Alpha Edward's POV

For the first time in a long while, I smiled.

Not the usual cold, calculated smirk my pack was used to. No-this was real. Genuine. It came from deep inside me, the moment I looked into her soft, innocent eyes.

Kora.

She had always been the one I admired from a distance. The woman I could never have, because fate had already tied her to another Alpha, Aaron. When I learned she'd been marked by him, I forced myself to step back. I buried the feelings and moved on. Or so I thought.

But the years did nothing to erase her from my memory.

So when I saw her again at their anniversary, standing alone, dressed in grace and pain, it was as if time hadn't moved at all.

She hadn't changed. Her beauty is still quiet and powerful. Her eyes still held a fire she had forgotten.

And when I saw that flicker of sadness in her gaze, I knew something was wrong. I saw everything that happened that night-the way she disappeared from the hall, the tension in her steps. I could've asked her then. Demanded the truth.

But I didn't want to pressure her. Not when she was already breaking inside.

Now, she's here. My Luna.

The title suits her more than she realizes. And I'm not going to lose her to anyone, even if it means raising a war for her.

I parked the car in the lot outside the mansion and stepped out quickly, walking over to her side. She was silent, but I could tell her mind was racing. She had just agreed to carry my child... and I had no intention of letting her face it alone.

I helped her out of the car, guiding her inside.

Once we stepped into the foyer, I turned to the waiting maids.

"Move all of Luna Kora's belongings to my room," I said firmly.

I felt her freeze beside me, and when I looked at her, surprise was written all over her face.

"Why?" she asked, her voice quiet.

I turned to her and met her gaze. "I can't allow you to sleep alone. Not now. I want to be close. I've never been a father before... and I don't want to miss a moment of this. I need to be there, every step of the way."

Her eyes widened, and I caught the way she looked away, almost flustered. She didn't expect this. She thought I would be cold. That I'd treat her like a contract.

But she doesn't know the truth.

The contract was just an excuse... a desperate move to finally keep her close.

She chuckled softly and let me guide her to the couch. I noticed how she looked around the mansion, probably searching for my sister.

"She's not home," I said. "Alina went to the eastern border with her Friend. She'll be back tomorrow."

Kora sighed dramatically and leaned her cheek against her palm. "Now I'm bored," she muttered like a child.

I chuckled. The sound surprised even me. I couldn't remember the last time I laughed like that.

"You're bored already?" I teased. "Should I cancel all my Alpha duties to keep you entertained?"

She gave me a playful glare. "Yes, actually. You should."

I smirked. "Very well. As you wish, Luna."

She smiled, and for a moment, the heavy silence that always followed me... disappeared.

Later that evening, I stood in the hallway, watching as the maids carefully placed her things in my room. The room felt different already. Lighter.

I leaned against the wall, arms folded.

She didn't know it yet, but I meant every word I said. I wasn't going to leave her side. Not through this. Not ever.

Soon, she would start noticing the changes in her body. The morning sickness. The cravings. The fatigue. I wanted to be the one she leaned on.

And more than anything, I wanted her to heal. To find peace here.

Even if it wasn't love yet... I would give her everything she needed to feel safe again.

Because this time, fate gave me a second chance.

And I wasn't going to waste it.

After making sure all her things were arranged in my room, I returned downstairs.

Kora was sitting on the couch, legs tucked beneath her, staring at nothing in particular. There was a calmness in her face, but also a quiet storm just behind her eyes.

I stepped closer. "Still bored?" I asked, hands in my pockets.

She glanced up at me, a tiny smirk tugging at her lips. "Very."

I walked to the center table and picked up a deck of cards, one of the maids had left behind. "Ever played 'Truth or Dare'-the Alpha's version?"

She raised a brow. "The Alpha's version?"

I shrugged, sitting beside her. "Same rules. But if you lie, I'll know. And if you try to dodge a dare... I make it worse."

Kora chuckled. "You're making that up."

"Maybe," I said with a grin. "But it got your attention."

She agreed, and we began. At first, the questions were light, teasing-favourite color, childhood memories, harmless dares like doing a spin or humming a song.

But then the silence between rounds grew slower. Heavier. More intimate.

I leaned a little closer. "Truth or Dare, Luna."

She rolled her eyes. "Truth."

