I come from a family of renowned healers, the Harrises, known for our centuries-old healing traditions. Eight years ago, while I was training in a rural pack, I met Andre Gibson, the Alpha of his pack, painting by the river.

Back then, Andre was everything I could have dreamed of—commanding yet tender, with a presence that demanded respect and a smile that could melt the iciest of hearts. The first time I saw him, I felt it—that unmistakable pull, the mate bond that the Moon Goddess herself had woven for us. His scent, a blend of cedar and earth, was intoxicating, and I knew I was his, just as he was mine.

But my parents, proud members of the Harris Pack, were vehemently opposed to our union. They believed an Alpha from a rural pack wasn’t worthy of their only daughter. I, however, was headstrong. Against their wishes, I secretly marked Andre, sealing our bond in a private mark ceremony under the full moon. It broke their hearts, and for years, the rift between us remained unhealed.

The first few years were blissful. Andre was everything I had hoped for—loving, attentive, and fiercely protective of our growing family. But then, tragedy struck.

Five years into our union, Andre’s younger brother, Memphis, a loyal Beta who had sacrificed his education to support Andre, took their mother, Noelle, a Gamma, to the city for a routine checkup. On the way back, their car malfunctioned, sending them careening off a cliff. Both were killed instantly. The shock was too much for Andre’s father, Kyree, a respected elder. He suffered a heart attack on the way to the hospital and passed away before they could save him.

The pack was in mourning, and Andre was devastated. In the wake of the tragedy, the elders and the pack council urged Andre to take in Yasmin, Memphis’s widow, as his second mate. They called it a “duty of honor,” a way to ensure she was cared for. I was horrified.

“Andre, you can’t be serious,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “You’re my mate. You vowed to be mine, and mine alone.”

He looked at me, his amber eyes heavy with guilt and grief. “Cora, you have to understand. Memphis gave up everything for me. How can I abandon his mate now? It’s not about love—it’s about duty.”

I wanted to believe him. I truly did. His words were soft, almost convincing, but the scent of his unease lingered in the air, betraying his inner turmoil. Still, I let myself be swayed, trusting that he would keep his promise to care for her without crossing the line.

But I was wrong.

Everything changed the day Yasmin moved in. Her presence was like a shadow, creeping into every corner of our home. She was a master manipulator, weaving herself into Andre’s life with a subtlety that was almost frightening.

One evening, as I sat alone in the living room, the sound of laughter drifted in from the yard. I stood, my heart heavy, and walked to the window. There they were—Andre and Yasmin, standing close, their voices mingling in the cool night air.

Andre turned, his gaze meeting mine through the glass. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but it was gone too quickly to be sure. He stepped inside, his Alpha aura filling the room with an almost suffocating intensity.

“Cora,” he said, his voice calm but distant.

I pointed to the basin by the door, my hand trembling. “What’s that? Why is there blood in it?”

He glanced at it, his expression unreadable. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch from training earlier.”

But the scent of iron was sharp, almost metallic, and it made my stomach churn. I wanted to press him, to demand the truth, but the way he looked at me—like I was a burden, an inconvenience—stopped me in my tracks.

The cracks were forming, and I could feel them spreading, threatening to shatter everything I had built with him. But I was powerless to stop it. The mate bond, once so strong, now felt fragile, like a thread on the verge of snapping.

And deep down, I knew—this was only the beginning.

Andre frowned as he looked at me, his Alpha aura pressing down on me in the way it always did when he was displeased. “Cora, are you feeling unwell? You look… off.”

Yasmin, who had been about to step into the room, paused at his words. She glanced at the basin of water I was holding and wrinkled her nose in exaggerated disgust. “Oh, Luna, really! You should’ve prepared better for this. Look at the mess you’ve made—ruining the sheets like this. How careless.”

Andre’s nose twitched slightly, as if he, too, could sense the faint metallic tang in the air. His expression shifted to one of mild irritation. “Cora, clean this up quickly. It’s embarrassing for the pack to see you like this.”

My steps felt heavy as I walked over to the waste bin and poured the water out. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to keep them steady.

Yasmin let out a soft, mocking laugh before turning back to Andre. Her voice was sugary sweet, dripping with false concern. “Alpha, since the Luna’s sheets are… compromised, why don’t you stay in my room tonight? You need your rest for tomorrow’s pack meeting, after all.”

Andre’s ears turned pink, and he cleared his throat, nodding almost imperceptibly. “Fine. Just for tonight.”

