The night before my mating ceremony, my twin sister and I were ambushed and taken by rogue werewolves. Our pack, led by Alpha Alaric, scrambled to gather the payment, but they only had enough to save one of us.

They chose her.

The moment she was freed, she stepped into my place, claiming my fated mate, Alaric, as her own. She wore my dress, stood by his side, and vowed herself to him—while I was left behind, abandoned to the mercy of my captors.

But death would have been kinder than what they did to me.

Silver burned into my skin, suppressing my wolf, leaving me helpless as they carved into my body. My ability to bear a child—the one thing that made me valuable to the pack—was stolen from me while I was still conscious. When they were done, they tossed me out like trash, leaving me broken and bleeding in the depths of the forest.

By the time I was found, the damage was irreversible. My pack refused to take me back. The moment they learned I could never bear an Alpha’s heir, they cast me aside, calling me useless, barren.

Just when I had nothing left, Hunter Raven, an Alpha now of his own pack and the childhood friend I had once trusted, took me in. He claimed he didn’t care that I was broken, that he loved me despite my flaws. For years, he treated me with kindness, making me believe I had found peace at last.

But that illusion shattered the night I stumbled across the truth.

A hidden recording. A secret ritual.

On the screen, Hunter gently held my sister’s hand, his eyes filled with warmth as he whispered,

"Don’t be afraid, Nara. Your sister was the perfect match."

Then the scene changed.

I saw myself, bound in silver, my body writhing in agony. My own mate, the man who had sworn to cherish me, stood over me, blade in hand. My screams filled the room as he made the first cut.

I was never just a victim of rogues.

I was sacrificed.

But fate wasn’t done with me yet.

On the night of the next blood moon, something inside me awoke. The wolf I had thought was lost forever surged back, stronger than before—darker, deadlier. My blood burned with a power I couldn’t explain, a force not meant for mere wolves.

I had been discarded, betrayed, and left for dead.

Now, I would return.

And they would all pay.

---

Chapter 1

Bella’s POV

My entire body trembled as I watched the video play before me. My hands shook uncontrollably, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. This video… it was horrifying. A nightmare I thought I had left behind, now staring back at me in undeniable clarity. A cold chill crawled down my spine, the same fear creeping into my veins just as it did that day.

And then, piece by piece, everything clicked into place.

All this time… it was Hunter’s plan. From the very beginning.

A wave of nausea washed over me as realization sank deep into my bones. He was the one who had kidnapped me. The man I trusted, the one who claimed to cherish me—he was behind everything. The moments he shared with me, the words he whispered in my ears, the way he held me—it was all a lie. A carefully crafted illusion to manipulate me.

Everything he did was never for me. It was for her.

For Nara.

My sister.

But why?

Why would he do this for Nara? What was she to him that he would go this far? My mind raced, drowning in unanswered questions. And Nara… she already had a mate.

She stole my mate!

Tears welled up in my eyes, my chest tightening with the unbearable weight of betrayal. Then why? Why did he choose me? Why did he seal our fate together, binding me to him as his Luna? What was the reason behind this cruel twist of fate? Why was he the reason I was now so completely and utterly broken?

The pain in my chest became suffocating, but my trembling fingers refused to let go of his phone. I continued watching.

Something in the video caught my attention. A voice. A voice I recognized.

His healer.

The screen flickered slightly, and the audio became clearer.

"Alpha," the healer spoke, his voice tense. "The blood we’ve taken from Bella… it’s already over the limit."

I sucked in a sharp breath, my pulse hammering in my ears.

"We’ve already taken away her ability to conceive," the healer continued, his tone professional, detached, as if speaking about some mere medical procedure and not about my stolen future. "We’ve also stripped her of her wolf. And now, her blood is being drained every month. At this rate, Alpha… she could die. If this continues, you’ll lose your only supply of blood for Nara."

My hands tightened around the phone, my nails digging into my palms as the healer’s words echoed in my mind.

They took everything from me.

They didn’t just take my freedom. They didn’t just take my trust. They took my ability to bear children. They took my wolf—my very soul. They reduced me to nothing more than a source of blood, a disposable supply to be used and discarded at their convenience.

