The world blurred around me.

Elira’s victorious smirk. Dorian’s blank indifference. My parents’ silent complicity. And my son — my baby — smiling up at me, completely unaware of the betrayal tearing me apart.

My wolf whimpered weakly inside me, pacing restlessly as pain clawed through my chest.

Before I lost control, before my emotions triggered a shift I no longer had the strength to survive, I turned on my heel, gripping Aiden’s small hand like a lifeline.

“Evelina,” Dorian called behind me, his tone bored, detached. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer.

I walked away, my legs trembling beneath me, my son’s warm fingers clinging to mine. My wolf wanted to howl, to lash out, to challenge the Alpha who had betrayed our bond — but I suppressed her, burying the pain deep inside.

I didn’t stop.

Not when Aiden kept looking back.

Not when the whispers started.

Not when I heard Elira’s voice, soft and dripping with false pity.

“She’ll get over it.”

My chest tightened.

No.

I wouldn’t.

I would never forgive them.

---

The Ashclaw Pack estate felt eerily silent when we returned.

The guards bowed their heads respectfully as I passed, but I barely noticed them. My mind was too loud, too crowded with pain and disbelief.

Aiden fell asleep almost instantly, exhausted from the day.

His birthday.

The birthday his father chose to spend proposing to another woman.

I tucked him into bed gently, brushing his curls from his forehead. His breathing slowly evened out, peaceful and soft. His innocent face made my chest ache.

He didn’t understand.

He still believed his father was strong. Honorable. A hero.

I wished I could protect him from the truth.

Once he was asleep, I quietly left his room and walked down the long hallway toward our bedroom.

Our bedroom.

The room that suddenly didn’t feel like mine anymore.

The moment I stepped inside, my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the bed, clutching the sheets as sobs tore through me.

Dorian Ashclaw.

Alpha of the Ashclaw Pack.

My mate.

My husband.

The father of my pup.

And Elira…

She was my baby sister.

The one I once carried on my back when she got tired during pack gatherings.

The one who cried to me after her first heartbreak.

The one I trusted more than anyone.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but the memories came anyway.

Uninvited.

Relentless.

Cruel.

Dorian had pursued me relentlessly — like a wolf determined to claim his mate.

When the Nightborne Pack sent me to Paris territory for business negotiations, Dorian followed without hesitation. He arrived the next night, standing in the inn’s grand lobby with a bouquet of pale tulips.

“I couldn’t stay away from you for a whole week,” he had said, his golden eyes warm as they locked onto mine.

I had laughed, calling him insane.

He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around my waist before whispering against my ear,

“Crazy for my mate.”

That was Dorian.

Affectionate.

Possessive.

Mine.

Then we married beneath the full moon, the Moon Goddess as witness. Our wolves had howled in harmony when he slid the moonstone ring onto my finger — the sacred symbol of a bonded pair.

On our mating trip, he took me to the coastal territories in Sydney. We spent weeks walking along moonlit shores, laughing, loving, promising forever beneath the stars.

When Aiden was born, Dorian became even more protective. He refused to let me lift anything heavy. He insisted I rest. Every night, he held me close, our wolves curling together in comfort.

“I love you more than anything,” he would murmur through the mate bond.

I had believed him.

Every word.

Then Elira returned.

She had been studying fashion design in distant territories for years. When she came back, she was more beautiful than ever — elegant, confident, glowing with youth.

Dorian noticed.

I saw it.

The way her eyes lingered on him.

The way she laughed too easily at his jokes.

The way Dorian suddenly found reasons to speak with her.

But I told myself it meant nothing.

Elira was my sister.

Dorian was my mate.

Then one night, I walked into our bedroom.

And saw them.

Curled together on the bed.

My heart stopped.

“Dorian?” My voice trembled.

Elira sat up immediately, pulling the blanket around herself. Dorian, however, simply rubbed his temples like I was the inconvenience.

“Relax, Evelina,” he had said calmly. “Elira fainted. I was helping her.”

And I…

Like a fool…

I believed him.

Because Aiden was sleeping in the next room.

Because I didn’t want to believe my mate could betray me.

Because I loved him.

But now?

Now I knew.

They had been together behind my back for who knows how long.

I sucked in a shaky breath, pressing my hand against my chest.

The worst part?

I still loved him.

Even after everything.

My wolf whimpered again, weak and heartbroken.

I wanted to scream.

