The sun rose on the Black Wings Pack, its golden light casting long shadows across the courtyard. Although it was supposed to be a beautiful morning, my heart felt heavy. I hadn’t slept at all after what I had seen the night before.

Nicholas and Selena. The memory of them together burned like fire in my mind. My mind and heart felt like a mess.

‘I need to get out of this place,’ I thought to myself.

I stood at the window of my chambers, staring out at the snow-dusted grounds. My decision was clear. There was no way that I couldn’t stay here. Not anymore.

For three years, I had tried to make this marriage work. Despite how that man treated me, I already worked hard to be the Luna the pack deserved. But Nicholas had destroyed everything by cheating on me with Selena.

'I agree,' Allegra said in my mind, her voice firm.

I nodded to myself. What my wolf said was right. Staying here would only break me further. Not to mention, I had to think about the twins. I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling the faint stir of life.

‘They deserved better than this,’ I thought to myself.

My mind wandered for hours, thinking about where I would go. Unfortunately, my parents had passed with the White Rose Pack being ruled by my cruel brother, James Albright, who supported Selena. In the end, I had no one. So, could I still even go there?

Just when I was deep in my thoughts, a knock came at the door. My heart jumped. Was it Nicholas? Had he come to apologize, to beg for forgiveness?

"Come in," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

The door opened, but it wasn’t his smell. Still, I was surprised. After all, it turned out to be Alpha Owen Hargreaves, my father-in-law.

"Good morning, Luna Gwen," he greeted me respectfully with his deep voice, a kind but firm voice.

The old man stepped inside before he closed the door behind him.

"Alpha Owen," I greeted him back.

I asked the retired Alpha, "What brings you here?"

Alpha Owen studied me for a moment, and his eyes seemingly saw right through me.

"I heard what happened last night," he said.

My breath caught as I responded to him by asking, "You did?"

He nodded.

"Well, you made quite a ruckus, weren’t you? And I won’t lie to you. I’m furious. Furious with my son, and furious with myself for letting this go on as long as it has," he said.

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to cry.

"It’s not your fault, Alpha Owen. You can’t control Nicholas’ choices, just like I couldn’t control my shameless sister," I told him, trying to comfort the person whom I considered as my own father.

"No," he said, his jaw tightening.

The old man angrily continued, “How could he do that to you … when you saved his life!”

When I heard my father-in-law, I went quiet. Indeed, I … really loved Nicholas. The man was my betrothed, but he was more than that. So, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing half of my life for him when he was injured by a rogue when he patrolled his area.

After all, we would exchange letters when we were betrothed. Like an idiot, I believed we were star-crossed lovers. Yet, my husband became different when I met him to marry him as soon as he recovered.

I would never know what happened, but it hurt me. Deeply. Lots of questions were in my mind, but I never dared to question it.

Not once did the young Alpha ever thank me for saving him. Even worse, he dared to cheat on me with my own sister while I was pregnant with his children. Life felt like a joke.

Yet, what my father-in-law would say next truly shocked me.

"But I can hold him accountable for them. And I will," Alpha Owen said.

His words sent a flicker of hope through me. The retired Alpha had always been a fair and just leader. It seemed he wasn’t about to let Nicholas and Selena’s betrayal go unchecked.

"I’ve come to tell you that you have my full support, Gwen. The pack stands with you. They see the kind of Luna you are and the sacrifices you’ve made. You’re stronger than Nicholas will ever be," he explained.

His words were a balm to my wounded heart, but they also made my decision even harder.

"Thank you," I said.

Again, I continued to speak, "But I can’t stay here, Alpha Owen. Not after this."

He frowned at what I said.

The old man held my hand as he said, "You don’t have to make that decision now, Gwen. Take your time. And if you do leave, know that you’ll always have a place here. The pack will mourn your absence."

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside. Shouts echoed through the halls, and I rushed to the window. What I saw made my stomach turn.

Nicholas and Selena were in the courtyard, laughing and holding hands. They were parading their affair in front of the entire pack despite what happened last night. How disgusting!

Gasps and murmurs rose from the gathered crowd. I could see the anger and disappointment on their faces. Nicholas might be their Alpha, but even loyalty had its limits.

Alpha Owen’s expression darkened.

"That fool," he muttered.

Without another word, he strode to the door. I followed him, my heart pounding. This was it. The moment everything would change.

When we reached the courtyard, Alpha Owen’s voice boomed.

"Nicholas Hargreaves! Selena Albright! What is the meaning of this?"

Nicholas turned, his smug smile fading as he saw his father.

"Father," he said.

The young Alpha weakly muttered, "I didn’t realize you were awake."

