(Selene's POV)

On the night of our sixth mating anniversary I received a gift from an unknown sender.

Thinking it was one of Damian's surprises I tore it open in excitement only to see a blood stained picture of my dead pup with a drive.

With trembling hands I plugged it into the laptop. A video played; Damian covering the mouth of our pup before slicing his throat and throwing him down the cliff.

In one heartbeat, my breath, my strength, my world—all gone.

“No…No…No…” I clutched the laptop like it was responsible for Lok’s death.

“ Elara…Seee? I have killed him…he won't be a threat to our pup in the future.” Damian said in the video.

He killed our pup for Elara? No, I must be hallucinating, this video isn't real. I clicked on the video again, listened to that statement over and over, hoping I misheard.

But I didn’t. I saw the way he held her, the way he said those words like he would do it again at her call.

“But you still have another pup with her. She is still your Luna….I will always be the second option.” Elara burst into tears, wriggling from his hold and threatening to fall from the northern cliff.

“No….please…my life is nothing without you.” He begged, catching her before falling.

I couldn’t believe my eyes and my ears. A mix of anger and disbelief rose up within me. Damian was okay with our pup dying to prove a point to Elara?

“But she still has a pup for you….she….” Elara cried harder.

“She's not going to last the next 2years….the healer said Amara wouldn't last two winters….” Damian reassured her.

He was also waiting for Amara to die? Just for Elara? The same Elara? The one who left him when his pack turned against him?

“Won't Selene find out?” Elara suddenly asked, a little fear visible in her eyes. But I knew she was pretending.

“She won't. Not in this life.” He kissed her forehead. I clenched my jaw as that word ignited a fire inside me.

“Mama…” A tiny weak voice called out to me. I cleaned my tears, turned off the laptop, removed the drive and put on a smile before turning to Amara.

When those eyes held my gaze my heart broke all over, how could I tell her that her father had killed her twin brother? That he had another woman?

I bent to lift her fragile body up and tickled her. She laughed softly, reaching for my face.

“Papa…didn't..….”

“We will go some other time.” I cut her from asking why Damian refused to come home on our mating anniversary.

“It's past bed time…” I led her back to her room, kissing her on the head.

When she was fast asleep I returned to our bedroom, standing in front of our family portrait with Lok and Amara smiling innocently.

A loud sob escaped from my mouth as the memories flooded back—the night the whole pack mourned. The night I saw Lok’s bloodied body after three days of search led by Damian.

We had found him in the river with no head, and scars on his skin. And Damian had sworn to kill everyone who had hands in it. He waged war against every neighbouring territory, telling me he would get me justice.

“Selene please forgive me….I don't deserve to be an Alpha talk more of being a father.” He cried for the first time in his life, handling me the ceremonial blade to behead him.

But everything was a lie he painted.

I held the portrait close to my chest like Lok would come out of it with his bright smile.

“I shouldn't have let you go with the other pups that day.. “ I burst into tears again, imagining the pain, fear and shock he must have felt.

“Mama will get justice for you.” I sniffed back my tears.

Damian really underestimated me, he used me and went as far as killing my pup!

“I will make them pay.” I vowed, reaching for my phone.

I exhaled before calling a number I knew by heart. He didn't pick until the third ring.

“Took you seven years to call your brother.” He scoffed.

I held the phone to my ear tightly, “ You were right Lucian. You were right about everything….about Damian.”

There was a long pause before he spoke again, “What did that bastard do to you?”

I might not have reached out to my pack in the last seven years but without my help, Damian pack would not be where it is today.

“Selene…talk to me…” Lucian was boiling with rage.

“In two weeks time, I want you to wage war against the Stormhowl pack….I want you to cripple Damian.” I gritted my teeth.

I was not going to go down without a fight.

(Selene's POV)

Sleep refused to come. My eyes were raw from crying, yet my heart thudded like a war drum in my chest.. I needed evidence, I needed something to destroy him.

“Mama…” Amara’s timid voice came as she opened the door. I wanted to scold her for being awake when my gaze landed on a picture she held.

It was Elara and Damian. Elara was in lingerie with Damian's face buried in her neck.

