Fianna's POV

My hands trembled as I held the broken moon dancer in my palms.

Something inside me finally shattered.

"You vicious wolf!" I snarled.

My voice came out as a low growl.

Valeska tilted her head and gave me a sweet smile. The same smile that had fooled me for years.

"Fianna, calm down. It was only an accident..."

The word accident made something explode inside me.

Before I could stop myself, my hand flew out.

Slap!

The slap echoed through the room.

Valeska stumbled backward and clutched her cheek. Her eyes widened in shock.

She had never expected me to strike her.

"You have no right to touch my daughter’s things! You have no right to destroy the only thing I had left of her!" I screamed, my throat raw.

"Fianna!"

Bastien's furious voice thundered from the doorway.

I turned just as he stormed into the room.

Rage filled his face as he rushed to Valeska and pulled her into his arms.

"She attacked me, Alpha," Valeska whimpered. Tears filled her eyes. Her voice trembled pitifully.

My chest rose and fell violently as I stared at them, still clutching the broken moon dancer.

Bastien's expression hardened. He turned toward me, fury blazing in his eyes.

"What is wrong with you, Fianna?"

"She broke Danica's snow globe!" I cried, pointing at the shattered glass. "She did it on purpose, Bastien. She—"

"Enough!"

His voice cut through the room like a blade.

"Listen to yourself. You're pathetic. Bitter. Jealous of a pregnant she wolf. Jealous because your friend has what you don't."

His words stabbed into me like silver claws.

But he wasn't finished.

"It’s not Valeska's fault that you don't have a pup anymore, Fianna. Danica is gone. Maybe if you had been a better mother, maybe if you had tried harder—"

"Don't you dare blame me, you monster!" A scream ripped from my throat before he could continue.

Bastien growled.

And before I could react, his hand struck my face.

The blow landed hard until my head snapped sideways. My knees gave out.

I crashed to the floor. Pain burned across my cheek. My ears rang.

Tears filled my eyes. Not because it hurt, but because it humiliated me.

Meanwhile, Valeska gasped dramatically. Her hands covered her mouth as if she were horrified.

But I saw the truth. The satisfaction in her eyes.

She loved every second of this.

My shaking fingers touched my burning cheek.

Bastien stood frozen, breathing heavily, his hand still half-raised. His eyes widened with sudden realization, as if he had only now understood what he had done.

For a brief moment, regret flashed across his face.

He took a hesitant step toward me.

"Fianna—"

Before he could continue, Valeska interrupted.

She burst into loud sobs. Her body shook as she wrapped her arms around her stomach.

"Alpha Bastien…" she cried as she collapsed against him. "This is all because of me. I never should have come here. I've only brought trouble. Luna Fianna is right. I don't deserve to live."

Her crying was dramatic. Fake.

But Bastien was completely blind.

She buried her face against his chest and sobbed even harder.

"Maybe I should die. Me and this pup. Then both of you would finally be free."

Panic instantly replaced the regret on Bastien's face.

He held her tightly and stroked her hair.

"Don't say that, Valeska. Never say that." His voice softened. "You and this pup mean everything. Do you understand? Everything."

I stared at them from the floor. My heart cracked apart. My cheek still burned.

Valeska's tears were fake. I could see the victory shining in her eyes.

But Bastien believed every word.

How fool!

He glared down at me while pulling Valeska even closer.

"Look at what you've done, Fianna. Look at her. She's terrified. She's blaming herself because of you."

"Because of me?" My voice broke as I struggled to hold back tears. "But—"

"Enough!"

His face became cold as stone and his eyes burned with anger.

"I don't even recognize you anymore. You're completely out of control."

I wanted to say something, but again, Valeska released another sob and clutched her stomach.

"Bastien," she whispered weakly. "The pup... it hurts."

Bastien’s panic deepened. He looked down at Valeska trembling in his arms. Then he shot me a venomous glare.

"You're staying in this room until you learn to control yourself."