A bitter sob escaped my lips, but before I could fully process the weight of my loss, another voice followed.

His voice.

Hunter.

Cold. Detached. Void of any emotion.

"Remember, the only reason I married Bella was to use her," he said, his tone flat, uncaring. "I never loved her."

My heart stopped.

The world around me seemed to tilt, my vision blurring as if I had been struck.

"I’m only with her because she looks like Nara."

His words felt like a blade slicing through my chest.

Everything inside me shattered.

I was nothing to him. Nothing but a shadow of my sister.

Tears streamed down my face, my breath coming out in ragged, painful gasps. My entire existence in his life was nothing but a cruel trick of fate. I was a replacement. A stand-in for the woman he truly cared about.

"Enough of this," Hunter’s voice commanded, pulling me back into the video.

I watched as he turned to his healer, his expression indifferent, unbothered by the very conversation that was destroying me.

"Nara is due in a few days. She’ll need more blood."

I felt sick.

A cold, empty feeling spread through me, numbing my senses as the horror of the situation settled deep in my bones.

"Prepare to take more blood from Bella."

My body went still.

No.

A choked sob left my lips as the truth crashed down on me like a tidal wave. They weren’t going to stop. They were going to keep draining me until there was nothing left. Until I was empty. Until I was dead.

And Hunter—my mate, my supposed fated partner—would let it happen without a second thought.

I cried and cried, unable to stop the tears from streaming down my face. My sobs came in broken gasps, my chest tightening with each breath as the weight of the truth settled over me like a crushing boulder. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t calm myself down.

So this was it.

This was the real reason he helped me that day—the day he found me. It was never about me. It was never about kindness or fate or love.

Why?

How did he even know about Nara’s condition? That she had a rare disease no healer could cure? How long had he been planning this?

My mind swirled with thoughts, and each one hurt more than the last.

I knew Hunter from childhood. We were close back then because our packs were allied with each other.

That’s why I trusted him, why I let myself believe in him. But now, that same man, the one I once thought I knew, was doing everything in his power to keep my sister alive… even at the cost of my own life.

This wasn’t the first time Nara took something from me.

She stole my fated mate before. And now… now she was stealing Hunter, too.

A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me, but it got caught in my throat, replaced by another wave of anguish.

And Hunter—he would do anything for her.

Before I could drown in the whirlwind of my thoughts, the sudden creak of the door jolted me back to reality.

My heartbeat spiked, panic surging through me as I wiped my tears away in a hurry, trying to erase any trace of my breakdown. I couldn’t let him see me like this. I couldn’t let him know that I had seen the video.

I forced myself to act normal, to pretend as though nothing had happened.

But the moment my eyes met Hunter’s, I knew I wasn’t fooling him.

His gaze softened as he stepped forward. "Baby, have you been crying?" His voice was filled with concern. "Is your scar hurting again?"

He took another step, closing the distance between us.

"If it hurts, you have to tell me, okay?" His tone was gentle, almost pleading. "Don’t keep it to yourself… it kills me to see you like this."

I almost laughed at the irony.

It kills him?

He was the one who caused all of this. The reason I was suffering. The reason I was broken.

But he didn’t know that I knew.

Before I could react, Hunter reached for me, wrapping his arms tightly around my trembling frame. His embrace was firm, as if he truly cared, as if he truly wanted to comfort me.

His hand moved down, gently massaging my stomach—the same place where a pup would have grown if he hadn’t taken that future from me.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered what it would feel like to be loved by him for real. Not as a replacement. Not as a tool. But as someone he genuinely cared for.

But that was nothing more than a foolish dream.

The man holding me now was my captor, my tormentor. The same man who had orchestrated my suffering.

I clenched my fists, swallowing the scream threatening to escape my lips. I couldn’t break now. Not yet.

Hunter finally pulled away, his expression unreadable.

"By the way," he said casually, as if the past few seconds hadn’t happened. "I asked our personal chef to prepare something for you. You need to eat—you look weak."

Weak.

If only he knew.

