I clipped the moonstone to my ear, its glow pulsing faintly against my skin. Today was meant to be a day of joy, double celebration: Vincent's crowning and my daughter Lina's seventh birthday.

I slipped into the dress they had forbidden me to wear, the one embroidered with the symbol of the pack I came from. A final act of quiet defiance. I stood before the mirror and saw someone familiar... someone I might have become, had this forsaken place not swallowed me whole.

Beside me, Lina hummed softly, braiding bright ribbons into her doll's tangled hair. I smiled. She was the only light in this dark home, the reason I hadn't gone mad.

"Throw it now! Before she walks out!"

"Hey, catch it, fool!"

A vial shattered above me.

Liquid rained down, cold at first, then searing. I screamed as it scorched my skin. My eyes burned. I clawed at my face, but the pain only worsened. Fire crawled along my neck, sinking into every nerve.

"Mommy!" Lina's voice cracked through chaos.

I turned blindly, just in time to hear her cry out. Another vial had exploded at her feet, splashing her bare legs. She fell with a shriek, clutching her ankle as red blisters formed along her skin.

"She looks so ugly now," Haley sneered.

"Calling her a monster fits better," Vincent added.

It was them. I looked up through the blur of tears and smoke, glaring at the siblings who stared back without remorse, contorting their faces into mockery.

"She's glaring at us! Brother, she looks scary!"

"How dare you look at my sister like that!"

Something heavy struck my forehead. I stumbled, pain flashing white behind my eyes. Blood trickled into the burning poison on my face. Through the haze, I spotted the object that had struck me.

Wolfsbane.

"You—" My voice cracked with disbelief. "You splashed wolfsbane on us?! Are you insane?!"

I lunged at Vincent, grabbing his arm. He screamed, kicked, spat every filthy insult he could think of.

"Don't touch me, you stupid woman! Let go!"

Haley bit my hand, her teeth sinking deep. "He's the future Alpha! Don't touch him, you filthy woman!"

Reflex took over. I shoved them both away. Haley hit the ground with a dull thud, then wailed as blood pooled beneath her head. Vincent scrambled to her side, frantic.

"You evil witch! You hurt her!" he screamed. "I wish you had died instead of our mother!"

The words landed like knives, twisting in the wounds already bleeding inside me. But he wasn't wrong. They weren't mine, never were. I took them in when my stepsister, Hannah, died. I shouldn't have. But she had once saved my life. And in return, I vowed to the Moon Goddess that I would care for her children as if they were my own.

Behind me, Lina sobbed quietly, clutching her injured leg.

The door burst open. Flora arrived first, followed by the servants, her eyes darting to the blood on Vincent's arm before rushing to Haley's side. When she saw the wound, her face twisted in rage.

"Janice! What have you done?!"

"They threw wolfsbane on us!" I shouted, spinning toward her. "On me and on Lina!"

Wolfsbane. A forbidden poison to our kind. Anyone caught using it would be dealt appropriately and the punishments often end with death.

Vincent knew it. He sniffled and lowered his gaze, faking tears. "We didn't do it…"

I stared at him with cold disdain. "You think I did this to myself? To my daughter?"

Flora never looked away from Vincent. "He probably thought it was perfume or something. He knows you're attending his coming-of-age ceremony and just wanted you to be presentable. He's just a child."

"And Lina isn't?" I snapped. "He knew exactly what it was. And I will report him to the council. He deserves punishment."

"What punishment?"

A new presence filled the hallway. Alpha Jacob.

The children's father. My former fiancé. The man who had chosen my stepsister over me.

He stopped in the doorway, his gaze cutting straight through me before dropping to my dress. His jaw clenched.

"I told you to dress properly," he said coldly. "You're not wearing that to the ceremony."

"I prepared properly," I replied, my voice trembling with fury. "They ruined it."

Jacob's gaze flicked to Vincent, who whimpered again. "It was an accident…"

"You're still blaming the children?" Flora spat. "That rag is what you planned to wear? I would've thrown acid on you myself."

Jacob didn't blink. "Clean yourself up. The other alphas are arriving. I don't want them seeing you like this."

He looked at me as if I am a disgrace. Blood still dripped from my temple. My skin still burned. Lina whimpered softly from the corner, curled around her wounded leg. Forgotten.

I stepped forward.

"No," I said, my voice was clear.

Jacob froze. "What?"

"I'm fed up. I've always treated them with kindness. All they've done in return is torment me and now they've harmed my child. I'm done. I'm leaving."

Jacob frowned. "You're being dramatic. You still have to attend Vincent's ceremony. Stop making excuses."

"I'm not making excuses," I snapped. "I've given you and your children everything. This pack has taken everything from me. But not today."

My voice rose, resolute.

"Because I. Am. Leaving."

