My pup Ellie's heart were failing. Before her surgery, her biggest wish was to spend her birthday at the sea with her dad, just the two of them, sharing a moment together.

I knelt before Alpha Sean, begging him to grant our pup's wish. He agreed.

But on her birthday, Ellie stood in the biting cold, waiting for him. She waited until she coughed up blood and collapsed. He never showed.

Her condition worsened. The healers couldn't save her.

In her final moments, tears streamed down her face as she asked me, "Mom, why does Dad love Claire's pup but not me? Am I not good enough?"

Ellie left this world with that regret in her heart.

From her tiny hand slipped her phone, still playing a video.

In it, her dad was celebrating the birthday of his first love she-wolf Claire's pup at the seashore.

Alone by Ellie's cremation chamber, my wolfish silhouette stretched stark against the ominous sky.

As my fingers dipped into my pocket, the wolfsbane chain Alpha Sean once bound me with let out a soft clink.

Trembling, I pulled out the ribbon bow.

Bending close, my hands hovered an inch above Ellie's still form, as if a single touch might shatter the fragile peace on her face.

"Happy birthday, my brave little warrior," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.

When my lips pressed to her forehead, the world went silent-until a young werewolf shuffled up behind me, voice hesitant: "Lady Olivia, the Alpha-"

"He's not coming," I snarled, my tone as sharp as broken glass.

When he mumbled, "Maybe wait a bit longer?" a laugh burst from me, bitter as gall.

"Wait? Yesterday, it poured like the gods were weeping. My pup stood by the sea from sunrise to sunset, coughing blood until she collapsed. And where was he?"

My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood.

"He was with another she-wolf, throwing her a goddamn birthday party!"

The young wolf gaped, speechless.

My fingers lingered on Ellie's pale cheek, rigid under my touch.

"Burn her now," I choked out, fighting to keep my voice steady.

"Don't miss her auspicious hour."

A prayer slipped from my lips: may my girl find a kinder pack in the next life, one where a father holds her close-one who'd never leave her waiting in the rain.

Night fell quickly after I left the crematorium.

In the taxi, I hugged Ellie's urn so tight my knuckles ached, staring through the window at nothing.

When we passed the shoreline, my phone lit up: "Jovia alpha rents entire island for daughter's birthday-fireworks show included!"

In the sky, fireworks exploded into the words: "Happy Birthday, Little Lily!"

Below, Lillian wore a gown of moon moth silk, its iridescent fabric shifting like water.

Moonstones glinted along the hem, just like the stars Ellie used to draw in her notebook.

She held Claire's hand in one fist, Alpha Sean's in the other, and when the next round of fireworks burst, they both leaned down to kiss her cheeks.

"See? Alpha Sean really dotes on his pup," someone in the cab said.

"Love the mother, love the child," another cooed.

Their words felt like hot irons in my chest.

I yanked my parka around Ellie's urn, shielding it.

"Don't look, sweetheart," I whispered, my voice breaking.

I didn't get back to the Royal Gardens villa until midnight.

In Ellie's room, I packed her toys and clothes, then sat on her tiny bed, hugging the urn until dawn broke.

The next morning, I nearly slammed into Alpha Sean on the stairs. He didn't meet my eyes, his voice cold: "Where's Ellie?"

I laughed-loud, hysterical, like thunder cracking.

My pup had been dead for days, and now he remembered her?

His frown deepened, like he thought I was throwing a tantrum over his "busy schedule."

"I'm here to take Ellie to the seashore," he said, tone clipped.

I'd never forget finding Ellie in a pool of blood, or her last call: "Mom, Dad's here! We're having so much fun!" A lie. My tiny girl had stood in the rain from dawn to dusk, waiting for a father who never came-

My vision blurred red. "Take Ellie?" I spat, teeth bared. "She's dead!"

"Olivia!" he roared, as if I'd cursed him.

