I Came Back to Break My Alpha

Caelias POV

For three long years, I had carried the title of Alpha Luciens wifethough only in name and ink.

In all that time, no one had ever addressed me as Luna.

Not the council elders. Not the pack members who passed me in the halls. Not even the man who had placed the ring on my finger.

Each morning, I slid that simple silver band into place and told myself it meant something. That I wasnt merely the woman whose signature sat beside his on an official record. I convinced myself that one day, I would walk down a proper aisle, cloaked in ceremony, while the entire pack bowed their heads and acknowledged me as their Luna. That one day, the murmurs trailing behind me would finally fade into silence.

Instead, three years slipped byand the murmurs only sharpened.

Shes not the real Luna.

Shes temporary.

The Alpha will replace her soon enough.

I heard every word, even when they thought I didnt. Still, I held my head high and forced my steps not to falter. I had been raised to endure, to stand beside my alpha through hardship and doubt. And Lucien had sworn to mepromised methat once the pack healed from the devastation of the war, once Nightborne stood strong again, he would give me the recognition and ceremony owed to his mate.

I chose to believe him. Maybe because I needed to. Maybe because, despite everything, I loved him.

I loved him when his voice turned distant and clipped. I loved him when he spent countless nights buried in work at the border office. I loved him even when the packs looks reminded me again and again that no matter how many meals I prepared, how many bloodstained uniforms I cleaned, or how warmly I greeted his warriors, I was still not their Luna.

I existed in his shadownothing more.

But that evening was supposed to be different.

It marked our third wedding anniversary. Three years since I had taken his name. Three years since I became Caelia, wife of Alpha Lucien.

If he wasnt going to acknowledge it, then I would.

I devoted the entire morning to baking, refusing shortcuts. I didnt buy anything from the market or place an order with the kitchen staff. I made it myselfa moist carrot cake, sweet and spiced just right. I had seen him pick carrot pastries more than once on his way to work. I thought it was his favorite. I hoped that if I brought him something he loved, he might finally look at me differentlynot as an obligation, not as a convenient wife, but as his chosen mate.

He had warned me before.

The border office isnt safe, hed said. Enemy wolves still roam nearby. Stay within the inner territory, Caelia.

But what was the point of an anniversary without effort? What was the value of a marriage untouched by sacrifice?

So I wrapped the cake carefully and made my way toward the edge of our land, toward the stone structure standing watch near the border. Inside me, my wolf paced restlessly, claws scraping at my thoughts.

I just want to see him happy, I murmured, trying to calm her.

With every step closer, the air grew colder, heavier. Pine and iron filled my senses, sharp and unsettling, tainted by the nearness of hostile territory. The guards stationed along the path watched me with open curiositysome with poorly hidden amusement. None stopped me. Why would they? If the Alphas wife wanted to humiliate herself, it was her choice.

By the time I reached the office, my hands were shaking. The silence there felt unnatural, thick enough to choke on. I reached for the doorand stopped.

It wasnt fully closed.

Inside, Lucien sat behind his desk, his imposing frame relaxed beneath the lantern glow, dark hair catching the light. My heart leaptthen shattered.

He wasnt alone.

A woman stood beside him, her hand entwined with his.

Calista.

The name echoed painfully in my mind. His first love. The omega who had disappeared four years ago in the middle of the war, gone without explanation. The woman I had believed was a ghost of his past.

She was smiling at himsoftly, intimatelythe kind of smile that spoke of shared memories and unbroken bonds.

Spread across the desk were official documents. I recognized them instantly. Marriage contracts. My breath hitched as the officiant seated across from them pushed the papers forward.

By the authority of the wolf realm, the man said, finalizing the last signature, I declare Alpha Lucien and Calista lawfully mated.

The room tilted. I staggered backward, my pulse roaring in my ears. This couldnt be happening. It had to be some cruel illusion.

Calista hesitated, glancing up at him. And your wife? What about Caelia?

Hearing my name from her lips felt like a blade twisting deeper.

Lucien didnt even pause. What I had with her was never real, he replied coolly. It was a temporary arrangement to appease the council while the pack recovered. Shes too sentimental to handle the truth, so I wont burden her with it yet. If she causes trouble, Ill have her sent away. Shell learn to live with it.

My legs nearly gave out. My chest felt hollow, as if something vital had been torn away.

As if that werent enough, he opened a small box on the desk and removed a single cupcakecarrot. He set it gently in front of Calista.

I remembered you like these, he said, his voice suddenly warm.

And in that moment, everything became painfully clear.

It had never been his favorite.

The carrot cakeevery pastry, every effortI had gotten it wrong. It had always been hers.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to muffle the sob breaking free. I couldnt stay. I couldnt let them see me unravel. I turned silently and fled, tears blinding me as I ran. The cake slipped from my grasp, hitting the ground and bursting apart in a mess of frosting and crumbs.

Inside me, my wolf cried outwounded, furious, betrayed. He never chose us. Not once.

I ran without direction, driven only by the need to escapefrom the office, from the lies, from the image of him claiming another woman as his mate.

Branches tore at my skin. Darkness swallowed the path. My lungs burned, yet I didnt slow down.

Then I heard it.

A growldeep, threatening.

I stopped cold.

Lifting my gaze, I felt the blood drain from my face.

Rogues.

Six of them at least, their eyes glowing red in the shadows, bodies scarred and wild. I had crossed too far. They had caught my scent.

