Nivella's POV

The moment I returned to the pack estate, I went straight to Razen’s study. It was the one place he always kept off limits, saying it held matters of power and territory that I should not touch.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. My eyes moved across the room, alert. Then something caught my attention. A steel safe hidden behind a tall shelf.

I stared at it for a moment, then walked closer. The lock glowed faintly under the dim light. I thought for a second before entering Navielle’s birthday.

A soft click followed. It opened.

A bitter sound left my lips. So he used her birthday as the code, while he could barely recall mine, always forgetting my birth day and our mating anniversary.

Inside were stacks of documents. Healer records. Payment slips. Transfers made to the moon healers.

I flipped through them, my blood rising with every page. It was all there. Proof of everything he had done. How he silenced the healers. How he arranged it all so Sven’s death would look like an attack from rogue wolves.

Then I found it. The ritual record. Navielle’s name marked as the receiver. Sven’s name written as the offering.

My vision blurred as fresh tears filled my eyes. Not just grief this time, but anger.

He took everything from me. My pup. My trust. My life.

I stared at the papers, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t face him yet. Not until I was ready. This was not just pain anymore. This was war. And I needed to be ready for it.

I took out my crystal communicator and captured every page. When I finished, I locked the safe and walked out.

I headed to the bedroom, my chest heavy with the choice I had to make. I had dreamed of this pup. A second chance after losing Sven. But how could I bring a pup into a world built on lies and betrayal?

I picked up my crystal communicator, my fingers shaking as I called the healer’s clinic.

“Hello, Moonpine Healing Hall. How may I assist you?”

“I want to schedule… a termination,” I said softly. The words hurt, but I couldn’t bring a pup into this darkness.

“Of course. Can you come tomorrow morning?”

“Yes,” I answered, my voice empty.

“Name?”

“Nivella Bloodwyn.”

I used my birth name. If I said Blackspire, they would know I belonged to the Alpha bloodline.

There was a short pause.

“Understood. We will see you at ten in the morning,” the woman said before ending the call.

I held the crystal communicator tightly and took a slow breath, trying to steady myself.

“Where are you going?” Razen’s voice came from behind me, and I stiffened. I didn’t notice when he entered.

I slipped the crystal communicator into my pocket and looked at him with cold eyes. “Just going for a healer check,” I said, my tone distant.

Razen tilted his head slightly, his brows drawing together. “A check? Are you not fine?”

“I am fine,” I replied shortly, walking past him toward the wardrobe to change into my night clothes.

His gaze stayed on me, sharp and searching. “Nivella, is something bothering you?”

I paused, then looked back at him. “Nothing is wrong, Razen,” I said with a faint, bitter smile. “Everything is exactly how it should be.”

He studied me for a moment but didn’t press further. “I will join you soon. I need to wash up.”

As soon as the bathing room door closed, his crystal communicator lit up on the bedside table. I glanced at it, then at the closed door. Without hesitation, I picked it up and entered Navielle’s birthday. It unlocked.

My breath caught as I scrolled through his messages. Then I saw her name. Navielle with a heart mark.

I opened it, and my stomach twisted.

Navielle: [I already miss you. When will we meet again? I will tell Keegan I am going to visit my sister.]

Razen: [Tomorrow, my love. I will tell Nivella I have Alpha duties to handle.]

Tears slipped down my face as I kept reading.

Navielle: [I am tired of hiding. I want us together.]

Razen: [Soon. Once I take my place as Alpha King of Blackspire Pack, I will claim you fully. No one will stand between us again.]

I covered my mouth, trying to stop the sound that almost broke free.

From their messages, they had been together every time she came to visit me. All those times she said she missed me. It was all a lie.

My mate still loved his first mate. My own sister.

I locked the crystal communicator and set it back, my hands trembling with anger.

My sister… my mate… they had been lying to me all along.

Navielle had once been with Razen. Then she left the pack to train in distant lands, where she met Keegan and became his mate.

Razen was shattered when she left. And in that pain, he turned to me. What began as quiet talks under the moon slowly turned into something more. Moons later, he said he loved me. A winter after that, we were mated.

