t have to spend money on my medicine! Perfect, you can raise those two little brats!” Dad’s hands were shaking. He threw me back onto the chair. The chair overturned. I fell to the ground, my tailbone aching terribly. But I quickly got up, dusted myself off, slung on my backpack, and ran out. “Fine! I’ll go buy snacks at school!” Dad shouted behind me, “Stop! Where did you get the money?” The moment the door closed, I heard the sound of bowls and plates shattering, and Dad’s desperate roar. “This must be punishment for something I did in the past. What kind of sin did I commit?” I actually had no money. In my pocket was only that crumpled photocopy of the diagnosis report. The last time at the hospital, I secretly took it from the doctor’s desk. It said late stage and already metastasized. I tore it up and threw it into the trash. Ferryman appeared again, floating beside me. “Why bother doing this? Making them hate you, you won’t feel at peace when you go.” “What’s the use of peace?” I kicked a small stone on the roadside. “If they love me, they’ll cry sadly when I die.” “If they hate me, when I die they’ll just curse me and then go on with their lives.” When I passed by a bun shop, I wanted to eat one, but I couldn’t. If I ate, I’d keep vomiting. I walked to the school gate but didn’t go in. I didn’t want to study anymore. I wouldn’t be able to take exams anyway. I sat on a park bench all day, watching other kids run around, watching other parents wipe their children’s sweat and feed them water. It seemed so nice. In the future, my younger brother and sister could live like that too. When I got home in the evening, there was a thick stack of money on the table. It was Dad’s wages for the day, and borrowed money. Dad said while smoking, “We’ll go to a big hospital tomorrow. Let’s get you checked again. Even if we have to sell the house, we’ll treat you.” Panic shot through me. I couldn’t go—if I did, the money would be wasted. That money should be used on my little brother and sister, for their milk, their survival. I walked to the table and grabbed the stack of money. “What are you doing?” Mom looked at me warily. “I want a new phone. Everyone in my class has one except me.” “Are you crazy?” Dad crushed out his cigarette and rushed over to grab the money. “This is life-saving money!” “I don’t want treatment! It won’t work anyway!” I hugged the money tightly and ran toward the door. “I just want a phone! I wanna play games!” “Fiona!” Dad caught up and kicked the back of my knee. I fell to the ground. My knee hit the floor hard. The money was scattered everywhere. Dad pinned me down and slapped me. This was the first time he’d ever hit me this hard. “I’ll beat the crap out of you, you ungrateful brat! I sell blood and risk my life, and you just wanna play games?” “Do you know your mother won’t even buy herself a new piece of clothing?” It hurt, but I laughed out loud. “Hahahaha! That’s because you’re useless!” “Why have children if you’re so poor? You give birth to us just to suffer!” Dad stopped. He looked at me, his voice trembling. “What did you say?” “I said you’re useless. You deserve to be poor!” Dad slowly straightened up—then, in that single moment, he seemed to age ten years. His back bent, his shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. “Fine. From today on, you’re not my daughter!” He bent down and picked up the money one bill at a time, wiping each one clean. Mom sat on the sofa, holding her belly, her eyes hollow. She didn’t even have the strength to curse me anymore. I struggled up, limped back to my room and then closed the door. I took out a hundred-dollar bill hidden in my sleeve. I’d secretly slipped it in during the chaos. I pressed it under my pillow. This was the meeting gift I left for my brother and sister. It wasn’t much, but I did my best. Ferryman stood at the bedside and looked at me. “Two days left.” “Alright.” I curled up and gently rubbed my knee. That kick really hurt. But I was okay with it. This way, you wouldn’t feel sorry for me two days later.

On the third day, also the last day, I woke up from pain. My whole body hurt. It felt like ants were drilling into the cracks of my bones. I glanced out the window. The sky was gloomy. It was going to rain. Low voices arguing came from the living room. “The doctor said she has to take this medicine, or she won’t make it through this month.” That was Mom’s voice. “Take my ass!” Dad’s voice was icy. “She just wants phones and games, and you still wanna save her?” “She’s still your daughter!” “I don’t have a daughter like that! Ungrateful wretch!” I smiled. Just what I wanted. Dad had finally given up on me. I dragged out a cardboard box from under the bed. Inside were all my certificates from childhood. Outstanding Student. First Prize in Math Competition. Essay Contest Champion. Every one of them had once been my pride. Back then, Dad would flaunt these certificates to the neighbors like trophies. “Look, my Fiona is so amazing!” He used to smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes stretching wide. Now, these things couldn’t be left behind. Leaving them meant memories. Leaving them meant tears. I picked one up and tore it. I ripped it in half, then tore it into pieces. I piled all the certificates, exercise books, and the wooden little horse Dad had made for me on the floor and took out a lighter. The lighter was left by Dad. I lit it. The paper curled, blackened. Flames leapt up. The smell of smoke filled the room. “What are you doing?” The door was slammed open. Mom cried out in shock. When she saw the fire pile on the floor, her face turned white. “It’s on fire! Nick! Hurry!” Dad rushed in and threw a basin of water on it. Sizzle! Black smoke rose. The room was full of a burnt stench. The floor was a mess. Those certificates that once represented glory had turned into black ashes. “Are you crazy?” Dad stepped on the ashes, his eyes almost popping out. “Are you trying to burn the house down?” “I don’t like these useless papers.” I sat on the bed, swinging my legs. “They take up too much space.” Dad rushed over and grabbed my hair. My scalp screamed in pain as he dragged me into the living room. “You don’t like this, huh? You don’t like this house, huh?” “Get out!” “Get out of the house!” He opened the front door and shoved me out. I lost my balance and rolled down two steps. It was raining outside. Autumn rain was icy cold. The rain hit my body, mixed with mud. The door slammed shut then. Click. It was locked from the inside. I heard Mom crying inside. “It’s raining outside! She is still too weak!” “Let her get drenched! I don’t care!” Dad roared. I climbed up from the ground, soaked through. Cold wind drilled into my bones. I walked to the window in my room. I saw Ferryman standing inside, looking at me through the glass. “It’s about time.” He mouthed the words. I knew. I could feel it. My life was draining from my body. My hands and feet started to go numb. My vision blurred. I couldn’t die outside. If I died outside, it would cost money to transport the body. It would trouble them more. I had to die at home, die in that small storage room. I started banging on the door. “Open the door! I’m hungry! I wanna eat! I want meat!” I shouted desperately until my voice turned hoarse. “Get lost! Starve to death!” Dad shouted from inside. But I knew he’d soften. Sure enough, ten minutes later, the door opened. Dad stood there with a stick in his hand. “Come in. Dare to make trouble again and I’ll break your legs.” I lowered my head and slipped in, dripping water all over, dirtying the floor. Mom took a towel and wanted to wipe me. Dad barked,”Don’t bother with her! Let her learn her lesson.” I didn’t take the towel and went straight back to my room. This time, I locked the door from the inside. This was the last time I would lock a door.

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The day my mother suicide, I decided to break the bond with Seraphina. She’d been testing me for three years. Pretending to be packless. Pretending to be weak. Day one. I held Mother’s funeral alone. Day three. I donated all my money to the orphanage. That money was meant for our mating ceremony. Day five. I returned the keys to the rented apartment. Seraphina’s lip curled. She snarled that following me meant she couldn’t even have a decent roof. Now we had to move again. I didn’t answer. Just packed in silence. My silence enraged her wolf. She left with Damon. Back to the Pack Estate. One month later, I saw her in the remote mountain village. Her eyes were red. “I bought our old apartment. Let’s go home.”

Seven days after Mother died, Seraphina finally returned the money. “Take this. Save your mom. Damon paid off my debt.” Her tone was stiff. Resentful, even. Still angry that I’d chosen Mother over her that day. I stared at the bank card. My vision blurred. I said nothing. Seraphina’s face darkened. “I knew it. Your mother is more important to me!” “I already returned the money. Are you still angry with me?” She threw the card to the floor. It clattered on the tiles. My heart tore open. The pain was unbearable. I remembered that day. When I delivered food to her company. What Damon had said: “Omegas like Elias’s mom—the ones who raised their sons alone—they get possessive. They compete with mates for their sons’ loyalty.” “Now that his mom is sick, you need to test him. See who matters more. His mother or you.” “The more he suffers, the more it proves he loves you. We’re not actually broke. We just need to see if he’ll put you first.” That night, Seraphina told me she’d broken her boss’s precious vase. She needed to repay it fast or face pack justice. That was the first time I felt exhausted. I didn’t want to play this game anymore. I’d known the truth for a year already. She was the Alpha Kane’s daughter. Seraphina of the Southern Pack. She couldn’t be broke. She couldn’t owe debts.