My heart thundered as I retreated, but they closed in, snarling, teeth flashing beneath the moonlight.

My wolf surged, desperate to fight, to shiftbut there was no one behind me. No guards. No alpha. No pack.

Just me.

And the sting of betrayal still burning on my tongue.

Lucien, I whispered brokenly as the first wolf leapt forward, tears streaming down my face. Why was I never enough?

Caelias POV

Everything unraveled in a blur.

One second I was sprinting through the edge of the territory, lungs burning, branches whipping past meand the next, pain exploded everywhere. Teeth sank into my skin. Claws ripped through muscle. Their snarls swallowed my screams as I fell, blood streaking down my arms, my ribs, my legs, soaking into the ground beneath me.

I fought back. I really did. My wolf slammed against my chest, desperate to break free, but my body couldnt keep up. There were too many of them. I was too slow, too weak. Every strike tore me open again, and with each wound, I felt myself fading, strength draining until the earth beneath me was slick and dark.

That was when I understood.

I wasnt surviving this.

My vision smeared at the edges. The metallic taste of blood coated my tongue. My knees gave out, and somewhere deep inside, my wolf cried outher voice growing faint.

This is how it ends.

Darkness swallowed everything.

---

When I woke, it wasnt to glowing eyes or snapping jaws.

It was white walls. Blinding lights. The sterile sting of antiseptic in the air. A hospital room.

Pain radiated through my body, dulled but constant, wrapped in bandages and stitches. Somehow, impossibly, I was still breathing.

I blinked, my thoughts slow and foggy. W-where am I?

Youve regained consciousness, a gentle voice replied. A nurse stepped into view, her expression careful, almost mournful. You suffered severe blood loss, but youre stable now. You were brought in by another Alpha. He found you near the border saved your life.

I barely processed that before she hesitated, fingers tightening around her clipboard.

Theres something else, she said quietly. You were approximately one month along. The trauma was too much. Im very sorrythe pregnancy couldnt be saved.

The words didnt make sense at first.

Pregnant?

My chest constricted as the meaning crashed down on me. I hadnt known. There had been no signs, no warning. And now

No, I breathed, clutching the sheets as if they could anchor me. Please no

The sound that tore out of me didnt feel human. A baby. My baby. Gone before Id even had the chance to feel it, to protect it. The pain hollowed me out, sharper than the wounds on my body. I hadnt just lost blood that nightI had lost something irreplaceable.

The nurse rested a hand on my arm. You need to rest. Healing takes time.

But how did someone recover when the damage ran deeper than flesh?

---

Time blurred after that. Hours, maybe daysit all melted together.

What I did notice was the scent.

It lingered faintly on my skin, woven into the sheets, unmistakable. Alpha scent. Strong. Steady. Earth and storm and pine. It grounded me without trying.

It wasnt Lucien.

Someone else had brought me here.

Whoever he was why had he bothered?

With shaking fingers, I reached for my phone. If anyone should know I was alive, it was my husband. My Alpha.

I called him.

Once.

Again.

And again.

Each unanswered ring tightened the knot in my chest.

Swallowing panic, I opened my social media, hopingdesperatelyto send him a message.

Instead, the screen shattered what little composure I had left.

A post. Public. Fresh.

Calista.

She stood beside Lucien, both of them relaxed, smiling effortlessly. They were on a yacht, ocean stretching endlessly behind them. His arm rested around her waist as if it belonged there.

The caption felt like a knife driven straight through me.

Counting down to our wedding ceremony.

My phone slipped from my hand.

The room closed in as I struggled to breathe. While I had been torn apart at the borderwhile I lost a child I hadnt even known existedhe had been with her. Laughing. Planning a future.

I folded into myself, sobs wracking my body. I thought Id already reached the limit of how much betrayal I could endure.

I was wrong.

---

The door flew open.

Lucien stormed inside, anger etched into every line of his face. Why didnt you make more of an effort to reach me when you were in danger?

His tone cut deeper than claws ever had.

I flinched, staring at him. Words gathered in my throat and died there. What was I supposed to say? That I had screamed his name? That I had called until my hands shook and my vision blurred?

My silence only fueled his irritation. He crossed his arms, looming. Do you have any idea how irresponsible that was? Going anywhere near the border without protection? You never think these things through.

Something inside me finally gave way.

Even nowafter everythinghe wasnt worried about me. Only about what Id done wrong.

So its on me, I murmured, eyes fixed on the blanket. Almost dying was my mistake too.

He didnt argue.

Instead, he exhaled sharply and pulled a container from the bag he carried. I brought you something to eat.

He opened it.

Carrot soup.

Of course it was.

Carrotevery time. Always what she liked. Always her.

My hands trembled as he lifted the spoon toward my mouth. My stomach twisted violently. I couldnt. I wouldnt.

Before the spoon reached me, the door burst open once more.

Alpha! Beta Noel rushed in, panic written across his face. Lady Calista collapsed!

Lucien dropped the spoon instantly. No hesitation. No backward glance. No concern for me at all. He turned and left with Noel, already barking orders, his footsteps fading down the hall.

I was alone again.

The numbness that settled over me was worse than the pain. There was nothing left to shatteronly emptiness.

Then I felt it.

That scent again.

Stronger this time. Commanding. Wild pine and rain and something untamed beneath it. My wolf stirred weakly, recognition flaring, pulling toward it.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, arms folded as he studied me. There was no mistaking ithe was an Alpha. His presence filled the room effortlessly, heavy and undeniable. Long dark hair framed sharp features, his expression calm but intense.

