Selene's POV

"I'm sorry,"the healer said the moment my eyes opened."Your pup did not survive.You lost too much blood.We tried everything."

My throat felt like dry bark.

"My mate,"I whispered."Caelan...did he come?"

Her expression fell."No one has come for you,my lady."

Tears ran down my face as the stone walls blurred.

Three days ago,I pressed my fingers to the Communication Stone until it burned.Ninety-nine pulses.Twenty pleas lost in its silver light.

Send the pack escort.I am in labor.

The Eastern Path has collapsed.I cannot cross.

I am bleeding.

When no one answered,I reached through the Stone to Caelan's war chamber.

"I am in labor,"I cried."Where is Caelan?"

His attendant paused."The Alpha is not here.He took the Blood Moon Carriage to bring his pregnant mate to the Sacred Den.May I take a message?"

The world went quiet.

"Pregnant...mate?"The words came out smaller than a breath.

"You are mistaken.I am his mate.I am the one in labor."

A contraction tore through me.I cried out,clutching my belly.

"Tell him it's Selene,"I gasped."Tell him to come now."

"I'm sorry,my lady.I think the Stone found the wrong chamber."

"Please...call Caelan..."But the Stone had already gone cold.

Pain took over.My vision went dark.

"Caelan."His name left my lips like the last hope of a dying flame.

He did not come.Then there was nothing.

"Here is your Stone."The healer pressed it into my shaking hands,then left me alone with the quiet.

I held it against my chest and waited for his warmth to come through it.

When we first mated,Caelan could not go an hour without reaching for me.Once I was gone for three hours.He searched the whole territory.

I searched the Stone's memory.Nothing from Caelan.Nothing from my parents.Nothing from Verra.

Then a pact announcement scroll opened across its surface.

I pressed my palm to it:Caelan,my parents,and Verra in the Sacred Den's finest birthing chamber.A newborn pup in her arms.

One word at the bottom of the scroll:

Family.

I found another scroll sent three days ago.The very hour I had been laboring alone on the forest ground.

Verra sat inside the Blood Moon Carriage,her lips pressed to Caelan's jaw.Moon Goddess Flowers were braided through her hair.

The Eastern Path collapsed and he would not let me be stranded.He carried me here himself.He takes such good care of me.

Such a devoted Alpha.

Blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

So while I bled out alone on the road,Verra was the one he rode through the dark to save.

My grip tightened around the Stone until my knuckles went white.

Her father was my father's Beta.He died saving him,losing his wolf in the act.As payment,my father raised Verra as his own.

She grew up in my home.What I never knew was that she had Caelan's heart too,before my father arranged our mating.

When Caelan nearly died in the border war,Verra gave a piece of her wolf-soul to save him.I watched and felt grateful.

But when he opened his eyes,gratitude became something more.He answered her calls before mine.He lingered near her too long.

I told him how it felt.

"I love you.Not her."

"I am repaying what she gave me."

"She saved my life."

I believed him.I silenced the wolf inside me and told myself I was jealous.

When Verra came back pregnant,my parents were furious.I shielded her.Brewed her teas.Cared for her pregnancy alongside my own.

And now her face was on a pact announcement scroll beside Caelan's name.

My hands trembled as I pushed myself from the healing furs.Pain shot through my legs but I barely felt it.

Caelan.My parents.Verra.All in a chamber at the far end.Verra's voice stopped me just outside the door.

"I feel so guilty,"she whispered."Selene's pup...I never wanted this."

"Stop."Caelan's answer came at once."You did nothing wrong.We had no choice."

"Selene's son was the only spirit-compatible vessel,"he said."The seers confirmed it.His was the only soul strong enough."

"You truly used his soul-essence?"Verra asked.

"Yes."No pause.No regret."He came into the world strong.The transfer held."

My mother cut in."She should be grateful.She never saw you as an equal for twenty-two years.Saving your child is how she repays that."

"When your time comes,the pup will need someone.Selene can raise him.That is enough for her,"my father said.

"You gave your life for mine,"Caelan said."I could not let our son die.Not when I am already losing you."

"Thank you,"she whispered."For saving him.For this one wish."

He kissed her forehead.The Moon Goddess Flower glowed softly beside her.

"You are worth everything,"he said.

The grief that came was not loud.It simply settled,cold and heavy.

My parents had known all along.They watched me protect her and give everything.They said nothing.

Caelan had looked me in the eye every day and said words he did not mean.

Together they had agreed to take my son's soul.

I found the washroom.My knees gave out at the basin.Nausea rose in my throat.Tears came without sound.

The wolf inside me did not howl.She simply lay down.

"Dearest sister."Verra's voice was smooth and slow."I saw you at my door.Why didn't you come in?"

She stood wrapped in birthing furs.The gentle face she wore for the world was gone.What remained I had always seen and never named.

A smile.Quiet and satisfied.

"You."The word broke apart in my mouth.

"I have waited so long for this."Her eyes swept over me."The good sister.The dying girl.And now look at you.Broken.Just as you should be."

"Why?"My voice cracked."What did I ever do to you?"