A year ago, I was working part-time at an elite club. Saving for buying a house. I watched her open a bottle of wine that cost three years of my wages. She laughed with the high-born wolves around her. “Elias gave me everything. His mother’s savings. Everything he earned. I think… I want to accept the Mating Bond.” That’s when I understood. Her father’s ‘gambling debts.’ The car accident she ’caused.’ All tests. Then Damon leaned in. “Love is sweet at first. But time reveals true nature.” “You’re worth millions in pack assets. What if he’s just after your status?” Seraphina nodded. After that, she never mentioned mating again. But she still lived in the shabby apartment with me. Rode the bus. Ate street food. So I pretended not to know. I worked harder. Treated her better. Hoped she’d trust me enough to complete the bond. But this time, it was Mother. Life or death. She shouldn’t test me with lies. Not now. I went cold for the first time. My voice was firm. “The money goes to save my mother first.” I didn’t expect what came next. Seraphina transferred all of Mother’s healing funds away. “I just wanted to see your attitude. You didn’t even hesitate. Elias, I was wrong about you!” She spat those words and vanished. No calls. No messages. Later I saw Damon’s social media. She’d gone abroad to “clear her head.” I punched the wall. Blood ran down my knuckles. I felt nothing. That night, Mother committed suicide. Her note was brief: I won’t burden you anymore. Be happy with Seraphina. I don’t know what she saw. What made her choose to end her life. I only knew I couldn’t honor even her last wish. Tears filled my eyes. Seraphina’s form blurred before me. Her voice was sharp with irritation. “Damon said you took out a loan. The healer already treated her. Nothing was delayed. Why are you still angry?” “Do you know how hard it was for me to ask Damon for help? He’s loved me since we were pups. But I chose you!” Even now, she was lying. I had no words left. Seraphina thought I was sulking. She sneered. “I was going to visit your mother. But with this attitude? I’m not going!” The door slammed. Her footsteps faded. I crouched down. Picked up the card. Put it in my pocket. Then I grabbed my bag from behind the couch. Followed her trail down the stairs. Dusk was falling. She climbed into Damon’s sports car. The engine roared. I walked the opposite direction. Slow and steady. If Seraphina had looked closer, she’d have seen the apartment was already empty. Nothing of mine remained.

Seven days of mourning. Time for Mother’s funeral. Only a few relatives came. The ones who’d watched me grow. Who truly cared. They looked behind me, confused. “Something this important—where’s your girlfriend?” Mother lived poor her whole life. These people were real. I tried to say we broke. The words stuck in my throat. Uncle slammed his hand on his knee. “Your mom gave Seraphina’s father all her savings! Just to pay off gambling debts. To ‘free her from suffering.’” “And your savings—you gave it to Seraphina for that car accident. Your mom was so stressed she worked herself sick trying to save money for you two!” “Then she ended it so you’d have something left. And Seraphina couldn’t even come to the funeral!” I hung my head. Shame burned through me. How could I tell them? It was all lies. Seraphina was the Alpha’s daughter. Her tests drained me and Mother dry. Mother worked until her body broke. All because of false debts. She suicided with sliver to leave me money. For a life with Seraphina. She died not knowing. It was never necessary. Seraphina was rich. So rich. Every hardship we faced was just a test wrapped in love. I looked at Uncle’s aged face. His trembling hands. I changed my answer. “Seraphina’s here. She’s coming from another state. Probably got held up on the road. I’ll call her.” I stepped into a corner. Dialed her number. I just wanted her at the funeral. To comfort Uncle. The call connected. I whispered into the phone. “Seraphina, can you come? My mom, she—” “I said I’m not visiting her!” She cut me off, irritated. “And I’m working right now!” “Damon’s my friend, but I want to pay him back quickly. You’d only take a loan for your mom. Not for me. So I had to handle it myself.” She hung up. I called again. The line went dead. Two notifications. A video.

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I am the world’s only Sliver Wolf, mated to the most powerful Alpha king. But the child I gave birth wasn’t a Sliver Wolf. Wasn’t an Alpha either. It was weak that couldn’t even shift into human form. Even so, Alpha Kael cradles it like treasure. Asking me if we should name our daughter Pearl or Daisy. I stayed silent for a long moment. “Rejection.” Alpha Kael froze. “What?” “I said,” I raised my voice, “I’m rejecting you as my mate!” The room erupted. Kael was the king of Alphas, the strongest alpha in existence. Outside the hall, Alphas and Lunas from every pack filled the space. Kael’s expression changed instantly. “Scarlett, if you don’t like so many guests, I’ll send them away. Don’t joke like this, please.” I stood, grabbing his arm to drag him outside. “I’m not joking.” “We’re going to the Moon Altar right now to break the bond.” Humans get married with papers and divorce with signatures. Werewolves are more complicated. On mating day, names are carved into the Moon Stone, sealing the bond. To reject your mate, you need to erase the names on th Moon Stone. But it isn’t just erasing two names. The one at fault gets punished by the Moon Goddess. Kael looked hurt. “Scarlett, you can reject me if you want, but tell me what I did wrong first.” I said nothing, glancing at the pup in his arms. After years as mates, one look was enough for him to understand. Kael’s eyes widened. “It’s because of the pup? Just because it’s not the Sliver Wolf you wanted?” When I first got pregnant, I told everyone every that the child in my belly would be a Sliver Wolf. And it wasn’t just me. Everyone believed it. After all, I was born a pure Sliver Wolf with huge power already in my blood. And Kael? The strongest alpha in the world. There’s nothing in heaven or earth that can hurt him except the Moon Goddess herself. Our child was famous before it was even born. But when I finally gave birth. It was just a weak werewolf. Not enough power to shift into human form. Not even a full tail. Seeing I didn’t deny it, every guest stared in shock. They say Luna should love all pups, even others’ children, treating them like their own. The first one to attack me is my maid, Bella. “Luna Scarlett, Alpha Kael is heartbroken. Please apologize to him.” “Don’t forget Alpha Kael went to the Northern Wastes to find the Fertility Herb for you, and he got attacked by rogues. He fought them off, but the wound on his shoulder still hasn’t healed.” “After the pup was born, he was afraid you’d be too tired, so he took care of it himself. He never left your side. How can you break his heart like this?” I glanced at her coldly. “I didn’t even know about his shoulder wound. How did you?” Bella’s face turns red. She stammers and can’t get a word out. “Scarlett, don’t blame her.” Kael stepped forward. “When I came back that day, I collapsed at the door from blood loss. Bella found me.” After he finishes speaking… A few more maids stepped forward, saying they witnessed it too. Their words made me look jealous and petty. The other Elders didn’t approve of my behavior either. “Luna Scarlett, I know women get sensitive after giving birth. But you’re the Luna of Sliver Moon Pack. How can you still be this jealous?” “Everyone knows how much Alpha Kael loves you. Back then, he endured sliver burns for you. How can you doubt him like this? It’s hurtful.” “And about the pup. You can’t expect every pup to be a Sliver Wolf just because you are. Since the beginning of time, there have only been Five Sliver Wolves total. ” “Enough.” Kael looked displeased at them attacking me. “Thank you all for your concern, but this is family business. Please say no more.” His words. Made everyone resent me even more. When Kael turned back to me, his tone softened. “Scarlett, I know you just gave birth. Your emotions are all over the place. But I promise I only love you. I will only ever love you.” “Although the pup isn’t a Sliver Wolf, with our strength, we can help her become a powerful werewolf.” The other Elders offered solutions too. Some promised rare herbs to boost power. Others recommended sacred training grounds. As if with one nod from me, this runt would transform into a powerful werewolf tomorrow. Seeing I was unmoved by their suggestions. Kael grew more anxious. “Scarlett, just tell me what you want! I can give you anything!” I stared at him for a long moment. “You’ll give me anything I want?” Kael nodded firmly. “I want my pup.” Each word sharp. “Give me back my real pup.”

A flicker of panic crossed Kael’s handsome face. He pushed the pup forward. “Scarlett, this is our pup.” I looked at the pup coldly. “This isn’t my pup. This is someone else’s.” Kael looked shocked. “Scarlett, what do you mean? Did someone switch the pups during the birth?” Before I could respond, he yelled. “Someone! Bring me the midwife who delivered my pup. I need to question her about what she did.” In less than 10 minutes, the midwife appeared. After hearing the situation, she dropped to her knees. “I’m innocent! This is the pup Luna scarlett gave birth to! And I wasn’t the only one there that day. Many pack members were present during the delivery.” The midwife quickly named several witnesses. They’re all friends of mine. They were worried about me during the birth, so they stayed in the room with me. Now those friends step forward. They all confirm they saw this pup come out of my body. Everyone’s gaze fell on me again. Their expressions seemed to say how could there be a mom like me in this world? Just because the pup didn’t meet my expectations, I wanted to abandon my mate and child. Some hot-tempered wolves openly cursed me for being ungrateful. I bit my lip. “Just because it came from my body means it’s mine?” “Scarlett, are you accusing Kael of infidelity?” Even the High Elder couldn’t stand it anymore. “If that’s the case, we’ll use the Blood Stone. Let’s see whose pup this really is.” The High Elder gave the order, and someone immediately retrieved the stone from the vault. With everyone watching, Kael cut the pup’s paw and let blood drip onto the stone. Then he cuts his own finger and adds his blood. The two drops made the stone glow red. This proved a blood connection. After Kael’s test, it was my turn. I did the same. After a moment, the Blood Stone glowed red. Seeing this, Kael breathed a sigh of relief. “Scarlett, now do you believe this is our pup?” I stared at the stone in disbelief. “No, that’s impossible…” No mom can fail to sense whether a pup is their own. This weak pup had no trace of my scent. Why didn’t anyone else notice? Even the Blood Stone confirmed it was my pup. Was I wrong? “How is it impossible?” Bella spoke up. “Everyone knows the Blood Stone never lies. Luna, have you been too exhausted lately? Are you hallucinating? Let me take you back to rest. Don’t humiliate the Alpha King any more.” Her hand barely touched my arm. I shoved her away hard. “This isn’t my pup! It’s not! Stay away from me!” Kael helped Bella up, then yelled at me: “Scarlett, how long are you going to keep this up? We have witnesses, we have the Blood Stone—why won’t you believe this is our pup? Have you lost your mind?” Not just kael—everyone looked at me like I was insane. I wasn’t insane. But panic was drowning me. To find the truth, I’d have to go there.