I never knew it was all false. Even after seven winters, his heart still belonged to her. I was nothing more than a stand in, someone he would cast aside once he could take her back.

The bathing room door opened, and Razen stepped out with a cloth around his waist. His eyes held concern as he looked at me.

“Are you sure you are alright?”

I forced a smile, though it never reached my eyes.

“I am fine, Razzy.”

Nivella's POV

When I called his nickname, his body eased at once, as if all was normal again.

His eyes softened as he walked toward me. He bent down to kiss me, but I turned my face slightly, letting his lips brush my cheek instead.

“I’m tired,” I said quietly, pulling the covers over myself. “It has been a long day.”

Razen’s expression stiffened for a moment, then he forced a small smile. “Of course. You should rest.”

There was a hint of annoyance in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

His crystal communicator buzzed again. He picked it up quickly, and the irritation on his face vanished, replaced by a bright smile as he replied.

The moment he finished, he got up from the bed and began dressing in a rush. “Something came up in the pack,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “I will be back in a few hours.”

“Of course. Take your time,” I answered calmly.

Razen looked at me, clearly surprised.

Before, I would have complained about him leaving late at night for sudden pack matters. Now I was telling him to go without question.

His crystal communicator buzzed once more. He shook off his confusion and hurried out.

“I love you,” he muttered as he left.

“And I hate you,” I whispered under my breath.

***

When I woke the next morning, Razen had not returned. He most likely stayed at Navielle’s place. But it no longer mattered to me.

I prepared for my visit to the healer’s hall.

As I sat on the bed inside the healing chamber, my heart tightened painfully. Could I really go through with this?

The healer stood beside me.

“Are you sure about this, Lady Nivella?” she asked gently.

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came. My hand moved to my stomach on its own.

I thought of Sven.

His bright smile… his small hands holding mine… the way he called me mother… the happiness he gave me…

Tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end this life.

“I… I have changed my mind,” I whispered. “I cannot do it.”

The healer nodded softly. “That is alright. Take your time. You may leave when you are ready.”

My pup deserved to live. No matter how dark my world had become, this pup was still a part of me. A part of Sven. I would not let anyone take that away.

As I walked down the hallway, lost in my thoughts, I heard a familiar laugh. I looked up and froze.

Razen and Navielle.

They were leaving the moon ward together, smiling at each other like nothing else existed. Razen’s hand rested on her lower back as he leaned close, whispering something that made her laugh softly.

My blood turned cold. Navielle’s hand rested on her stomach, and my eyes widened.

She was carrying a pup.

They saw me before I could turn away. Navielle’s face lost its color.

“Nivella,” she hurried toward me, her eyes wide with false worry. “I… I was just… Razen came to accompany me for my check.”

“Don’t apologize, Navielle,” Razen cut in gently, placing his hand on her shoulder. His eyes were warm as he looked at her. “You didn’thing wrong.”

I smiled at them. “Yes, you are right, Razen. She didn’thing wrong.”

I stood there, empty, watching them. The way he looked at her… the way he shielded her… it was everything he once promised me.

They both looked surprised. In the past, I would have reacted, would have shown my jealousy or complained. But every time, Razen would scold me for doubting my own sister.

“We were together before, but she’s married now, and so am I. We are only close, nothing more.” He always told me that.

Razen turned to me. “We will talk at home, Nivella. Let me take Navielle back first.”

I didn’t hesitate. “Please, take your time,” I said as I walked past them.

“And congratulations on your pup, Navielle,” I added coldly without turning back.

I left them standing there, both caught off guard.

***

Razen must have sensed something was wrong, because he returned early that night.

“You are back early,” I said, not lifting my eyes from the book in my hands as I lay on the bed.

“Yes. I finished early today. I came back to spend time with my lovely mate,” he said, leaning down to kiss me, but again, I turned my face, and his lips met my cheek.

Razen paused, watching me, but I kept my focus on the book I was not truly reading.

“I feel like we have not spent enough time together. I will take a few days off from pack duties,” he said softly, his eyes filled with concern.

I shrugged lightly. “You have been busy with the pack. I understand.”

