I forced a smile, but the weight of my emotions was too much to hide. My heart felt heavy with triumph and despair all at once. Kaidon, the Alpha, saw my apology and let it slide. His gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought maybe he admired my obedience. But deep down, I knew the truth.

Ronan, Kaidon's younger brother and the Beta, led me to the guest room. He mentioned a healer would see me tomorrow to take care of my injuries. Before he left, his words carried a serious tone.

"You can’t touch anything of Elara’s. Understand?" His eyes bore into mine, reminding me where I stood.

I nodded, sadness swelling in my chest. If only Kaidon treated me the way he did before Elara returned. How could I even dare to touch the food he made for her? I was just a substitute, nothing more.

The first time I met Kaidon, it was at a pack meeting. He stared at me with wide eyes and murmured her name, "Elara." I thought maybe I reminded him of someone, but I later learned that I looked exactly like his true mate, the one he lost.

Before Kaidon, my life had been hanging by a thread. My brother had fallen into bad company, tangled with rogues. I tried to pull him out, but the rogues demanded payment we couldn’t afford. Everything was spiraling out of control.

Then Kaidon came into my life, offering something I couldn’t refuse. He promised to take me in, to make me his mate. His proposal was a lifeline when I was drowning, and I grabbed hold of it.

After joining the Blackwood Pack, Kaidon made sure I never faced disrespect. The pack looked down on me because of my past, but Kaidon’s protection kept them at bay. He gave me everything I asked for, made me feel special. I started to believe he might care for me, that maybe, just maybe, he could love me.

But there was always something missing. A room in the packhouse that was off-limits, one I was never allowed to enter. I was curious, but Kaidon never let me near it. I didn’t push, even though the mystery gnawed at me.

Then one night, after a rogue attack left me hurt, I lost my temper. I threatened to tell Kaidon what had happened. Ronan overheard and scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Do you think he actually loves you?"

His words hit me like a punch. I couldn’t shake the doubt they planted in my heart. That night, I couldn’t take it anymore. I opened the door to the forbidden room, bracing myself for whatever I might find.

Inside, my world shattered. The room was like a shrine, a dreamlike space filled with pictures of Elara. Her face, smiling and radiant, covered every wall. She was everywhere—her laughter, her life frozen in time. The woman I could never compete with.

Kaidon stood behind me, his voice cold and unfeeling.

"Look closely," he said, the words slicing through me. "This is the woman I love. You're just here because you look like her. Don’t ever think you could replace her."

From that day forward, I kept my distance. I couldn’t be the fool who thought he loved me, not anymore. He noticed my withdrawal, but he never spoke of it. He didn’t need to explain anything to someone he never truly cared for.

A year passed, and in that time, I lost everything that meant anything to me. My brother disappeared, my ties to my old life crumbled, and I was left with nothing but emptiness. I wanted to leave, but Kaidon wouldn’t allow it. He said I had to wait until Elara returned. Then, and only then, could I go.

And now she was back. Elara had returned, the one who truly belonged here. I had paid back what I owed.

The night felt oppressive, the heat radiating from my feverish body like a furnace. I lay on the bed, tangled in damp sheets, my skin clammy and slick. The rogue bite on my shoulder throbbed, the infection raging beneath my skin, causing my wolf instincts to flare with discomfort. It was as if my wolf was restless, sensing my pain and wanting to break free. In my desperation, I picked up my phone, dialing Kaidon's number without thinking. My heart raced with the hope that he would answer, his strong presence soothing my fears.

When his voice came through, it was sharp and impatient, cutting through the haze of my fever. "Luna, why do you keep calling? You’re an adult. Handle your own problems."

His words stung, twisting in my gut. I felt like I was drowning, my breath shallow and labored. "Kaidon… I don’t feel well. It’s… it’s bad." My voice cracked, a plea for help echoing in my mind.

Before I could say more, I heard a soft, mocking voice on the other end. “Luna, stop bothering him. He’s been with me all day. As his mate, you should understand he’s tired.”

Elara’s voice cut through my hope like a knife, leaving me cold and empty. The line went dead, and I felt the weight of despair crash over me. I was alone. I was forgotten. My wolf whined, feeling the loss of my mate's warmth and the betrayal of the woman who took my place.

With trembling hands, I called Gideon, my loyal protector and the pack’s butler. He arrived quickly, concern etched on his face when he saw me, drenched in sweat and shaking. "Luna, what happened?" he asked, his voice urgent, the alpha's instinct to protect kicking in.

“I called Kaidon,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “I just wanted…”

Gideon’s eyes darkened, and he immediately reached for his phone, but I stopped him. "I don’t want him to come. I want to go to a different hospital."

Gideon hesitated, worry etched into his features. "But the nearest hospital is just fifteen minutes away. If we go further, I’m afraid you won’t make it."

I shook my head, my resolve firm despite the fever clouding my thoughts. "I don’t care. Just take me to the one I asked for."

"Okay, but you have to hold on." He stepped on the gas, the car speeding through the dimly lit streets, the roar of the engine echoing my own frantic heart.

The hospital I had in mind was owned by the Blackwood family, a powerful and ruthless clan in our territory. They had the ability to bend the rules and operate outside the law, often using their connections to manipulate situations in their favor. I felt like a fly trapped in a web, powerless against whatever they might do. I didn’t want to be a pawn in Kaidon’s game, especially now that Elara had returned.

As we arrived, the nurse quickly assessed my condition. “You’re lucky you came when you did. This infection could have turned deadly,” she said, her voice brisk and efficient.

