Just because I accidentally spilled Louisa’s medicine while preparing it, Jaxxon forced me to kneel all night on the frozen ground outside the packhouse.

The cold seeped into my bones, and the next morning, I woke up in pain, realizing I had miscarried. Desperate, I went to find Jaxxon, but what I overheard shattered my world.

“Do you think Sylvia would die of rage if she found out the child wasn’t yours, Jax?” one of his Betas sneered.

“Imagine her face when she realizes it wasn’t you in her bed all these nights but your Delta, and that every time, a different warrior was watching,” another added with a cruel laugh.

“And yesterday, to comfort Louisa, you even had those explicit pictures of her shared across the pack’s mind link. The entire Northern Pack is talking about them now!”

Jaxxon’s voice was cold and detached. “She deserved it for spilling Louisa’s medicine. It’s her punishment. But she’s still my mate—I couldn’t let her carry a bastard and shame me. The miscarriage was a blessing.”

The room erupted in laughter, and my heart sank into an abyss of despair.

---

“Jax, is it my turn next? Last time it was Cain who got to watch. I’ve never seen her in action!”

“Yeah, Cain said Sylvia’s scent in bed is more intoxicating than a rogue’s whisper. The mind link images don’t do her justice. I want to see it for myself!”

Jaxxon smirked. “Fine. Next time, I’ll let you all watch.”

“You’re the best, Jax!”

The crude words made me nauseous, and I stood frozen, unable to comprehend the depth of his betrayal. All these years, I thought our mate bond was real, but it was all a lie. Jaxxon had claimed me out of revenge, to punish me for Louisa’s injury. But he was wrong—Louisa’s legs hadn’t been broken because of me!

I bit my lip until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, forcing myself to stay composed. I remembered how Jaxxon had stood outside the Southern Pack’s territory for six days, using his Alpha tone to demand my father’s permission to claim me as his mate. I had been moved by his persistence and thought he truly loved me.

After we marked each other, he treated me with tenderness, always indulging my every whim. But he had one peculiar habit—he insisted on blindfolding me in bed. I had assumed it was just his preference, a quirk of intimacy. I never imagined it was because it wasn’t him at all!

Jaxxon had claimed me to punish me, but he was mistaken. Louisa’s injury had nothing to do with me!

Ever since I became his mate, he had used my friendship with Louisa as an excuse to make me care for her. Louisa, confined to a wheelchair, had become volatile, lashing out at me constantly. I endured it all, not wanting to burden Jaxxon.

Yesterday, while preparing her medicine, I accidentally burned my hand, the flesh peeling off in agony. The pain made me drop the bowl. Jaxxon had acted as if it were nothing, but later, he punished me by forcing me to kneel on the frozen ground. It wasn’t until I saw the blood that I realized I was pregnant. I had gone to him for help, only to hear his Betas’ cruel laughter and his cold dismissal.

Now, thinking about Louisa, I finally understood. Jaxxon’s scent around her had long crossed the line of normal sibling affection. Even his Betas knew how much she meant to him. Last year, when Louisa and I both fell into the river during a pack run, Jaxxon wasn’t there. His Betas had all shifted to save her, leaving me to drown.

When my packmate finally pulled me out, they had smirked and said, “You’re not mad, are you, Sylvia? Louisa’s delicate. She couldn’t stay in the water for long.”

Now I knew why they had treated me that way—they had always known Jaxxon’s true feelings.

I don’t know how I made it back to my room, but every step felt like walking through a minefield. The warriors’ eyes followed me, their gazes filled with lewd curiosity. Shame and fear consumed me, and I rushed to my room, locking the door behind me.

I grabbed a pen and paper and began writing to my parents. I was the daughter of the Alpha of the Southern Pack, the future Luna. Three years ago, I had left home to explore the world, and during that time, I had met Jaxxon. My father had given me three years to live freely, after which I would return to take my place as the pack’s future leader. Now, with only two months left, I knew it was time to go back.

How foolish I had been to think I could give up my birthright for Jaxxon, to be content as his mate. Now, I finally understood—I had to reclaim my life.

“Father, Mother,” I wrote, my hand trembling. “My three years are nearly over. I will return to the Southern Pack soon.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me. I had once been willing to abandon everything for him. Now, I was ready to leave him behind forever.

