"There's no one left to indulge your whims."

Emory’s words reminded me of something else he’d once spat at me: "You're nothing but a parasite."

It was our wedding night. I was dressed in the most beautiful gown, my heart full of hope as I waited for him. The Blackwood Pack had just survived a near-total collapse, and I was the one who proposed the alliance, offering the strength of my Moon-Glow Pack to help them rebuild. I thought he would at least be kind to me for that. I thought we could learn to love each other. After all, we were fated mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself.

But on our wedding night, I learned how wrong I was.

"Even if you are my Luna, I will never love you," Emory had said, his eyes cold as he looked at my ornate gown. "When the Moon-Glow Pack weakens, what will you have left to lean on?" "You're a useless parasite."

And his words turned out to be a curse.

Three years later, the Sacred Moonstone of my pack began to dim, its power fading. My parents stood vigil by it day and night, pouring their own life force into it to sustain its last glimmer of light. Desperate for Emory’s help, I drugged him. That night, Leo was conceived.

Finally, for the sake of his child, Emory agreed to help. But when I rushed back to my pack lands, ecstatic to tell my parents the news, I was met with a sight that would haunt me for the rest of my life. My parents stood hand in hand before the dying Moonstone. They poured the last of their life force into it, their bodies turning translucent until they dissolved into motes of moonlight.

"Liliana," my mother's voice whispered on the wind, "you have to live on."

I collapsed before the empty altar and sobbed, the baby in my womb kicking as if it could feel my sorrow. The grief nearly broke my mind. I needed intensive treatment, but for the baby's sake, I refused any medication, choosing instead to suppress my own wolf to endure the pain.

Ten months later, Leo was born healthy. I held him with a joyful heart, thinking I finally had a family again, someone who was part of me, someone who would finally love me. But the first full sentence he ever learned was a mimicry of Emory's voice: "Mommy is a parasite who lives off Daddy."

Then Ophelia appeared, and just like Emory, he always chose her side. He always abandoned me. When I was trapped in the snow, slowly losing consciousness, I finally understood. The child I had fought so hard to bring into this world wasn't my safe harbor. He was another knife in my heart.

So I made my decision. Emory and Leo—I was done with them both.

"Why don't you tell your family about your illness?" the witch had asked me once.

"My family is already dead," I had replied calmly.

I started to clear out my things. The gorgeous gowns in my closet, all of them—gone. The pearl necklace in my jewelry box, the first gift Emory ever gave me—tossed out. In my desk drawer was a fox-fur cloak I had woven myself, meant as a gift for our tenth anniversary. It was clear now that anniversary would never come. I threw it all into the fireplace.

Last was the painting of our mating ceremony, commissioned from my favorite artist. In it, Emory looked handsome and powerful, while I smiled, my face radiant with happiness. It was all a lie. I had destroyed this painting countless times, tearing it to shreds after every fight, only to secretly piece it back together in the dead of night. The servants were used to it.

"Here we go again," I heard one whisper outside the door. "The Luna is destroying the painting to get the Alpha's attention."

"Just ignore her. She'll glue it back together herself anyway."

I was used to their scorn. I took the canvas from the wall and, without a moment's hesitation, tossed it into the hearth. The flames instantly devoured it, the paint releasing a bitter, acrid smell.

"My Goddess!" the servants gasped. "If it burns, it's gone for good!"

"What's gone for good?" A familiar voice cut through the air.

I turned to see Emory standing in the doorway, his face a thunderous mask.

Behind Emory stood Leo and Ophelia. All three were dressed in matching shades of deep blue, looking for all the world like a real family. Ophelia clung to Emory’s arm, her other hand stroking Leo’s hair. A triumphant smile played on her lips, her eyes full of challenge as she looked at me.

"Sister Liliana," she cooed sweetly. "Leo's birthday wish is for me to stay in the main house tonight. You don't mind, do you?"

Leo bounced on his feet. "Yeah! I want to sleep with Daddy and Auntie Ophelia! Like a real family!"

Emory looked uncomfortable, but he didn't stop them.

"I don't mind," I said flatly.

Leo clapped his hands in delight. "Great! Our family of three can all sleep together!"

Ophelia feigned a shy glance downward. "Oh, Liliana, he's just a child. You can't be mad at him for speaking his mind, can you?"

But Emory didn't look pleased. He had expected me to scream and protest, giving him the chance to accuse me of "ruining our son's birthday."

I forced a smile. "Of course not. Make yourselves at home."

