Kaela’s POV

The hallway outside the Alpha’s office carried the sharp, commanding scent of cedar—and of him, my Alpha husband. My fingers tightened around the velvet box I held, heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and nerves. Today marked our fourth anniversary, and I had spared no effort to make this gift unforgettable—something that would light up his eyes the way they used to when he looked at me.

Inside, the treasure I had fought so hard to acquire gleamed faintly. It was the ancient silver dagger Evander had been lusting after at auctions for months, a relic said to have once belonged to one of the first Alpha kings centuries ago. I had called in favors, begged old allies of my father, and even negotiated deals I never thought I’d have to—just to secure it.

Nestled alongside it, I had placed the morning’s revelation: a small pregnancy test, the two bright lines almost glowing against the white plastic. I was carrying our second pup. Instinctively, my hand rose to my belly, a soft smile brushing my lips. Mira would have adored this news… my mind ached for my little girl, my sweet, laughing pup with eyes that mirrored mine. She would have been five this year if that damn attack hadn’t taken her.

I shook away the grief. Evander and I had survived storms before. Together—or so I had believed.

Taking a deep breath, my heels clicked against the polished marble floors of the central plains building, the beating heart of Valecrest Pack. Guards bowed respectfully as I passed. “Luna,” they murmured.

I offered a small nod, my pulse quickening as I approached the imposing double doors of his office. I could already picture the look on his face—the spark of surprise, the warmth in his voice when he realized he’d soon be a father again. Maybe this gift, this news, would bridge the gap between us.

But then, a sound froze me mid-step.

At first, it was barely audible—a soft, muffled sound—but it carried something that made my stomach coil in knots.

A moan. No… that couldn’t be.

I drew closer, senses sharpening. My wolf stirred, muscles tensing. The scent wafting from the slightly open door was not mine. Sweet, powdery, familiar.

Maribel.

My best friend.

I nudged the door wider, and the sight that met my eyes shattered every piece of me.

Evander, my husband, had his lips pressed against Maribel Crowne’s neck. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her close, while her back arched against his desk, fingers digging into his shoulders as though she belonged there.

My knees threatened to buckle.

“Alpha…” I whispered, but the word dissolved in my throat.

The air turned suffocating. My wolf growled low, coiling around my chest with rage and heartbreak. She wanted to burst free, tear them apart, make them pay—but I forced her down. They could not hear me.

I stood frozen, the velvet box trembling in my hands, watching the two people I had trusted above all else dismantle me piece by piece.

My breaths came short and sharp. I wanted to scream, to shatter something—but then Maribel’s voice cut through the tension.

“What about… that night?” she murmured, trembling. “You promised me… no one would ever know.”

Evander stiffened, jaw tightening. “No one will,” he replied, voice low, even, chilling. “The soldiers were paid well. Enough to keep everything quiet.”

Soldiers? My brows knitted in confusion, through the haze of disbelief. What were they referring to?

Maribel’s fingers clenched his shirt. “You’re certain Kaela has no idea? About… that night?”

My heart lurched at the words. That night.

Evander exhaled slowly, hand sliding down hers in a practiced gesture of comfort. “She believes the rescue failed. That Mira… didn’t survive. I instructed the soldiers what to tell her.”

I pressed my hand to my mouth, choking back a sob. Did I hear him right?

Maribel bit her lip, eyes fixed on the floor. “But… Mira could have been saved. You said they reached us at the same time—”

“I couldn’t let you die, Maribel!” he snapped, slamming a fist against the desk. “Do you understand? You were bleeding out. I couldn’t lose you, so I made them save you first!”

The blood drained from me. My wolf whimpered, sharp and mournful. Our pup… our Mira…

I stumbled back against the wall, air leaving me in ragged gasps. The dagger box slipped from my trembling hands, thudding softly to the floor.

And yet, the final blow hadn’t arrived.

Maribel’s voice quivered again. “And her heart? That’s still supposed to be just between us. Are you certain it stayed a secret, Alpha?”

