Six years into our bound, I stumbled upon a scene at the clinic that shattered my world. My mate, who'd always treated me like I hung the moon, was there, ordering two prescriptions: one to protect a pregnancy, the other to end one.

He stood with his arm around a stunning she wolf, coolly instructing his men to prepare the herbs. The room buzzed with confusion. "My lord, you're willing to sacrifice your mate's pup just so Vanessa Monroe's kid can inherit the title? Why not marry her already and be done with it?"

Alpha Lucian Thorne kicked the Wold to the ground, his voice ice-cold.

"Shut your mouth. Get some tonics ready to build her strength. If Luna suffers any complications from this abortion, I'll have your heads."

"And not a word of this to Luna," he added, his tone deadly.

"Anyone who breathes a hint of it loses their tongue."

The men scattered, knowing better than to argue.

Vanessa whined about the herbs's bitter taste, and alpha Lucian-Mr. Germaphobe himself-fed it to her straight from his mouth.

Half a bowl in, he was breathing hard, scooping her up and carrying her into a back room.

The sounds that followed-soft, intimate, unmistakable-hit me like a punch.

I clapped a hand over my mouth and fled, humiliated.

The Wold who swore I was his everything had been tangled up with someone else all along.

Fine. I'd draft a bond break decree, end this bound, and walk away for good. We'd never cross paths again.

I wandered the streets in a daze after bolting from the clinic.

She-wolves passing by whispered enviously, stealing glances.

"Look. Her mate practically worships her. He promised her forever, just the two of them, and spent half his fortune building her a Woldsion fit for a Luna. You won't find a better Wold than that."

Normally, those words would've made me beam with pride, grateful I'd bond to such a devoted mate. But today, after what I'd seen, each syllable stabbed like a knife.

The Wold who claimed I was his whole world was cheating on me. Worse, he'd gotten another she wolf pregnant.

My head spun, my vision blurred, and I felt myself collapsing.

"Luna!"

A panicked shout cut through the fog.

Alpha Lucian appeared out of nowhere, catching me in his arms. He wrapped his cloak around my trembling shoulders, his eyes red with worry as he barked orders for a healer.

When I came to, I was tucked into bed, the healer kneeling nervously nearby. "My lord, the lady's condition is due to emotional distress," he reported.

Alpha Lucian's brow furrowed. "Out of nowhere? How could-"

He froze mid-sentence, turning to me with a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Luna, I heard from the maids you stopped by the clinic today. I was there handling some business. Did you... see me?"

His cautious tone made my fists clench under the blankets, but I forced my face to stay blank. "I got distracted by the market on the way. Probably got too excited watching the street performers."

His shoulders relaxed, and he pulled me into his arms, scolding me gently.

"You're pregnant, and you're still running around like a kid? Do you have any idea how scared I was when I saw you collapse?"

His concern looked so real. He held a steaming bowl of herbs to my lips. "Luna, this is a prenatal tonic from the healer. Drink it while it's hot."

I glanced at the empty packet on the table-the same one I'd seen at the clinic. My nose stung, and tears spilled over.

He kissed them away, voice thick with worry. "Hey, why're you crying all of a sudden?"

"Sweetheart, this herbs smells so bitter. Can I skip it? Please?"

I searched his face. But alpha Lucian just chuckled, shaalpha his head.

"What are you, six? Come on, Luna. You've always wanted a baby. You gotta take care of yourself. Here, I'll feed it to you with some candied fruit."

six years of bound, and he knew exactly how to play me. Mention a pup, and I'd cave every time.

But alpha Lucian, how could you? You knew how much I wanted this baby, yet you're crushing my dreams to clear the way for Vanessa's kid.

You didn't need to go to all this trouble. If you'd just brought her to me, I'd have stepped aside without a fight.

My tears dried up, leaving only a raw ache in my chest. Numb, I opened my mouth and let him spoon the herbs in, every bitter drop.

That night, the wolfsbane took effect. I writhed in agony, clutching my stomach as I felt my baby slip away, reduced to a dark stain on the sheets. My heart went cold with it.

