I gripped the cold edge of the hospital bed, my breath shallow as the doctor’s words echoed in my head. Three months. That was all I had left. My world tilted, collapsing in on itself, but I didn’t let the doctor see me break. I just nodded, whispered a thank you, and walked out of the office like I hadn’t just received a death sentence.

No one knew. Not Alpha Gavin. Not Mavin. Only Daniela, my elder sister.

As I stepped into the car, my fingers trembled around the steering wheel. My son’s face flashed in my mind, his laughter ringing like a cruel reminder. I wouldn’t get to see him grow up. I wouldn’t be there to tuck him in or hold him when he had nightmares. And Gavin—my mate—he’d never know. Maybe that was for the best.

By the time I pulled up to the packhouse, the weight in my chest had doubled. I wasn’t ready to walk through those doors, to pretend I was fine, but I had no choice. I climbed out, steadying myself, and stepped inside. The moment I did, my breath hitched.

Gavin was there. Not alone.

A woman stood with him, pressed too close, her lips grazing his. My stomach twisted as I took a step back, my heart hammering against my ribs. I knew her.

Avery Winstone. The first mate.

My nails dug into my palms as the reality crashed into me. I had never been Gavin’s first choice. I was just the second mate, the replacement.

Avery’s sharp blue eyes flicked toward me, a smirk curling on her lips. “Oh,” she said smoothly, breaking away from Gavin. “The replacement’s home.”

My throat tightened, but I said nothing as she sauntered toward me, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She stopped inches away, tilting her head like she was inspecting something insignificant. Then, she leaned in and pressed a mocking kiss against my cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered, voice dripping with false sweetness. “For keeping my Alpha and my son safe while I was away.”

The words cut deep. Seven years. She had been gone for seven years. And yet, here she was, walking back into Gavin’s arms like I had never existed.

I swallowed the ache in my throat and forced a bitter smile. “You’re welcome.”

She pulled back, turning toward the grand staircase where servants were already gathering my things. My suitcase. My clothes. My life being packed up without a single word from Gavin.

“This is over, Ofelia,” she said, gesturing at the bags. “You’ve done your part. You can leave now.”

A lump formed in my chest, heavy and suffocating. But before I could say anything, a small voice cut through the tension.

“No!”

Mavin’s tiny feet thudded against the steps as he bolted down the stairs, his little arms wrapped tightly around my waist. He buried his face into my stomach, clutching onto me with all his strength.

“Mommy, don’t go!”

My heart cracked.

Avery’s smile tightened, but she kept her composure. “Mavin, sweetheart, I’m your mother,” she said, crouching to his level.

Mavin peeked up at her, his brows furrowing. “No, you’re not,” he said stubbornly. “Mommy is.” His grip on me tightened. “I don’t want her to leave.”

Avery’s expression flickered for just a second before she sighed dramatically. “He doesn’t even recognize me,” she muttered under her breath.

Gavin finally spoke; his voice unreadable. “Ofelia can stay.”

Avery’s head snapped toward him. “What?”

“She’ll stay for Mavin’s sake,” Gavin said. “But that’s it. We’re done.”

My chest tightened, but I nodded. I wasn’t staying for Gavin. I was staying for Mavin. His small hands clung to me like I was his entire world, and I couldn’t bring myself to let him down.

Even though I knew I would. Because in three months, I wouldn’t be here.

Avery let out a scoff, crossing her arms. “Fine,” she said. “If you want to be a nanny instead of a mate, be my guest. But don’t fool yourself, Ofelia. You were never more than second best.”

I didn’t answer. I just bent down, pressing a kiss against Mavin’s curls. That night, after I tucked Mavin into bed, my phone buzzed. Daniela called.

I hesitated before answering.

“You can’t do this,” she said the second I picked up. “You’re sick, Ofelia. You can’t waste what little time you have in a place where you’re nothing but an afterthought.”

I stared at the ceiling, exhaustion pressing into my bones. “I can’t leave him.”

“And what about you?” Daniela’s voice cracked. “What about what you deserve?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Ofelia—”

“I don’t care if Gavin never loved me. I don’t care if he chose her over me. I don’t even care if he throws me away like I meant nothing,” I whispered. “The only thing that keeps me alive is Mavin.”

Silence. Then, a broken sigh. “You won’t even be here to see him grow up.”

