(Eirene’s POV)

The next dawn, Jareth didn’t come home. Instead, he sent a short mind-link message through the pack network:

[Eirene, remember you’re visiting the Elder Den today. I’m tied up with Alpha duties, so I sent my beta aide to escort you. Take care.]

I dismissed the link at once, refusing to respond.

Two whole hours passed. No one came. His so-called “beta escort” was nothing but a lie.

I nearly abandoned the trip altogether...until I remembered the two Moonbound relics from our arranged bond, still held at his parents’ manor. They were the last heirlooms left to me after my own parents’ deaths. Relics blessed under the Moon Goddess couldn’t simply be replaced.

So I went.

But the moment I stepped into the Darkhowl Elder Den, the air froze in my lungs.

Lucienne was there.

Laughing sweetly beside Nerielle, Jareth’s mother and the former Luna of the Darkhowl Pack. Lucienne wore shimmering spell-woven robes and resting against her collarbone was a gemstone pulsing with pale lunar light.

I recognized it instantly...the enchanted Moonshard Jareth had fought viciously for at the Nightfall Auction.

Before I could speak, Lucienne noticed me. Triumph flickered in her amber wolf-eyes. Then, with a voice dripping false innocence, she turned to Nerielle.

“Luna Nerielle, I really shouldn’t stay here… Jareth and I were once promised to each other. If Eirene finds out, she’ll be devastated.”

Nerielle snorted, folding her arms.

“Don’t worry about that cursed she-wolf.”

Her voice was as sharp as broken stone. “She brought doom to her bloodline...both her parents dead, her womb too weak to carry a five-moon pup. If not for her parents dying, I would have told Jareth to sever the bond long ago before she drags him into the grave with her.”

Then her expression softened when she turned back to Lucienne.

“The only thing that matters now is the pup you carry. If Eirene dares cause trouble, I’ll cast her out of this den myself.”

My breath lodged in my throat.

Lucienne… pregnant? With Jareth’s pup?

I stared at Nerielle, remembering how she once welcomed me as though I were her own daughter.

When I mated into the Darkhowls, their pack was nearly ruined. My family had poured silver, territory rights and Moonstone resources into saving them.

Lucienne, meanwhile, had fled the continent entirely.

Nerielle used to greet me with open arms.

Now, days after my parents’ funeral, she showed me her true face.

Bitterness twisted inside me.

I turned away, determined to ignore them and head upstairs. But I didn’t get far.

A harsh grip yanked me back.

Nerielle’s glare was venomous, her wolf rising behind her eyes. Lucienne stood beside her, smiling as though she were watching a show.

“Hit her. Twice.” Nerielle snapped at the housekeeper.

“Look at her...moping like a curse walking on two legs. You think we’re obligated to endure her attitude?”

The housekeeper obeyed instantly. Two sharp blows cracked across my face. My cheek seared with heat.

I ripped myself free, hatred burning in my chest like wildfire.

Nerielle saw the look in my eyes and only grew more furious.

“Wretched creature! How dare you glare at me? Planning to strike your Luna Elder? Beat her again...beat her until she learns her place!”

The housekeeper stepped forward.

But before she could hit me again, footsteps descended the stairs.

Jareth.

“Enough!” His voice sliced through the den. “Mother, she is my bonded mate. How can you treat her like this?”

He reached for me, trying to pull me into his arms with feigned concern as he examined the marks on my face.

I slapped his hand away.

Lowered my gaze.

Anything to hide the disgust clawing at me.

Since learning the truth, every touch from him felt like poison.

Jareth stiffened, then exhaled slowly. He turned to his mother.

“Let it go. Lucienne is staying in the den tonight. Didn’t you prepare a chamber for her? Take her to see it.”

Nerielle scoffed.

“Keep defending that cursed witch. One day she’ll drag you to your grave.”

She shot me one more hateful look before leading Lucienne toward the stairs.

As Lucienne passed me, she paused...and smiled.

A heartbeat later, with the grace of a puppet whose strings had snapped, she pitched backward...

tumbling down the stairs.

Eirene’s POV

Jareth’s eyes widened in shock. Without a word, he shoved me aside and lunged down the staircase.

He knelt beside Lucienne, gathering her into his arms with trembling urgency. Panic clouded his wolf-gold eyes.

“Lucienne...goddess, are you hurt? Is your womb hurting? I’ll get you to the healers right now.”

Lucienne clung weakly to his sleeve, her fingers shaking, a whimper slipping from her lips as she pointed directly at me.

“Jareth… I don’t know why Eirene pushed me, but… m-my belly… it hurts so much…”

I stared at her, stunned.

She had clearly fallen on her own...no one had touched her.

Jareth turned toward me, his aura flaring, eyes blazing with fury.

“Eirene! Do you even understand what you’ve done?”

I forced myself to breathe evenly.

“I didn’t touch her,” I said firmly. “The Elder Den has Moonstone wards...every corner is under scrying. Check the recordings.”

But Lucienne...who had been sobbing in pain moments earlier...went utterly still.

Then she suddenly threw her arms around him, her voice trembling with manufactured guilt.

“Jareth, please… don’t argue with her because of me. Just… let it go. Maybe… maybe this pup really isn’t destined to survive…” Her voice cracked and she collapsed into him, crying even harder.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t look away.

I simply watched Jareth.

He refused to meet my eyes. His jaw clenched.

