Calla's POV

I couldn’t sleep. The weight of it all churned in my mind—the lies, the betrayal, the overwhelming scent of the werewolf realm clinging to me. This wasn’t my life. It wasn’t my world. I didn’t belong here.

While the mansion slept, I slipped out of bed, the cold stone floor biting at my feet. The path through the forest stretched ahead, dark and unfamiliar, but anything was better than staying. I wasn’t the daughter they claimed. I wasn’t their future Luna. I wasn’t anyone but Calla, the girl desperate to escape.

I hadn’t gone far when a voice cut through the stillness. “Running away already?”

I spun around to see Hera leaning casually against a tree, her smirk as sharp as the moonlight on her cheekbones.

“I’m leaving,” I snapped, fists clenched. “You can have it all—the pack, the parents, even Jacob. I don’t care.”

Hera tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “And go where? The humans don’t want you anymore, Calla. You don’t belong here, but you certainly don’t belong there.”

I glared at her, willing my voice not to crack. “I don’t belong anywhere. But at least I’m not you.”

Her laugh followed me as I turned and walked away. I told myself her words didn’t matter, but they lingered, twisting in my chest like a thorn.

Hours later, I reached the edge of the human world. My old mansion loomed ahead, but it wasn’t the sanctuary I remembered. A "For Sale" sign leaned crookedly in the yard, and standing in front of it were Heron and Vivien. Laughing. Together. Her hand rested on her stomach, his arm draped possessively around her.

I froze, anger and hurt warring inside me. But before I could step forward, a hand clamped down on my arm, pulling me back. I spun around to find Jacob, his golden eyes blazing.

“You think you can just leave?” His voice was low, dangerous. Before I could answer, he shifted into his wolf form, and with a swift lunge, his teeth caught the fabric of my shirt. I screamed as he dragged me back into the forest, his grip unyielding.

By the time we returned to the pack, I was exhausted, my voice hoarse from shouting. Jacob shifted back into his human form, his gaze pinning me in place. “You can’t keep running, Calla,” he said, his voice calm but unrelenting. “You’re mine.”

“What are you talking about?” I hissed, backing away.

His response was a kiss—fierce, possessive, leaving no room for argument. Then his teeth grazed my neck, and a searing heat shot through me. I gasped, stumbling back as Livi’s voice screamed in my head. He’s marking us!

“Too late now,” Jacob murmured, his smirk infuriatingly smug. “You’re mine.”

I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. Panic clawed at my chest as his guards seized my arms. Luna Selina and Alpha Garett were waiting when we arrived, their disappointment hitting me like a physical blow.

“You’re ungrateful,” Garett thundered, his fists clenched. “After everything we’ve done for you.”

Hera stepped forward, her voice syrupy sweet. “I tried to stop her,” she said, cradling a scratched arm. “She attacked me.”

“That’s a lie!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “I never touched you!”

But my protests were drowned out by Jacob’s commanding voice. “Enough. The ceremony will happen tonight.”

They dragged me to my room and chained me to the bedframe. I screamed, pounded against the chains, but it was no use. Hours stretched into eternity, my fear growing with each passing moment. When the door finally opened, it wasn’t relief I felt but dread.

The guards hauled me to the grand hall, where the entire pack waited. The elder began chanting, his voice deep and resonant. Jacob stood at the center, his eyes locked on mine with the confidence of someone who thought he’d already won.

Then I smelled it. Sharp, earthy, and unmistakable. My head snapped up, my pulse quickening.

Mate. Livi’s voice was soft but certain. He’s here.

I scanned the crowd frantically until I found him. Felix Windsor. Jacob’s twin. His eyes met mine, and the bond hit me like a bolt of lightning. My breath caught, my heart raced. This wasn’t just attraction—it was something primal, undeniable.

Jacob’s voice broke through the haze. “Calla.”

But I couldn’t look at him. My focus was on Felix, the man who felt like salvation. The pull between us was electric, an unspoken promise.

And yet, Jacob’s mark burned on my neck—a chain I couldn’t break. My mind raced. Was it too late? Or was there still a way out?

As Jacob stepped closer and the elder’s voice rose, I realized one thing: if there was a way out, I had to find it. And fast.

3rd Person POV

Heron Kingston smirked as he pocketed the check. The sale of Calla’s mansion was finalized, and her estate was now someone else’s problem. The news of her death had barely been mourned before Heron stepped in as the grieving fiancé turned secret husband. Everyone had believed his story—Calla’s employees had already suspected a hidden romance between them, and the forged evidence sealed the deal.