“Where… where did you see this?” I asked, my voice breaking and my trembling fingers reaching for the photo.

Amara tilted her head, her eyes wide and trusting. “Papa has papers in his room… with pictures. He hides them in the big shelf. I saw them when he forgot to close the door.”

Her words thundered in my ears.

“Stay here.” I whispered, closing the door.

My feet carried me to the one place he had always forbidden me to go—his study.

The door creaked as I pushed it open. The smell of ink, smoke, and his cologne made bile rise in my throat. Bookshelves lined the walls, neat and commanding like everything Damian touched. But my eyes caught something strange—one shelf jutted out, the wood gnawed at the corner. A rat’s careless teeth had chewed through it, exposing a sliver of iron.

My breath hitched when I saw different pictures of Elara, each having a writing to note the moment it was taken. I collected the romantic pictures of the both of them, tucking it inside my robe.

Then I tugged the shelf, and behind it was a steel safe that was already opened. Just a glance at it made my blood boil.

I saw documents of his agreements with the rogues against the council order. I saw the plots of lands meant for the council developments in Elara’s name.

Not only that but different contracts, records of missing wolves, and proof that Damian sold out warriors for power.

I kept gathering evidence until I stumbled upon his journal. I flipped through it to see that it wasn't the council that ordered for the removal of Lok’s grave — it was him, to please Elara.

“Bastard.”

I couldn’t confront him yet—not until I had everything in place. This was war, and I needed to be prepared.

I collected all the evidence I laid my hands on and headed back to my room when I heard hushed voices.

“I feel so sorry for Selene and her cursed pup.”

“Everyone in the pack literally knows that Alpha loves Elara….”

The hushed voices didn't stop. I leaned on the door to listen more.

“…you think Selene doesn’t know? Everyone else does,” one voice hissed.

“I saw them myself last moon. Elara was on the Alpha’s desk, her claws digging into his shoulders while he took her from behind. The whole study reeked of sex.”

A sharp gasp, then a whispery laugh. “And at the river… she rode him shamelessly, moaning so loud the guards had to turn away. He didn’t even care who heard.”

“He’s addicted to her. The scent of heat clings to him every time he returns. Poor Selene—her bed is cold while Elara warms him every night.”

I pressed my palm against the wall to steady myself, but the walls themselves felt like they were caving in.

He never stopped loving the woman that caused his downfall. He still loved her despite everything.

Elara left him for his ally pack when his position as Alpha was threatened. He had come back injured and crippled that night with all his soldiers dead.

I was the one with him, helping him build everything from scratch. From using all my influence to bring in allies to training by his side and managing the territory till he got back on his foot.

And three years later he bonded with me in front of the pack. Owning his success to me. Except that it was all lies. He was waiting to dump me for his first love.

He never loved me… just lies.

Then I thought of Luther—Damian’s older brother, his enemy—the night he came to kill him. I had kissed him by mistake, thinking he was Damian, and he immediately fell in love with me. He held my gaze, asking why I was ruining myself for his brother.

I grabbed my phone and sent him two messages.

[Your brother is a bastard… I shouldn’t have stopped you from killing him that night]

[Can you destroy him now? I’ll do anything you ask me to.]

He read them at once but didn't reply even though he was online..

Luther’s face stayed in my mind, those cold eyes burning through me, when strong arms suddenly locked around me from behind.

Damian’s scent filled my nose, making my stomach twist. His lips brushed my neck, slow and warm, but it felt like poison. I stiffened, fighting the urge to shove him away.

“Why are you so tense, Selene?” he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. “Have you been crying?”

I wriggled from his hold, taking steps away from him to catch my breath.

“You didn't come home….” I managed to break eye contact with him.

“It was an urgent council meeting…the number of rogues are becoming concerning.” He lied. I could see Elara’s claws on his neck, I could sniff her scent on his body.

“I know…” I gave a sad smile, walking away.

(Selene's POV)

He walked to the dining table, eyes on the untouched dishes I had spent hours preparing.

“Where’s Amara? You both haven’t eaten?” he asked, feigning concern.

I didn’t answer. My trembling hands lifted a plate, then let it slip. The crash of rice against the floor made him freeze.