“Fine, go rest.” As Kael softened her tone again, reaching for my arm to lead me back. I struck his chest with my palm. Then turned and run toward the Moon Altar. I knew with my current power, even hitting Kael with full force, he’d recover quickly. But I didn’t expect it to be this fast. When I finally reached the Moon Altar and raised my hand to erase our names from the Moon Stone. He appeared behind me. “Scarlett, stop!” A surge of power knocked me aside. I couldn’t withstand it, falling to my knees and coughing blood. Kael pulled me up, his voice trembling. “Scarlett, are you alright?” The worry on his face made it seem like he wasn’t the one who’d just struck me. Other pack members arrived one by one. Seeing this scene, they sighed again about Alpha Kael’s deep devotion. Once my face looked better slightly, Kael held me and said. “Scarlett, don’t be rash. If you break the bond, it’s not just erasing names from the Moon Stone，the Moon Goddess will punish you too.” “I don’t want to see you suffer. If you want to reject me, I’ll agree.” “I won’t survive without you anyway. Once I’m dead, the names on the Moon Stone will fade naturally, and you won’t face the Goddess’s punishment.” His eyes were full of love for me. Every word considered my wellbeing. But I only felt cold dread. “Get away from me!” I shoved him aside again, lunging for the Moon Stone. To be safe, I used all my remaining strength to create a barrier, encasing the Moon Stone and myself inside. Even with all his ability, Kael couldn’t break my barrier quickly. Just as I raised my hand to erase the names. The barrier shattered. Someone grabbed my collar and spun me around. A slap landed across my face. “Scarlett, do you know what you’re doing?”

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Late at night, I had just finished a ten-hour surgery when my phone buzzed frantically in the locker. It was a new intern in our department. She tagged everyone in the hospital group chat. “Getting married tomorrow! Everyone has to come celebrate! No gifts needed — my husband’s covering everything!” Exhausted, I replied out of politeness. “Sorry, I have plans tomorrow. Congratulations!” The next second, she messaged me directly. “Dr. Clarke, don’t be ungrateful. My fiancé is a major investor in this hospital. You really think a broke doctor like you can afford to make an enemy of him?” “I even saved you a spot helping with reception. Isn’t this exactly the kind of upscale event where a washed-up woman like you might actually meet someone?” A moment later, she posted her wedding photos in the hospital group chat. When I saw my husband kissing her in one of the pictures, I laughed. So the man who married into my family and owed everything to us had the nerve to keep a mistress — and actually planned to marry her. I replied directly in the group chat. “Fine. I’ll give you a gift you won’t forget.” I turned off my phone and headed straight home. The house was a mess. I’d left in a rush that morning, and the shoes by the door were still lying sideways. My husband, Ethan Walker, hadn’t come home either. Too busy with wedding preparations to remember he had a wife. He’d clawed his way up from nothing, all thanks to my family, the Clarkes. Step by step, he became what people now called a promising young investor. My long-term neglect had apparently made him forget where he came from. He actually believed he was someone important now. I let out a cold laugh and dialed the family attorney. “Freeze all assets under Ethan’s name immediately. Cancel every card I authorized for him.” “Also, have a special package prepared and delivered to the wedding venue by morning.” I didn’t sleep that night, but I wasn’t tired. Just a strange, cold clarity. Just as I was heading out in the morning, a text from Ethan came through. “Honey, you must be exhausted with all those surgeries lately. When I get back from my trip, I’ll make it up to you.” “I’ve even got a surprise lined up for you.” Playing the devoted husband, same as always. I typed back. “Great. And when you see me, I’ll have a big surprise for you too.” At the venue, the new intern — Abigail Mitchell — stood in her wedding dress, beaming as she greeted colleagues from the hospital. “Oh, really, no gifts necessary. My fiancé’s taken care of everything.” “He’s the lead investor in our hospital, so going forward, he’ll be looking out for everyone here.” Someone spotted me and shifted into a snide register immediately. “Well, look who it is. The untouchable Dr. Clarke. What brings you to Abigail’s wedding?” A nurse beside her jumped in. “I heard Dr. Clarke’s past thirty and still on her own. Maybe she heard Abigail’s fiancé is a major investor and came to work the room.” “Dr. Clarke, you always acted like you were above all of us. Guess you’re just like the rest of us after all.” I ignored them. Instead, I wheeled over a gift box — prepared by the household staff — that stood taller than a person and placed it directly in front of Abigail. Hanging from the top of the box was a dog collar. Her face went pale instantly. “Charlotte Clarke! What is your problem? I was generous enough to invite you, and you show up with a dog collar? Who exactly are you calling a dog?” I replied evenly. “I have a male dog at home. He marks territory everywhere — might’ve gotten to you without you knowing. I figured the collar might come in handy someday.” Abigail snapped. “Charlotte! Say that again! Who’s the dog? You came here just to start something, didn’t you?” “You’re just a woman who got left behind. You see me young, happy, marrying well — and you can’t handle it.” “My fiancé is on his way. One word from him and you’re done at that hospital.” I took a slow step back to stay out of range. Then I nodded toward the gift box. “Alright. Time to open your present.” I tore off the wrapping in front of everyone. Inside was a large custom display board. “To the bitch and the dog — may you haunt each other forever. To the cheater and the mistress — may you never be apart. And may karma collect from you both.”

The room went dead silent. Abigail was shaking. “Charlotte! You’re out of your mind! You’re jealous I’m marrying someone like Mr. Walker, so you pull this cheap stunt for attention!” I rubbed my temple like her shrieking was giving me a headache. “Abigail, are you absolutely sure you want to marry him?” She lifted her chin. “Obviously. My fiancé Ethan is the hospital’s biggest investor — worth a fortune. You’re a doctor on a salary. He generates that in a month.” “Once I marry him, I’ll be in a different league entirely. Someone you all have to look up to.” Her sycophants immediately joined in. “Abigail was born for this. Not like some people, still chasing validation at her age.” “Dr. Clarke, after a stunt like this, how are you going to show your face at work?” “Offend an investor’s wife? Might as well start updating your résumé.” Absolutely ridiculous. Chasing validation? If they only knew I was the one who built that man from scratch. Becoming a doctor had been my only ambition growing up. The year I graduated from medical school, my father gave me a hospital — so I could practice medicine in a place I loved, without the politics. Ethan? An investor? He was someone I’d taken a chance on. Someone I could just as easily take back. Abigail, mistaking my silence for retreat, grinned wider. She pulled out her phone, dialed, and put it on speaker. “Honey, where are you? Some woman is making a scene at our wedding — that Charlotte from my department. She crashed the ceremony and brought a display board trashing us!” Ethan’s panicked voice crackled through. “What? Charlotte? Stay calm, baby, I’m almost there. Don’t make it worse!” She hung up, smug. “Hear that? My man’s on his way. You’re finished, Charlotte. Not just fired — I’ll make sure no hospital in this city touches you.” Our colleagues whispered. “She’s really done it this time.” “Dr. Clarke’s usually so sharp — what got into her?” Abigail turned back to me, savoring it. “Charlotte, I’ll give you one chance. Since we’re colleagues — apologize, take that board down, and I’ll ask my fiancé to go easy on you.” I stepped forward, eyes steady on hers. “Apologize to you?” “You’re not worth it.” I pulled a framed photo from my bag and held it up in front of her face. “Look closely. That billionaire you’re about to marry is my legal husband.” “You’re just the other woman playing dress-up.”

The photo frame hit Abigail’s hands and clattered to the floor. She froze for a second — then broke into exaggerated laughter. “Charlotte, have you completely lost it? You’re so desperate you photoshopped a fake wedding picture and convinced yourself my fiancé belongs to you?” She picked up the photo, didn’t even look at it, and tore it in half. “I’ve heard rumors about some of the women on staff here being unstable — now I know it’s you.” “You found out my fiancé is a major investor and just couldn’t control yourself. What are you going to do next — throw yourself at him the second he walks in?” She turned to the crowd, playing it to the room. “Everyone, take a look! A senior doctor in my department, fabricating lies, claiming my fiancé is hers. Has anyone ever heard anything more pathetic?” One of her loyal followers stepped up immediately. “Dr. Clarke, I’ve worked beside you for years. I never realized you were capable of this.” “Mr. Walker is completely out of your league. Just leave before you embarrass yourself any further.” Voices joined in from all sides. People started pushing me toward the exit. “Get out! Don’t ruin Abigail’s day!” I stumbled backward, my lower back catching the sharp corner of a table. After ten hours of surgery, my body had nothing left in reserve. Black spots crowded my vision. I gripped the wall and stayed on my feet. Abigail picked up a glass of champagne and threw it in my face. “Apologize. If you beg nicely, I might still let you help with reception.” And then someone unexpected walked through the door.