His voice was cold and final, making me froze.

"What?"

"You heard me, Fianna."

After that, he wrapped an arm around Valeska and guided her toward the door.

"You're not leaving this room until you learn how to behave. I won't allow you to hurt Valeska or her pup."

Then the door slammed shut.

A second later, I heard the lock click from the outside.

"No!"

I threw myself at the door. My fists pounded against the wood until they throbbed.

"Bastien! Don't leave me in here! Open the door!"

But only silence answered.

I grabbed the handle and pulled, but it didn't move.

"Bastien!" My voice cracked. "Please! You can't do this!"

But he never returned.

The room was at the top of the Alpha Manor. There was no escape.

Minutes turned into hours.

I screamed until my voice gave out, leaving my throat raw and burning.

Again and again, I tried reaching Bastien through our crystal communicator, but every call unanswered.

Eventually, he blocked my frequency completely. Cutting me off.

My body ached. My stomach growled with hunger.

There was no food. No water.

The room felt less like a bedroom and more like a prison cell..

I clawed at the door until my nails split and bled.

I screamed.

I begged.

I cursed.

I even prayed to the Moon Goddess.

And eventually, my voice stopped working.

Fianna's POV

I had no idea how long I lay on the floor before the door finally opened.

Bastien stood there, looking down at me with disgust.

"You should be thanking Valeska," he said coldly. "If not for her, you would still be locked in here. She begged me to release you because of your friendship."

His words cut deep, but I kept my face expressionless.

"How generous of her," I croaked. My voice was rough after hours of screaming.

He frowned at my sarcasm but ignored it.

Stepping aside, he allowed me to leave the room.

My legs trembled from weakness, but he made no move to help me.

"Make sure everything is removed from this chamber before tomorrow," he said coldly before walking away.

For a moment, I simply stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall for support.

Humiliation burned inside me. My chest ached, but I forced myself to stay calm.

Soon enough, they would pay for everything.

***

Later that evening, Valeska walked into the nearly empty room as if she owned it.

A bowl of soup rested in her hands. She placed it on the table and sighed.

"You should eat. You look awful."

I ignored her and continued packing the few belongings I had left.

She clicked her tongue. "You can fool Bastien, but not me."

Her voice lowered. "I can see it in your eyes. You know everything."

My hands paused for a second. Then I continued packing. Ignoring her.

She stepped closer.

"Tell me, Fianna. How does it feel knowing he sacrificed your daughter for me?"

I turned away.

She continued anyway, “He never loved you. Not even once."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"You've always been nothing more than a burden to him."

I remained silent. I simply walked toward the window and refused to acknowledge her.

A mocking laugh escaped her lips.

"I wonder how it felt watching us together in his office."

Still, I said nothing. I was too tired to waste words on her.

Unfortunately, silence wasn't the reaction she wanted.

A moment later, a loud bang echoed through the room.

I spun around.

Valeska had slammed her own head against the wall.

"Bastien!"

Tears instantly appeared in her eyes.

Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway.

The door burst open.

"What happened?" Bastien demanded.

Valeska immediately broke into sobs.

"She smashed my head into the wall," she cried. "I brought her food. I was only trying to help, and she attacked me."

I stared at her in shock.

"That's a lie. I didn't—"

Before I could finish, Bastien's fist crashed into my face.

The force sent me stumbling backward.

My body slammed against the wall before collapsing onto the floor.

Pain exploded through me.

"Have you lost your mind?!" he roared. "If you touch her again, I swear—"

"I didn't touch her!" I said through bloodied lips. "She—"

A brutal kick to my stomach cut me off.

The air left my lungs instantly.

I curled over and clutched my abdomen, gasping for breath.

He towered above me, rage blazing in his eyes.

Behind him stood Valeska, fake tears running down her face.

"I—"

I coughed, tasting blood.

"Bastien... I'm—"

The word pregnant reached my lips.

But his fist struck me again.

My head slammed into the floor. Pain shot through my body.

