When the rogue injected Amelie Palmer and me with the aphrodisiac serum, I knew we were in trouble. Without the antidote, we would be driven to madness—or death.

My mate, Ayden Harper, the Lycan King, immediately pulled out the ancient heirloom antidote from his pocket. His aura, always commanding and cold, seemed even more unyielding now. He didn’t hesitate. He moved toward Amelie, his childhood savior and chosen Luna, and prepared to administer the antidote to her.

Marco Gomez, his loyal Beta, stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Alpha, there’s only one dose. You should give it to Lilliana. She’s your mate, your chosen partner."

I was on the floor, my body burning with the serum’s effects. My vision blurred, but I could still see Ayden’s face, impassive and distant. "Ayden," I gasped, my voice trembling. "Please… save me."

He didn’t even look at me. Instead, he pulled Amelie closer, her body writhing as the serum took hold. Her scent—rosemary and vanilla—filled the room, mingling with his powerful Alpha aura. He gently tilted her head back and pressed the vial to her lips. "Drink this," he said, his voice soft, almost tender. "You’ll be okay."

My heart shattered. I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, a sound of pure despair. This wasn’t the first time he’d chosen her over me. Years ago, when we’d both fallen ill with a rare werewolf virus, he’d given the only cure to her. I’d fought through the illness alone, my body weakened forever.

"Alpha," Marco pleaded, dropping to his knees. "Lilliana has stood by you through everything. She’s your mate. You can’t abandon her now."

"Enough," Ayden snapped, his Alpha tone cutting through the room like a blade. He kicked Marco aside, sending him sprawling next to me. I reached out, my fingers brushing Marco’s arm, but I was too weak to do more.

I watched as Ayden pulled a piece of candy from his pocket and handed it to Amelie. "Here," he said, his voice soothing. "To take the bitterness away." His fingers lingered on her cheek, his touch gentle, affectionate.

Meanwhile, I was on the floor, my body trembling with the serum’s effects. My heat was unbearable, my mind spiraling. I knew what would happen if I didn’t get the antidote—I would die. And I was carrying his child.

"Ayden," I choked out, my voice barely audible. "I’m pregnant. Please… save our baby."

He finally turned to me, his expression cold and detached. "You’re my mate," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I won’t abandon you. But I’m the Lycan King. I can’t break my vows, not even for you."

Before I could respond, he gestured to the door. A group of male werewolves entered, their scents aggressive and overwhelming. My stomach twisted with dread.

"There’s only one dose of the antidote," Ayden said, his tone matter-of-fact. "These men will help you. Three days, and the serum will be out of your system."

My heart stopped. "No," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You can’t do this to me."

He crouched beside me, his eyes cold. "It’s for your own good. You’ve always wanted a child, haven’t you? If one of them gets you pregnant, I’ll accept it as my own."

I stared at him, my mind reeling. Five years of marriage, of trying to build a life with him, and this was his solution? I felt my wolf howl in agony, a sound that echoed in my soul.

"Ayden," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. "If you let them touch me, I’ll die. Our baby will die."

He stood, his expression unyielding. "You’ll survive," he said, his voice cold. "You always do."

As the men approached, I felt the last shred of hope I had for our mate bond slip away. My body burned, my mind spiraled, and I knew this was the end. But before the darkness took me, I thought of the gift I’d left for him—the one thing that would make him regret everything.

Ayden Harper, the Lycan King, stared at me with icy disbelief, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a suffocating weight.

“I, the Lycan King, have never broken my vow,” he said, his voice sharp and cutting. “How could you possibly be carrying my child?”

“Lilliana Harper, you should’ve rehearsed this lie better.”

“I’m not lying…” I started, but a searing pain shot through my abdomen, making me double over.

Humiliation burned in my chest, hotter than the pain.

Marco Gomez, the Beta, stepped forward, his voice trembling but firm. “Your Majesty, her scent carries traces of yours. That night—”

“Whose side are you on, Marco?” Ayden’s eyes narrowed, his Alpha tone cutting through the room like a blade.

“Beta Marco, I think you’ve forgotten your place in this pack,” he growled. “Know your rank.”

Marco immediately lowered his head, silenced.

Tears streamed down my face as I remembered that night—the night of my Come of Age Ceremony.

He had brought a cake, but he’d been out of his mind, his scent wild and unfamiliar, as if someone had drugged him.

He’d forced himself on me, and the next morning, when he woke up beside me, he’d promised to take responsibility. I thought he knew what had happened.

“Your Majesty…” My voice cracked, my breath coming in shallow gasps. “Please believe me. I’m carrying your child.”

“Enough,” he snapped, his voice cold and final. “I won’t listen to your lies anymore.”

Without another word, he turned and scooped Amelie Palmer, his chosen Luna, into his arms. She clung to him, her hands clawing at his shirt, but he didn’t seem to care.

He carried her into his study, shutting the door behind them.

“Your Majesty, please!” I screamed, desperation clawing at my throat. “Don’t do this to me!”

But he didn’t look back. The door closed with a final, deafening thud, sealing my fate.

Marco tried to step in, but the warriors—Delta’s under Ayden’s command—shoved him aside.

Then they were on me, forcing me to the ground. I lost count of how many hands were on me, how many scents—foreign and aggressive—filled the air.

Panic and pain consumed me as I begged, my hands desperately clutching my stomach.

“Please, don’t hurt my child!” I sobbed, my voice breaking.

But my pleas fell on deaf ears.

All I could do was curl into myself, shielding my unborn twins as best as I could, praying to the Moon Goddess for mercy.

When the men tore my clothes off, a muffled groan suddenly came from Ayden’s study.

"Amelie, not so rough."

I froze.

I didn’t dare to imagine what they were doing.

Tears poured down like a flood.

Ayden, how could you do this to me?

"Ah!"

My scream echoed through the room.

"Smack!" Someone slapped me.

"Shut up!"

"If you disturb the Alpha King and Luna, you’ll regret it!"

"Now, be a good little Omega and serve us!"

I fought back with everything I had.

But it was useless. Completely useless.

I didn’t know how long it had been before they finally threw me aside like trash.

The burning heat in my body had subsided a little, but I knew this was only the beginning.

Two more days. Two more days of this torment.

The next second, I felt a warm flow rush out of me.

I looked down and saw blood, staining my white pants.

My heart clenched.

"Save my pups, please, save me."

Soon, people arrived, but it wasn’t Ayden. It was a few Omegas.

Seeing the blood, they frowned in disgust.

"How pathetic. No wonder the Alpha King prefers Luna Amelie."

"Of course, he even gave her the ancestral necklace instead of saving her. That proves he doesn’t care about this one."

Yes, Ayden didn’t love me anymore.

I had felt it for a while.

But right now, I didn’t care about that. I just wanted to save my pups.

I begged them to help me, to take me to the Healer.

But they sneered. "The Alpha King already said it’s fine if you lose them. They’re not his anyway."

But they *are* his.

I wanted to scream it, but I had no strength left.

My consciousness was slipping away.

In the last moment, I was still thinking about the gift I had prepared for Ayden.

I decided I would make sure he received it.