I was born wolf-less. At the academy, Arabella made my life hell for it.

By the time I graduated, my wolf finally awakened, gifting me powerful healing abilities. I thought the nightmare was finally over.

I met my fated mate Alpha Tristan. He was powerful, gorgeous, and promised me the world.

But the day I went to tell Tristan I was pregnant was the day I discovered his devastating lie.

It was never Tristan in my bed. It was his twin brother, Ronan. The rogue Alpha who’d abandoned the pack years ago to slum it with humans.

He used a scent-mimicker to crawl into my bed, to get me pregnant. It was all a twisted plot to humiliate me on my big day.

They wanted revenge for Arabella, who lied and claimed I was the bully. They wanted to crush me.

I stormed into the study to confront them. I told them I’d expose everything and demand an apology.

Instead, they imprisoned me.

They performed a dark ritual, siphoning my wolf into Arabella. They drained my life force and murdered my unborn pup.

I died in agony.

Then I opened my eyes. I was back on the day I found out I was pregnant.

I clutched my belly, a single tear tracing a path down my cheek. Those bastards were going to burn for what they did.

The mate who promised to mark me soon, and his twin brother, humiliated me.

But now, I was back. And I was forced to live through it all over again.

I stood outside Tristan’s study, clutching the pregnancy report. A familiar chill washed over me.

“Tristan, your scent-mimicker is almost gone.”

That was Ronan’s voice.

Tristan’s twin brother.

Alpha Ronan. The twin who hated pack life and preferred slumming it with humans. A ghost I never knew existed until this very day.

“I downed half a bottle last night. Almost blew my cover.” Ronan’s voice was laced with amusement. “She was holding me in bed. Said I smelled different.”

I remembered that night. He’d pressed me into the mattress, just like always.

We made love. He made me believe I was the only one he’d ever want.

But I’d noticed a shift in his scent. I told myself I was imagining things.

I can’t believe how close I was to uncovering their whole damn plot.

Then, Tristan’s cold voice cut in. He sounded like he was talking about a piece of trash.

“Just hold on for three more days. After the ceremony, we can drop the act.”

“If you’re not careful, I might actually fall for her,” Ronan chuckled, but his tone was pure venom. “Her body's incredible. My wolf craves her... Or, you could just hand her over to me after the bonding ceremony.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

“Stay focused,” Tristan ignored the jab, his voice like ice. “Arabella grew up with us. Lucia bullied her at the academy. She has to pay!”

Arabella.

My body still trembled at the sound of her name.

My wolf snarled, ready to tear out of my skin.

She was the vicious bitch who played innocent while trying to push my wolf-less ass off a rooftop. After I awakened my healing wolf, she was the one who tied me up, stabbed me with silver needles, and forced a dog collar on me.

But in Tristan’s eyes, she was a flawless angel. And I was the demon who bullied her.

“Relax,” Ronan said lazily. “As soon as the ceremony starts soon, all the elders will see the ‘video’ of Lucia bullying Arabella.”

“Good.”

Tristan paused, savoring the revenge to come.

“At the Luna ceremony in three days, I’ll strip her of her Luna title in front of everyone. Then I’ll mark Arabella right there. I’ll make Lucia understand that in this pack, she isn’t worthy to lick Arabella’s boots.”

Last time, this was when I burst into the room.

I’d screamed, accused them of twisting my love, of spitting on the Moon Goddess’s will.

I thought exposing them would set me free. I never imagined they’d just lock me up.

My pup and I became just another one of Arabella’s victims.

This time, tears were useless.

I took a deep breath. My trembling hand reached into my pocket. I hit record on my phone.

I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling the life of my pup inside me.

This time, I didn't want an explanation. I didn't want revenge.

I just wanted to save my baby and run. Vanish from the face of the earth, far away from these monsters.

If I could just survive past the ceremony, I could live.

And if they didn't let me go, I’d send the recording to the Werewolf Council and expose their crimes.

I put my phone away, about to slip away unnoticed.

Tristan’s final words pierced through the door, coiling around me like a snake.

“Ronan, make sure that stupid woman is dressed nicely.”

The sound of a chair scraping the floor, followed by Tristan’s chilling command.

“When the ceremony is over, I’ll break her legs. I’ll make her kneel and beg Arabella for forgiveness.”

My eyes stung, but I forced my wolf to stay calm.

I’m not waiting three days, Tristan.

I’m leaving tonight. And I’m rejecting you forever.

I rushed back to my room. I didn't even dare to lock the door, afraid it would make them suspicious.

My hands shook as I unzipped my suitcase.

Passport. Cash. A few loose-fitting clothes.

I kept taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

Just get out of here.

If I could just escape the Silver Moon pack’s territory, I could save this baby.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry, Lucia? Just coming from Tristan's study?”