Evander’s chest rose and fell, breath shaky. “It’s safe. Kaela signed the medical documents while she was mourning. She had no idea what they were. None of the healers, no one else—no one knows.”

My knees buckled. Hands clutching my chest, realization slammed into me like a silver dagger piercing my ribs.

Mira’s heart…

They had given her heart to Maribel.

I had spent months, hired soldiers, leveraged every connection I had, all to save my daughter kidnapped during the war. And he—my Alpha husband—paid twice as much to ensure Maribel survived. That’s why, a year ago, they returned only with my child’s lifeless body while Maribel lived.

And now… he had entrusted my daughter’s heart to the woman who had stolen his attention, his affection—his love—from me.

Kaela’s POV

Their voices haunted me, echoing in every corner of my mind.

“What if she finds out?” Maribel’s voice had been trembling, sharp as a knife through the quiet.

For a fleeting moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, there was a flicker of guilt in her tone. That perhaps the woman I had once called my sister could feel shame.

But then came Evander’s laugh—cold, hard, and merciless. “You’re being foolish, Maribel. Kaela trusts me blindly. She’ll never question my orders. Never.”

A soft, wicked giggle followed hers. “Poor Kaela. Always so perfect, so naive. She won’t suspect a thing.”

I remember standing there, paralyzed, my heart pounding so violently it felt like it would split my chest. They didn’t just speak—they carved me up, piece by piece. Every word, every sneer, shredded my loyalty, my grief, my trust. Each syllable was another blade sinking into my soul.

“She still believes Mira’s death was fate,” Evander sneered. “She’ll never imagine I commanded those soldiers to choose differently.”

“And even if she did,” Maribel said, her tone laced with venom, “what could she do? She’s just your Luna. You’re her Alpha.”

Just his Luna. Not his partner. Not his equal. Just a title.

The world spun around me. My legs faltered as I stumbled back, forcing myself not to collapse right there. My wolf howled in anguish deep inside me, a visceral pain that begged to lash out. I wanted to tear down the door, to rip them both apart—but my broken heart still held me back.

I turned and walked. Until I reached the balcony overlooking the Valecrest plains—the very heart of our pack. Below, the wolves went about their lives, training, patrolling, hunting, as if nothing had shattered. The moon hung above, cold and silver, as though it, too, mourned with me.

I sank to my knees.

Sobs erupted from my chest like a storm I could no longer contain. The sound of my grief echoed against the stone walls, swallowed by the wind. I clutched the railing, trembling, my tears spilling onto the marble like rain.

My wolf cried inside me. Our pup… our bond… everything we trusted to him…

I pressed a shaking hand to my belly, where our new pup grew. Joy should have bloomed there. But all I felt was betrayal burning through my veins.

Then my phone buzzed.

A small, almost insignificant sound—but it cut through the quiet like glass.

Through blurred tears, I looked down at the screen. A notification from Moonbook, our pack’s social network.

The name made my chest seize.

Maribel Crowne.

For a split second, my thumb hovered. Curiosity. Dread. Anger. And then I opened it.

The image filled my vision, stealing my breath. Two hands intertwined. Faces hidden. One hand delicate, pale, hauntingly familiar. The other strong, tan, masculine.

And on that wrist—a bracelet of silver, engraved with a moon. The one I had given Evander for our second anniversary.

The caption beneath it read: “A miracle after all the pain. Can’t wait to meet our little one.”

I gasped, vision swimming. Pregnant.

She was pregnant. With his child.

And he wasn’t hiding it. The world could see. The pack could see. And I, his Luna, was reduced to a fool.

Something inside me shattered, silent but irrevocable, cracking through my chest and into my very soul.

The phone slipped from my fingers, clattering to the balcony floor. I stared out at the horizon, the sunset painting the sky with cruel shades of blood and gold.

My wolf growled deep within me. He betrayed the bond, Kaela. He took everything—our pup, our honor, our love. How much more must we lose before we strike back?

I wiped my tears. My breaths evened. And slowly, a new fire ignited—not grief, but determination.

