Pregnant and heading home on our anniversary, I never imagined my night would end in a horrifying accident. My car collided with a speeding bus, leaving me covered in blood and injured. I was rushed to the hospital immediately.

In the ambulance, when the medics asked for my husband’s details, my vision blurred with tears. I choked out a lie, claiming I was divorced. After enduring a perilous surgery, the doctors delivered the unthinkable.

“Ma’am… we’re so sorry,” one said, shaking his head. “We couldn’t save your child. The baby suffocated. If your husband had answered your calls, we might have reached you sooner and prevented this tragedy.”

The words hit me like a punch. Stunned, I spent three days in the hospital before being discharged, Alaric completely unaware of my condition. Hoping to reach him, I unlocked my phone—and froze. My mother-in-law had posted a photo online.

It showed Alaric gently holding Camilla, his childhood love, eyes soft and adoring as he looked at her. The caption read: “They’d make the perfect couple. She would have been my daughter-in-law if my son hadn’t been taken by a worthless orphan.”

A sting of pain shot through me as tears streamed down my face. All of them were at a royal event, blissfully unaware that I was the youngest daughter of the Alpha King and Luna Queen.

---

Earlier that day, I had spent hours preparing gifts for Alaric and arranging a candlelit dinner. But fate intervened—a speeding bus shattered my plans and my car. My hands instinctively shielded my stomach, only to be slashed by glass as I desperately called Alaric, pleading for him to come.

I rang him twenty-three times. No answer. Only messages:

[Alaric: Stop bothering me! I won’t be home tonight, so don’t wait. If you’re useless, at least don’t create unnecessary drama.]

[Alaric: Cancel the anniversary dinner, by the way.]

By the time rescuers arrived, I was barely conscious. They lifted me into the ambulance, sirens blaring around me.

“She’s lost a lot of blood—we need to operate now,” one doctor said urgently.

“She’s pregnant. What about the baby?” another replied, worried.

“My baby…” I whispered, clinging to consciousness.

“We need your husband’s consent—”

“I’m divorced,” I gasped. “Please… just save my child.”

The procedure began immediately. Beeping machines filled the emergency ward as pain radiated through every inch of my body. When I woke, agony gripped me.

“My baby…” I murmured, only to meet the solemn gaze of a female doctor.

“Ma’am… your child didn’t survive. It was life-threatening. If only we had reached you earlier. We saw your calls, but your husband didn’t answer… your child suffocated.”

“What?” My voice cracked. “My child… my baby!” I covered my face and wept uncontrollably.

During my three-day hospital stay, Alaric never called. When I was finally discharged, I unlocked my phone to reach him—only to be confronted by my mother-in-law’s post.

It showed Alaric and Camilla dining at my favorite sushi restaurant, Alaric holding her close and gazing at her tenderly. Another photo made my blood run cold—they posed in front of the werewolf royal palace, home of my parents, the Alpha King and Luna Queen.

They attended a gathering meant for mates. I had secretly asked my parents to organize it so they could meet my mate, Alaric. But he abandoned me—his pregnant mate—choosing another woman while I bled in my car, losing our child.

Comments below the post twisted the knife further:

[Our college’s hottest couple! Can’t believe you’re still together!]

[Camilla was always Alaric’s first and only choice. Of course he’d pick her over a poor, useless girl.]

[Camilla belongs beside Alaric, no one else.]

[You two look amazing together. Your child would have been lucky to inherit your genes.]

These were Alaric and Camilla’s childhood friends—some aware I was his wife, yet loyal to their tight-knit group of four boys and a girl. Alaric and Camilla had once been perfect together, until Camilla left him for another Alpha. Returning three years later, rejected by that abusive mate, she received sympathy from the group and from Alaric.

Suddenly, I was the villain—the orphan who stole Alaric, breaking their golden couple. I became the pack’s outcast, the most despised woman. Camilla was celebrated as the princess, while I was the “dramatic third wheel” ruining everything.

Even at the palace, my father’s insistence that I avoid chores didn’t stop me from learning to cook—especially for Alaric. I endured burns and blisters, preparing meals he could eat and enjoy. I made light dishes and seafood despite my allergies, yet his friends sneered at me, labeling me a leech trying to climb the social ladder through Alaric. Behind my back, they called me “the witch.”

When they visited, they demanded elaborate dishes. I initially resisted, but Alaric urged me to prove myself. I complied. Today, he chose them over me again. Perhaps this was better—I wouldn’t soften for him anymore.

I scrolled through my mother-in-law’s post once more, knowing she deliberately shared it for me to see, even commenting:

[They look perfect together.]

The comment section had barely gone silent when Alaric’s call came through, almost instantly.

