Mira’s POV

“Abortion? Did I hear that right?”

My entire body froze. For one terrifying second, my heart completely stopped.

The phone nearly slipped from my fingers.

I stared at Dylan standing in the doorway.

The call with my mother was still connected. I immediately lowered the phone and ended it before another word could escape.

Then I forced a smile. A weak one.

“What?”

Dylan stepped further inside. His brows furrowed.

“The word abortion.” His gaze landed on my phone.

“I thought I heard you say abortion.”

For a moment, panic clawed at my throat.

Then I remembered something.

Everyone in Windbloom knew Althea. Everyone knew she owned one of the largest private reproductive clinics in the region. Including abortion services.

I swallowed. Then forced myself to sound casual.

“I was talking about Althea.”

His expression eased slightly.

“Althea?”

I nodded. “She was complaining about how many patients she’s been getting lately.”

I shrugged. “Apparently she’s been handling a lot of abortion cases this month.”

Dylan stared at me for a few seconds. Then finally he relaxed. A small laugh escaped him.

“You scared me.”

Scared you? The irony almost made me laugh.

I was the one carrying babies that weren’t mine. I was the one being used. Yet somehow he was the frightened one.

“Sorry.” The word felt bitter.

Dylan shook his head. “It’s fine.”

He walked toward me holding a small bottle.

“Speaking of babies.”

My stomach twisted immediately. “Did you take your vitamins?”

I looked down. A bottle of prenatal supplements rested in his hand. The same ones he constantly reminded me to take.

“No.”

“Then take them.” His voice was gentle.

“I don’t want you getting sick.”

I almost asked if he cared about me or the children.

Instead, I remained silent. Dylan opened the bottle and handed me the pills himself.

“I know pregnancy has been difficult.”

His hand brushed against my hair.

“But you’re almost there.”

I swallowed the vitamins mechanically.

Like a puppet. Like the surrogate he believed me to be.

“Our due date is getting closer.”

Our. The word felt disgusting.

“I can’t wait to hold them.”

His eyes brightened. “I keep imagining it.”

I stared at him quietly.

“You know that?”

His hand moved to my cheek. “I think you’re the most beautiful pregnant woman I’ve ever seen.”

My stomach lurched. The compliment sounded perfect.

Suddenly I understood. This was how he’d fooled me for years. Because he was good at it.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

The smile on his face widened.

A few minutes later, he left. The moment the door closed behind him, I rushed to the bathroom.

I barely made it to the sink. The nausea hit instantly. Not because of the pregnancy. Because of him.

---

Later that evening, I couldn’t sleep. The packhouse felt suffocating.

So I went for a walk. The cool night air helped ease the pressure in my chest.

Eventually, my wandering brought me near the gardens. Voices drifted through the flowers. I immediately recognized them.

Alpha Dylan. And Bianca.

My footsteps slowed. Instinctively, I moved behind one of the large hedges. Their conversation became clearer.

Bianca laughed softly. “Thank you again.”

“What for?”

“My birthday.”

There was genuine happiness in her voice. “The yacht.”

“I know you didn’t have to let me use it.”

Alpha Dylan chuckled. “Of course I did.”

“You deserve it.”

Bianca laughed again. “I do?”

“You absolutely do.”

Dylan continued. “You’re hardworking.”

“Beautiful.”

Bianca giggled. “Alpha.”

“I’m serious.” His voice softened. “You’re naturally amazing.”

“I can’t wait to meet our baby.”

Silence. Then Dylan smiled.

I could hear it in his voice. “The most precious of all.”

A sharp pain spread through my chest.

Not because I still loved him. But because I finally understood.

The triplets were heirs. Necessary. Useful.

But Bianca’s child… That was the baby he genuinely desired.

Crunch.

A dry leaf cracked beneath my foot.

Both voices immediately stopped.

Panic surged through me.

“Alpha?”

Bianca sounded alert.

“Did you hear that?”

I didn’t wait. I turned and walked away as quickly as my pregnant body allowed.

My heart pounded wildly. Fortunately, neither of them followed. By the time I reached the packhouse, my emotions were a tangled mess.

And with every step, another memory surfaced.

Bianca. Alpha Dylan’s first love.

Everyone knew that story. Even before they discovered the mate bond. They had loved each other.

The problem wasn’t love. It was politics. Windbloom needed Moonclove. My pack.

Back then, everyone said Alph Dylan choosing me was romantic. That he had defied expectations. That he had chosen his heart.

I believed it.

Moon Goddess.

I actually believed it.

Now I understood the truth. He hadn’t chosen me. He had chosen Moonclove. The alliance.

