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."

Bella’s POV

The scent of blood clung to the air, thick and suffocating, as she smashed the bottle she was holding.

Nara lay curled on the floor, her body trembling as she whimpered, the deep red liquid staining the hem of her dress. The room fell into silence, broken only by the sharp, quick gasps she forced through her lips.

“Hunter, please, help me!”

Then the door slammed open.

Hunter stormed inside, his eyes blazing with fury as his gaze snapped between the two of us. I barely had time to react before he was in front of me, his fingers digging into my arms as he shook me once, hard.

“What did you do?!” His voice was a low, guttural growl.

“I didn’t touch her,” I spat, my voice hoarse. “She did this to herself!”

A bitter laugh slipped past Nara’s lips. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, met mine, full of silent victory. And I knew.

She had played me. Again.

Hunter didn’t hesitate. He turned to the pack warriors standing at the entrance and barked, “Take her to the dungeons!”

Panic flared in my chest. I had no strength, no power to fight against the guards who grabbed me.

“Hunter, you know me,” I pleaded, trying to keep my voice steady. “You know I wouldn’t—”

“Enough.” His voice was cold, final. “You’ve done enough!”

The words struck deeper than they should have. Because for a moment—a foolish, fleeting moment—I had thought he would hesitate. That he would at least doubt the sister who had stolen everything from me. But no. He had already chosen his side long before this night.

Nara let out a weak sob. “Please,” she whispered, reaching toward him. “Don’t hurt her. She’s still my sister!”

And that was the final nail in my coffin.

Hunter’s grip tightened. His anger was like a living thing, crackling in the air around him, but Nara’s plea softened him. His expression darkened, but his words were no longer cruel, only exhausted.

“Take her away.”

The guards didn’t wait for me to resist. They dragged me through the halls, my feet barely catching up with their brutal pace.

The dungeon was cold, damp, the scent of mildew and old blood lingering in the air. The iron bars were laced with silver, ensuring that even if my wolf had been strong enough, I wouldn’t be able to shift.

I had no idea how long I sat there, my arms wrapped around myself as I tried to stop my body from trembling. Whether from the cold or the exhaustion, I didn’t know. But I couldn’t let myself fall into despair.

Not yet.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and I looked up just as the heavy cell door creaked open. A familiar scent drifted toward me—cinnamon and pine. A scent I hadn’t expected.

“Liam?” My voice was raw, barely a whisper.

Liam, the Beta, stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning the cell before settling on me. His jaw clenched, his expression unreadable.

“You need to leave,” he said lowly.

I tensed. “What?”

He stepped closer, his movements quick and efficient as he pulled a small vial from his pocket. The moment he uncorked it, a strange, metallic scent filled the air. I barely had time to react before he pressed the vial to my lips, forcing the liquid down my throat.

Pain flared instantly.

I gasped, my body convulsing as fire ignited beneath my skin. My vision blurred, my breath coming in ragged bursts as something deep within me stirred. The suppression rune on my arm burned, cracking, peeling—until suddenly, it shattered.

My wolf’s voice surged through my mind in a furious, vengeful howl.

Liam watched, his expression still unreadable, but I swore I saw a flicker of something—satisfaction, maybe even hope.

“I don’t have time to explain,” he muttered. “But you need to run.”

A thousand questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside. Later. I would demand answers later. But for now—I needed to move.

He pulled a cloak from his bag, shoving it toward me. “Hunter will be busy with Nara for a while,” he said. “This is your only chance.”

I took the cloak, my fingers clenching around the fabric. “Why are you helping me?”

His jaw tightened. “Because I know what they did to you,” he said. “And I refuse to be part of it anymore.”

Something in his voice—something pained and bitter—made me believe him.

A surge of determination coursed through me. I clenched my fists, inhaling deeply as my wolf rumbled.

It's back… my wolf has finally returned to me.

I had been cast aside, betrayed, and left for dead once before.

I wouldn’t let it happen again.

Without another word, I slipped past him, moving swiftly through the dark corridors of the dungeon. My heart pounded as I reached the exit, slipping through the hidden tunnels beneath the packhouse.

As I emerged into the forest, the crisp night air filled my lungs, washing away the suffocating stench of captivity. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not until I was far away from this place. From them.

From him.

I ran. Faster than I ever had before.

And for the first time in years, I felt free.

And I would do anything to make them pay—him and my sister—for what they had done to me.