I turned toward my office, mind racing. My hands shook as I picked up my phone again—not to stare at the post, but to make a call I never imagined I would.

My father. Alpha Peter Ravenshade, the most feared and revered Alpha across the northern territories.

He had warned me once: “You don’t marry for love, daughter. You marry for legacy. Love fades. Duty remains.”

I had ignored him. For Evander. For love, I had thought. I had abandoned home, pack, everything for him. And now… it seemed my father had been right.

Trembling, I dialed. The phone rang twice before his voice answered, deep and familiar.

“Kaela?”

I couldn’t speak at first. My throat constricted, tears threatening anew. “Father…” I whispered.

A pause. Then his voice softened, cautious. “It’s been years. Why are you calling?”

“I… I want to come home,” I said, swallowing hard. “I’ll marry whoever you wanted me to marry back then.”

His breath caught. “What about Evander? You left everything for him.”

“I was wrong,” I admitted, voice quivering. “He betrayed me. He killed my daughter. He’s… cheating on me. With my best friend.”

Silence. Then I could feel his fury building, even through the phone.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I said, trembling. “Not yet. But he will if I stay. I can’t remain here.”

“Then come home,” he commanded. “I’ll send an escort—”

“No,” I interrupted, straightening. “Not yet. I’ll handle this my way. Seven days. That’s all I need.”

He hesitated. “Kaela…”

“I’ll do it your way,” I cut him off again. “I’ll marry who you choose. I’ll follow the rules this time.”

I could feel his surprise through the line. “You mean that?”

“Yes.” My voice hardened. “No more following my heart. This time, I’ll follow my blood.”

A long pause. Then his breath evened, and his Alpha authority returned. “Very well. I’ll tell your brothers you’re coming home.”

My chest tightened at the thought of them—my three older brothers, each an Alpha in his own right. They had warned me before I left.

“Evander Ashcroft will never love you the way you deserve, Kaela,” my eldest had said.

I hadn’t listened.

Now, the memory burned like salt in an open wound.

“Tell them,” I whispered, fury barely restrained. “Tell them the Valecrest Alpha has made an enemy of the Ravenshades.”

His voice dropped low, dangerous. “May the Goddess have mercy on his soul.”

The call ended, but my heart thundered.

Seven days. In a week, I would no longer be the Luna of Valecrest Pack. In seven days, I would no longer be Alpha Evander Ashcroft’s wife.

I looked to the horizon again. Night had swallowed the crimson sun. The first silver rays of moonlight shimmered over the plains, reflecting in my eyes.

My wolf stirred inside me, matching my fury with her own. They think we’re broken. They think we’ll slink away quietly.

“No,” I whispered. “We will make them remember exactly who I am.”

Kaela’s POV

The faint scent of lavender mingled with the dust in my room—a fragrance that should have felt comforting, but now only reminded me that this place no longer belonged to me.

The sun had barely crested the horizon when I began packing. I folded dresses that once made me feel radiant, pressed down coats that still carried traces of Evander’s scent, and stacked my life here into careful, fragile piles. Every movement was deliberate, mechanical, a shield against the rising tide of emotion.

Seven days. That’s all I had before I walked away from Valecrest Pack forever.

As I crouched by the bottom drawer, something caught my eye: a corner of paper peeking out. I reached for it, frowning. And then another, and another, until I realized it wasn’t a single sheet but a small stack of crumpled, colorful drawings.

I sank to the floor, knees tucked to my chest, and carefully unfolded the first.

It was Mira’s.

The stick figures were crooked, cheerful splashes of color. There was me, in a blue dress, and Evander, taller, with messy brown hair and a wide smile. Between us, a small girl with golden hair held our hands—Mira had drawn herself connecting our family.

The title scrawled at the top read: My Family.

My vision blurred as I reached for another. This one showed the three of us under a glowing moon, surrounded by wolves. In her careful handwriting were the words: Our Pack Will Always Be Together.

I pressed the papers to my chest, a sob tearing from my throat. “Oh, my sweet girl…” My voice cracked.