“Liora, don’t misinterpret my friends. They only joke around with Camilla and me. Your message earlier made them uncomfortable. I know seeing that post upset you, but you also really disappointed Mom this time. She wanted us to attend the royal party together, but you didn’t show up at the last minute. I know I missed our anniversary dinner, but I’m busy. You can’t throw fits like this every time something goes wrong.”

I stayed silent, listening, which seemed to make him uneasy.

“Liora… when you come home, we’ll sort this out. You should apologize to Mom right away.”

“Okay…” I choked out, the words barely escaping my throat. The man responsible for my child’s death had the audacity to demand my apology.

“Liora… why aren’t you asking anything about me?”

“No need. I already know everything I need to.” Without waiting for him to respond, I ended the call and let out sobs that shook me to my core, a grief so deep it seemed to consume my entire being.

My parents had opposed my relationship with Alaric at first. But when they saw I loved him too much to live without him, they had reluctantly allowed it. Yet it all felt meaningless now.

I hailed a taxi home, and it was nearly dawn when Alaric arrived, staggering and disoriented. The sound of his footsteps woke me. Seeing me awake, he froze, trying to think of an excuse.

Fearing I would scold him for drinking, he asked softly why I hadn’t been home for the past three days. I merely turned away, silent.

“Are you pretending to be angry with me now?” he murmured.

“No comforting soup tonight?” I asked coldly.

“I’m tired.” His sigh betrayed surprise at my detached tone. He adjusted the duvet around me.

“You’re pregnant—you need rest. The child will be the next alpha.”

As he sat beside me, a fruity perfume lingered in the air, overwhelming my senses and keeping sleep at bay. I got up, taking my pillow and blanket, tears spilling as I left the room.

“Liora?” he called after me.

“I’m not comfortable here.” I closed the door behind me, leaving him shocked and alone.

The following morning, I left for the office early, before Alaric even stirred.

“This project will be intense and will require overtime. Anyone willing to take it? The budget is higher, and there’s a generous bonus.”

“I’ll handle it.” My colleagues froze, surprised by my willingness, while my boss hesitated.

“Liora, what about your husband? And you’re pregnant… we thought you might soon take maternity leave.”

“Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage. I won’t be needing leave.” The tension in the room thickened. The meeting ended abruptly, my colleagues excused, and my boss stayed behind.

“Liora, I don’t mean to pry, but… is everything okay with you and your husband?”

“You’re an exceptional employee. I’ve wanted to promote you, but I assumed you wouldn’t want to move away from your family. Would you consider transferring to the main branch in the capital?” She chose her words carefully.

I smiled faintly. “Thank you. I’d be glad to relocate.”

She hesitated. “Actually… last night, my husband was at the Southwest bar and overheard Alpha Alaric talking to his friends.”

Seeing her pause, I urged her to continue.

“He… he was talking about your baby. He said, since you’re an orphan, you might not know how to raise a child. So he asked a friend—Camilla—to help him with the baby. I just thought, if I were you, I’d want to know what my husband says about me behind my back.”

It felt like a bucket of icy water had been dumped over me. This was how he truly saw me. I forced a trembling smile and shook my head.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Then my phone rang. Alaric’s name flashed across the screen.

“Liora, did you leave early? You’re overworking yourself, and you’re already in your second trimester. Didn’t I tell you to resign? Did you even eat breakfast? When I woke, there was nothing for me.” His voice sounded concerned, though irritation seeped through.

I hummed in reply.

He continued, pausing. “Even though I missed our anniversary dinner, I got you a gift.”

“Oh?” I said flatly.

“You love heart-shaped diamonds, right? I bought a pendant for you… hmm, where did I put it?” He muttered to himself, shuffling things around.

I heard him fumbling, muttering, “It’s not here—” before realizing he had given it to someone else. Yesterday, Camilla had worn a diamond heart pendant in the photo. My vision blurred with tears.

Quickly covering up, he muttered, “I must have lost it somewhere—”

“No need. I forgot to get you anything anyway.”

“Liora… you’ve been like this since yesterday. You can’t do much, but at least take care of the house, cook, and look presentable. Stop acting like it’s a huge issue!”

“Yes… it’s unimportant.” Tears streaked my face as I listened to his cruel words.

Yes, he had bought me a gift—one first worn by his childhood sweetheart, then meant for me as a token.

“I can never make you happy, no matter how hard I try. Alaric… my favorite gemstones have always been sapphires. I’ve never worn diamonds once in my life.” With that, I hung up.

After that incident, I buried myself so deeply in work that I seldom returned home, leaving Alaric increasingly suspicious that something was wrong.

One afternoon, my mother-in-law—who had never seen me as anything more than a lowly orphan unworthy of their status—called unexpectedly.

