Hugo’s words felt like sharp slaps across my face, each one stinging more than the last.

As the Luna of the South Pack, I was accustomed to respect, yet here I stood, humiliated in front of these younger pack members who watched with thinly veiled amusement. I clenched my fists, forcing down the anger that simmered in my chest, and spoke coolly, “As you wish.”

To my disbelief, Hugo took my words as consent. He went straight to his grandfather, Ander Scott, the former Alpha of the Northern Pack, and knelt in the pack’s ancestral hall, pleading for his blessing to sever our betrothal. The news spread like wildfire. A grand proposal to Norah Franklin, complete with a lavish ceremony and public displays of affection, became the talk of the werewolf community.

Ander, furious and ashamed, took matters into his own hands. He disciplined Hugo harshly, the sound of his claws scraping against Hugo’s back echoing through the hall. Three lashes left deep marks that night, but Hugo’s defiance remained unshaken.

In a desperate attempt to make amends, Ander had Norah bound, threatening to cast her out into the wilderness—a punishment reserved for the most dishonorable rogues. I stepped in, shaking my head. “Let it go, Elder Scott.”

Hugo, bloodied and bruised, still shielded Norah with his body, refusing to let her suffer even a scratch. He glared at me, his voice a growl. “Gwendolyn, is this how far you’ll go to destroy Norah? Just because I refused to join your pack, you’d stoop to this?”

“If anything happens to her,” he snarled, “I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life.”

Norah, nestled in his arms, sobbed louder, her voice trembling. “Hugo, I’m so scared. I only love you—what’s wrong with that? Why does Luna Gwendolyn have to take that away from me? Is it because I’m just an Omega, and she’s a Luna?”

Her words nearly sent Ander into a rage-induced collapse. I quickly intervened, calming him with my presence, ensuring his heart didn’t give out. “Elder Scott, please, your health is more important. As for Hugo, if he’s truly set on this path, let him have it.”

Ander’s hand trembled as he pointed at Hugo. “On your knees, boy! Beg for Luna Gwendolyn’s forgiveness! If she refuses, you’re no longer a part of this pack—take that rogue and leave!”

“Enough,” I said softly, my voice firm yet resigned.

For Hugo, kneeling before me would be a humiliation worse than death. I reached into my bag and pulled out the betrothal contract, handing it to him. “I wish you happiness.”

Hugo stared at the document, confusion flickering in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by smugness. “Trying to play hard to get, are you? Gwendolyn, you’re obsessed with me—there’s no way you’d let me go so easily.”

I’d explained myself too many times already. This time, I simply smiled faintly. “Think what you want.”

His smirk deepened, as if he’d uncovered some grand scheme of mine. Supporting Norah, he struggled to his feet. “Gwendolyn, Norah’s carrying my pup. If you can stop this jealous nonsense, I’ll even let you have our child after we’re mated.”

I turned away, my heart heavy but my resolve unshaken. Let him believe what he wanted. My path was clear now, and Hugo was no longer part of it.

Watching the tenderness in Hugo's gaze as he stared at Norah’s stomach, I couldn’t help but think back to the cold indifference in his eyes when I had unexpectedly been pregnant in my past life. A bitter laugh escaped me.

When I was in labor, he had promised to stay by my side, to be the first to see our child. Back then, I had foolishly believed it was a sign that he was finally opening his heart to me. Little did I know, it was all a ruse. He had waited until I was at my weakest, drugged me, and thrown me into a pit of venomous snakes, leaving me to suffer a torturous death.

Now, seeing the unmistakable love in his eyes for Norah, I finally understood. A child should be born into a world of love, not deceit.

Hearing that Norah was carrying Hugo’s child, Ander Scott, the former Alpha of the Northern Pack, looked furious. He shot a sharp glance at the pack steward before turning to me with a forced smile. "Luna Gwendolyn, we’ve recently acquired some rare creatures. Allow me to show them to you."

As an Elder, Ander deserved my respect, so I nodded politely. "Thank you, Elder Ander."

