The pain was unbearable, sharp, and relentless. And I could barely breathe through it. Alone in the cold, damp room, I clung to the cot's edge, trying to steady myself. My vision blurred. And I couldn’t think past the blinding agony tearing through me. My wolf stirred, restless, threatening to break free. I couldn’t let that happen.

No one knew. Not my father, the Alpha, nor the rest of the pack. I had kept this secret for months, relying on the healer's herbs and her ritual to conceal the pregnancy. The memory of that night—the feast when everything changed—haunted me.

I didn’t know who had assaulted me. And I didn’t want to know. All I could do was survive the consequences, even if it meant giving birth to a child that wasn’t supposed to exist.

The healer, an old friend of my mother's, had been my only ally. She’d sworn to keep my secret, no matter the risk. But now, as I labored in the secret room she had secured for me, I could feel the fragile balance slipping. My wolf was desperate to take control, to protect me from the pain. But I couldn’t shift.

The healer rushed in. Her face was pale and drawn, holding a bundle of herbs and muttering the ancient words of a ritual. She pressed her hands to my abdomen, whispering, “Stay with me, Elara. Just a little longer.”

I nodded weakly, biting down on my lip to stifle a scream. The ritual began. And I felt a surge of power course through me, holding my wolf back. It wasn’t enough to dull the pain. But it was enough to keep me human.

Time blurred. The room swayed around me. And the only constant was the pain. Then, at last, it was over. A sharp cry pierced the air. And I was catching my breath as I saw the healer lift a small, squirming pup into her arms.

“A girl,” she whispered. “You have a daughter.”

I barely had time to process it before the door slammed open. The room was instantly filled with the scent of warriors. My father, the Alpha, stormed in. His face was twisted in fury. His eyes locked on the healer.

“Arrest her.”

The healer didn’t resist as two warriors seized her, dragging her toward the door. She glanced back at me once. A look of sorrow and regret was in her eyes before she disappeared into the hallway.

“Elara,” my father’s voice cut through the haze of exhaustion that had settled over me.

I tried to sit up, cradling my newborn daughter to my chest, but I couldn’t find the strength.

“You’ve brought shame to this pack,” he said coldly. “You and that healer have broken our laws. There will be no mercy.”

I wanted to argue… to tell him it wasn’t my fault… that I had no choice. But I couldn’t. I was too weak. Too drained. And even if I could have spoken, would it have mattered?

His mind was already made up.

“I banish you,” he continued. “You and your child are no longer part of the Dark Moon Pack.”

The words hit me like a blow, and before I could even react, darkness swallowed me whole.

**

When I opened my eyes, the world was silent, save for the faint cry of my daughter. Brielle. The name had come to me as I held her in my arms before everything went black.

I struggled to sit up. My body was aching and cold. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting an eerie glow over the forest. I had no idea where I was, only that I was no longer in the pack’s territory.

The sound of footsteps made me freeze. I looked up, my heart pounding, as two figures emerged from the shadows. I wanted to scream, to protect my child, but I was too exhausted, too weak to move.

One of the figures approached, reaching for Brielle. I tried to hold on to her, but my strength was gone. The figure lifted her gently from my arms, cradling her with surprising tenderness. The second figure knelt beside me, brushing the hair from my face.

“You’re safe now, my love,” a voice whispered, soft and soothing.

I wanted to ask who they were, and where they were taking us. But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, I let the darkness claim me once more.

I awoke to the feel of soft sheets beneath my fingers. The lingering scent of lavender filled the air. For a moment, I was too disoriented to move.

Where was I?

The room around me was large and luxurious, unlike anything I had seen before—certainly not part of the Dark Moon Pack.

Panic surged through me as I sat up quickly. Flashes of the previous night rushed back.

The birth, my father’s fury, and the darkness that followed.

But where was Brielle?

Fear clawed at my throat as I scrambled out of bed. My legs trembled beneath me.

I scanned the room, desperate to find her. My breath came in shallow bursts, and every muscle in my body screamed in exhaustion. But none of that mattered.

I needed to find my daughter.

I had barely taken a step when a voice stopped me from cold.

“You’re awake.”

I turned sharply. My gaze locked onto a tall figure leaning casually against the doorframe.

A man.

His presence dominated the room. He watched me with a cool, indifferent gaze that made my skin crawl. The sunlight streamed in from the balcony behind him, casting shadows across his face.

“Where is my daughter?” I demanded. My voice shook as I forced myself to stand tall, despite the weakness in my limbs.

I needed to be strong. But my body was still recovering. And I knew I couldn’t shift even if I wanted to.

The man didn’t flinch at my question. Instead, he smirked. “You’re really something, aren’t you? Just woke up and already ready to fight.”

I glared at him. “Don’t play games with me. Where is she?”

“She’s safe,” he replied calmly, pushing off the door and taking a few steps closer. “No need to be so defensive.”

I didn’t trust him. I didn’t know this man. And the fact that he seemed so unfazed by my panic only made me more suspicious.

I was banished. And now I was at the mercy of a stranger. My daughter was somewhere unknown.

And he expected me to stay calm?

