Eliana stood by my side, guiding me with her hand on my elbow.

We had made it to the halls of the pack meeting.

I was still pretending to be blind, and I had to be careful not to slip up.

The room was packed with werewolves, all of them eager to hear what Rowan had to say.

I could sense their anxiety, their fear for the future of our pack.

Rowan was standing in the middle of the room, his voice very loud as he gave his speech. "Now that we have mourned the death of our powerful and strong Alpha, you all have to agree with me that this pack is more vulnerable to threats more than ever."

One person spoke up, "Isn't Alpha Cora supposed to take over?"

Rowan sighed sadly, shaking his head. "As much as I want that, I have come to tell you that it isn't possible."

He paused, surveying the room before continuing. "She had an accident, and now she is blind."

The people started whispering, shock and dismay written on every face.

Rowan added, his voice clear with that fake concern of his, "She even lost our pup. And the pack doctor said her uterus is damaged, and she is not ever going to be able to bear an heir to continue the lineage."

I felt that familiar jab of hurt, but I pushed it aside. I had to stay focused.

Rowan continued, "And she is still struggling to heal. I don't understand why she is so weak and can't heal from an omega's attack."

The whispers grew louder, the pack members exchanging worried glances.

Rowan wore a sad look, shaking his head. "I've been running around trying to care for her, and even called on the healers, but no one could do anything. And I think maybe she has been cursed by the moon goddess."

I gritted my teeth, feeling the overwhelming urge to lunge at him.

Rowan smiled sardonically. "But we don't have to worry! She has given me the go-ahead that as her father's beta, she supported me being the next Alpha."

Some of the pack members started nodding, buying into his bloody lies.

One of the elders spoke up, "But isn't it okay if we wait a little for Cora's health to get better?"

Rowan's looks turned serious. "I'm afraid that would be a terrible mistake. Cora can't even wear her own clothes or lace her own shoes. And how is she supposed to lead the pack?"

More people nodded in agreement, and I could feel the momentum shifting in Rowan's favor.

He added, in a more solemn tone. "I heard from a reliable source that the same rival pack that attacked the old Alpha is coming for us again soon, now that they know we have no leader. We have to act fast, or more lives will be lost."

The room fell into chaos, the pack members arguing and shouting.

I stood there, my feet heavy and unable to move.

Rowan, the man I thought I knew, was standing on the stage, revealing my deepest weaknesses to the entire pack.

The wounds he had inflicted on me, the pain he had caused me, were all being used against me.

How could he do this? How could he be so cruel?

He cleared his throat, a sly smile spreading across his face. "There's another news," he said, his voice quipping with excitement.

"I just found out that my childhood friend, Odessa, is with child... for me."

Everyone went silent. Then they started applauding as Rowan brought Odessa up to the stage.

She smiled and waved, as if she was their leader already.

"Make Rowan here your Alpha, and unite our packs," she said in a clear voice. "The Stonewood pack joining the Raven Claw pack would make us stronger and unbeatable. And with a Luna like me, we are all destined to thrive."

The pack members cheered and howled in joy. They seemed more relieved and excited.

I on the other hand, felt like I was going to be sick.

I couldn't stand it anymore. Eliana held my hand, squeezing a little. "Are you okay, Alpha Cora? Maybe we should sit down."

I murmured. "No, I didn't come as a guest."

Taking a deep breath, I shouted, "Everyone!"

The room suddenly hushed and all eyes directed at me. Rowan rushed over as fast as he could, a look of surprise on his face.

"What are you doing here, Cora?" he demanded, his voice low.

Eliana apologized, "I'm sorry, sir, but she insisted on coming."

"I heard everything," I said, my voice cold. "How long were you going to wait to let me know my father was dead?"

Rowan sighed, making that sympathetic face as if he was really sorry. "Everything I did and said was for your own good, Cora. I didn't want to bother you with too much after all that happened. I really care for you."

I snapped, my anger already boiling. "And Odessa? The pup she is carrying for you, is it out of care for me too?"

Rowan looked downcast. "The child was a blessing from the Moon goddess, and I couldn't really do anything about it."

I felt a stabbing pain in my chest, and my fever spiked. I bent over, almost falling, but Rowan caught me.

"See what I was saying?" he sighed. "You're not strong on your feet, and you need to rest."

He ordered Eliana to guide me to the secluded area of the room.

I sat there with my legs camped together, seething. I was feeling more helpless than ever.

The meeting carried on without me, the pack members discussing their new alliance with the Stonewood pack.

It hit me that I had lost everything - my father, my pup, my mate, and now, my pack.

When I decided to finally get out of there, Odessa found her way to me.

She had that smug look on her face that made her look more like a witch.

She ordered Eliana, "You, go get me a drink immediately."

Eliana scurried off, leaving me alone with her.

She tsked, shaking her head.

"How stupid are you, Cora?" she asked, eyeing me all over. "You should have stayed home, yet you came to show everyone your pitiful, weak self. And aren't you pathetic?"

"Go away." I told her simply. "I don't have time for your nonsense."