Then, with Lucienne still in his arms, he said coldly, “I believe Lucienne. There’s no need to review the scrying stones. Eirene, you’ve crossed the line. If anything happens to this pup… I won’t forgive you.”

Nerielle stood to the side, expression icy and full of contempt.

She had been standing at an angle where she could clearly see I had not touched Lucienne.

But she didn’t hesitate to choose her side.

With a flick of her hand, she motioned to the butler.

“Remove her from my sight. She’s poison...she returns here and nearly kills my grandpup? Throw her into the frost cellar. Let the cold purge her cursed aura!”

The butler seized me by the arms. I struggled, twisting away with all the strength I had left.

I turned toward the doorway and shouted:

“Jareth! I said I didn’t push her! Just check the Moonstone scrying...why won’t you look?!”

He hesitated.

Just for a heartbeat.

One step faltered as if he might finally turn around.

But Lucienne let out a soft, pitiful moan.

And that single sound erased me from his world.

He rushed out the door with her cradled in his arms, not sparing me so much as a backward glance.

As for me?

I was dragged to the frost cellar and thrown inside like discarded prey...no hesitation, no mercy.

The heavy iron door slammed shut.

Darkness dropped over everything.

Cold seeped instantly into my bones, sharp enough to numb my heartbeat.

I curled in on myself, trying to hold on to whatever warmth remained.

A dull ache throbbed low in my abdomen...the lingering reminder of the pup I had just lost.

Jareth had forgotten. Or perhaps… he simply didn’t care.

He once vowed he would always place me first.

Now, his heart belonged entirely to Lucienne.

Hot tears slipped down my cheeks.

And before my eyes finally fluttered closed, I could almost see the Jareth I once loved...

the one who no longer existed.

Eirene’s POV

Hours later, half frozen, skin numb and breath barely there...I was finally lifted out of the frost cellar by Jareth.

His eyes were bloodshot, guilt heavy in them.

“How could this happen? I thought Mother was only angry… I never imagined she would actually lock you inside that place.”

I kept my eyes closed, refusing to give him even a fragment of a response.

A few of his hot tears hit my neck, burning more painfully than the cold ever did.

I knew then...I would never trust this male again.

I was taken straight to the healers’ ward in the Lunar Sanctum. After a full day and night under warming runes and restorative spells, my eyes finally opened.

Jareth sat beside me, watching with the same tender agony he used to show when he wanted forgiveness.

He reached for my face, but I turned sharply away.

He froze, then softened his tone, trying to coax me the way he always had.

“You’re still upset. I understand. You shouldn’t have confronted Lucienne like that, but Mother also acted out of line. When we return home, I’ll buy you that Moonfire pendant you liked. Consider it an apology.”

Those words...once enough to soothe me...now felt like venom.

I stared at him, calm despite the anger simmering inside.

“I told you already...I didn’t lay a finger on Lucienne. Your mother dared lock me in that ice chamber because you allowed her to.”

His expression faltered, but I didn’t stop.

“Return the marriage token my parents entrusted to you. We’re dissolving the bond. I’ll step aside...you can have Lucienne.”

He shot upright, trembling, stunned beyond words.

His voice cracked.

“Eirene! How can you say that? Do you know what those words do to me? I will not sever our bond!”

He leaned down, pulling me into a desperate embrace, his voice thick with emotion.

“There’s nothing between Lucienne and me. If it hurts you this much, I swear I won’t see her again.”

Internally, I laughed.

Nothing between them? Then whose pup is she carrying?

Before I could speak, Lucienne appeared at the doorway.

She froze at the sight of Jareth holding me, her eyes immediately filling with tears.

“Jareth… you...”

She turned and fled.

Jareth instantly released me and chased after her.

As he passed, I looked directly at him. He clenched his jaw under my gaze.

“Eirene, Lucienne is carrying a pup. Don’t blame her. I’ll explain everything to her.”

And without another word, he ran.

Something inside me urged me to follow.

On the Moonspire rooftop, Jareth finally caught Lucienne and pulled her tightly into his arms.

She sobbed into his chest, voice trembling.

“Jareth, it hurts...my heart, the pup… Maybe I should never have stayed in the Darkhowl territory. Watching you be so gentle with Eirene every day… I can’t bear it. Maybe it’s better if I just end it all…”

Jareth held her as if she were made of moonlight and smoke.

“Don’t say that. You came back to me and now we have a pup. If you give up your life, you take mine with you. How could you ask that of me?”

His eyes were full of tortured affection.

And after her repeated sobs, he finally relented.

“Fine. I’ll keep my distance from Eirene. Come down. This place is dangerous.”

I stood where I was...cold, silent, watching him carry her gently down the stairs.

They turned and finally saw me.

Both froze.

But Jareth did not let go of her. Instead, he tightened his hold.

“Eirene…” His jaw strained. “We’ll discuss this later.”

I let out a cold, humorless laugh.

“Discuss what? That the pup she carries isn’t yours?”

Pain flashed through his expression.

He loosened his arms around her, reaching toward me...

But Lucienne moved faster.

She grabbed my hands, pretending to plead.

“Eirene, Jareth isn’t at fault. It’s me. I shouldn’t have been near him. Please don’t punish him because of me. Don’t ruin your bond over me.”

I tried to pull free, but pain shot through my abdomen as her claws dug straight into the half-healed wound near my stitches.

My leg buckled from the sudden sting.

Her eyes lit up with triumph.

And then...like the deranged actress she was...Lucienne shrieked and threw herself backward…crashing onto the floor.