“I want to see her,” I growled, though it came out weaker than I’d intended. My body wasn’t ready for this confrontation. But my instincts screamed at me to protect my child.

He stopped a few feet from me. His expression softened slightly as he regarded me. “You need to rest. You’ve been through a lot. Your daughter is being cared for—”

“I don’t care what you think I need!” My voice cracked. Frustration and fear overwhelmed me. “I want my daughter. Now.”

For a moment, his eyes flickered with something—sympathy, maybe—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Look, I get it. You’re scared, and you don’t trust me. But you need to calm down, or you’ll end up hurting yourself. Your daughter is safe. I swear it.”

His words did little to ease the storm raging inside me. But I couldn’t ignore the exhaustion that was dragging me down. I hated feeling weak, vulnerable.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want from me? Why are we here?”

He raised an eyebrow at my question. “Maybe we should start with proper introductions.” He gave a small, almost mocking bow. “I’m Lucian, Alpha of the Ravenclaw Pack.”

His words hung in the air. I felt my heart stutter in my chest.

Alpha?

Of Ravenclaw?

I had heard stories of their pack, whispered tales of their ruthlessness. But I never thought I’d find myself in their territory. My mind raced, trying to piece together why he had rescued me, why I was here.

“What do you want with us?” I asked again.

Lucian crossed his arms over his chest, studying me with those cold, unreadable eyes. “You were found on the edge of our territory, unconscious, with a newborn in your arms. I don’t take kindly to intruders, but your situation was… different.”

I swallowed hard as my hands trembled. “Different how?”

“You were banished from your pack, weren’t you?” His voice was softer now, less mocking. “Thrown out like you meant nothing.”

His words hit too close to home.

I looked away. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Maybe not,” he said with a shrug. “But you’re in my territory now, and that makes you my concern.”

The weight of his words settled over me, leaving me both intrigued and unsettled.

What had I gotten myself into?

And what did this mysterious Alpha want with me and my daughter?

The silence between us stretched. I didn’t know what to say. This was the pack we’d been warned about growing up.

How had I ended up here?

Before I could gather my thoughts, a knock came at the door, breaking the tension.

Lucian shifted slightly. His eyes flickered toward the entrance.

The door opened.

A woman stepped inside, cradling Brielle in her arms. My heart leapt at the sight of my daughter.

I instinctively reached out. All of my earlier panic rose again.

The woman approached. Her smile was warm and kind. “You must be Elara,” she said softly. “I’m Thalia, Lucian’s sister.”

She moved closer and placed Brielle in my arms. Her touch was careful and tender.

I immediately checked my daughter. My fingers brushed over her small face.

Her soft, steady breaths calmed the frantic beat of my heart. Brielle was dressed in clean, soft clothes. Her tiny body was wrapped in a beautiful blanket. She looked peaceful. Her lips parted in a contented sleep.

Relief flooded through me, easing some of the fear that had gripped me since I woke up.

“I’ve been taking care of her while you rested,” Thalia added as her smile widened. “She’s a lovely little one.”

I looked up at Thalia. Her presence was so different from Lucian’s. Where he made me feel on edge, wary of every word, she seemed open and genuine. There was a warmth about her that made me want to trust her. But I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Why did you save us?” I asked. “What do you want from us?”

Thalia’s expression softened. She sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes never left mine. “I heard your howl that night. It was desperate, filled with pain. I couldn’t ignore it. No wolf should suffer alone like that, especially not with a newborn.” Her voice was filled with empathy. But I remained skeptical.

“And Lucian?” My eyes darted to him, still standing by the door with his arms crossed, observing our interaction. “He agreed to help?”

Thalia glanced at her brother. A knowing smile played on her lips. “I can be very convincing,” she said with a slight laugh. “He didn’t want to at first. But I knew you needed us. We both did.”

Despite her sincerity, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this.

Why would the Alpha of Ravenclaw Pack, of all people, take in a rogue like me?

My distrust lingered. “And now what? You saved us, but why keep us here?”

Lucian stepped forward. His expression was still unreadable. But there was a sharpness to his gaze. “You’re free to leave if that’s what you want,” he said bluntly. His tone was cold, indifferent, like it didn’t matter to him one way or the other. “But where will you go, Elara? You no longer smell like you belong to any pack.”

His words were a knife to the gut. The truth of my situation crashed over me. Banished. I had no pack. No place to call home. Brielle and I were alone.

I looked down at her. Her small fingers curled unconsciously against the fabric of her blanket.

What kind of life could I give her out there on our own?

Lucian seemed to sense my hesitation. “You’ve been banished, haven’t you?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question. He already knew. “No pack will take you in now. And out there… you won’t last long.”

I swallowed hard. My throat tightened.

His words were brutal. But they weren’t wrong. I had nothing and nowhere to go. Still, I didn’t want to admit it.

“You think I have no choice but to stay?” I asked.

He tilted his head slightly. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m giving you options. You can leave if you want, but I suggest you think carefully about what’s best for your daughter.”

My chest tightened, anger mixed with fear. I didn’t have many choices.

Where would we go?

How could I protect Brielle on my own?

Without another word, Lucian turned and left the room. His exit left me reeling and my mind racing with uncertainty.