I spent the next few days recovering in the sterile hospital room, the scent of antiseptic filling the air. Kaidon didn’t visit. He had forgotten about me, too wrapped up in Elara’s presence to spare a thought for me. My wolf howled in frustration, a deep, primal sorrow that echoed within my very soul.

Gideon was my only visitor. Each day, he would come, bringing me news from the pack and trying to lift my spirits. He also attempted to talk to Kaidon about my situation, but Kaidon’s dismissive response echoed in my mind. "I don’t want to hear about her," he had said, disgust dripping from his words.

A week later, Kaidon finally remembered me. He arrived with Elara by his side, his eyes catching mine for a brief moment before flitting away. "Luna, I didn’t know you were in the hospital," he said, a flash of guilt crossing his face. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Elara clung to his arm, a wide smile on her face that twisted in my gut like a knife. “Sorry, Luna,” she said, her tone sugary sweet. “Kaidon has been with me, making sure I’m okay. We’ve been so busy catching up.” The wolf in me growled at the sight of her, jealousy bubbling to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged.

Her words twisted in my heart like a dagger. “You two must have a strong bond,” I replied, my voice steady, even as pain clawed at my insides.

Elara raised her hands, fingers intertwined with Kaidon’s. “Of course, we’ve known each other forever.”

I forced a smile, trying to keep the hurt at bay. “It’s okay. We’re getting divorced anyway, so you two can be together openly now.”

The words slipped from my mouth, calm and composed, but inside, I was falling apart. My wolf roared in anguish, the bond I once thought unbreakable shattering like glass. Kaidon’s gaze flickered, caught in a mix of emotions I couldn’t decipher, perhaps a hint of regret.

“I’ll make sure you’re taken care of,” he said finally, his voice devoid of warmth. “You won’t have to worry about anything.”

The weight of his words sank in, and I felt a hollow laugh bubble in my throat. No amount of money could fill the void in my heart. I was just a ghost in his life, a mere reflection of the love he once had for someone else.

I gave Kaidon a faint smile, "I’ve already sent the divorce papers. Just find some time to sign them." I turned and headed for the door, my steps heavy with the weight of finality.

Before I could leave, Kaidon’s voice stopped me. "Luna, let me walk you home."

Without turning, I answered, "No, there’s no need." My voice was flat, determined. If I was leaving, I needed to leave completely, no lingering attachments or second thoughts.

He had left me a lot, like he’d promised. Ten million dollars and a villa in the heart of the city. It was enough to live a comfortable, worry-free life. But money couldn’t erase the pain, couldn’t undo the damage that had already been done.

As I gathered the last of my things, I heard footsteps outside the villa. Of course, it was Elara. She always had a way of showing up when it was least wanted. She barged in, her face streaked with tears, her eyes desperate.

"Luna, did you take the goddess pearl?" Her voice trembled, as though the world was crumbling around her.

I stared at her, shocked. "Why would I take it?"

Her lips quivered as she stepped closer, her tears falling harder now. "Please, just give it back. It’s the one thing I have left of him, and I know you’re angry, but please don’t take that from me." Her voice was thick with emotion, like she believed I’d stolen the one thing that mattered.

I frowned, my patience wearing thin. "I didn’t take it, Elara."

But she wasn’t convinced. She grabbed my arm, "Luna, please. I’m begging you. If you have it, just give it back. I’ll pay you, anything you want."

I jerked my arm away, glaring at her. "I said I don’t have it."

Suddenly, Kaidon appeared, stepping out of the shadows. His face was as cold as ice, his eyes unreadable as he watched me. "If you took the pearl, just give it back," he said flatly, his voice void of emotion.

My heart clenched painfully. "I didn’t take it," I said firmly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don’t want anything from you."

He didn’t believe me. It was written all over his face, in the hard line of his jaw, the coldness in his eyes. I realized then that I wasn’t just losing my marriage—I had already lost the man I once loved.

Kaidon’s grip tightened around my wrist, dragging me toward the house. "You’re not leaving until you give it back."

My heart raced in panic. "Kaidon, are you insane? I don’t have the pearl!"

But he didn’t listen. His grip only grew stronger, his jaw set in determination. Memories of the last time he’d done something like this came rushing back. The time he had taken the pearl from me, locking me in a room for hours without food or water until I was weak, broken. But I had endured. I wouldn’t let it happen again.

He forced me inside, locking the door behind us. The sound of the key turning in the lock echoed in the silence, like a final judgment. I rushed to the door, pounding on it, shouting for him to let me go. "Kaidon! This is madness! Let me out!"

But there was no response. The house was quiet, suffocatingly so. I turned around, facing the man I no longer recognized. "Why are you doing this?" My voice sad, but I held my ground. "This isn’t you."

He said nothing, simply leaving the room without looking back, locking me inside as though I were a prisoner. My stomach twisted in knots, both from hunger and from fear. He had done this before, but this time felt different. It felt final, like there was no going back from this.

As the hours dragged on, I sat on the floor. My mind raced, trying to understand how it had all come to this.

Night fell, and with it, the last of my hope. The door creaked open, and I tensed, expecting Kaidon.

But it was Elara. She walked in, a smug smile playing on her lips as she approached me slowly.

"Luna," she said sweetly, her voice dripping with false concern. "Guess what this is?"

She raised her right hand, the light catching on a dazzling pearl ring sitting proudly on her finger. The very goddess pearl she had accused me of stealing.