I couldn't stand the sight of their happy little charade any longer and turned to leave.

"Aren't you staying with us, Mommy?" Leo’s voice was probing.

"Didn't you say a family of three?" I said, looking back at him. "I'd only be in the way." With that, I went upstairs to the guest room.

Later that night, I stepped onto the balcony for some air. It was adjacent to the master bedroom's balcony, and I could see inside through the glass doors. Ophelia, dressed in a flimsy silk nightgown, was deliberately parading in front of Emory. Leo played his part, asking for a glass of water. As Ophelia bent over to pour it, the neckline of her gown gaped open.

"Leo, go get Auntie Ophelia a blanket," Emory's voice was tight.

Leo nodded obediently, then "accidentally" bumped into Ophelia. She stumbled right into Emory's arms, the thin silk strap sliding off her shoulder as her body pressed against his chest.

"I'm sorry, I'm so unsteady," she murmured, looking up at him with misty eyes. "It must be a side effect of the medicine." Her hand slid up to his chest, releasing a subtle, inviting scent.

Emory’s throat bobbed. His eyes darkened with heat.

I had no interest in watching their little show, but as I turned to leave, Emory caught my reflection in the glass door. He shoved Ophelia away and stormed onto the balcony.

"Liliana!" He grabbed my arm, his voice thick with shame and anger. "It's not what you think!"

"I'm not thinking anything," I said calmly. "What you do is none of my business."

"Stop pretending!" he snarled, his embarrassment turning to rage. "You were spying on us!"

"Emory, don't blame Sister Liliana," Ophelia cried, following him out with tears in her eyes. "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have..." She grabbed my hand. "I'll do anything, just please forgive me!"

"Bad mommy!" Leo rushed out too, shoving me hard. "Why are you bullying Auntie Ophelia? Go away!"

I was standing on the edge of the balcony. His push sent me stumbling backward. At that exact moment, Ophelia, who was still clinging to my hand, let her body go limp and fell with me.

"Emory, save me!" she shrieked in terror.

The second-floor balcony wasn't fatally high, but the fall would still cause serious injury. Without a second of hesitation, Emory bypassed me—the one closer to him—and lunged with an Alpha's speed to grab Ophelia's hand.

And I fell.

"Liliana? Liliana!"

I woke to the sound of Emory's trembling voice. He was sitting by my bed, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn't slept all night.

"How are you?" he asked, his voice shaking. "The Pack Healer said you're extremely weak. What's going on?"

It was the first time in years I had seen him so worried about me. I didn't answer, just looked at him in silence.

He immediately started diagnosing me himself. "It must be because you're always so paranoid and stressed. That's why you're so weak. I've already arranged for the high priest to give you a full examination. You need to get rid of this awful temper."

"Alpha!" One of Ophelia's guards rushed in. "Miss Ophelia is coughing up blood!"

Emory's face went pale. He shot to his feet, ready to leave. He glanced at my ashen face and hesitated.

"Go," I said, pressing the call button by the bed. "Ophelia needs you more. A nurse can take care of me."

My quiet calm seemed to throw him off, leaving his prepared excuses to die on his tongue. He gave me one last, deep look, then strode out of the room.

A middle-aged she-wolf nurse came in shortly after. "Luna, your condition is critical. You'll need a family member with you for the follow-up treatments," she said, flipping through my chart. "Where is the Alpha?"

"I don't have a husband," I said quietly. "Just arrange a caregiver for me."

I knew how this went. Emory was busy with Ophelia. He had no time for me. The nurse looked startled but nodded.

I didn't expect to see Emory again so soon. He kicked the door open and stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Liliana!" he roared. "I was so wrong about you! I never knew you were vicious enough to want Ophelia dead!"

"I didn't," I said, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"Still lying!" he snarled, grabbing my shoulders. "If you hadn't pushed her—"

"The pack house has security cameras," I cut him off, ignoring the pain in my shoulders. "You can check the footage."

Emory faltered for a second, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Just then, Leo ran in, his little face flushed with anger.

"Mommy's lying!" he shouted, pointing at me. "I saw her! She grabbed Auntie Ophelia's hand and made her fall on purpose!"

His words sealed my fate.

"You venomous bitch!" Emory yanked me out of bed. The IV line ripped from my arm, and blood streamed down my hand as tubes clattered to the floor. "Get on your knees outside Ophelia's house and repent!"

Seeing the blood and my crumpled state, Leo grabbed his father's sleeve, a flash of panic in his eyes. "Daddy..."

But in the end, he said nothing more.