His eyes turned venomous, like I was a mad she-wolf.

"You're out of your mind!" He started up the stairs, but a phone ring stopped him in his tracks.

He answered immediately, and a sugary voice trilled from the speaker:

"Daddy, I miss you! Come play with Lily, please?"

Alpha Sean's scowl melted in an instant.

"Fine!" he said, voice suddenly warm. I

stood rooted, fingers clenched around the urn as I patted its cold surface, as if my pup could feel my touch through the porcelain.

Ever since Claire and Lillian returned from that northern territory, Alpha Sean had been theirs.

A single howl-text-no matter the hour or his "prior commitments"-and he'd drop everything.

Like now, in Joravia's tallest hospital, in the gold-trimmed VIP ward.

He shoved the door open, and Claire, who'd been crooning to Lillian, looked up, lashes fluttering.

"Alpha Sean? I thought you said-"

She cut herself off, shooting a sharp glance at the pup in the silk sheets. "Lily, did you sneak another call to Daddy?"

"Daddy!"

Lillian launched into his arms, her tiny fists clutching his shirt. "I'm scared without you. What if the healers' potions don't work?"

He hugged her close, rubbing her back.

"Lily's only four. It's natural to fear a hospital full of strange elixirs." His voice turned to honey. "I'll stay today. Ellie. we'll catch up later."

Claire's shoulders sagged in relief.

She traced Lillian's cheek with a manicured nail.

"If not for you pulling strings to find a heart donor for Lily, she." Her voice broke.

"She'll thrive." Alpha Sean's tone softened, and Claire threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm so grateful you're here." When she tried to nuzzle closer, he stood. "I'll grill the healers about her progress. Back soon."

"Daddy, hurry!" Lillian called after him.

The moment the elevator doors closed, another pair slid open. I charged out, eyes locked on Healer Brooks' office.

"Olivia, stop!" a nurse shouted, but I slammed the door open.

Staggering to Healer Brooks, my eyes bloodshot, I fell to my knees.

"Tell me who stole Ellie's heart donor! She'd still be breathing if they hadn't!"

Healer Brooks went ashen.

"Olivia, please rise." He reached to help, but I stayed rooted, fingers digging into the carpet.

He sighed, and I saw the truth in his eyes: Ellie's donor heart had been rerouted to some big-shot's pup at the last second. But he couldn't say it-not with Alpha Sean's shadow looming.

Defeated, I turned to leave.

Just as I passed the elevators, Lillian came barreling toward me.

Before I could steady her, Claire swatted my hand away.

"Don't touch my pup!" she hissed, stepping between us.

"If you're here for blood, come at me-not a child."

I smirked without turning.

I knew he was there before his voice boomed: "Olivia, what's your problem now?"

Alpha Sean stepped in front of Claire and Lillian, blocking my view like a wall of ice.

My fists balled at my sides.

I didn't have time for this charade.

But as I turned to go, Lillian grabbed Alpha Sean's leg, fake-tears spilling.

"Is Ellie mad 'cause Daddy spent my birthday with me? I'm sorry. it's all my fault!"

My blood turned to ice.

Flashbacks hit: Lillian "falling" into the pond, wailing, "Ellie, did I do something wrong?"-a cheap setup.

Alpha Sean had grounded Ellie for days, ignoring her cries.

That night, my pup spiked a fever from the cold, sobbing: "Why doesn't Daddy believe me?"

"Sweetheart, Mom believes you," I'd whispered then.

Now the memory burned like acid.

Lillian's wails grew louder.

Claire stepped forward again: "I said, take it out on-"

SMACK!

My hand connected with her cheek before I could think.

"Olivia, have you lost your goddamn mind?!"

Alpha Sean roared, lunging to snatch my wrist.

The world blurred as unshed tears stung my eyes, and a searing pain-hotter than wolfsbane-ripped through my chest.

Ten years of love-ten years of loyalty-flashed before my eyes like dying embers.