Before I could respond, the door opened again, and several pack chefs entered, carrying trays filled with freshly cooked meat. The scent of food filled the room, but I felt nothing—no hunger, no warmth. Just emptiness.

I smiled bitterly to myself.

He doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know that I already know the truth.

Bella’s POV

Ever since fate bound me to Hunter—since the moment he saved my life and helped me rebuild myself after my former pack abandoned me—he has been taking my blood every month. At first, I didn’t understand why.

After drawing my blood, he would always make sure I ate well—serving me meat and other nourishing foods. At first, I thought it was his way of showing care, a sign of love. But then he told me he was only testing my blood, checking if I was healthy.

But now… now that I know the truth, I realize I was nothing more than a means to an end. He never really cared about me. Everything I thought I knew about him—about us—shattered in an instant.

It was never about my health. He was merely making sure my body could produce enough blood for Nara.

And the worst part? I don’t even know how they met behind Nara’s mate, Alaric.

I push the plate of food away from me, my appetite long gone. "I don’t want to eat," I say, my voice firmer than I expected.

Hunter watches me, his expression unreadable.

"For years, you've been taking my blood," I continue, bitterness creeping into my tone. "You always say it’s just to check if I'm healthy, but if that were true, wouldn't you have found nothing wrong by now? So why keep doing it? Why not just stop?"

His brows furrow, and for a moment, I see something flash in his eyes—annoyance, maybe even anger. But just as quickly as it appears, he smooths his features, masking whatever frustration he feels.

Then, to my surprise, he moves closer, sitting beside me.

His presence is overwhelming, suffocating.

He reaches out and cups my face, his touch gentle but firm. "Your body, darling… it's been weak ever since your injury," he murmurs, his voice soft yet commanding. "That’s why you have monthly check-ups. It’s necessary. My healer and I are only trying to help you."

I grit my teeth, forcing myself not to flinch under his touch.

"Because I want to spend my life with you," he continues, his thumb stroking my cheek as if his words aren’t laced with deception. "You have no idea how important you are to me, Bella. I don't want anything to happen to you."

If this were the old me, I would have believed him. I would have melted under his words, let his touch erase my doubts.

But I know the truth now.

And it makes my stomach turn.

Without another word, he picks up a knife and slices a piece of meat from the plate in front of me. "Say ah," he coaxes, lifting the fork to my lips as if I were a child in need of care.

Before I can respond, a sharp knock echoes through the room.

I blink, startled.

Hunter’s entire demeanor changes in an instant. He stiffens, his jaw tightening. Then, as if realizing something, his lips part slightly—his eyes lighting up with an emotion I recognize all too well.

Excitement.

It’s subtle, but I see it.

He rises from his seat swiftly, straightening his posture as if he’s been waiting for this moment. His eyes flick to mine, and for the briefest second, there’s hesitation. Guilt, maybe? Or am I only imagining it?

"Darling," he says, his tone suddenly rushed, almost eager. "Something urgent just came up, okay? I have to leave."

I say nothing.

He steps forward, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead. "Be good," he murmurs, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "And make sure you eat. I’ll be back soon."

Then, without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me.

The moment Hunter left, following the warrior who had knocked on our door, I wasted no time.

I grabbed the plate of food and tossed everything into the trash. I didn’t care if it was a waste—I had no appetite left, no patience for his lies.

Without hesitation, I made my way to his office.

Sitting at his desk, I picked up his phone with shaky hands, my fingers trembling as I navigated through it. I quickly saved the video and transferred it to my own. But as I scrolled further, something else caught my eye—something that made my entire body freeze.

Pictures.

Dozens of them.

Hunter and Nara. Together.

Meeting in secret, away from prying eyes.

My breath hitched, my fingers tightening around the device as I swiped through the images. Some showed them talking in hushed whispers, others revealed fleeting touches—intimate, almost possessive. But the final blow wasn’t the pictures. It was a document—a legal file buried deep in his phone.

I read it once.

Twice.

And then a third time, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

‘I, Alpha Hunter, voluntarily give 100% of my assets, should anything happen to me, solely for the benefit of Nara and her child.’

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I wiped away the last of my tears.

So this was the truth.