I looked her dead in the eyes. "Do you regret signing that contract?"

She blinked. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first. Then slowly, she whispered, "No."

I felt something shift. Something fragile but important.

I moved even closer. "Truth or Dare?" she asked this time, voice low.

"Truth," I replied.

She swallowed. "Why did you want me to carry your child?"

Silence stretched between us.

I looked at her-not just at her beauty, but her pain, her courage, her strength.

"I didn't just want a child, Kora," I thought quietly. But didn't say anything

You will know very soon," I said.

She gasped slightly, stunned.

Neither of us moved for a long moment.

Then, as if the air between us pulled us closer, I leaned in. So did she.

And we kissed.

It was soft at first, testing, gentle, like a question. But the moment her fingers brushed my jaw, it deepened. Months of tension melted into that kiss.

I'd kissed before. But this... this was something else.

When we finally pulled apart, her face was flushed, and my heart was racing.

I was about to speak when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Reluctantly, I reached for it, expecting a pack update.

Instead, my entire body went cold.

Message from Alpha Aaron:

"I know she's with you. Kora belongs to me. I want her back. Now."

I stared at the screen, jaw tightening.

"Kora," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "go upstairs and get some rest."

She frowned. "Why? What's wrong?"

I stood, slipping the phone into my pocket. "Nothing you need to worry about."

But as she walked away, something inside me shifted again-only this time, it wasn't warmth.

It was rage.

Alpha Aaron thought he could lose her, betray her, nearly kill her, and now demand her back?

Not while I'm breathing.

But a deeper worry clawed at the back of my mind.

Kora was unmarked.

And that meant if Alpha Aaron tried to claim her again, through force or manipulation, it would be easier for him. He might still have a chance to take her back... unless I did something about it.

I stood up and made my way upstairs.

She needed to be protected. Not just by walls or guards, but by the strongest bond our kind knew.

When I entered the room, I found her standing in front of the mirror. She was brushing her hair absentmindedly, lost in thought.

She turned when she saw me, her expression soft but slightly confused.

I walked toward her without a word.

"Kora," I said quietly.

Her brows furrowed as I came closer. "Edward...? Is something wrong?"

Instead of answering, I gently pulled her into my arms. She stiffened at first, clearly startled by the sudden closeness. Her hands pressed lightly against my chest as if to create distance.

"Wait," she whispered, "what's going on?"

"Just trust me," I murmured, holding her tighter.

She stilled. I could feel the tension leave her slowly, her breathing growing steady against me.

When I felt her relax completely, I bent down and lowered my head to the curve of her neck. My lips brushed her skin.

And then I sank my canines into her.

She gasped sharply, her nails digging into my shirt as pain rippled through her.

I pulled back immediately, watching as she winced and brought her fingers to her neck.

A thin trickle of blood slid down her collarbone, but already the mark was glowing faintly-proof of the bond now sealed.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, cupping her cheek. "I had to. He sent a message. He wants you back."

Her eyes widened. "Aaron...?"

I nodded. "But he can't have you anymore. You're mine now. Fully. Completely."

She didn't answer right away.

She reached up to touch the mark, her eyes locked with mine.

There was no fear in them anymore. Just acceptance.

And something else.

Something that felt a lot like hope.

Can you do something for me? She asked.

What? I asked

I want revenge," she said, her eyes looking into mine.

I know this marriage is nothing but a contract.

After I give him an heir, I'm supposed to leave this place behind.

Good. At least before a year passes, I will have found somewhere to hide, somewhere Alpha Aaron will never find me.

The only safe place I have now is here, in Alpha Edward's pack. For now, I am protected. I tell myself Aaron must believe I am already dead. The thought brings me no comfort. My throat feels tight, and I swallow hard, balling my fists in anger.

How dare he?

How dare he try to end me like that?

If Alpha Edward hadn't shown up when he did, I would be lying in a grave right now.

My chest aches, a dull throb I can't silence. What did I ever do to deserve such cruelty? I gave Aaron my love, my trust, everything I had, and yet he betrayed me. Not just with any woman, but with my own friend.

A sharp sting burns behind my eyes, tears threatening to spill. I wipe them away fiercely. I refuse to cry for him again. My hand drifts to my stomach, resting gently against the small life growing inside me.

