My wolf howled for blood, the rage within me threatening to snap the fragile leash I had kept on it. My fingers twitched, itching to strike, to tear into Vivian's throat and finally end the sick game she played. But I couldn't.

Not yet.

So, I smiled instead.

A small, breathy laugh escaped my lips as I forced my expression into one of naivety, feigning innocence like a fool who understood nothing. I tilted my head, blinking at her as if I didn't understand the venom behind her words. Let her think I was still deaf.

Vivian's brows twitched, her smirk widening. "You really are stupid, aren't you?" she mused, shaking her head. "I almost feel bad for you."

She let out a sigh, stroking her belly with exaggerated fondness before turning toward the door. I could tell she was done with me, ready to return to the others, to sit at Cassian's side and bask in the warmth of her stolen victory.

I moved before I could stop myself.

My hands struck out, shoving her hard.

Vivian yelped as she stumbled backward, her body hitting the cold marble floor with a sharp thud. The sound of her shriek split through the air like lightning, high and piercing, shaking the walls around us. For a second, I froze, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs.

Then, as if waking from a trance, I widened my eyes and let my face morph into a mask of panic.

I brought a hand to my lips, trembling as if I hadn't meant to push her at all. I stepped forward, reaching out with fake concern, my fingers hesitating midair as I watched her writhe dramatically on the floor. My breath hitched, and I cast a confused glance at the door, pretending to wonder why she was making such a fuss.

The sound of footsteps thundered through the hall, and then the door burst open.

The pack rushed in, their faces twisted with shock and horror. My father was among them, his furious gaze snapping at me before I could even pretend to explain. Before I could process what was happening, his hand struck across my face.

Pain blossomed across my cheek, the sting sinking deep into my bones. My breath hitched as I turned, my wide eyes locking onto my father's furious gaze. His expression was filled with nothing but disappointment and rage.

"You disgraceful girl," he spat, his voice like ice. "What have you done?"

My heart pounded against my ribs. I barely had a moment to process the searing pain before Cassian rushed past me. He didn't spare me a glance, didn't hesitate for even a second. Instead, he knelt beside Vivian, his arms wrapping around her protectively as he lifted her effortlessly into his embrace.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was laced with concern, his golden eyes scanning her face for any sign of injury.

Vivian whimpered, clutching her stomach as if cradling something precious.

Cassian's gaze finally snapped at mine, burning with unrestrained fury. "If anything happens to my child," he growled, not caring to sign due to his frustration, his voice a low, dangerous threat, "I swear, Anna, you will pay."

My breath caught in my throat.

His child?

My thoughts spiraled. My ears rang with the weight of that single sentence. I had known Vivian was pregnant, but I had never once considered that Cassian, MY mate, could be the father.

I felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath me.

I forced my expression into something unreadable, letting my lips part in silent confusion. I glanced around, taking in the cold stares of the pack, the way they sneered in disgust, how their whispered words dripped with disdain.

"How could she?" someone whispered.

"She's lost all reason," another voice murmured, filled with disgust.

"She's dangerous. A Luna who would harm an unborn child? Pathetic."

"She's deaf, but she's still a threat."

"No wonder the Moon goddess won't let her have a child. She will only hurt them."

Their words sliced through me like daggers, each one carving into my already fractured soul. My hands trembled at my sides as I struggled to keep my breathing steady, to suppress the overwhelming urge to scream.

I lifted my gaze to Cassian, searching for something, anything, that could disprove what I had just heard. But there was nothing. No hesitation, no regret, no second thoughts.

Just pure, unfiltered rage and protectiveness, for Vivian. .

Cassian's grip on Vivian tightened as he turned away, his entire presence dismissing me as if I were nothing.

One by one, they all left. My father, my pack, my mate.

I was alone.

The weight of their absence pressed down on me, and I stood there, unmoving, my hands curled into tight fists. My jaw clenched, my breathing shallow as I stared at the empty doorway. Another emotion slowly crept in, eclipsing the pain.

