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.

Selene's POV

The moment I stepped through the den's entrance,the smell hit me.

Smoke.Thick and bitter and wrong.

My heart clenched.Something inside me screamed to move faster.

I pushed through the corridor,my steps unsteady,my body still not fully healed,but I could not slow down.The smell grew stronger with every step.

I opened the door to the common chamber and froze.

A stone basin sat in the center of the room.Flames danced inside it,wild and hot,burning something I recognized before my mind could fully process what I was seeing.

Dried stems.Rare petals.Roots wrapped carefully in treated bark-cloth.

They were Mira's herbs.Her entire collection.

My chest seized so hard I lost my breath.

And standing beside the fire,arms folded and smiling,was Verra.

"Oh.You're back,"she said.

"Stop!"My voice cracked as I ran across the room.

I dropped to my knees and reached straight into the flames.Pain tore through my hand,sharp and blinding,but I barely felt it.I grabbed what was left of the nearest bundle.

It crumbled.Turned to ash in my fingers.

"No..."

A broken sound came out of me that I had no name for.

That was the last herb bundle Mira ever gathered.The last thing her hands had prepared.

Mira.

My best friend.Born with a spirit so thin the healers said she would never survive her first shift.She had survived everything,right up until the night she did not.

"Every herb has a purpose,"she used to say,pressing a dried root into my palm."Learn them and you can help someone someday."

She had wanted to become a healer since she was small.Not for glory.But for wolves like herself.The ones born fragile,born into bodies that fought them.She spent years gathering every rare herb she could find,learning each one,dreaming of the cures she would make.

"Keep them safe,Selene,"she said the morning she gave them to me."One day they will save someone."

She gave them to me the morning before the fire.

That night,fire swallowed Caelan's house.Everyone called it an accident.But the scent in the air proved otherwise.Someone had set it deliberately,and no one ever looked into it.

It was Mira who ran in.Not the guards.Not Caelan's warriors.Mira.Small and fragile and afraid of nothing.

She pulled Caelan out with the last of her wolf-strength.By the time the healers reached her,there was almost nothing left to save.

She made me promise,three days before she passed.

"Keep them safe,Selene.Those herbs could heal someone no one else can reach.No matter what happens."

I held her hand and promised.

"Why are you making such a fuss?"

Verra's voice dragged me back.I lifted my head.Her face was unbothered.Almost bored.

"Why?"My voice broke apart."Why did you do this?"

She tilted her head."Do what?"

My burned hands shook as I clenched it into a fist.

"Those were mine!Who gave you the right to touch them?!"

She glanced at the fire like it was of no interest to her at all.

"After the den healers discharged me,Caelan gave me the alpha chamber,"she said lightly."It gets the morning light better than my old room."

My breath stopped.The alpha chamber was mine.

"He also said I could deal with your things however I saw fit."

Her lips curved.

"Those herbs smelled like decay,"she said."Like death stored in jars.Something that unpleasant does not belong in the alpha chamber."

She paused."Maybe that is why your pup never had the luck to take his first breath."

Something inside me broke completely.

"You evil creature!"

I shot up to my feet,my eyes bloodshot,my hand already moving.

A grip caught my wrist mid-air.

"Enough!"

Caelan.

His grip was tight and strong,like I was the one who had done something wrong.

"How dare you raise your hand to her?"he said."She just gave birth."

A hollow laugh escaped my mouth."She burned everything.Those were Mira's herbs.Years of work.Gone."

"So what?"

The two words landed quietly,dangerously,more than shouting ever could.

"So what?"I stared at him."Mira saved your life!She was the most fragile wolf in this pack and when someone set your house on fire she ran in.Not your guards.Not your warriors.Her.And it killed her!"

Caelan's face tightened with irritation."I didn't ask her to."

The ground felt like it shifted.

"How..."My voice came out tiny.

"How can you say that?"

"That was years ago,"he said,coldly.

"She is gone.Those things do not matter anymore.You need to stop living in the past."

Each word pressed hard like a stone being laid on top of my chest.

"You have no soul,"I whispered.

"Stop making a scene,"he said."The pup is sleeping.I will not have you waking him."

My pup was dead.And I was being asked to be quiet for hers.

I smiled.It was the most bitter thing I had ever felt on my face.

Verra pressed herself softly against Caelan's arm.

"I didn't mean any harm,"she said gently."I only thought those herbs did not belong here anymore.I was trying to help."

Her eyes met mine for just a moment.They were bright with private laughter.

My whole body shook.

"I never asked for your help,"I said."You lying,evil…"

"Enough,"Caelan cut me off."Say one more word and you will regret it."

"Let go of me!"I pulled from his grip.The burned skin on my hand strong.

Then a kick connected with my side.

Pain exploded through my body.I went down hard,the air leaving me all at once.I lay on the cold stone floor and could not breathe.My chest heaved and nothing came in.

"I'm sorry!"Verra gasped,her voice all soft and shocked."She was going to hit you.I reacted without thinking!"

"It is alright,"Caelan said,wrapping an arm around her."You were protecting me.She is the one who brought this on."

My fingers curled against the floor.

My hand burned.My side pounded.My chest ached.

None of it came close to what was inside.

They had taken my pup.Now they had burned the last piece of Mira I had.Every herb she gathered.Every cure she never got to make.

"Keep them safe,Selene.Those herbs could heal someone no one else can reach."

I had promised her.

A tear slid down my face unto the cold stone floor.I had not been able to keep it.

The edges of my vision darkened.The last thing I saw before everything went dark was Verra,placed safely and warm against Caelan's side,watching me with quiet,satisfied eyes.