"You lived my life."All softness left her."Caelan was mine.My father died for yours.What did I get?You in my place.You with my mate."

"You could have had everything,"I sobbed."Why did you take my son?"

"Because I want no trace of you left,"she said."And the dying wolf act made everyone do exactly what I needed."

She tilted her head."But here is the truth.I do not have spirit rot.I never did."

"You lied,"I breathed."For years.To all of them."

"I'll tell them.I'll tell the whole pack."

She laughed,soft and unbothered."No one will believe you.Not after this."

Before I could move,she drove her own head into the stone wall.Then she dropped to the floor and screamed.

"Caelan...help me...she is going to kill me!"

The door burst open.Caelan's eyes found Verra on the floor.Then me.His face closed like a gate.

"What have you done?!"he roared.

Selene's POV

I stared at Caelan as he crossed the room and grabbed my wrist.His face was twisted with anger.

"How dare you hurt her when you know she is sick!"he snarled."Do you want to kill her?"

"If I could,I wouldn't hesitate,"I shot back.

My voice shook but I did not pull away.He went still.He was not used to that.In all the years we had been together,I had always been the one to cower and beg for peace.Not anymore.

His grip tightened."When did you become this wicked,Selene?Your jealousy has made you ugly."

"Please don't fight because of me."Verra's soft voice floated across the room."Selene didn't do anything.I just lost my balance."

Caelan walked to her at once.He picked her up like she was made of glass and held her against his chest.

"You're too kind,Verra.I'm sorry she keeps doing this to you."

A hollow laugh left my throat."Kind?You call this kind?I heard everything,Caelan.The soul transfer.What you all did to my pup.I know."

Guilt crossed his face for just a moment.Then it was gone.

"If I had told you,you would not have agreed,"he said flatly.

The walls of the washroom felt like they were closing in.

"So you admit it,"I whispered."You got her pregnant and then used my pup's soul to save yours."

"He was my son too,"Caelan snapped."I had the right to decide.Verra is dying.You can have another pup.She cannot."

Something went cold inside me.

"Everyone dies,"I said."Her death will not be special."

Verra whimpered softly against his chest."Please...I never wanted any of this."

Caelan looked at me like I was something he had found rotting in the forest.

"You disgust me,Selene.Your own sister is fading and all you think about is yourself."His voice dropped low."I am sure your dead pup is grateful he will never have to call you mother."

The words hit me like a stone.

My knees buckled.I went down hard onto the cold floor and for a moment I could not hear anything.Just a high ringing in my ears and the sound of my own breathing.

Then slow,unhurried footsteps echoed from the corridor.

My father's voice followed."Well said,Caelan."

I turned.My parents were standing at the end of the hallway,watching.

My mother rushed past me like I was not even there and wrapped her arms around Verra."Oh my poor child.Did she hurt you again?"

My father's eyes settled on me,cold and flat."Selene.What is wrong with you?"

I stared up at them from the floor."You knew,"I whispered."You knew they were taking my pup's soul.You all knew the truth and let me believe lies for months."

My mother did not even flinch."Lower your voice.This is a sacred den."

My father let out a slow,heavy sigh."You should be ashamed.Verra is dying.Instead of standing by her,you are attacking her."

"She lied about having spirit rot!"I cried.

A passing healer slowed in the doorway and looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Caelan's expression went hard.

"That's enough,"he said."Your not the same woman I once knew."He turned to my parents."I think she needs to be seen by the den's mind healers.She is unstable.She is making wild claims about Verra's condition."

My mother nodded without pause."Yes.Her jealousy has finally broken her."

Something cracked inside me.

"You're going to call me mad?"I asked,my voice barely above a sound.

"If that is what it takes to keep Verra safe from you,"Caelan said coldly,"I will not hesitate."

More healers and pack members had gathered near the doorway.I could feel their eyes.Every look was full of pity and judgment.

From the safety of Caelan's chest,Verra looked at me.And smiled.

That was when my tears stopped.

It was strange how fast grief could sharpen into something clear.They had taken my child.They thought I was too broken and too alone to ever stand back up.

They were wrong.

I pushed myself off the floor slowly.I stood straight and looked at all of them with cold eyes.

"You all deserve each other,"I said quietly."And I will make you regret this."

Then I turned and walked away.

I limped back to my chamber and closed the door behind me.

For a long moment I just stood there staring at my reflection in the looking glass.The woman staring back at me was pale and hollow-eyed.She looked like someone who had been buried alive.

But she was still standing.

I picked up my Communication moonstone and pressed my thumb to a pulse I had not sent in six months.

The connection opened almost instantly.

"Uncle Aldric,"I said softly."I am ready to come home."

Six months ago,I had pulled a wounded wolf out of a rogue ambush near the pack's southern border.He turned out to be my uncle,Aldric.

When he recovered,he told me everything.My true parents had died when I was barely three years old.My grandparents had searched for me for years but found nothing.Aldric had never stopped looking.

He told me my grandparents were still alive and had never given up hope.He had been overseeing everything my parents left behind,waiting for the day I came home to claim it.