“Charlotte? What is going on here?” I turned around. It was my mentor, Dr. Callan Carter — one of the most respected surgeons in the country. I crossed the room toward him, ignoring the champagne still dripping down my face. “Dr. Carter. I didn’t know you’d be here.” He was the person I respected most in the world. Years ago, when I went abroad for my fellowship, he wrote my letter of recommendation. He wasn’t just a mentor — he was the closest thing to a second father I’d ever had. He took my hand and sighed. “I heard one of the junior residents was getting married. Thought I’d stop in.” His gaze moved across the display board, then landed on Abigail — face twisted, eyes burning with fury. His brow furrowed. Abigail rushed over immediately, tears already forming. “Dr. Carter, please — you have to hear me out. She’s been bullying me just because she has seniority!” Callan Carter had always made a point of protecting younger staff. “Charlotte, what is this? Whatever the conflict, a wedding isn’t the place.” Before I could say anything, Abigail got there first. “Dr. Carter, she’s completely out of line! She’s fixated on my fiancé and crashed my wedding to humiliate me in front of everyone! She brought a dog collar and that disgusting sign!” The colleagues around her piled on, twisting every detail. Dr. Carter’s expression fell as he looked at me. Disappointed. “Charlotte. You’re a senior physician. You set the standard for the younger staff. This is beneath you.” “Apologize. Take that board down. Right now.” My chest tightened. Even the person I respected most — without knowing any of the truth — had taken her side. She’d played the victim and he’d walked straight into it. Then Abigail stepped forward and swung a bottle directly at my head. “Ever hear that what goes around comes around, Dr. Clarke? You try to ruin someone’s happiness, it has a way of finding you.” “I’m three months pregnant with Ethan’s child, by the way. Even if you’re still holding out hope — that door is closed.” Colleagues grabbed my arms and forced my head down. Glass from the bottle opened a cut on my cheek. And I laughed. Because honestly — what was more absurd than this? I pulled out my phone through the blood and sent a quick text to the household staff. Abigail stopped at my laughter. I pushed her off and stood up straight. I looked around the room. Then my eyes settled on her stomach. “Since you want this child so badly. Since you want to be Mrs. Walker so badly…” “Let me give you one more gift.” Her expression shifted. “What are you doing?” Seconds later, the hotel’s main screen lit up. Abigail’s face drained. And Ethan — who had just walked in — stood frozen, staring at the screen.

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I was about to sign the rejection papers when my wolf’s voice filled my mind. He’s suffering in silence. Every cold word breaks his heart. He loves you more than his own life. Our Alpha loves us! Why can’t you see he’s protecting us? He’s dying inside! His eyes are red. He’s devastated. We’re the only one he’s ever loved. I stared at the papers, then at the man across from me—the Alpha who’d left me and our daughter to die in rogue territory so he could rush his precious Serena back to safety. He was the same man who hadn’t even looked at me since. My wolf whimpered in my mind, defending him as always. Killian’s expression remained cold as ice. He watched me hold the pen without making any move to stop me. “After you sign, I’ll stay at the North Wing. Take your time moving out.” His voice was flat, carrying not even a hint of emotion. This was how he’d been since we mated. He never looked at me and never said he cared. Even when we conceived Lily, it felt like nothing more than Alpha duty. The only person he ever showed emotion for was Serena—the girl who’d been raised as his sister until they discovered she wasn’t blood-related. I’d been ready to sever the bond completely, but then my wolf started screaming at me. In three years of marriage, Killian had looked me in the eye maybe five times. Now my wolf claimed he loved me desperately. It was laughable. When we first mated, I’d loved him and couldn’t help myself. My wolf had been so happy, so certain we’d found our perfect mate. So I decided to try one last time. “Killian, can you just stop putting Serena first? Please?” His jaw tightened in irritation. “Serena is my sister. The pack knows the truth now—that she’s not blood—and they’ve made her life hell. She’s struggling, and she needs support. Why can’t you be more understanding? Why do you have to compete with her?” My heart twisted painfully. With me, Killian was always irritated and impatient. How could someone like this possibly love me? Yesterday we’d gone to the Moon Temple for blessings. Halfway there, Serena had a panic attack. We had no guards nearby, so Killian ordered me and Lily out of the car so he could rush Serena to the pack healer. Lily and I got lost in the rogue wilderness and barely survived the night. When we finally made it back, Lily collapsed with a fever. She still hasn’t woken up. I had decided to give up this relationship. I picked up the pen again to sign the papers. A servant burst through the door, looking panicked. “Alpha! Miss Serena is having nightmares and calling for you! No one can calm her down, and you need to come back!” It was always like this. Serena could summon Killian with the smallest excuse. Since last night, he hadn’t checked on Lily even once. Our daughter sometimes asked me through tears why Daddy didn’t love her. He only does this to protect us, my wolf insisted desperately. If he ignores Serena, the pack will blame us for being jealous. He’s thinking of our reputation. Serena saved his life once. He’s just repaying the debt. He doesn’t love Serena—why can’t you trust our mate? He’s so alone. No one understands him. We have to understand him. “Shut up,” I muttered under my breath. My wolf whined, confused and hurt by my rejection. So this was it? The only place I’d ever hear about Killian’s love was from my own wolf? He never did anything and never said anything. He just left Lily and me alone in empty rooms while the whole pack whispered that the Luna was worthless. Killian glanced at me for barely a second, then followed the servant out. “Serena needs me. We’ll finish this when I get back, Freya.” My wolf howled in protest as he left. Don’t do this! He’s our mate! He loves us! “If this is love,” I whispered, “then I don’t want it.”

I was Killian’s chosen mate. When Killian and I first mated, we weren’t deeply in love, but we treated each other with respect and courtesy. Everything changed after Serena was revealed not to be Alpha Kane’s blood daughter. Serena became sensitive and fragile. If Killian didn’t stay by her side, she would throw tantrums and make scenes. She often came to the pack house to cause trouble for me. Whenever she made things difficult, Killian would sigh and try to placate me instead. “Serena’s going through a hard time right now. She might be a bit much, but don’t hold it against her.” Serena’s suffering wasn’t my fault, yet Killian expected me to endure it again and again. The pack members learned quickly who held power. Behind my back, they whispered that I was petty and couldn’t handle being Luna, that I couldn’t win Alpha Killian’s favor, and that I was pathetic and worthless. One day, when I wasn’t home, Serena played with Lily and fed her pastries laced with silver dust. By the time I returned, Lily’s skin was covered in burns and blisters, and she’d fallen unconscious. I rushed her to the pack healer in a panic. The healer told me that if I’d been even a few minutes later, Lily would have died. When I got back to the pack house, I found Killian gently comforting a tearful Serena. For the first time, I raised my voice at him. My face was filled with fury. “Lily almost died, Killian. I’m not asking you to punish Serena, but she can never come to our house again. Can’t you at least agree to that?” Killian simply patted Serena’s back and responded coldly. “Lily is fine now. Serena didn’t mean to hurt her. She’s been through so much already, and you need to be more patient with her.” He met my hysteria with complete indifference, as if I were the one being unreasonable. But when I thought about this incident later, my wolf defended Killian relentlessly. He’s afraid that if he treats us too well in front of Serena, she’ll retaliate against us. He looks expressionless, but his heart shattered when he saw us cry. At least we can express our emotions. Our Alpha has to keep everything bottled up inside. He loves us so much. We come from a lower pack, so he can’t show favoritism or we’ll become a target for everyone. Why can’t we be more understanding? Our mate is always protecting us silently, and we’ve never done a single thing for him. I’d suffered so much because of Killian’s so-called love, and now my own wolf was blaming me for it. That night, after I’d finished taking care of Lily, I went to Killian’s study to talk to him. I still loved him then. I was foolish enough to think that if I just tried harder, maybe Killian would finally see me. But when I stood outside the study, I saw through a crack in the door that Serena was crying and hugging Killian from behind. “We’re not blood siblings, so why can’t I love you? Please, just love me back a little. I don’t care if we have to hide it forever. I’m willing to do anything.” I bit my lip and silently begged Killian to push her away and scold her. But Killian only sighed and let her hold him. “You’re still so young. Why are you thinking about these things?” I stood outside the door, barely able to keep myself upright. Serena looked at me through the gap and smirked mockingly. My wolf was silent for once, unable to defend what we’d both just witnessed.

“Mama, did Daddy come back yet?” When Lily woke up, it was already evening. I saw the hope in her eyes and couldn’t bear to tell her the truth. Killian was still at Serena’s residence, taking care of her. “It’s okay, Mama. If Daddy doesn’t come back, we can celebrate my birthday together, just the two of us.” Today was Lily’s birthday. Every year on this day, I would give Lily a gift and tell her it was from her father. That was why Lily still believed that Killian cared about her. I made Lily a bowl of noodles. Just as we sat down to eat, Killian walked in and rubbed his temples wearily. “Serena’s condition is getting worse. She needs to stay here at the pack house for a while. Try to be more considerate and don’t provoke her.” Lily didn’t understand what he was saying. She thought Killian had come back to celebrate her birthday, so she excitedly ran up and hugged him. “Daddy, you came back! I knew you wouldn’t forget my birthday!” Killian froze. His face turned pale, and for once he didn’t look as cold and distant as usual. Our mate was so busy dealing with Serena’s problems that he forgot our pup’s birthday. You can’t really blame him for that, my wolf offered weakly. Couldn’t we have reminded him? Why does our Alpha always have to be the one maintaining this relationship? He’s been speaking well of us to Serena this whole time so she won’t target us. He’s already decided that after this is over, he’ll focus on building a good life with us. It was ridiculous. No matter what Killian did, my wolf always made excuses for him. “Lily, I’m sorry. I was too busy today and forgot about your birthday.” Lily lowered her head in disappointment but still tried to comfort him. “It’s okay, Daddy. You always remember my birthday every other year. I’m already really happy about that.” Killian looked at me in surprise, and his expression softened slightly. Our mate is so touched! We gave birthday gifts on his behalf! my wolf said proudly. This is the last time he’ll help Serena. After this, he’ll live happily with us. Killian’s gaze became gentler, and his tone turned warmer. “Serena is only staying here temporarily. She won’t disturb us. I know I’ve neglected you before, but from now on, things will be different. Let’s not talk about rejection anymore.” This world seemed to revolve entirely around Killian’s desires. As long as he was happy, everything was supposedly fine. No one cared what I actually wanted. My wolf kept insisting that Killian loved me so much, but I only felt cold emptiness. Was this really love? The next day, Serena moved into the pack house with great fanfare. She stood in front of my courtyard and clung to Killian’s arm playfully. “Freya, your courtyard is so beautiful. It’s such a shame I can’t live here.” My heart sank. Then I heard Killian say to me. “Freya, I need you to move to the North Wing for now. It’s just temporary.” Don’t misunderstand! Our mate feels even worse about this than we do! my wolf protested. It’s fine. Just endure a little longer, and everything will be sweet soon. This courtyard was something I’d decorated by hand when I first came to the pack house. The wisteria tree in the yard was one Killian had planted for me. He’d even said that as long as the tree stood, our bond would remain strong. Now Serena covered her nose and looked at the tree with disgust. “The flowers are too fragrant. I can’t stand the smell. Can you cut them down for me?” I looked up at them in disbelief. Killian glanced at me with a complicated expression, then ordered the servants to do it. Lily had once had an allergic reaction because of Serena, and Killian had brushed it off with barely a word. But now he was willing to cut down the tree he’d planted himself just to please Serena. I felt my heart growing colder and colder. I clutched the rejection papers tightly in my hand and turned to leave. We’re misunderstanding again. How frustrating. Can’t we try to see things from our mate’s perspective? my wolf pleaded. “No,” I said firmly. “I’m done seeing things from his perspective.”

