Mira’s POV

The week after the banquet felt like I was trapped in a storm with no way out. Every breath, every step inside the packhouse reminded me of what I’d lost—my mother, my pride, and the man I once thought was my future.

But one thing remained.

I hadn’t broken.

When I found the proof—clear evidence that Irene was responsible for my mother’s death—I thought it was finally over. I thought justice had found its way to me. That the Moon Goddess had seen everything and decided it was time for the truth to surface.

I was wrong.

I filed the case myself, hands shaking as I signed the documents. But I never expected to see him standing on the other side.

The courtroom was packed that day—wolves from the pack, elders, even outsiders who came just to watch everything unfold. The air felt heavy, suffocating. I stood there, heart pounding—

And then the doors opened.

Theron walked in.

Dressed in black, flawless as ever, his presence alone silenced the room. Wolves lowered their heads without thinking.

Then my chest dropped.

He didn’t walk toward me.

He took his place beside Irene.

“Alpha Theron Nightbane will act as counsel for Miss Irene,” the judge announced.

I felt sick. “You’re… defending her?”

He finally looked at me, but there was nothing in his eyes. “Yes.”

“Theron, she’s the reason my mother is dead—”

“Enough.” His voice cut through me like a blade, his Alpha authority pressing down hard. My wolf shrank instantly. “You’ve said more than enough, Mira. You think you can walk in here with fabricated proof and ruin someone? You’ve crossed the line.”

My hands curled into fists. “Fabricated? You really believe that?”

He stepped closer, his scent familiar, but no longer comforting. “You’re not the same person anymore. You used to be gentle. Now all I see is resentment. You’re twisting things to justify it.”

I wanted to scream at him. To remind him of everything—his promises, the nights he swore to protect me, how he once treated my mother like family.

But none of that mattered now.

Because the man in front of me wasn’t mine anymore.

To him, I was just the enemy.

The hearing dragged on, each second heavier than the last. Every piece of evidence I presented—

he tore it apart.

“This?” he said at one point, holding up a sample. “This could belong to anyone. You’re grasping at nothing.”

By the time it ended, I felt hollow.

Irene clung to him, playing the victim perfectly, tears in her eyes. The crowd whispered, some even laughing under their breath as they looked at me.

I couldn’t move.

As they passed by, I forced the words out.

“You’ll regret this… Alpha.”

He paused, just for a second—but didn’t turn.

“No, Mira,” he said flatly. “You will.”

—

That same night, the pack held its annual auction—Elder Marcelle’s idea of charity.

The hall was full again, glittering with wealth and fake smiles. I stayed near the back, invisible, still replaying the courtroom in my head.

Then I saw it.

“Lot twenty-seven,” the auctioneer announced, lifting it carefully.

My breath caught.

A jade bracelet.

My mother’s bracelet.

The one she never took off. The one that should have been with her ashes.

I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the stares. “Where did you get that?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “That belongs to me. It was my mother’s!”

The auctioneer hesitated. “Miss, please—”

“Mira.”

Theron’s voice cut in.

I turned. He stood near the front, Irene beside him, a glass in his hand like none of this mattered.

“Tell them,” I said, desperation slipping into my voice. “You’ve seen her wear it before. You know it’s hers. Please.”

He barely reacted. “It’s just a bracelet. Don’t cause a scene.”

“Just—?” My chest tightened. “It’s the only thing I have left of her!”

But he was already looking at Irene.

“I like it,” she said softly, running her fingers over the jade. “It’s beautiful.”

Theron gave a small smile. “Then it’s yours.”

He raised his hand and bid an amount no one dared challenge.

And just like that—it was gone.

Applause filled the hall. I stood there, frozen.

Irene looked at me with fake concern. “I didn’t realize it meant so much to you, Mira. I just thought it was pretty.”

Then she slipped it onto her wrist.

A sharp crack echoed.

The bracelet split cleanly in two.

A few people laughed.

“Oh… I didn’t mean to,” she said, though there was no real regret in her voice.

She let it fall.

The pieces rolled across the marble floor, stopping right in front of me.

Theron sighed. “It’s fine. It’s old. It was bound to break.”

Something inside me twisted painfully.

I knelt down, my hands trembling as I picked up the pieces. The jade felt cold against my skin.

Inside me, my wolf whimpered softly.

Irene laughed under her breath as she turned back to him. “You’ll just buy me another one, right?”

