He Died Just To Take Another Mate

My AlphaAlaric Vandolphdid not truly die.

He only wanted the world to believe he had, all so he could claim another she-wolf as his mate.

I grieved him. Truly grieved. I broke apart piece by piece, swallowed by sorrow, convinced the Moon Goddess had taken him before we could ever exchange vows.

Then he came back.

Or so I believed.

A man entered our pack wearing Alarics face. The same eyes. The same voice. The same smile that once belonged only to me. I thought my Alpha had returned from death itself until the truth clawed its way out.

There was no twin.

Theo Vandolph had never existed.

It was all a liea carefully staged illusion. Alaric had never been killed. He had orchestrated his own death to fulfill Elowens so-called dying wish: to become his wife before she passed.

But Elowen was never dying.

She never intended to die at all.

She only wanted him.

And Alaric chose herfreely, willingly, without hesitation.

The betrayal tore deeper than any wolfs claws. He deceived me. He stripped me of everythingmy future, my faith, my dignity. Even the child growing inside me was taken when he told me our unborn pup was gone.

That was when I decided.

Fake my death, I said to my father, the Alpha who raised me.

If Alaric could watch me mourn him, then he would drink the same poison. He would grieve me. He would ache for me.

And when I rise from the ashes of my false grave

He will finally understand what it means to lose everything.

...

Avelines POV

The moon has always followed my life like a silent guardian.

I was born beneath its glow, wrapped in silver light, chosen from birth to become a Luna. And tonightof all nightsI was meant to stand atop Moonlight Cliff, the holiest ground in our territory. There, my Alpha, my fianc, was supposed to slide the moonstone ring onto my finger and bind me to him forever.

Alpha Alaric Vandolph.

My Alaric.

That morning, the title Luna of Vandolph felt unreal on my tonguesweet, sacred, earned. As I adjusted the pale silk gown clinging softly to my body, I pressed a hand over my stomach. A quiet smile curved my lips.

No one else knew yet.

But inside me, life was growing.

Three weeks old. Fragile. No bigger than a small fruit. Yet aliveproof of our bond. The future heir of two powerful packs, born of an Alpha and his Luna.

The day meant to crown my happiness instead shattered it beyond repair.

I was riding toward the cliff when the forest-lined road twisted ahead of us, branches whispering in the wind. The driver reached to turn on the radio.

The voice that spilled out was shaking.

This just in Moonlight Cliff has been attacked. Witnesses report an assault by the Lycan Princethe cursed ruler of the East. There were no survivors. All wolves present are presumed dead.

My fingers went numb.

The car swayed before the driver corrected the wheel, his face pale. My heartbeat roared in my ears. Air refused to reach my lungs.

No no, pleaseno, I murmured, shaking my head as if denial could erase the words.

When we finally arrived, the scent of blood struck first.

It wasnt just deathit was violation. The ground was soaked crimson. Warriors of my pack had fallen here. And there, gleaming faintly beneath the moons cold gaze, lay the moonstone ring Alaric had promised to place on my finger.

There was no body.

Only blood.

They said the Lycan Prince must have thrown the bodies into the abyss below.

My legs gave out. I collapsed, clutching the ring to my chest as though it could keep my heart from tearing apart. Inside me, my wolf waileda broken, hollow sound that echoed through the night. Tears blinded me. My hand flew instinctively to my stomach.

I screamed.

Until my throat burned raw.

Until even the moon must have heard me.

When my voice failed, I sat thereempty, shakingthe ring scorching my palm like a cruel reminder.

A week later, we buried a coffin filled with nothing.

Packs from every corner arrived dressed in black. Still, I waited. Some foolish part of me believed Alaric would appear at the gates, laughing, apologizing for being late.

But the coffin descended.

And with it, my last hope vanished.

Then he appeared.

A man walked into the packhouse with the same stride. The same sharp gaze. The same face that haunted my dreams.

He introduced himself as TheoAlarics forgotten twin.

No one had ever mentioned a twin. Not once. Yet there he stood, beside a woman who clung to him. His wife, Elowen Brookefield.

His voice was slightly rougher. His smile too tight. But godshe looked like Alaric.

My heart twisted painfully.