The house hovered before me, silent and empty, a shell of what it once was.

I stepped inside, my fingers trailing along the wooden walls, tracing the memories embedded within them. This was the home Cassian and I had built together, the place where I had once envisioned raising our family. A cruel illusion, nothing more.

My footsteps echoed in the hollow space as I made my way through the familiar halls. Every corner held remnants of the life I had foolishly believed was mine to keep. Cassian had been kind to me, treating me with tenderness after miscarriages, making me feel full despite the loss of life.

I thought it was his way of showing that no matter what, he would always love me. That, even without a child, he would not abandon me and would stay with me forever.

The laughter, the whispered promises, the fleeting touches...

All wasted.

My fingers curled into a fist as I exhaled shakily.

I entered the bedroom and pulled out an old wooden chest, my hands steady despite the storm raging within me. Inside were the belongings I had collected over the years, keepsakes of a love that no longer existed. I packed methodically, folding each piece of clothing with precision that felt almost mechanical.

Then my hand brushed against something soft.

A tiny, unfinished blanket.

The breath in my lungs stilled as I picked it up, running my fingers over the delicate embroidery. I had stitched it myself when I first discovered I was carrying Cassian's child, dreaming of the day I would wrap my little one in its warmth.

Now, it was nothing but a painful reminder of what had been taken from me.

I placed a trembling hand over my stomach, my heart twisting painfully.

It felt…it was empty.

It always would. I would never carry another child, never feel the flutter of life inside me again. A part of me had died the moment my baby was stolen from me.

No more.

I clenched my jaw, my grief hardening into resolve. Staying here, in this place, among these people, would only destroy me further. I had to leave.

As night fell, I stood before the mirror, a small vial in my hands. The liquid inside shimmered faintly under the dim candlelight. A scent-erasing serum, brewed from rare herbs, one that would sever my connection to the pack and cloak my presence from their senses.

I uncorked the vial and swallowed its contents in one swift motion. A bitter, numbing cold spread through my veins, but I welcomed it. It meant I was free.

With nothing left to bind me here, I stepped out into the night and vanished into the darkness.

At the healer's quarters, a tense silence filled the air. Vivian lay on the cot, cradling her stomach as the healers worked around her. Her dramatics had drawn the attention of many, but only Cassian lingered. He stood with arms crossed, his expression unreadable, though his eyes remained locked onto Vivian's form.

One of the healers, an older woman with years of experience, sighed as she washed her hands. "It's strange, isn't it?" she mused, mostly to herself. "Your family's luck has been rather unfortunate."

Cassian's gaze flickered to her. "What do you mean?"

The healer wiped her hands clean before turning to him. "First, Anna had an illness before and went over a couple of miscarriages. We weren't sure if she would recover. Good thing it went well for her. And now, Vivian ends up here the very next day." She shook her head. "These sisters are unlucky."

Something in Cassian's stance shifted. "What? What do you mean by it went well with Anna?"

"She recovered her hearing yesterday. She is quite ecstatic after hearing for the first time," the old healer gave Cassian a look. "I thought she would tell you firsthand since she quickly left before I could give her prescriptions."

Cassian sweated. "She recovered her hearing... yesterday?"

The healer nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, yesterday. Quite a miracle, really. We had almost given up hope, but then, all of a sudden, her hearing was restored. In time, it will return to normal entirely."

The room turned deathly quiet. Cassian's body went rigid, his eyes darkening as her words settled over him.

Anna… could hear?

Realization slammed into him like a crushing wave. If she had heard—

His stomach dropped.

A sudden chill crept over him, his body shuddering as if the temperature had plummeted. Despite Vivian's voice calling out from the cot, Cassian barely registered it. Without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed out, his movements fueled by a growing sense of dread.

He reached his den within minutes, faster than he ever had before. The door loomed before him. Unlocked.

A sharp pang of unease clawed at his chest.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he pushed it open.

Silence greeted him. The air inside was still, the space eerily vacant.

She was gone.