“Liora, Alaric told me you argued with him, even though it was mostly your fault that we were delayed at the royal banquet. Even if you come from nothing and no one ever taught you proper manners, the least you can do is not drag my son’s reputation down to your level! You are about to bear the future Alpha, so stop this nonsense. Rumors are already spreading that you and Alaric are on the verge of separating. I’ve arranged a dinner tonight, inviting Alaric’s close friends. Be there on time and do not create a scene.”

From start to finish, she barked her orders before hanging up.

I wanted, just once, to see the faces of the people who had betrayed me, those who had treated me worse than an animal, before leaving for the capital. I took a taxi to my mother-in-law’s house.

Alaric’s mother was seated at the head of the table when I arrived. The room fell silent as Alaric’s friends cast side glances at me, rolling their eyes.

“Aunty, why invite her? She’ll just ruin everything,” one whispered.

“The witch is here again, trying to come between the loving couple,” another added, loud enough for me to hear.

“Liora, sit here,” Alaric’s mother gestured to a chair, but I ignored her, choosing the seat at the far end.

“Hey Liora, remind me—what was your last name? Oh, right, you don’t have one. No father, no name,” Theodore, Alaric’s so-called best friend, smirked, anticipating my embarrassment.

“Who are you again?” I lifted my head and stared at him, disinterest etched across my face, as if he were a clown performing for an audience. The smug smiles drained from their faces instantly.

Shortly after, Alaric arrived with Camilla beside him. Noticing I had come earlier than expected and was observing him and Camilla closely, he immediately put space between himself and her. I saw Camilla remove the pendant from her neck and silently follow my mother-in-law to the kitchen.

Alaric quickly seated himself beside me, brushing my hair aside before placing the diamond pendant around my neck, staging the picture-perfect image of a loving couple.

“This is your first time wearing diamonds, isn’t it? Don’t worry—I’ll buy you your favorite sapphires next time,” he said, his voice smooth and practiced.

“I lost it at the pack house. After speaking with you and realizing it was gone, I rushed to find it,” he added, without a trace of shame, trying to sound sincere.

The pendant felt suffocating around my neck. Without a word, I removed it, startling Alaric.

“Liora, what are you doing?” he demanded.

“To think she’s so greedy… no wonder aunt dislikes her,” someone muttered.

“Liora, why take it off?” my mother-in-law’s glare pierced me.

“It’s too tight,” I replied, ignoring the murmurs around me and turning my focus elsewhere, deliberately silent toward Alaric.

In truth, diamonds had long been considered dishonorable in our royal family. Historically, outcasts received a single diamond as the last token of wealth before banishment. I had not been banished—but I was reclaiming my dignity. I intended to return home.

From the kitchen, I overheard my mother-in-law laughing softly with Camilla, who clung to her arm, acting spoiled.

“Auntie, how could you work so hard alone all these years? If I were here, I would never have let you do it,” Camilla cooed.

“This child! Of course, it would have been different if it were you. Oh Camilla, let Liora help the servants with the dishes. You’ve probably never done these things yourself, even though you’re so considerate toward the maids. If only Liora were half as sensible. Since she moved into Alaric’s house, he dismissed the maid. She’s expected to handle all manual chores herself—sweeping, washing dishes—it’s normal for her. Don’t ruin your beautiful hands; I’ll make Liora do it.”

I bit my lip as Alaric silently agreed, seeing nothing wrong with overworking me.

Soon, they emerged from the kitchen, hand in hand, Camilla seated between Alaric and my mother-in-law.

“Auntie, I’ve missed you so much these past years. I’ve never stopped thinking about Alaric,” Camilla cooed. The people at the table didn’t find anything odd about her words, even though she spoke of longing for another man while already mated.

“Of course, dear. If things had gone differently, you would already have been my daughter-in-law,” Alaric’s mother teased, glancing at me briefly before drawing Camilla closer. Alaric said nothing, still furious that I had rejected his gift.

Turning to me with feigned innocence, she added, “Oh, forgive me. I must have spoken too much in my old age. Liora, meet Camilla, my goddaughter. She and Alaric have been childhood friends, raised together. I heard you made a fuss at home because of her, but Camilla is like a sister to Alaric. You should trust your husband a little and stop keeping tabs on him.”

“Auntie is right. Camilla was only doing you a favor,” Colin, one of Alaric’s friends, chimed in with a smug expression. He had long supported the “perfect match” narrative and secretly nicknamed me the ‘homewrecker.’

“Yes, Liora, you’re always checking up on Alaric. You’re too controlling. Do you think we’d ruin his life? Since Camilla and Alaric are inseparable, if he wanted to leave you, he would have done so long ago. Besides, Alaric has promised Camilla that the two packs will merge soon to form a larger one, so it’s better if you accommodate her. That’s the least you can do as Luna.”

My eyes widened. Our Jade Moon pack was going to be merged with another without my knowledge as the Luna.

Realizing he’d spoken too freely, Colin immediately fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances with the others. The room descended into a heavy, uncomfortable quiet.