That night, I heard my pup crying somewhere in the darkness.

The sound echoed through a cold forest under a pale moon. I ran toward him through the shadows, calling his name, begging him to stop crying. But Gavran was already there, standing over him like a dark shadow.

“You believe this pup belongs to you?” he said coldly. “You betrayed me. That pup is not mine. From the moment he was born, his fate was already sealed. He was meant to die.”

I screamed, “No! Stop! He’s your pup! Don’t say that! Don’t do this!”

Before I could reach them, he threw my pup into the blazing sacred fire pit like he meant nothing.

Morana stood beside him, laughing softly.

“Go on,” she mocked. “Run faster. Scream louder. Nothing will change.”

I ran. I begged. I tried to reach him.

But my feet would not move, as if invisible chains bound them to the ground.

Then I woke up.

The bright lights of the healing chamber stabbed my eyes. The sharp scent of herbs and cleansing potions filled my nose.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was.

Then the dream returned to me, followed by the memories of everything else and my chest tightened painfully.

A pack healer stood beside my bed, writing notes on a wooden board. He cleared his throat.

“Luna Stormridge… you should not be moving so much. If this happens again, your body may not be able to carry another pup.”

I stared at him without feeling anything.

“Tell me something,” I said quietly. “How much silver did he give you?”

He blinked in confusion. “I beg your pardon?”

“How much did Alpha Gavran pay you to harvest my pup’s stem cells… and let him die?”

His hand froze.

“Luna, that’s not what happened.”

I cut in sharply. “Don’t dare lie to me.”

His face turned pale. He lowered his gaze. But still he didn’t answer.

That silence told me everything.

“Give me the discharge papers,” I said flatly. “I am leaving.”

He hesitated for a moment, then handed them to me.

My hands trembled as I signed my name.

“You should remain here for a few more days,” he said softly. “Your body is still weak.”

“I don’t care,” I replied. “I only want to leave this place.”

This time he didn’t try to stop me.

I pushed the blanket aside and stood up.

Pain struck my body immediately, but it was nothing compared to the memory of the nightmare.

My legs shook. My vision blurred.

Still, I kept walking.

***

When I finally returned to the pack mansion, the same one I had chosen for Gavran during our first mating anniversary, my chest felt heavy.

Every hallway, every curtain, every foolish little decoration.

I once imagined this place as the home where our pups would grow up running and laughing.

Now it felt empty. Lifeless.

I pushed the door open. Laughter struck my ears like sharp claws.

Gavran’s mother, Corinne, stood in the living room, hovering over Morana while holding a teacup. She fussed over her like an overprotective hen, ordering the maid to bring food and insisting Morana drink more tea.

I stepped forward.

“This place looks… warm and comfortable.”

Corinne immediately turned toward me with a cold gaze.

She placed the teacup down with a hard sound.

“Why have you returned?” she said sharply. “Your pup is dead. All because of your clumsiness. That foolish lift accident. Honestly, I don’t understand why you still show your face here.”

I froze as cold spread through my blood.

“Mother, please don’t blame my sister,” Morana said gently while leaning back on the couch. Her swollen feet rested on a cushion while her hands lay over her stomach.

“She has always been clumsy since we were young. It’s not her fault. She tried her best.”

I wanted to speak and scream that none of it was true. That Gavran had murdered my pup.

But before a single word could leave my mouth, the front door opened. Gavran walked in. In his hands was a cake, Morana’s favorite flavor.

My stomach twisted. Anger rose like poison.

He stopped when he saw me.

“What are you doing here?” he said with a frown. “You should still be at the Healing Hall.”

“Why?” I asked coldly. “So you can pretend I don’t exist?”

He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.

“Don’t start trouble. Mora is pregnant. You should stay out of her way.”

My voice turned icy.

“You allowed her to take my pup.”

He flinched slightly. A trace of guilt crossed his face before it disappeared under anger.

“Enough,” he snapped. “If you weren’t so weak, your pup might still be alive.”

The words struck my chest like a heavy blow.

My knees nearly gave out, but I turned away so he would not see my shaking.

“I’ll be gone soon,” I murmured quietly. More to myself than to him.

And I meant every word.

***

When I reached the top of the stairs, I stopped in front of the nursery.

My hand hovered over the door.

The gentle scent of baby powder used to fill this room.

I had painted small clouds across the ceiling myself while Gavran laughed and told me I cared too much about details.

I slowly pushed the door open. Then everything inside me froze.

The room no longer belonged to me.

The cradle was different. The curtains were pink. The walls that once held soft blue paint were now white with golden stars.

Above two new cribs were names carved into wooden boards.

Zayne

Zeyla.

For a moment, I could not breathe. I stepped inside slowly. My hands trembled.

Everything I had created in this room. Every small dream I had carefully built.

Gone.

Completely gone.