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I joined a local buy-and-sell group on my phone. Just looking for some secondhand furniture, nothing special. But the prices in this group made no sense. Someone was selling an ordinary iPhone SIM removal tool for $888. And people were actually commenting, asking about it. I was about to leave when a new post caught my eye. “1999 May edition bicycle, $800, pickup only.” My birthday. May 1999. That was odd. I clicked on the photo. My blood ran cold. The background was unmistakably my living room. And we’d only bought that bike two months ago. Before I could process this, someone commented. “Bro, last time was great. The service was top-notch. This $800 price is a steal. Five stars!” The group exploded with questions. “Boss, what are the specs and dimensions?” The seller replied quickly. “90 minutes. 89-58-92.” My hands started shaking. Those were my measurements. My exact measurements. One coincidence I could dismiss. But this? “Damn, that figure!” someone typed. “Bro, got real photos? Can you do delivery?” Then someone posted a picture. A woman in a black and white maid outfit, collapsed on a sofa. She wore a mask, hiding her face. But I recognized the hair color. And that birthmark on her chest. It was identical to mine. I zoomed in, my breathing rapid. The photo disappeared. “Already tried her out for you guys. Boss is reliable You can trust this.” The seller replied casually. “I just got into fishing lately. Not interested in cycling anymore. I’d like to share with my brothers.” I looked at the corner of our living room. Ryan’s collection of secondhand fishing gear, piled high. My stomach churned. Ryan Mitchell, my husband of three years. Always so sunny, so clean-cut. I never imagined he’d do something like this. Drugging his own wife. And selling… photos? Videos? The messages kept rolling. My scalp tingled. My ears rang. These men were discussing me like I was whore. No dignity. No humanity. “Bro, I’ll take it. When can I pick up?” someone finally bid. “Don’t rush. This premium goods is mine. I’ll add $100!” People started competing. The seller grew excited. “Highest bidder wins! I guarantee the quality is top-grade!” Ryan’s disgusting innuendo made the chat explode. I felt like I’d fallen into hell. Cold. Sticky. Nauseating. My hands trembled as I took screenshots. The simple motion took several tries because my fingers wouldn’t cooperate. I was about to confront Ryan when a user named “CatLover” made an offer.

“$10,000. But I need delivery.” The price silenced everyone else. “CatLover” posted an address. “Riverside Apartments.” I was still praying this was all a misunderstanding. Then Ryan texted me. “Honey, I sold our old bike. But the buyer can’t pick up. Can you drop it off at Riverside Apartments this afternoon?” Everything froze. My chest tightened so much I couldn’t breathe. “Do I have to go?” My fingers shook as I typed, hoping Ryan had some shred of conscience left. “Honey, what’s wrong?” Ryan’s reply was as gentle as always. “Are you feeling sick? Should I take you to the doctor?” Ryan and I had been together since high school. Sweethearts who went from prom to wedding vows. Even after marriage, he remained thoughtful and caring. All our friends envied me for marrying my soulmate. But now he wouldn’t give me a straight answer. “I don’t feel well. I don’t want to go,” I refused again. Ryan paused, then replied with words that chilled me to the bone. “Honey, did you catch a cold last night? There’s Vitamin C in the nightstand drawer. Take one.” “I’ll leave work early and go with you.” “Why do I have to go?!” I couldn’t stand this feeling of being hunted. Tears streamed down my face as I typed. Ryan called immediately. “The buyer is an autistic girl. She’s scared of men, so she needs a woman to deliver.” His voice sounded so natural. “You’re usually so compassionate. What’s wrong today?” If I didn’t know the truth, I might have believed him. “I’m not going!” My voice was flat, but my body shook. From anger or fear, I couldn’t tell. Minutes later, the seller @’d “CatLover” in the group. “Bro, sorry. Something’s wrong with the goods today. Can’t do delivery.” I exhaled in relief. Then “CatLover” responded. “No problem. I can pick up.” “But I have… specific requirements. Can she handle it?” The seller replied instantly: “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t break her, I offer after-sales service!” Their words wrapped around me like thorned rope, suffocating me. The seller posted an address. My address. Our home. I had to run. I stumbled out of the bedroom, rushing toward the door. Ryan texted: “Honey, did you take that vitamin?” “I’m almost home to be with you.” I reached for the doorknob. “Honey, where are you going?” The living room camera swiveled toward me. Ryan’s voice came through the speaker. My scalp prickled. Like I was walking down a dark hallway, watched by hungry eyes lurking in the shadows. “Just… getting some air.” I forced myself to stay calm, but my voice trembled. “You sound terrible. Don’t go out. I’ll be right there.” Ryan sounded so concerned. I thought bitterly: no wonder I never suspected him. He was such a good actor. I ignored him and reached for the door again. I needed to leave—to my parents’ house, to the police station, anywhere. “Why do you have to go out?” Ryan sighed. “You’re not well. What if you faint outside? I’d have to search everywhere for you.” “But it’s okay. You gave me access to your phone’s location. I can track you anytime.” His casual words sent ice through my veins. He was telling me he could find me anywhere. I laughed bitterly. Our love and trust had become chains. I glanced at the camera with despair and grabbed the door handle. The moment I touched it, my head spun. My legs gave out. I collapsed.

I woke up in my bedroom. Every muscle ached. My clothes had been changed. Terror gripped me. What happened while I was unconscious? I heard voices outside the door. Ryan was talking to someone. “Alex, you can’t just bring strangers to our house!” Ryan sounded angry. “Emma was home alone. You could’ve scared her!” I was confused. Then I heard Ryan’s brother Alex speak. “Bro, the guy needed the bike urgently. Emma didn’t want to deliver it, so I brought him here to pick it up. How was I supposed to know she was sick?” “And your fishing gear—when are you taking it?” Ryan’s voice rose. “You keep buying useless junk and dumping it at my place because you’re scared your wife will yell at you!” I lay frozen in bed. The bike sale wasn’t Ryan? The fishing gear wasn’t his? Had I been wrong about everything? But that woman in the mask looked exactly like me. Ryan opened the door. He saw me awake and kissed my forehead gently. “Good. Your fever’s gone.” “Silly girl, didn’t even know you were burning up. Still feeling bad?” I glanced at Alex standing in the doorway, his eyes cold and distant. The questions stuck in my throat. I shook my head weakly. Maybe I’d misunderstood. Maybe the seller wasn’t Ryan. At least this time, “CatLover” didn’t get what he wanted. Right?

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After Mom died, Dad couldn’t look at anyone else. He spent his days with Aurelius instead—the Sacred Spirit Wolf, our pack’s guardian sent by the Moon Goddess herself. I thought if I took Aurelius away for a while, Dad might finally move on. So I brought the magnificent golden wolf with me to Seattle for three years of graduate school. When I finally heard Dad had found someone new, I was thrilled. Monica, he said. A sweet omega from one of the smaller packs. She looked a bit like Mom, apparently. I booked the first flight home. The whole pack was gathering at the estate tonight—Dad wanted to introduce Monica to everyone, make it official. I couldn’t wait to meet her. I should have known better. The second I stepped through the door of our old manor with Aurelius at my side, they were waiting. Monica and three of her friends, blocking the entrance like a wall of perfume and barely concealed hostility. I recognized Monica from the photo Dad sent. She did look like Mom—same honey-blonde hair, same delicate features. But where Mom’s eyes had been warm, Monica’s were cold calculation. “Well, well.” Her voice dripped with false sweetness. “The little homewrecker finally shows her face.” I blinked. “I’m sorry, what?” The slap came out of nowhere. My head snapped to the side, cheek exploding in pain. Before I could even process what happened, her foot connected with my stomach. I doubled over, gasping. Aurelius growled low beside me, but I held up a hand. Not yet. “Monica, I think there’s been a misunderstanding—” She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. “Oh, you think? You think you can seduce my mate and play innocent?” Her nails dug into my scalp as she shook me violently. “Silas is MINE. The whole pack is gathering tonight to meet me—his future Luna. His parents are here, the Council, everyone. And you thought you could just waltz in and steal him?” She slapped me again. And again. Blood filled my mouth. I tried to speak, to explain, but one of her friends stuffed something in my mouth—a sock, rank and disgusting. “Shut up, you little slut.” The redhead sneered. “You think because you’re young and pretty you can steal someone’s mate? Silas loved Monica so much he gave up everything for her. Even stopped visiting this musty old manor.” Monica’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “He only noticed you because you look a bit like me. Don’t feel special, honey. Girls like you? We deal with dozens every year. Silas never cares.” I couldn’t breathe through the gag, couldn’t explain. The panic was setting in. Then I smelled it. Lighter fluid. Monica pulled out a silver lighter, her smile turning deadly. “Let’s see how pretty you are when I’m done with you.”

