When my mate’s widowed sister-in-law moved into our pack, Stephen presented me with a rejection letter while I was three months pregnant.

“Marley’s pup is still young,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Without someone to care for her, she’ll be vulnerable to the cruelty of others. As her brother-in-law, I can’t turn a blind eye.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I nodded quietly and accepted.

Stephen’s relief was palpable. That very night, he slipped into Marley’s room.

The sounds of their intimacy—her soft moans, the creak of the bed—echoed through the packhouse until dawn. I sat alone outside, the cold biting into my skin, until the first light of morning. Then, I instructed Nori to prepare a cup of wolfsbane tea.

In my past life, I had refused Stephen’s rejection. I had even threatened to end my life outside the Lycan King’s palace to preserve our bond.

Though I had kept our marriage intact, it wasn’t long before Marley, a young widow, caught the attention of a rogue.

Her screams had lasted for three days and nights. By the time Stephen arrived, she was already gone.

He blamed me. When we returned to the pack, he spread rumors that I had betrayed him with a rival pack’s Alpha, tarnishing my name.

I was sent to the pack’s borderlands, where I was subjected to the cruelty of the warriors. I lost our pup and bled out in the snow.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Stephen handed me the rejection letter.

---

I calmly took the letter and signed my name without hesitation.

The moment the ink dried, Stephen snatched it from me, his eyes scanning the document with relief.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window.

It was the first day of spring, yet a sudden snowstorm had blanketed the pack territory. The heavy snowfall muted the world outside, the air so still it felt suffocating.

Stephen cleared his throat, perhaps realizing his eagerness was unseemly. “Valentina,” he began, his tone formal, “thank you for understanding.”

He paused, then added, “Once Marley’s pup is older, I can still make you my chosen mate.”

His words were laced with condescension, as if he expected me to be grateful for the offer.

His expression darkened, and his voice took on a warning edge. “Also, it’s best if you don’t speak of this rejection to anyone. It could cause unnecessary trouble.”

I nodded quietly. “Of course.”

He was afraid my father, Julien Watson, a high-ranking Gamma, would seek retribution from the Alpha King.

Stephen left without another word, his car disappearing into the snowstorm.

The cold bit into my skin, numbing me to the point where even a bitter smile felt stiff.

Love and indifference—how stark the contrast.

---

The next day, I decided to take a walk through the pack territory.

But I hadn’t gone far before I overheard whispers about my supposed infidelity with a rival pack’s Alpha.

A group of Omegas gossiped under an old oak tree, their voices carrying clearly.

I didn’t bother to defend myself. As I walked past, I caught the final remark:

“Such a shame. The Alpha married a woman like that—his reputation is ruined.”

When I returned to the packhouse, my chest felt heavy, and a dull ache settled in my abdomen.

I didn’t understand why, even after accepting the rejection, these rumors persisted.

That night, Stephen didn’t return.

I had intended to confront him about the rumors, but the pain in my stomach grew unbearable.

Just as I was about to retreat to my room, the door opened.

Stephen stepped in, the scent of Marley’s perfume lingering on him.

He glanced at me, his expression cold and dismissive. “We’re no longer mates,” he said sharply. “You’re not going to question where I’ve been, are you?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “Today, I heard some rumors. About me. Do you know anything about them? Did you ever truly want to be my mate?”

Stephen’s eyes flickered, avoiding mine. “I don’t have time for idle gossip. You shouldn’t either.”

His evasion only confirmed my suspicions.

The rumors had come from him.

Anger and hurt tangled in my chest. “Stephen,” I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to control it, “you know the truth. Why are you spreading lies about me?”

“I accepted the rejection. What more do you want from me?”

Stephen’s patience snapped. His gaze turned icy, and his voice was laced with irritation. “I told you, it’s just gossip. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

“Everyone’s talking about Marley, saying she’s cursed. If we don’t give them something else to focus on, how will she and Miles survive?”

“Besides,” he added, his tone bitter, “I’ve always cared for Marley.”

“If you hadn’t caused so much trouble back then, I wouldn’t have married you out of pity!”

His words cut through me like a knife, leaving a gaping wound.

I clenched my fists, my voice shaking. “It was Marley’s brother who betrayed the pack and kidnapped me! He handed me over to the rival Alpha as a bargaining chip. Don’t you remember?”

“After I escaped, *you* begged me to stay silent and marry you!”

Even now, thinking about it still feels like a nightmare.

Back then, in order to preserve my honor when faced with danger, I exhausted every means possible, even nearly choosing to end my own life to escape.

After escaping, my first thought was to reach out to my father through the pack’s mind link. But Stephen Carr, coveting my father’s influence in the pack and wanting to protect Marley Howard’s brother, found me first. He comforted me and swore on the Moon Goddess.

“Don’t be afraid. No one will know about this. Be my mate, and I’ll protect you for the rest of your life.”

“If you spread this, your reputation as a Luna will be ruined.”

He kept assuring me that after the marking ceremony, he would love and cherish me.

I believed him. Because of this, I had to give up my dream of becoming a pack Healer, and I became pregnant with his pup.

When my father found out, he was overjoyed and spoke highly of Stephen to the Lycan King.

