"Father," I said firmly, though my voice trembled with suppressed emotion. "I want to return to the palace. I can’t stay here anymore."

My father’s response was immediate, his tone as steady and commanding as I remembered. "Come home, Isabelle. Your presence is needed. William… he’s been murdered."

The words hit me like a thunderclap. My breath hitched, and my legs threatened to give way. William, my eldest brother. The cruel shadow of my childhood. Memories surfaced—hidden bruises, tear-filled nights, his disdainful sneer. Yet even now, the bond of blood tethered me to grief. He was my brother, after all.

"Logan…" I managed to whisper, thinking of my second elder brother, the only light in a dark world. "Does he know?"

"He does. We’re waiting for you, Isabelle."

The mind-link severed, leaving me staring blankly out the window. The barren trees swayed gently in the wind, but I felt no comfort in their movement.

That evening, I sat across from Gabriel at the dining table. The man I had once given my heart to. The man I had sacrificed everything for. He sat in silence, his attention fixed on his plate. I searched his face for any trace of the love we once shared, but all I saw was cold ambition.

A soft knock interrupted the quiet tension. An Omega entered, bowing respectfully. "Alpha, you have a visitor."

Gabriel set his fork down with a faint clink. "Let him in."

The door opened, revealing one of Gabriel’s closest friends. The man greeted Gabriel warmly and took the seat beside him, barely sparing me a glance. Their conversation flowed easily, their words shifting into the ancient language of the kingdom—a tongue they assumed I couldn’t understand.

"So, Charlotte is really going to be your Luna, huh?" his friend teased.

Gabriel smirked, a small, self-satisfied curve of his lips. "Yes. It’s for the future of the Ironclaw Pack. Her connections will strengthen us."

"Don’t lie to yourself. You care about her, don’t you? That’s why you’re marrying her instead."

A soft chuckle escaped him, and it was like a dagger plunging into my chest. "Of course. Charlotte means a lot to me."

I gripped my fork tightly, forcing myself to remain still. They didn’t know. They didn’t know that I, far from a simple Omega, understood every word. They didn’t know I was no ordinary woman.

I am a princess. A hidden heir to a royal bloodline that traces back to the Moon Goddess herself. The ice bloodline—my bloodline—bestows powers few can comprehend. The mark of that power, a glowing white vein etched delicately along my wrist, is invisible to those ignorant of its significance. Upon learning my bloodline, it spread like a wildfire in the kingdom. My identity, too dangerous to reveal because of the controversial powers I had, was a secret my family guarded fiercely.

And yet, few of the nobles knew who the princess really was—me.

Weeks ago, I was filled with hope. I had discovered I was pregnant, and my heart swelled at the thought of a child. I wanted to propose to Gabriel, to solidify our bond. I confided in Yna, my closest friend, who had been thrilled—until she handed me her phone with trembling hands.

"You need to see this," she whispered.

Confused, I took the phone and froze at the screenshot displayed. It was Charlotte’s post. The woman who had always been by Gabriel’s side.

[Finally, he proposed to me! I knew this day would come. I can’t believe it happened now.]

My chest tightened. "I… I didn’t see this before."

"That’s because she blocked you," Yna said quietly. "Not just her—Gabriel’s mother and some pack members did too. They didn’t want you to find out."

Trembling, I scrolled through the comments, bile rising in my throat.

[You’re a perfect match!]

[So glad that Omega isn’t going to be our Luna.]

[Charlotte is so much better. Thank the Moon Goddess!]

And then Gabriel’s mother… her words burned like acid.

[I always knew Charlotte was the right choice. That Omega was never good enough for my son.]

The betrayal was suffocating. And the pack celebrated it.

The same week, the eclipse cast an eerie glow across the sky, a reminder of the darkness that had already taken root in my life. That same week, my most vulnerable moment arrived.

It started as a sharp pang in my lower abdomen, then escalated into searing pain that struck like lightning. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the cold floor of my room, clutching my stomach as waves of agony ripped through me.

“Gabriel,” I called through our mind-link, my voice trembling with desperation. “Please… save our baby!”

The silence that followed was deafening. I reached out again, begging, pleading for him to answer. But the bond remained cold and empty. Gabriel never responded.

The pain intensified, twisting through me until I could no longer hold back the screams. Tears poured down my face, mixing with the sweat that clung to my skin. My breaths came in short, ragged gasps as I whispered prayers to the Moon Goddess, pleading for a miracle.