One day...

I will make them pay.

I want revenge on him, on her, on everyone who laughed at my pain. I want to strip away everything they took from me. Everything he robbed from my heart, my soul, my future.

The door creaks open. I quickly straighten, my expression hardening. Two maids enter, their heads bowed, carrying a silver tray. They set it down in front of me, the aroma of warm food filling the room.

"Thank you," I murmur, already waiting for them to leave. But they don't. They just stand there, unmoving, their gazes glued to the floor.

I frown. "You can leave now."

One of them shifts nervously, her voice soft. "No, Luna Kora. We cannot. Alpha Edward instructed us to stay and care for you."

My brows knit together. "But I can take care of myself." I try to sound firm, even convincing, but they remain rooted in place as though they hadn't heard me at all.

I exhale in frustration. "Really?"

Turning back to the tray, I pick up the spoon. The meal is still warm, perfectly prepared. I stare at it for a moment, my heart tugging strangely. How did he know I was hungry?

The thought unsettles me, but I push it aside. I scoop up a bite and taste the food. It's good-far better than I expected. Slowly, spoon after spoon, I eat in silence, aware of the maids watching quietly, making sure I don't lack anything.

My thoughts drift back, unwillingly to the way Alpha Edward has been caring for me.

The food. The guards. The way he looks at me sometimes, as though I matter.

But I push the thought away almost instantly. Of course, he cares; it's not me he's protecting, it's the heir I carry inside of me. That is the only reason. Nothing more.

I will not let myself believe otherwise.

I know better than to fall into that trap again.

Love? That word tastes bitter on my tongue. I once believed in it, trusted in it, only to have it ripped away, leaving scars so deep they may never heal. If Aaron could betray me so cruelly, then any man can. Perhaps worse.

No. Love is not for me. Not anymore.

I dab my mouth with the napkin, setting it down with more force than I intended. "You can take this away," I tell the maids, my voice clipped. They bow quickly and remove the tray.

As the door closes behind them, silence settles in the room, heavy and suffocating. I press a hand against my stomach, feeling the faint swell beneath my palm. This child is all I have. The only thing worth protecting. But I only carried it in my tummy for a year, who will take care of him when I'm gone, I thought, not like I didn't think about this before I signed the contract, but I was too desperate to be saved.

With a long breath, I rise to my feet. I need air. Movement. Anything to stop the storm inside my chest. I decide to walk, to let the food digest, and perhaps to steady the chaos in my mind.

Step by step, I wander the halls of Alpha Edward's packhouse, the soft sound of my footsteps echoing against the polished floors. Every corner I turn feels foreign, every shadow reminds me that this is not my home, and never will be.

But at least here. I am safe. For now.

It feels strange though, living here, breathing under another man's roof. But I remind myself-it's only for a year. Just one year, and then I will be gone. Out of here. Away from all of this.

I continue walking, letting my eyes travel along the walls and tall ceilings. The mansion is breathtaking, every detail precise and elegant. It is nothing like Alpha Aaron's cold, empty house. No! This place feels alive, warm, cared for.

Almost against my will, I admire it.

My feet carry me toward the grand staircase, curiosity tugging at me. Perhaps I'll go downstairs, see more of this place, lose myself in its beauty for just a moment.

But as I step onto the stairs, my heel slips.

The world tilts.

A scream rips from my throat as my body pitches forward. My hands claw for the railing, but they catch only air. The next moment, I'm tumbling, hard, fast, the sharp edges of the steps biting into me with every roll.

Pain explodes through me. My vision blurs.

Somewhere above, I hear a deep, desperate shout. Alpha Edward's voice. He's calling my name.

But before I can answer, before I can even think, darkness swallows me whole.

I was in the middle of addressing the pack members, discussing urgent matters about border patrols, when a familiar figure caught my eye.

Kora.

She was wandering the mansion's halls with that quiet, thoughtful look on her face. She didn't notice me, and I didn't call out to her. Instead, I forced myself to turn away, to focus on my duty. But my gaze lingered a heartbeat longer than it should have something about the way she moved always pulled me in.

Then I heard it.

A scream, sharp, terrified, echoed through the mansion, piercing straight into my chest. My heart stopped.

Kora.

