When I opened my eyes, I was back on the soft furs of my own bed. Turning my head, I saw Zael resting beside me.

Noticing I was awake, he opened his eyes and pulled me into his embrace. His voice was thick with guilt. "Aletta, you have returned to us. Do you wish to rest for a few more hours?"

Feeling the warmth of his chest, a sharp pain pierced my heart and I pushed him away.

"Zael, why do you continue this play?"

He went still for a moment, then whispered, "I am sorry. I believed Mother was only trying to frighten you. I did not think those two sentinels would truly lock you in the stone cellar."

"Mother went too far this time, but you must remember that you were the one who harmed Moira."

Even now, he was weaving excuses. I looked down and let out a cold, hollow laugh. "If you had not given the command, would they have ever dared to imprison your Luna?"

I paused, then added, "Since your mother already treats Moira like the true Luna of this pack, why do I not simply leave? Then you and Moira can be together and your mother will not have to suffer the sight of me."

With those words, I stood up to walk away.

Zael quickly lunged forward and pulled me into a tight hug, his voice trembling. "Aletta, after three years of being bonded, I will never let you go."

"Are you still pained because of Moira? I will tell her to leave the territory. I will not look upon her face again."

Such words might have fooled a young wolf, but I would not fall for his lies again.

I shoved him off me. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Moira suddenly threw open the chamber door.

She froze, her eyes wide with shock. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked at Zael.

"There is no need to exile me. I will take Aelin and leave these lands right now."

With that, she turned and fled. Zael looked panicked and leaped from the bed to chase after her, not even sparing me a second glance.

Watching him run down the stone hallway, I could not help but follow.

Moira stood on the high balcony of the second floor, looking down at the deep water of the stone pool below. Her eyes were red with false grief as she gazed at Zael.

"Zael, if even you do not want me anymore, I shall simply return my soul to the Moon. I know you and Aletta are the true mates, but I cannot stop the jealousy in my heart."

"Please protect Aelin after I am gone. And do not try to stop my fall."

She moved toward the edge of the railing.

Zael rushed forward and pulled Moira into a fierce embrace, his eyes full of agony.

"I am sorry. It was my failing. I should never have said those things. The one I truly love is you. We still have our pup. If you jump, what will become of her? What will become of me?"

He looked at Moira with deep devotion. Watching their little drama unfold, I stepped out from the shadows and slowly clapped my hands.

The moment Zael saw me, his face turned to stone.

He opened his mouth, then finally said with great effort, "Aletta, I will explain everything tonight, do you understand?"

I shook my head and looked at him with a calm heart. "No need, Zael. I will depart on my own soon. I will no longer stand in the way of your great love."

I turned to walk away, but Zael reached out to seize me.

Before he could touch me, Moira stepped between us.

"Aletta, please do not leave Zael because of my presence. This is all my fault. I should not have brought the pup here and I should not have grown so close to your mate. I am the one who must go."

Seeing Moira’s fake sorrow made me feel physically ill.

I said coldly, "Are you finished? if you are, then move out of my path."

But instead of stepping aside, Moira grabbed my arm. "Aletta, you and Zael must remain well. That way, my heart will be at peace even if I leave the pack..."

I gave her a mocking smile and pulled my arm free from her grasp.

But in the next heartbeat, Moira screamed, threw up her arm and fell backward toward the edge.

Zael, looking terrified, pushed me aside with all his strength and rushed to catch her.

He held her tightly by the waist, his voice full of relief. "Thank the Moon you are safe. I would have never forgiven myself if something happened to you."

But he did not see that his push had sent me over the edge. I fell from the second floor balcony and crashed into the cold water of the pool below.

The freezing water of the pool rushed into my nose and lungs, choking me instantly. I flailed my arms against the surface and shouted toward the balcony above.

"Zael! Help me!"

I saw Zael rush down the stone stairs in a panic, but he stopped at the very edge of the water. Instead of reaching for me, he pulled Moira into his arms.

"You have suffered enough because of Aletta. Now it is her turn to be taught a lesson by the spirits."

He looked down at me as I struggled. My eyes were full of despair, but he did not move a muscle. I stared at him in shock as my heart sank deeper than my body. Soon, everything went dark as I grew weaker from the lack of air.

Right before I lost consciousness, Zael finally shed his heavy coat, jumped in and pulled me onto the stone. His eyes were like ice. "Aletta, this is just a small warning. If you ever strike Moira again, I do not know what my wolf will do to you."

When I woke up, the sound of loud arguing from the great hall pulled me back to the world. I opened the chamber door and saw Zael and Moira in a heated clash. Moira held a travel bag in one hand and gripped Aelin’s arm with the other, pretending to be on the verge of tears.

"Zael, let go of me. Instead of waiting for Aletta to exile us from the pack, I would rather take our pup and leave this territory now."