There was one condition.Before my parents died,they had bound me by betrothal to the son of their most trusted ally.To receive my inheritance,I had to honor that promise and take him as my mate.

I should have gone with Uncle Aldric that same day.

But I was still in love with Caelan then.So I had smiled,thanked my uncle,and told him I could not leave.I told him I already had a mate and I was where I was meant to be.

How wrong I had been.

"Are you sure,Selene?"Aldric's voice was careful and warm."Last time we spoke,you said you were mated.You turned everything down."

"I was wrong,"I said."I will come home and claim what my parents left me.And I will honor their wishes.I will take Damian Ashveil as my mate."

A long pause.Then I heard him exhale in relief.

"Selene...your grandparents will weep with joy when I tell them.When shall I come for you?"

"Give me a few days to settle things here,"I said."But I want the bonding ceremony arranged quickly."

"What bonding ceremony,Selene?"

I looked up.

Caelan stood in the doorway,his eyes sharp and suspicious,his jaw tight.

Selene's POV

I pressed my thumb to the communication moonstone and cut the connection.

"What bonding ceremony were you talking about?"Caelan asked again.

My fingers tightened around the Communication moonstone for just a moment.

"A friend of mine,"I said calmly."She is preparing her bonding rite.She asked me to help."

Caelan studied me.Then he nodded slowly.

"You always loved ceremonies,"he said."You even planned our moon-rite anniversary like a second bonding."

I did not reply.

Three years of being his mate.

For three years,I begged him to acknowledge our bond before the pack.

He had finally agreed.He promised that on our anniversary,the whole territory would know I was his.We were supposed to stand before them together,our newborn pup in our arms.

The anniversary was two days away.

My pup was gone.

And the wolf standing in front of me was the one who had taken him.

I kept my eyes low so Caelan would not see what was burning inside them.

"Why are you here?"I asked quietly.

He seemed relieved that I was not fighting him.

"I know you are hurting,"he said,his voice softening."But I will make it right.Verra only has a few months left.If you can just be a little kind to her...when she is gone,things can go back to how they were."

When she is gone.

The words almost made me laugh out loud.

He had no idea.I had already decided to leave.There was nothing to go back to.There never would be again.

But I simply nodded.

"Alright."

Caelan visibly relaxed.

"Actually,"he continued,"Verra will be leaving the den soon.Could you prepare that healing broth for her?The one with the moon-herb and bone root.You know the one.It helps her strength come back faster."

So that was the real reason he had come.

To ask the wolf whose pup had just been taken to cook for the wolf who helped take him.

Anger moved through my chest like fire through dry grass.

Then I remembered something my mother used to say before she became someone I no longer knew.

If you want to defeat your enemy,never let them see your true face.

I pressed a faint smile onto my lips.

"Of course,"I said.

Caelan blinked."You...agree?"

"Why wouldn't I?"I replied."Verra is my sister."

A satisfied look settled on his face.The look of a wolf who believed he had the situation under control.

"I knew I could count on you."

He stepped forward and moved to press his lips to my forehead.I turned slightly so that his mouth met only air.

"I still feel unwell,"I said.

He paused,then nodded."I will go arrange Verra's release."

The door closed behind him.

The moment it did,the smile left my face.

Two hours later,I walked out of the Sacred Den.

The bright afternoon light washed over me.I had to stop and shield my eyes.I had been inside for three days and the world outside had simply...continued.The trees still stood.The wind still moved through the valley.No one knew that I had buried my pup without a burial.

I pulled my cloak around me and walked to the pack's transit post.

"The lower valley,"I told the escort quietly.

He nodded and we moved.

As the forest passed on either side,my hand moved slowly to my stomach.To the place where my son had been.The pup they had taken.

A dull ache spread through my chest like a chill settling inside me.You deserved to live.

My eyes closed for just a moment.But the tears did not come.If I wept now,they would win.And I would never let them win again.

My Communication moonstone pulsed.It was Elder Brennan,my pack counsel.

"My lady,"his voice was careful."I received your message.Is everything alright?"

"I am fine,"I said."I need you to prepare a few things for me."

"Of course."

"The bond-breaking papers must be ready today.I will sign them in two days."

"Understood."

"And one more thing."

"My true name needs to be restored."

A pause settled on the line.

"You mean the name your uncle spoke of?"

"Yes."

"I want the name Selene of Caelan's pack removed from every record."

Elder Brennan drew a short breath."That will require a formal blood declaration before the Moon Goddess's seal.It is not a small thing."

"I will send you everything you need to begin."

"It can be done,"he said."It will take time to complete.But we can start today."

"Good."

I looked out at the trees moving past.

"My bond has lasted three years,"I said quietly."My leaving will take two days."

Elder Brennan was silent for a moment.Then he said gently,"I understand,my lady.I will handle everything."

"Thank you."

I lowered the Stone and leaned back.

For two more days,I would play the part.The quiet,understanding mate.The good sister.The wolf who had been broken.

And then Selene of Caelan's pack would vanish.

And the world they had built on top of her would begin to crack.