Alpha Owen’s face was red and fury while he was berating his son, "How dare you disgrace this pack, your Luna, and our family in such a way!"

Selena stepped forward arrogantly as she said, "With all due respect, Alpha Owen, Gwen is no longer fit to be a Luna. She’s weak, and she doesn’t make Nicholas happy. I do."

For a while, the old Alpha went quiet. It seemed that he was thinking about something. However, I was shocked about what I was about to see next.

To everyone’s surprise including mine, Alpha Owen slapped Selena until she fell. My cunning sister groaned in pain as blood started to fall from her lips. The woman who betrayed me with my husband looked at my husband in disbelief as the young Alpha did nothing to help her.

‘Serves that bitch right!’ Allegra shouted happily.

The crowd erupted into shocked whispers. I felt my wolf growling in my mind excitedly, but I kept my composure. After all, we were wondering what would happen.

Not long after that, Alpha Owen raised a hand to silence the crowd.

"Enough!" he roared.

My father-in-law angrily said, "Selena Albright, you are a guest in this pack. You have no right to speak of its leadership. And Nicholas, you are a disgrace. You are unworthy of your title, and you are unworthy of Gwen."

The pack murmured in agreement. For the first time, I saw their anger and disappointment directed at Nicholas publicly. Frankly, this felt very … relieving.

As soon as my husband realized how his pack members reacted, the man clenched his fists. His face darkened with rage. Obviously, he couldn’t take it.

"You always take her side," he spat.

The young Alpha angrily shouted, "You’ve never believed in me!"

"Because you’ve given me no reason to believe in you," Alpha Owen said.

His voice was cold, but there was a hint of sadness in it. After all, Nicholas was still his own son. I could understand him. After that, the old man led me to go inside the castle.

On the other hand, Selena leaned close to Nicholas quietly. She whispered something in his ear. The young Alpha nodded, his expression hardening.

‘I had a bad feeling about this,’ I thought to myself.

That evening, I sat alone in my chambers, lost in thought. Alpha Owen’s support gave me hope, but the hatred in Nicholas’ eyes haunted me. He wasn’t going to let this go. I knew him too well.

Allegra’s voice echoed in my mind, 'Something is wrong, Gwen. I can feel it. He’s not done.'

‘What do you mean?’ I whispered, fear creeping into my voice.

'I don’t know yet,' she said.

'But whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Be careful.'

As the moon rose high in the sky, I heard footsteps outside my door. My heart raced as I waited, but no one came inside. Instead, the footsteps faded into silence, leaving me with an uneasy feeling that something terrible was coming.

That morning began like any other. The sky was painted a soft pink with the crisp air. I walked to the training grounds, hoping the fresh air would clear my restless thoughts. However, Allegra had been unusually quiet since the night before.

It made me feel unease.

'Something feels wrong, Gwen,' she finally said, her voice low and cautious.

I stopped in my tracks, my eyes scanning the quiet courtyard. My wolf was right. There was a strange tension in the air, like the forest before a storm.

Suddenly, a sharp howl pierced the stillness. My heart dropped. It wasn’t a howl of joy or strength. It was a howl of grief.

I ran toward the source of the sound, my chest tightening with every step. When I reached the packhouse, a crowd had already gathered in the great hall. The sight before me made my blood run cold.

Alpha Owen lay motionless on the stone floor, his eyes closed as if in sleep. His once-strong body was pale and lifeless. Gasps and whispers filled the room.

"No," I whispered, stepping forward.

"This can’t be."

Allegra’s growl rumbled in my mind as she said, 'This wasn’t natural. Gwen, I can feel it. This was done to him.'

"Father!" Nicholas’ voice boomed as he stormed into the hall with Selena trailing behind him.

His face was a mask of fury and grief, though I could see the glint of something darker in his eyes.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The young Alpha turned to me as he coldly responded, "You tell me, Gwen."

The room fell silent. I stared at him, confused. Somehow, my gut felt that it wasn’t good.

"What are you saying?" I asked my husband.

He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me.

"You were the last person seen with my father last night. You’ve always been close to him. Too close, perhaps. How do we know you didn’t do this?" the man accusingly said.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded. I would never expect this to happen.

Immediately, I responded, "You can’t be serious. Alpha Owen was like a father to me. I would never hurt him!"

Selena’s soft, mocking laugh cut through the tension.

"Oh, Gwen," my sister said mockingly.

The mistress then said, "It’s always the ones who seem the most loyal. Maybe you thought you could take over the pack after Nicholas."

"That’s enough!" I shouted, my voice shaking with anger.

Nicholas raised a hand, silencing me. His eyes glinted with triumph. As soon as I saw his eyes, I knew that my own husband was trying to get rid of me. The Alpha was truly despicable!