The flame caught on my shirt instantly. I screamed against the gag as fire raced across my chest, crawling up toward my throat. The heat was unbearable—like my skin was melting off my bones. They held me down as I thrashed, laughing as the flames spread to my hair. “Burn, bitch!” Monica’s voice rang with glee. “Burn!” I couldn’t shift. The smoke, the pain, the shock—my wolf was paralyzed with terror. Then Aurelius moved. The massive golden wolf launched himself from across the room, his sacred aura blazing like sunlight. He landed on top of me, smothering the flames with his thick fur. One powerful swipe of his tail sent two of the women flying into the wall. Their screams filled the manor. “A WOLF!” “WHERE DID IT COME FROM?!” They scattered like frightened mice, tripping over each other in their panic. Aurelius gently nosed the gag from my mouth, his ancient amber eyes filled with concern. Before I could thank him, I saw Monica grab something from the mantle. A crystal decanter. “NO!” I threw myself over Aurelius. The decanter shattered against my skull. Pain exploded through my head, warm blood trickling down my face. Aurelius went very still beneath me. Then he smelled my blood. His eyes flashed gold—not the warm amber I knew, but molten fury. The temperature in the room plummeted as his power filled the space, heavy and ancient and utterly terrifying. Even Monica backed up, fear finally cracking her composure. “You think I’m scared of some mangy wolf?” Her voice shook. But Aurelius wasn’t just any wolf. He was the Moon Goddess’s chosen guardian, blessed with her divine power. He’d saved our pack from the Silver Fire thirty years ago. Predicted the rogue attack that would have wiped us out. Led Dad to the silver mine that made us the wealthiest pack in the Northwest. And right now, he was pissed.

Aurelius stalked toward Monica, each step deliberate and predatory. She stumbled backward, her friends huddling behind her. “Monica, maybe we should go,” one of them whimpered. “You’re supposed to meet Silas’s parents soon anyway. Make a good impression.” “Yeah, and I heard his daughter Elena is coming home from Seattle. They say she adores you, wants to call you Mom at the ceremony.” That made Monica pause, her expression softening into something smug. “You’re right. After tonight, I’ll officially be Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.” She shot me one last venomous look. “You got lucky, homewrecker. But stay away from MY mate.” They turned to leave. Aurelius blocked the door. One flick of his massive tail and it slammed shut, the lock clicking into place. Monica’s face went white. “It—it closed the door. Wolves can’t—” “It’s not natural,” the redhead whispered. Aurelius began to circle them, taking his time. He wasn’t going to hurt them—I knew him well enough. He was just making a point, scaring them a little for what they’d done to me. But then the brunette pulled something from her purse. A small vial filled with silver-white liquid. My blood turned to ice. “No—” She threw it. The liquid hit Aurelius square in the chest. Where it touched, his golden fur turned black, smoking and sizzling like acid on metal. He howled—a sound of pure agony that made my heart shatter. “IT’S WOLFSBANE!” Monica’s voice turned triumphant. “Mixed with silver nitrate! The wolf’s afraid!” Aurelius collapsed, convulsing as the poison spread through his system. His sacred aura flickered and died, leaving him vulnerable and in pain. “Stupid mutt.” Monica advanced, pulling out another vial. “You thought you could protect this whore? I’ll dissolve you.” “DON’T TOUCH HIM!” I finally ripped the gag free, stumbling forward. “Monica, I swear to the Goddess, if you hurt him—” “You’ll what?” She grabbed my hair, slamming my head into the floor. Once. Twice. Three times. Stars exploded across my vision. Blood poured from my nose. “You’re in no position to threaten anyone.” She kicked me in the ribs. “Now tell me—how did Silas afford to buy you this fancy manor? Does he know you’re just using him for his money?” “I’m not—” I spat blood. “I’m his daughter. I’m Elena!” Monica froze for half a second. Then she laughed and stomped on my face. “Nice try, sweetheart. But Elena’s been in Seattle for three years. Why would she come back now?” She pulled out the silver nitrate. “I’m done playing. First the wolf, then you.” Aurelius, even poisoned and dying, tried to protect me one last time. He lunged at Monica’s leg, sinking his teeth into her calf. She screamed. “YOU FUCKING MUTT!” She poured the entire vial over his head. His howl of agony would haunt me forever. The other women joined in, grabbing whatever they could find—vases, fireplace pokers, decorative stones—and beating him while he writhed on the floor. “STOP!” I sobbed. “PLEASE, STOP!” They didn’t stop until he went still. Silent. Dead. Monica turned to me, her smile grotesque. “Your turn.”

The silver nitrate hit my face like liquid fire. I screamed until my throat bled as my skin bubbled and burned, the poison eating through flesh and nerve endings. Red turned to black, black turned to nothing. No feeling. No sensation. I couldn’t even cry—the acid had melted my tear ducts shut. Monica circled me like a predator admiring her kill, phone out, taking photos from different angles. “Perfect,” she murmured. “This’ll remind the next little bitch what happens when you try to steal someone’s mate.” Her phone rang. The ringtone made my stomach drop—Dad’s special one. Her entire demeanor shifted. Voice going soft and sweet. “Hi, baby!” “Where are you?” Even through the speaker, I could hear the warmth in Dad’s voice. The trust. “The pack’s getting restless. Alpha Gregor keeps asking about you.” “I’m so sorry!” She bit her lip, playing the flustered girlfriend perfectly. “I wanted to make something special for tonight. You said Alpha Gregor loves wild game, right? I’ve been preparing this traditional feast—I want him to love me as much as you do.” I could practically hear Dad melting. “That’s so thoughtful, sweetheart. But don’t stress yourself out. Just get here when you can.” “I’ll be there soon. Love you!” She hung up and turned to her friends, the sweet mask dropping instantly. “Where’s the venison you were supposed to get?” The redhead winced. “Monica, I tried, but the hunting grounds are restricted this time of year. Pack rules. If I got caught—” Monica slapped her so hard the crack echoed. “Idiot! Tonight’s the biggest night of my life! Every pack leader in the state is here! How am I supposed to impress them without proper game?” “I told you I needed that meat for the ritual feast!” Ritual feast. That’s what she was planning—the traditional offering a new Luna makes to prove her worth to the pack. A display of strength, skill, and devotion. With wild game she didn’t have. The brunette, seeing an opportunity to get back in Monica’s good graces, pointed at Aurelius’s still form. “What about… that?” Monica followed her gaze. I watched understanding dawn on her face, watched that cruel smile spread. “You’re right.” She grabbed Aurelius by the scruff. “Fresh meat is fresh meat. And wolf is supposed to be a delicacy, isn’t it?” I tried to scream. Tried to move. But my body wouldn’t respond, the silver still coursing through my system. She dragged him toward the kitchen, and I could only watch in helpless horror. The next thirty minutes were torture. The sounds of butchering. The smell of sacred flesh being seared and seasoned. The laughter as Monica and her friends joked about the “exotic game” they were preparing. When she finally emerged, she was carrying an enormous silver platter. Steam rose from the carefully arranged meat, garnished with herbs and vegetables like this was some fancy restaurant dish and not the desecrated body of the Moon Goddess’s chosen guardian. “Gorgeous,” one of her friends breathed. “Girl, you’re going to blow their minds.” Monica beamed. “I know. Alpha Gregor’s going to beg Silas to make me Luna after tasting this.” She glanced at me, taking in my ruined face and broken body. “What should we do with her?” The redhead kicked me lightly. “Kill her? She saw everything.” “No.” Monica’s smile turned wicked. “Bring her. I want her to watch me become Luna. Want her to see exactly who owns Silas now.” They shoved me in a tarp and dragged me to the trunk.

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“I’m sorry, Maeve,” my coach said. “But the final roster has been confirmed. There wasn’t a mistake.” I stood outside the office for almost five minutes, staring at the sheet taped to the board. My name was gone. Under the Skating Training Grant, where Maeve Sullivan should have been, was Lyla Voss instead. My first thought was that there was something wrong with the roster. Then I realized Silas did that. When I found him, he was leaning against his car, scrolling through his phone. He saw me but didn’t even straighten up. Just flicked the ash off his cigarette and squinted at me through the smoke. “Lyla’s family is broke,” he said, before I could even open my mouth. “If she doesn’t get the grant, she’s done.” “You’re strong. You can fight your way through Sectionals.” “That grant comes with a full ride to the Olympic Training Center,” I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. “You know what that means for me.” “You’ll figure it out.” I stared at him. He was looking everywhere except at my face. Then he sighed, reached into his wallet, and pulled out a black card. He held it out between two fingers like he was tipping a valet. “Fine. Look. I’ll cover your training. Coaches, ice time, gear — all of it. Consider it me buying the spot off you. Are we good now?” The rain started. I looked at the card in his hand. Then at his face. He used to tell me that as long as I trained hard, I could leave my terrible family. And realize my dream of competing in an international skating event. So to get better training, I practiced hard and worked part-time at the skating club in my spare time. But ironically, he was putting a price tag on my dream now. I turned around and started walking. His voice cut across the parking lot, flat and cold. “Are you serious now? You bust your knuckles in that club’s shop. You’ve been hustling for money your whole life.” “I’m handing you more than you’ll ever see, and you want to play noble?” I stopped and turned my head, just enough to see him through the rain. Many years of something I’d thought was untouchable. And it had rotted through all at once. I gave him a small smile. “Sure, Silas. Think whatever you want.” By the time I got back to the skating club’s shop, my phone was buzzing. Bree. “Maeve. Tell me I’m reading the roster wrong. Tell me Lyla’s name is not where yours should be.” “You’re reading it right.” “That’s Silas. That has to be Silas. Did you talk to him?” “I just came from him.” I leaned against the back counter, looking at the row of skates lined up for sharpening. My hands were still wet. “He offered to pay for the rest of my skating career. Said he was buying the spot off me.” The line went quiet for a long beat. “That entitled piece of shit,” Bree said finally. “Tell me you threw it back in his face.” “I walked away.” “Maeve, you have to fight this. That grant is yours. Do you have any idea what you went through to earn it? The all-night training, your dad — ” “It won’t do anything.” “What do you mean it won’t?” “His family, the Kensingtons, endowed the training grant, Bree. They built this rink. If they pull my name once, they’ll pull it again.” She was quiet again. “Oh, I saw Lyla’s Instagram story just now. Silas booked out the whole restaurant to celebrate her nomination. Maeve.” “Fine.” “Fine? That’s it?” “I have to go. Customer just walked in.” I hung up before she could say anything else.