And his eyes

They burned with something that made my heart stutter.

Want some help disappearing from that excuse of an Alpha youre tied to? he asked, voice low and smooth, curling through the air.

My breath caught.

My wolf pressed forward, fully alert now, captivated.

And for the first time in years, something stirred inside my chest that wasnt grief or pain.

It was hope.

Caelias POV

His name was Cassian.

At first glance, I almost didnt recognize him. He stood framed in the hospital doorway, his presence pressing down on the room like a tangible force. Power clung to him effortlesslycoiled, controlled, undeniable. His dark hair fell past his shoulders, his posture straight and assured, his eyes sharp with authority. This was not the Cassian I remembered.

Once, years ago, he had been a frequent guest in my parents pack. My fatherthough never an Alphahad been respected for his mind. He had taught strategy, negotiation, and battlefield foresight, and Cassian, despite coming from a far stronger and more influential pack, had listened to him with earnest attention. He had sat at our table, asked questions, absorbed every lesson.

Back then, Cassian had been different.

Gentler. Awkward in a charming way. Always buried in books, spectacles sliding down his nose, his frame too slender to match the title he was born into. No one would have guessed that the quiet heir would grow into a man who carried command so naturally, so decisively. Leadership had reshaped him, hardened him, turned the boy I once knew into something formidable.

You My voice betrayed me the moment I spoke. Cassian is that really you?

The corner of his mouth lifted, subtle but genuine. Looks like you didnt forget me after all.

Forget him? Impossible. He was the same boy who used to sneak extra sweet buns from my mothers kitchen just for me. Yet the man before me bore no trace of that innocence. He was Alpha through and throughand when he spoke again, my heart faltered.

Want out? he asked calmly. I can get you away from that excuse of an Alpha.

Those words stayed with me long after he left, echoing in my mind during the days that followed. I hadnt agreed right away. Id asked for time instead, my voice barely steady.

Seven days, I had said quietly. Just give me a week. I need to finish things here.

Cassian hadnt pushed. He hadnt argued. Hed simply nodded, unwavering. Ill be there when youre ready. Im not going anywhere.

---

I remained in the hospital for three more days. My body recovered faster than my heart ever could. I mourned in silencethe child I never knew I carried, the marriage I thought was real, the betrayal that replayed endlessly behind my closed eyes.

When the healers finally discharged me, I returned to the packhouse feeling heavier than when Id left.

The moment I stepped inside, I stopped short.

Laughter filled the space. The main hall was bright, the central table overflowing with food as if a celebration were underway. Sitting there together were Alpha Lucien, Beta Noeland her.

Calista.

The laughter died instantly. Every gaze swung toward me.

Oh, Lucien said after a brief pause, sounding mildly inconvenienced. Youre back already. You shouldve let me know.

As if I needed permission to return to my own home.

I didnt respond. My attention was fixed on Calista.

She sat close to him, composed and radiant, a delicate smile playing on her lips. Her posture was relaxed, confidentlike she belonged exactly where she was.

Lucien shifted, clearing his throat. Caelia, this is Calista. An old friend from my childhood. Shell be staying here for a while. Shes recoveringfrom an incident. Some kind of sorcery attack recently.

Sorcery. The word nearly drew a bitter laugh from me, but I swallowed it down.

I know who she is, I said evenly. You two were close. A long time ago.

Yes, he replied too quickly. Thats right. Shes been through enough already. Thats why I left the other dayshe needed me. Your little trip to the border He waved it off. I knew youd survive. None of this wouldve happened if youd just stayed away from dangerous areas.

My breath hitched.

He was blaming me.

My wounds still ached beneath the bandages. The emptiness in my womb throbbed like a fresh wound.

I didnt just get hurt, I said, my voice shaking despite my effort. I lost something. I lost our child

Before I could finish, Calista gasped sharply.

Her hand flew to her chest. Alphaoh noits happening again, she cried weakly. My condition!

She sagged dramatically, her face pale, her body trembling.

Instantly, the room revolved around her.

Lucien was at her side in seconds, gripping her shoulders. Easy. Im here. Youre safe.

No, I whispered, stepping forward. PleaselistenI lost our

But I might as well have been invisible.

His entire world narrowed to her. To her shaking hands. To her tears.

The words about our baby withered in my throat, crushed beneath his indifference.

So I turned away.

---

Upstairs, I went straight to my roomthe only place that had ever felt like mine.

Or so I thought.

The door swung open to emptiness.

The furniture remained, but everything else was gone. My clothes. My books. The keepsakes Id brought from my parents pack. Every trace of me erased. The room felt stripped, unfamiliar.

It hit me then.

I no longer belonged here.

I sensed her before I heard her.

Surprised? Calistas voice floated behind me, sweet and smug. Lucien said this room suited me better. More space. More comfort. More appropriate.

She stepped closer, satisfaction shining in her eyes. It was always supposed to be mine anyway. I left once, yesbut you took everything while I was gone. Even him.

Her tone was venomous beneath the sweetness. In that moment, I saw through the act. She wasnt fragile. She wasnt a victim. She was a wolf reclaiming territoryno matter who she crushed along the way.

So tell me, I asked quietly, turning to face her. This illness of yours is it real?

For a heartbeat, her composure cracked.

Then her face crumpled as if on command. Tears spilled freely. How could you say that? she cried loudly. After everything Ive suffered?

