On Christmas Eve, Maeve Richards, the Gamma of our pack and Jay’s childhood friend, deliberately burned my hand with a sparkler. She didn’t apologize afterward. Instead, she goaded Jay to lock me up in the abandoned church on the outskirts of the territory, claiming it was a test from the Moon Goddess to ensure the continuation of our bloodline. I begged Jay, my mate and the Beta of the pack, to take me back, pleading that I was two months pregnant. But he didn’t believe me. "Evelynn," he said, his voice cold and detached, "the future of this pack depends on us. Just stay there for one night, for me." With that, he turned and left with Maeve, never once looking back. Later, when his family scattered the ashes of our pup, it only drove them further into madness.

By the time I stumbled down the hill, the bloodstains on my pants had dried. Finally, my phone found a signal. I dialed Jay’s number, my teeth clenched so tightly my jaw ached. When he answered, his furious voice boomed into my ear, "Evelynn, what nonsense are you spouting now? You scared Maeve so much last night she’s been running a fever, and you were hiding in that church like it was nothing!"

His words left me speechless with anger. "Jay, you’re heartless! You left me alone in that church, in the middle of nowhere. I could’ve died there!" The pain in my palm made me wince. Looking down, I saw blisters from Maeve’s sparkler burns—still hoping for an apology, yet she played the victim, claiming I had terrified her.

What hurt more was my mate’s lack of support. Not only did he fail to stand by me, but he had joined Maeve in locking me up. A sharp pain twisted in my abdomen, relentless and cruel. I bit my lip hard, holding back tears, and managed to say, "Jay, come get me and take me to the healer. The baby... the baby isn’t going to make it..."

On the other end, Jay seemed frozen, and after a brief silence, his voice grew colder, piercing my soul like ice. "Evelynn, stop pretending. Just last month, I remember you had your cycle. What game are you playing now, pretending to be pregnant?"

"Jay, I beg you." I broke down in sobs, tears and mucus smearing my face. "Please, save me, save our child..."

My cries traveled through the phone, leaving Jay silent for a long time. Just as I dared to hope, I heard Maeve’s voice, dripping with feigned innocence, "Jay, Evelynn’s pulled this act countless times. It’s Christmas Day. Please, spend more time with me."

Fooled? A bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at my lips. Every time I fell ill, Jay barely glanced at me before Maeve would call him away with some excuse or another. I fought to keep my emotions in check, using every ounce of strength I had left. "Jay, I’m asking you one last time. Are you coming or not?"

After a long pause, he finally said, "Maeve is hurt. She needs my care. You’ll have to walk back on your own."

In that moment, I felt as if I’d plunged into an icy hell, shivering from the cold. I said nothing more and hung up resolutely. Mechanically, I dialed the emergency number for the pack’s healer. As my phone screen lit up, an update from Maeve’s social media caught my eye.

A collage of nine photos, each of her and Jay in intimate poses, sickeningly sweet. The caption read: "Jay Wilson, this marks the twenty-seventh Christmas we’ve spent together. May we never part in all the years to come." Below, Jay’s comment stung like a thorn: "The last second of the old year is you, the first second of the new year is you, and all my days are with you."

Reading this, a cold smile crept onto my lips, chilling me to the bone. I forced myself to leave a comment under her post: "So sweet. I hope you two will never break apart."

Warm waves of liquid continued to gush from deep inside me. I clutched my abdomen, murmuring softly, "Baby, I’m sorry. It’s Mom’s fault for not protecting you." Tears blurred my vision as my consciousness began to drift.

In a daze, I seemed to see my baby transform into a tiny wolf pup, its fur soft and white, gently nuzzling me before slowly disappearing into the darkness. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a sound of pure sorrow and loss.

When I woke up again, the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital stung my eyes. The healer looked at me sympathetically and whispered, "The pup... didn’t make it."

I’d always been somewhat estranged from my pack, while for Jay Wilson, Beta of our pack, this pup was supposed to be the next in line for his family’s legacy. We had been looking forward to sharing the news during the full moon celebration. But before we could celebrate, Jay whisked me away with Maeve Richards, the Gamma, tagging along.

Suddenly, my emotions were a wreck. The pack infirmary was deserted on Christmas morning, my sobs echoing through the stillness.

...

I have no idea how much time passed before I finally composed myself.

I picked up the phone beside me and saw countless missed calls. A moment later, it rang again.

"Evelynn, what’s going on with you? We’re mates. Maeve is just an old childhood friend. What are you jealous of?" Jay blared through the phone.

"Oh, let’s sever the bond," I replied calmly.

The line went silent. Jay probably never expected me to broach the topic of severing the bond so suddenly.

"Evelynn, you’re being ridiculous. Just because I spent New Year’s Eve with a friend, you’re asking to sever the bond? Fine, if you want to leave, let’s do it tomorrow. If anyone backs out, they’re a coward!" Jay snapped, hanging up without a care that he’d left me stranded.

I couldn’t help but wonder, when did Jay, who once insisted on protecting me himself, stop caring about me entirely?

That afternoon, I checked out of the infirmary, clinging to the pup’s urn. I had chosen it so carefully, hoping he’d find peace in the afterlife.

Opening the door to our home, I was met with chaos. Balloons and streamers were scattered everywhere, with spiced honey cake smeared messily across surfaces, leaving barely any space to walk.

Jay and his packmates were engrossed in a video game and hardly glanced at me when I entered. Maeve’s eyes gleamed with something sinister as she said mockingly, "Evelynn, back already? Did you have too much fun?"

She then pretended to help with the cleanup.

Seeing this, Jay’s eyes flashed a hint of pity.

"Evelynn, you actually came back? Do you even care about this pack anymore? Hurry up and clean," Jay said, snatching a broom from Maeve and thrusting it into my hands.

I was both furious and amused. The wild swings of my emotions made my weakened body ache. Grinding my teeth, I said, "Jay Wilson, Beta of the Silvermoon Pack, why should I clean up your mess? We’re severing the bond tomorrow. I paid the down payment on this house; you all need to leave!"

Jay froze. Maeve smirked contemptuously and said, "Evelynn, would you really go through with severing the bond? Or are you just dodging housework?"

Realizing something, Jay retorted with disdain, "Evelynn, all I did was lock you in that old chapel. Was it really that awful? And wasn’t the pregnancy a lie?"

My pent-up emotions erupted, and I shouted, "Jay Wilson, Beta of the Silvermoon Pack, you’re a monster. I didn’t lie. I curse you never to have pups!"

With a sudden slap, Jay knocked me to the floor. I clutched my aching stomach, feeling utterly abandoned.

Seeing my pain, a flicker of guilt crossed Jay’s eyes. "Evelynn, you know how much I wanted a pup. You shouldn’t have used that to provoke me."

One of Jay’s packmates chimed in, "Evelynn, you know how much Beta Jay wants a pup. Why say such horrible things?"

I glared at Jay and his packmates, who stood protectively in front of Maeve like a fortress.

"Get out, all of you, get out!" I screamed with every ounce of strength I had.

Suddenly, a commanding voice interrupted, "What exactly is going on here?"

I looked up and saw Jay’s parents, the former Alpha and Luna, entering the room.