A sickly sweet voice came from the doorway.

My head snapped up, a cold sweat breaking out on my back.

Arabella was leaning against the doorframe, a black velvet box in her hand.

She wore a white lace dress, looking as innocent as a lily.

But I saw the poison glittering in her eyes.

"It's none of your business. Move," I managed, my voice cold as I yanked the zipper on my suitcase shut.

"Not so fast, future Luna," she sneered. She stalked toward me like a predator, blocking my only way out. "I got you a little gift to celebrate your big day. You wouldn't leave before opening it, would you?"

She snapped the box open.

Inside lay a heavy, solid silver collar.

It wasn't jewelry.

It was for a slave.

Tiny diamonds were embedded in the thick metal. They spelled out two words that stabbed me in the gut: Alpha’s Pet.

“Like it?” Arabella’s laughter was shrill. “This suits you so much better, don’t you think? From wolf-less freak to powerful healer. And now the fated mate of our mighty Alpha Tristan. The irony is just sickening, isn’t it?”

“Get out!” I grabbed a vase from the nightstand and hurled it at her.

“Ah!”

Arabella didn’t dodge. She let the shards cut her arm on purpose.

The moment blood beaded on her skin, two Alphas stormed the room.

Bang!

The door was kicked open.

Tristan and Ronan rushed in.

“Arabella!” Tristan grabbed her as she swayed, his eyes like daggers on me. “You crazy bitch, what did you do to her?”

“Don’t blame Lucia…” Arabella clutched her arm, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “I was just trying to give her back… this collar.”

She held up the silver shackle, her voice choking.

“This is the one she forced me to wear in school… She said if I wanted to live, I had to wear it like a dog. I just wanted to ask her if she wanted it back…”

Lies.

All lies.

She was the one who bullied me, forcing me to crawl on the ground like a dog.

She and her friends even filmed it and posted it on the academy’s network...

Now, all those videos were gone.

I looked at Ronan.

The man I had shared a bed with for three months.

His real scent hit me. He wasn't on the mimic anymore.

He leaned against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets. He was smirking, like he was watching a damn circus.

Tristan snatched the collar.

The metal clinked, a terrifying sound in the tense air.

“Since you bought it, let’s not let it go to waste.”

He stalked toward me, his Alpha’s dominance crashing down, making it hard to breathe.

“Put it on,” he commanded.

“No…” I shielded my stomach, backing away. “Tristan, you can’t humiliate me like this.”

“Humiliate you?” Tristan sneered, his eyes filled with disgust. “Did you think about humiliation when you hurt Arabella?”

He grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing my head back.

The cold metal pressed against my warm skin.

I wanted to fight. I wanted to scream.

Then Ronan spoke, his voice slicing through the tension. "The name's Ronan. Tristan's twin. Just here to watch my brother claim his mate."

I stared at him, my face a mask of ice.

He acted like we were strangers. His eyes were dripping with control, and he was loving this little show.

But his next words made my body go rigid.

"I have to admit, I never pictured my brother's mate being so... disobedient. I hear your mother is at the wolf sanatorium... After the bonding, maybe we should bring her here?"

It was a threat, plain and simple.

For my mother, I had to endure this.

I have a pup in my belly. I can't let them find out…

Click.

The sound of the lock snapping shut killed the last of my dignity.

The heavy collar weighed on my collarbone, cold and piercing.

Arabella, hiding in Tristan’s arms, gave me a vicious smile.

Tristan let go, shoving me away like I was something filthy.

I fell to the floor. My suitcase had tipped over, my clothes spilling out.

"The ceremony isn't for another three days, and you're already back to your old tricks, hurting Arabella. Where do you think you're going? Running away? Scared to face her?"

Tristan sneered down at me, his fingers stroking Arabella’s hair while his words cut like shards of ice.

"I reinforced the seal. Don't even think about taking it off."

He pointed at the collar, at the word ‘Pet’ carved into the silver.

“You’ll wear it like the dog you are until you learn to respect Arabella. And you are never leaving!”

The collar was a constant reminder of my shame. My wolf was suppressed by the silver; I could barely breathe.

That suffocating feeling of being trapped washed over me again.

I fought back the urge to vomit and whispered, "I understand. I will."

They wouldn't let me go. I knew that now.

But I had to find a way to escape.

As I was trying to figure out a plan, Tristan walked in again.

No. That faint, strange scent.

It was Ronan.

He'd taken a scent blocker again. He smiled as he walked toward me.

His eyes landed on the collar. His gaze darkened, and for a second, I saw a flash of regret.

He smiled as he walked toward me.

"I'm sorry, Lucia. You probably don't know that we grew up with Arabella. She's like a sister to us. You've suffered."

Then he took my hand, his face a mask of affection.