Her sobs echoed down the hallwaytoo loud, too deliberate.

And right on cue, Lucien appeared.

His concern went straight to her. His anger went straight to me.

What did you do to her? he demanded.

I didnt

She accused me! Calista wailed, clinging to him. She said I was pretending just to steal you from her. She hates me! She wants to destroy us!

Thats not true! I yelled, panic risingbut it didnt matter.

Luciens expression hardened. He grabbed my hand suddenly, his grip brutal. Pain shot through me as he yanked the ring from my finger.

The ring.

The plain silver band hed given me three years ago. The one he promised would someday be replaced by a Lunas crown.

He slipped it into his pocket without hesitation. Youre no longer worthy of wearing this.

And just like that, the last fragile thread binding me to him snapped.

I stood there empty, finally understanding the truth.

Every promise.

Every vow.

Every dream I had held onto

All of it had been a lie.

Caelias POV

I wasnt sleeping in my own room anymore.

That realization cut deeper than any injury Id sustained, deeper than the gashes that had nearly ended my life weeks earlier. They had relocated me to a guest roomfour bare walls, a narrow bed, no trace of warmth or belonging. Nothing about it felt like home. My belongings were packed into boxes, stacked neatly as if I were nothing more than a temporary visitor. A stray passing through.

And Calistashe had taken my place.

She slept in my room.

In my bed.

The very space where I had once dared to imagine a futurewhere Id pictured raising pups with Alpha Lucien, where Id whispered dreams into the dark, believing they mattered.

I folded my clothes slowly, carefully, as though the simple act of order might keep me from falling apart. Each garment carried memories stitched into its seams. A scarf I wore when he smiled at me oncejust once. A shirt Id worn on a night I thought we were happy. Ghosts clung to everything, tugging painfully at what little remained of my composure.

Cassians words resurfaced again and again in my mind. One message, and Ill come. He had said it without hesitation, without doubt. If I reached out, he would take me away from all of thisfrom Lucien, from this suffocating pack, from the slow erosion of my soul. The thought made my heart quake. And yet, my fingers never typed the message. Prideor perhaps foolish hopeheld me back. Some na?ve part of me still waited for Lucien to choose me.

Footsteps echoed outside, snapping me from my thoughts. A sharp clink followedthe sound of metal against stone. A delivery.

Curiosity tugged at me despite myself. I went downstairs, my steps hesitant, until I reached the entrance of the packhouse.

The mailbox sat there, unremarkable.

Until I opened it.

Inside was a velvet box.

My breath caught. My hands trembled as I lifted the lid.

A ring lay nestled inside.

Nonot just any ring.

My ring.

The one I had designed myself, sketch after sketch, obsessing over every curve of the band, every angle of the diamonds. Id once shown the design to Lucien half-jokingly, half-hoping, telling him that if we ever had a real wedding, this was the ring I wanted to wear.

And now it existed.

Perfect. Tangible.

Tears burned behind my eyes. Was this his way of making amends? A silent apology? Proof that he was finally ready to acknowledge meto give me the ceremony, the bond, the marriage Id waited years for?

My wolf stirred weakly inside me, a flicker of hope sparking after weeks of numb despair.

I slid the ring onto my finger.

It fit as though it had always belonged there.

Then his scent crashed into the room.

Lucien.

His presence swept through the hall like a storm front, sharp and overwhelming. His eyes locked onto the ring, and the warmth Id been yearning for was nowhere to be found. Rage twisted his expression.

What do you think youre doing? he barked.

I stared at him, stunned. What? Lucien, its my ring. My design. You had it made for me didnt you?

His jaw clenched hard. That ring isnt yours.

The words struck like a blade.

Not mine? My voice fractured. Then why does it exist? Arent you finally ready to marry me properly? Is that not why

Marry you? He scoffed harshly, raking a hand through his hair. Were already married, Caelia. Dont start inventing problems.

Married.

That word again. Always thrown at me like a shield. A contract signed in ink, absent of vows, ceremony, or respect. A marriage that existed only on paper.

Before I could respond, a familiar, cloyingly sweet voice slipped into the air.

Isnt that the ring I asked for?

Calista.

She approached slowly, her complexion pale, her eyes glassy with well-practiced fragility. Her gaze latched onto the ring with unmistakable ownership, and my stomach churned.

I instinctively stepped back, clutching my hand to my chest. No. That ring is mine. I designed it long before you ever returned

Enough. Luciens voice thundered through the room, cutting me off. His glare was sharp, directed solely at me. Give it to Calista. You know shes unwell. She deserves it more than you.

The floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet.

She deserves it? I whispered, disbelief choking me. The ring I created? The one meant to symbolize my place beside you? Youre giving it to her?

His face hardened. Her condition is serious. Ill do whatever it takes to ease her suffering. If this ring brings her comfort, then its worth it.

Something inside me fractured completely.

Youd do anything for her, I said quietly. A grand ring. A lavish wedding. Everything I begged foryet you couldnt spare even a ceremony for me.

Because youre not dying! he snapped. You dont need those things.

Silence swallowed the room.

My hands shook uncontrollably. My chest rose and fell too fast, too shallow.

Calista leaned into him, lashes lowered. A single tear slid down her cheek. I never meant to cause conflict, she murmured softly. I only wanted to borrow him for a little while. Just one beautiful wedding just to feel cherished before its too late. Is that really so wrong?

