Stephanie’s POV

I woke up to warmth. For a brief, fragile moment, I thought it was a dream.

A familiar weight rested behind me, an arm draped loosely over my waist, pulling me into a body I knew far too well. The scent of cedarwood and musk wrapped around me, steady and unmistakable. Alpha Cain.

My breath caught, but I didn’t move.

I kept my eyes closed, as if pretending long enough might make everything go back to the way it used to be. Back when waking up beside him meant something. Back when his presence felt like safety instead of suffocation.

“Stephanie… Luna…” His voice was low, still thick with sleep as his lips brushed lightly against my shoulder.

My body stiffened despite myself. He didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he did, and simply didn’t care.

“I came back late,” he murmured, his hand sliding slightly over my arm in a slow, absentminded gesture. “You were already asleep.”

I said nothing.

“I’m sorry about last night,” he continued, his tone softening as if that alone could undo everything. “I had too much to drink. You know how it gets.”

His fingers traced lazy patterns against my skin, the kind of touch that used to make my heart race. Now, it only made me feel cold.

“You should understand,” he went on, his voice taking on a casual edge that made something twist painfully in my chest. “Men… especially Alphas like me, we have needs.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.

“And you’re pregnant,” he added, as if that explained everything. “I didn’t want to push you. It wouldn’t be good for your health.”

His arm tightened slightly around me, pulling me closer.

“So I just… let off steam somewhere else.”

There it was. Said so easily. So casually. As if he was doing me a favor. As if I should be grateful.

My fingers curled slightly against the sheets, gripping the fabric just to keep myself grounded.

He always did this. Came back like nothing happened. Spoke like nothing was wrong. Like I was too blind, too naïve to see the truth right in front of me. Like I was a fool.

“Say something,” Alpha Cain murmured, pressing a light kiss against my shoulder.

I forced myself to breathe.

“It’s fine,” I said quietly.

The words tasted like ash in my mouth. But they were expected. They were what he wanted to hear. And just like that, the tension in his body eased.

“That’s my good girl,” he said, satisfaction lacing his voice.

Something inside me cracked.

“By the way,” he added, shifting slightly as his hand rested over my stomach, “what was the result?”

My chest tightened.

“The baby,” he clarified. “What are we having?”

For a moment, I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to tell him. But because I already knew. I knew what his reaction would be.

Still, I answered.

“A girl.”

The silence that followed was subtle. But I felt it. His hand stilled. His body, once relaxed, became rigid behind me.

“Oh,” he said after a moment.

Just that. Just one word. But it carried more weight than anything else he could have said.

I slowly opened my eyes, staring blankly at the wall in front of me.

“I see.”

His voice had changed. It wasn’t warm anymore. It was distant. As if the child growing inside me had suddenly become less important. Less valuable.

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing down the wave of emotions threatening to rise.

“She’s healthy,” I added quietly, though I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to justify it.

“Mm.” He hummed in acknowledgment, but there was no real interest in it.

Of course. He wanted a son. An heir. Someone to carry his name, his power, his legacy.

Not a daughter. Not… her.

My hand moved instinctively, resting over my stomach. Protective.

“I’ll have someone prepare your vitamins,” Alpha Cain said after a while, pulling away from me as if nothing significant had just happened. “You need to take better care of yourself.”

“I can do it myself,” I replied softly.

He chuckled.

“You’re too stubborn sometimes.”

Despite that, he stayed, watching as I slowly sat up and reached for the small table beside the bed. The vitamins were already there, neatly arranged, along with a tray of food that had likely been brought in earlier.

I picked up the pills, swallowing them without complaint.

Then I ate. Each bite felt heavy. Like I was forcing myself to perform for him.

Alpha Cain watched the entire time, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“That’s more like it,” he said approvingly. “A woman shouldn’t be so difficult.”

My grip tightened slightly around the spoon.

“Your job right now is simple,” he continued, his tone light but firm. “Get pregnant, stay healthy, and give me many pups. Continue the bloodline.”

The words settled over me like chains. Heavy. Unyielding.

I kept my gaze down, saying nothing. Because what was there to say? That I was more than that? That I wasn’t just a vessel for his heirs?

