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.