Borrow him.

The word echoed cruelly.

Something in me broke loosea bitter, hollow laugh escaped my throat. Theres no need to borrow, I said shakily. Take him. Take the ring. Take the room. Take everything. Im finished fighting for scraps.

I turned away before the tears could spill any further.

Upstairs, I gathered everything tied to himclothes hed gifted me, letters filled with empty promises, trinkets meant to tether me to hope. I carried them to the furnace room, my limbs heavy, my heart numb.

The flames roared as I fed them piece by piece. Each item burned awaylies, dreams, a marriage that had never truly existed. Smoke stung my eyes, but I refused to look away.

Then arms wrapped around me from behind.

Lucien.

His scent engulfed me as he held me tightly. Caeliastop, he pleaded, his voice unexpectedly soft. I never wanted things to go this far. I just I cant let Calista die.

His lips brushed my hair as his grip tightened. Ill make it right. I promise. Ill take you outjust us. A real date.

I didnt respond.

I didnt have the strength to.

That night, sleep came fitfully. I was dragged from it by his frantic shaking.

Wake up! he urged urgently.

My eyes fluttered open. Whats wrong?

His face was pale, fear blazing in his eyes. Her condition has worsened. The healers say theres only one solution.

A chill crept through me. What solution?

His hands tightened on my shoulders. Your wolf core.

Everything inside me froze.

You have to give it to her, he said desperately. If you dont, she wont survive. Youll livejust without your power. Please. Dont let her die.

My wolf screamed in agony, betrayal ripping through me.

I stared at him, truly seeing him for the first time.

He wasnt asking.

He was taking.

And in that moment, I understood the truth at last

To him, I was nothing more than something to be used.

Caelias POV

I had grown up knowing, the same way every wolf did, that our core was sacred. From the time we were pups, it was drilled into usprotect it at all costs, guard it like your very soul, because in truth, thats exactly what it was. A wolf without a core was incomplete. Stripped of it, we lost our strength, our fire, our very identity. And still they decided mine was expendable.

Lucien claimed there was no other option. Saving Calista, he said, required my wolf core. When I told him no, his temper erupted, sharp and violent, his words crashing down like a storm.

You only care about yourself, he snarled. So youd really let her die instead?

The pain in my chest was unbearable, my wolf raging and clawing inside me, screaming that this was wrong. But I refused to bend. You dont get to take this from me, I said, my voice shaking but firm. My core is my life. Its who I am. You dont have the right to demand it.

I shouldnt have said demand. Because he never intended to ask.

His command was swift. His warriors seized me, their grips unforgiving as they hauled me through the halls and into the hospital. I fought them, flailed until my muscles burned, but it was useless. Cold restraints bit into my wrists and ankles. The sharp, metallic scent of silver filled the air, making my stomach churn. Inside me, my wolf howled in terrorthen pain tore through me, blinding and final, as they cut into my body and stole the very core of my existence.

When I woke, I knew something was terribly wrong.

I felt empty. Not just weak, but hollow, as though warmth had been drained from my veins. The strength that once thrummed beneath my skin was gone, replaced by a deep, bone-chilling cold. I stared at the ceiling, wondering if I would ever shift again or if that part of me had died forever.

Then I sensed her.

Calista stood beside my bed, radiant and alive, holding a bouquet of lilies and sunflowers. She smiled at me gently, as if she hadnt been the reason my world had collapsed.

Caelia, she said softly, placing the flowers across my legs. I came to thank you. If it werent for what you gave up, I wouldnt have survived.

The scent hit me instantly. My lungs seized, my nose burned, and my throat began to close. I shoved the flowers away, coughing violently as tears streamed down my face.

She recoiled, stunned. Whats wrong with you?

That was when Lucien entered.

His eyes flicked from the scattered flowers to my struggling form, and something icy settled into his expression. His voice was low and furious. What is wrong with you? he demanded. She came here out of gratitude, and you treat her like this? I dont know how you can be so heartless, Caelia.

I tried to explain, but every breath felt like fire. I cantpollenIm allergic

He cut me off before I could finish. He always did. Wrapping an arm around Calista, he pulled her close, shielding her as if she were the one injured.

Stop making excuses, he said coldly. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Then they walked away.

They left me alone in that beddrained, broken, and discarded.

That night, I cried until my body ached, until even the tears hurt. I mourned more than my stolen wolf core. I grieved for my child, for my strength, for the bond I once believed I shared with the alpha who had sworn to protect me and instead destroyed me.

The moon was high when my phone vibrated beside me.

Cassians name lit up the screen.

[Tomorrow, Ill come get you. Tell me where you are. You dont have to stay there any longer.]

My hands shook as I typed my reply. [Im still at the hospital. Ill leave with you tomorrow.]

For the first time in what felt like forever, my sobs eased. Something close to calm settled in my chest.

By morning, my decision was firm. They had taken everything that matteredmy wolf, my baby, my pride. There was nothing left for me in that place.

Then another message came.

Lucien.

[Lets have dinner tonight. After all this, we should spend time together.] He even sent the restaurant name, as if a meal could erase the damage hed done.

I almost ignored him. I should have. But some foolish, lingering part of me wanted closurewanted to end it properly.

So I dressed in the pale blue silk gown I had worn the night we first met. The fabric had faded with time, but it still clung to memories I hadnt fully buried. Maybe I wanted him to see what he had lost.

