Victoria walked forth the shadows, rubbing her stomach, smiling in provocation.

"I knew it must be you from that worn out dress!

Don't worry Zyan has gone to bring me and the babies something sweet, if you would like, I will give a small piece to you as well. "

I didn’t answer her mock concern, my calm making her smile twist with a flash of frustration.

"Ah! don’t tell me you are still trying to stay strong? "she whispered. "God, how sad, you were almost raped, your naked body livestreamed across the internet becoming every dirty man’s wet

dream-"

"Shut up!"

I spat, turning around and her smile widened now that she had my attention.

"You saw how Zyan celebrated me right? If only you knew better you would have left his side by now.

Let me tell you a secret today…A month ago, Zyan took the strategic pact you spent half a year building and presented it as mine. "

Her smile widened, wicked.

"He told the elders I wrote every word. That I was the mind behind the southern trade alliance."

My steps froze in place.

That treaty was my blood, my sleepless nights, my years of sacrifice.

Zyan presented all my hardwork to his mistress on a silver platter.

Victoria stepped into the lantern light, savoring the moment.

"And for my ‘brilliance…"she continued sweetly, "your loving mate rewarded me with properties…land…and an obscene amount of money. "

"Do you want to know what I did with it? "

"I replaced all your loyal guards, signed a contract with the rogue King to make me stand at the pinnacle of power and…. hired those vile men to make your life worse than death."

My fingers curled without my permission, nails biting into my palms.

Red hot anger surged through my veins.

"Do you even know it was on your birthday party that he first held me.

Oh sister, he took me everywhere, on the desk you wrote him love letters, in the small rose garden you made him bouquets, in the bed you innocently dreamed about him…and near the cemetery where your mother's tombstone laid."

Her smile widened, wicked and victorious.

"Only when I needed a break that I told him…how about he use your body as an outlet until he can control his strong urges and handle me gently."

My entire body trembled in horror as memories of that night flashed into my mind.

Three years ago Zyan entering my bedroom while I cried for my mother before holding me gently.

'No buts, Lianna.' he had murmured, fingers tightening. 'I need you tonight. Just this once…be good for me. '

I was exhausted. It hurt. I told him.

‘Just once more darling’ he whispered instead, while my body was already trembling, bruised and hollowed out.

And I let him because I thought it was love.

Victoria lifted one manicured finger, her smile widening as she saw my face morphing into shades of anguish, as if whatever slept within me had heard those words and hated them.

"Shame the result of that day was born a bastard. But then again…children copy their mothers right? "Her smile was gentle. "Even now a whore like you will breed a whore, won’t you-"

Before she could say another word, a thunderous slap cracked through the atmosphere violently.

Crack!

The sound was so brutal that Victoria’s face twisted to a side, blood trailing down her lips.

For the first time, the woman who always looked untouchable looked small.

Her face went blank with shock before twisting with humiliation, rage and disbelief.

I stared at my own hand, breath ragged, that furious strength wasn’t me.

For the first time in my life, I felt it.

My wolf.

A slow presence simmering in my heart.

Not roaring, not awakened completely but still there breathing inside me.

"Lianna, you lowly whore, how dare you hit me?! "

"The whore was never me. "

I leaned closer, fury settling into my bones like winter frost.

"And If what you said is true then get ready to be replaced by another woman. …younger and more beautiful because men never keep mistresses forever. It's like a matching shoe, once old and used…it will be discarded for another. "

The last thread of sanity snapped inside her eyes and she stared at me like she wanted to rip my soul out of my chest.

"Fine" she whispered" Then tonight…you will see who is the real wife! "

Before I could move, her nails dug into my skin as she dragged both of us into the freezing river with a violent splash.

My scream drowned inside my throat as my hands frantically slaped the water to stay afloat.

It was then I heard a small laughter. "Remember, how I drowned your pet dog as your birthday gift and framed you sister? Lets play that game again. "

I gasped at the ruthless memory when Victoria's hand pressed down on my head, forcing me under ruthlessly.

"Sister, you can't swim because of that trauma right? Tonight I will make you relive that hell."