By the time the lawyers reviewed Calla’s will, Heron had already spun his web. Calla had trusted him completely, leaving everything in his name. He played the devastated partner well enough that no one questioned his inheritance. Her employees, swayed by the staged photos and manipulated text exchanges, were convinced of the so-called fairytale romance.

But none of it was an accident. Heron and Vivien had been eyeing Calla’s life for years, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They had studied her, infiltrated her world, and waited for her to let her guard down. Heron had made his calculated move at the charity gala, weaving himself into her life with precision. Vivien, meanwhile, had worked her way into Calla’s trust as her closest friend. Together, they orchestrated every detail, from Heron’s charm offensive to Vivien’s careful manipulation of Calla’s confidence.

Heron leaned back in his chair, recalling the beginning of their plan. Calla had been dazzling at that gala, her laughter drawing him in like a siren’s call. Her vulnerability had been easy to spot, though—hidden behind her confident facade. She wanted love, craved it like a drug, and he knew exactly how to provide just enough to hook her. A charming smile here, a carefully chosen compliment there, and she was his.

Calla’s parents’ death had only made things easier. What Calla never suspected was that Heron had been involved, pulling strings behind the scenes to ensure their demise. The car accident that claimed their lives wasn’t fate—it was a carefully executed plan. Their deaths left Calla alone, vulnerable, and desperate for connection, which Heron gladly provided.

She’d fallen hard, convinced he was her happily ever after. Heron had made her believe in a love that didn’t exist. She handed him her heart and her fortune without hesitation. Manipulating her was almost too easy. All it had taken was a steady stream of lies and staged acts of affection.

“The company’s next,” Vivien said, swirling her wine. “Once we sell it, we’ll disappear. Somewhere tropical. Somewhere quiet.”

Heron nodded, sipping his whiskey. “Of course, and we need to move fast before anyone starts asking questions.”

“Do you think anyone suspects?” Vivien’s voice was low.

“Not a chance,” Heron said. “Calla was too trusting. She handed me everything: the will, the shares…her heart. She was easy to manipulate.” He chuckled. “All I had to do was tell her what she wanted to hear.”

Vivien smiled, but the tension in her posture didn’t go unnoticed. “Still, I can’t shake the feeling someone’s watching us. What if—”

Heron waved her off. “Stop worrying. It’s done. Calla is gone.”

But Vivien’s laughter was cut short by the sharp ring of Heron’s phone. He frowned at the unknown number before answering. “Hello?”

“You idiot!” a woman’s voice screamed, loud enough for Vivien to hear. Heron’s stomach dropped. “You had one job, and you failed! Calla is alive, you fool.”

Heron’s throat went dry. “What are you talking about?”

“She’s alive,” the woman snapped. “And not just alive—she’s with her real parents, the Alpha and Luna, here in my world. Do you understand what this means? Everything you’ve taken is at risk.”

Heron staggered. “Impossible. She’s dead. I saw—”

“You fool! You saw nothing,” the voice cut in. “She’s alive and ruining everything now. Fix this. Do something. Do you hear me, Heron? I will end you myself if you can't fix your mess!”

The line went dead. Heron stood frozen, the phone slipping from his hand.

“Who was that?” Vivien asked, her voice tight.

Heron’s face was pale. “Vivien...Calla’s alive.”

Vivien’s wine glass fell, shattering on the floor. Her eyes were wide with panic. “W-What? Heron, what do we do now?”

Heron’s jaw tightened. “We finish what we started.”

Vivien hesitated, fear flashing across her face. “How? She’s not just alive—she’s with them. The werewolf world… that’s not something we can touch.”

Heron’s expression darkened. “I don’t care who or what she’s with. She’s a threat. And threats need to be eliminated. You wanted the good life, didn’t you? Then stick to the plan.”

Vivien nodded reluctantly, but the tremor in her hand didn’t escape Heron’s notice. He downed the rest of his whiskey, his mind racing. If Calla was truly alive, then everything he’d worked for could crumble in an instant. No—he couldn’t let that happen. He would end her, by hook or by crook.

Calla's POV

Days passed in a suffocating haze. I stayed locked in my room, ignoring Jacob’s persistent knocks and attempts to speak. The ornate furnishings only emphasized my prison, and the mark on my neck was a constant reminder of the bond he had forced upon me. I needed to escape, but every plan I considered seemed hopeless.