I arrived early. I waited. One hour passed. Then another. The food sat untouched, growing cold, just like the hope I hadnt realized I was still holding.

When my phone buzzed, my heart sank.

It wasnt him.

It was Calista.

Her post was public. A photo of her nestled against Lucien at a different restaurant, his hand laced with hers, his body turned toward her as if she were the center of his world. The caption read: I wanted Biscoff tiramisu, and he took me right away. My Alpha always chooses me.

My fingers went numb. The phone slipped from my grasp. But instead of shattering, something inside me solidified.

That was it.

I stood, smoothing my dress, and approached the manager. If a man comes looking for me, I said quietly, tall, dark-haired an alpha please give him this.

I handed her a small box.

Inside was the marriage certificatefake, unfinished, just like the promises hed made. Beside it was a sealed glass vial. Inside rested the preserved remains of the child I had lost. Our child.

The last truth he deserved to face.

Then I walked away.

The night air was crisp, biting, alive with the scent of freedom. My heart raced as I dialed the number I knew by heart.

Cassian, I said when he answered. Im ready now.

Minutes later, a black car pulled up beside me. Cassian stepped out, tall and commanding, his presence steady and powerful. His sharp features softened when he saw me.

He held out his hand. Are you sure?

I drew in a breath and nodded. Ive never been more certain.

As I climbed into the car, something inside me shiftednot my wolf, she was still weak and woundedbut my resolve. My will.

The hospital lights faded behind us. So did the pack. So did Lucien and Calista.

Before we disappeared into the night, I took out my phone, glanced once at Luciens unanswered messages, and dropped it into a trash bin on the sidewalk.

No ties. No way back.

When Lucien finally realized I was gone for good, he could tear apart the world searching for me. He would never find me.

Because Caeliathe woman he brokehad been left behind in that hospital.

And whoever I was becoming now she was done looking back.

Caelias POV

The moment Cassians car crossed into his territory, my chest grew tight. The trees here whispered with an energy different from the woods I knew in Nightborne. The air smelled richer, like pine needles after a storm, but beneath it lingered something sharper, something that reminded me of history written in blood.

I saw the large signage: Wind Shadow Pack.

The very name made my wolf stir uneasily. They were the pack that had defeated Nightborne years ago, leaving scars that had never truly healed. I had grown up hearing stories of their cruelty, their strength, their merciless way of fighting. And nowhere I was, willingly stepping into their land, carried by the Alpha himself.

Cassian parked outside a wide stone hall, the heart of his pack. My throat dried as wolves came forward, strong, broad-shouldered, some with eyes flashing gold, others gray. I braced myself for hostility, but to my surprise smiles greeted me. A woman with auburn hair approached, cradling a basket of herbs.

Alpha Cassian, she said warmly before her gaze settled on me. And who is this?

His hand lingered at the small of my back. An old friend. Shes under my protection.

Her smile deepened, and she dipped her head toward me. Welcome to Wind Shadow, sister. Youre safe here.

Safe. The word felt foreign, like something spoken in a language I no longer trusted. Yet there was warmth in their voices, a kind of pack spirit I hadnt felt in Nightborne for years. In Nightborne, every day had been heavy with suspicion, hierarchy, and silence. Here, laughter spilled through the halls. I saw pups darting between the legs of warriors, women chatting in groups as they prepared meals, warriors sparring but grinning even as they fought.

It unsettled me. Could the enemy of Nightborne truly be this human?

Cassian led me through the corridors until we reached an office at the far end. The door shut behind us, and suddenly the weight of everything crashed down.

I turned on him. Why are you doing this? My voice cracked more than I wanted it to. What do you want from me?

His brows furrowed, and for a long moment, he didnt answer. He just stood there, his broad frame leaning against the desk, his eyes studying me the way one studies a puzzle.

You never asked that before, he said finally, voice deep and measured.

Because I had so much in my plate. I wrapped my arms around myself, holding in the ache of what Nightborne had stripped from me. I was too busy drowning in my own misery. But now I need to know. Why me, Cassian? Why take me out of Nightborne? You didnt just stumble across meyou sought me out.

His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring slightly. You think I dragged you here for some scheme?

Didnt you?

Silence stretched. His eyes softened in a way I hadnt expected.

Caelia, he said quietly, you were my childhood friend. Did you forget? We used to race down the riverbanks, train under your Alpha father. I know you can remember me, even at the hospital.

I knew. I had forgotten some of those daysburied them beneath wars and betrayals. But yes I did remember a boy with dark hair and mischievous eyes who used to call me Fox because I was quick on my feet.

I never forgot you, he continued, stepping closer. When I saw you at the hospital, broken and used, it burned me alive. That was not the life I imagined for you. You should have been happy, strong, free. Not He stopped himself, eyes darkening. Not that shadow of yourself.

I swallowed hard, my defenses threatening to crack. So why bring me here? Pity?

No. His voice hardened. Because I need you. And because I cant stand watching you suffer.

My heart stuttered. Need me? For what?

But before he could answer, the office door burst open. Small footsteps pitter-pattered against the wooden floor, followed by giggles.

Two pups ran in, tumbling over each other. A boy and a girl, maybe no older than four, their cheeks flushed from play.

Papa! the girl squealed, her dark curls bouncing as she launched herself into Cassians arms.

Papa.

The word froze me.

Cassian bent to scoop her up easily, his large hands gentle against her tiny frame. The boy clung to his leg, eyes sparkling with the same gray flecks Cassians eyes held. The scent hit me thenwarm, earthy, threaded with his wolfs distinct power.