Then I noticed something on the floor. My pup’s ultrasound photo. The glass frame was cracked.

I knelt down and picked it up carefully, brushing away the dust.

“My sweet boy… I am sorry. I am so sorry.”

Something inside me finally broke. I grabbed the pink curtains and tore them down. The curtain rods crashed onto the floor.

I ripped the name board from the wall and snapped it in half. The sound echoed through the room.

A scream tore out of my throat, wild and broken. I kicked one of the cribs until the wood split. I didn’t care that my hands were bleeding or that shards of glass covered the floor.

I only wanted everything gone. Everything that belonged to them.

That was when I heard Morana’s voice behind me. Her cry sounded sharp and false.

“Moon Goddess! What are you doing?” she shrieked while holding her stomach.

“You’re going to hurt the pups!”

Her crying became so loud that Corinne rushed into the room.

“Mora! My dear, are you alright?” she cried as she hurried to her side. Then she turned to glare at me. “Vika, have you lost your senses? How could you destroy this nursery?”

My chest rose and fell heavily.

“This was my pup’s room! You took everything from me. Even this…”

“Enough! Mora is carrying pups,” Corinne shouted, cutting me off. “You should feel ashamed of yourself!”

At that moment Gavran appeared at the doorway.

“What in the Moon Goddess’ name is happening here?”

Before I could even open my mouth, Morana threw herself into his arms, crying against his chest.

“She came in here screaming,” Morana sobbed. “She tore everything apart, Gavran. The nursery for our pups!”

“That’s because all of you killed my son!”

“Stop!” Gavran said coldly. “You need help, Vika. You’re acting insane.”

Something inside me shattered completely.

I pointed at the walls, the broken cribs, the ruined room.

“This was our pup’s room, Gavran. Ours. And you allowed her to take it. You allowed her to take everything!”

Gavran stormed forward, his face twisted with fury.

Before I could say another word, his hand struck my face. The slap echoed through the room. I stumbled backward as warm blood ran from my nose.

“Gavran…”

“What’S wrong with you?” he shouted. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Corinne rushed to Morana and wrapped her arms around her like she was something fragile.

“My poor pup. Are you alright?” she cried.

Morana sobbed even louder.

“Ever since we were young you hated me, Sister. You had everything. Our parents’ love. A perfect life. I was always the one left behind.”

Her voice rose into a scream.

“And now you’re still jealous. Even after losing your pup, you cannot stand that I am carrying Gavran’s twins. At least my pups are the true heirs of the Stormridge Alpha bloodline!”

I froze as her words cut into me.

Through her tears, she smirked.

“You have no right to hate my pups just because your bastard pup died!”

The room fell silent.

My blood roared in my ears.

Gavran turned away from me as if he could not even stand looking at me.

“Guards,” he ordered sharply. “Take her away. Now.”

Two pack warriors entered and grabbed my arms.

I struggled but they dragged me across the floor like I meant nothing. My blood smeared across the tiles.

Behind me, Corinne’s voice rang out, cold and cruel, “I never want that woman stepping inside this packhouse again, Gavran. Do you hear me? Never again.”

The last thing I saw before they dragged me away was Morana holding Gavran’s shirt, pretending to cry while he held her like she was the only person worth protecting.

Then they threw me into a dark cellar beneath the mansion.

After a moment, I heard something.

A hiss.

My eyes snapped open. And I froze.

That’s snakes!

They were everywhere around me. Some were large, some small, their dark bodies coiling in the corners and sliding across the floor.

One brushed against my leg and I bit down on a scream. The dim light above flickered and the iron door was locked tight with a heavy chain.

My whole body began shaking.

“Gavran!” I screamed desperately. “Please! Let me out! You know I cannot… please!”

After a few moments the door slowly opened.

Gavran stood there with his hands inside his pockets, looking down at me with disgust.

“Perhaps this will teach you to control your madness,” he said coldly.

“Gavran, please,” I begged as tears burned in my eyes. “You know I am terrified of snakes. Please. I will do anything. Just let me out.”

He didn’t even blink.

“You should have remembered that before destroying Morana’s nursery.”

A hiss sounded behind me. I turned just as a thick black snake slithered closer.

I kicked backward in panic, screaming. The snake suddenly struck and its fangs sank into my ankle.

Pain exploded through my body. I screamed until my throat burned.

“Gavran! It bit me! Please! It bit me!”

But he did nothing. He left me there for ten long hours.

When the door finally opened again, I was shaking and crying. He ordered his men to drag me out by my wrist and throw me into a car.

I could barely breathe. My leg burned like fire and my whole body felt like it was melting. Everything faded into darkness.

I woke again to the sound of rain hitting the windshield. My body trembled uncontrollably.

Gavran was driving, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed on the road.

“G-Gavran,” I whispered weakly. “It hurts. Please… take me to the Healing Hall.”