I spun around just in time to see her small frame tumbling down the grand staircase, her body hitting step after step in a blur of chaos. My blood ran cold, my eyes widened, and instinct ripped through me.

"KORA!" I roared, sprinting toward her.

But no matter how fast I moved, I wasn't fast enough. By the time I reached her, she was sprawled at the bottom, motionless.

"No..." I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as they hovered over her battered body. Her arm was wrapped tightly around her stomach-protecting the child. My heir. Our child. Blood was seeping between her fingers, staining her gown, and a fresh wound on her forehead glistened red.

"Get the doctor!" I thundered at the guards, my voice raw with fear. "Now!"

I didn't wait for them to move, I scooped her up into my arms, her head falling limply against my chest. She felt so fragile, so breakable, and the thought of losing her of losing them both, gnawed at me like fire.

I carried her swiftly to our chamber, laying her gently on the bed. My breathing was ragged, my hands refusing to leave her as if letting go would mean losing her forever.

"Stay with me, Kora," I whispered, brushing the blood from her face with shaking fingers. "Please... don't leave me. Not you. Not now."

I had faced countless battles. I had walked through blood and fire without fear. But nothing, nothing, had ever terrified me like seeing her slip away before my eyes.

Her breaths were shallow, uneven. Every rise and fall of her chest felt like a war she was fighting on her own. I pressed my palm against her cold hand, terrified by how weak she felt beneath my touch.

"Don't do this to me, Kora... don't you dare leave me," I murmured, my voice breaking, something I never allowed anyone to hear.

I paced the room for a moment, then rushed back to her side, unable to sit still. My wolf clawed at me from within, restless, frantic, urging me to mark her, to do anything to tether her to me. But I was powerless. All I could do was watch her bleed, watch her slip further away, and pray the Goddess wasn't cruel enough to take her from me.

The guards outside moved with urgency, but every second felt like an eternity. My chest tightened as her fingers twitched weakly against her stomach, still protecting our child even in her pain. My throat closed.

"Why are they taking so long?" I snarled toward the door, my voice sharp enough to make the guards flinch. I wanted to tear the walls apart, to run through the entire pack lands until I dragged the doctor here myself, but I couldn't leave her side. Not when she needed me.

I leaned closer, my forehead resting lightly against hers, breathing her in as though memorizing her scent would keep her tethered to this world.

"You can hate me if you want... but just stay alive, Kora. For me. For our child," I whispered desperately.

At that moment, the door slammed open. The doctor hurried in with his bag, his expression grim the second he saw her condition.

I rose to my feet instantly, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Save her," I ordered, my voice breaking with a rare plea. "Do whatever it takes, just save her."

I will try my best, Alpha Edward," the doctor said firmly, already pulling out his tools. "But I'll need you to step outside. I can't concentrate with you hovering."

"Do everything in front of me now," I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "I don't want to leave her for a single moment."

The doctor hesitated, his eyes flicking between me and Kora's pale body. "If you want her to live, Alpha, you must let me work without your shadow pressing over me."

Every muscle in me resisted. The thought of leaving her side twisted my insides into knots. But one glance at her weak breathing, her trembling hand still clutched protectively over her stomach, broke me. I forced myself to step back.

After much persuasion, I finally walked out, though each step away from her felt like tearing my own flesh. "Don't leave her alone for a second," I ordered the maids, my tone sharp enough to cut steel. "If anyone even breathes wrong near her, they'll answer to me."

The maids bowed quickly, trembling under my glare.

My fists clenched at my sides as I stormed down the corridor, rage boiling in my veins. I needed an outlet-I needed someone to blame. But halfway down the stairs, something caught my eye.

A glisten.

I froze. My gaze sharpened on the steps, and there it was-oil smeared across the polished wood. Not a spill. Not an accident.

My breath hissed between my teeth, fury surging through me like wildfire. Someone dared-someone in my own house-had tried to kill her.

"They will pay," I snarled under my breath, my wolf howling within me, ready to rip flesh from bone. "Whoever did this will beg for death before I'm through."

I let my hand graze the railing where she had fallen, the image of her tumbling replaying in my mind like a curse. My jaw tightened, and a cruel, humorless smile ghosted my lips.

They thought they were clever. They thought they could touch what was mine.

It's a lie.