I took the bowl, sniffed deep. "Huh. Smells like there's... something extra in it."

James flinched. Covered fast. "What? That's ridiculous. My mom made it herself. She'd never hurt you."

I sneered. "Camilla?"

His brow twitched. "What's with that tone?"

I blew on the steam, voice flat. "She's always hated that I outshined your bloodline. Said I wasn't soft enough. Let's be real—she'd throw a party if you marked Emily instead."

His face went stiff. Yeah, he remembered how his mom really was.

Camilla always said Emily was the "real" Luna. Her family died saving James, and she basically grew up in his shadow. That bond? Deep.

Even with Emily knocked-up and unclaimed, Camilla still treated her like pack royalty.

Guess she assumed whatever was growing in Emily's belly had to be James's.

And James knew it.

He scrambled for an excuse. "Avril, my mom actually likes you. She's just... not great at showing it. Hasn't she been better since you got pregnant?"

I laughed.

Better?

Making daily tonics for Emily while ignoring me when I asked for water?

I said nothing.

He dropped his voice. "This tonic's legit. She got the recipe from the healer. Just drink it, okay? Don't waste her good intentions."

I put on my best touched expression. Under his eager stare, I lifted the bowl—and downed it in one go.

James let out a relieved sigh, took the bowl, and wiped the corner of my mouth. "That's more like it."

For a second, I thought I saw guilt flash in his eyes.

Maybe.

Or maybe I just wanted to believe he still had a soul.

The second he left, I bolted to the bathroom and threw up every drop I hadn't already blocked. Potion or not, I wasn't taking chances.

Less than thirty minutes later, I started groaning loud enough to shake the walls.

"James! It hurts—my belly!"

Almost instantly, Emily's voice rang out from the next room. "James! I—I think I'm in labor too!"

Perfect timing.

James hadn't expected the drug to kick in so fast. His face twisted—panic and excitement all tangled up.

"James... it hurts so bad..."

He kept whispering sweet nothings, too wrapped up in her to notice how calm I was.

At the clinic, he rushed Emily into the best birthing suite, then shoved me toward a nurse without looking back.

"You go to the room at the back. I'll be there soon!"

The second I walked in, I knew her.

Martha.

Same healer from before. The one James bribed in my last life. Swapped my newborn for Emily's and swore up and down that mutt was mine.

"Luna, don't worry," she said, all sugar, stepping in close. "I'll take good care of you and your pup."

I sat up fast and grabbed her hand mid-reach. "Martha, didn't your two pups go train on Nightmaw Mountain last month? Still not back, right? Pretty dangerous terrain. Good thing my pack—Silverlune Pack—patrols that area. But if something DID happen... and the patrol just MISSED it... what then?"

She froze. Whole body shaking.

Her kids—her one soft spot.

I let go, calm again. Lay back. "Let's make a deal."

Hours later, the door creaked open.

James slipped in, thinking I was asleep, arms cradling a swaddled bundle.

He made a beeline for the crib—ready to pull the switch.

I opened my eyes. "Hey babe, what exactly do you think you're doing?"

James flinched so hard he almost dropped the bundle.

He backpedaled, then straightened up like he hadn't just been caught red-handed. "Avril? You're awake? Emily already had her pup and I—uh—I came to check on ours."

Before he could finish, the bundle let out a shriek loud enough to rattle bone.

He still wouldn't look at me. Jaw locked, hands shaky, he peeled back the blanket.

"See? Our pup's adorable!"

A mottled-furred pup blinked up at him.

Right on cue, James gasped like he deserved an award. "Wh-What is this? Avril! You DARE betray me?!"

His roar blew the doors wide open—wolves flooded in.

Seconds later, the birthing suite was packed wall to wall.

Camilla barreled in first. The second she saw the pup's fur, she lost it.

"Moon Goddess! You filthy bitch!" she shrieked. "You TAINTED my son's bloodline? James gave up EVERYTHING to be with you—a Silverlune white wolf! Was that not enough? You went and spread your legs for some OUTSIDER?"

Her screech dragged even more eyes into the chaos.

Fingers pointed. Eyes full of venom.

"Look at that pup!"

"She wrecked the Alpha's bloodline!"

"Exile her!"

Right on cue, Emily stumbled in—leaning on someone.

Her face was ghost-pale, eyes all red and glassy like she was shocked.

"Luna... how could you betray the Alpha?" she breathed. "No wonder I kept seeing you sneaking off to meet Darkclaw wolves... handing them letters.

"I tried to stop you. You told me to stay quiet... said you'd hurt me."

Then came the fake flinch.

Hand over her mouth. Eyes wide like she didn't just spit a rehearsed lie.

"I—I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said anything. Please don't hit me..."

The room blew up.

The crowd exploded.

James yanked Emily behind him and roared, "It was YOU! You've been leaking intel to Darkclaw Pack! That's why we kept losing ground! You betrayed me—and TAINTED the bloodline. You're not my mate anymore!"

The crowd turned feral.

"Throw her out of the pack!" someone yelled.

A rotten fruit core smacked my forehead—juice trailing down my cheek.

Then came the rest. Wilted leaves. Mud clumps. Even sharp stones.

The shouting turned primal—howls ripping through the room.

Camilla shrieked, "Call the Elder Conclave! A traitor like her needs judgment!"

That lit the fuse.

"A Luna like THAT doesn't deserve to live!"

"Our Alpha deserves better—I TOLD you she wasn't good enough!"

James stood stone-still, storm brewing behind his eyes.

But Emily—she was glowing. Smirking like she'd won.

I wiped the grime from my face, locked eyes with her through the chaos.

That smug smile? Gone. Frozen.

I wasn't panicking—I was smirking.

She probably felt it too, like I was watching a circus and she was the head clown.

Her eyes darted. Panic creeping in.

"Where's Martha?" Her voice cracked.

Yeah, she wanted that bribed healer to clean this up—but Martha was gone.

And the other crib? Still. Too still.

No crying. No movement.

"James..." she leaned in, trying to whisper, probably begging him to grab the real pup before it was too late—

But her words got crushed under the sound of heavy boots.

The crowd shifted. Wolves parted.

Five robed elders strode in, each marked with a unique crest.

The silver-haired one with the full moon emblem gave me a nod.

I smiled.

Camilla practically sprinted to them, all fake concern.

"Thank the Moon Goddess you're here! Take this vile wolf away—bring justice to our pack!"

Not one elder looked at her.

The oldest scanned the room, eyes colder than death. Then he pointed straight at James and Emily.

"Arrest them both."