This was the woman Hunter truly loved.

If that’s what he wanted… then so be it.

I would grant him his wish.

I would disappear completely from his life.

That night, I arranged everything, ensuring that by tomorrow, Bella, the woman he had taken for granted, would cease to exist.

But before that, I needed to see him one last time.

I already had an idea of where he was. I had done my own investigation.

With silent, calculated steps, I made my way to the healer’s residency—where Hunter had brought her.

The moment I stepped inside, his eyes widened in shock. Panic flashed across his face as he turned to me.

“Bella?” His voice was filled with surprise, but there was something else beneath it—fear. “What are you doing here?”

I didn’t answer. I let my gaze drift past him—past the man I once thought I knew—until my eyes landed on her.

Nara.

She was just as shocked to see me, clutching her child tightly to her chest.

She had just given birth, and Hunter made sure he was there for her.

“You got it all wrong,” Hunter rushed to explain, his voice desperate. “I’m just helping your sister. Alaric’s healer couldn’t treat her, and… and I’ve known her for a long time, Bella. She wasn’t just your sister—she was my friend, too. Almost like a sister to me.”

A sister?

A bitter chuckle slipped past my lips as I shook my head in disbelief.

“You still haven’t forgiven your old pack,” he continued, his tone almost pleading. “But I had nothing to do with what happened to you, Bella. I just wanted to help Nara and the baby. They’re innocent in all of this.”

I scoffed.

Did he really think I was that naive?

I took a slow step forward, my gaze locked onto Nara. My body trembled with rage, with years of betrayal and pain bubbling to the surface.

“How dare you,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “You stole my mate. And now you’re trying to steal him too?”

Nara opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a single word, I lifted my hand, ready to slap her across the face.

But before my palm could make contact—before I could even unleash a fraction of the fury burning inside me—she suddenly collapsed.

She crumpled to the floor, holding her child protectively against her chest.

My breath caught as I stared at her fragile, trembling form.

She lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears, and whispered, “I’m sorry. Please… just don’t hurt my child!”

Something inside me twisted at her words.

Hurt her child?

My fingers clenched into fists as my emotions waged war inside me.

She’s trying to manipulate the situation!

Bella’s POV

“What are you doing to her?!”

The healer suddenly rushed toward Nara, her expression filled with urgency. She bent down, immediately checking on her, her hands moving swiftly as if she were trying to undo some kind of damage. Meanwhile, I stood frozen, unable to move from where I was.

I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze, the judgment settling into the room like a heavy storm. The healer’s assistants, who had been lingering in the background, began whispering among themselves. Their hushed voices carried through the tense air, but I heard them loud and clear.

"She's a disgrace!"

"Did you see how she pushed her own sister?!"

"The Alpha was only trying to help, but look at her—she’s selfish to the core!"

The murmurs grew louder, voices overlapping until they became a roar of accusations.

"I knew it! She was never fit to be our Luna!"

"Women like her, damaged and broken, always end up twisted in their own ways!"

"She’s cruel, heartless!"

The words hit me like sharp daggers, each one cutting deeper than the last. My chest tightened, and I instinctively took a step back. My gaze flickered across the room, searching for something—anything—to ground me. But all I saw were eyes filled with disdain, disgust, and betrayal.

Then my eyes landed on Nara. She was clutching the newborn against her chest, holding the fragile infant as if shielding it from some unseen threat. And then—she smirked.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I saw it. A wicked, twisted smirk curling at the edges of her lips, a silent taunt meant only for me.

My stomach dropped.

No.

I turned to the one person who had always been by my side. The one person I thought would defend me.

Hunter.

For years, he had been my anchor, my shield against the world. But when my eyes met his, I saw no trace of the man who had once promised to stand by me no matter what.

His face was carved with fury. And then, before I could react, he moved.

Faster than I could process, his hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my throat. He gripped me tightly, forcing me to meet his burning gaze.

His voice, usually filled with warmth, was now razor-sharp with anger.

"Bella, how could you do something so disgusting?!" His hold tightened just enough to make me gasp. "Why would you try to hurt the baby?!"

