Heather’s POV

I stared at the sonogram in Olivia’s trembling hands.

Then without another word, I pushed my chair back so abruptly it scraped harshly against the floor.

My heart pounded violently as I rushed out of the dining room and made my way to the room.

“Heather, where are you going?” Austin called, but I ignored him.

I opened the hidden compartment behind the wardrobe, and I dropped to my knees when I noticed that the lock was shattered.

The sonogram was gone.

I shot to my feet and returned to the dining hall, fury burning through my veins, hotter than anything I had ever felt before.

Austin was already standing when I entered.

“Where did you go?” he demanded. “Why did you leave without notice?”

I did not answer him.

My gaze moved past him and locked onto Olivia.

“That sonogram report is mine!"

The council members exchanged stunned looks.

Austin frowned, disbelief flashing across his face. “That’s impossible.”

His eyes dropped briefly to my abdomen, then back to my face.

“You can no longer bear children. The healer confirmed it.”

My hands moved instinctively to my stomach, clutching it protectively.

“But I do, and that photo is mine. I’m pregnant, Austin.”

The room erupted into whispers.

Austin turned sharply to Olivia. “Where did you get that photo?”

Olivia’s lips trembled. Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head.

“This is my report. I went to the healer’s clinic days ago. Don’t you know? I have been pregnant even before this.”

I looked at Austin, and he looked surprised himself, but also very pleased. "R-really?"

And here I was, needing to defend my own pup.

“So since when did this affair start?” I asked, my voice cutting through their silence.

I already knew the answer, but I wanted him to say it.

He did not, so I turned to the room instead.

“Since when did you all know? Since when did you know your Alpha was cheating on his Luna with her own servant in exchange for pleasure?”

Gasps filled the hall.

I pointed directly at Olivia.

“You’re a slut who murdered my previous pups. You poisoned my concoctions. You made me believe my body was weak. And now you stand there, proud that you’re carrying a child with him?”

Olivia’s face flushed red. She swayed slightly.

“Alpha… I think I will faint…”

She sat down quickly and drank water while clutching the sonogram tighter.

Before I could take another step, Austin grabbed my arm.

“Enough!"

He dragged me out of the hall, his grip bruising, his steps fast and merciless.

The door slammed shut behind us as he threw me onto the floor of a private room.

I gasped as pain shot through my body.

“What is this, Heather?” Austin demanded coldly. “Have you not learned your lesson from your imprisonment? And now you choose to disgrace me in front of the council?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Now I was the disgrace?

A broken laugh escaped my lips.

“And now you call your own mate a disgrace, because she defended her dignity?”

I lifted my chin and glared at him.

“Understand the situation, Austin. You were cheating on me while mated to me. Who is the disgrace in this pack? Tell me.”

He did not answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze dropped slowly to my stomach.

“Are you really pregnant?”

My hand tightened over my belly.

I had never planned to reveal it, not after everything I had just learned days ago.

But now my child had already been dragged into this.

“Yes,” I said firmly. “I’m pregnant. The sonogram Olivia showed everyone is mine.”

The door opened.

Olivia stepped in, her makeup slightly smudged.

“Oh, Luna. I know you’re angry at me. But what can I do? I just loved. And Alpha Austin is not hard to love. So please don’t be mad at me. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to her,” Austin said sharply. “She just want attention.”

He looked down at me.

“Apologize to Olivia for the scandal you created.”

I wiped my tears, my hands trembling as I slowly stood.

“No,” I said. “Never, Austin.”

“I said apologize, or you will regret this, Heather.”

Olivia clutched his arm. “Don’t escalate this, Austin. She was just detained. Her emotions are unstable. It’s okay.”

“No,” Austin said coldly. “I already let her last wrongdoing pass. Not this one. It concerns the reputation of my future heir.”

His words crashed into my chest and twisted there, like he had reached inside me and torn something open with his bare hands.

Future heir.

He grabbed my arm again.

“Apologize!"

“No,” I cried. “Even if you kill me, I won’t. I did nothing wrong!"

Austin’s eyes flashed amber.

“Let’s see how far your pride goes for a simple apology.”

He dragged me out of the packhouse.

I struggled, cried, begged, but he did not stop.

Until we reached the healer’s cottage.

Fear crawled up my spine.

The next thing I knew, I was tied to a bed.

Ropes secured my wrists and ankles.

Healers surrounded me, their faces tense, waiting.

My breathing became uneven.

“What are you doing?” I cried. “Austin, please, let me go!"

He stood at the foot of the bed.

“You said you would not apologize even if I killed you, then I will have that pup inside you terminated.”