I had barely taken two steps toward the door when Flora's voice sliced through the tension, sweet as poison. "Oh, look at that. She's running away again."

I stopped. Not because I wanted to, but because I knew how this pack worked. Leaving was never that easy. My forehead still burned where the wolfsbane had blistered my skin.

"I'm not running," I said, voice rough. "I'm leaving. There's nothing left for me here except scars."

Flora tilted her head, all mock innocence. "Scars? Please. You think you're the only one who's been hurt? Spare us the drama, Janice."

"I was in my room," I said, every word sharp. "With my daughter. We were getting ready for her birthday. Remember that, Flora? Her birthday. And they ruined it."

Vincent stepped forward, like he'd practiced this moment. "We just wanted her to look nice. Like Mom used to. You didn't have to scream like that. You pushed me and Haley."

He pulled up his sleeve, revealing a red mark on his arm. "We didn't know it was wolfsbane. It wasn't our fault."

The silence that followed wasn't kind.

"Poor Vincent," someone muttered.

"Ungrateful woman," another whispered. "Always playing the victim."

"Is this really about a dress, Janice?" Jacob asked, voice calm but cold. "A little irritation? Or were you just trying to ruin Vincent's ceremony?"

"This isn't about the dress," I said. "This is about the fact that your children threw wolfsbane at me. And my daughter, our daughter, was caught in it."

"She shouldn't have been here," Flora said casually, like she was talking about a stray mutt.

"She lives here," I snapped. "This is her home."

Jacob's voice hardened. "This is a packhouse. And Lina is not of the Silver Blood pack."

"She was mine and your child, Jacob. You marked me. You told me I was going to be your Luna. You said we'd raise her together."

He said nothing.

"And now you stood there and pretended my child didn't exist while I was forced to raise yours? You called me family when it suited you, and a rogue when it didn't."

His jaw flexed, but he stayed silent.

"You wanted me to care for them, protect them, love them. Even now, you wanted me to smile and stand beside a boy who burned me. But my child?" My voice cracked. "You treated her like she wasn't even yours."

He finally spoke. "You knew what was at stake. If the Elders found out she was born outside the bond—"

"The Elders?" I laughed bitterly. "You rejected me after Hannah died. Then you came back, crawled into my bed when no one was watching. You wanted tradition when it protected you. But you broke it the moment you touched me again."

"You owed Hannah your life," Flora snapped. "Those children were all she left behind. They were yours, whether you liked it or not. And who knows? Maybe Lina wasn't even Jacob's. You were with other men before—"

I slapped her. Hard.

"Lina is Jacob's daughter," I said, steady and clear. "And those children? They're not my pups. I didn't birth them. I didn't choose them. I took care of them because I made a vow to the Moon Goddess. But that vow didn't say I had to be your pack's slave."

Flora stared, speechless.

I turned, scooped Lina into my arms, her small body trembling with quiet sobs, and started toward the door. But Jacob blocked the way.

"You think walking out changes anything?" he growled. "You carried my bloodline in that child. That tied you to this pack, whether you liked it or not."

"Oh, now bloodline mattered?" I fired back. "Then raise her. Protect her. Claim her. Or were you only proud of the children born under ceremony?"

He didn't respond.

"You told me we'd be mates again. That once things settled, you'd announce it. You said I'd be Luna."

"You knew we couldn't do that now," he muttered.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "No. You wouldn't. Because claiming me meant admitting you broke a sacred bond. That you slept with your rejected mate. That you hid your own daughter from your pack."

His eyes darkened. "You'll still attend the ceremony. Vincent was about to be named Alpha Heir. You would stand beside him."

Two guards stepped forward. I adjusted Lina in my arms and looked between them, heart pounding. "If I refused?"

Jacob didn't blink. "Then the Elders would hear everything. About your pregnancy. About your exile. About your return. You'd be labeled rogue again. And Lina?" His voice turned icy. "She'd be taken into the care of the Silver Blood pack. For her own protection."

The room went dead silent.

Flora smiled.

And for the first time, I realized, they weren't letting me walk away. Not without a price. My fingers tightened around Lina. I could feel her heartbeat. I could feel mine. I knew they wouldn't treat her fairly. They weren't even doing it while I was still here.

I could only compromise.

I walked beside Vincent toward the ceremonial grounds. The wound from the wolfsbane still burned, but I feigned strength because Jacob had made it clear that if I didn't obey, I would lose Lina.

Vincent carried himself like a young king, his golden eyes bright with self-importance, his spine rigid with pride. As we passed through the crowd, murmurs rose like mist under the watchful moon.

"He already moves like an Alpha."

"Is that his mother with him?"

"No, that's his aunt. Janice."

"The same one who abuses him and his sister? Why is she even allowed up there?"

Vincent either didn't notice the whispers or relished them. He strutted up to the platform, basking in the attention.

