I leaned over the sink, retching until my stomach was empty, my body trembling from the effort. I felt so weak, my pale reflection barely recognizable. I gripped the counter for support and called out hoarsely, “Where’s Kael?”

Mia, my maid, hesitated before answering. “He’s with your sister, Eira. They said they’ll be back soon.”

The door opened moments later, and Kael walked in with Eira right behind him. He rushed to my side, worry etched on his face. “Sable, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Eira stepped forward, her voice calm and certain. “It’s her pregnancy,” she said, her tone almost clinical. “It’s taking a toll on her body.” Without asking, she placed her hands on my shoulders. A warm glow radiated from her palms, and I felt the color returning to my cheeks, the nausea receding as strength seeped back into my limbs.

“Feel better?” She asked with a kind smile.

I nodded, but something about her touch unsettled me. A strange unease lingered, but I pushed it aside.

The days blurred together after that. I only grew weaker, even though Eira kept healing me. Walking became harder, my once-bright energy dimmed, and I could barely summon a smile. The pack avoided me, their gazes filled with pity or discomfort.

Eira, meanwhile, flourished. She and Kael were inseparable. I often saw them sparring in the training grounds—her movements graceful, his laughter ringing out as they trained. I stayed on the sidelines, too weak to join, jealousy simmering beneath my awe.

One afternoon, a maid I didn’t recognize approached me, her tone neutral. “Luna, Eira asked to meet you in the moonlit hall.”

Curiosity and dread warred within me as I made my way there. The hall was empty except for Eira, standing in the center. Her usual warmth was gone. In its place there was something cold and sharp. Her white hair shimmered like frost, and her eyes locked onto mine with icy disdain.

“You,” she spat, her voice dripping with venom. “You had everything I ever wanted. A loving family, a devoted pack, and Kael.” Her lips curled into a sneer. “While you basked in love, I rotted in isolation. Do you know how much I hate you, Sable?”

My heart raced. “Eira, what are you saying?”

“I’m taking it all back,” she hissed, her voice low and filled with malice. “Everything you have, I’ll take it all from you—starting now.”

Before I could react, Eira slapped herself hard across the face. The sound echoed in the empty hall, and a red welt bloomed on her cheek. Then she grabbed a silver blade from a nearby table, pressing it against her arm with a deliberate slowness that made my stomach churn. Her screams shattered the air as blood dripped onto the floor.

“Stop!” I cried, rushing forward. I grabbed the blade from her hands, my mind reeling with confusion. “What are you doing?”

The hall doors burst open, and Kael stormed in with several pack members. The maid who had summoned me pointed an accusing finger. “She’s gone mad! She attacked the Lunar Healer!”

Kael’s eyes darted to the blade in my trembling hand, then to Eira, who was sobbing and clutching her arm. His expression hardened.

“No!” I said, my voice was breaking. “She’s lying! She—”

“Tend to her wounds,” Kael ordered, his tone cold and distant. He didn’t look at me as he followed the others out, leaving me alone in the empty hall.

After that, everything fell apart. Kael drifted further from me, spending more time with Eira. The pack no longer saw me as their Luna. I was isolated, helpless, and fading.

And no one seemed to care.

Eira entered my room, flanked by several pack members and Kael. Their eyes were full of unease, darting to me as though I might lash out at any moment. I sat on the edge of my bed, barely managing to stay upright. A bitter laugh slipped from my lips, cracking the heavy silence. It quickly turned into a sob that shook my shoulders.

“You haven’t even let me explain myself,” I said, my voice trembling. “You’ve already decided I’m guilty.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, his expression a mix of frustration and regret. “There are witnesses, Sable. There’s proof. And there’s motive.”

“Witness?” My voice rose, sharp with disbelief. “The maid who sent me to the hall? What did she say?”

“She said you asked where Eira was and stormed off to confront her,” Kael replied, his tone cold and measured. “She saw you attack Eira.”

I shook my head, letting out a grim, hollow laugh. “Attack her? In this state?” I gestured weakly to my frail body. “Eira is stronger than me now. Everyone knows that.”

Kael ignored my protest, his voice relentless. “There’s more. A shipment of silver weapons was smuggled into the pack, and the documents list your name. It was illegal, and the timing…” His words hung in the air, heavy with accusation.

One of the pack members stepped forward, their tone accusing. “You’ve been jealous of Eira. Everyone can see it. All the attention she’s getting, her abilities, her bond with Kael…”

I turned to Eira, who stood silent, her face pale and innocent. Her wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears, as if this situation hurt her more than it did me. The sight of her like that twisted something deep in my chest, a sharp ache that left me breathless.

I forced my gaze back to the gathered wolves, my voice low but firm. “Get out. All of you.”

Kael opened his mouth, ready to argue, but one look at my face stopped him. One by one, they filed out, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence.

After that day, I withdrew from everyone. I didn’t trust anyone except Mia, my childhood maid. She was the only one who stayed by my side. I spent most of my time watching from my window as life in the pack revolved around Eira. The wolves adored her; they laughed and celebrated in her presence. Even Kael seemed captivated, his fleeting glances in my direction colder and more distant with each passing day.