Those words would mean nothing to him now.

A soft pressure touched my forehead. I froze slightly as Alpha Cain leaned down, pressing a brief kiss there.

“Be good,” he murmured.

The gesture felt… empty. Like a habit rather than something genuine.

Just as he straightened, his phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the room. Alpha Cain glanced at it, his expression flickering with irritation before he picked it up.

“I’m with my Luna,” he said firmly, his voice carrying a hint of authority. “And my child. Don’t disturb me.”

For a moment, something inside me stirred.

A small, foolish hope. But it didn’t last. Because even as he said those words, I could see it.

The impatience. The distraction. The way his attention was already elsewhere.

“Handle it yourself,” he added before ending the call.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I have things to take care of,” he said shortly.

I nodded. “I understand.”

He paused, studying me for a brief moment. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

Just like that. As if he hadn’t just returned after humiliating me in front of the entire pack. As if nothing had happened.

---

He came back late. Again. The scent of alcohol clung to him as he slipped into bed beside me, his movements slightly unsteady. Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, pressing his face against my neck as if seeking comfort.

Within minutes, his breathing evened out. He was asleep.

I stared at the ceiling, wide awake. The weight of his arm around me felt suffocating.

Time passed slowly.

Until a soft glow caught my attention. His phone. It lit up on the bedside table, the screen illuminating the dark room.

I shouldn’t look. I knew that. Some part of me understood that whatever I saw would only hurt me more. But my body moved before my mind could stop it.

I reached out, my fingers hovering over the device for a brief moment before picking it up.

The screen unlocked easily.

A message. My heart began to pound. And then I read it.

[I’m so happy you came with me to the OB-GYN today.]

My breath hitched.

[Our son is very strong. He was moving so much. I think he already knows how excited his father is.]

The words blurred for a second as my vision wavered. Son.

My hands trembled. There was more. His reply. I forced myself to read it.

[Of course I came. He’s my son.]

A sharp pain shot through my chest.

[Take care of yourself. I’m happy we’re having a boy.]

My grip tightened around the phone.

The next message came almost immediately after.

[Unlike Stephanie. She disappointed me with a girl as the firstborn.]

And then the very latest message, one that was just sent seconds ago, [Alpha, please. Remember your promise. Make him your alpha heir.]

For a moment, I couldn’t feel anything. Then slowly, it all came crashing down at once. My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, cradling it protectively.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Tears slid down my temples, soaking into the pillow beneath me.

“I’m so sorry…”

For bringing you into this. For giving you a father like him. For not being strong enough to leave sooner.

“You won’t grow up like this,” I promised softly. “You won’t have a father who doesn’t see your worth.”

My voice trembled, but the words felt real.

More real than anything else I had said in a long time.

“I won’t let that happen.”

Stephanie’s POV

The corridors of the packhouse felt colder than usual. Or maybe it was just me.

My steps were slow but steady as I made my way toward Elder Elisse’s chamber, the hem of my dress brushing softly against the polished floor. Every wolf I passed lowered their gaze, some out of respect, others out of discomfort.

Or pity. I could feel it.

It clung to me like a second skin now. The Luna who was no longer truly a Luna. The mate who had been replaced long before she even realized it.

I stopped in front of the heavy wooden doors and took a quiet breath before knocking.

“Come in,” Elder Elisse’s voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open and stepped in.

Her chamber was just as I remembered it. Elegant, composed, filled with a quiet authority that reflected the woman who lived within it. She sat by the window, a cup of tea resting untouched beside her.

Her gaze lifted the moment she saw me.

“Luna,” she said gently.

I didn’t waste time.

“I’ll proceed with it.”

Her brows furrowed slightly. “With what?”

“The divorce,” I answered, my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me. “And I want to step down from the Luna position as well.”

The words felt heavier spoken aloud.

Elder Elisse studied me carefully, as if searching for hesitation. She wouldn’t find any.

“Are you certain?” she asked after a moment.

I nodded.

“I’ve thought about it enough.” My fingers curled slightly at my sides. “There’s nothing left for me here.”