Inside the cages were creatures I had only heard of in werewolf legends—human-faced birds. I had seen them once, twenty years ago, and never thought I’d see them again. These creatures were not supposed to exist in the modern world, let alone be captured by the Northern Pack. My brows furrowed, and my eyes instinctively darted to Hugo.

Hugo had his arm protectively around Norah as they circled the cage, marveling at the strange creature. Norah flinched when the bird flapped its wings, burying her face in Hugo’s chest.

"Silly girl," Hugo chuckled, his voice soft. "It’s just a caged animal. I’ll keep you safe."

Something felt off. I was about to leave and inform my mate, Enzo, when someone suddenly shouted, "Run! The bird’s broken free!"

The human-faced bird had already killed several pack warriors and was now charging toward us. I yelled, "Fire! It’s afraid of fire! Hugo, light something!"

Hugo fumbled for his lighter, but Norah clung to him, trembling. "No, Hugo, please! I’m terrified of fire!"

I was desperate. "Hugo, light it now, or we’re all dead!"

Finally, he managed to ignite the lighter, but Norah let out a cry and fainted. "Norah! Norah! Someone, help!" Hugo turned to me, his voice frantic. "Gwendolyn, you’re the greatest healer! You must have another way to stop this thing without fire!"

I was stunned. Without hesitation, I grabbed the lighter from his hand, lit a piece of my clothing, and waved it at the bird, keeping it at bay. "Hugo, stop hesitating and help me, or we’ll all die!"

Hugo hesitated, torn. Norah reached out, clutching his arm. "Hugo, don’t leave me. Stay here, protect me…"

He looked at me, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Gwendolyn, I’m sorry!"

Before I could react, he shoved me forward, using me as a shield between them and the charging creature.

The human-faced bird's claws slashed toward me, and I closed my eyes, bracing for the pain. But it never came.

Instead, I felt someone step in front of me, their presence warm and solid, silhouetted against the glow of the torchlight. The creature let out a piercing screech before flapping its wings and retreating into the night.

I opened my eyes to see Enzo standing protectively in front of me, a torch in his hand.

“Gwendolyn, are you hurt?” he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.

I was still too stunned to respond, my gaze fixed on him, my heart racing.

The warriors quickly cleaned up the aftermath, erasing any trace of the danger as if it had never happened.

I had always known Hugo didn’t love me, that our bond was one of convenience rather than affection. But I never imagined that years of friendship and shared history would mean so little in the face of life and death.

When Norah had panicked at the sight of the flames, Hugo had chosen to push me into harm’s way to protect her. His mate. His priority.

Word of the incident spread quickly through the packs, and the Alpha King was furious. He severed all ties with the Carroll family, cutting off their resources and influence. Ander, Hugo’s grandfather, was so incensed that he collapsed from the stress.

To appease the Alpha King, Hugo was disciplined and confined to the pack’s holding cells for reflection. Norah, meanwhile, was punished severely. Her unborn child was lost, and she was left with a permanent injury.

But Hugo, desperate and reckless, broke free from his confinement.

“Gwendolyn,” he snarled, his voice trembling with rage, “I never thought you could be so cruel. How could you harm an innocent child? I should have believed Norah when she said you’d never let her live in peace.”

“I didn’t kill the child,” I replied coldly. “And even if I had, your family owes me an explanation for what happened tonight.”

“An explanation? Norah was just afraid of the fire—what was she supposed to do? And you, the great healer of the South Pack, the one who saved my life all those years ago—you couldn’t have found another way to deal with that creature?”

So he remembered. He remembered that it was me who had saved him when we were children.

Years ago, Hugo, Kannon, Murphy, and Enzo had been attacked by the same creature. On the brink of death, their families had pleaded with my father, the Alpha of the South Pack, for help. It was my healing abilities, my sacrifice, that had brought them back from the edge.

“You will heal Norah,” Hugo demanded, his voice shaking. “And when she wakes, you will kneel and apologize. If she forgives you, I’ll honor our betrothal. If not…”

I had known his love for Norah would blind him, but I hadn’t expected him to lose all sense of reason.

“If not, what?” I asked, my voice calm but edged with steel.