“Of course,” he said without hesitation.

Their voices faded into the background as I held the broken bracelet close to my chest.

My tears fell quietly, one by one, onto the shattered pieces.

Mira’s POV

Morning came, but it brought no warmth.

The sunlight filtered weakly through the blinds, barely touching me. My hands were still shaking—from the night before, from Elder Marcelle’s icy gaze, her threats, and that thick envelope sitting on the table like something rotten.

That money wasn’t help.

It was payment. For silence. For forgetting everything they took from me—my pride, my mother… everything.

I told myself that would be the last day I’d ever be near the Nightbane Pack. I’d show up to the yacht party, keep quiet, act like nothing was wrong—and by night, I’d disappear for good.

But things never go the way you plan.

When I reached the dock, the ocean stretched wide and endless, glinting under the sun. The Nightbane yacht stood tall and polished, shining like something untouchable.

Just like them.

Beautiful outside. Rotten underneath.

“Mira Delaine,” one of the guards said flatly. “You’re cleared. Go ahead.”

I gave a small nod and stepped onboard. Laughter echoed around me, glasses clinking, voices light and carefree. Expensive clothes, fake smiles.

And beneath it all—lies.

The moment I walked in, I felt it. Eyes on me. Whispers trailing behind.

“That’s her, right?”

“The omega who filed that case?”

“Why is she even here?”

I kept walking. I’d heard worse.

Then I saw him.

Theron stood near the railing, dressed in white and black, looking every bit the Alpha he was meant to be. His posture, his presence—unchanged.

But his eyes…

They passed over me like I wasn’t even there.

And next to him—

Irene.

Golden dress, perfect smile, every inch of her screaming elegance. If you didn’t know her, you’d think she was flawless.

She saw me. Of course she did.

Her lips curved slightly, something sharp hidden behind it. She leaned toward Theron, whispered something, and he just nodded, distracted.

Then she made her way to me.

“Well, look who decided to show up,” she said sweetly. “I thought you’d be too embarrassed after everything that happened with my future mother-in-law.”

I held her gaze. “I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

She let out a soft laugh. “Still pretending to be strong.” She leaned in closer, her perfume suffocating. “Do you ever think about your mother?”

My chest tightened. “Don’t go there.”

“Oh, I do,” she continued lightly. “I think about her a lot. Especially that night.”

My pulse spiked. “What do you mean?”

Her eyes gleamed. “The way she screamed before she fell.”

My breath hitched. “You—”

“I pushed her,” she said quietly, almost proudly. “She was in my way. You both were. I didn’t expect her to hit her head that hard… but accidents happen, right?”

Everything around me blurred.

“You killed her,” I said, my voice shaking. “That wasn’t an accident. You meant it.”

She tilted her head. “I thought you already figured that out.”

My hand moved before I could think.

Smack.

The sound rang out across the deck. Her head snapped to the side, a red mark blooming on her cheek. Gasps followed.

“Mira!”

Theron.

His voice froze me where I stood. He strode toward us, his presence heavy, suffocating. “What did you just do?”

“She admitted it!” I shot back, my chest rising and falling fast. “She killed my mother! She told me herself—”

Irene broke into tears and rushed into his arms. “That’s not true! She’s lying! She hates me because you chose me!”

He pulled her close, his glare cutting straight through me. “You dare lay a hand on the woman who saved me?”

“Saved you?” My voice cracked. “She’s a killer!”

“Enough!” His roar silenced the entire deck. “Mira Delaine, ever since you came into my pack, you’ve brought nothing but trouble. You’ve disrespected my mother, attacked Irene, and embarrassed me in front of everyone.”

“I saved you!” I shouted, tears finally spilling over. “You were dying when I found you! Everything you have now—you have because of me!”

He didn’t even react.

“You will apologize,” he said coldly.

I shook my head. “I won’t.”

His expression hardened. “Then you’ll face the consequences.”

A hollow laugh escaped me. “For what? Hitting the woman who murdered my mother?”

He turned to the others. “Each of you—two slaps. Let her learn what happens when she raises her hand against Irene.”

I stared at him. “You can’t be serious.”

“Do it.”

The first one stepped forward, hesitant.

Smack.

Then another.

Smack.

And another.

Each strike burned, but I didn’t fall. I wouldn’t give them that. My wolf raged inside me, desperate to fight back—but I held her down.