To my surprise, he then commanded in his Alpha voice, "As Alpha, I must act for the good of the pack. Gwen Albright, you are hereby stripped of your title as Luna."

The power of his Alpha voice washed over me like a tidal wave, demanding obedience. My knees buckled, but I gritted my teeth. This time, I no longer wanted to obey him.

'Don’t give in,' Allegra said, her voice fierce.

I told myself, 'Allegra is right, you are stronger than this.'

I straightened, meeting Nicholas’ gaze.

"No," I said firmly.

He blinked, shocked at what I just said.

The man asked, "What did you say?"

"I said no," I repeated.

My voice grew louder and steadier as I spoke defiantly, "I won’t accept this. I loved Alpha Owen like he was my own father. I swear by the Moon Goddess, I had nothing to do with his death!"

The pack members murmured among themselves, their loyalty to Alpha Owen and me evident in their doubtful expressions. Obviously, they knew that there was no way that I would harm someone whom I considered to be my own father. It clearly made my husband’s plan go awry.

Nicholas’ face darkened at the crowd’s reaction.

He coldly said, "Then break our mating bond. If you are truly innocent, release me, Gwen. Let me be with someone who understands me."

Selena stepped closer, her smirk widening.

I clenched my fists as I responded angrily, "You think I’ll make it easy for you? That I’ll just walk away while you destroy this pack with your lies? No, Nicholas. I will not break the bond. If you want it gone, you’ll have to do it yourself."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But Selena placed a hand on his arm. Unfortunately for me, his resolve returned.

The Alpha then raised his voice, addressing the pack with his Alpha voice, "She defies her Alpha. She disrespects me and dishonors our family. She cannot remain here!"

He turned back to me, his face twisted with anger.

"Gwen Albright, I banish you from the Black Wings Pack!" he ordered me with his Alpha voice.

The words hit me like a blow. For a moment, the room spun, and I struggled to breathe. But Allegra’s steady presence kept me grounded.

'Stand tall, Gwen,' she said.

After that, my wolf cont'They may strip you of titles, but they can’t take your strength or your truth.'

I lifted my chin, meeting Nicholas’ gaze with all the defiance I could muster. "You can banish me, Nicholas. But one day, the truth will come out. And when it does, you’ll regret every word you’ve said."

Selena’s laugh echoed in the hall.

"Poor Gwen. Always so dramatic," she mockingly said.

I ignored her, turning to the pack members who had gathered.

"You all knew Alpha Owen," I said.

Then, I kept speaking, "You knew the kind of man he was. Ask yourselves. Who had more to gain from his death? Me, or the ones who have been tearing this pack apart from the inside?"

The crowd shifted uneasily. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the seeds of rebellion beginning to sprout. Still, it was enough.

Nicholas stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding as he told me, "Enough. Leave now, Gwen. Or I will force you out!"

I met his gaze one last time, my heart breaking for the mate I had once loved. Without another word, I turned and walked out of the great hall. Without further ado, I left behind the only home I had known since our mating ceremony.

As I stepped into the cold morning air, Allegra spoke again, 'You did well, Gwen. But this isn’t over. Be careful. They’re planning something worse.'

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I didn’t know where I would go or what I would do next, but one thing was certain. I would find the truth about Alpha Owen’s death. And I would make Nicholas and Selena pay.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the Black Wings Pack’s clearing. I stood at the edge of the pack’s territory, every eye on me. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. Instinctively, my hands cradled my belly. That quickly gave me a realization.

I reminded myself, ‘My babies. I have to stay strong for them.’

Nicholas stood tall. Beside him, Selena smirked as she was satisfied with me being miserable. Meanwhile, the crowd was silent. Still, they looked at me sympathetically.

The Alpha raised his voice as he announced, “Gwen, you have brought shame to this pack. You are no longer fit to stand among us.”

My cruel sister stepped forward, and looked at me mockingly before she said, “Look at her. Our once-proud Luna, was reduced to this. A traitor. A liar.”

She then shamelessly continued, “I suppose it’s no surprise, though. She’s always been ... lacking.”

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms.

Allegra’s voice was firm in my mind as she spoke, ‘Don’t let them break you. They want to see you crumble.’

My shameless husband then said, “This woman claimed to be our Luna. Yet, she has proven herself unworthy of that title.”

Selena added with a sneer, “She couldn’t even keep her mate satisfied. Isn’t that right, Nicholas?”

Pain shot through me at her words, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

The man smirked as he said, “It’s true. A Luna should be strong, loyal, and worthy of her position. Gwen has failed on all counts.”