To break something.

To make them feel the pain they caused me.

And as if the Moon Goddess wasn’t done testing me…

The communication crystal on my bedside table glowed faintly.

My mother.

I should have ignored it.

But a small, pathetic part of me still hoped she would take my side.

I pressed my palm over the crystal.

“H-hello…”

Her voice came through, calm and dismissive.

“You’re still crying? Honestly, Evelina, stop being dramatic.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

“Elira is younger than you,” she continued. “She deserves happiness too.”

My grip tightened around the crystal.

“And me?” My voice cracked. “Don’t I deserve happiness too?”

There was a pause.

Then my father’s voice joined through the link.

“Don’t be selfish, Evelina. Think about Aiden. Dorian will soon be Elira’s mate. It’s best if you cooperate.”

Something inside me snapped.

I hurled the crystal across the room.

It shattered against the stone wall, fragments scattering across the floor.

Then I buried my face into the pillow and screamed, my voice raw and broken as my wolf howled in agony inside me.

This wasn’t just Dorian’s betrayal.

It was everyone’s.

My parents.

My sister.

My mate.

Every person I loved…

Had thrown me away like I meant nothing.

But if they thought I would accept this…

If they thought I would cooperate…

They were terribly wrong.

I woke up to an eerie silence.

I didn’t remember when exhaustion pulled me under — whether I had cried myself to sleep or simply lost consciousness from the pain. My body felt heavy, like I had been crushed beneath a mountain. My head throbbed, sharp and relentless, like claws digging into my skull.

But none of that mattered.

Because the moment I sat up, I realized—

Aiden wasn’t in his bed.

My heart dropped violently, my wolf instantly snapping awake inside me.

Aiden?

A faint unease spread through our bond. It was weak — so faint it was barely there — but I could still sense him. He was safe.

Just… far.

Too far.

Panic flooded me anyway.

I bolted out of the room, my bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.

“Aiden?” My voice cracked as I rushed down the hallway. “Aiden!”

I pushed open his door.

Empty.

The blankets were messy, like he had gotten up early. His favorite stuffed wolf lay abandoned on the bed.

My heart pounded harder.

I checked the bathing chamber.

Nothing.

The sitting room.

Nothing.

“Aiden!” My voice echoed through the silent estate.

The guards outside shifted uneasily, sensing my distress, but none of them had seen him. Or worse — they had orders not to interfere.

My hands trembled as I grabbed the communication stone from the table and pressed my thumb against it, calling my mother through the family link.

She answered after a few seconds.

Her voice was calm. Almost bored.

“Oh, Evelina. Finally awake?”

I could barely breathe. “Where’s Aiden?”

“With us, of course,” she replied casually. “We’re celebrating his birthday.”

My grip tightened around the stone.

“What?” My voice shook. “Without me?”

“Well, you were asleep,” she sighed. “Elira and Dorian arranged a small gathering. He’s having so much fun.”

My wolf growled weakly inside me.

“You took my son while I was sleeping?” My voice trembled with anger. “Without telling me?”

She clicked her tongue. “You were exhausted. We didn’t want to wake you.”

My pulse roared in my ears.

“Let me speak to him. Now.”

There was a brief pause.

Then she laughed softly, dismissively.

“Evelina, don’t ruin this for him. Let him enjoy himself for once.”

“Enjoy?” My voice cracked. “He’s my son!”

“Then stop making his life miserable just because your mate chose your sister.”

My vision darkened with rage.

“Excuse me?”

“Evelina,” she continued slowly, as if speaking to a child. “Elira will love Aiden more than you ever could. You’re always busy — with pack matters, with your healer visits. Perhaps this truly is for the best.”

My fingers tightened so hard around the stone I felt it crack.

“I swear to the Moon Goddess,” I whispered, my voice trembling, “if you don’t bring my son back—”

“Enough, Evelina.” Her voice turned cold. “Stop being selfish.”

The link went dead.

The stone dimmed in my hand.

I stood there, shaking.

My wolf howled weakly inside me, grief and rage tangling together.

Instead of throwing the stone, my fingers moved on their own. I reached for the crystal mirror on the table — a magical communication mirror used across territories to share updates and messages.

The surface shimmered to life.

And then—

My breath caught.

The first image that appeared was Elira’s.

She stood beside Dorian, their hands intertwined, her engagement ring — the moonstone ring — glimmering brightly beneath candlelight.