One evening, Kael confronted me, his voice sharp with frustration. “If you don’t apologize to Eira, I won’t speak to you again.”

I said nothing. My silence echoed louder than any argument I could have made. That night, I sat by the window, staring at the moon with my hand resting on my growing belly. My thoughts churned, heavy and dark. How had everything fallen apart so quickly?

Eira had become the pack’s shining light, untouchable and adored. Her white hair shimmered like frost, earning her the nickname “snow queen.” I, on the other hand, had become a shadow of the Luna I once was. My sunny disposition had withered into something dark and brooding, my black hair deepening like the shadows that clung to me. The wolves whispered behind my back now, calling me the “shadow queen.”

I watched silently as the pack moved on without me, the bonds I once held so dear slipping further from my grasp. And as the days bled into nights, I clung to one unshakable truth: I was utterly, heartbreakingly alone.

The dim light in my room felt like a prison, my mother’s words echoing like chains in my mind: “Mia is an extraordinary wolf, but you must not use her power unless absolutely necessary.” My gaze lingered on Mia, her figure silhouetted against the window. My fingers dug into the armrest of my chair. This wasn’t just necessary—it was survival.

“Mia,” I said, my voice low but firm. Despite the tremor in my body, I forced steadiness into my tone. “I need you to investigate Eira. Find out everything about her.”

Her head snapped toward me, eyes widened. “Eira, my lady? But…”

I cut her off, the words sharp in my throat. “Her appearance is too sudden. I didn’t even know I had a twin sister. Did you?”

Mia shook her head. “No. I’ve never heard of her. Your mother chose me to serve you since birth. She trusted me to know everything… but this?”

The doubt in her voice struck something raw in me. “Then ask her. My mother might know more. She’s in another country, but you need to find her.”

Mia frowned, concerned shadowing her features. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here? You’re still—”

“Weak, not helpless,” I interrupted, steel edging my voice. I met her worried gaze, determination burning through the fear threatening to consume me. “I can protect myself. Now go.”

Her sigh was heavy, but she nodded. Closing her eyes, she whispered an incantation. Shadows gathered at her feet, swirling upward until they enveloped her completely. The faint scent of smoke lingered as she vanished, leaving me alone with my thoughts and fears.

I barely had time to compose myself before chaos erupted outside. Snarls and growls filled the night, and my heart pounded as the commotion drew closer. The door burst open, and there he was—the infamous rogue leader, Lucan. He loomed over me, his cruel grin chilling me to my core.

I fought back as best I could, but his strength was too much. His fist slammed into my stomach, and pain exploded through me. Gasping, I clutched my abdomen as one of his minions dragged me to the center of the territory.

The pack gathered around us, horror etched on their faces. Kael stood at the forefront, his expression pale with worry. Lucan’s voice boomed over the chaos. “I’ve heard a Lunar Healer resides here. Hand her over, or I’ll kill your Luna!”

My breath hitched as Eira stepped forward, her eyes resolute despite the fear trembling behind them. “I’ll go,” she said softly, her words slicing through the night like a blade.

The pack erupted into chaos. Cries of protest rose, Kael and the others pulling Eira back, shielding her like a fragile treasure. My heart twisted, the sight breaking something deep inside me.

“Please!” I screamed, tears streaking my face. “Save me! Save my baby!”

For a moment, the clearing froze, my desperate plea hanging in the air. Kael’s gaze flickered to me, then back to Eira. His hesitation was a dagger to my soul.

“We can’t risk losing the Lunar Healer,” someone murmured, their words spreading like poison through the pack.

I choked on the words I couldn’t say. They were choosing her. Not me. Not my child.

“Kael!” I called his name pleading. His jaw tightened, his eyes filled with hesitation. The pack closed ranks around Eira as if shielding her from the weight of my existence.

Lucan’s patience snapped. He moved with brutal efficiency, his blade slicing across my abdomen. Pain erupted, white-hot and searing. A scream ripped from my throat, but it was drowned by the pack’s shouts.

I crumpled to the ground, gasping, tears streaming as I stared at their faces. The hesitation. The decision to protect her. Not me.

Clinging to the last shreds of strength, I reached into my sleeve, fingers closing around the silver blade hidden there. Lucan leaned closer, his grin triumphant. Summoning everything I had left, I plunged the blade into his eye.

His roar of agony was a balm to my shredded heart. He stumbled back, clutching his face, and dropped me. Darkness threatened to claim me as I collapsed, but the pack surged forward, their rage finally igniting.

Wolves tore into the rogues, driving them back, but their loyalty to me felt like an afterthought. Lucan’s bloodied face twisted into a snarl as he retreated. “I’ll return,” he spat. “And when I do, I’ll take the Lunar Healer and finish you for good.” He gave me one last glare.

Kael was at my side in an instant, his hands trembling as he tried to stem the bleeding. His voice was frantic, filled with something I hadn’t heard in weeks—regret. But it wasn’t enough. Not after what I’d seen. Not after what they’d done.

Darkness pulled me under, the image of Kael’s face the last thing I saw. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw something more than coldness in his eyes. Maybe even love. But it was too late. Too late for all of it.