“Please,” I sobbed, my voice breaking. “Please, don’t take my baby from me.”

But no one came. Not Gabriel. Not the Goddess. No one.

Alone, I lay curled on the floor, clutching the life that was slipping away from me. The emptiness that followed was worse than the pain, a hollow void that swallowed me whole.

I woke up feeling the emptiness within me. That was when I realized I lost something really important. My baby.

When the miscarriage struck, I had clung to hope. Gabriel would come. He had to come. But I waited in that sterile hospital room for three days. He never came.

Now, as I listened to him laugh and plan his grand ceremony with Charlotte, the pain I thought I’d buried resurfaced.

"Are you sure she doesn’t understand us?" his friend asked.

Gabriel glanced at me, dismissive. "She can’t. She’s just a lowly Omega."

My nails dug into my palm, grounding me against the storm of emotions swirling within. He didn’t even know I was aware of his engagement. They all thought I was a fool.

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Gabriel didn’t even look up as I turned and left the room.

The cold wind outside bit at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the frost hardening my heart. Years of humiliation and heartbreak ended here.

No more.

ISABELLE'S POV

Shadows danced on the walls of my room as I sat by the frosted window, clutching the faintly glowing crescent pendant my mother had given me before I left the palace. The soft, rhythmic pulse of light against my palm was the only thing keeping me grounded, a comforting reminder of the Moon Goddess’s presence and the divine bloodline I carried in my veins.

How foolish I’d been to think love was enough. I had fought to stay in the Ironclaw Pack, begged my family to let me stay with Gabriel. "I love him," I had pleaded, desperation lacing every word. "Please, let me stay. I’ll be safe. I swear!"

Logan, my second elder brother, had been the fiercest in his opposition. His eyes burned with a fury I had rarely seen. “They’ll never protect you like we can, Isabelle! You’re the ice princess, for the Moon’s sake. Do you think they even understand what you are? What’s at stake?”

But I hadn’t listened. I chose to believe in Gabriel, to trust the man who had saved me once—three years ago, when a rebel organization kidnapped me. I still remembered the way he fought for me, the way he pulled me back from the brink of death. That day, I thought he was my destiny. My knight in shining armor.

Now, I could barely recognize him. The man I once adored was gone, replaced by someone cold and unrecognizable. The truth was undeniable: Gabriel wasn’t my protector. He was my downfall.

The morning light brought no solace, only a fever that clung to me like a cruel reminder of my frailty. Every step I took to the pack hospital felt like a mountain to climb. My body betrayed me again, refusing to let me forget the agony of my loss.

The healer, a kind woman with silver streaks in her hair, examined me with gentle hands and a pitying gaze. “Your body is still reacting to the loss,” she said softly. “You need to rest, child. You’re still recovering.”

I nodded, though her words barely registered. Rest. As if rest could heal the void inside me. The loss of my child—the one connection I had to a future—was a wound no healer could mend.

When I returned to the pack house, the emptiness was palpable. Gabriel was gone, as usual. I didn’t even bother asking where he was. Yna, my only confidante, greeted me at the door, her expression troubled.

“He’s with her again,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I stiffened, my hands clenching at my sides. I didn’t need to ask who “her” was.

“Did he say when he’d be back?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay calm.

Yna hesitated, her gaze flickering away. “They’re planning their wedding. The pack… they’ve been told to keep it from you.”

For a moment, the world tilted beneath me. But then, unexpectedly, I laughed. It was a sharp, bitter sound that echoed through the empty hall. “Of course. Why wouldn’t he? He wanted me to stay blind and obedient.”

The bitterness in my chest hardened into something colder, sharper. “But I’m done, Yna,” I said quietly. “I’m leaving.”

That night, sleep was impossible. The silence of the pack house felt suffocating, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake. I wandered downstairs to get some water, hoping the cool liquid would soothe the storm raging within me.

The house was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. As I approached the kitchen, hushed voices reached my ears.

“I still can’t believe someone murdered him,” Charlotte’s sweet, venomous voice drifted through the shadows. “The prince’s death… Do you think—”

“Shut it,” Gabriel hissed, his tone sharp and urgent. “We shouldn’t speak of his death here.”

I froze, my blood running cold. They were talking about William. My brother.

Charlotte scoffed, her impatience clear. “You’re too cautious, Gabriel. Then what about the princess?”