A flicker of pain crossed her face. Not for her son. But for me.

“What will you do afterward?” she asked softly. “Where will you go?”

I opened my mouth to answer. Then closed it again. Because the truth was…

“I don’t know.”

The admission felt strange.

“I just know I can’t stay here anymore,” I continued quietly. “Not like this.”

Silence settled between us. Elder Elisse sighed softly before standing up. She walked toward a nearby drawer and pulled something out.

A letter. Sealed. She held it out to me.

I hesitated for a moment before taking it.

“What is this?”

“I still have connections,” she said, her tone thoughtful. “With the Direwolf Pack.”

My eyes lifted to hers.

“Their Alpha owes me a favor,” she continued. “If you choose to leave, you may seek refuge there. It will be safer for you… especially when you give birth.”

My fingers tightened around the letter.

“They will protect you,” she added. “And your daughter.”

The word alone steadied something inside me.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Elder Elisse gave me a small, sad smile. “I only wish things had turned out differently.”

So did I.

When I returned to my room, the silence greeted me like an old friend. It was almost comforting now. Almost.

I placed the sealed letter carefully on the table, my fingers lingering on it for a moment.

Before I could let my thoughts wander further, my phone buzzed. A message. From one of the omega maids.

My brows furrowed slightly as I opened it. A link.

[Luna… you might want to see this.]

A strange feeling settled in my chest. Dread.

I tapped on the link. A livestream opened instantly. The setting was unmistakable. The main building of the Foreshadow Pack’s company.

Our company. Or at least… it used to feel like mine. The platform displayed on the screen.

The one I had spent countless nights working on. Planning. Building. Pouring every bit of creativity and effort I had into it.

And then—

Her. Faye.

She stood at the center of it all, smiling brightly at the camera.

“Thank you so much for all the love and support,” she said sweetly, her voice light and cheerful.

The comments flooded the screen, praising her, admiring her. My stomach twisted.

“I also want to give a special thanks to Alpha Cain,” she continued, her smile widening. “He’s been incredibly generous to me.”

My grip on the phone tightened.

“Yes, it’s true,” she laughed softly. “He personally chose me as the ambassador for this platform.”

Ambassador. For something I helped build.

“And of course,” she added, lifting her hand slightly as if showing something off, “thank you for the moonstone. It’s so beautiful.”

My breath caught. The comments exploded. Excitement. Envy. Praise.

“And he’s helped me so much,” she continued, her tone softening just enough to sound sincere. “Covering my health expenses, making sure I’m taken care of… he even bought me land.”

Each word felt like a blade. Twisting deeper with every sentence.

I stared at the screen, my vision beginning to blur. This was… ridiculous. Unbelievable.

The Alpha of the Foreshadow Pack. My mate. Making his mistress the face of the very platform I helped create.

Giving her everything.

My mind drifted back, unbidden. To the necklace around my neck. My hand lifted instinctively, fingers brushing against it.

A simple piece. Elegant. But nothing extraordinary.

He had given it to me once, long ago. Back when I thought it meant everything. Back when I believed it was the most valuable thing he could offer.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. How foolish. How incredibly foolish of me.

Because clearly… He was capable of giving so much more.

---

The next morning arrived too quickly. The entire pack was dressed in black. Even the air felt heavier.

Today marked the death anniversary of the child I lost a year ago. My first baby.

The one I never got to hold. The one who never got to take a single breath.

My chest tightened as I stood among the others, my hands resting lightly over my stomach.

One year. And it still hurt like it had just happened yesterday. The memories came uninvited.

“Stay strong, Luna,” someone whispered softly as they passed.

I gave a small nod, though I wasn’t sure if I had any strength left to give.

Then—

A stir.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. My brows furrowed slightly as I turned. And there he was. Alpha Cain. Walking in as if nothing was out of place.

But he wasn’t alone. Faye walked beside him. Smiling. She was wearing baby blue. The color stood out sharply against the sea of black.

Almost blinding. And in her hand…

Her phone. Still streaming.

The murmurs grew louder. Confusion. Disapproval. Disbelief.

My chest tightened. Something inside me snapped. Before I even realized what I was doing, I stepped forward.