Tears slid down my cheeks as I gathered every drawing, holding them close. Each sheet a fragment of her imagination, her dreams, her love. Every crayon stroke a heartbeat of the daughter I had lost.

Except she wasn’t lost.

Her heart still beat—inside the woman who had destroyed me. My chest tightened painfully.

I didn’t notice the door opening until a deep voice shattered the silence.

“Kaela?”

I stiffened, hastily wiping my tears. Evander stood there, tall and composed, his scent filling the room—the familiar mix of pine and smoke that once made me feel safe. Now it made me ill.

His eyes swept over the open suitcases and scattered drawings. “What’s all this? Why is everything out?”

I forced a calm smile. “Just… rearranging my closet.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Rearranging? It looks like you’re moving out.”

“If I were,” I said quietly, folding another garment, “would it matter?”

Before he could respond, another scent invaded the room—sweet, floral, nauseatingly familiar.

Maribel.

I froze. My fists clenched as she stepped in behind him, her belly small but proud, her presence radiating arrogance. The mate bond between Evander and me throbbed painfully, a cruel reminder of the betrayal standing beside him.

Every instinct screamed to strike, to tear her apart, to reclaim my daughter’s stolen heart. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

Instead, I met her gaze, voice icy. “Why are you here?”

Evander shifted, clearing his throat. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

The words made no sense. My mind scrambled. “What?”

“She’s… pregnant,” he said carefully, as if measuring each word, waiting for my reaction.

I looked from him to her. Maribel’s lips curved into a smug, shy smile, hands resting lightly over her stomach.

My heart went cold. I said softly, almost under my breath, “And?”

Her smile faltered. “I thought… you’d be happy for me.”

I laughed bitterly, a short, sharp sound. “Happy?” I repeated, voice dripping with scorn. “Sure.”

Evander’s expression stiffened. “Kaela, that’s enough. Why are you acting like this? You should be happy for your best friend.”

“Are you certain that child isn’t yours, Alpha?” I countered, standing and locking eyes with him.

His presence flared, the weight of his Alpha aura pressing down on the room. “No. I don’t know what you’re implying. Maribel needs care, so I offered our home. That’s it. She’s carrying life, nothing more.”

I clenched my jaw. “And that’s supposed to make me accept this?”

His growl was low, frustrated. “I’m not cruel, Kaela. I won’t send her away just because of your bitterness.”

My laugh cut like a knife. “Bitterness? Is that what you call it?”

“You’re jealous,” he shot back. “Maribel’s expecting, and instead of being happy for her, you—”

“Instead of what?” I interrupted, voice sharp. What kind of man chooses a mistress over his own child? I wanted to ask, but held myself back.

For a long moment, the room froze around us.

His eyes darkened. “You’re stubborn, Kaela. Aren’t you supposed to be concerned? Don’t project your failings onto Maribel. She only wants the best for her baby.”

I swallowed hard, forcing my tone low and measured. “Never mind,” I muttered, turning away. “Let her rest. That’s what I said.”

My wolf stirred restlessly, warning me to tread carefully. He could never know I had overheard everything—not yet.

Maribel’s voice pierced the tension. “Luna, I didn’t mean—”

I turned slowly, eyes cold. “Do as you wish.” After all, it seemed I had no say here.

She opened her mouth but hesitated, glancing at Evander for support. He only sighed, stepping between us.

“Enough,” he said firmly. “Maribel will stay. That’s final. You will treat her with respect. She is family.”

Family. The word made bile rise in my throat.

I nodded stiffly. “Fine. Just as I said. If that’s what you want, Alpha.”

Evander frowned at the title, opening his mouth—but I cut him off.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I said, bending to gather Mira’s drawings, “I need to finish… rearranging my closet.”

He paused, studying me, then finally turned and led Maribel out.

As the door clicked shut, I exhaled shakily.

Seven days. Seven days and I would be free. Free from this cursed pack. Free from the man who once made me believe in forever. Free from the woman who carried my daughter’s heart as her own.