A notification sound interrupted my thoughts.

I pulled out my phone.

Althea.

My stomach tightened. I opened the message. Attached was a medical certificate. Several test results. A risk assessment.

And one highlighted section. My eyes landed on the words.

Due to the patient’s condition and the complexity of the procedure, future fertility may be significantly reduced. Probability of successful pregnancy afterward remains low.

Beneath it was a message from Althea.

Mira, are you absolutely sure?

I stared at the screen.

A year ago, this would have terrified me. Maybe even a month ago.

The possibility of never becoming a mother. The possibility of never having children. The possibility of losing that dream forever.

But now? I felt strangely calm. Because the dream had already been destroyed… by everyone who had treated me like livestock.

My fingers moved across the screen.

They risked my health and well-being for this pregnancy.

I paused. A tear rolled down my cheek.

Then continued typing.

And he’d scrap me like garbage after this.

The message blurred briefly through my tears.

I wiped them away. And finished writing.

What more should I fear?

Mira’s POV

When I opened my eyes, everything felt different. For a moment, I couldn’t understand why.

Then reality returned. Althea’s clinic. The procedure. The plan.

Slowly, my hand drifted toward my stomach.

I froze. Then tears immediately filled my eyes.

The weight was gone. The constant pressure that had followed me for months had disappeared.

No aching stretch. No uncomfortable heaviness. No painful reminder growing inside me.

Just emptiness. A strange emptiness.

And yet… For the first time in weeks, I could breathe. The feeling was impossible to describe. Like chains had finally fallen away. Like I had been drowning and somehow reached the surface.

A movement beside the bed caught my attention.

“Mira.” Althea was sitting nearby.

The exhaustion on her face told me she hadn’t slept. Relief flashed through her eyes when she saw me awake.

“You’re awake.”

My throat felt dry. “How long?”

“Several hours.”

I slowly sat up. My body immediately protested. Weakness spread through every muscle.

Not unbearable. But enough to remind me how dangerous everything had been.

Althea quickly moved closer. “Easy.”

She helped support my shoulders. “You pushed your body too far.”

Then Althea reached for my hand.

“I transferred some wolf energy to help stabilize you.”

I blinked. “You did what?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that.”

A faint smile appeared. “We’ve known each other since childhood.”

“You would’ve done the same.”

That was true. Still, guilt settled inside me.

Wolf energy wasn’t something given casually.

“Several healers also helped.”

Althea continued. “We accelerated your recovery as much as possible.”

I swallowed. “Thank you.”

She squeezed my hand. Then her expression turned serious. “Tell me you’re not going.”

I looked away. That was answer enough.

“Mira.”

“It’s necessary.”

“No, it’s insane.”

Her voice rose slightly. “You almost died.”

“I’m alive.”

“Barely.”

I smiled sadly. “But alive.”

Althea looked ready to argue. Then she suddenly sighed. Defeated.

Because she already knew. My decision was made.

Tonight wasn’t just Bianca’s birthday. Tonight was my freedom.

An hour later, I stood in front of a mirror. My legs still felt weak. My wolf connection still felt unstable.

But I was standing. That was enough.

The fake pregnancy belly had been carefully prepared beforehand. When I secured it beneath my dress, my reflection looked exactly like the Luna everyone expected to see.

Still pregnant. Still carrying triplets. Still clueless.

The irony almost made me laugh.

I adjusted the red dress. It hugged my figure elegantly.

My phone rang. Mom.

I immediately answered. “Mom.”

“Everything went smoothly?”

I glanced toward Althea. She nodded.

“Yes.”

A pause followed. Then my mother’s voice softened.

“Are you certain?”

I closed my eyes. “Yes.”

The answer came easily. “I’m certain.”

Silence.

Then my mother spoke. “Then we’ll proceed as planned.”

A small smile appeared on my face. “Please do.”

By the time I arrived at the marina, Bianca’s celebration was already underway. The yacht sparkled beneath the night sky.

Music drifted across the water. Pack elites filled the decks. Alphas. Lunas. Heirs. Powerful wolves from neighboring territories. Everyone had come to celebrate Bianca.

As expected.

The moment I stepped aboard, conversations quieted briefly. Several guests looked toward my red dress.

Confusion flashed across their faces. I almost laughed.

Bianca spotted me almost immediately. For a split second, something ugly crossed her face.

Displeasure.

Then it vanished beneath a perfect smile.

“Mira.”

She approached gracefully. “You came.”

“Of course.”

I smiled sweetly. “I wouldn’t miss your birthday.”