I knew that. I just didn’t know how to let go.

Adjusting to my new life inside Alpha Gavin’s mansion was harder than I imagined. Avery paraded around like a queen, reclaiming the life she abandoned years ago. I was nothing more than an afterthought, a shadow in the place I once called home. The first few days, she ignored me completely. Then, as if remembering I still existed, she started treating me like a servant.

I had no choice but to endure it. I was already running on borrowed time.

Carrying a tray of food toward the dining hall, I felt a wave of dizziness washing over me. My vision blurred, and the scent of warm pasta soup became nauseating. I forced myself to focus, gripping the tray tighter. Just a few more steps. I could make it. But my body had other plans. My knees buckled, and before I could steady myself, the tray slipped from my hands.

A sharp scream echoed through the kitchen. I gasped as the boiling soup splashed over Avery’s designer dress, staining it red. The bowl shattered against the floor, and the scent of burnt herbs filled the air.

Avery’s shriek made my blood run cold.

“You stupid woman! Look what you’ve done!”

She gripped the edge of the table, her face twisted in pain. Blisters already formed on her forearm where the soup had scalded her skin. Servants rushed in, but no one dared to speak.

I stumbled back, my heart pounding. “I—I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

Avery’s eyes blazed with fury. “You did this on purpose!”

Before I could defend myself, heavy footsteps stormed into the room. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“What the hell is going on here?” Gavin’s deep voice rang out.

Avery’s tears came instantly. “She attacked me,” she wailed, pointing a trembling finger at me. “She threw boiling soup at me! Look at my arm!”

I shook my head, trying to find the words. “I didn’t—”

Gavin’s glare burned through me. “Enough.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He didn’t even ask for my side of the story. He just looked at me with disappointment, as if he had already made up his mind.

“I should have known you’d try to pull something like this,” he said coldly. “You’re not coming to Mavin’s birthday. You don’t deserve to be there.”

My stomach dropped. “Gavin, please—”

But he was already turning away, guiding Avery toward the hallway where a healer waited. My vision blurred, but I refused to cry. Not here. Not in front of them.

Mavin’s birthdays had always been special to me. Every year, I planned them, making sure everything was perfect. But now, I wouldn’t even be allowed to see him.

Avery turned back, a smirk curling on her lips. “You should get used to this, Ofelia. You don’t have a place here anymore.”

When Mavin’s birthday arrived, I sat alone in my room, staring at my phone. They had left without me, and the silence of the mansion felt suffocating. A notification popped up.

Avery had posted pictures online.

Gavin, Avery, and Mavin stood together, dressed in matching outfits. The caption read: A happy pack. Finally complete.

Tears blurred my vision. The comments were full of praise, people celebrating their reunion, calling them the perfect pack. As if I had never existed. As if I hadn’t spent years raising Mavin, loving him like my own.

Was he happy? Was he forgetting me already? The thought twisted like a knife in my gut. I wiped my tears away, forcing myself to breathe.

A noise outside broke through the silence.

I sat up, heart pounding. I wasn’t expecting anyone. The packhouse was empty except for a few guards. The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors.

Then, a low growl.

Rogues.

I scrambled to my feet, my body trembling. The front door burst open, and figures poured in. Their eyes glowed red, their snarls cutting through the air. My blood ran cold.

They weren’t here by accident.

I turned and ran, my heart slamming against my ribs. My sickness made me weak, but fear gave me strength. I needed to get out. I needed to survive.

Heavy footsteps followed me as I dashed down the stairs. The rogues were bigger than me, stronger. If they caught me, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

A sharp pain shot through my chest as I reached the back door. My vision swayed, but I forced myself forward. Just a little more. Just a few more steps—

A shadow loomed behind me. I gasped as a strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back. A hand covered my mouth before I could scream. My body froze as a low, unfamiliar voice whispered against my ear.

“Don’t move.”

Then, in one swift motion, a small grenade was tossed onto the floor.

A thick, gray smoke exploded around us, filling the air with the stench of wolfsbane. My knees buckled, and darkness crept into my vision. The last thing I saw before everything went black was the outline of a man pulling me into the shadows.

I woke up to the harsh glow of overhead lights. My body ached, but I wasn’t in my bed. The scent of antiseptic filled the air, and I forced my eyes open, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The walls were white, sterile, and cold. Machines beeped softly around me.