Coincidence, I told myself. Fate was cruelbut not monstrous enough to mock me with his face.

I was wrong.

That night, drawn toward the Alpha quartersthe rooms meant to be mineI overheard the truth.

Voices drifted through the door.

Youve gone too far, Alaric, his mother whispered, anguish thick in her tone. You faked your death. You abandoned Aveline while shes pregnant and grieving. This is insanity.

Ice flooded my veins.

Then his voice answered. The voice I loved.

I had no alternative, he said heavily. Elowen begged me. Shes dying. She wanted to be my wife before the end. I owed her that. She was once my everything.

My chest constricted.

You left Aveline alone, his mother snapped. You left her carrying your child!

Ill explain once Elowen is gone, he replied. Aveline is strong. Besides, we werent mated yetshe wasnt bound to my soul. Shes my fiance. Shell forgive me.

Forgive him?

My legs nearly collapsed beneath me.

I had mourned him. I had buried him in my heart. And all along, he livedwearing another name, lying effortlessly to my face.

For Elowen.

For the woman who once left him and returned only when it suited her.

A sob escaped before I could stop it. I fled to my room, gripping the moonstone ring so tightly it sliced my skin. I wanted to throw it away, to destroy itbut my wolf restrained me, torn between fury and heartbreak.

With shaking hands, I messaged my father.

Father. I want to fake my death.

My phone rang immediately.

Aveline, his voice thundered, what are you saying? What has happened?

I told him everything.

How Alaric chose another.

How he let me grieve him.

How he left me pregnant and shattered.

I want him to feel this, I whispered. If he could die for me, then I can die for him.

After a long pause, my father growled softly. Very well. Rest. I will handle it.

The call ended.

A knock followed.

My wolf stiffened. His scent seeped throughaltered by magic, but unmistakable.

Alaric.

I smoothed my expression before opening the door.

He smiled gently. You dont look well, he said, holding a glass of orange juicemy favorite. You should drink. For yourself. And the baby.

My chest tightened.

Youre so thoughtful, I replied lightly. Theo.

He nodded. Youre carrying my brothers child. Its my duty to protect you.

I tilted my head. Funny how you know my favorite drink. Are you sure youre not my Alpha?

His face drained of colorjust for a momentbefore he laughed awkwardly. The maid mentioned it.

Did she? I murmured.

Yes. I swear. How could I be Alaric? Were different, he insisted, the lie smooth from practice.

I raised the glass. Thank you. Ill drink it later.

Another knock interrupted us.

Love? Elowens soft voice floated in.

I froze.

Alaric hesitatedthen went to her, wrapping an arm around her waist as she stepped inside. She wore the same lingerie he once gave me.

My stomach churned.

There they stood.

My Alpha.

My betrayer.

Avelines POV

I first encountered Alaric years agolong before he became Alpha, when he was still merely the successor waiting in the shadows of the throne. It was during a formal banquet, a night heavy with power and pretense. Jewels glimmered beneath torchlight, crowns weighed down proud heads, and the air smelled of ambition.

Yet somehow, among all that splendor, my eyes found him.

He stood apart, calm and magnetic, like moonlight cutting through darkness. He wasnt my destined matemy wolf gave no cry, no pull, no instinctive recognition the stories always promised. But the way he looked at me made it feel as though fate had already chosen.

When he approached me, when his voice slipped around my senses like silk, I believed every promise he breathed.

You may not be bound to me by destiny, Aveline, he murmured that night, his fingers brushing mine beneath the linen-draped table. But I will choose you every day. Ill swear vows stronger than fate itself. I wont deceive you. I wont hurt you. You will stand beside me as my Lunano one else.

Those vows once felt sacred.

Now, they were nothing but dust.

That morning, I woke with nausea curling in my stomach. My head throbbed relentlessly, my limbs heavy, my wolf withdrawn deep inside me as if she refused to wake. Only three weeks had passed since conception, yet my body already felt differentstrained, altered, preparing itself to protect the fragile life growing within.

I had a hospital appointment scheduled. I couldnt put it off.

When Alaricno, Theocame to my room, concern softened his features. He crouched beside the bed, lowering himself to my level.

Hows the little one? he asked gently. Too gently.