Irene watched it all, smiling faintly.

When it finally stopped, I was still standing. My face stung, my vision blurred—but I stayed upright.

Theron stepped closer. “Leave. Before I make you regret ever coming here.”

I met his eyes, steady despite everything. “I already regret ever knowing you.”

Then I turned away.

No hesitation. No looking back.

I walked off that yacht on my own, head high, even as everything inside me shattered. The sound of the waves crashing behind me felt almost like applause—for finally choosing myself.

When I reached the dock, I wiped the blood from my lip and whispered into the night, “Enjoy this while you can, Irene. One day, I’ll come back… and you’ll beg for the mercy my mother never got.”

That night, I packed what little I had.

The broken jade bracelet.

A few worn clothes.

And the letters Theron once wrote me—back when he still remembered how to love.

I left Nightbane behind.

And this time, I didn’t look back.

Theron’s POV

When I entered Mira’s room the next morning, it was empty. The faint scent of her still lingered in the air, vanilla and lavender, fading fast.

“Alpha,” one of the maids said softly, “she’s gone. Left before sunrise.”

I frowned. “Gone? She’ll come back. She’s just throwing a tantrum again. She won’t survive without me.”

But when I saw the small wooden box on the bed, my heart faltered. Inside were the letters I wrote her when I still lived as a nameless wolf with no memories in the woods. Promises of forever. Words filled with love and warmth.

Beside them lay the gifts I’d given her — the ring, the necklace I once said matched her eyes.

She really left. For good. Suddenly, all memories came crushing down.

“No…” I stummered. “Find her, quick!”

Mira’s POV

The plane’s hum was steady and low, a sound that could almost lull me to sleep if not for the ache in my chest. I leaned my head against the window, staring at the clouds, my reflection faintly visible in the glass. The farther we went, the smaller Nightbane territory became, and yet, it didn’t feel like I was leaving anything behind. It felt like I was running from ashes that no longer burned.

As the plane cut through the night sky, a fragment of memory slipped into my mind—one I hadn’t thought about in years.

I was small, maybe eight or nine, sitting on the wooden floor while my mother combed my hair. Her hands were gentle, her humming soft. The room smelled of herbs and smoke from the old lamp that flickered beside us.

“Mom,” I had asked, “why don’t I have a father like the other pups in the village?”

She went quiet for a moment, the comb pausing mid-stroke. Then she smiled faintly, though her eyes glistened. “Your father was a good man, Mira. His name was Neil Delaine Moonriver. He was supposed to marry someone else—someone from Thorndike Pack. He was meant to be the next Alpha of Moonriver Pack.”

I turned around, wide-eyed. “Then why didn’t he?”

“Because fate had other plans,” she said, her voice softer now. “He met me. And when he realized I was his fated mate, he didn’t care about the titles or anything anymore. He left everything behind to be with me.”

“Did he love you?”

She smiled again, tears escaping this time. “More than anything. But love doesn’t protect us from everything. Soon after you were born, he fell ill. No healer could explain why. He died when you were still a baby.”

I remember clutching her hand tightly. “Did they hate you for it?”

“They did,” she admitted quietly. “The Moonriver Pack thought I stole him. Your father’s family cut us off completely. I wanted to take you there, to at least let them know you exist, but we didn’t have the means.”

The comb moved slowly through my hair again. “One day,” she said, “when you’re strong enough, promise me you’ll find them. You deserve to know where you come from.”

Her words lingered in my head like an echo as I sat there on the plane. I closed my eyes and saw her smile again. I could almost feel her fingers in my hair.

But the warmth of that memory faded quickly, replaced by something bitter.

Because she never got justice. Because the woman who murdered her, Irene, was free. Because I had been forced to walk away. And because the man who once swore to protect me, Alpha Theron, had watched in silence.

I gripped the seat tightly, trying to keep my anger under control. My throat felt tight, my pulse hard and fast. I told myself that this wasn’t the end. That I would find a way to make every single one of them pay.

When the plane finally landed, the stewardess’ voice pulled me back to the present. I gathered my small bag and stepped out, the chill of early morning air biting against my skin. The Moonriver Pack territory was vast—mountains in the distance, dense woods surrounding the airfield, and tall fences guarded by wolves in uniform.

As I walked toward the gate, two guards in human form stopped me. Both were tall, alert, their scents unmistakably Moonriver.