"The lady's always been frail," the healer said later. "After two miscarriages, I'm afraid she may never conceive again."

Alpha Lucian held my hand, his eyes bloodshot, crying harder than I could. Mr. Clean-Freak himself washed the blood from my body, handling the mess no servant would touch.

"Luna, if you still want a pup... we can adopt one down the line. We'll raise them as our own."

His voice dripped with devotion. If I hadn't seen the truth with my own eyes, I might've believed him forever.

He brushed the damp hair from my forehead, leaning in to kiss me, but I turned my face away. "I'm tired. Let's sleep."

I couldn't risk screaming the questions burning inside me. I shut my eyes, desperate to block him out.

He hesitated but didn't push. Ever the doting mate, he tucked the blankets around me, warming my icy hands and feet in his arms until he drifted off.

In the moonlight, I studied his face. He looked like a stranger. Memories of his love-every tender moment, every promise-played in my head.

It was all a lie.

The next morning, I gathered up the tiny clothes and toys I'd made for our unborn pup. Each little jacket I'd sewn with trembling excitement after learning I was pregnant, each rattle I'd painstaalphaly crafted under a master's guidance-they all went into the fire.

As the flames devoured them, my heart ached so fiercely I could barely breathe.

By the time alpha Lucian returned from the morning court session, the fire had burned out, leaving only cold ashes in the basin.

He let out a heavy sigh and pulled me into his arms.

"Luna, don't take it so hard," he murmured.

"I heard the priest at the church is powerful. I've arranged for him to perform a blessing for the baby."

Numb, like a walalpha corpse, I let him guide me to the carriage.

At the church steps, he was helping me down when a guard approached.

"My lord, someone's here to see you..."

Alpha Lucian's brow furrowed in irritation.

"What is it? I told you, today's for Luna. No interruptions."

Before he could finish, a figure pushed past the guard and dropped to their knees before him. His eyes widened, words catching in his throat. I expected him to explode, but instead, he stepped in front of me, blocalpha my view, his face tight with unease.

"Luna, I just remembered-His Majesty gave me urgent business. Go find the priest. I'll handle this and be right back."

I stared into his eyes, catching the flicker of panic. In that split second, as he turned, I glimpsed the person kneeling. Despite the oversized men's robe, the delicate waist and pale skin gave her away-Vanessa, his mistress.

But I played the dutiful mate, as always.

"If it's urgent business, go. Don't rush back."

Relief washed over him. He grabbed Vanessa's arm and hurried off without a backward glance, missing the grief in my eyes.

Alpha Lucian had never put work before me. He'd stay up all night drafting reports just to spend a day with me, saying every moment together was precious.

Yet now, for another she wolf, he left me without a second thought.

Their figures blurred through my tears.

I brushed off the guard with some excuse and followed them quietly. In a narrow, deserted alley, alpha Lucian stopped and rounded on her.

"Are you out of your mind?" he hissed.

"I told you, show up in front of Luna, and you're done."

His hand gripped Vanessa's throat, leaving red marks as he squeezed.

She sobbed, trembling. "My lord... I didn't mean to. I had a nightmare about our baby last night. I was so scared, I had to see you."

His fierce expression softened, his hand dropping as a trace of tenderness flickered in his eyes. "It was just a dream," he said gently. "Don't take it seriously."

Vanessa, sensing his shift, nestled into his arms, pouting playfully. "But I'm so scared. Can't you stay with me, just for today?"

He pushed her back, voice firm.

"I promised Luna I'd be with her at the church. She's fragile after the miscarriage. I have to be there for her."

Undeterred, Vanessa unbuttoned her blouse, leaning in to whisper against his throat.

"You've always wanted to try it outside. No one's around. How about..."

Before she could finish, alpha Lucian's demeanor changed.

He yanked her close, wrapping her in his cloak, and pressed her against the wall with a hungry edge.

"You little tease," he growled. "Always pulling me in."

I crouched behind a corner, torturing myself with their muffled gasps and whispers.

My legs went numb, but I stayed until the sounds faded. Soon after, alpha Lucian emerged, carefully draping his cloak over Vanessa and carrying her out.