The next morning, I went to the training center to file the Skating Sectionals paperwork. I was halfway down the corridor when I saw them. Silas with Lyla on his arm. Lyla spotted me first. She flinched and ducked behind his shoulder. “Silas, I’m scared.” He stepped in front of her like a wall. “Maeve. Don’t start.” I went to walk around him. He caught my wrist. “What is your problem? Lyla didn’t do anything to you. None of this was her call. Why do you have to make a scene?” I yanked my arm back. “Let me go.” People in the hall were starting to look. Lyla’s eyes filled up right on cue. She slipped out from behind Silas and took a step toward me. “Maeve. I’m so, so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. If you need to hit someone, hit me. I deserve it.” She came closer with her chin raised. Silas grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back against his chest. “Look at her,” he said to me, low and furious. “Look at what you’re doing to her. I never thought you could be this cruel, Maeve.” The whispers started. “That’s her. The skating club’s part-time girl.” “Wait, isn’t she the one who lost the grant?” “Lost it to Lyla, yeah. Honestly, look at her face. Total ice queen. No wonder he got tired.” “Lyla’s literally an angel. I’d pick her too.” I didn’t look at any of them. I kept my eyes on Silas. “I said, let me go.” He didn’t move but shoved me. I stumbled back and hit the row of lockers behind me. My shoulder blades cracked against the metal. I stayed there for a second, my back against the lockers, looking up at him. He was looking right back at me. There was nothing in his face. No flicker. Nothing. We grew up together. He was ten when his family sent him out from New York. His first week in the town, he picked a fight with three older boys behind the rink and was getting his teeth kicked in when I came around the corner. I held up a sharpened blade in my hand. They ran. After that, he followed me everywhere. When a boy at school bullied me, Silas put him on the ground. “Maeve. I’ve got you. Always.” “We’re getting out of this town. Both of us. Training Center, Olympics, the whole thing. You and me.” And now he was in front of me with another girl tucked against his ribs, and he had just put me into a wall. Lyla started to cry harder. “Silas, please, let’s just go. It’s my fault. All of this is my fault.” He turned his head and kissed her hair. “It’s not your fault. None of it is.” He gave me one last look — a warning, and walked her past me down the hall. I stayed against the lockers until I could breathe again. The office was at the end of the corridor. On the way I passed the Featured Athletes wall. Lyla’s photo was right in the center, bigger than the others. Underneath, in clean black letters: Promising young talent overcoming hardship. A story of resilience. I looked at it for a second and laughed bitterly. I remembered one night, I came back to the skate shop after a late training session. My dad was waiting in the parking lot. He smelled like whiskey from ten feet away. “Where’s the money?” I didn’t answer. I tried to walk past him to the door. He grabbed my hair and slammed me face-first into the side of the building. “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf in both ears now?” “There isn’t any money.” “Bullshit. That Kensington kid throws cash around like it’s nothing, and you’re up his ass twenty-four seven. You telling me you can’t squeeze a few hundred out of him for your old man?” He hit me across the face. “You holding out on me? Hiding it somewhere? Huh?” He started patting me down, yanking at my pockets. I shoved him off. That was the wrong move. He kicked me in the stomach so hard I went down on the asphalt. “You ungrateful bitch. You’re just like your mother. Trash, both of you.” He went looking for something heavier. A tire iron, a piece of pipe, I didn’t see what. That was when Silas’s car pulled into the lot. He was out before the engine stopped. He put my dad on the ground in two moves and pulled me up off the asphalt. His hands went over my face, my arms, my ribs, checking. “Where did he hit you. Maeve. Where.” I couldn’t answer. He took off his own jacket and put it around my shoulders. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you.” He didn’t go home that night. He sat on the busted couch in the back of the shop until morning. The next day he walked into the police station and didn’t leave until they had my dad in a holding cell. When he came back, he sat down next to me and said, “I’m taking care of you from now on. You don’t have to worry about anything. Ever.” I’d actually believed him.

A week before Sectionals, our club ran a final mock competition. Full panel of judges, full scoring, the works. I took first. Highest combined score in the group field by almost twelve points. Lyla came in last. She picked the score sheet off the boards, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash on her way off the ice. “Doesn’t matter. I got the training grant.” Silas was waiting at the boards with two coffees. He handed her one. She lit up at him like she hadn’t just bombed in front of the club. “You were beautiful.” She pressed up onto her toe picks and kissed him on the cheek. I walked past them toward the locker room. “Maeve.” I did not stop. “Maeve. Hey.” He came around in front of me, blocking the path. “You still mad about the training grant?” I didn’t answer. “I get it. But come on. Look at her situation. She needs this more than you do. You’re going to win Sectionals in your sleep.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “That card I offered you. It’s still on the table. Anything you need — coaches, off-season camps… It’s covered.” He thought money was the answer. He thought money could buy back what he’d already broken. “I don’t need it.” “There you go again.” His jaw set. “How long are you going to keep doing this. You know how much you make in a month? I’m offering you more than you could pull out of that place in your entire life.” Lyla skated up behind him and put a gloved hand on his arm. “Silas, don’t. She’s just not used to it yet.” She gave me a small, sad, practiced smile. “Maeve. I know you hate me right now. But I was really, truly out of options. My stepmom has been awful since my dad lost everything. I had nowhere else to turn.” Her eyes welled up. I’d watched her do it for a year now. In every conversation, she was the victim. In every room, I was the one making her cry. “Silas said he’s going to take care of you,” she went on, with the soft, generous tone. “Whatever you need, just tell us. Both of us.” Us. Like she’d already moved into my life. The corner of my mouth pulled up. I couldn’t help it. Silas frowned. “What’s funny?” “Nothing. Just appreciating the matchup. You two deserve each other. Hope it lasts.” His face changed. “Maeve — ” I walked past him to the locker room. “Maeve, get back here.” I ignored all his words. That night, Bree sent me a photo. Lyla’s Instagram, screenshotted before it could disappear. Lyla and Silas were in the bar, Silas holding a bottle of champagne, Lyla draped across his lap. Their friends were in the background, raising glasses, shouting “CONGRATS LYLA!” Bree: Stop looking at it. She’s not worth your serotonin. I closed the app and tossed the phone aside. Then picked up my training journal off the nightstand, opened it to the next blank page, and started writing out my Sectionals program. As long as I kept training, I didn’t have to think about anything else.

A week before Sectionals, the club cut training to taper hours. Most of the teammates took the time off to rest. I took extra shifts at the skating club’s shop. Wednesday afternoon, Silas’s car pulled up outside. He got out and leaned against the driver’s door. Music thumping from the speakers, sunglasses pushed up into his hair. “Maeve. Come here.” I kept working, ignoring his words. “I’m talking to you.” He frowned and walked over. He reached for my arm, saw the dirt on my hands, and pulled his fingers back without touching me. “Go wash up. You’re coming with us.” “Where?” “Cabin. Up the mountain. Lyla wants a few days off the ice. You’re coming.” I straightened up. “I’m not going.” “Don’t start with this again.” He let out a sharp breath. “I drove all the way down here. Lyla wants to make peace. Don’t be difficult.” “I have nothing to make peace about with her.” “Maeve.” “I’m training.” He laughed, short and ugly. “Training. Right. Like you need to. You could skate Sectionals hungover and still take the podium.” “Just come. Get out of this dump for a weekend. Lyla actually wants to fix things with you.” “I’m not going.” His patience snapped. He stared at me for a second. Then he laughed again, this time with no humor in it at all. “Suit yourself.” He pulled his wallet out, thumbed off a stack of hundreds, and threw them on the floor at my feet. The bills fanned out across the concrete. “Here. Your wages for the month. I covered your boss for it. Take the money, keep your pride, and stay out of my face.” I didn’t move. “Not enough?” He pulled out another stack and threw it down on top of the first. “How about now?” Coach Miller came out from the back office, took one look at the cash on the floor, and walked over fast. “Mr. Kensington. What is going on here? We don’t need any of this.” Silas didn’t even look at him. His eyes stayed on me. “Pick it up.” I still didn’t move. Lyla had been waiting in the car. She got out now, all wide eyes, and came running over in her white shearling boots. “Silas, please, stop. You’re scaring her.” She crouched down and started gathering up the bills, one by one. “Maeve. Don’t be mad at him. He’s just looking out for me. He doesn’t mean it.” She held the stack up to me with both hands, eyes wet. “Please. Just come with us. I don’t want to be the reason you two aren’t talking.” I looked at her and Silas. He wasn’t sorry. He thought he was being generous, so I should be on my knees thanking him. I walked past both of them, into the back of the shop, and shut the door. Through the wall I heard him. “See? That attitude. You try to help her and that’s what you get.” The car engine started up. The music pulled away down the street. Coach Miller came in a minute later. He set the stack of cash down on the workbench in front of me. “Take it, kid.” “No.” “Maeve.” He pushed it closer. “Your dad. Your situation. You need this.” I stared at the bills. They smelled like Silas’s cologne. I walked to the utility sink in the corner, turned the water on as hot as it would go, and started washing my hands. Soap, scrub, rinse. I kept going until my skin was raw. That night, my dad came back. He was drunker than usual, and he’d seen the cash through the front window. He took it, then he started taking everything else. Even put a chair through the front glass. I called the cops. When they got there, he was still going, swinging a hockey stick at the lights. It took two officers to put him in cuffs. He spat at me on the way out, blood and saliva down the front of my work shirt. “You called the cops on me. On your own father. I hope you know what you are. I hope you rot in hell for this.” I watched the cruiser pull out of the lot. So this was what it felt like. To have nobody left around me.