Her monstrous satisfaction quickly shifted to a gently cry.

"Lianna…please don’t be angry…I just wanted to see the festival…Sister, don’t hurt me…. No! I didn’t mean anything! "

She didn’t sound like a monster whose heels dug in my belly sharply instead her soft cries echoed throughout the arena.

My body convulsed, drowning, the world going dark at the edges. Through the muffled chaos, a loud roar shattered the night.

"VICTORIA! "

A splash followed immediately as Zyan jumped in the river, pulling Victoria in his arms immediately.

"Victoria! Are you hurt? Don’t be scared! I am here! "

It was then with the last of my strength, my arm shot out of the surface, water filling my lungs, mouth and ears as my daughter twirled in my stomach like she was crying frantically.

And only then Zyan looked at me.

One glance.

One cold, raged glare.

"Zyan…go save sister…I don’t blame her…she was just upset…she pushed me, but it’s alright…I am willing to die to prove my loyalty to her…"

Her tears fell on his shirt as she sobbed fakely while my entire being suffered in icy horror.

At last Zyan spoke. His voice cutting deeper than any blade.

"Lianna" he said quietly "I am disappointed to have a mate like you. In childhood Victoria went through your relentless bullying just because she understood your pain of losing a mother.

She went abroad to study because you hated her living in this pack! She saved my life because she wanted to see her sister's husband alive, so that you remain happy!"

The cold wind blew but his tone was colder than ice. "And you dare scheme against her?!"

Scheming?

I sank deeper, lungs burning, unable to breathe, unable to fight anymore.

His final words cracked through the night:

"Since you shamelessly planned this then get out of the water yourself! "And then he walked away with her.

Darkness covered my vision as my eyes closed.

No, I can't die here! I must save my unborn daughter!

Just before my consciousness faded completely, I summoned Darius through the fragile mind link.

"Darius, save me. . . save my daughter. . . "

Just as everything faded, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me out of the death's embrace.

"Lianna! "The voice rumbled like thunder through fog.

Darius.

His worrying eyes were the last thing I saw before going limp in his arms.

When I woke, the gentle sweet scent of lilies filled the room. A large bouquet rested on the table beside my bed, white petals fresh and trembling like they had been placed there with care.

My fingers trembled as I reached for the folded note left beneath the flowers.

[Darius:The baby in your belly is doing well, please don't worry about her.

I know Lilies are your favorite and bring you comfort. I wanted to stay, but the borders were attacked and I had to leave immediately.

I don’t want you to face anything alone again Lianna. . . not now, not ever. Please answer me Lianna, are you willing to marry me?]

My breath caught as I lifted my phone to reply.

[Lianna: Okay. On this full moon, let's get married. ]

Three days passed in the hospital, and not once did Zyan show up.

On the third day, I finally opened my phone only to find it flooded with Victoria’s photos.

Rumpled sheets in the background as shadows mingled intimately in the candle light.

Photos of Zyan kissing her belly affectionately, cooking for her and spending every night at her place.

The memories flooded my mind like a curse.

When I was nineteen, I burned dinner so badly the kitchen filled with smoke.

I stood there on the verge of tears, but Zyan sat down and ate every bite, smiling like it was the best meal he ever had.

Then he gently pushed me out of the kitchen, kissing my forehead and said softly ‘You are already everything to me, Lia. Let me do the rest’ then with a shy smile added. ‘That way….that way I will know how to cook when our daughter arrives.’

That careful, earnest love was gone and reduced to cold hatred I felt in this instant. It was then a message chimed on my phone.

[Zyan:I am willing to overlook what happened earlier.

Tomorrow, I will accompany you to choose the wedding dress. Don’t disappoint me again,

Once the Southern trade deal is finalized everything will be in order. ]

I stared at the screen for a long moment before replying.

The deal you feel smug about is already cancelled Zyan.

[Lianna:Fine. ]

I didn’t bother explaining that the wedding gown I would be choosing had nothing to do with him.

The next morning, I was discharged only to find Victoria accompanying Zyan to ‘help her sister’.