“Name,” one of them said.

“Mira Delaine,” I replied. “I’m here to see your Alpha.”

The guard frowned slightly. “And what business do you have with Alpha Sirius?”

I hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’m the daughter of Neil Delaine Moonriver.”

The moment the name left my lips, both guards exchanged startled looks. One of them blinked, visibly thrown off. “Neil Delaine Moonriver?” he repeated. “You’re saying you’re his daughter?”

“Yes,” I said firmly.

They didn’t question me further. Instead, they lowered their heads slightly, signaling respect, and one of them spoke quietly into his earpiece. A few minutes later, a man with salt-and-pepper hair and a Beta’s insignia on his jacket approached.

“I’m Beta Darius,” he said. His tone was polite but cautious. “I heard… quite an interesting claim.”

“It’s not a claim,” I said. “It’s the truth. My father was Neil Delaine. My mother’s name was Jade.”

He blinked, his face shifting from disbelief to quiet realization. “Jade…” he murmured, as if testing the name. Then his eyes widened. “The omega from the borderlands. Spirits above.”

He looked at me more carefully now, studying my face. “You have his eyes,” he finally said. “Come. The Alpha needs to hear this himself.”

I followed him through the main gates, past long stone pathways and tall pines. The Moonriver Pack mansion stood at the heart of it all, a grand building of white stone and silver accents, the Moonriver crest carved above the doors. It felt strange, walking into a place that, by blood, should have been mine all along.

Inside, Beta Darius led me into a wide office. Behind the desk sat a man in his twenties, his presence unmistakably dominant. His aura filled the room, cold and heavy.

“Alpha Sirius,” Darius said respectfully, “this woman claims to be the daughter of your uncle, Neil Delaine Moonriver.”

Alpha Sirius looked up from his papers, his blue-gray eyes locking on me. “My father’s brother?” he asked, his voice even but edged.

“Yes,” I said quietly. “Your uncle.”

He stood slowly, examining me from head to toe. His expression gave nothing away, but there was something in his gaze—curiosity, perhaps, or disbelief.

“I see,” he finally said. “Then that would make you my cousin.”

I nodded once.

He leaned back slightly, arms crossing over his chest. “I heard rumors my uncle left everything for a woman outside the pack. I didn’t know there was a child.”

“There was,” I said. “Me.”

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, without another word, he gestured to Darius. “Find her a room. She’ll stay here until I decide what to do.”

His tone was distant, indifferent, but not cruel. I didn’t expect warmth anyway. Not from someone raised in the family that had turned their back on my father.

The room they gave me was simple but far more luxurious than anything I’d ever lived in. A proper bed, a window overlooking the forest, and shelves lined with old books. I sat on the edge of the mattress that night, staring at the Moonriver crest embroidered on the curtains.

So this was my father’s world.

I didn’t sleep much.

The next morning, Beta Darius came to fetch me. “The elders wish to speak with you,” he said.

He led me to a meeting hall where two older wolves sat at a long table. I recognized them instantly by resemblance. Elder Alex—Alpha Sirius’s father, the former Alpha—and beside him, his mate, Elder Eden. Both carried an air of authority that commanded silence.

Elder Alex spoke first. “So, you are Jade’s daughter.”

“Yes, Elder,” I said, keeping my tone respectful.

“We heard your story,” Elder Eden said softly. “But we’d like to hear it from you directly. Why have you come here now?”

I drew a breath and told them everything, how my mother raised me alone, how she told me about my father, how I met Theron, how Irene murdered my mother, how I was forced to walk away with nothing but ashes and pain.

When I finished, the room fell silent. Elder Alex exhaled heavily, looking at his mate. Elder Eden’s expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes.

“So,” Elder Alex finally said, “what do you intend to do now that you’re here?”

I lifted my chin slightly. “I want to regain the honor my mother lost. And I want revenge. I want every single one of them to pay for what they did.”

Elder Alex nodded slowly. “Revenge is a dangerous path, child.”

“I’ve already lost everything,” I said quietly. “I have nothing left to lose.”

For a moment, none of them spoke. Then Elder Eden leaned forward. “How old are you, Mira?”

“I’m twenty-four.”

Her brows furrowed slightly. Elder Alex turned to her, their eyes meeting for a long, weighted moment. Something unspoken passed between them.

Then Elder Eden’s gaze returned to me. “Didn’t your parents tell you?”