Horror flooded my eyes.

“No. No, please,” I begged, shaking violently. “Austin, this is your pup. Don’t kill your own child!”

“You’ll be blamed when it dies because of your stupid pride,” Austin said.

Then he lifted his gaze to the healers and said coldly, “Begin the operation. No anesthesia.”

The healers complied at once and tightened their grip on the tools in their hands.

I noticed the way their faces became pale and horrified.

But still obedient to their Alpha.

Then Olivia stepped into the room.

She looked shocked as her eyes moved from me to the blood on the bed, then to Austin.

“What are you all waiting for?” Austin snapped.

“I apologize!” I cried immediately.

“Say it clearly. Say it to Olivia.”

I choked on my tears.

“I’m sorry,” I forced out. “I apologize, Olivia.”

The healers looked at Austin, waiting for his command.

But then I saw Olivia’s face tighten when Austin softened at my apology.

She quickly spoke, “I heard a rumor that Luna Heather was getting close to one of the warriors. The one assigned to watch her during her detention.”

Austin’s expression darkened instantly.

He turned slowly to me.

“So you are cheating on me? Is that pup fathered by another man?”

I shook my head violently.

“No,” I cried. “Austin, this is your pup!”

His jaw tightened.

“Terminate it!"

The order fell like a death sentence.

“No—wait!” I screamed, panic tearing through my chest as I thrashed against the ropes. “Please, don’t do this!”

Hands grabbed me.

Then something sliced through my belly.

A scream ripped out of me.

My back arched, my fingers clawing uselessly at the restraints as tears streamed down my face.

“Austin!” I cried, my voice shaking, desperate. “Please! Please stop them!”

I looked at him through blurred vision.

His eyes were glowing amber, while Olivia stood beside him, one hand resting lightly on his arm.

And she was smiling.

My eyes burned as my wolf tried to surface.

For a moment, my sight sharpened. I knew my eyes had flashed, but I was too weak.

The wolfsbane in my system crushed my wolf down before she could rise.

Another wave of pain slammed into me, this time more intense.

I screamed again.

And then everything went dark.

Heather’s POV

I woke up, the first thing I felt was pain.

For a moment, I was disoriented. My mind felt slow, like it refused to remember.

Then it all came back.

My hand moved slowly to my bandaged stomach, and my breath stopped.

For the nth time… I lost my baby.

A broken sound tore out of my chest before I could stop it.

“Ah—”

My cry turned into a scream, as the truth sank into my bones.

Was I meant to never have a child and only carry life just to lose it every time?

Then I heard footsteps, and I froze.

I turned to the wall, biting back my cries as I forced my body still. The movement sent pain shooting through my abdomen, and I almost cried out again, but I clenched my teeth and endured it.

Voices followed.

“Why don’t you just reject her, Austin? The council is already in favor of me. Of us.”

My jaw tightened.

So this was Olivia's goal all along.

Because of her ambition to become Luna, she poisoned me, killed my pups, and even had a hand in my father’s death.

And now, she wanted me gone for good.

“You don’t understand,” Austin said. “I still need Heather. If the Alpha King learns I severed our bond and banished her, do you think he won’t cut ties with my pack. She’s still useful even if she’s tied to that bed forever.”

There was a pause, then he continued.

“Wait, are you certain the pup she lost was that warrior’s?” Austin asked, his voice tight.

“Yes,” Olivia replied without hesitation. “I’m certain.”

Austin let out a breath.

“I still can’t believe Heather would cheat on me. Too bad the pup was a boy. But if it’s not mine, then I shouldn’t feel guilty at all.”

A boy.

My heart clenched so painfully I thought it would stop.

For a moment, I imagined him.

Would he have had Austin’s eyes, or mine?

Would he have called me mother?

I bit my lip hard, forcing myself not to make a sound as tears slipped silently down my face.

“Don’t feel guilty,” Olivia said softly. “You were never meant to have a child with her. But me… I am destined to carry your pups. I can give you as many as you want. They will each lead their own packs one day.”

“I’m glad I have you,” Austin replied. “You’re right. You’re the one meant to continue my bloodline.”

Then I heard a soft breath turn into a moan.

My entire body went rigid.

I didn’t need to see them to know what they were doing.

Right here, where they took my child, I swore I would take everything from them.

They would beg for mercy and I would not give it.

---

A week passed.

Austin never returned to the healer’s clinic.

But I healed.

Before going back to the manor, I stopped by the healer’s clinic.

“Do you still have the placenta from my pup?” I asked.

The healer hesitated before nodding. “Yes, Luna.”

“Perform a paternal test,” I said. I placed a strand of Austin’s hair on the table. I had taken it from the room.