The only glimmer of hope was Felix. In the fleeting moments our eyes had met, I felt it—an undeniable connection that made my wolf stir with certainty. He was my mate, the one person in this nightmare who might help me.

My thoughts were interrupted when the door burst open, and Hera strolled in, her expression sharp and malicious. She tossed a stack of photos onto the bed without a word. I froze as I recognized the faces: Heron and Vivien, smiling and radiant on their wedding day.

“They moved on fast,” Hera sneered, her tone dripping with false sympathy.

I glared at her. “Why are you showing me this?”

“To help you see the truth,” she said coldly. “You don’t belong anywhere—not in their world, not in ours. If you want peace, there’s only one way out.”

Her words chilled me. “What are you talking about?”

“You need to disappear, Calla. Permanently.” Her smile was cruel, and I recoiled, horrified.

Before I could respond, Jacob appeared in the doorway, his golden eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”

“Just a friendly visit,” Hera said sweetly, snatching the photos and tucking them behind her back. “Oh, and to invite you and Calla to dinner at the Thorndusk Pack. Mother and Father insist.”

I wanted to refuse, but Jacob’s hand on my arm silenced any protest. “We’ll go,” he said firmly.

The dinner was unbearable. Hera flirted shamelessly with Jacob while I sat in silence, suffocated by the weight of the pack’s expectations. Alpha Garett’s booming voice broke through my numbness midway through the meal.

“Calla, you must bear Jacob’s child soon. The pack needs it.”

My breath caught, and my heart pounded as his words sank in. Jacob’s smooth reply—assuring them that their wishes would soon be fulfilled—felt like a noose tightening around my neck. My gaze flicked to Felix, but he remained silent, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.

When dinner ended, Felix lingered near me, his voice a whisper meant only for me. “Meet me tonight,” he murmured.

Hope sparked faintly in my chest. I nodded, my resolve hardening. Whatever he had planned, I would seize the opportunity.

Later that evening, I stood on the balcony of my room, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I waited. My thoughts churned, tangled with fear and anticipation. A knock at the door startled me, but when I turned, it wasn’t Felix—it was Jacob.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said, stepping inside. His presence was suffocating, his tone laced with false concern. “You need to accept your place, Calla. The sooner you stop fighting, the easier it will be.”

“My place?” I snapped, my defiance flaring. “As your prisoner? Your pawn?”

His eyes darkened, his voice low. “You’re my Luna. You’ll act like it, whether you like it or not.”

When he moved closer, I backed away, panic rising as he reached for me. But before he could touch me, a voice cut through the tension.

“Is this how you treat your Luna, brother?”

Felix stepped out of the shadows, his presence steady and unyielding. Jacob turned, fury etched into his face. “What are you doing here?”

Felix’s gaze remained on me. “Calla, are you all right?”

Jacob’s growl deepened. “Stay out of this. She’s mine to control.”

Felix’s eyes flicked to his brother, his voice calm but firm. “If you keep treating her like property, you’ll lose her—and more than you realize.”

The tension crackled, but Jacob eventually stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The silence that followed was heavy, but Felix’s presence brought a sense of calm.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded, tears threatening to fall. “Thank you,” I whispered.

His expression was guarded, but his voice carried a note of urgency. “Calla, whatever you’re thinking—stop. You’re Jacob’s Luna now. Anything else will only make things worse.”

I hesitated, then confessed what I had been holding in. “Felix... my wolf says you’re my mate.”

His composure faltered for a moment before he looked away. “Don’t say that out loud. Do you understand? It’s dangerous.”

“But it’s the truth,” I pressed, my voice trembling.

He turned back, his face hard. “It doesn’t matter. You’re marked. The bond can’t be undone.”

Tears slid down my cheeks. “Felix, I can’t do this. I can’t bear his child. Please, help me escape.”

His gaze softened, but his reply was firm. “What’s supposed to happen will happen, Calla. We have to sever our bond—reject each other. It’s the only way to protect you.”

The words hit like a blow. “Reject each other?”

His pain was evident as he nodded. “It’s the only way.”

I wiped at my tears, my voice breaking. “Felix... I’m already pregnant. And it’s not Jacob’s.”

Shock flashed across his face, the silence between us unbearable. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but steady. “I know.”