Zoe's dad was Ethan's mentor, the wolf who guided him when he first stepped into the courthouse. That first day, Zoe laid eyes on him and didn't hold back-she chased him hard, like a she-wolf on the hunt. I got jealous once, told Ethan I'd confront her and set things straight.

He just pulled me into his arms, his voice soothing. "Her dad's my mentor, Melody. I don't want some petty drama messing up that bond. Trust me, I'll keep her at arm's length."

I believed him. Like a fool, I trusted every word. Until I stood in that courtroom, his betrayal cutting deeper than any knife, and realized he and Zoe had been way past "keeping distance" for a long time.

That night, I couldn't face our bedroom. Instead, I curled up in my pup's empty room, the cold floor my only refuge-no mattress, no warmth, just the last shred of my sanctuary.

When I woke, a thin blanket was draped over me. It had to be Ethan. Why bother with this act of care? No one was watching. I tossed the blanket aside like it was tainted, my stomach twisting.

Bella texted me: "I'm working fast on my end. You should look for clues too."

My eyes drifted to the master bedroom next door...

Laughter, bright and sharp like a bell, hit me as I came downstairs. In the open kitchen, Ethan and Zoe were tangled up in each other, every detail painfully clear. When Ethan heard my steps, he turned, a smear of Zoe's lipstick glaring on his cheek.

My whole body shook, my grip on the railing tightening until my knuckles whitened. "Zoe, what are you doing here?"

Ethan answered for her, his voice calm, like this was normal. "She heard you were out and wanted to check on you. These past three years, she's been a big help. She's gone to our pup's grave every year, bringing flowers."

My blood surged, pounding in my skull. "She has no right to visit his grave!"

No murderer in the history of any pack deserved to stand at their victim's tomb.

Ethan looked away, avoiding my eyes. "I had a ceremony done. He recognizes her as his godmother now."

The world went silent. My racing blood turned to blades, slicing through me, carving out my heart. The pain stole my voice.

Zoe stepped forward, holding out a bouquet of flowers, her smile mocking. "For you, Melody. Congrats on starting over."

The scent hit me, and my skin started to itch, a burning rash creeping up my arms. I slapped the flowers away, too drained to even call them out for their shamelessness.

I turned to leave, but a shout stopped me cold.

"0832!"

"Present!" I answered, reflex kicking in before I could stop myself.

Zoe's laugh cut through the air, sharp and cruel. "Sorry, Melody, I heard that's what they make you do in prison. Just thought I'd have some fun."

I spun around. Ethan's brow was furrowed, his hand on her arm. "That's enough, Zoe. No more jokes like that."

She batted her eyes, all playful innocence. "Fine, babe."

They were flirting right in front of me. My mind flashed to that opened box of condoms upstairs, and my heart froze over completely.

That evening, I met Bella at a diner. Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Melody, you look like hell. If it's too much, come stay with me."

"No," I said, my voice flat. "Just find the evidence fast." I'd promised Ethan I'd play along with this charade, and I couldn't let him suspect I was digging.

As Bella ordered a spread of food, insisting I eat, Zoe walked in, her pup in tow. My eyes lingered on the boy for a moment, my heart aching for my own.

Zoe yanked him behind her, blocking my view, and spoke loud enough for the whole diner to hear. "This place has a murderer, sweetie. She killed her own pup. Be good, or she'll come for you too."

She turned to me, smirking. "Melody, three years in a cage-how's real food treating you?"

Every eye in the diner turned to me, their stares like claws.

I stood there, gaunt, pale, my eyes cold but defiant. I didn't look like some crazed she-wolf who'd kill her own pup. The whispers around me stung like thorns.

Three years of torment. My cellmates spread the lie that I'd killed my boy, turning everyone against me. I scrubbed their filth, ate their spoiled scraps, and took their random beatings. Scars layered on scars. Even now, the word "prison" made me tremble, my body aching with the memory.

"Zoe, you're the murderer!" Bella shot up, splashing a glass of water in Zoe's face.

Zoe shrieked, her pup wailing in fear.

"What's going on?" Ethan's voice boomed as he strode in, all suit and authority.

Zoe's eyes welled up as she clutched her pup. "I just wanted to treat Melody to dinner, but she got mad and had her friend attack my boy..."

Her pup pointed at me, sobbing. "Bad she-wolf! Hurting Mama!"

Ethan's face darkened. He stepped between us, growling low. "You've had a pup, Melody! How can you not tolerate another?"

The rush of blood in my ears was deafening. I've had a pup. I remembered the day we celebrated our boy's first month, how Ethan kissed my forehead, tears in his eyes, thanking me for making his life whole.

But he'd destroyed mine.

"Isn't that Melody, the lawyer?"

"Undefeated, they said. Until she lost to herself."

"What kind of she-wolf kills her own pup?"

A group of courthouse wolves walked in, probably with Ethan. He leaned in, his voice low and cold. "Go home, Melody. Stop embarrassing yourself."

Zoe, playing the perfect hostess, glided over to greet them.

I stopped Bella from charging after her and walked out, my face blank.

As I passed Ethan, he caught sight of the scars on my skin-ugly, jagged marks. His lips twitched, but he said nothing.

I dropped Bella off, then bought flowers and some toys my pup used to love. I took a cab to the cemetery. But when I reached his grave, I froze, speechless.

Weeds choked the plot, the ground neglected and wild. No one had been here. Worse, his tombstone was defaced, the word "CURSE" scrawled in red paint.

The letters stabbed into my eyes. I screamed my pup's name, falling to my knees, scrubbing at the paint with my bare hands. My fingers bled, the skin tearing, but the red only smeared deeper, mocking me.

Exhausted, I stopped, touching his stained photo on the stone, my sobs tearing through me like a storm. "No..."

Rain poured, as if the sky itself wept.

When I could cry no more, I got up, ordered a new tombstone, and cleaned the area around his grave. I arranged his favorite toys carefully, tears falling as I whispered, "Mama will make them pay, I swear."

I got home at dawn. Ethan was waiting, his voice sharp. "I told you to come home. Where were you? You didn't answer your phone-do you know how-"

He was still in yesterday's clothes, dark circles under his eyes. I brushed past him, not bothering to look. "It's our pup's memorial day."

The words barely left my mouth before the world went black.