Eloide

I woke up in a hospital bed, the harsh glow of fluorescent lights stabbing into my eyes. My head throbbed, and my body felt like I’d been hit by a truck. Next to me, Mom sat slumped in a chair, looking exhausted. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she’d been crying all night. But the second she saw I was awake, she grabbed my hand with quiet urgency.

“How’s the baby, Mom?” I asked, my voice raw and barely a whisper.

She paused, looking at me for a long moment before shaking her head slowly. “The Moon Goddess has taken him back.”

The world just… stopped. My heart didn’t break—it went numb. That tiny life growing inside me, the last thing tethering me to Gavin, was gone. I stared up at the sterile, white ceiling. Cold. Empty.

“Where’s Gavin?” I asked, even though deep down I already knew the answer.

Mom shook her head again, slowly, and the tears started streaming down my face. Of course he wasn’t here. He was probably with Catherine. I’d known from the beginning where his heart truly was.

“May the Moon Goddess give you strength, Eloide,” Mom whispered, her voice trembling. “I won’t let you suffer like this forever, sweetheart.”

“Does Dad know?”

She nodded. “He’s... disappointed. He needs time to accept this.”

But I knew better. My father didn’t process loss with sadness—he met it with anger. That baby had never stood a chance in his world of rules and betrayal. Maybe the Moon Goddess had spared them the same fate I was suffering.

“Eloide,” Mom said, pulling a small black velvet box from her bag. “Luna Livia called me. She said you agreed to the arranged bond with her son. I’m relieved, sweetheart. This is your way out of all this toxicity.”

She opened the box to reveal a glowing yellow amulet nestled inside. A folded note sat beside it.

[I want you to wear this. It will protect you.]

I picked up the pendant, my fingers trembling. The moment it touched my skin, I felt something shift in my chest. Lighter. Calmer. Like I could finally breathe.

“I’m going to arrange the engagement quietly,” Mom said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Your father doesn’t need to know until everything is in place. You’ll go to Winnipeg for a ‘recovery retreat.’ I’ll handle the details.”

I gave her a slow nod. This was the only way out of the pain. I was lucky to have Mom on my side.

My eyes drifted to a bouquet of soft pink carnations on the nightstand.

“They’re from Luna Livia,” Mom said. “She’s been so thoughtful.”

Meanwhile, the one who was supposed to be my mate didn’t even bother to check on me. The man who should’ve cared about me more than anyone didn’t even know he’d just lost a piece of me. And yet, someone I barely knew, from across the country, sent me flowers. The irony stung.

“Aren’t they pretty?” Mom smiled faintly. “She really knows how to make someone feel seen.”

Before I could say anything, the door swung open. Dad walked in. His face was unreadable. He looked straight at my stomach—not at me.

“You need to recover fast. Alpha Malcolm and Gavin are heading to Revelstoke Mountain. It’s your chance to fix your bond. Don’t disappoint me, Eloide.”

My throat tightened. “But... Mom said Luna Livia is waiting for me. For the ceremony with her son.”

Dad’s expression hardened. “You’ll do as I say. Or you’re out of Frost Mountain.”

“Holden, that’s enough!” Mom snapped. “She just woke up.”

He didn’t reply. He just walked out, leaving silence—and the crushing weight of his expectations—behind.

An hour later, I asked Mom to take me for a walk around the hospital. I needed to get out of that room, even for a few minutes. To see the sky, to hear something other than beeping machines and IV drips.

She gently pushed my wheelchair through the hallway. The air smelled like disinfectant, but it still felt fresher than the stale room we left behind.

As we passed the children’s ward, I overheard two nurses talking by the window.

“Did you see him yesterday?” one said. “Gavin was here, holding his sister after she had a panic attack.”

“Yeah, he was so sweet! You could tell she felt safe with him. Guys like that… they’re rare.”

My chest clenched. Something cracked inside me, but didn’t explode. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. It was just... silence.

I kept my eyes forward, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing. But I could feel their eyes on me—part surprised, part sorry.