I had just sent out the letter when Jaxxon pushed open my door.

“Why are you sitting in the dark?” he asked, his voice soft as he moved to embrace me. I stiffened and pulled away.

Jaxxon paused, his expression tightening. “Still upset? Sylvia, you need to be reasonable. As the Gamma of this pack, I can’t show favoritism. You made a mistake, and I had to address it.”

He sighed, as if I were the one being unreasonable. “I know about the miscarriage. I’m not blaming you. We’re young—we’ll have other children.”

I met his gaze, my voice steady. “I’m not blaming you either.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, and he leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Good girl. Now, Louisa is hosting a mark ceremony tomorrow. She’s not well, and I don’t want her overexerting herself. You’ll handle the preparations.”

Louisa’s not well? And I am?

I pressed a hand to my empty stomach, the ache still raw. “I just lost our child. I can’t help her.”

His brow furrowed instantly. “Don’t be difficult, Sylvia. You’ve had a few days to recover, and the healer said you’re fine. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

He dragged me out of the room, a group of Deltas standing guard outside. I flinched at the sight of them, but Jaxxon didn’t seem to notice, gripping my hand tightly.

“Sylvia, I’m still looking out for you,” he said, his tone almost soothing. “You don’t have to do much—just give the orders. They’ll handle the rest.”

He gestured to the Deltas, who stepped forward, their presence overwhelming. I couldn’t stop trembling. “No! Send them away. I’ll manage on my own.”

Jaxxon smirked. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Luna.”

I spent the entire night organizing the ceremony, barely catching a moment of rest before Jaxxon summoned me to the main hall the next morning.

“You’re my Luna,” he said firmly. “Your absence would be noticed. Come with me.”

I frowned, exhaustion weighing on me. “I’m not feeling well. I need to rest.”

His eyes darkened. “Sylvia, don’t make this difficult.”

He dragged me into the hall, and I immediately felt the weight of hostile gazes. Jaxxon’s friends were there, their eyes roaming over me with a mix of disdain and mockery.

“Well, if it isn’t the Luna,” one of them drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve lost some weight, haven’t you? Looking quite delicate.”

The others snickered, their laughter sharp and cruel.

Jaxxon said nothing, as if he didn’t hear them, and I forced myself to walk further into the room, my skin crawling under their scrutiny.

Louisa intercepted me, her smile sweet but her eyes glinting with malice. “Sylvia, there you are! We’ve been waiting for you.”

She pulled me into the center of the room, her voice carrying loudly. “I heard about the miscarriage. How careless of you.”

I froze, my face paling as she continued. “That was my brother’s first child, you know.”

“Who knows if it was even his?” someone jeered from the crowd. “The Luna’s been seen around town quite a bit lately.”

Louisa feigned shock. “Oh, don’t say such things!”

But her smile betrayed her. She knew exactly what she was doing.

“So this is the famous Luna,” a voice called out. It was Beckham Torres, a notorious rogue known for his recklessness. He stepped closer, sniffing the air around me. “Mm, you smell divine, like lavender and vanilla.”

The room erupted in laughter, and I felt humiliation burn through me.

Louisa led me to a seat, her grip tight, as if to ensure I couldn’t escape. I sat down, the weight of their stares pressing down on me.

Jaxxon, sitting beside Louisa, gave me a faint smile, but it was empty—cold. My heart felt like ice.

“Everyone, enjoy yourselves!” Louisa announced, her voice cheerful.

The table was filled with her favorite dishes, none of which I cared for. As the entertainment began, the atmosphere grew lively, but the attention on me only intensified.

“This is boring,” someone called out. “Why don’t we have the Luna shift and run for us?”

“Yes! Sylvia’s wolf form would be a sight to see!”

“Come on, Luna, give us a show!”

Jaxxon turned to me, his smirk widening. “Don’t ruin the mood, Sylvia. Shift and run for us.”

My hands clenched the edge of the table, my claws digging into the wood until they drew blood.

“Shift! Shift!” The chant grew louder, their voices taunting, mocking.

I was trapped, a spectacle for their amusement, and there was no escape.

I was roughly pushed into the center of the grand hall, feeling utterly exposed and out of place. The crowd’s jeers echoed around me, their words sharp and cutting.