I didn’t speak, sitting with my hands folded in my lap, watching the city blur past the window as Victoria filled the silence.

The car finally stopped before the most exclusive bridal boutique in the city.

Victoria smiled and turned to me, her eyes shining with soft triumph.

"Look Sister. "she said gently. "Everything here is reserved for the most deserving bride. "

As soon as we entered, the sales assistant greeted us with polished enthusiasm, guiding us through the season’s finest designs.

My steps slowed as one dress caught my eye.

Ivory and elegant…just like my mother’s wedding gown that was 'accidentally' torn by Victoria.

My fingers trembled as I reached out slowly, afraid to taint it when a voice echoed lightly.

"That one… that is my dream dress."

Before I could touch it, a sharp pain bursted across my skin.

SLAP!

My hand flew back as the sound echoed through the boutique, red bruises bloomed instantly where Zyan’s palm had struck.

For a second, Zyan stilled, his hand frozen mid-air as if he had only just realized what he had done.

"Lianna…I…that…that doesn’t suit you." he explained hurriedly before pointing towards another rack randomly. "That one is best for you."

The sales assistant hesitated, confusion flickering across her features. "Sir…are you sure? You really want your bride to wear that? "

The moment my gaze followed where Zyan pointed, a dull ache blossomed into my chest.

Black.

A mourning dress that shone like gems.

I saw the realization strike his eyes a second too late, his lips parting as if to correct himself.

"I saw wrongly, if you are upset choose whatever you like-"

"I will wear it. "I said softly.

The words fell into the boutique like a final bell.

"Lianna you… "Zyan’s said stunned, his gaze searching my face unsettled, like he was looking for tears that never came.

Before the silence could stretch any further, Victoria’s voice slipped in gently.

"Sister. . . I am so sorry. . . today was ruined because of me. "

"To make up for it, would you…come to the family dinner tonight? " she offered, eyes reddening as if guilt weighed heavily on her heart. "Father misses you terribly. His heart condition worsened after you cut off all contacts. "

Hearing those words, the small flicker of guilt lingering in Zyan’s eyes vanished instantly.

"Alright. "I replied, making her innocent facade crack for a moment.

I agreed..not for her.

But because once, my brothers had been my shelter, my twin’s footsteps always half a breath behind mine, his hand reaching for mine whenever he was afraid.

Before bloodlines mattered, they had loved me without conditions. This would be my final farewell to those memories.

When we finally reached my childhood home, everyone was already seated.

Father didn’t look at me. My brothers didn’t greet me. Their attention solely belonging to Victoria.

"You shouldn’t strain yourself."bFather said gently, his voice softening in a way I barely recognized. "Especially in your condition."

Then, as if continuing a thought already settled in his mind, he said "Victoria was always a kind child…gentle and considerate. She would make a far better Luna."

Only then did his gaze flick toward me cold and already done.

"When Lianna ran away, I feared she would truly go astray. Alpha, we are grateful you took responsibility for this rebellious child."

Something cold slid down my spine.

The room stilled.

"It wasn’t me who was impregnated by an unknown man and still walked the pack without shame. " My eyes lifted, steady.

"Shouldn’t father first ask his ‘good daughter’ which man she chose to share her bed with? "

CLANG!

A hand slammed hard against the table.

"You shameless woman, do you think Victoria is like you! "my elder brother exploded, his voice ripping through the room as he stood up furiously. "Wasn’t killing mom enough that now you even want to sow discord between our family? ! "

My fingers went numb against the edge of the table. "I-I never-"

"Oh really? " My twin brother Damien stood, his gaze sliding downwards slowly until it landed on my stomach with disgust.

"Let it be brother." He smirked "Maybe God saw what kind of woman she was and kept her barren for years, even when she conceived…. it was all but a dead child.”

Something broke then.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just the quiet understanding that I had loved people who never once tried to love me back.

For years, I had stood between my twin and father’s temper, taken the blows meant for him, swallowed my own pain so he could remain unscarred.

But from beginning to end, none of them ever looked back.