“Isn’t that Gavin’s fiancée?” one of them whispered.

“Yeah… why is she alone?”

I didn’t want to hear any of it. It would’ve hurt less if I hadn’t heard a word. Let them gossip. Let them pity me.

I stared at the ceiling tiles above, their dull color blending into the emptiness I felt inside. I didn’t want to feel angry anymore. There was no room left for rage. No space for hate. Just numbness.

This was betrayal—but I wasn’t going to fight it. I didn’t have the strength. I just wanted to live without this constant ache.

Then, Mom’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and smiled softly as she looked down at me.

“Luna Livia just sent your plane ticket,” she said gently. “I’ll help you get everything ready, so your father won’t suspect a thing.”

Eloide

The next day, I was checked up on over and over again. Dad stayed by my side the whole time, making sure I’d recover fast. He even pressured Dr. Calder to give me the best medication available.

"Can she go back to the pack house now, Dr. Calder?" Dad asked, his voice tight with urgency.

"I need to monitor her progress," Dr. Calder replied, flipping through my chart. "If there are no complications after half a day, I’ll give the green light for her to go home."

"Make it quick, Dr. Calder," Dad said firmly. "She needs to be by Gavin’s side once she's better."

"Understood, Gamma Holden," the doctor responded with a respectful nod.

By late afternoon, the doctor finally said I was healthy enough for a short trip. Dad insisted on taking me home himself.

That night, he posted a guard outside my bedroom door. He didn’t want me stepping out even for a second. It’s like he already knew Mom was planning to have Luna Livia come pick me up.

Mom came to see me right after Dad was called in by Alpha Malcolm to prep for their holiday plans. She used the excuse of bringing me a glass of milk, but she had something much riskier—and way more interesting—in mind.

“Luna Livia just sent word,” she said, her voice low. “One of her Elite Guardians is coming to pick you up with a ski sleigh. The amulet…” Her eyes dropped to the necklace around my neck. “That’s their beacon. It’s how they’ll find you.”

My fingers instinctively brushed the cool surface of the amulet. “How do I use it?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“It’ll react when you’re in danger,” she said. “You just need to bait someone into hurting you. Once that happens, grab it tight. Don’t let go.”

I nodded slowly, her plan finally starting to make some sense. It was risky. Wild, even. But for the first time in days, I saw a sliver of hope.

Still, when Dad came back to check on me at the start of his night watch, the weight on my chest didn’t lift. He acted like everything was normal—like I wasn’t falling apart inside.

He only cared about his status. Never about how I felt. What kind of father treats his daughter like this?

"Gavin is a good brother, don’t think negatively.”

"You’re always so emotional. Gavin would never do something like that."

"Just focus on your position—and the pup. That’s our insurance, Eloide."

I stopped telling Dad about Gavin’s betrayals after that. Only Mom truly understood. She was the only one who supported me through this arranged bond.

When I first saw Callum’s photo, he looked... distant. A brooding soul. A hockey athlete on a break. Luna Livia thought my skills as a therapist might help him.

“He needs a mate who can warm his soul. You're the right one, Eloide”.

My heart was torn. I knew this wasn’t about love, and I had accepted that ever since Mom brought up the idea after Gavin’s 90th betrayal.

Still, the Moon Goddess must have a plan. I couldn't keep hurting myself holding on to a mate that never loved me back.

**

Dad forced me to join the group trip to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Alpha Malcolm had the whole place “cleared” for Gavin’s privacy.

I moved like a ghost the entire way there. My body was on autopilot. I didn’t know if this trip was about healing or just another stage in whatever game my father was playing.

I saw Gavin again at breakfast. He looked tired, somber.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “When we lost the baby…”

I didn’t answer. His voice sounded rehearsed. Like he was reading lines off a script.

Gavin led me to a nearby bench. We sat together, and he started explaining why he hadn’t shown up yesterday.

I almost laughed to myself as he tried to convince me he was just being a responsible big brother to his “fragile little sister.”

He said Catherine didn’t want to be left alone and had refused medical treatment, so he took her back to the pack house. Did he seriously think I was dumb enough to believe that?