"Take off the coat! What’s the point of wearing so much?!"

"Exactly! Strip it off!"

Hands reached out, tugging at my outer layers until they were ripped away, leaving me in nothing but the thin fabric beneath. My skin prickled under their hungry gazes.

"She’s so pale, paler than the moon itself!"

"Look at her figure. Alpha Jaxxon must be a lucky man."

"Come on, don’t just stand there! Move!"

I clenched my fists, my claws digging into my palms as I fought back tears. My eyes darted to Jaxxon, seeking some semblance of mercy, but his expression was cold and indifferent, allowing the humiliation to continue.

I had no choice but to comply, moving stiffly, my body trembling with shame. When it was finally over, I grabbed my discarded coat and wrapped it around myself, desperate to leave.

But before I could escape, Cain O’Brien, a Delta from the Northern Pack, stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Louisa. "Miss Louisa," he said with a smirk, "how about a drink in your honor?"

Louisa, sitting in her wheelchair, smiled sweetly, her gaze flicking to me. "Oh, Brother," she cooed, "you know I can’t drink. Why don’t we ask Sister Sylvia to drink for me? Isn’t that right, Brother?"

Jaxxon’s hand tightened possessively around Louisa’s, his voice sharp. "Sylvia," he said without looking at me, "you’ll drink for her."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Alpha, I—"

"Do it," he snapped, his alpha tone leaving no room for argument.

I picked up the glass, my hands shaking, and downed the liquor in one swift motion. But Cain wasn’t satisfied. He kept pouring, glass after glass, and Jaxxon’s cold stare forced me to keep drinking.

By the time I stumbled, my body numb and my vision blurred, Jaxxon finally waved a dismissive hand. "Get out of my sight."

I barely made it to my room before collapsing, my body wracked with pain. When I woke, I was still on the floor, my body cold and aching. I forced myself up, rummaging through my supplies to find the herbs I needed to soothe my body.

But before I could rest, a servant burst in. "Miss Louisa needs her medicine. The Alpha has ordered you to prepare it."

"I’m not well," I protested weakly.

"The Alpha’s orders are final," the servant said, grabbing my arm and dragging me out.

I was taken to Louisa’s private garden, where Jaxxon sat beside her, feeding her slices of fruit. Their laughter rang out, a stark contrast to the cold treatment I received. Louisa leaned into Jaxxon, her head resting against his chest, and he stroked her hair with a tenderness I had never known.

"Sylvia," Jaxxon said without looking at me, "prepare Louisa’s medicine. And make sure it’s sweetened. She doesn’t like it bitter."

Louisa giggled, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. "Thank you, Brother. You’re so good to me. Sister Sylvia, you don’t mind, do you?"

Jaxxon’s gaze flicked to me, his voice icy. "Mind? She wouldn’t dare."

I moved to the small table where the herbs were laid out, my hands trembling as I began to prepare the medicine. Their laughter continued, a painful reminder of the bond they shared, one that I could never be a part of.

When the medicine was ready, Louisa called me over. "Sister Sylvia," she said with a sweet smile, "could you bring it here?"

I walked over, handing her the cup. But as she reached for it, her hand brushed against mine, and I flinched, the cup slipping from my grasp and spilling onto the ground.

Jaxxon’s aura flared, his voice low and dangerous. "What is this? Are you deliberately disrespecting my sister?"

"I didn’t mean—"

"Apologize," he growled. "Now."

I swallowed my pride, my voice barely a whisper. "I’m sorry."

Louisa’s eyes filled with tears. "Brother," she whimpered, "perhaps she’s right. Maybe my legs will never heal. Maybe I’ll always be like this."

Jaxxon’s expression softened as he pulled her into his arms. "Don’t say that," he murmured. Then, his gaze snapped back to me, his voice cold and commanding. "Louisa mentioned a flower, one that can heal even the most severe injuries. It grows on the cliffs. You’ll go and find it for her."

I shook my head. "Alpha, that’s just a myth. It doesn’t exist."

Louisa’s tears flowed freely now. "But Brother, she won’t even try. Maybe I’m destined to stay like this forever."

Jaxxon’s voice was final. "You’ll go. And you’ll bring back what she needs."