Staring at the wolf I'd once offered my entire soul to, a sickening ache ripped through my chest.

"Yeah? Well, I should've gone feral years ago!" I shrieked, voice echoing off the hospital walls.

With all my strength, I wrenched my wrist free and landed a stinging slap across Alpha Sean's face.

The crack of skin on skin reverberated through the tension.

"Alpha Sean-consider this our final howl. We're done."

From that moment, our paths split like rivers on opposite sides of a mountain-never to converge again.

I jerked my hand back, palm throbbing from the impact.

His left cheek flared red; no she-wolf had ever dared strike him.

He let out a cold, scornful "Hmph," but I didn't spare another word.

Spinning on my heel, I stormed away.

I knew what he thought: that I'd tricked my way into his life.

For years, I'd stayed by his side without a proper mate bond.

Why leave now?

Because Ellie's empty crib haunted every corner of that villa-because his indifference had finally killed the last spark in me.

Five days later, at Royal Gardens... I imagine him dragging home, bone-tired, to find the place hollow.

I'd taken Ellie's urn and every trace of us-vanished like smoke.

When he pulled out that enchanted phone and sent his first message:

Come back.

The second it sent, a warning symbol flashed.

Message blocked by recipient.

When he tried calling, the line rang once before cutting off.

In the meantime, I'd settled into Maple Grove Haven. After fleeing Royal Gardens, I'd come to this cottage-the home of my foster mother, Helen Lawson.

Helen had once served the Jovia family, tending to Alpha Sean's grandmother, Eleanor Jovia.

I was eight when I met them: beaten, starving, escaped from that godforsaken orphanage.

It was Eleanor who saved me.

With Jovia pack influence, she shut down the corrupt place that had been my prison.

Homeless, I clung to Helen, who took me in.

I followed her to Jovia Manor, where she worked until her last days. When she passed, she left this cottage to me.

That afternoon, I'd just finished unpacking.

As I headed downstairs to take out the trash, a chill ran up my spine.

Turning to climb back inside, a vice-like grip clamped my wrist.

Alpha Sean's scowl melted in an instant.

"Fine!" he said, voice suddenly warm. I

stood rooted, fingers clenched around the urn as I patted its cold surface, as if my pup could feel my touch through the porcelain.

Ever since Claire and Lillian returned from that northern territory, Alpha Sean had been theirs.

A single howl-text-no matter the hour or his "prior commitments"-and he'd drop everything.

Like now, in Joravia's tallest hospital, in the gold-trimmed VIP ward.

He shoved the door open, and Claire, who'd been crooning to Lillian, looked up, lashes fluttering.

"Alpha Sean? I thought you said-"

She cut herself off, shooting a sharp glance at the pup in the silk sheets. "Lily, did you sneak another call to Daddy?"

"Daddy!"

Lillian launched into his arms, her tiny fists clutching his shirt. "I'm scared without you. What if the healers' potions don't work?"

He hugged her close, rubbing her back.

"Lily's only four. It's natural to fear a hospital full of strange elixirs." His voice turned to honey. "I'll stay today. Ellie. we'll catch up later."

Claire's shoulders sagged in relief.

She traced Lillian's cheek with a manicured nail.

"If not for you pulling strings to find a heart donor for Lily, she." Her voice broke.

"She'll thrive." Alpha Sean's tone softened, and Claire threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm so grateful you're here." When she tried to nuzzle closer, he stood. "I'll grill the healers about her progress. Back soon."

"Daddy, hurry!" Lillian called after him.

The moment the elevator doors closed, another pair slid open. I charged out, eyes locked on Healer Brooks' office.

"Olivia, stop!" a nurse shouted, but I slammed the door open.

Staggering to Healer Brooks, my eyes bloodshot, I fell to my knees.

"Tell me who stole Ellie's heart donor! She'd still be breathing if they hadn't!"