The healer looked at me carefully. “For humans, it takes two weeks, but for werewolves, it only takes a few hours, so I can give you the result as soon as it’s done.”

“That’s fine. Send it to my email.”

“Luna, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I don't need your sorry. This is all you can do for me,” I replied.

When I returned to the manor, I found them kissing on the couch.

They pulled apart.

Austin looked slightly uncomfortable.

Olivia smiled.

“Hello, Luna. How are you feeling? Sorry we didn’t visit you. We’ve been busy.”

“You can rest,” Austin said. “But stay in the guest room. Your things are already moved.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Olivia added sweetly. “I moved into the master bedroom. It’s more convenient for us… unless you want to watch.”

I said nothing and went upstairs.

In my room, I opened my laptop.

I gathered everything: documents, messages, videos, and photos.

Every piece of truth.

Then an email came with the result, and when I opened it, it showed a 100 percent match.

My jaw tightened.

Austin killed his own child, and I hope the Moon Goddess would curse him for it.

The next morning, I went downstairs.

They were having breakfast.

Austin was kissing Olivia’s belly, and I had to stop myself from throwing the nearest plate at them.

Before I could speak, he looked at me coldly and said, “What do you want now? Still blaming me for the pup's death?”

I forced a smile and said, “No. I’m here to ask your permission to organize Olivia’s baby shower along with the Wildbrookes celebration tomorrow night.”

They both looked at me, surprised.

“What is this, Heather?” Austin asked.

“I’m done fighting,” I said. “I accept that I can no longer bear children. But this pup will be the future of this pack. As Luna, I will prepare everything for the future Alpha.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up.

She stood and hugged me tightly.

“Thank you, dear sister. I knew you would accept this. You’re such a good Luna.”

Olivia’s hug made my skin crawl, but I forced myself to stay still and gave her a fake smile. "Don't mention it."

Then I looked at Austin.

“Do you approve this?”

He studied me for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Yay!" Olivia screamed in excitement.

After lunch, I knocked on Austin’s office door, clutching the papers tightly in my hand.

“Enter,” he said.

I stepped inside and immediately saw them.

Austin sat behind his desk, working on his laptop, while Olivia clung to him, her arms wrapped around him

They looked proud, like everything was exactly how they wanted it.

“I just need you to sign these,” I said, walking forward and placing the papers on his desk. “It’s for the budget of the party tomorrow.”

He didn’t look at the papers right away. Instead, his eyes lifted to me, slow and steady, before he finally signed them.

“I know this is hard for you, but you’ll accept our situation sooner or later. This is the best for all of us.”

I met his gaze. “You don’t have to explain. I understand now. I just want everything to be in the right place.”

And I meant it.

When he finished signing, I gathered the papers, ready to leave.

“Wait, Heather.”

I paused and turned back. Olivia was still holding onto him, her body pressed close as she smiled sweetly at me.

“Since you’re organizing my pup’s baby bash, I wanted to ask for your opinion on names. What can you suggest?”

Austin didn’t speak, but he was watching me closely.

I smiled.

“If it’s a boy, you can name him after our late father. Henry.”

I paused, then added, “If it’s a girl… Grace. It suits her better.”

The name sounded almost cruel in my head, because there was nothing graceful about how that pup was made.

I saw their faces didn’t soften. If anything, they looked displeased.

“Thank you,” Olivia said, but her tone wasn’t as warm as before.

I gave a small nod. “I’ll excuse myself.”

And without waiting for anything else, I turned and walked out.

---

That night, I checked the papers Austin had signed so blindly.

One was the severing of ties effectivity, which carried the same weight as verbally rejecting each other.

The other was the land title of Pack Wildbrookes, which meant he had no idea we were no longer mates and he was already a squatter on my land.

After scanning the documents and saving copies to my USB, I mindlinked Daniel.

'Hey...'

'Heather...'

When I heard his deep voice, I closed my eyes briefly to hide the tears.

If only he knew the hell I had gone through in such a short time.

'I’m ready. Can you send someone to fetch me tomorrow night?'

'Of course,' he said softly. 'Be ready.'

The next day arrived.

The courtyard was prepared.

The screen was ready.

Everything was in place.

I stepped out of the gates with my suitcase, and as I passed their room, I heard them moaning.

I did not stop.

When the car arrived, I froze.

Daniel stepped out.

“You?”

He smiled.

“I wanted to make sure you’d arrive safely, so I came myself.”

I got into the car, suddenly more aware of him, and didn’t look back at the packhouse.

In a few minutes, the truth would explode.

And I was no longer there to watch it.