With those words, she shook off Zael’s hand and turned toward the door. Zael’s eyes were full of pity and agony. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Moira’s waist.

"No, as long as I am the Alpha here, no one will dare chase you away. You and Aelin can stay in this den forever. What happened yesterday was Aletta’s failure. I have already punished her. She will not touch you again."

I slowly walked down the stairs, glaring at Moira with a cold smile.

"If you truly wanted to leave these lands, you would not have waited until today. You should have fled last night while Zael was deep in sleep."

Seeing Zael hesitate at my words, Moira bit her lip and suddenly dropped to her knees on the cold floor.

"Aletta, all of this is my fault. I should not have come between you and your mate. If you two can find peace, I will go."

She stood up and opened the heavy villa door. She was about to walk out when Zael grabbed her arm and roared, "Enough!"

He turned to me, his eyes burning with rage. "Aletta, do you not think this pack is chaotic enough? Moira has never done anything to harm your soul, so why do you keep hunting her?"

His voice was thick with disappointment. "Aletta, we have been bonded for three years. When did you become such a jealous creature? I barely recognize the wolf you have become."

I lowered my head and sneered, stepping closer to him. "You do not recognize me because your heart was never mine to hold. All you care about is Moira."

"Since you have chosen to let her stay in my home, I will go."

Everything in the villa was covered in Zael’s scent. I did not want any of it anymore, so I left every possession behind. As I stepped out into the air, Zael’s angry voice followed me.

"Aletta, there is a limit to my patience. If you walk out of these gates today, do not bother returning to this pack!"

I did not turn around. I simply whispered to myself that I would never come back. After leaving the villa, I took out my crystal communicator and sent a message to the Shadow Alpha.

[When will the heart source be found?]

The reply came quickly. [We have news. Just wait two more days.]

In two days, I would be able to leave this territory for good.

The following night, I arrived at the Great Hall in my ceremonial robes. This feast was held to celebrate the coming of age for the Alpha Wildbriar's eldest daughter. It was a promise made moons ago, so I was bound by honor to attend. I sat in a quiet corner of the hall, sipping my tonic.

As I expected, it was not long before Zael and Moira made their entrance. Moira clung to Zael’s arm, wearing a humble smile. The guests from other packs believed Moira was his true Luna and began to shower them with praise.

"Zael and his mate share such a beautiful bond! We are truly envious."

Zael smiled softly, accepting every compliment as if they were truly the destined pair. Unable to watch them any longer, I took my goblet and stepped onto the stone balcony for some fresh air. My drink was finished and just as I moved to go back inside, Moira stepped beside me.

"Aletta, you have already been defeated. Zael’s soul belongs to me now. Can you really leave Aelin without a father?"

I gave her a cold, hard smile. "What is your true intent?"

"I want you to leave this kingdom now. I want the title of Luna Stormridge."

I nodded slowly. "Do not worry, I will depart. I gave up on Zael many suns ago."

I turned to walk away, but Moira seized my arm. Before I could ask what she was doing, someone came up behind me and pressed a cloth soaked in sleeping herbs over my nose. Just before the darkness took me, I saw Moira’s mocking grin.

"But I do not trust your word."

When my eyes opened, I found myself bound to a wooden chair, unable to move my limbs. Beside me sat Moira, also tied with ropes. She looked at me with a smug expression. "Aletta, if Zael knew we were both taken by rogues and he could only rescue one, who do you think his wolf would choose?"

I stared at her in shock. "This was your plan?"

She laughed loudly. "What if it was? I only want Zael for myself. Is that a crime?"

I was about to answer when a scout rushed in and spoke to the rogue leader. "Boss, the Alpha Zael is here."

Moments later, two men in dark armor stood behind us, each holding a silver blade. As Zael walked into the chamber, my heart hammered against my ribs. The leader smirked at him.

"Zael, you are a lucky male. Two beautiful females, but the law of the rogue says you can only take one. Choose now, or both will be sacrificed to the moon."

"Three..."

"Two..."

Before the rogue reached one, Zael suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Moira. "Her. Release her."

The rogue grinned. "Zael does not hesitate. Very well, let us deal with the other one."

He signaled someone to cut my ropes. But immediately after I was free, he shoved me violently to the floor. In seconds, heavy blows began to strike me from all sides. I curled into a ball, holding my stomach to protect my pup.

Then, a rogue kicked me hard in the womb. The man laughed when he saw my agony. "Zael, you should leave this place now. If I change my mind and decide not to let her live, it will not end well for you."

Through the gaps in the crowd, I looked at Zael and begged with my last bit of strength. "Please... save me... save our pup..."

But Zael acted as if my voice was nothing but wind. He took Moira’s hand and walked out of the den without looking back.

Tears rolled down my face and hit the dusty stone. I clutched my stomach, feeling the tiny life force inside me begin to fade and slip away.

I closed my eyes, consumed by pain and the end of all hope.