“Fate brought us together. Love kept us strong. Soon, I’ll become Luna of the Ashclaw Pack.”

Thousands of glowing runes appeared beneath the image — blessings, congratulations, praise.

— Congratulations, Luna Elira!

— The Alpha finally found his true mate.

— They look perfect together.

— I always thought he chose the wrong sister.

My stomach twisted violently.

Wolves I knew.

Pack members.

Even elders who attended my mating ceremony.

They congratulated them like this was some destined love story.

My fingers trembled.

Then another image appeared.

My vision blurred.

Aiden.

Sitting on Dorian’s lap, laughing happily. Elira leaned close, her arms wrapped around him affectionately. Dorian’s hand rested protectively on Aiden’s shoulder.

They looked like a perfect family.

Like I never existed.

A sharp pain tore through my skull.

I gasped, clutching my head as the world spun violently around me. The pounding grew unbearable, like my skull was splitting open.

My hands shook as I reached for the herbs on the bedside table — pain-relief herbs prepared by the healer.

I swallowed two quickly, barely managing to breathe.

But the pain didn’t ease.

Instead, a metallic taste filled my mouth.

Warmth trickled down from my nose.

I wiped it absently.

Red.

Blood.

Panic surged through me.

My breathing became shallow and uneven. My wolf whimpered weakly, her presence fading further.

I quickly called my mother again.

No answer.

My father.

Nothing.

My chest tightened as I reached for Dorian through the mate bond.

Silence.

He blocked me.

A weak, bitter laugh escaped me.

Of course.

With trembling fingers, I pressed the emergency rune on the communication stone.

“H… hello…” My voice shook.

“Emergency line. What is your situation?” a calm voice responded.

“I… I need help…” My vision blurred. My knees weakened. “Please… I…”

The stone slipped from my hand.

The last thing I heard was the distant voice calling my name.

Then darkness swallowed me whole.

---

Bright lights.

Soft murmurs.

The scent of herbs filled the air.

I slowly opened my eyes.

I was in the healer’s den.

Alone.

A young healer entered, startled when she saw me awake.

“Luna Evelina… you’re conscious.”

My throat felt dry. “How long…?”

“You were brought in last night,” she said gently. “The patrol wolves found you unconscious inside your chamber. Do you have family we should notify?”

Family.

The word twisted painfully in my chest.

I let out a weak laugh.

“No… there’s no one.”

The healer looked saddened but nodded quietly.

The next morning, after I was discharged, I returned to the estate.

The moment I stepped inside, my wolf stirred faintly.

He’s here.

I froze.

Then I saw him.

Dorian.

Sitting on the couch like he still owned everything. His posture relaxed, his expression impatient, like he was waiting for something trivial.

My chest tightened painfully.

“What… are you doing here?”

He stood slowly, pulling a stack of parchment from his leather case. A silver pen rested on top.

He held it out toward me.

“Sign it.”

I blinked slowly, my fingers twitching.

“What…?”

His eyes were cold.

Empty.

“The separation decree,” he said calmly.

“The mate bond dissolution papers.”

“Sign them now.”

I stared at the separation decree in Dorian’s hand, my entire body trembling.

The parchment felt heavier than it should have — as if the Moon Goddess herself had written my fate into its fibers.

“Sign it,” Dorian repeated, his voice flat, emotionless, as though the years we spent together meant nothing. As though the mate bond between us had never existed.

My fingers shook as I took the papers from him.

Then I tore them apart.

The sound of ripping parchment echoed sharply through the room.

Dorian’s eyes darkened slightly, but instead of anger, a slow smirk spread across his face — like he had expected nothing less.

With calm, calculated ease, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small velvet pouch. He tossed it casually onto the coffee table.

It landed with a soft thud.

“There’s a million gold marks in that,” he said lazily. “Your severance compensation.”

My breath hitched.

Severance compensation?

Like I was nothing more than a servant dismissed from duty.

Like I had simply outlived my usefulness.

Like I had never been his mate.

Fury surged through me.

Before I could stop myself, I slapped him.

Hard.

The crack of my palm against his cheek echoed across the quiet room.

Dorian barely moved.

He slowly turned his head back, touching his cheek with mild amusement, like the slap had been nothing more than a breeze.

“Feel better now?” he murmured.

My chest heaved.

I grabbed the velvet pouch and hurled it back at him.