“Selene, stop this,” he barked. “You’re Luna—you can’t waste food and throw an attitude. It’s just an anniversary I missed.”

I almost laughed. He thought I was blind. Elara’s scent still clung to him.

Jaw tight, he muttered, “I need to check the patrol…I can’t deal with you.”

“The patrol you remembered after smelling of her?” I whispered.

He stiffened. I smiled sweetly, covering—“After smelling the rogues.”

He hesitated, then forced, “I’ll make it up to you,” before leaving.

I wasn’t waiting for promises. Not anymore.

I hastily went to our bedroom, and pulled out the bags. I folded Amara’s little dresses, my own clothes, careful not to think, just moving everything I could touch.

The pendant he forced on me dangled from my neck—mocking me. I yanked it off, skin stinging where it had bruised me, and tossed it away.

I wasn't going to wait two weeks knowing that the man that killed my pup was going to have sex with me soon. Or worse, find out I knew the truth before I avenged Lok’s death.

“Too risky…” I muttered.

I dragged the luggage, on my way to wake Amara up when I heard a loud thud from her bedroom.

“Amara!” fear gripped me. I threw away the luggage and dashed to her room.

“Amara!” My voice cracked as I burst into her room.

She was on the floor, her small body trembling, lips pale, eyes rolled back. The disease had returned and my world collapsed at that moment.

“No, no, not again,” I sobbed, falling to my knees. I gathered her tiny frame into my arms, rocking her as if I could shield her from it. Her skin burned, her breath now shallow.

“Stay with me, baby, please!” I screamed, tears blinding me.

Without thinking, I ran, clutching her to my chest, my legs following the familiar path to the healer den.

“Help please.” I screamed, shivering.

“Lay her here, quickly!” the healer commanded.

“Her fever is burning through the herbs,” one apprentice whispered.

They kept trying their best with each passing hour.

The healer’s face tightened. “Selene… it’s worse this time. The only thing strong enough now….” She hesitated, meeting my eyes. “She will need her father’s blood.”

My throat closed. “No…”

“No time on our side….hurry.” She urged.

My wolf surged forward before I could think. The healer’s words echoed in my skull—her father’s blood or she dies. I ran through the forest, fear and anger pushing me faster.

In a few minutes, I was standing in front of the Alpha’s headquarters catching Damian's scent.

“Damian!” I ran up to him, clutching his arm.

“It’s Amara….she needs blood now, or we’ll lose her….the disease suddenly came and I….”

I trailed off when I caught a glimpse of Elara and the pup that looked just like his mini version.

“You can see I am busy….” He simply said, carrying Elara’s pup up.

He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.

“Our pup is dying…” My voice broke as I begged, the fear choking me.

“She’s dying! Amara is dying!!!!!” I was at the verge of insanity.

I wasn’t going to lose Amara too! I lunged at him and he immediately shoved me backwards.

“I said enough.” His hand ripped free from mine, but I grabbed him again, clinging like my life depended on it, because Amara's did.

“We can’t lose her! Damian, please!” My knees buckled as I held on. “You promised me you would do anything for Amara…”

“She's as good as dead! Amara can't survive next winter!”

His face twisted with irritation and almost immediately he grabbed my neck, choking me till I couldn’t breathe before pushing me to the ground.

My knees scraped against the dirt and the pain was unbearable but nothing hurt more than realising Amara also meant nothing to him.

I forced myself to get up again, my body covered with bruises.

“Damian….please..”

In my frantic pleading, my hand brushed against the boy’s arm and he stumbled a little.

Then the world suddenly paused.

Damian gripped me by my hair, slapping me twice and kicking me till I couldn’t breathe. I managed to wriggle out of his hold, barely alive.

“Damian…Damian!” Elara suddenly screamed.

I followed her voice to see the pup on the floor and I could see through the pretense, Elara was making him cough and wriggle.

“Save my baby!!!” Elara broke down in tears and that was it, nothing else mattered to Damian.

He scooped him up, barking orders to every wolf in sight to meet him at the healer’s den.

“Tell me nothing is going to happen to him….promise me you will do anything to save him.” Elara cried, running alongside him.

I wasn't thinking straight either, I started running behind them, hoping he would save Amara too.