Ella's POV.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Just me and Jason, wrapped up in each other’s arms like we always did. But now I'm on the cold tiles, bleeding, while he grabs another woman by the waist and f*cks her like she belongs to him.

When did the man I had loved for years become this monster right in front of me?

Just hours ago, everything was different. I was so full of joy that I couldn't imagine anything bad happening to me. I still remembered sitting in Dr. Chloe’s office, staring at the sonogram in my hands while her words replayed over and over again in my head.

“Luna… this is truly a miracle.”

Dr. Chloe looked between the results and me with excitement. “With your condition, it was almost impossible to be pregnant at all… let alone with twins. I've never seen anything like this.” She paused, shaking her head slightly, like even she couldn't quite believe it.

My fingers had tightened around the paper. Twins. I was really having twins.

She reached across the desk and gently squeezed my hand. “Congratulations, Ella. I’m sure the Alpha will be so happy when he hears this.”

At that moment, I believed he would be. Without thinking, I rubbed my stomach, smiling as a tear slid down my cheek.

Dr. Chloe paused, her brow furrowing slightly as she glanced back at the results. “Actually, there's something I want to check. I'm a bit suspicious about a few things in your bloodwork, but I can't say for sure yet.” She looked at me, her expression turning serious. “Let's wait for the nurse to bring in the full results before you go.”

I shook my head, already gathering my bag. “I can't wait. I need to tell Jason right now. He's going to be so happy.”

She hesitated, her lips pressing together like she wanted to say more. “Ella, listen to me. Pregnancy is very fragile, especially in the early stages. You need to be careful… rest, avoid stress, and please, come back as soon as you can. I want to run a few more tests.”

I nodded quickly, already halfway out of my chair. “I will, Dr. Chloe. I promise. But right now, I have to go.”

My wolf was practically purring inside my mind. She was just as excited as I was to tell our mate.

I had always wanted to be a mother. I was eighteen when I was diagnosed with anovulation… a condition that meant my body might never give me a child. From that day on, I cried and prayed harder than ever, begging the Moon Goddess to bless my womb, even if it was with just one child. But somehow, she answered and blessed me with two.

I happily left the clinic and slipped into the midnight-blue Range Rover Jason had gifted me last month. The leather still carried a faint scent of his sandalwood cologne from all those evenings he had spent teaching me how to drive. I pressed the accelerator and sped toward the villa. I almost ran a red light on the highway, but I didn't care. All I could think about was sharing the news with Jason. I wanted so badly to see the look on his face when I told him.

Maybe, just maybe, this would finally be enough to make him end things with whoever he was cheating on me with.

Because the truth was… I already knew.

I knew Jason had been cheating. I just refused to believe that it meant the end for us. I had convinced myself that it was just a momentary temptation… something we could fix. I chose to stay because I loved him. Because no matter how much it hurt, I wanted to protect our matebond.

By the time I arrived at the villa, my hands were already shaking with excitement. But as I drove through the gates, something felt... off.

The compound was unusually quiet. The guards who normally stood at the entrance were nowhere to be seen. Even the maids who were always moving through the halls with their mops and linen baskets were missing.

It was strange because the villa had never been this empty. I grabbed my handbag from the passenger seat and stepped out, my frown deepening as I looked around. The only person I saw was Betty, who appeared from the front porch like she'd been waiting for me.

“Hi, Luna,” she greeted with a polite smile.

“Hi, Betty.” I glanced around again. “Where is everyone?”

Betty's smile didn't waver, but something flickered in her eyes. It was gone so quickly that I couldn't tell what it was.

“The Alpha sent them on errands,” she explained smoothly. “They should be back soon.”

Errands? All of them? At the same time?

The explanation felt a little thin, but I was too excited to think much of it, so I shrugged it off.

“Alright. Where is the Alpha?”

“He's upstairs,” she replied. “...but he asked me to tell you he's on an important call with the Pack Senate and doesn't want to be disturbed.”

I nodded slowly.

The Pack Senate… Well, that made sense. Those old wolves were notoriously sensitive and interrupting one of their meetings could cause a lot of trouble.