Her gaze lowered toward my dress. Specifically the color. Red. As if I was the one celebrating today.

Bianca was wearing silver. Normally, our etiquette dictated avoiding colors that might overshadow the birthday celebrant.

I knew that. Bianca knew that. Everyone knew that.

“Mira.” Her smile tightened.

“You look… beautiful.”

I knew in her head, her question would translate to this: Why are you wearing that?

I touched my stomach lovingly. “Oh.”

I laughed softly. “The babies wanted red today.”

Several nearby guests chuckled. Bianca didn’t. Neither did Alpha Dylan.

The Alpha appeared moments later. His gaze immediately landed on my dress.

I saw the irritation flash through his eyes. There it was. Annoyance. Because Bianca was unhappy.

Suddenly, I remembered my birthday last year.

The memory surfaced vividly. The empty chair beside me. Bianca had suddenly become sick.

Alpha Dylan had rushed to her side immediately.

Leaving me alone. Leaving his Luna alone.

When I confronted him later, he had simply said, “Bianca needed me.”

As if that explained everything.

Back in the present, Alpha Dylan approached. “Mira.”

I tilted my head. “Yes?”

“The dress.”

“What about it?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “You know it’s Bianca’s birthday celebration.”

I smiled. “The babies wanted it.”

His eyes narrowed.

I continued sweetly. “Would you rather disappoint our babies?”

A dangerous look entered his gaze. “Dont joke around.”

His voice lowered. “I know you wanted my attention.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

“I assure you,” I said softly. “I don’t.”

He ignored that. “It’s all yours.”

His voice remained quiet. “But don’t ruin Bianca’s night.”

A warning. Disguised as concern.

I stared at him. Really stared. And for the first time, I felt nothing. No heartbreak. Just clarity.

I could finally see who mattered. And it wasn’t me.

Hours passed. Drinks flowed. Music played. Guests laughed.

Eventually came the gift-giving portion of the celebration. Exactly as planned.

I rose from my seat. Then took the microphone. The music gradually quieted.

Everyone looked toward me. Including Alpha Dylan.

“Bianca…”

I smiled warmly. “I have a special gift.”

Her eyes brightened slightly. Probably expecting jewelry.

“Actually.”

I glanced toward the other women. “Cassandra and Samantha as well.”

Confusion appeared immediately.

“I’d like all three of you to join me on the upper deck.”

Then I looked directly at Alpha Dylan. “And my Alpha husband.”

The confusion deepened. “The babies wanted some air.”

I touched my stomach. “And I’d prefer giving my gift there.”

Murmurs spread among the guests.

Still, nobody refused. A few minutes later, we stood together near the upper deck.

The ocean stretched endlessly around us. Dark. Silent.

Bianca crossed her arms. “What exactly is this?”

I handed each woman a decorated box.

Then one to Dylan.

“Open them.”

Bianca exchanged looks with the others.

Then lifted the lid.

Silence.

Immediately followed by outrage.

“What the hell?”

Cassandra nearly dropped hers.

Samantha recoiled.

Bianca looked horrified.

Inside each box sat a glass jar.

And inside each jar… The remains of what should have been their future. Their stolen future. Their planned heirs. The children they had used me to create.

“What is this?” Cassandra demanded.

Bianca looked furious.

“Are you trying to upset us?”

Samantha stared at me. “What the hell is wrong with you, Mira?”

“What is this disgusting thing?”

I smiled. The sweetest smile I’d ever given.

Then answered. “Your babies.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

Shock. Confusion. Horror.

Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Nobody understood.

Until it was too late.

I stepped backward. Toward the railing.

Alpha Dylan’s eyes widened.

“Mira—”

I smiled one last time.

Then jumped. The ocean swallowed me whole.

Darkness surrounded me instantly. Cold water rushed past my body.

Above me, screams erupted. People shouting.

Alpha Dylan roaring my name.

Chaos.

Exactly as planned. For one terrifying moment, panic surged.

The ocean was darker than I expected.

Colder. More dangerous.

Then suddenly—An arm wrapped around my waist.

I was pulled toward a small rescue boat hidden in the shadows near the yacht.

The moment I was dragged aboard, I collapsed, coughing.

A deep male voice spoke beside me.

“Your dangerous plan succeeded, Mira.”

I looked up.

The man shook his head.

“You could have lost your life in this pitch-black water.”

I laughed. “I know.”

Above us, the yacht remained in chaos. Searchlights swept across the ocean.

People screamed. Alpha Dylan’s voice echoed through the night.

Desperate. Panicked. Searching.

Too late.

Far too late.

Because Luna Mira Windbloom had already disappeared.