My husband, Alpha Enzo, used to be loving and caring even though we weren't mates. I never thought he'd turn cold and distant toward me. I thought giving birth to our child would earn his affection back, but on the day of my child's birth, he left the manor to go to my best friend, Marie. Apparently, she was giving birth on the same day as me.

I wanted to cry and break down, but I had to make sure my child was safely delivered. So, I focused all my strength on giving birth. I was exhausted and barely conscious when I heard my baby cry.

"It's a boy," I heard someone say.

A smile formed on my lips as my consciousness slipped. My baby was a boy, and I couldn't wait to see my husband's reaction when he met his heir. Maybe, he'd finally be reminded of his love for me. And he'd finally forget about Marie who kept vying for his attention.

However, when I woke up, everyone was sullen around me.

"Has Enzo arrived yet?" I asked. "Is the baby with him?" I added when I didn't see the child anywhere.

"Your daughter didn't survive," one of the midwives said. "She was lifeless the moment she came out."

"Y-You're wrong! There must be a mistake. I heard the baby cry. And someone said it was a boy, not a girl." I refused to believe that my child didn't survive. This must be one sick joke. "Give me my son!"

Alpha Enzo suddenly came in with a stern look on his face. The relief I felt when I saw him was short-lived because of the disdain and fury that filled his eyes.

"Is it true?" he asked. "Did you really kill our daughter!"

Enzo might've turned cold and distant, but he had never raised his voice toward me. I flinched, processing what he just said. How could he ask me that?

"W-What are you talking about?" I asked. "How could you say that?"

"They said our child didn't survive because you consumed a lot of alcohol during pregnancy! Is it because I wasn't giving you attention? Did you resort to alcohol because you were jealous of Marie?" Enzo's voice thundered, his rage unwavering.

"That's not true! I've never had alcohol, and my child's not dead! I heard him cry! Please, believe me," I pleaded as I tugged on his sleeve. "I love you and our child. I'd never do that."

Enzo forcefully pulled his arm away from me. "I saw the child's body. She's definitely gone."

"They must've given you the wrong child because our child is a boy and he was alive when he came out!"

Someone knocked on the door, and Marie stepped in with a child in her arms. I looked at Enzo in disbelief.

"You brought her to our house?"

"Enzo, our son doesn't wanna stop crying. I think he wants you," Marie said. Her voice was sweet but there was something malicious in her eyes when she glanced at me.

"She was carrying your child all along?" I cried. "How could you do this to me..."

"Seeing how vile of a woman you truly are, I no longer feel guilty for cheating on you," Enzo said. "I took her in after I found out that your actions killed our daughter. Marie deserves to be here more than you do."

Marie smirked behind Enzo. When the baby started crying louder, she looked down at it like it annoyed her. Then she callously handed it over to the maid while Enzo wasn't looking.

"When did you become so pathetic? To think I used to look up to you," Marie said, crossing her arms. 

"I'm the Luna of this pack! This is my family's home before it was yours, Enzo!" I ignored my body's aches because my heart was hurting far more. "You wouldn't have been Alpha if not for me!"

"You're wolfless! I did your parents a favor when I married you and took the position! If they were alive, they'd abandon you too for being shameless." Enzo stood beside Marie and encircled his arms around her waist. "What you've done to my child is unforgivable, Bianca. Therefore, you'll be stripped of your title."

Enzo didn’t spare me another second. He turned away like he never loved me–were all those years together just one big lie? Everyone else left the room too, except for Marie.

“I’ve been waiting for you to make a mistake,” Marie said as she sat on the bed and caressed my face. “But you were so careful. So, I made it for you. I fed him lies after lies so he’d despise you.”

I'd seen how she looked at my husband, back when I still considered her my best friend. But I thought she'd never betray me—I was wrong.

“You made him believe I got drunk on alcohol while I was pregnant?”

“Oh, I did more than just that. I caused all your past misunderstandings too…and took your precious child because mine didn’t survive. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your son for now. But when I have one of my own with Enzo, I’ll send your son back to you. I can’t promise he’d be alive though.”

“Y-you witch!” I screamed as I pulled her hair despite my aching limbs. “Do you think I’ll let you get away with this!”

Marie started screaming. Enzo and the others rushed in to help her. Enzo pulled her into an embrace and glared at me.

“She took my child!” I cried, hoping Enzo would finally see the truth. 

“Snap out of it, Bianca! You're making things worse for yourself,” Enzo said.

“She's been lying to you. Why do you always take her side?” My heart was breaking a million times over. This wasn’t the man I married anymore–he would never do this to me. 

“She's my mate! I lost all my love for you the moment the mate bond snapped into place. But I was willing to choose you out of responsibility… and you ruined that by killing our child!” 