Panic set in. Where was I?

A voice broke through my thoughts. "You’re awake."

I turned sharply, my heart racing. A man stood at the foot of my bed. The moment our eyes met; recognition slammed into me.

"Zach?" My voice was hoarse.

Beta Zachary Ryder. My childhood friend. The one I thought I lost forever.

He nodded, a ghost of a smirk on his face. "You’re safe now."

Safe. The word barely registered as memories of the attack came rushing back. Rogues. The packhouse. Running. The smoke. My chest tightened.

"How did you find me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Zach exhaled, crossing his arms. "I’ve been watching you."

A chill ran down my spine. "What? Why?"

He didn’t hesitate. "Because you were in danger the moment you forced yourself into Alpha Gavin’s pack."

Confusion clouded my mind. "What do you mean?"

Zach’s smirk faded. "Gavin isn’t who you think he is. He’s involved in an illegal scheme that has cost innocent packs their lives. Including mine."

I froze. "That’s impossible. Gavin would never—"

"He did." Zach’s voice was firm. "And now, you’re paying the price for being tied to him."

The room spun. I wanted to believe he was wrong, that this was some misunderstanding. But deep down, I knew Gavin had changed. I had ignored the warning signs, desperate to hold onto something that was never mine to begin with.

Before I could respond, the sound of a television caught my attention. I turned to see a news report flashing on the screen. My stomach dropped.

My face. My name. My disappearance. I had been missing for almost a week.

"That’s not possible," I breathed, shaking my head. "I—it was just a few hours ago."

"No, Ofelia. You were unconscious. Your body was weak." Zach leaned forward. "I brought you to a healer."

I frowned. Something felt different. I didn’t feel as sick, as drained. There was a strange energy running through my veins.

"What did they do to me?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Zach hesitated before answering. "They gave you an elixir. It won’t cure you, but it will prolong your life."

Shock rooted me in place. "That’s not possible."

"And yet, here you are, standing without feeling like you’re about to collapse." His voice was careful, watching my reaction.

I looked down at my hands. They weren’t trembling. My limbs weren’t weak. My head wasn’t pounding. It was the first time in months I felt...alive.

But before I could process it, Zach’s expression turned grave.

"There’s more," he said. "Your pack was attacked."

Ice filled my veins. "What?"

Zach clenched his jaw. "It wasn’t just any attack. It was brutal. And..."

His hesitation made my chest tighten. "Just say it."

"Your sister, Daniela... she didn’t make it."

The world shattered. My vision blurred. My breath caught in my throat as a pain unlike anything I’d ever felt crashed over me.

Daniela. My sister. My only family.

Gone.

A sob clawed its way out of my throat. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as rage consumed me.

Someone had done this. Someone had taken her away from me. And I would find out who.

That night, I stood beside Zach, hidden beneath the golden glow of the masquerade ball. Packs from all over had gathered, their laughter and chatter filling the grand hall. My fingers tightened around the mask covering my face.

Then, I saw them.

Gavin and Avery.

They stood at the center of the room, basking in the attention. Gavin looked unbothered. As if nothing had changed. As if he hadn’t thrown me aside like I was nothing.

But my focus wasn’t on them. It was on the small boy standing beside them

Mavin.

He looked lost. His small hands clenched, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for something—someone. My heart clenched as I realized.

He was looking for me.

Then, his small voice cut through the crowd. "I want Mommy Ofelia."

Silence fell. My breath caught. Gavin stiffened beside Avery, but it was Avery’s reaction that made my blood boil. Her face twisted in irritation as she crouched down to Mavin’s level.

"Ofelia left you," she said sweetly, but her voice dripped with venom. "She didn’t love you enough to stay."

My body shook with rage. My nails dug into my palms so hard I almost broke skin. How dare she? How dare she lie to him?

Mavin’s lip trembled. "No!" he shouted, his small hands balling into fists. "Mommy wouldn’t leave me!"

Tears welled in my eyes. He was fighting for me. Even when the world told him I was gone, he still believed in me.

Zach’s hand landed on my arm, grounding me. "Not yet," he whispered. "We wait."

But my patience was gone. My pain, my grief, my rage—it was all boiling over.

They thought they had won. They thought I was gone.

But they were wrong. And tonight, they would know the truth.