I turned toward the staircase, ready to head up, but I stopped. My hand rested on the railing as I glanced toward the mini bar in the corner of the living room.

Maybe I should wait downstairs for a bit and give him time to finish his call.

The excitement buzzing through me made it impossible to stand still, so I walked over to the mini bar, placed my bag on the counter and perched on one of the stools. My fingers tapped lightly against the polished wood as I waited.

A few minutes later, Betty came to me with a glass mug of steaming coffee. The rich, roasted aroma reached me before the cup even did. Lavazza had always been my favorite, and Jason always had it stocked in the kitchen because of me.

“Thank you, Betty.”

She smiled, but something about her expression felt strange. I noticed how her eyes darted away from mine a little too quickly. I should have paid more attention, but I was too happy to care.

I took a slow sip and hummed softly, enjoying the familiar taste as it melted across my tongue, and before I realized it, I had gulped down the entire mug faster than I intended.

But after a while, a strange discomfort settled in my stomach, not painfully, but enough to make me feel uncomfortable. I pressed a hand against my stomach.

Maybe I was just tired. Or maybe the excitement was making me nauseous.

I shifted restlessly on the stool before deciding to go upstairs and wait for Jason in the bedroom. He’d most definitely be in the study taking that call. I could at least lie down for a moment while I waited.

I was halfway up the stairs when I suddenly froze. A woman's moan drifted down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin.

I tightened my grip on the railing and hurried toward the bedroom. Every step made my pulse pound harder.

I reached the door and pushed it open.

And just like that, my entire world shattered right in front of me.

Ella's POV.

“Jason!”

My voice cracked, ripping straight from my chest. For a moment, everything felt unreal, like my mind was refusing to accept what my eyes were seeing.

Jason froze mid-thrust. For a split second, something between guilt and irritation flickered across his face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. He didn't scramble for a sheet or stammer an excuse. He just sighed, like I had walked in on him doing something as mundane as reading a newspaper.

Finally, he pulled away, and that was when the real shock hit me. The person Jason had been cheating with all along was… Dahlia, my half-sister. The same girl who always eyed everything I had and rolled her eyes when Jason held me in public.

Goddess! I should've known she'd find a way to ruin me for good. My wolf clawed at me from the inside, heartbroken that our mate could have done this to us. He didn’t even give me a chance to tell him about our babies.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Dahlia drawled, rolling her eyes. “You're such a fun-killer, Ella.”

She didn't even bother to look embarrassed. She tilted her head lazily against the pillow, a slow, mocking smile spreading across her lips.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

“You… You've been f*king my sister?!”

“Half-sister, Ella. Let's not pretend like we were ever close.”

My hands trembled at my sides. The sonogram was still clutched in my fingers, and I could feel the paper crumpling beneath my grip.

“Dahlia…” My voice came out strangled, barely a whisper. “Get out.”

She laughed, then she stretched lazily, making no move to cover herself. “Jason, darling, would you like to tell her, or should I?”

Jason slowly reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head, completely ignoring me. He lit a cigar and took a slow puff. Only then did he look at me. When he finally spoke, his voice was sickeningly calm.

“You should've knocked, Rhaella.”

Those words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back half a step, letting out a disbelieving scoff. “Knocked? Jason… are you insane? This is our bedroom!”

Dahlia snorted from the bed. She propped herself up on her elbows, her hair spilling over her shoulders. “Actually, sweetheart…” she gestured around the room. “...this is his bedroom. You just sleep here.”

I ignored her and kept my eyes locked on Jason. “How long?” My voice cracked. “How long has this been going on?”

“Why does it matter?” He paused, his eyes cold. “But if you must know, just long enough for me to know what I want... and what I don't.”

Dahlia climbed off the bed and deliberately let the sheet fall away as she walked toward me. She stopped just inches away from me, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

“C'mon little sis, did you really think Stormwolf would accept a barren Omega as its Luna forever? Every Alpha deserves an heir. Which is something you can never give him.”

My eyes burned with tears as Dahlia's voice dropped to a whisper.

