Ella POV:

Beep. Beep.

I woke up to the white ceiling of the Pack Hospital.

"She's awake," Dr. Evans said.

"How?" I croaked.

"Patrol found you. Hypothermia. Silver toxicity." He paused. "Ella... you're pregnant. Four weeks."

The world tilted. A pup. Arthur's pup.

This was the trump card. No Alpha rejects his own blood.

"Give me the phone!"

I dialed.

"What?" Arthur's voice. Impatient.

"Arthur, don't hang up. I have news. Big news."

"I'm busy. Diana is having nightmares because of your attack."

"Arthur, listen! I'm pre—"

"Arthur?" Diana's voice, fake and groggy. "Is that her? I'm scared..."

"Shh," Arthur soothed her. Then to me: "Stop calling. You're lucky I let the patrol bring you in."

Click.

My cell phone buzzed. Unknown number.

A photo. Arthur in wolf form, sleeping. Diana's hand on his fur.

Caption: He doesn't want your mongrel. He told me so.

She knew.

"Dr. Evans," I said, voice hardening. "When can I leave?"

"Ella... your grandmother, Hertha. She heard you were missing. Her car... brakes failed on the ice. She's in the ICU."

I ripped the IV out. "Take me to her."

"We can't do much," Evans admitted, looking at the floor. "All the Senior Healers are gone."

"Where?"

"Alpha Arthur summoned them to the penthouse. Diana said she felt faint."

My vision turned red.

Ella POV:

I stormed the VIP floor.

Three Senior Healers stood around a plush sofa. Diana lay there, sipping a smoothie. Arthur paced.

"Arthur!" I screamed.

"Security!" he barked.

"My grandmother is dying downstairs! And you have them here watching her drink a smoothie?"

"Diana is in shock," Arthur said, stepping between us.

"Shock?" I laughed, a broken sound. "Hertha served your grandfather! She has internal bleeding! Sarah, please!"

The lead Healer looked at Arthur, terrified.

I fell to my knees. "Arthur, I beg you. Forget me. Just let one go."

For a second, conflict flickered in his eyes.

"Arthur," Diana whimpered. "My chest... tight."

The conflict vanished.

"They stay," Arthur said.

"She's faking it!" I screamed as guards grabbed me.

I rushed back to the ICU. Silence.

Dr. Evans pulled a sheet over the figure on the bed.

"No," I whispered.

I collapsed onto Hertha's chest. She was gone. Because Diana wanted attention.

Two days later. The funeral. Raining.

Arthur stood under a black umbrella, holding Diana. He looked bored.

After the casket lowered, he handed me an envelope.

"A check," he said. "For your loss. And to help you move on. Far away."

"You think money fixes this?" I stared at him. "You let her die."

"It was an accident," he said stiffly. "Diana was critically ill due to your negative aura."

I turned to leave.

Buzz.

Emergency Alert: Unauthorized excavation in Sector 4.

Grandma's grave.

I spun around. A backhoe was moving toward the fresh mound. Diana was pointing.

Ella POV:

I ran through the mud.

"Stop!" I screamed at the operator.

Diana stood by the luxury sedan, dry and pristine. "Dig it up. Gavin deserves the best view. The soil here is perfect."

"You monster!"

I lunged, claws extending, but the Alpha Aura slammed me face-first into the sludge.

"Submit," Arthur boomed, stepping out of the car. "Attacking again?"

"She's digging up Grandma!" I choked out, pinned.

"Diana says this plot was promised to Gavin," Arthur said, voice devoid of emotion. "His blood saved me. That makes him an honorary Elder. If Diana wants this spot, she gets it."

The metal claw ripped up the flowers. It lifted the wooden chest containing the urn.

Diana opened it. She pulled out the blue ceramic urn.

"Tacky," she said.

"Give it to me," I sobbed, crawling forward.

Diana smirked. "Oops."

She opened her hands.

The urn hit a rock. Smash.

Grey ash puffed into the air and turned instantly to sludge in the rain.

"My hand slipped," Diana said flatly. "Trauma."

Arthur looked at the mess. He didn't look happy, but his eyes were dull, drugged. He didn't stop her. He didn't help me.

"Let's go," Arthur said, turning away. "Leave her to play in the mud."

They drove off. I was left frantically scooping wet ash and dirt into my dress.