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My mate killed my pup to protect an Omega; now he’s begging for a single glance from the Luna he rejected. I came home to find the packhouse locked. Kaelen wasn’t back yet, so I waited outside in the snow. Two hours later his black SUV finally rolled up the drive. He climbed out looking apologetic and unlocked the front door. “One of the pack members was sick. I drove her to the healers’ ward first.” “Sure. Health comes first.” I stepped past his hand and walked inside. There were plenty of shewolves in Kaelen’s pack, but only one could make him drop everything and come running. Cynthia. A soft-spoken Omega with doe eyes and a gift for making every Alpha in the room feel like her personal protector. I’d fought with him about her before. Screamed at him. Let Ember, my Wolf, claw to the surface. Nearly got thrown in the dungeon for it. Then came the fight that killed our pup. I’d gone to find him at the pack hall, pregnant and happy, and walked in on Cynthia sobbing into his shoulder. Ember surged forward. My vision went gold. I shoved Cynthia away from him. One push and she went flying. Kaelen’s eyes went pitch black. Kruger, his Wolf, exploded out of him. Before I could even flinch, he lunged at me in half-shift and sent me crashing sideways. My belly hit the corner of the stone table. The pup was gone before I hit the ground. After that he seemed to wake up. He knelt at my bedside and swore on the Moon Goddess he’d keep Cynthia away, move her to a room on the far end of the compound with the other Omegas. No more contact. Now he watched me brush snow off my coat. His brows pulled together. “Elena, you’re not going to ask which pack member?” I looked at the red creeping into the corners of his eyes. And smiled. “Doesn’t matter who.” Because I didn’t care anymore. … Kaelen stood frozen in the doorway, rubbing his nose. “Cynthia’s place doesn’t have heat. She came down with a fever, a bad one. Nobody would help her.” He sighed. “You know how it is. After you made that scene, the whole pack turned on her. They call her a mate-betrayer behind her back. Even the other Omegas won’t sit with her.” “Helping her out was me cleaning up your mess.” The memory scraped at the old wound in my chest. The aftermath of that fight had been loud. Within days the entire pack knew what happened. Most of them sided with me. Behind closed doors they called Cynthia what she was. The shewolves in her circle froze her out, moved her to the worst room in the compound. I nodded and kept walking toward the bedroom. Kaelen’s voice sharpened. “Cynthia’s already forgiven you. Can’t you just move forward?” My feet stopped. My hand pressed flat against my stomach. “Sure.” I looked him dead in the eye. “When the pup comes back.” Kaelen went rigid. The light drained from his face. I didn’t wait. I walked to the bedroom. Since losing the pup we hadn’t shared a room in months. But the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. Dresses tossed across the bed. A bundle of belongings on the floor, piled halfway to my hip. Kaelen caught up and draped his arm across my shoulders, trying to play it casual. “Cynthia’s fever is bad. She shouldn’t be alone. I told her she could stay here a few days.” I stared at the bundle. A few days. And she packed half her life for it. “Besides, we’re mates. Sleeping in separate rooms isn’t right.” He squeezed my shoulder. “You still want a pup, don’t you? We can try again. Tonight.” I’d already been gutted by this man in every way that mattered. But hearing him dangle a pup like bait to keep his Luna in line still turned my stomach. “Kaelen, how about this. I move into your room, and you pick a different bed each night. Me or her. Whoever you’re in the mood for. Sound fair?” His face flushed. “What the hell are you saying?” “Luna, please don’t fight with Alpha Kaelen because of me. I’ll leave right now.” I turned around. Cynthia stood in the doorway, doe-eyed and trembling. Scarf on. Gloves on. Not a snowflake on her. Not a trace of the blizzard outside. It hit me all at once. While I’d been standing in the snow for two hours with my legs going numb, the two of them had been sitting in that heated SUV working out how to handle me. I was done talking. I shouldered past Kaelen, yanked open the closet, and shoved my few worn clothes into a bag. He was at my side in two steps, his hand locked around my wrist. “What are you doing now?” “It’s the middle of winter. You have a perfectly good house and you want to leave? The rest of the pack will talk.” “Do you have to make everything worse?” I shook his hand off and zipped the bag. “A house?” I said. “I don’t have a house. This one is yours and hers.” I grabbed the bag and shoved past him toward the front door. Behind me, Cynthia’s voice drifted out, soft and shaking, perfectly pitched. “Alpha Kaelen, she’s just jealous. I should go. It’s only a fever, I can take care of myself.” “Let her go. She gets more impossible every day.” “You stay right here. I’ll make you some soup later.” The wind hit my face. The tears that slipped out froze before they reached my jaw. The night I lost the pup, he’d made me soup too. So in his mind, a dead pup and a fever weighed exactly the same.

The blizzard was brutal. I fell several times on the way, but I finally made it to the old place I’d stayed before Kaelen and I were mated. The door creaked open and the smell of mold hit me in the face. I pulled the light cord a few times. The bulb flickered once and went dead. I sighed, dragged a stool over, and tried to fix the wiring. A flashlight beam swept in through the doorway. Doctor Julian from next door was standing there, eyes wide. “Luna Elena? Is that really you? I heard noise coming from over here.” He took one look at me and seemed to guess I wasn’t in the mood to talk. He didn’t ask questions. He just pushed the flashlight into my hand. “I’ve got a spare bulb. Let me put it in for you.” He grabbed a wooden chair, climbed up, and started screwing it in, chatting to fill the silence. “Hell of a storm tonight. Have you eaten? I’ve got fresh soup at my place.” “You lost the pup not long ago, and now you’ve been out in this cold. A warm bowl would do you good.” My eyes stung. I almost cried right there. A pack doctor I barely knew remembered what my body had been through. My own mate just thought I wasn’t forgiving enough. “No thanks. I already ate.” The bulb clicked on. Julian steadied himself on the chair and climbed down. The old wood groaned under him. I rushed forward to hold the chair steady. Then I heard a gasp behind me. “Luna, you left home in such a hurry and it was for him?” Cynthia stood in the doorway with three of the pack’s biggest gossips behind her. She pressed a hand over her mouth, looking back and forth between me and Julian. “Alone together with the lights out. In the middle of the night.” The three women exchanged looks, muttering just loud enough to hear. “Betraying her Alpha. Right under his nose.” “And I thought she was the decent one. Guess not.” Julian’s face went red. He jumped down from the chair. “Don’t twist this. Luna Elena just got here. I saw the lights were out, so I came over to change a bulb. That’s it.” Cynthia raised her voice even louder. “So the lights were out and you were already in here with her?” “Luna, how could you do this to Alpha Kaelen?” “Bullshit.” I grabbed Cynthia’s wrist and yanked her to the door. “Look. Door’s wide open. Key’s still in the lock. Say one more word and I’ll slap the taste out of your mouth.” Cynthia blinked. Then the tears dropped, right on cue. That two-faced act made Ember snarl inside my skull. I was about to keep going when a massive hand clamped down on my shoulder and wrenched me back. “Elena, so this is why you wanted separate rooms? For this pretty boy?” Julian saw Kaelen and stepped forward immediately. “Alpha Kaelen, it’s not what you think.” Kaelen turned and glared at him. “Shut your mouth. You’re a doctor. You should know better. I haven’t even begun dealing with you.” He swung back to me, disgust clear on his face. “Elena, you’d throw away your honor just to spite me?” “I thought you were just throwing a tantrum.” “But you couldn’t even wait one night before running to another wolf.” “This isn’t just about me. You’ve disgraced the entire pack.” I almost laughed. I stood near another male for two minutes and suddenly I’d betrayed my Alpha and disgraced the pack. But Cynthia could cry on his shoulder for months and that was a misunderstanding. I looked at him, cold and steady, one word at a time. “I have nothing to hide.” “The door is open. My bag is still packed. The flashlight is still on.” “Ask the gate guard what time I got here and you’ll have your answer.” Kaelen paused. His eyes drifted to the bag on the floor. Then he looked around the room. The cobwebs. The dust. The bed frame made of stacked bricks. Something in his expression cracked. He was almost swayed. But Cynthia grabbed his sleeve, sniffling. “Alpha Kaelen, after what Luna did to me last time, people still point at me and call me names.” More tears, right on the edge of falling. Kaelen looked at me. Then at Cynthia. Something hardened in his jaw. “Call the enforcers.” “Lock her in the dungeon. We’ll sort this out in the morning.” Three enforcers rushed in and surrounded me. My head was spinning. “Kaelen, are you insane? You can see there’s nothing between me and Julian.” Kaelen sighed. “Elena, I’m doing this for your own good.” He waved his hand. The enforcers grabbed me by the arms and dragged me into the dungeon. Four concrete walls. Cold enough to see my breath. I curled up in the corner. The old ache in my belly started up again.

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