“Stop.”

My voice cut through the air.

Faye paused, startled, her wide eyes turning toward me.

“Luna?” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

I stared at her. At the bright blue dress. At the smile that didn’t belong here.

“Do you have any idea what today is?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my efforts to keep it steady.

She blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“I—I…” Her gaze darted briefly to Alpha Cain before returning to me. “I’m sorry, I don’t—”

“This is the death anniversary of the Alpha heir I lost,” I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them.

A collective gasp moved through the crowd.

Faye’s face paled instantly.

“I didn’t know,” she said quickly, her eyes filling with tears. “I swear, I didn’t know. I just—I wore blue because…”

Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach.

“Because I just found out I’m carrying a baby boy.”

The world seemed to tilt.

“I thought it was something to celebrate,” she continued weakly, her voice breaking. “I didn’t mean any disrespect—”

“Celebrate?” My voice rose, disbelief and anger crashing together inside me. “You come here, dressed like that, on this day, and you call it a celebration?”

“I didn’t—”

“You should have known,” I snapped. “At the very least, you should have had the decency to ask.”

Tears streamed down her face now.

“I’m sorry…”

“That’s enough.”

Cain’s voice cut in sharply. I froze. Slowly, I turned to look at him. His expression was cold.

“Luna,” he said, his tone laced with irritation, “you’re being too harsh.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. Too harsh?

“I didn’t even remember what today was,” he continued casually. “What more her? She’s an outsider.”

A hollow feeling spread through my chest.

“She didn’t know,” he added. “You’re making a scene over nothing.”

Nothing. My fingers trembled.

“This is not nothing,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper now.

But he only frowned.

“You’re being overly sensitive,” he said flatly. “And childish.”

Each word landed like a blow.

“Nonsensical.”

Stephanie’s POV

The door to my room opened without warning.

I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

Only one person entered my space like he owned not just the room, but the air I breathed inside it.

Alpha Cain.

I sat quietly by the window, my hands resting on my lap, my thoughts still lingering from everything that had happened earlier. The humiliation. The way he dismissed me in front of everyone. The way he chose her—again.

“Luna.”

His voice was calm. Almost casual. As if yesterday had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

I turned my head slightly to face him.

“Yes?”

He walked further into the room, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable. There was no guilt. No hesitation. Nothing that suggested he had done anything wrong.

“Faye will be staying here for a while,” he said.

The words landed softly, but they echoed loudly in my mind.

“…Here?” I repeated.

“In the packhouse,” he clarified, as if that made it any better. “She’s the ambassador of our company’s platform now. It’s only appropriate that she stays within Foreshadow territory.”

Appropriate. Of course it was.

I stared at him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of awareness.

Any trace of shame. But there was nothing. Not even a flicker.

“You’re fine with that, aren’t you?” he added, tilting his head slightly.

It wasn’t really a question. It never was. I felt something tighten in my chest, but I forced it down.

“I see,” I said quietly. “If that’s your decision.”

His lips curved slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

“That’s more like it.”

He stepped closer to me, lifting his hand to cup my cheek. His touch was warm, familiar, and yet it felt so foreign now.

“I prefer it when you’re like this,” he murmured. “Not making unnecessary trouble.”

My body remained still under his touch. I didn’t lean into it. I didn’t pull away either. I simply endured it.

“Be good,” he added softly, brushing his thumb against my skin before letting his hand fall.

Then, just like that, he turned and left. As if nothing about this situation was wrong. As if bringing his mistress into our home was something I should simply accept.

The next morning, I found myself standing in front of a door I hadn’t opened in a long time.

My fingers hovered over the handle.

Hesitating.

This room… It was the one place I avoided the most. And yet, it was also the one place I cherished the most. The nursery.

I took a slow breath before pushing the door open. The familiar scent greeted me first.

My gaze softened as I stepped inside.

My chest tightened. I walked further in, my fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the crib.

“I’m here,” I whispered softly.

A habit. A foolish one, perhaps. But it was the only way I knew how to cope.

Even after a year of my miscarriage, the pain hadn’t faded. If anything, it had only settled deeper into my bones.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Meow.”