“Y-you lost all your love for me?” I asked, my voice shaking. “All those years… gone?”

“Like it never existed,” he said flatly. 

I searched his eyes for the love and adoration he once showed me, but they weren’t there anymore. I covered my mouth to stifle my sobs. How could I lose everything on the day I should be happiest?

“Our child isn’t dead! She took him! The baby earlier, he’s mine,” I insisted.

They all looked at me like I had lost my mind. Marie even had the nerve to look distraught. No one was on my side… I had sacrificed everything for these people, the pack, and Enzo, and yet, they were all going to side with her. How long had she been lying to them?

“You’re leaving me no choice, Bianca,” Enzo said, his voice shifting into one that almost sounded hurt. “You’ll be banished from the pack… in order to keep Marie and my son safe.”

My heart sank at his words. I looked around the room to see if anyone disagreed with his decision, but they all avoided my gaze.

“E-Enzo, I have no wolf… Sending me out there. Do you want me to die?” I said, tears pooling in my eyes. “You’d go that far?”

The forest outside our lands was dangerous for anyone. Beasts lurked in those woods, and for someone who couldn't shift, it was a death sentence--a cruel one because of the torture you'll endure because of the beasts.

I saw something close to hesitation in Enzo’s eyes, but he looked away before I could confirm it. He turned to his beta and said, “Throw her out.”

Beta Leo looked at me with pity before he masked it using indifference. He grabbed my arm despite my protests and dragged me out of the bed. 

They were going to throw me out while they indulged in what was mine. Enzo didn’t even have the guts to look me in the eye as his men sent me to the woods—to my death. If he was going to be shameless and cruel, he should’ve owned it to the very end. 

They threw me out to the forest outside our pack’s land. My body hasn’t recovered from childbirth yet, so I lay on the cold ground as the rain poured. Everything felt numb except for my heart which burned with resentment.

"I’ll take my son back," I cried silently. How could I lose everything on the day I should be happiest?

The sound of leaves crunching made me jolt. I tried to push myself up to look around. My eyes widened when I saw a wolf coming my way. He was huge, and being alone out here must mean he was a rogue. That made him dangerous.

I couldn't stand up to run, so I backed away until my back was pressed against a tree. The wolf stalked toward me, eyeing me like I was some prey.

"Please," I mumbled. I couldn't die here yet. I had to find my son. I had to make those people pay for stealing my title–my pack. 

"Get on my back unless you want to die here," I heard his voice in my head. How could he do that when we had no relation to each other? "Hurry before some other beast finds you and rips you apart."

I had no strength left and no other options. He was right, staying in this forest was a death sentence. I climbed on top of him, exhaustion creeping in as I straddled his back.

**

I regretted my decision when I realized he was bringing me to enemy territory. But it was too late. We were already inside his estate–by the looks of it, he was someone important. Their pack had a reputation for being vicious to their enemies and those who offended them. They were dangerous and feared. How would they treat outsiders like me? 

The maids brought me to a bedroom and treated me. They helped me into new clothes and even gave me something to drink and eat. It was far from what I expected from a pack that others called savages for their cruel ways. 

A man suddenly walked into the room. It took me a while to recognize him, but as soon as he was close, I knew I was damned. It was the Alpha of their pack. 

“I didn’t think I’d see you in that state, Bianca,” he said with a sly smirk. “Tell me, how did the Luna of the Silverclaw pack end up in that forest? 

Alpha Logan was the wolf in the forest? What was he doing so close to our pack? Why did he help me when he hated Enzo’s guts?

“I’m… no longer the Luna of that pack,” I said, looking away.

“Ah, I see,” he purred. “So, that’s what happened. Did your Alpha find his mate?”

My gaze whipped back at him. It wasn’t common knowledge that Enzo and I weren’t mates. We even wanted to keep it secret from other packs because it could be seen as a weakness. 

“H-How did you?” I wanted to ask how he knew, but there had been questions circling about me before. “Nevermind. You probably assume I don't have a mate because you were among those who thought I was wolfless. Yes, indeed. I ended up in that forest because I am wolfless."

Logan chuckled. “Oh, I don’t believe that rumor. I just know he’s not your mate. Besides, you’re not wolfless.”

My eyebrows furrowed as I silently listened to him.

“How could your worthless husband kick you out when you’re a better leader than him,” he pondered as he leaned against a wall. “You even have a stronger wolf. He wouldn’t win against you if you had proper training.”

“Why do you seem so confident about me having the ability to shift? I’d never been able to,” I said. “A-and why did you help me?”

“Right, you probably don’t know because you haven’t awakened your wolf yet.” He pushed himself away from the wall and walked toward me. “I know you have one. And I know he’s not your mate because you’re my mate.”