They smelled like him.

My breath caught. Alpha I whispered, the air suddenly heavy around me. You you have children?

He turned toward me, his expression unreadable as the little girl clung to his neck.

Yes, he said simply.

The room spun. My heart thudded in my chest, too fast, too loud. Of all the things I had expecteddemands, manipulation, even betrayalthis, I hadnt seen coming.

Caelias POV

I never expected my world to turn upside down twice in a matter of days. Leaving Nightborne Pack behind should have been the end of my suffering. But arriving hereat Wind Shadow Pack, the very pack that crushed ours in the war years agoopened new wounds and raised more questions than I had the strength to answer.

Cassian had always been a shadow in the background of my memories. A childhood friend, a fleeting comfort from years ago, now standing before me as Alpha of the strongest pack in existence. His pack radiated warmth, strength, and unity. The air itself carried a different energy, pups laughed freely in the courtyard, warriors sparred without bitterness, and wolves greeted each other with affection I had never seen in Nightborne.

And yet, while everyone else treated me kindly, the thought gnawed at me: I was in enemy territory.

That night, Cassian asked me to meet him in his office.

I sat across from him, the fire crackling in the hearth casting his face in gold. His gaze lingered on me, quiet but piercing, as if he was waiting for me to say the words first.

Finally, I did. Why? My voice trembled despite how hard I tried to steady it. Tell me what you want. I know you helped me not just because I was your childhood friend. You went to war against Nightborne. Against Lucien. Against everything I thought I belonged to. What do you want from me?

The Alpha leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled. He didnt say anything.

I narrowed my eyes, frustration rising. I didnt ask you to take me in. You appeared, like you always do, when everything was falling apart. And I was too tired to question it. But Im asking now. Why?

His eyes softened. Because youre not just anyone to me. As I have said, you were my childhood friend. I thought youd be happy, Caelia. I wanted to believe you grew into the life you deserved. But what I found His jaw tightened, a flash of anger sharpening his features. What I found was you bleeding, broken, stripped of everything. And I couldnt stand it. I told you already, right?

The room fell silent except for the fire. I swallowed hard, my chest aching at the sincerity in his tone. I wasnt used to anyone caring for me without a hidden agenda.

I tried to steady myself with logic. What do you need my help for? You said that earlier. How could someone like me possibly help an Alpha like you? Does it has something to do with your children? The twins I saw?

His gaze softened again, a shadow of grief crossing his expression. Yes. My twins. Nathalia and Nathan. Theyre my world. I need someone to stand as their mother figure. He paused, his next words carrying a heavy weight. Their real mother, my fated mate, died the night they were born. That was years agothe same time my pack claimed victory in the war.

I felt the breath leave me. His fated mate. The bond every wolf dreamed of, severed so cruelly.

Im sorry, I whispered. And I meant it. Losing Lucien had hurt me, but I could only imagine the agony of losing a mate, the other half of your soul, and being left to carry on.

But before I could say more, Cassians nose flared. His head tilted, and a frown creased his brow. Wait. His voice was sharp now, demanding. Why can I barely smell you? Your scentits faint, almost fading. Caelia, what happened?

I stiffened. My hands clenched in my lap. I hadnt wanted to speak of it, but his question cut straight through me.

Finally, I lifted my chin, my voice breaking. Because my wolf core was taken from me.

The room went still.

Cassians eyes darkened, his Alpha aura flaring like a storm breaking loose. His voice was low, dangerous, filled with barely restrained fury. Who. Did. This.

Tears pricked my eyes, but I forced the words out. Alpha Lucien ordered it. They said I was selfish for refusing. They took my wolf core by force to save her. Calista. His mistress. I was nothing but a tool to him.

The fury in Cassians expression was like nothing Id ever seen. His wolf surged, shadows flickering in the corners of the room as his power radiated outward. His hands trembled with rage as he held his children close.

I will avenge you, he swore, voice raw. By the Moon, Caelia, I swear Nightborne Pack will pay for what they did. They ripped the heart out of a wolf without consent, and they will bleed for it.

My lips trembled. I should have felt afraid of his wrath, but instead I felt safe. For the first time in years, someone was angry for me. Not at me. For me.

That night, I retreated to the guest room Cassian had given me. I thought I would cry myself to sleep again, but fate had other plans.

A soft knock sounded at my door, followed by giggles. Before I could respond, the door creaked open and two small figures slipped inside.

Nathalia? Nathan? I whispered.

The twins grinned, tiptoeing toward my bed. Papas still in his office, Nathalia whispered conspiratorially. Can we stay here with you?

I blinked, startled. Why why me?

Nathan climbed onto the bed with all the boldness of a young wolf. Because youre pretty. And you smell nice. Even if its a little weak.

Nathalia nodded eagerly. And will you be our mama?

My heart clenched. The question pierced deeper than any wound Lucien had left. I froze, unsure how to answer, unsure what my place in their lives could ever be.

I The words caught in my throat. I cant promise that.

They pouted but didnt push. Instead, they wriggled under the blankets on either side of me, small hands clutching at my dress. Then just stay with us tonight, Nathalia murmured, her eyes already drifting shut.

I lay there stiffly at first, overwhelmed by the warmth of their tiny bodies beside me. But slowly, slowly, I relaxed. Their breathing evened, their little hands never letting go of me, as if I was already theirs.