Catherine’s performance was award-worthy—like, truly epic.

“We can try again, Eloide. I’m sure the Moon Goddess hasn’t abandoned us.”

What a joke. He wanted a future with me while planting his seed in that other woman’s belly. I didn’t care anymore. I was leaving him soon anyway.

Later, he turned to me. “Want to ride the ski lift? Maybe the fresh air will help clear your head.”

I nodded slightly. Anything to feel something. But as we headed toward the lift, Catherine appeared out of nowhere, all fake sweetness and sugary smiles.

“Gavin, I’m scared to go alone. Can I ride with you?” she cooed.

He hesitated, looking between us. His father stood nearby, watching. Gavin gave in with a tense nod.

“No, Catherine,” he said. “Dad wants me to ride with him.”

“Then I’ll ride with Eloide,” she said quickly, grabbing my arm.

[Don’t make a scene, Eloide. Just go along with it.] Dad’s voice echoed in my head through our mind link.

Just as I predicted. Catherine made her move—closing in, weaving her manipulation the moment we were alone.

I ended up taking the next lift with her, exactly as planned.

I pretended to admire the snowy mountain peaks, acting like I was caught up in the view while she smugly ran her hand over her baby bump, like it was some kind of twisted trophy.

My job? Just piss her off enough to get hurt. That’s all it would take.

“You’re not even listening to me, are you, Eloide? I’m talking to you.”

“Oh, sorry,” I said, keeping my tone light. “The view’s just... breathtaking. I can’t wait to fly down that slope.”

“Well, then let it be your last wish, you stupid bitch. Go ahead and die!”

Then it happened.

Catherine reached for my safety strap.

“What are you—”

“You’ve always been in the way,” she hissed, her voice low and venomous. “You should’ve died with that little brat of yours.”

She unlatched the belt with a sharp click.

Eloide

“You’re insane!” I pretended to panic.

“I just want what should’ve been mine all along,” she said sweetly—and shoved me.

I spotted a flash of light in the distance—just like Mom said. That was the signal. The Elite Guardian sent by Luna Livia was near.

Perfect timing and I let myself fall.

The wind screamed around me as my body slammed into the icy slope. Pain exploded everywhere, but I held on. This was all part of the plan.

Then came the rumble. A low, menacing growl from above.

An avalanche.

I couldn’t move. My left arm throbbed with blinding pain. Snow crashed down on me, piling up fast—heavy, crushing. I couldn’t breathe.

My fingers fumbled for the amulet. It was warm—alive. A soft golden light pulsed from its center.

And then, I saw it.

A burst of light cut through the snow. Blinding… but peaceful. I felt safe.

Memories of Gavin rushed in like a flood. The way he looked at me the first time he said he loved me. The lies. The broken promises. The way he let Catherine into his heart while I slowly faded into the background.

Suddenly, a sharp siren shattered the silence. Voices echoed across the mountain.

Then, a voice inside my head.

[Eloide!! Where are you? Stay with me!!]

Gavin. Through the mind-link. He sounded panicked. Desperate—like he thought I’d just give up and die.

But I wasn’t ready to die. Not yet.

I dug my claws into the snow, dragging myself up through the suffocating weight. The amulet gave me strength. I kept pushing, clawing, until I finally broke through—sunlight flooding my face.

A man-a he wolf in ski goggles reached out a hand. I didn’t hesitate. I took it.

“Miss McNamara. Luna Livia sent me to retrieve you.”

I was already slipping away from Gavin… choosing a future that promised peace after I endured 99 times betrayal.

“Thank you,” I said, breathless. “Thank you for saving me.”

——

Gavin

I was sure I saw her—Eloide, alive. She survived the avalanche. I could still feel her heartbeat. She was my mate—strong, unbreakable.

I called out to her with everything I had. She didn’t respond. I tried the mind-link again, but she blocked me.

“Eloide?”

[She’s gone, Gavin.] Leif—my wolf—spoke the truth I didn’t want to hear.