My heart pounded against my ribs.

"It's a newborn!" he continued, his voice rising. "Do you have to drag everyone down with you before you're satisfied? Apologize to Nara. Right now!"

The room fell into absolute silence. The weight of his words crushed me, suffocating me more than his grip ever could.

I stared at him, disbelief coursing through my veins like poison.

Apologize?

He wants me to apologize?

My thoughts spun wildly. Did he really believe I would harm a child? That I was capable of something so monstrous? My vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to stay strong.

I lifted my chin, refusing to let the tears spill. My voice, though shaken, was steady.

"Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?" My voice wavered, but I refused to let it break. I took a sharp breath before continuing. "Do you really think she's innocent, Hunter?"

I turned my gaze back to Nara, who still clutched the baby like some delicate prize.

"She's not," I whispered, my voice laced with conviction. "She's faking everything."

I knew, deep in my bones, that this was all a game to her. A perfectly orchestrated performance designed to turn everyone against me.

And worst of all?

It was working.

I saw it—the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, the fleeting moment of guilt that flashed across his face.

For a split second, I thought… maybe, just maybe, a part of him still cared. That somewhere deep inside, he knew the truth.

But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. His expression hardened once more, his voice like a blade cutting through the air.

“Stop this fucking nonsense.” His grip tightened before he abruptly let go, shoving me back as if my very presence disgusted him. “You’re making me question everything. Maybe sealing my fate with you was the biggest mistake of my life!”

I should have crumbled at his words. I should have begged, pleaded for him to listen.

Instead, I laughed.

A hollow, mocking laugh.

Oh, Hunter… you don’t need to pretend anymore.

Because soon, none of this would matter.

Soon, I would escape.

“Take her away from here!” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Rough hands grabbed me before I could react. They dragged me out of the healer’s residency, treating me like trash that needed to be thrown out. My feet stumbled against the ground, but they didn’t care. They shoved me forward, pulling me through the hallways like I was nothing.

And then, without warning, they threw me into a small, dark room.

I barely caught myself before hitting the floor, my balance slipping for a moment. The door slammed shut behind me, locking me in.

"Let me out!" I screamed, pounding against the door.

Silence.

No one came.

For hours, I sat there in the suffocating darkness, my mind racing with every possible scenario. What would they do to me? Would they exile me?

I didn't know.

And that terrified me.

But then, finally, the door creaked open.

A figure stepped inside, her silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway.

Nara.

She arched a perfectly shaped brow, but the innocent, trembling girl from earlier was gone.

"Oh, my poor sister," she mused, taking a slow step forward. "Tell me… how does it feel to be hated by everyone all over again?"

Her words slithered into my skin like poison.

"Isn’t it familiar?" she continued, tilting her head in mock sympathy. "You must hate me right now, don’t you? But let me guess… you finally realized, didn’t you? That it was Hunter.”

My stomach twisted violently.

"He’s the one who took away your wolf," she whispered, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "The one destroying your life piece by piece."

"And," she added with a slow, cruel smile, "he’s the reason you can’t conceive."

"Honestly," she laughed, "I should thank you. If it weren’t for your blood my baby wouldn’t have grown this strong and healthy."

I wanted to scream. To fight. To do something.

But I couldn’t.

Because deep down, I knew… she was telling the truth.

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall.

This wasn’t just about Nara.

It was about everyone I had ever trusted.

They had all been part of this.

"How could you do this to me?" I choked out, my voice raw with pain.

She let out a sharp laugh, then reached behind her. From the folds of her dress, she pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a thick red liquid.

My eyes widened.

Before I could react, she smashed it against her legs, drenching herself in the crimson liquid.

"Oh, dear Bella," she crooned. "If Hunter didn’t need you as my personal blood supply, do you really think he’d keep you around?"

She took a step closer, her expression alight with pure malice.

"Face it," she whispered. "You were born beneath me."

Her fingers brushed against my cheek, her touch ice-cold.

"And now, I have taken everything from you."

She leaned in, her breath ghosting over my ear.

"So do me a favor and watch closely, dear sister," she purred. "See just how far Hunter is willing to go… for me."