I froze. My brows furrowed slightly.

That wasn’t...

“Meow.”

The sound came again. Louder this time.

My eyes snapped open.

“What…?”

Confusion quickly turned into unease as I moved further into the room.

And then I saw them.

Two cats. Inside the nursery.

My breath caught.

They were small, fluffy… completely out of place. One of them was perched on the crib.

My stomach dropped. There was a mess on the carpet. A foul, unmistakable mess. A poop!

“No…” I whispered, my heart beginning to pound.

I rushed forward, my eyes scanning the room.

Chaos. That was the only way to describe it. The neatly arranged clothes were scattered across the floor.

Some torn. Some crumpled. The crib’s soft lining had been scratched, threads pulled loose.

And the cats… They were wearing—

My vision blurred. Baby clothes. The clothes I had bought. The ones meant for my child.

“No—no, no, no…”

Panic surged through me.

“What is this?!” My voice rose as I turned toward the door. “Who did this?!”

My hands trembled as I pointed toward the mess.

“Who let these cats in here?! There are a lot of rooms in the packhouse! Why here?!”

Footsteps approached quickly, maids rushing in at the sound of my voice.

“Luna, we—”

“Get them out!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “Now!”

Before anyone could move… “Oh!”

A familiar voice cut through the chaos. Faye.

She stepped into the room, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the scene.

She walked closer, completely unfazed.

“They’re mine,” she said, gesturing toward the cats.

The word echoed in my head.

“I’m so sorry, Luna, ” she added quickly, though there was something off about the way she said it. “Alpha Cain told me I could let them stay here.”

I felt my ears ring.

“He said since they’re sensitive,” she continued, her hand resting lightly over her stomach. “They need their own space. And since no one was using this room…”

No one was using this room. My vision darkened slightly.

“This room is not empty,” I said, my voice low but trembling with barely contained anger.

Faye blinked, clearly taken aback.

“I—I didn’t know—”

Her eyes filled with tears almost instantly.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean any harm. They’re just animals. They didn’t know—”

“I know! But what about you? You’re their fur parent! You should have known better!” My voice rose. “They destroyed everything in here!”

“I’ll clean it—”

“What’s going on?” Alpha Cain’s voice.

I turned as he stepped into the room, his brows slightly furrowed.

Faye immediately moved toward him.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” she said, her voice breaking as she clung lightly to his arm. “I didn’t know the room was important. My cats… they didn’t mean it…”

Alpha Cain’s gaze shifted to me. Annoyance flickered in his eyes.

“Stephanie,” he said, his tone sharp, “why are you making a scene?”

I stared at him.

“A scene?” I repeated, disbelief creeping into my voice.

He glanced around the room, taking in the mess.

“It’s just a room,” he said dismissively. “No one’s even using it.”

My hands clenched at my sides.

“This room—” My voice shook. “This room was for our child. The baby I miscarried!”

He didn’t react. Not the way I hoped he would. Not the way I needed him to.

“If you’re upset about the mess,” he continued, as if I hadn’t said anything meaningful at all, “then I’ll have it renovated. Everything can be replaced.”

Replaced. The word hit me harder than anything else.

“No,” I said, my voice trembling. “You can’t replace those.”

His brows furrowed slightly.

“They were the clothes I bought for our baby,” I continued, my chest tightening painfully. “The one I lost… the one we lost.”

“No one is going to use those anyway.”

I stopped breathing.

“The baby’s dead.”

The words were cold. Blunt. Careless.

Something inside me shattered completely. I stared at him, unable to comprehend how he could say that so easily.

So… casually. As if that child meant nothing. As if that loss was insignificant.

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to rest on my stomach.

“This baby is more important,” he said, his tone softening slightly.

I flinched.

“Don’t worry,” he added. “I’ll buy new clothes. Plenty of them.”

My throat tightened.

“For girls,” he continued. “Let the cats have the old ones.”

I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think. Because in that moment, I realized something terrifying.

He never mourned that child. Not even once.

And if... If something happened to this baby…

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. Would he care? Or would he simply move on again?