Razen frowned slightly, surprised by my calm tone. He knew this was not like me. I had always wanted him to rest and stay with me.

“What’s going on, Nivella?” he asked. “Why are you acting like this?”

Nivella's POV

My eyes stayed on the book as I answered him. “Nothing.”

“Are you upset because you saw Navielle and me together at the healer’s hall?” he asked. “I have told you many times that…”

I cut him off before he could continue his lies. “I said I’m fine. You and Navielle are close, or whatever you call it. I don’t care about that. Now can you let me have some quiet. This book is getting interesting.”

Razen’s jaw tightened, and irritation flashed in his eyes before he stood and walked into the bathing room.

I got up from the bed and went to the kitchen for water.

As I stepped inside, I leaned against the counter, breathing slowly to calm the storm inside me.

Then I heard his heavy steps behind me.

“You have been acting strange all day, Nivella,” Razen said, his tone sharp. “If something is wrong, say it.”

I turned to face him, keeping my face steady. “I already told you. I’m fine. No need to worry about me. Why don’t you go check on Navielle and her pup instead?”

His eyes darkened as his jaw clenched. “What do you mean by that?”

I shrugged and moved away from the counter. “Nothing. Just that you seem more concerned about her than your own mate.”

His patience snapped. “You are being unreasonable again, Nivella. Navielle is your sister. Stop this pupish jealousy.”

I rolled my eyes. “I am not jealous. You two suit each other.”

“Enough,” he growled, and suddenly his hand shoved me hard.

My back hit the edge of the counter, and pain shot through me. I gasped as I lost balance.

I fell, my stomach striking the floor as a sharp cry left my lips.

“You know what? I have matters to handle in the pack tonight. Don’t wait for me,” Razen said coldly.

The door slammed as he left.

Pain spread through my body as I lay on the cold ground. A deep fear rose inside me. My hands moved to my stomach, and panic took over when I felt something warm running down my legs.

Blood.

“No… no…” I whispered, tears falling as I tried to sit up, my vision shaking from the pain.

With trembling fingers, I pulled out my crystal communicator and called Razen. It rang, once, twice, then he answered.

Relief filled me.

“Razen…”

“Don’t call me until you stop acting like a pup,” he snapped, then the call ended.

“No… please…” I whispered, trying again, but his crystal communicator was already off.

A cry broke from me as the pain grew worse. I quickly called for help. I couldn’t lose this pup.

As darkness began to take me, one thought stayed in my mind. If I lose this pup, Razen will pay for it twice over.

Then everything faded.

***

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed in the healer’s ward. A healer stood beside me, her face filled with concern.

“Lady Nivella, you are finally awake,” she said gently.

I blinked, trying to remember. Then it came back.

The kitchen… the blood… the pup….

“My pup…” My voice broke as fear rose inside me.

The healer’s face turned heavy with sadness. She placed her hand over mine. “I am sorry. You lost the pup.”

A scream tore from my throat as my heart shattered. This couldn’t be real. I had lost everything. My son. My unborn pup. All because of Razen.

Tears streamed down endlessly as I cried. Why was everything taken from me? Why was my life falling apart like this?

I cried until I had no strength left. Then I lay there, staring at the ceiling, empty and hollow.

It would have been easier if I had died too, instead of living through this nightmare.

The door opened, and someone stepped in. I didn’t even turn to look.

“Hello, Nivella.” A deep, calm voice spoke.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Keegan Thunderhowl, Navielle’s mate, standing beside me. His gray eyes were cold and unreadable.

I had no strength to answer him.

He walked closer and sat beside my bed.

“I heard what happened. I am sorry,” he said quietly.

Seeing him only reminded me of Navielle and everything she had done. I didn’t want him here.

“Navielle is not here,” I said weakly, my throat dry.

His eyes darkened with anger.

“I am not here for that unfaithful woman,” he said, his voice low.

I frowned slightly, surprised. “You know?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“For how long?”

“A week. You?”

“This week.”

“That’s why I came,” he said, his gaze fixed on me.

“For what?” I asked, my pain briefly forgotten.

“I have an offer for you,” he said. “Do you want revenge?”

My heart began to race.