She scoffed and then a small smile formed on her overly painted red lips. "Awww, how do you feel knowing that you're not going to ever have Rowan's child?" she taunted.

"I said, leave me be," I repeated, my voice cold.

Her smile grew wider. "Oh well, you don't get to call the shots around here anymore."

And then, in a sudden, shocking move, she snatched the white cane from my hand and started hitting herself with it.

She fell to the floor, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Help! Cora attacked me! A pregnant woman!" she wailed.

I was stunned. Why the hell was she doing this?

It didn’t take long for Rowan and the other pack members to gather around us.

Rowan immediately helped Odessa up, shooting daggers at me.

"How could you be so heartless and hit a pregnant woman?" he asked sharply.

He looked all over at Odessa's arms, which were red with bruises from the cane.

"I'm blind!" I half screamed in rage. "How is it possible that I even hit her?"

Rowan snapped at me. He looked like he was going to pounce on me any second. "You don't have to see to move your cane about!" he shouted. "Odessa is badly hurt. You could have hurt her child! Have you lost your damn mind?"

The elders looked at me with disgust.

"We didn't expect you to go so low and hurt a pregnant woman just because you lost your pup," one of them said, shaking his head.

I was angry as hell, and I yelled at them, my voice echoing through the room. "You don't know anything! Odessa hit herself and is trying to frame me!"

Rowan's face turned red with anger. "Can you listen to yourself?" he asked and suddenly hit me across the face. "You better apologize now!"

The force of the slap stung like hell. I raised my head from where it was whipped to the side.

It was the first time he ever lay a finger on me.

"I won't apologize because I didn't hurt her!" I said through gritted teeth.

"We're disappointed in you, Cora," one of the elders said, shooting me a hard look.

Odessa started whining, her voice all shaky with fake stupid tears. "It hurts so much," she whimpered.

Rowan's face softened, and he looked at Odessa with concern. "It's okay, I'll take you to the healers right now," he responded in a gentle voice.

Just then, Eliana returned. Rowan turned to her and ordered, "Take Cora home and I'll deal with her later."

I felt angry. Humiliated.

But I knew I had to get out of there before things got any worse.

Now everyone saw me even more unfit than they already did.

I turned and walked away, Eliana guiding me through the crowd.

As we walked, I could feel everyone’s eyes judging me from the back.

Two agonizing days passed.

I paced the small confines of my room where I had been locked in.

A sudden noise at the door jolted me from my thoughts.

I stopped and quickly grabbed my cane. Then I sat very stiffly on the bed.

Odessa entered, a sinister smile plastered across her face. "Well, well, well. Isn’t it our wonderful helpless Cora? "

I was calm, staring aimlessly at the wall. "What do you want, Odessa?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd come and fill you in on all the wonderful things you've been missing." She waved her hand and paused, savoring the moment. "This morning, there was a marking ceremony, and everyone watched as Rowan claimed me as his Luna."

She grabbed my hand, and I just let her.

Odessa made me feel the mark on her neck, the symbol of her bond with Rowan. "Can you feel that? That's the symbol of our bond and love."

She continued, "And guess what else? Rowan was appointed as the new Alpha yesterday." She leaned in close, her breath hot on my face. "Isn't that just fantastic?"

"You both got what you wanted right?" I asked trying so hard to remain calm. In real sense, I wanted to rip her neck.

"How do you feel, being left out and stuck at home like a vegetable?" she taunted. She leaned in even closer, her breath hot on my face. "Maybe if you died, it would be better for everyone,"

I didn’t think twice about spitting in her face.

Her face grew wide in shock and she slapped me hard.

"Never again will you defy your Luna," she snarled.

Then she rubbed her belly, a sly smile spreading across her face. "You know what? I'm going to be due in a month, and I found the room where all your baby things were. I liked most of the things, and I'm going to take most of them for my pup. Since your own pup is dead and gone."

"You won't touch my baby's things!" I growled.

"Oh, watch me," she said simply with a smile and walked out of the room.

I was done with this hell hole. And I was going to make Rowan pay. But first I had to leave him.

As soon as Odessa left, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

The nurse was coming to administer my new dose of wolfsbane. The last one had been two days ago.

I had a sharp, small knife hidden in my pants, and I was ready to use it.

As the nurse came close, I struck, stabbing her in the shoulder.

She gasped in pain, and before she could scream, I hit her on the head, and she passed out on the floor.

This was my chance to escape.

Panting hard, I called on Aida, my wolf. "Please, Aida, you have to help me get out of this place."

If I left in human form, I wouldn't get far. But if I transformed, it would be better.

With concentration, I felt the familiar pain and sensation of my body changing.

I transformed with difficulty, my grey fur bursting forth as I grew larger and more powerful.

I ran to the window, my paws pounding the floor. I smashed through the glass, feeling the cool night air rush past me as I leapt out into the darkness.

I landed hard on the ground, my paws scrambling for traction. But I was up and running in an instant into the woods.

Finally, I was free.

But not for long.

As I ran, I suddenly started hearing the sound of pursuit behind me. Rowan's voice echoed through the trees, "Cora, stop! You can't escape!"