I raised my head, forcing my voice to stay steady, as I said, “I have done nothing but serve this pack with love and loyalty. Whatever lies you tell, I know the truth.”

Selena laughed at what I just said, responding, “The truth? The truth is that you’re a disgrace. And now, you’ll get what you deserve.”

To everyone’s shock, I slapped Selena so hard to the point that she fell on her face. She immediately pretended to get hurt. My husband quickly came for his mistress.

But I couldn’t care less about someone who once used to be my sister. That woman was a monster. So, I just returned the favor.

I took a shaky breath and met Nicholas’ gaze.

“I will leave. But not because of your lies. I leave because I will not stay where hatred and betrayal rule. One day, you’ll know that all you did would turn its back on you,” I said coldly, keeping my eyes on my soon-to-be ex-husband.

“Never forget this, Nicholas Hargreaves,” I coldly told him.

The crowd murmured. They surely didn’t expect their once obedient Luna to be like this. Actually, it wasn’t just them. Even the Alpha was stunned about my seemingly sudden change of behavior.

Still, the man tried to play it cool by saying, “Then go. And don’t come back. Make sure you don’t trip over your pride on the way out.”

With Allegra’s strength bolstering me, I turned and walked away. My steps were slow but steady. Each step carried me farther from the place I had once called home.

As I crossed the boundary, the pain of the severed bond tore through me. It was as if a part of my soul had been ripped away, leaving a hollow ache in its place. I gasped, clutching my stomach as tears spilled down my cheeks.

‘Keep moving,’ Allegra urged gently.

‘We cannot stop now.’

Once I was far enough away, I sank to my knees. The weight of everything crashed down on me. Slowly but surely, I sobbed into my hands.

“Why, Moon Goddess?” I whispered through my tears.

“Why must I suffer like this?”

The wind whispered through the trees, carrying no answers.

Allegra’s voice broke through my despair as she said, ‘I am with you. We will get through this together.’

I took a deep breath, drawing strength from her words.

‘You’re right. We have to keep going.’

‘Shift,’ she urged.

My wolf continued, ‘We can cover more ground in my form.’

Closing my eyes, I allowed the warmth of my wolf to take over. Allegra emerged, her powerful form steady beneath me. She took off, her paws pounding against the forest floor as the world blurred around us.

We ran until the sky darkened and exhaustion set in. Allegra slowed down. Her ears were twitching as she scanned the surroundings.

In the distance, a small, crumbling cottage stood hidden among the trees. It looked abandoned. With her eyes, I could see the roof sagging and vines creeping up its walls.

I shifted back into my human form, my legs weak beneath me.

“It’s not much, but we can take a shelter there,” I murmured.

Pushing open the creaky door, I stepped inside. The air was musty. When I looked inside, it was barely a cottage. Still, it was better than nothing.

I sank onto the bed, cradling my belly.

“We’ll be okay, I promise,” I whispered to my babies.

After that, I decided to lay down. The weight of the day was pressing heavily on me. Sleep came in fits and starts, plagued by nightmares of Nicholas and Selena’s mocking faces.

A sound jolted me awake. My heart pounded as I sat up, straining to listen. There it was again. A faint sound rustled outside the cottage.

‘Someone’s here,’ Allegra warned, her tone sharp.

Fear gripped me.

“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice trembling.

The door creaked open, and a shadowy figure stepped inside. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the roof, casting the figure in shadow. My stomach churned.

I scrambled to my feet, my hands shaking.

“Stay back. I won’t go down without a fight,” I said firmly to the figure.

The figure remained silent, their head tilting as they studied me.

My wolf told me, ‘Stay calm. They don’t seem hostile, but don’t trust them.’

“Who are you?” I asked the figure.

The figure’s voice was low and steady as they spoke, “You’re not safe here.”

My breath caught, asking them back, “What do you mean?”

“They’ll come for you,” the figure said.

Fear gripped my chest.

“Who?” I asked them.

The figure said, “Nicholas won’t let you go so easily.”

Howls echoed in the distance, growing louder. My stomach twisted with fear. I knew it!

‘Nicholas and Selena are up to no good, I gotta go,’ I thought to myself.

“They’ve found you,” the figure said urgently.

I hesitated, my mind racing as I asked the figure, “Why are you helping me?”

The figure stepped closer with the moonlight barely illuminating their face as they said, “Because if you stay, you’ll die.”

The howls grew nearer, my panic rising with each passing second.

‘We need to trust them. For now,’ my wolf said.

Swallowing my fear, I nodded.

I firmly said, “Fine. But if you’re lying-”

“I’m not,” the figure cut me off quickly.

Before I could respond, they extended a hand.

“Come with me.”

I hesitated for a moment before taking their hand, letting them lead me into the darkness.