And before I knew it, exhaustion claimed me too. For the first time in years, I fell asleep not to the sound of my own sobbing, but to the steady heartbeat of hope.

Caelias POV

Cassian was waiting for me in his office when I finally gathered enough courage to face him. His office was large, lined with shelves of old books and war maps that bore the scars of too many battles. A wolfs skull hung above the fireplacea symbol of strength, of victory, of survival.

He was sitting behind the desk, but his posture wasnt one of authority today. He wasnt leaning back in arrogance the way most alphas would. No, he looked heavy. Like a man who carried not only the weight of a pack but the shadows of ghosts as well.

Caelia, he said as soon as I entered. His voice was steady, deep, but it carried a softness that only made my stomach twist more. Sit.

I did, though my instincts screamed to keep standing, to keep my walls high. I sat across from him, gripping my hands together so tightly my knuckles turned pale.

Im not going to waste your time, Cassian began, locking his dark eyes with mine. Aside from wanting you to be the mother figure or the twins, I realized I needed a Luna.

I blinked. Of all the words I thought would come from his mouth, those were not it. Excuse me?

You heard me. His jaw flexed, but his gaze didnt falter. The elders are pressing harder than ever. They want balance restored to the pack. An Alpha cannot stand alone for long, not when he has children to raise and enemies watching for weakness.

The mention of his children made my heart squeeze. Nathalia and Nathan, their laughter from last night still rang in my ears. The way they curled against me as though Id been their mother all along. I swallowed hard. So you think I could be that Luna? For you? For them?

Yes. His voice was unshaken, but his hand clenched the desk for a moment before he forced it to relax. I didnt plan this. Spirits know I didnt expect to find you again, not like this. But when I saw you, Caelia something inside me decided. I will not stand by and let you rot under the shadow of Lucien and his mistress. Not when I can give you strength again.

I shifted in my seat, trying to breathe through the storm of emotions his words stirred in me.

His lips curved in something that wasnt quite a smile. So give me your hand as my Luna. Your presence at my side. Be the mother my pups need, and in return I will see to it that you are made whole again. I will help you regain a wolf core.

My heart lurched violently. Another core? I thought such a thing was impossible. I thought once stripped, once violated in that way, there was no path to restoration. You cant be serious, I whispered. Youre promising me something that cant even

It can, Cassian cut me off firmly. The spirits dont leave a wolf abandoned forever. Its rare, yes. Its dangerous, yes. But it is possible. And I will help you avenge what was stolen from you. I will see Lucien and that leech Calista crawl for what theyve done.

His words should have lit a fire in me, but instead, they left me trembling. To be a Luna? To stand beside the Alpha of the strongest pack? To gain back the wolf core that had been ripped from me without mercy?

It was everything I thought I wanted. And yet, it terrified me.

Cassian My voice cracked, and I quickly looked away. I promised myself I would never be tied to an Alpha again. That I would never let my worth be measured by the title of Luna.

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. His scent rolled over me, strong and grounding, cedar, smoke, and the faint sweetness of pine sap. This isnt about titles. Its about survival. Its about justice.

My breath caught. He knew exactly where to strike. I had felt it too, that strange bond forming already with Nathalia and Nathan. They were innocent, yet they carried so much loss in their small eyes. And I had been weak, letting my heart melt the moment they asked me if I could be their mama.

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping the stone floor. I I need time to think.

Of course. Cassians voice followed me, calm but heavy with meaning. But Caelia dont take too long. The world doesnt wait for broken wolves to mend themselves.

---

That night, I sat in the chamber they had given me. The room was warm, more comfortable than any space I had ever known in Nightborne Pack. A soft fire burned in the hearth, and the walls were lined with tapestries that told stories of Wind Shadows victories. I pulled my knees to my chest on the bed, staring at the flames, my thoughts tearing me apart.

A Luna. His Luna. Could I?

Part of me screamed no. I had lost too much, bled too much, been betrayed too much. I didnt belong in that role.

And yet what choice did I have if I wanted vengeance? If I wanted my wolf core back?

I let my head fall to my knees. The fire crackled louder, echoing the storm inside me.

I thought of Lucienhis cold smile, his dismissive eyes, the way he had let them rip my wolf core from me as if I were nothing but a vessel to fuel his mistress. The humiliation, the agony, the endless silence of my wolf being gone. I wanted him to suffer. Goddess, I wanted him to beg.

But to do that, I would have to tie myself to Cassian.

My chest ached. I didnt know if it was because I still mourned the wolf core and the baby I had lost, or if it was because I feared what standing beside Cassian would mean for my heart. He had once been my childhood friend. He had once made me laugh until my sides hurt.

Sleep came slowly, jagged and restless.

By morning, I didnt even have the chance to settle my thoughts before a knock sounded at my door. One of Cassians guards handed me a sealed parchment.

A royal seal.

I broke it open with trembling hands. The words were simple but heavy as stone:

You are cordially invited to attend the Royal Gathering at Mooncrest Hall. Attendance is mandatory for Alphas and their Lunas.

My blood turned cold as I read the final line.

Alpha Lucien of Nightborne Pack is expected to attend. Accompanied by a chosen guest.

A bitter laugh escaped my throat. Of course. Of course fate would play such a cruel trick on me. After swearing I would never cross Luciens path again, the Moon Royals themselves demanded it.

Sooner than expected, I would see him again.

And this time I wouldnt be the same Caelia who once bowed her head to him.