I dont feel right, I confessed, resting my palm against my abdomen. I need to see a doctor.

Ill come with you, he said immediately, his response almost too quick. His hand closed over mine. Youre carrying my brothers childthe future Alpha. I wont allow anything to happen to you.

For one brief second, my wolf stirred.

For one fragile moment, hope flickered.

Then the door opened.

Elowen stepped inside, cloaked in pale fabrics that made her appear delicate, almost otherworldly. She moved as if unsteady, fingers pressed to her temple, lips trembling with practiced weakness.

Alpha she breathed softly.

My muscles locked.

Alarics attention snapped to her as if pulled by instinct. Whatever warmth he had shown me vanished instantly. He crossed the room, gripping her arm as though she might crumble without his support.

Elowen, he said urgently. Whats wrong?

She lifted her gaze to his, cheeks faintly flushed. I dont feel well. I think I might faint.

His eyes flicked toward me for the briefest momenthesitation, guilt, something unreadable flashing there.

Then it disappeared.

Elowen sagged against him, clutching his chest. Please dont leave me, she whispered. Something feels wrong.

He wrapped an arm around her, shielding her as though she were the one in danger.

Ill take Elowen to the hospital first, he said, his tone suddenly firm, detached. You can attend your appointment alone. You understand.

I did not argue.

I went by myself.

The hospital corridors felt endless, sterile, cold. My legs trembled with every step. My wolf prowled restlessly inside me, furious and wounded by his abandonment. When the nurse guided me into the ultrasound room and the screen flickered to life, tears spilled freely.

There it was.

Tiny. Fragile. Alive.

A heartbeat no bigger than a whisper.

Love flooded me so fiercely it hurt.

Later, I sat alone in the waiting lounge, staring blankly at the television. A concert filled the screenmusic loud, vibrant. I hummed quietly, trying to distract myself, trying to soothe the ache clawing at my chest.

Then the camera shifted.

It scanned the audiencelaughing couples, hands entwined, faces glowing.

My breath stopped.

There they were.

Alaric and Elowen.

The spotlight lingered on them. The camera framed them as a pair.

They tried to hide their faces, but I saw everythingthe way his hand rested possessively against her back, the way she leaned into him like she belonged there.

Elowen wasnt sick.

She was dancing. Smiling. Alive.

While I sat alone in a hospital chair carrying his child.

My stomach twisted violently. Rage and grief collided inside me until I could hardly breathe.

Hours later, as I rode back toward the packhouse, my phone vibrated.

A messagefrom Elowen.

Against my better judgment, I opened it.

A photo.

She was sprawled across the backseat of a car, Alarics arm wrapped around her waist, her head resting comfortably in his lap. They looked flushed, radiant, satisfied.

Something inside me shattered.

My wolf screamed, her pain splintering through my bones.

I covered my mouth to keep from crying out.

When I reached the packhouse, desperation took over. I called him. Again and again. My hands shook violently.

Answer me. Please. Ill forgive you. Just tell me its not real. Tell me Im still yours. Ill give you another chanceany number of chancesif you just come back.

Then the call connected.

Relief surged through me

Only to be destroyed.

Soft moans. A womans breathless laughter. A mans low groan.

Alaric, Elowen gasped.

The line went dead.

So did my world.

That night, I didnt change my clothes. I didnt think. I walked back to the hospital in a numb haze, my wolf utterly silent.

At the desk, my voice came out broken.

I want to terminate the pregnancy, I whispered. Its three weeks.

---

By morning, I returned to the packhouse empty, exhausted beyond words.

AlaricTheowas seated at the table, breakfast prepared neatly.

Aveline, he greeted me with a smile. I made what you like. You need to eatfor the baby.

I walked past him.

His hand grabbed my arm.

The same hand that had touched her.

You have to look after yourself, he said softly. Youre carrying my brothers heir.

Dont touch me, I snapped, wrenching free.

I climbed the stairsand stopped.

Elowen stood there.

Radiant. Perfect. Glowing with health and triumph. She looked like a Luna already, basking in something stolen.

She smiled.

I sent you that photo on purpose, she said calmly. And I answered Alarics phone. I wanted you to hear.