"Brother Damien" Victoria sobbed softly then, clutching at his sleeve. "Please…don’t say such things. Sister didn’t mean it. "

Zyan looked at me sharply and did not bother to defend me as if saying I deserved it.

It was then father cut in sharply, his impatience freezing the room.

"Enough. Victoria especially cooked the meal herself despite being pregnant. Must you always ruin the atmosphere, Lianna?!

Go on and serve the food, that’s all you are good for! "

I stood unable to breathe.

"I am leaving. "

Zyan’s hand closed around my arm, rough and unyielding.

"You will not" he said quietly. "Didn’t you already ruin everything…I am already at my limit Lianna. "

"No-"

"Do it" he said quietly, his grip tightening.

"Or I will announce to the entire pack that your mother died because of your weakness.

That the rogues came for you and she stepped in to die because you couldn’t even shift."

My world tilted violently as he twisted the deepest of my wounds and tore it open.

I turned toward the kitchen because there was nowhere else to go.

Each step felt heavy as I carried the food back, settling with a heavy silence, each mouthful felt like I was chewing on cold wax.

Then warmth touched my lip.

I wiped it absently and stared at the blood on my fingers. It dripped slowly onto the table.

My chest tightened, breath coming shallow and sharp. I lifted my eyes to Victoria.

She met my gaze and smiled, mouthing a word when no one was watching.

‘Peanuts’

I huffed clawing at my chest, deathly allergic.

"Lianna-" Zyan noticed first before Victoria screamed.

"My stomach! "

She doubled over, clutching herself as panic erupted instantly around her.

Chairs scraped back. Zyan rushed to her side. My father and brothers surrounded her, voices overlapping in fear.

"Call the doctor! "

No one looked at me.

I gripped the edge of the table, blood trickling down as my vision darkened, my lungs burning as if the air itself had abandoned me.

They rushed her out.

And I was left behind struggling to breathe.

The ambulance siren wailed through the night, sharp and relentless, as if it were tearing straight through my skull.

My vision swam in and out as I was wheeled inside the hospital.

"Miss! " The doctor caught my face gently, forcing my unfocused gaze to hers. Her voice cut through the haze, steady but urgent.

"Listen to me. If you can hold on for one hour, we can save the baby. But I need to give you this injection right now."

One hour.

I latched onto those words like a drowning person clutches debris

She uncapped a syringe quickly.

"This will stabilize you. If I don’t administer it, your heart will fail before labour finishes, your body can’t handle both shock and blood loss. "

My hands trembled as I clutched my belly, terror clawing its way up my throat.

"Do it. "I whispered. "Please…do it. "

The needle had barely touched my skin

BANG!

Guards flooded in and behind them, Zyan strode forward, his arms holding Victoria trembling like a wounded lamb.

Zyan’s gaze landed on the syringe before something ugly twisted in his eyes.

He strode forward and slapped the doctor’s hand away.

The syringe…my last chance..flew through the air and shattered against the floor, the life saving medicine spilling out uselessly.

"You! No! "the doctor screamed. "That shot was her only chance! The baby won’t make it! Even Lianna’s heart-"

"There is a limit to shamelessness! You found Victoria was getting her treatment here and hired all doctors faking your illness! "Zyan didn’t let the doctor finish.

"Get her out and prepare for Victoria’s treatment immediately! "he ordered coldly.

The nurse interjected quickly. "Sir, Miss Victoria seems fine, its Miss Lianna-"

The doctor was taken away despite resistance and the door slammed shut.

Silence crashed down before a thunderous sound echoed.

SLAP!

My head whipped sideways, the taste of blood bursting across my tongue. The room spun as my ears rang from the force.

For half a second, Zyan gaze faltered when he saw my state before Victoria’s cry echoed, making his guilt disappear completely.

"You have crossed every limit, Lianna! " Zyan snapped, his eyes burning with rage.

“ Victoria was perfectly fine until you brought that food! What the hell did you mix in it? ! "

"Nothing "I said hoarsely. "It was her who mixed the peanuts-"

"Nothing? " His eyes darkened, voice dropping to ice. "You still dare lie!"