This allowed Stephen to rise rapidly through the pack ranks, basking in his newfound glory.

But in less than a year, he broke his promise, and now, for the sake of Marley, he’s discarded me like trash.

When I exposed the truth, Stephen froze for a moment.

But soon, his expression turned cold, and a mocking smile appeared on his face.

“I was being kind, not wanting your life to be ruined by that incident.”

“Besides, back then, if you hadn’t flirted with Marley’s brother, he wouldn’t have targeted you.”

I stared at him, and at that moment, I felt like the man before me had become a complete stranger.

How could he say something so heartless?

“Stephen, you’re right. It’s all my fault…”

It was my mistake to misjudge people.

To mistake a wolf for a savior.

“Enough!”

He waved his hand impatiently, cutting me off, not even sparing me a glance.

“The past is in the past. Marley and her pup will move into the pack house in a few days. Start preparing.”

“I’m warning you again—don’t make a scene, don’t bully them! Otherwise, get out!”

With that, he turned and walked out, his face emotionless.

As he stepped through the door, a sharp pain like an ice pick stabbed through my abdomen.

Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead, my back stiff and numb, devoid of any warmth.

“Stephen!”

“I… I’m in so much pain…”

He stopped and glanced back, his eyes filled with annoyance.

“If it hurts, call the Healer. I’m not a Healer. Why are you calling me?”

“Stephen, I might be losing the pup…”

Having studied healing for years, I knew what this meant.

“What are you implying? Using the pup to threaten me?”

His voice grew colder.

“I advise you not to play these little games. It’s disgusting!”

He let out a cold laugh, then turned and left.

“Don’t forget to move your things out of here. They’re in the way.”

He disappeared through the door.

I trembled, trying to push myself up, but the pain in my abdomen quickly spread throughout my body.

I lowered my head, attempting to cradle my violently cramping stomach.

But I was too weak. I collapsed onto the bed, my consciousness slipping away…

The cold water hit me like a slap, jolting me awake. I blinked, disoriented, as the icy droplets dripped down my face. My vision cleared to see a small boy standing before me, a wooden bucket in his hands and a sneer on his lips.

"Hey, who are you?" he demanded, his voice sharp and insolent. "Why are you sleeping in my mom’s room?"

The chill of the water seeped into my bones, and I tried to push myself up, but the dull ache in my abdomen forced me back down. My body felt heavy, my limbs uncooperative.

"Miles, don’t be rude," a familiar voice chimed in, sweet and saccharine. I turned my head to see Marley Howard striding into the room, her steps graceful, her expression soft but her eyes cold. She took the boy’s hand, her fingers curling around his protectively.

"He’s just a child, Valentina. Don’t take it to heart," she said, her tone dripping with false sympathy. But there was no apology in her gaze, only a smug satisfaction as she continued, "Though, I must say, it’s a bit awkward for you to still be here. Stephen and I have already set the date for our mark ceremony. Surely, you don’t plan to stay around and make things uncomfortable, do you?"

The fire in my chest burned hotter, but I kept my voice steady, my words icy. "No wonder the pup has no manners. He’s got a mother who doesn’t know her place."

Her face flushed with anger, but before she could retort, the boy—Miles—shouted, "Don’t you dare talk about my mom like that! She said you’re just a—"

"What’s going on here?"

The deep, commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife. I looked up to see Stephen Carr standing in the doorway, his broad frame filling the space. His gaze softened when it landed on Marley, his Alpha aura radiating warmth and affection. But when his eyes flicked to me, they hardened, filled with warning and disapproval.

Marley’s expression shifted instantly, her lower lip trembling as she dropped her gaze. "Oh, it’s nothing, Stephen. I just came to check on Valentina. But she seems upset… and she called Miles a… a rogue’s pup."

Stephen’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with anger. He stormed toward me, his Alpha tone sharp and cutting. "I’ve warned you before, Valentina. Don’t you dare hurt them."

Before I could even open my mouth to defend myself, his hand shot out, striking me across the face with brutal force.

The impact sent my head snapping to the side, my ears ringing. I stumbled backward, my legs giving out as I crashed into the vanity behind me. The glass vase on top wobbled, then shattered as it hit the floor, shards scattering everywhere. A few pieces dug into my calves, the pain sharp and searing.

I barely had time to catch my breath when Marley let out a gasp. "Oh!"

I turned my head, wincing, to see her clutching her foot. A small piece of glass had nicked her skin, barely drawing blood, but it was enough to draw everyone’s attention.

"Mom, you’re hurt!" Miles cried, his voice high-pitched and panicked.

Stephen’s face was a mask of concern as he rushed to her side, scooping her up into his arms with ease. His voice was tender, laced with worry as he murmured, "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

The sight made me want to laugh—or scream. He’d never shown me that kind of care, not even when I was carrying his pup. No, he’d strike me without hesitation, as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Let’s get you to the Healer," he said, his tone soothing as he carried her out of the room. He didn’t spare me a single glance, not even as he passed me by.

I was left alone, the silence of the room pressing down on me. The pain in my face, my legs, my heart—it all blurred together, a dull, throbbing ache that I couldn’t escape.