Healer Brooks went ashen.

"Olivia, please rise." He reached to help, but I stayed rooted, fingers digging into the carpet.

He sighed, and I saw the truth in his eyes: Ellie's donor heart had been rerouted to some big-shot's pup at the last second. But he couldn't say it-not with Alpha Sean's shadow looming.

Defeated, I turned to leave.

Just as I passed the elevators, Lillian came barreling toward me.

Before I could steady her, Claire swatted my hand away.

"Don't touch my pup!" she hissed, stepping between us.

"If you're here for blood, come at me-not a child."

I smirked without turning.

I knew he was there before his voice boomed: "Olivia, what's your problem now?"

Alpha Sean stepped in front of Claire and Lillian, blocking my view like a wall of ice.

My fists balled at my sides.

I didn't have time for this charade.

But as I turned to go, Lillian grabbed Alpha Sean's leg, fake-tears spilling.

"Is Ellie mad 'cause Daddy spent my birthday with me? I'm sorry. it's all my fault!"

My blood turned to ice.

Flashbacks hit: Lillian "falling" into the pond, wailing, "Ellie, did I do something wrong?"-a cheap setup.

Alpha Sean had grounded Ellie for days, ignoring her cries.

That night, my pup spiked a fever from the cold, sobbing: "Why doesn't Daddy believe me?"

"Sweetheart, Mom believes you," I'd whispered then.

Now the memory burned like acid.

Lillian's wails grew louder.

Claire stepped forward again: "I said, take it out on-"

SMACK!

My hand connected with her cheek before I could think.

"Olivia, have you lost your goddamn mind?!"

Alpha Sean roared, lunging to snatch my wrist.

The world blurred as unshed tears stung my eyes, and a searing pain-hotter than wolfsbane-ripped through my chest.

Ten years of love-ten years of loyalty-flashed before my eyes like dying embers.

Staring at the wolf I'd once offered my entire soul to, a sickening ache ripped through my chest.

"Yeah? Well, I should've gone feral years ago!" I shrieked, voice echoing off the hospital walls.

With all my strength, I wrenched my wrist free and landed a stinging slap across Alpha Sean's face.

The crack of skin on skin reverberated through the tension.

"Alpha Sean-consider this our final howl. We're done."

From that moment, our paths split like rivers on opposite sides of a mountain-never to converge again.

I jerked my hand back, palm throbbing from the impact.

His left cheek flared red; no she-wolf had ever dared strike him.

He let out a cold, scornful "Hmph," but I didn't spare another word.

Spinning on my heel, I stormed away.

I knew what he thought: that I'd tricked my way into his life.

For years, I'd stayed by his side without a proper mate bond.

Why leave now?

Because Ellie's empty crib haunted every corner of that villa-because his indifference had finally killed the last spark in me.

Five days later, at Royal Gardens... I imagine him dragging home, bone-tired, to find the place hollow.

I'd taken Ellie's urn and every trace of us-vanished like smoke.

When he pulled out that enchanted phone and sent his first message:

Come back.

The second it sent, a warning symbol flashed.

Message blocked by recipient.

When he tried calling, the line rang once before cutting off.

In the meantime, I'd settled into Maple Grove Haven. After fleeing Royal Gardens, I'd come to this cottage-the home of my foster mother, Helen Lawson.

Helen had once served the Jovia family, tending to Alpha Sean's grandmother, Eleanor Jovia.

I was eight when I met them: beaten, starving, escaped from that godforsaken orphanage.

It was Eleanor who saved me.

With Jovia pack influence, she shut down the corrupt place that had been my prison.

Homeless, I clung to Helen, who took me in.

I followed her to Jovia Manor, where she worked until her last days. When she passed, she left this cottage to me.

That afternoon, I'd just finished unpacking.

As I headed downstairs to take out the trash, a chill ran up my spine.

Turning to climb back inside, a vice-like grip clamped my wrist.