My wolf snarled, but my body wouldnt move.

She leaned close, her perfume suffocating. I was never sick, Aveline. I pretended. I needed time with him. And now Ill use every month I have to make him mine againto mark him, bind him.

Youre lying, I whispered.

She laughed. Am I?

She lifted her hand.

A moonstone ring gleamed on her fingerlarger, brighter, far more extravagant than mine.

Better suited for me, dont you think? she murmured. Alaric was always mine. And he always will be.

Avelines POV

The summons arrived on thick parchment, its surface rough beneath my fingertips, sealed with silver wax impressed with the ancient Lycan crest. My hands shook as I broke the seal. The Lycans were legends among our kindrare, old beyond memory, powerful enough that even Alphas spoke their name with caution. They did not attend gatherings. They did not entertain outsiders. For generations, they had remained distant observers, watching the rest of us from the shadows.

And yet, they had called for us.

I understood why well enough. My fathers packThorndikehad always maintained a measured alliance with them. Respectful. Careful. As his daughter, my presence was expected, whether I welcomed it or not.

Still, my wolf shifted uneasily at the thought.

Because I knew he would be there.

AlaricTheo, as he now called himselfcould never ignore a Lycan summons. And he would undoubtedly arrive with Elowen clinging to his arm, playing the devoted husband, basking in stolen legitimacy.

My wolf growled low in my chest.

That evening, I dressed in something I hadnt dared wear since the night Alaric died. Midnight-colored silk flowed over my skin like liquid shadow, molding to my body, the back cut daringly low, baring skin that caught the moonlight with every step. It felt like armor and defiance woven into one.

The Lycan gathering took place inside a vast stone hall, its walls carved directly from the mountain itself. Torches burned with pale, silvery flames, casting shifting shadows. Their presence filled the spaceancient, overwhelming, pressing down on every wolf who dared breathe too loudly. When the Lycans moved among us, even in human form, conversations died. Their eyes glowed faintly, watching everything.

As I entered, attention followed.

My wolf lifted her head proudly. So did I.

I felt his stare before I saw him.

Alaric froze when his gaze landed on me. His expression crackedjust brieflyhis breath hitching as though I had knocked the wind from him. For one fleeting moment, the false skin of Theo peeled away, and there he was. My Alpha. The man who once swore he would love me harder than fate ever could.

Then Elowen latched onto his arm.

She leaned into him, trembling theatrically, fingers clutching his sleeve as though she might collapse without his support. It was repulsive. And he let her hold him there. He didnt take a step toward me.

I looked away.

The evening unfolded as tradition demandedformal greetings, respectful bows, careful words exchanged with beings who rarely showed themselves. But no wolf gathering ended with courtesy alone.

Two Alphas stepped forward to challenge one another. Clothes were discarded. Bones snapped. Massive wolves emerged, snarls reverberating against stone. The hall came alive with excitement.

The wagering began.

Gold changed hands. Furs were thrown onto tables. Warriors offered blades, Betas prized heirlooms. Shouts rang out, fevered and hungry.

Then I spoke.

I will place a wager.

The room stilled.

Every gaze turned toward me.

From my grasp, I withdrew the moonstone ringthe one smeared with blood, the one I had clutched while screaming beneath the moon. The ring Alaric had meant to give me on the cliff.

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the crowd.

This, I said, lifting it high, my voice calm despite the ache tearing through my chest, was the engagement ring of my late fianc. The Alpha who was meant to be my mate. I stake it on this duel.

The silence that followed was heavy, stunned.

I felt Alarics stare like fire against my skinrage, disbelief, something raw vibrating through the remnants of a bond I no longer acknowledged.

I didnt flinch.

I placed the ring before the weaker Alpha. Murmurs erupted into shocked exclamations. To wager something so irreplaceable on a likely loss was insanity.

That was precisely the point.

The fight eruptedclaws tearing, bodies slamming into stone.

As expected, the weaker Alpha fell.

The victor claimed my ring amid roaring cheers.

I smiledsharp, brittlelifted my chin, and walked away with my heart bleeding quietly inside my chest.

The air shifted.

He stood directly in my path.

AlaricTheoblocking me, his expression dark, his eyes burning with emotion he could no longer mask.