My chest tightened. They had always flirted behind my back, but now they didn’t even bother to hide it. They were shameless, and it made my stomach churn.

Just then, Quinton walked out of his room, his backpack in hand. “Mom, the strap on my bag broke. My packmates are laughing at me. Can you fix it?”

Yasmin immediately reached out, her smile sickeningly sweet. “Quinton, darling, your mother looks exhausted. Let me handle it for you.”

I met her gaze coldly, my voice calm but firm. “Yasmin, your sewing skills are hardly something Quinton’s packmates would admire. I’ll handle it.”

Her smile faltered, but Quinton spoke up before she could respond. “No! Aunt Yasmin shouldn’t have to do this kind of thing. Mom, you’ve been home all day—just fix my bag, okay?”

I stared at him, my heart sinking. This was the child I’d carried for nine months, raised with so much love, and yet he was siding with her. With her. The betrayal burned like a brand.

With a loud crash, I slammed the basin onto the floor. “Tonight, I’m not lifting a finger for anyone!”

I turned on my heel and marched into my room, leaving them all stunned. Quinton stood frozen, his mouth hanging open, while Andre looked momentarily speechless.

In the seven years I’d been mated to Andre, I’d never raised my voice, never lost my composure. But tonight, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Andre followed me into the room, his voice softer now, almost placating. “Cora, what’s gotten into you? There’s no need to take it out on Quinton. Come on, I’ll stay here with you tonight. Let’s just forget about this.”

I didn’t respond, focusing instead on straightening the sheets on the bed. He sighed and sat down on the edge of the mattress, his presence heavy and suffocating.

Later, when the lights were off, a sharp, feminine gasp came from the room next door. Within moments, Yasmin’s voice floated through the wall, high-pitched and trembling. “Alpha, I think there’s a… a mouse in my room. Could you come check? I’m so scared…”

Andre was up in an instant, pulling on his shirt. “Cora, I’ll just deal with this and come right back. Get some rest.”

But he didn’t come back. Not that night.

Hours passed, and then, faintly, I heard it—a soft, breathy moan from the room next door. My heart twisted, and I gripped the blanket tightly, my claws digging into the fabric. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I lay there, silent and still, as the weight of betrayal settled over me like a suffocating fog.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as Yasmin sauntered out of her room, her neckline deliberately low, revealing the faint marks of a mate’s bite. I clenched my jaw, gripping the basin in my hands tighter as I turned to head inside, but her voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Cora,” Yasmin called, her tone dripping with faux sweetness. She crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “Since you’re the pack’s healer, maybe you could pick up some herbal remedy for the Alpha when you’re in town. Last night… well, he’s exhausted.”

Andre stepped out of the room at that moment, his shirt still half-buttoned. He paused, clearly caught off guard by her words. “It was just… a long night,” he mumbled, his voice trailing off.

I tightened my grip on the basin, my knuckles turning white. “If he’s that weak, he’d better be careful,” I snapped, my voice icy. “He might not handle the remedy well.”

Andre’s face darkened, his jaw tightening as he glared at me. Yasmin, however, didn’t miss a beat. She disappeared back into her room for a moment, returning with a sleek, shiny box in her hands.

“Oh, and Cora,” she said, her tone sickeningly sweet, “I noticed you don’t have a phone. It’s such a shame. Yesterday was my birthday, and the Alpha got me the latest model. I don’t need my old one anymore, so I thought I’d give it to you. You know, as a gift.”

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. Yesterday, I’d been in so much pain I could barely stand, yet I’d dragged myself home to call the Alpha from the landline. And what did he do? He’d gone out and bought Yasmin the newest phone, leaving me with nothing but her cast-off.

I shoved the box back into her hands, my voice trembling with suppressed anger. “Keep it. I don’t need your charity.”

But before I could turn away, Yasmin let out a dramatic cry, collapsing to the ground. She clutched her stomach, her face contorted in fake pain. “Cora, you didn’t have to push me! Alpha, what’s happening? My stomach… it hurts so much!”

Andre’s eyes widened in panic, and he rushed to her side, scooping her up into his arms. “What the hell is wrong with you, Cora?” he shouted, his voice sharp with accusation. He carried her into the house, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest.

Moments later, Rylan, the pack’s Delta and a part-time healer, arrived. He knelt beside Yasmin, his fingers pressing lightly to her wrist as he checked her pulse. After a moment, he looked up, his expression grave. “Alpha,” he said, his voice low and serious, “she’s pregnant.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. I felt my knees buckle slightly, but I forced myself to stand tall, even as the world seemed to tilt around me.