“Go to hell, Dorian.”

His smirk deepened.

“Already there, sweetheart.”

Then he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his Alpha aura pressing down on me — not enough to dominate, but enough to remind me of the power imbalance between us.

“You know,” he said softly, his voice smooth but taunting, “Aiden has already accepted Elira as his new mother.”

My blood ran cold.

Before I could respond, the kitchen door creaked open.

Elira stepped out.

Holding Aiden’s tiny hand.

They were both smiling.

My stomach twisted violently.

Aiden — my baby — clutched a large mechanical wolf toy in his arms, carved with silver runes and moonstone accents. I recognized it instantly — an expensive toy imported from the northern packs.

His eyes sparkled as he looked up at Elira, admiration shining brightly in them.

“Thank you, Mommy Elira!” he beamed.

My heart stopped.

Mommy… Elira?

My throat tightened painfully.

“Aiden… baby… I’m…” My voice came out as a whisper.

He turned to me.

But there was no excitement in his eyes.

No joy.

Only mild curiosity.

“Mommy, why are you mad?” he asked innocently. “Mommy Elira bought me this! She’s the best!”

Elira laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Oh, Aiden, sweetie, I just want you to be happy.”

Then she looked at me, her smile faintly smug.

“Evelina, don’t look so hurt. Aiden is just being honest. I’ve been the one taking care of him lately, after all.”

Aiden nodded eagerly.

“Mommy Elira is nice to me, Mommy. She plays with me. She makes Daddy happy.” He hesitated, then added softly, “You should sign the papers so we can be a happy family.”

The air left my lungs.

Before I could even process his words, Elira turned to Dorian.

And kissed him.

Right in front of me.

Slowly.

Intimately.

Like they belonged together.

Like I wasn’t even there.

Aiden giggled happily.

“Mommy Elira and Daddy love each other!”

Something inside me shattered completely.

But I couldn’t move.

I just stood there.

Frozen.

Watching my mate — my first love — kiss my sister while my son cheered them on.

This wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be real.

But it was.

Dorian pulled away from Elira, a satisfied smirk on his lips. Then he turned to me, his golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Now, be a good Luna and sign the decree, Evelina.”

He handed me another copy.

Aiden looked at me pleadingly.

“Yeah, Mommy… sign it. Please.”

Happy?

They already looked happy.

Like a perfect family.

Double betrayal.

A blade driven straight through my heart.

I stumbled backward, my vision blurring.

“I… I need to be alone,” I whispered.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and rushed toward my chamber, slamming the door behind me.

And then I broke.

I collapsed onto the floor, my body shaking with silent sobs.

I had lost everything.

My mate.

My son.

My family.

Why?

Why wasn’t I enough?

Why was I the one suffering while they got to be happy?

I curled into myself, clutching my head as pain throbbed violently through my skull, mixing with the unbearable ache in my chest.

I didn’t know how long I stayed like that.

Minutes.

Hours.

Eventually, I reached for the small communication stone beside my bed.

There was only one person left.

With shaking hands, I activated it.

The connection formed quickly.

“Evelina?”

Cassian’s familiar voice filled the room.

A sob escaped me.

“Cassian… please help me.”

There was a sharp intake of breath.

“Evelina, what happened?” His voice tightened with concern.

“Dorian… Aiden… they…” My voice broke. “They don’t need me anymore. I have nothing left, Cassian. Nothing.”

“Evelina, listen to me,” he said firmly. “You have me. I’m not letting you go through this alone.”

Tears streamed down my face.

“Come to me,” he urged. “I’ll help you disappear. I’ll get you out of the Ashclaw territory.”

There was a pause.

Then his voice softened.

“And… there’s something else. I didn’t want to tell you through the link, but you need to know.”

I wiped my tears.

“What is it?”

“Our healer circle is conducting a trial,” Cassian said carefully. “A new experimental treatment for soul sickness — brain cancer. It’s dangerous, but… it may be your best chance.”

I froze.

“You knew?” I whispered.

“I suspected,” he admitted quietly. “I saw your healer records. I know you’ve been fighting this alone.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“Come to me,” he pleaded softly. “Let me help you, Evelina. Not just with the treatment… but with everything. Let me take you away from all of this.”

I gripped the stone tightly.

This was my chance.

To leave.

To survive.

To fight.

I took a deep breath.

“I’m coming, Cassian.”