He said nothing. He didn’t even glance at me.

Then his crystal communicator rang. Morana’s voice filled the car.

“Gavran! Please come home! The pups… something’s wrong. They’re not moving inside me.”

Gavran’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“Gavran,” I croaked, “please don’t…”

He suddenly slammed the brakes and pulled the car to the side of the road. Heavy rain poured from the sky.

Without looking at me, he spoke, “Get out.”

I stared at him in confusion. “What?”

“Get out, Vika,” he repeated flatly. “Mora needs me.”

“You’re leaving me here? I cannot even stand.”

He finally looked at me. There was nothing in his eyes. Nothing at all.

“You will live,” he said coldly. “Those snakes are only mildly venomous. They will not kill you.”

Then he opened the car door and pushed me out. I fell onto the wet road as rain soaked through my clothes.

The door slammed shut. Then he drove away.

I tried to stand but the pain in my leg was unbearable. The world tilted. My sight blurred.

Before I could move another step, a gunshot echoed through the rain. Pain tore through my body and I collapsed.

***

When I woke again, everything felt wrong.

A healer wearing pale robes stood beside me, looking so tired but still spoke carefully, “Luna,” he said gently. “You were brought here with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. You remained in a coma for five days. We performed emergency surgery.”

He paused before continuing.

“I am sorry. The damage was too severe. You will not be able to carry a pup again.”

His words struck like a heavy door slamming shut.

“What do you mean?” I whispered weakly.

He lowered his gaze. “The bleeding was too serious. We had to remove what was necessary to save your life.”

My hands tightened around the blanket.

Then the door opened. Morana walked inside as if she owned the entire room. She wore a soft pink dress and gently rested a hand over her stomach.

“Oh, my dear sister,” she said sweetly. “I heard the news. How tragic about your womb. Such a terrible fate. But look at the bright side. Now you can focus on helping me raise my pups.”

My fingers tightened until the cloth hurt my skin.

“Why are you here?” I asked weakly. “Why are you always here?”

She laughed softly.

“I simply came to admire my work,” she said while looking around the room proudly.

“I told them exactly what needed to be done. You survived the shooting, which is unfortunate for you. But at least now you can never replace what I have.”

A wave of anger burned through me. I lunged forward and grabbed her hair.

“You shot me!” I cried. “You had someone shoot me. How could you do this? My pup is dead because of you!”

Morana suddenly screamed loudly.

“Help! Help me! Gavran!”

She clutched her stomach and staggered backward as if I had hurt her.

And suddenyly, the door burst open.

“You attacked her again?” Gavran roared as he shoved me hard.

I fell off the bed. Pain tore through my side as the stitches ripped open. Warm blood spread across my healing gown.

“Gavran! She arranged for someone to shoot me!”

He cut me off with a cold laugh.

“Stop talking nonsense. I caught the man who shot you. He confessed that you paid him to stage the whole thing. Do you hear me? You planned your own attack.”

My hands turned numb.

“No… no. I would never do that.”

“Of course you would,” he snapped. “You always want attention. You always have. You would do anything to get it.”

He leaned closer, his voice low and cruel.

“How far will you go, Vika? You even tried to harm the woman carrying my heirs. You’re dangerous.”

I tried to explain and tell him the truth. But he had already turned away.

“Mora has her celebration tonight,” he said coldly. “Try to behave and help with the preparations. At least act like a normal person.”

Morana stepped forward with a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly while patting my arm like I was some stray animal. “I will save you a slice of cake.”

They walked away together.

Their shoulders brushed as they left the room and the healer quietly closed the door behind them.

I remained sitting there as my crystal communicator buzzed on the bedside table.

Mr. Nolric.

I opened the message with trembling fingers.

[The mate bond severance have been delivered.]

***

When I returned to the pack mansion, laughter filled the entire house.

Music played. Glasses clinked together. Guests talked and laughed as if everything in the world was perfect.

Pink and blue ribbons decorated the walls. A large banner stretched across the hall.

Welcome Varo and Viora Stormridge.

That was when it struck me. Today wasn’t only Morana’s celebration for her twins. It was also supposed to be my mating anniversary with Gavran.

But there were no flowers. No gifts. Not even a single glance from Gavran that showed he remembered I existed.

The moment I walked inside, people turned and whispered.

“There she is.”

“She still lives here?”

“I heard she cannot have pups anymore. No wonder Gavran stays with Morana.”

I said nothing. I simply walked past them as if I heard nothing.

My legs still ached from the healing hall, but I forced myself up the stairs. I could not remain there any longer.

When I reached the master bedroom, my hand stopped on the door.

It was slightly open. Inside I saw pink curtains.

Tiny pup clothes folded neatly on the bed.

Framed pictures of Morana and Gavran smiling happily together.