I kept my eyes fixed forward, the sting of their words pressing against my chest like stones. But I remained quiet. Any reaction would be seen as guilt. Any emotion would become another weapon used against me. I was there because I had no other choice.

At the edge of the gathering, I spotted Lina standing near Flora. Her wide eyes flicked between faces, restless and uncertain. She didn't wave. She didn't smile. She merely watched, mute and motionless, understanding that even a whisper of defiance could earn her punishment.

The priest, robed in ceremonial black and silver, raised his hands to quiet the assembly.

"Tonight, under the eye of the moon, the heir of Alpha Jacob comes of age. Let the pack bear witness as Vincent takes his place among us."

Applause rolled through the crowd.

The priest turned to me. "Janice, guardian of the heir, remove the ceremonial shoes. Let him step forward into manhood."

I lowered myself, knees aching, and reached for Vincent's foot. Without hesitation, he crushed my injured hand beneath his heel. The pain ripped through me, sharp and hot. I swallowed the cry that surged to my throat as fresh blood soaked through the cloth. He stepped back just as quickly, leaving a wet crimson stain blooming beneath the bandage. He bowed to the audience, eliciting another round of cheers. The rite had ended.

I wanted to leave. But Jacob's gaze from the high seat pinned me in place. I followed the others into the banquet hall, each step hollow, each breath a slow act of endurance. Inside, laughter echoed from all sides. Toasts rang like chimes. Vincent sat at the head table, soaking in admiration. Haley, ever the loyal shadow, giggled beside him, twirling a butter knife between her fingers.

Across the room, Lina sat beside a young omega woman, untouched food before her. She never took her eyes off me. Even when her cup tipped and water spilled into her lap, she didn't flinch. I offered a small smile, to make her believe I was all right, even if I wasn't.

Then Katherine arrived.

Her entrance drew every eye. Without hesitation, she took the seat beside Jacob and placed a hand on his arm, as though it had always belonged to her. Haley beamed. "You're so pretty! I wish you were my mom."

Jacob gave a faint smile.

From across the table, Flora smirked. "Far better than those other women who bore stray pups."

I kept my expression neutral, though my knuckles whitened beneath the cloth napkin.

"I'll excuse myself," I said, rising as calmly as I could. "I need to use the restroom."

Outside, the air is a bit colder. My lungs expanded with relief as I took a few minutes to cool down, but it was short-lived. A sharp ‘thunk' broke the silence, followed by childish laughter. Curious and cautious, I followed the sound to the training yard.

And froze.

Vincent and his friends were playing a twisted game, arrows in hand, laughter echoing as they fired toward a living target I couldn't yet see. I moved closer and horror gripped me. I didn't know why she was there, but I found Lina stood against the far wall, arms bound behind her back, a crude chalk circle drawn around her head. Her small frame shook, barely upright.

Vincent raised his bow.

The arrow struck her shoulder.

She staggered, blood blooming beneath the torn fabric. The boys roared with laughter. One slapped Vincent on the back. But Lina didn't cry. She looked at him, eyes burning, and with a low snarl, rammed her wrists against the post. The rope snapped. She lunged forward and struck Vincent across the face. He stumbled back, stunned.

The boys closed in, shouting, grabbing, dragging her down.

That was when I moved.

"Get your hands off her!" I roared, seizing one of the boys and hurling him away. Lina clung to me as I shielded her, baring my teeth. "Touch her again and I'll—"

"Janice!" Jacob's voice thundered across the yard.

I turned. He stood at the entrance with Flora and Katherine beside him. Behind them, more wolves arrived, onlookers drawn by the commotion. Lina's blood soaked into my sleeves.

"What is going on here?!" Flora gasped, her voice exaggerated.

"She attacked him!" one boy shouted. "She hit Vincent!"

"She bit me!" Another cried, holding his wrist.

"She was the one tied up!" I snapped. "They used her for target practice. Vincent shot her. Look at her shoulder!"

"She provoked them," Flora said coldly. "That child is unstable. Just like her mother."

My nails dug into the dirt. I wanted to scream. But Lina trembled in my arms, anchoring me. Jacob's eyes swept the yard, Vincent rubbing his cheek, the other boys nursing small wounds. Then he looked at Lina.

"Take the boys to the healers. Their injuries need tending," he said. "And bring Lina to the west backroom. No chains."

"She needs a healer," I said, my voice shaking. "She's bleeding."

He turned to a guard. "See to her wound."

"And then?" I asked, rising to my feet, heart pounding.

Jacob's face remained unreadable. "Then I'll decide what punishment to give her."

As the guards stepped forward, Lina clutched my sleeve tighter. I glared at Jacob, fury rising like fire through my throat.

"Thank you," I said coldly. "I'll treat her wounds myself."

I immediately left, not minding their calls. Because I know if I stayed here one moment longer…, I wouldn't survive what I might do next.