“Shut up, Leif! She’s not gone. I know she heard me. She always hears me.”

[You let her go. I warned you not to ignore her. Now you regret it, don’t you?]

“I SAID SHUT UP!!”

I severed the mind-link. I didn’t need guilt poisoning my thoughts. Eloide wasn’t gone. That light—maybe it was a rescue team. Maybe she was already safe.

I was about to run after her when I heard heavy footsteps behind me. Dad—Alpha Malcolm.

His stare was ice, and his voice colder. “That’s enough, Gavin. We’re going home.”

“I’m not done—Eloide needs to come back with us.”

“Don’t argue. Now. I’ll have Beta Kane handle it.”

There was no point in fighting that tone. He was still the Alpha.

Reluctantly, I followed him back to the resort.

As soon as we arrived, Catherine rushed toward me, her voice high and panicked. “Gavin! What happened? Are you hurt? Did you find her? Please, talk to me!”

I didn’t answer. I dropped onto the couch, eyes blank, breath shallow. Every breath hurt. Every thought hurt worse.

I couldn’t hear a word she was saying. All I could hear was Eloide’s laugh echoing in my mind… and then the image of her fading into nothing.

That night, we returned to the pack house. But I brought back more than just silence—I brought a storm of questions I couldn’t silence.

**

A full day passed. Still no sign of Eloide at the pack house. I kept calling Beta Kane, over and over, but his answer never changed

“She’s not at the resort. Not anywhere we’ve checked.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Every thought spun back to her face, her voice, her touch. I was a crazed wolf, pacing, begging Beta Kane to track her down.

Catherine knocked once and barged into my room. “Gavin… you’ve been like this all day. I’m scared. We haven’t talked since yesterday.”

“I don’t want to talk,” I said flatly.

“Please… just be with me. Even for a minute. I need you too…”

I looked at her. Her eyes were full of tears. But I felt… nothing.

“I’m tired of pretending everything’s okay,” I muttered. “I’m tired of you clinging to me like this.”

She froze, eyes welling up before the tears finally spilled.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just… I need to be alone.”

I hesitated, then told the lie she probably needed to hear. “Eloide… she was just a tool. A stepping stone to becoming Alpha. That’s all.”

Another lie. A heavy one. But Catherine needed to believe it.

Around midnight, I started digging through news coverage of the avalanche. I watched every rescue effort, scanned every detail… until I found her.

Eloide—wearing a thick coat and a beanie—walking out of the resort. A man trailed behind her as a reporter interviewed someone in the foreground.

My stomach twisted. My chest felt like it was caving in.

She glanced briefly at the camera. Her face was unreadable. Then she turned away.

I bolted from my room, heading straight for Gamma Female Marie-Claire’s quarters. I banged on her door again and again until—

“I assume you’re looking for me, Gavin?” she said, already walking toward me.

“I saw Eloide leave on news. Did she say anything to you? Why didn’t she come back here?”

She handed me a small black velvet box. Inside was a pendant I knew too well.

“She threw it into the river after the mating ceremony you canceled,” Marie-Claire said, her voice hard. “I fished it out. When I tried to return it to her, she refused. She told me to give it back to you once she was gone.”

Eloide had once promised she'd never take that necklace off—no matter what we went through. I believed her. I really did. But I’d hurt her deeper than I ever imagined.

Staggering into the kitchen, I yanked open the liquor cabinet and grabbed a bottle of whiskey.

One swig. Then two. Then ten. Three bottles disappeared before I knew what was happening.

I collapsed on the floor, back against the fridge, vision blurred.

Catherine appeared in the doorway again, unmoving.

“Gavin…”

“I love her…” My voice cracked. The alcohol made my tongue heavy, but the truth spilled anyway. “I thought I could control everything. But she got in too deep. Too fast. And I was too damn blind…”

She said nothing.

Tears rolled down my cheeks—silent, angry. Grief tore through my chest like a wild animal I couldn’t cage.

“Pathetic,” she hissed.

Then came the slap and she stormed out.

I didn’t stop her.

Because she wasn’t Eloide.