I trailed them from a distance.

He'd changed clothes and donned a mask, blending in like any ordinary mate as he led Vanessa into the church.

They approached the priest, asalpha for a blessing for their pup.

In his hand was the golden pendenlant I'd seen him carve late into the night.

Back then, his gentle smile had convinced me he loved our baby as much as I did. But now, I saw the truth etched into the metal: Vanessa.

Stumbling back , my mind was consumed by that pendenlant.

From the moment I told alpha Lucian I was pregnant, he'd seemed distant, watching coolly as I poured my heart into maalpha things for our pup.

Yet that pendenlant, crafted with such care, had made me believe he cherished our baby.

Now, the illusion was shattered.

He'd never wanted our pup. All his love was for Vanessa-and he'd destroyed our baby to secure a future for hers.

The room was filled with treasures he'd scoured the world to give me, each one now a bitter reminder.

I was ready to smash them all when a maid entered, holding out a hairpin. "My lady, someone outside is asalpha to see you with this."

I recognized it instantly-the hairpin I'd lost near the church in my haste. And the visitor? Vanessa.

She sauntered in, hand resting on her belly, a smug smile on her face as she sat beside me. "You saw everything in the alley, didn't you?"

I stayed silent.

She didn't care, barreling on with glee.

"The first time with alpha Lucian was two years ago, on the fifteenth of the winter moon. Even after all this time, he's still obsessed with me."

My hand shook, knocalpha over a cup.

Two years ago, on that exact date, I'd been grieving my first miscarriage, unable to sleep from the pain. And he'd been with her.

Seeing my anguish, Vanessa leaned in, relishing it. "When you're asleep, he's with me. Once, we were right by your bed. You've never seen him lose control like that, have you?"

"They say he loves you," she sneered.

"But I think you're the most pathetic. Did you know? He promised only my pup will inherit his title. That's why he slipped you that abortion wolfsbane-laced with enough saffron to make sure you'll never conceive again."

Her words tore open every wound. I clenched my fists, cutting her off.

"What do you want?"

She tossed my hairpin to the floor, grinding it under her heel.

"You're just his old toy. Why should my pup call you mother? alpha Lucian's marrying me in six days. With how much he adores me, you'll be out of the picture soon enough. If you've got any pride, step aside and give me the title of lady."

I sank back in my chair, a bitter smile twisting my lips.

"Fine. The title's yours."

And alpha Lucian? You can have him too.

After Vanessa left, a downpour started.

I stood in the rain, lost in a daze, until alpha Lucian rushed to my side, holding an umbrella. Only then did I look up, numb.

His eyes were full of guilt and anguish as he pulled me close.

"Luna, I'm so sorry I broke my promise. Punish me however you want, but don't torture yourself like this. You know seeing you hurt kills me a thousand times over."

He ordered someone to shield me with an umbrella, then dropped to his knees in the rain. "If you're mad, I'll kneel until you're not."

The rain soaked him as much as me, his face pale, lips turning blue from the cold, but he didn't budge. It was like he'd stay there forever unless I gave in.

I stared at him for a long time, then shook my head faintly.

"I'm not mad. I just didn't expect the rain."

He stood, wrapping me in his arms, his gaze heavy. "In a few days, I'll take you back to the church," he said softly, then hesitated before adding,

"Quorven pack's been hit by famine. The alpha just summoned me about it. I have to head out for relief efforts-won't be back for six days."

I nodded calmly, playing the dutiful mate, and told the servants to pack his bags. Then I pulled a small box from my pocket and handed it to him.

"What's this?" he asked, reaching to open it.

I stopped his hand. "Sweetheart, it's a good-luck charm I got from the church for you. Don't open it until you're back from Quorven pack, or it won't work."

His eyes lit up, a flash of guilt crossing his face as he tucked the box close to his chest. "A gift from my Luna? I'll treasure it. Wait for me at home."

At the door, he paused, turning back. "About a pup... we can adopt one later. Make things whole."

I didn't answer, just watched his retreating figure.