Still, I struggled to speak.

"I'm... carrying—"

"Shut up!"

His roar silenced me.

Then another kick landed.

I screamed and wrapped my arms protectively around my stomach.

"You need to learn your place!"

He kicked me again.

After that, he grabbed Valeska and stormed out.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Agonizing pain ripped through my abdomen. Then suddenly, I felt warmth between my legs.

I froze.

Slowly, I touched the floor.

My fingers came away stained red.

"No..."

My voice broke.

I pressed both hands against my stomach. Shaking my head.

"No. No, no, no..."

Tears blurred my vision as the blood kept flowing, soaking through my clothes and spreading across the floor.

I didn't need a Moon Healer to tell me what had happened.

I already knew.

Tears streamed down my face.

Not from sadness.

Not from pain.

They were tears of hatred, of fury.

The only thing keeping me standing now.

"Bastien!"

My scream echoed through the manor.

Hatred was the only thing keeping me alive.

***

Groaning in pain, I dragged myself out of the Alpha Manor.

Every step felt like torture. Blood stained my dress. I could barely remain standing.

But I forced myself into a moon carriage and gave the driver the location of the nearest Moon Healers' Hall.

Hours later, I lay weak in a healing chamber.

The healer's words repeated endlessly in my head.

"We couldn't save the pup."

They kept me there through the night.

The following afternoon, I insisted on leaving.

Part of me expected Bastien to appear, or send a message, or at least ask where I was.

But he did none of those things.

When I returned to the manor, he didn't even notice I had been gone.

Or perhaps he simply didn't care.

***

Two days later…

With Valeska standing beside him, Bastien said, "Fianna, my moon-born day celebration is tonight. Be there on time. Valeska and I have somewhere else to go first. We'll meet you there later."

I smiled.

"Alright. I'll see you there."

Since losing my unborn pup, I hadn't argued with him once. Not even gave him sarcasm or complaints. Only quiet smiles and obedient nods.

I became silent. Simply agreeable and easy to control.

Those which Bastien loved.

His expression softened, then he smiled with satisfaction. Like an Alpha pleased with a wolf who had finally stopped resisting.

Then he leaned forward and tried to kiss my lips. But I turned my head slightly. So his kiss landed on my cheek instead.

He blinked in surprise.

But I only smiled sweetly as if nothing had happened. As if I hadn't noticed.

"See you later," I said softly.

Bastien grinned and turned toward Valeska.

The two of them headed for the door.

As they passed the table, Valeska's purse brushed against it.

Danica's framed picture fell to the floor.

The glass shattered. The frame cracked apart.

Bastien flinched at the sound. Then he looked at me. Waiting for a reaction.

Because he knew how much that picture meant to me.

But I simply smiled and stayed unbothered.

"It's alright. Go ahead. I'll clean it up."

Confusion crossed his face.

For a brief moment, he frowned. He looked as if he wanted to say something.

But before he could speak, Valeska slipped her arm through his.

"Come on, Alpha," she purred. "We'll be late."

He hesitated.

Then he allowed her to lead him away.

If only he knew…

This would be the last time he ever saw me.

I stood by the window and watched them leave. A cold smile touched my lips.

Then I gathered everything: the bond severance papers, the documents proving I had withdrawn my investments from Ashbourne Pack Holdings, the evidence of Bastien and Valeska's affair, my pregnancy report. And finally, the records proving he had sacrificed our daughter for his mistress.

I placed everything into a large brown envelope.

Across the front, I wrote: Happy Moon-born Day, Alpha Bastien Ashbourne. From Fianna Wolfhart.

I sealed it and handed it to a courier.

"Deliver this to the celebration."

A few minutes later, a black enchanted carriage rolled into the driveway.

It was my father's carriage.

The driver stepped out and opened the door for me. And without a word, he loaded my luggage.

As we rode away from the territory, I never looked back. I clenched my fists as hatred surged through me once more.

One day, Bastien and Valeska would regret everything they had done.