“Stop acting like you didn't see this coming. You're not even Luna material. You're just a filthy wombless Omega.”

That undid whatever patience remained inside me. I tossed everything in my hands to the floor, and my wolf lunged forward in my mind, clawing for control. I heard a growl tear from my throat, and before I could stop myself, I was already moving.

“You scheming bitch!” I screamed, lunging at her across the bed, going straight for her smug face.

Dahlia gasped and for half a second, she actually flinched. Her mask of arrogance cracked, and I saw fear in her eyes.

But before I could touch her, Jason leaped over the bed, stepping between us.

“Don't you dare, Ella!”

He grabbed both of my shoulders and shoved me backward.

My heel caught on the edge of the rug, and I hit the floor with a loud THUD! My head slammed against the marble floor, and air rushed out of my lungs. But the pain in my head was nothing compared to what tore through my abdomen.

A sharp cramp twisted through me, so sudden that I screamed. I clutched my stomach, gasping, my body curling instinctively around the pain.

I looked down and saw crimson liquid spreading across my gown. It pooled beneath me, soaking the white marble tiles. My hands trembled as I touched the wet stain, and when I lifted my fingers, they were covered in fresh blood.

My eyes widened in horror.

“No…” The word came out like a sob. “No, no, no…”

Jason stepped closer, with Dahlia standing right behind him. I saw his eyes drop to the floor, and then to the sonogram lying in the pool of blood. His face had drained of color, and for the first time since I arrived, he looked genuinely shocked.

He slowly picked it up, his fingers brushing against the edge of the bloodstained sonogram. As he stared at the image, his mouth fell slightly open.

“Ella…” he breathed. “Wait... are you...?”

Ella’s POV.

“Jason…” I choked out through tears, my voice breaking. “The pups… please… I can't…”

“You're… pregnant?”

Dahlia snatched the paper from his hand before I could answer. She stared at it, and for a moment, something flickered across her face… before it suddenly hardened. She let out a short laugh.

“Seriously…?”

She turned to face Jason. “You can't possibly believe this,” she said sharply. “You know she's been infertile for years. And now she suddenly turns up pregnant?” Her laugh rang through the room. “She probably slept with someone else. Maybe even fabricated this just to trap you.”

She threw the paper back onto the bloodstained floor and immediately grabbed Jason's arm.

“Don't fall for this. I know her. She's pretending.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“That's a lie!” I screamed, my voice trembling with pain and rage. “The pups… they’re yours, Jason!”

I looked at him, desperately searching his face for any sign that he still cared.

“How… how can you just stand there and let her say all this about me…?”

He said nothing. He just looked at Dahlia, then back at me. His gaze flickered with doubt and hesitation… but it didn't last. He straightened, his face now holding nothing but a cold stare.

“Dee is right. There’s no proof that they’re mine,” he said flatly.

Those words shattered me more than the fall ever could. I stared up at him, my vision blurring with tears I couldn't hold back anymore.

Was this really the man I had fallen in love with? How could he watch me, his fated mate, bleed out right in front of him and still choose her?

Another wave of pain tore through me as the cramps twisted into something more savage. I screamed, clutching my stomach as more blood spread beneath me. Dahlia stepped back, wrinkling her nose.

“Well, you brought this on yourself,” she said coldly. “You attacked me first. Jason was only trying to protect me.”

Through the haze of pain, I clenched my teeth. I knew I needed to save my babies, but I wasn't going to beg them. I wouldn’t give either of them the satisfaction of watching me crawl for mercy.

Using the edge of the bed, I forced myself onto my knees, then slowly to my feet. Fire shot through my abdomen with every movement, but I didn't stop. I picked up the bloodstained sonogram from the floor, pressing it tightly against my chest. Cold sweats trickled down my face as I stood there, trying not to fall.

Jason reached for me, and just for one brief second, I thought he was going to help me. Then he glanced at Dahlia, who was watching him with narrowed eyes, and just like that, his hand slowly fell back to his side.

A weak, bitter laugh slipped out of me.