"Today I will teach you a lesson you will never forget, I, Alpha Zyan Gray strip you, Lianna Rose of your luna title!

From now onwards your status will be reduced to an omega unworthy to lead the pack.

Apologise or else this won't be it!” he commanded, expecting me to rush to him with tears.

Instead I lifted my head unbothered by his disgusting status, my body shaking after being drained hollow.

"No" I spat.

"What did you say? "His eyes sharpened into ice, a tinge of shock at my calmness.

"I said no! "My voice cracked like broken glass. "I will not-"

He reached into his pocket.

And the world…stopped.

Hanging between his fingers was a small, tarnished locket belonging to my mother. The very locket I had given Zyan as a promise when we were thirteen-’If you keep this, you keep me.’

"You shouldn’t be so stubborn Lianna. "His thumb traced it lazily.

"Apologize now or this disappears for ever." A chill crept into his eyes, his tone leaving no room for refusal."

My vision blurred. Not from weakness, but from grief so sharp that it crushed me.

I got up with the last of my breaths, my knees hitting the cold floor. Pain ricocheted up my spine.

I could barely breathe, barely stay upright.

Slowly…painfully…I lowered myself until my forehead touched the cold floor.

"I am sorry" I whispered before looking up at Zyan, and the moment our eyes met, his entire being faltered.

Broken, destroyed and utterly ruined.

The red-rimmed eyes that once held an ocean of love looked at him with raw despair…empty.

This time, he hesitated, his expression complicated.

It was then Victoria sniffled delicately, wiping a perfectly timed tear.

"Oh sister…I didn’t want this." It was then she gently took the pendant from Zyan.

"Here, sister…I will give it to you."she murmured, stepping toward me with a gentle, angelic smile.

My fingers shook as I reached out, bloodshot eyes only focused on it, but before I could grasp it…the pendant fell.

Clink.

The glass center shattered like a small, dying cry, breaking into millions of pieces.

"No! "I screamed, a raw sound that rippled through the ward.

My knees scraped the floor, pain burning through bone as I scrambled on my palms across the broken glassed as I desperately tried to gather the tiny fragments.

"Lianna, stop it. "Zyan looked momentarily at a loss but still hardened his expression.

"NO!!"I shouted, my voice unrecognizable.

Victoria jumped at the sound, then instantly clutched her stomach dramatically, gasping.

"Z-Zyan…sister is scaring me…I am sorry…I didn’t mean to drop it…please don’t be angry…"

A flicker of pity rose in Zyan but the moment he thought of Victoria, that it disappeared.

His eyes turned cold, flat.

"Stop this pathetic tantrum. "he said to me, voice low with disgust. "If you were so concerned about it then maybe you shouldn’t have tried to kill your sister! "

I stared at the ground, my chest rising violently, my hands still digging through glass.

And yet he didn’t see the wounds on my hand, the tremors racking my body as I went paler each passing second.

He only saw Victoria.

"You can always buy another trinket. "he snapped. "Why destroy your dignity over something useless? "

Useless.

My throat closed.

The pendant that survived the night my father poured kerosene on my mother’s belongings and burned her from our lives.

Useless.

The only proof my mother ever existed.

The only reassurance I had that she still watched over me.

The only thing I thought would protect my daughter in my womb.

Something inside me fractured so fatally that I forgot to breathe.

"If you understand your mistake, go home and wait for me, this pendant…I will compensate you after our wedding tomorrow. "

He turned away, guiding Victoria out as the door slammed shut behind them.

Silence settled, heavy as ash.

I remained kneeling on the floor, fingers trembling over the bloodied shards.

Then a warm wetness trickled down my thigh.

Slow, heavy and dark red.

Spreading like a quiet massacre beneath me.

At first I stared at it blankly as if it belonged to someone else, as if it couldn’t possibly be my baby.

My daughter.

But the crimson blood keep blooming beneath me.

My throat closed so tight I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t scream. Couldn’t move.

It felt like watching my entire life drain out onto the floor as nurses rushed inside, holding my head before it hit the ground.

"She is going into shock labour! move, now! "