My room and memoris here…all gone. Morana had taken everything.

I stood there silently for a long moment. Then I turned and walked down the hallway.

The guest room was cold and smelled of dust. Still, I closed the door and lay down on the bed.

Maybe if I closed my eyes, the noise downstairs would disappear.

***

A few minutes later, the door slammed open. Gavran stood there in his suit, his face tight with anger.

He threw a folded uniform at me.

“Put that on. One of the servants didn’t show up. You will serve the guests.”

I looked at him. For a moment, I almost asked why. But then I realized it didn’t matter.

I picked up the uniform slowly.

“Okay,” I whispered.

He hesitated for a moment. Something strange flickered in his eyes. But he turned away before it could stay.

“Just don’t cause problems,” he muttered before leaving.

I changed quietly. The black uniform hung loosely on my thin body. I didn’t even look into the mirror before walking out.

As I walked toward the stairs, Morana’s voice floated up from below, sweet and false.

“Oh, sister. You’re helping tonight? That’s very kind of you.”

Then she lowered her voice.

“Could you give these papers to Gavran? I need his signature to finish a few things. The house, the thirty cars, the five seaside resorts he gifted me and those new shops. You know how generous he is.”

I took the documents from her hand. I glanced at them briefly. Then I slipped another sheet beneath them.

My bond severance.

Morana blinked in surprise. “What is this? You’re not even angry?”

I didn’t answer. I only gave her a faint and tired smile before walking away.

Inside, Gavran’s study he was speaking on the crystal communicator. When he saw the papers, he grabbed them without question and began signing.

“All this is for Mora?” He didn’t even look up.

“Yes. She deserves it.”

His pen continued moving. Not once did he stop.

And just like that, without realizing it, he signed everything.

Her properties… and our bond severance.

***

By the time the guests fully arrived, the mansion looked like a royal palace. Lights shone everywhere. Expensive food covered every table.

Guests laughed loudly as if their lives were perfect.

Morana stood at the center of it all, glowing like she owned the entire world.

I stood quietly at the back of the hall in my black uniform, trying to look invisible.

Suddenly, Corinne entered the room with pride. Pearls decorated her neck and her perfume filled the air.

The moment she saw me, her face twisted with disgust.

“Why is that woman here, Gavran? I told you I don’t want her inside this house again.”

Gavran didn’t even look away from adjusting Morana’s shawl. “We’re short on staff, Mother.”

Corinne laughed. “Well, she does look more suitable in that uniform. Go and bring me my drink.”

I didn’t argue. I nodded and went to get it. My hands trembled slightly, but I refused to show any emotion.

When I returned, Morana quietly stretched her foot out. Just as I passed her, I tripped.

The tray tilted. Red wine splashed directly onto Corinne.

She screamed as if someone had stabbed her.

“You ruined everything again! Just like how you ruined your own pup’s life. No wonder that pup died. And now look at you. Barren. Useless. Clumsy. You cannot even carry a drink properly.”

Her words hurt more than the fall. My throat tightened painfully.

Morana rushed forward, pretending to be worried.

“Oh Mother, please don’t be angry. She has suffered a lot. It’s not her fault. Just forgive her. My sister is trying.”

The room became silent.

My sister…

Corinne softened immediately and looked at Morana with admiration. “This is why I adore you. You’re kind, gentle and patient. Why can you not be like her, Ravika?”

My chest tightened so badly that I struggled to breathe.

I wiped my face and slowly stood up. Then I looked straight at Morana.

“Kind?” my voice trembled. “You want me to be like her? The woman who stole my mate, my home and my pup? The woman who pretended to be sick so Gavran would take my son’s stem cells? The woman who allowed my pup to die so she could survive?”

Gasps filled the room.

Morana blinked, her smile cracking slightly.

Corinne glared at me furiously.

“Stop spreading lies. Mora would never harm a pup.”

“She already did,” I said quietly. “Mine.”

Gavran stepped forward. His jaw was tight and his eyes were cold.

“What are you doing? Today is Mora’s celebration. Don’t ruin it with your nonsense.”

My hands trembled but I held his gaze. “You don’t even remember what today is, do you?”

He frowned. “What now?”

“Our anniversary.”

Laughter spread among the guests. Corinne smirked proudly. Morana hid behind Gavran’s arm as if she was frightened.

Suddenly Morana grabbed her stomach and screamed loudly. “My stomach!”

She bent over in pain.

“Gavran! It hurts! My pups. Something’s wrong!”

Everyone froze. The music stopped. All eyes turned toward her.

Gavran rushed to her side immediately.

“Mora! What happened?”

Morana cried weakly.

“I just remembered something. Earlier, I saw Ravika standing near my drink. I thought she was only fixing the glasses but what if she put something in it? I don’t know. What if she wanted to harm my pups?”

The entire hall exploded with chaos.