"After all, We still need to try on our ceremony outfits together. Don't be sad, okay?"

I didn't know why Ronan was acting like this.

They both clearly despised me.

The next second, when I felt his hand wander to my waist, trying to pull off my clothes, I understood.

Just like he said, he liked my body.

He just wanted to have sex with me.

My expression froze. I pushed him away instinctively.

"Let's wait for the ceremony, okay? I'm not mad. If this is what Bella wants, I'll cooperate."

My feigned obedience seemed to please him.

He kissed my ear. "Alright, baby. I'll see you three days after."

He left, but the predatory hunger in his eyes promised he’d be back for more. But I was focused on what he'd said—trying on the ceremony outfits.

Yes. Maybe I could escape during the fitting.

The next day, stylists swarmed around me, holding the pure white Luna ceremony gown.

I let them move me like a doll. The collar around my neck was painfully obvious in the bright lights of the dressing room.

The stylists exchanged nervous glances, but no one dared to ask.

"Perfect," the head stylist said with a forced smile. "You'll be the most beautiful Luna."

The most beautiful joke.

Just as I was about to change, the dressing room door was pushed open.

Tristan walked in, with Arabella clinging to his arm like a venomous snake.

She had changed into a pale gold dress that made her glow.

As if she was the one in charge here.

"Tristan," she purred, pulling on his arm. "The jewelry exhibition is about to start. You promised you'd help me pick a necklace."

Tristan didn't even look at me. He gently smoothed her hair. "Of course. Only the most precious jewels are worthy of you."

"In that case, I want the Moon Goddess Necklace," Arabella's voice grew sweeter.

The Moon Goddess Necklace.

The sacred artifact worn by every Luna at her coronation.

It was priceless, a symbol of supreme power.

I stood there, a clown in a ridiculous costume, watching my fated mate prepare to hand over my honor to another woman.

"But... Lucia is still trying on her dress," Arabella said with fake concern, her eyes full of provocation.

"She doesn't matter."

Tristan turned his back to me, his voice cold.

This was the Tristan I recognized.

I used to wonder why Tristan was so passionate in bed but so cold during the day.

I thought it was just his Alpha authority.

I never imagined they were two different people.

But I had no time for heartbreak.

A smile touched my lips as I feigned obedience. "Arabella just got back. You should spend more time with her."

Tristan nodded, satisfied, and left with Arabella.

The fake smile on my face vanished.

The entire pack was busy with the ceremony, just two days away. The Alpha was gone. This was my chance to run.

The second the fitting was over, I ran to my room, grabbed my car keys, and ditched my suitcase. I bolted for the garage.

Tristan never actually forbade me from leaving. If I could just get the car on the road, no one would stop me.

Just as I left the room, my phone lit up.

It was a picture from Arabella, a social media post. Tristan himself was fastening the gleaming Moon Goddess necklace around her neck.

They looked so intimate. Like true mates.

"Looks like your destined mate only loves me, little healer. I'm so looking forward to your bonding ceremony. Whatever you've found out, you can't escape."

I scoffed. Let the bastards have each other. It had nothing to do with me anymore.

But the next second, my phone buzzed violently.

Unknown number.

"Is this Miss Lucia? This is St. Mary's Sanatorium."

The frantic voice on the other end hit me like a hammer to the chest.

"Your mother's vital signs are failing! Her wolf soul is fading! The doctors say she won't make it through the night! You have to come immediately!"

Mom.

My only family in this world.

In my last life, I was trapped in the basement. I never even got to see her one last time.

No.

It won't happen again!

I flew from my room, no longer a person, but a primal animal fighting for her young. I ripped off the corset, threw on a coat, and bolted downstairs.

I needed a car.

I'd crawl to the sanatorium if I had to.

I burst into the garage and found my old car.

But the moment I pressed the unlock button, despair washed over me like a tidal wave.

All four tires.

Completely flat.

They had been slashed neatly with a sharp blade, the rubber curling back in a grotesque grin.

Stuck to the driver’s side window was a pink sticky note. A smiley face was scrawled on it in her handwriting:

"Good little dogs aren't allowed to run off, you know."

"No... No!"

The nightmare of Arabella came crashing back.

It was the Academy all over again. She relished every moment of my torment.

I’d been afraid she would run straight to Tristan about the study. But now I understood. She was sure I couldn't escape, and she wanted the pleasure of breaking me all to herself.

Fighting back would only feed her cruelty.

I sank to my knees, a raw scream tearing from my throat as the sky ripped open, unleashing a merciless downpour.

No car.

The packhouse was on a remote mountainside. It was nearly impossible to get a cab.

But I couldn't stop.

Mom was waiting for me.

I wiped the rain from my face, scrambled up, shifted into my wolf form, and charged into the dark, stormy night.

Even if I died on the way, I had to see her.