“You…” I swallowed against the pain. “You don't deserve to be a father.”

I tightened my grip around the sonogram.

“And I swear by the Moon Goddess, if anything happens to my babies… because of what you did…” My voice shook, but I forced myself to look straight at him. “I’ll spend whatever life I have left making both of your lives miserable!”

My gaze shifted to Dahlia.

“You wanted my life so badly? Fine. Just pray nothing happens to my pups.”

Neither of them said a word. I turned away from them and staggered toward the door. Every step sent a wave of pain through my body. Blood dripped from the hem of my gown, leaving small red stains across the polished tiles behind me.

I stumbled down the stairs, one hand pressed against my stomach, the other clutching the sonogram like it was the only thing holding me together. The front doors swung open just as the workers started filing in through the gates. They were carrying the bags and packages from their errands and chatting amongst themselves.

The moment they all saw me, the chatter died instantly. Everyone froze with widened eyes.

One of the maids dropped the basket in her hands and rushed toward me.

“Luna!”

Jason's chauffeur hurried over as well.

“What happened to you?” he asked, reaching for my arm.

I pressed my car key into his palm. “Please…” My voice shook. “Help me. I need to get to the hospital.”

His fingers closed around the key. But before he could move, every servant in the villa suddenly went still. Their eyes glazed over, and a second later, Jason's voice echoed through the mind of everyone in the compound, including mine.

“Everyone, stand down!”

My heart sank.

“Let her leave on her own.”

The chauffeur’s hand slowly dropped. The maids exchanged helpless glances. They stared at me with frightened eyes. But nobody moved. Of course, they couldn't dare disobey the Alpha, not even for me.

And in that moment, I knew no one was coming to save me. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and forced myself to breathe. When I opened them again, I reached for the key in the chauffeur's trembling hand and took it back. Immediately, I unlocked my car, climbed in while struggling against the pain, and then slammed the door shut.

The engine roared to life, and I drove through the gates without looking back.

– – – –

The streets rushed past me in a blur. My vision kept swimming in and out of focus, and the pain in my stomach was getting worse. I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, screaming through my tears.

“Please…” My voice broke. “Please… my babies… just hold on a little longer…”

I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach. “Mommy's taking you to the hospital. Just hold on, okay? Please…”

I didn't care that I was crying like a child. I didn't care that blood was soaking into the driver's seat or dripping onto the floor. All I could think about were my babies. I had prayed for them for years, and I couldn't afford to lose them now.

My head dropped forward, but I jerked it back up.

“No. Stay awake, Ella.”

I blinked furiously, trying to clear my vision, but the road kept shifting in front of me.

Out of nowhere… a deafening horn blasted through my ears. I looked up and saw headlights. A car was speeding toward me from the opposite lane. My heart jumped, and I immediately yanked the steering wheel to the side. The tires screamed against the road, and the car swerved violently.

My vision went dark again, and I felt my body slump forward. My forehead slammed into the steering wheel, and my car horn blared continuously.

Through my fading vision, I saw a tall figure running toward my car. The sound of his hurried footsteps reached me a second before my door was ripped open.

“Easy… I've got you.”

His deep voice cut through the ringing in my ears, and his strong hands slipped around me, one behind my back and the other beneath my knees. He lifted me out of the driver's seat like I weighed nothing.

“Stay with me!”

I tried. I really tried to, but my eyes were already closing. I forced them open one last time and caught a blurry glimpse of his face… dark hair, a sharp jaw and eyes I couldn't quite make out.

As he adjusted me in his arms, the collar of his shirt pulled open, and something caught my eye.

There was a mark on his left chest. A crescent-shaped moon. I knew that symbol. I'd seen it before, years ago, in old books and stories everyone said were nothing more than legends. The mark of a Lycan. But that was impossible. Lycans didn't exist in packs like Stormwolf. At least, that's what I'd always been told.

My mind was spinning, but the pain crashed over me again, and my eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I felt was his cool hand brushing against my forehead as he laid me in the back seat of the waiting SUV.

I gripped his wrist with what little strength I had left.

“Please… just… save my pups.”