Gabriel’s voice dropped, muffled but tense. “… hard… find...”

My heart raced, unease clawing at my chest. Why were they talking about my family? About me?

The floor creaked beneath my foot, and the voices fell silent.

“Who’s there?” Gabriel’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

ISABELLE'S POV

The hallway was shrouded in darkness, the faint moonlight filtering through the large windows, casting ghostly shadows along the walls. My heart hammered in my chest, the tension in the air thick and suffocating. I stood frozen, barely breathing, as Gabriel’s sharp voice echoed through the silence once more, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Who’s there?”

I swallowed hard, the coldness of the hallway seeping into my bones. Gathering every ounce of courage I had left, I stepped forward, letting the dim light fall over my face. Gabriel’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, I saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes before he quickly masked it with his usual cold, detached expression.

“Isabelle,” he said, his voice softening slightly, though there was still a hint of suspicion lingering beneath his words. “What are you doing down here at this hour?”

I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, willing my voice to stay steady. “I couldn’t sleep. I came down to get some water.” My gaze flicked to Charlotte, who stood just behind Gabriel, her eyes gleaming with malice. She wore a faint, triumphant smirk that made my stomach churn.

Gabriel furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. “Did you hear anything?”

My heart skipped a beat, but I shook my head, my voice betraying none of the anxiety building within me. “No. I just got here.”

Charlotte exhaled dramatically, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “We didn’t mean to disturb you, Isabelle. Gabriel and I were just finishing up.”

I couldn’t suppress the tightening of my jaw, my eyes narrowing as I met Gabriel’s gaze. “Finishing up what?”

The smirk on Charlotte’s face faltered for just a split second before Gabriel intervened, his tone deceptively casual. “We had a late meeting with Charlotte’s pack. It ran longer than expected, and she wanted to stop by for tea before heading home.”

My eyes flicked to the table near them. It was empty—no cups, no teapot, no signs of warmth lingering in the air. My stomach churned at the blatant lie, but I forced my face to remain neutral, unwilling to let them see how badly they had rattled me.

“Tea at three in the morning?” I asked softly, my voice edged with something I couldn’t quite hide.

Charlotte bristled at my tone, but Gabriel quickly placed a hand on her arm, silencing her before she could respond. “You’ve been looking exhausted lately, Isabelle,” he said, his voice taking on an almost kind tone. “You should take a break. Why don’t you spend the day outside tomorrow? Get some fresh air, clear your mind.”

I stared at him, my instincts screaming that something was off. But I nodded, forcing a faint smile onto my lips. “Maybe I will.”

Gabriel’s shoulders relaxed as though he had won some small victory. He smiled, though it was far too faint to be genuine. “Good. You’ll feel better.”

Charlotte gave me one last look, smug and satisfied, before brushing past me. Gabriel followed closely behind her, his eyes flicking back to me with a last, dismissive glance. “You should go back to bed,” he said before disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.

I stood there for a long moment, my hands trembling at my sides. My breath came out in shallow gasps as I glanced back at the empty table. The pieces clicked together, and my suspicion solidified into certainty. Whatever Gabriel and Charlotte were doing, it wasn’t just a late-night meeting.

The first rays of sunlight streamed through my curtains the next morning, but they offered me no comfort. I couldn’t shake the weight of the conversation, and the unease in my chest only grew as the day wore on. The warmth of the crescent pendant around my neck felt distant, like a memory that was slipping further from my grasp.

Unable to sleep, I was already dressed by the time Yna arrived in the kitchen. She smiled when she saw me, setting a tray of bread and fruit down on the table.

“You’re up early,” she said, her tone light, but I could see the concern in her eyes.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I admitted, sinking into one of the chairs. “Yna, do you know if anything’s happening tomorrow?”

Yna froze, her hands hovering over the tray as her expression shifted to something guarded. She avoided meeting my gaze, and I could feel the unease twisting in my stomach.

“Why do you ask?” she said, her voice carefully neutral.

The unease inside me tightened, and I forced myself to keep my tone even. “Gabriel suggested I go out tomorrow. Said I needed fresh air. It felt… odd.”

Yna hesitated before finally letting out a long sigh. “You’re not going to like this, Belle.”

“Tell me,” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

She glanced around, as if making sure no one else was nearby, before leaning in closer. “It’s an engagement party. For Gabriel and Charlotte.”