What was that? he demanded, his voice tight with restrained fury. That ring belonged to my brother. It symbolized his promise to you. How could you discard it so carelessly?

I met his gaze without warmth. My wolf stood steady beside me.

Because that chapter is finished, I replied evenly. Your brother is dead. Whatever he promised died with him. The ring holds no value anymore.

His mouth parted, but nothing came out. For once, Alaric Vandolphthe Alpha who always controlled the roomhad nothing to say.

I walked past him.

But Elowen stopped me.

She ambushed me in a corridor, rage twisting her flawless face. You pathetic bitch, she spat, slamming me into the wall. You think youre clever? Parading your grief to steal attention? Feeding on everyones sympathy?

Her nails bit into my arm as she shoved me into a side room. The door slammed shut. The lock clicked.

Darkness swallowed me.

No windows. No light. No escape.

My chest seized as panic surged upward, old memories crashing inbeing ten years old, trapped in a cellar, scratching at the door until my fingers bled, screaming for help that never came.

Nopleaseno, I gasped, pounding at the door.

My wolf bucked wildly, but the walls felt like they were closing in. Air vanished. Darkness pressed in.

I crumpled to the floor.

When they found me nearly an hour later, my body was slack, breath shallow, sweat soaking my gown.

And Alaric?

Not one call. Not one message.

Later, I learned Elowen had told him Id gone off alone to mournand he believed her without question.

---

When I returned to the packhouse, the scene waiting for me made my stomach twist violently.

They were all thereAlaric, Elowen, his parents. A small crowd had gathered. Alaric stood at the center, gripping a stack of papers.

My wolf bristled.

Then I saw what they were.

Termination forms.

My body locked in place.

How dare you, Alaric roared, his eyes blazing. How could you destroy my brothers heir?

A hollow laugh bubbled up inside me. Even nowhe was still pretending. Still hiding behind that miserable lie.

Elowen stepped forward, her voice dripping venom. Youre disgusting. You slaughtered an innocent life. You never wanted that pup. You only wanted the drama of being a widow.

His mother struck me hard across the face. Murderer, she hissed.

The room spun.

Then Alaric hit me.

The sound cracked through the silence, my head snapping sideways. Pain flaredbut my wolf did not whine.

Slowly, I straightened, blood metallic on my tongue.

Why does this concern you so deeply, Theo? I asked quietly. Why grieve a child that was never yours? You are not my Alpha. Not my fianc. Youre nothing more than his so-called twin.

His eyes flareddenial, fury, agony all tangled together.

I didnt wait for his answer.

I turned to all of them.

Im finished, I said coldly. I sever every tie to Vandolph Pack. Whatever love I had died tonightalong with the moonstone ring I gave away. And with it, my heart followed.

No one spoke.

I walked out.

Avelines POV

A knock echoed through my room that night, dragging me out of a thin, restless half-sleep. My eyes burned, swollen from crying until the sky had lightened, but I forced myself upright anyway. Somewhere deep inside, my wolf shifted uneasily, unsettled and alert.

The door opened before I could even answer.

Aveline, a familiar voice murmured.

Theo.

Or rather, the man everyone insisted was Theo.

But every time I looked at him, something inside me recoiled. His stare wasnt distant or subdued like a grieving twins should be. It was sharptoo intense, too alive. It was Alarics gaze wearing another name.

He stepped fully into the room, his broad shoulders nearly filling the doorway. He looked exhausted, hair slightly disordered, face shadowedas if he were the one crushed beneath sorrow.

I shouldnt have done that, he said quietly, eyes fixed on the floor. His jaw tightened, fingers curling and uncurling at his sides. I never shouldve raised my hand against you. I lost control.

I didnt respond. My throat felt scorched, packed tight with words I refused to give him.

He came closer, his tone firm but carefully restrained. Im grieving the child in my brothers place, he continued. You know Alaric would never have wanted that pup gone. And as his twin, its my responsibility to guard what belonged to him.

My wolf bristled violently at the word guard.

Protect? No. This was nothing but another lie, delivered straight to my face.

I said nothing. I simply pulled the blanket closer and turned toward the wall, cutting him out of my sight.

Aveline, he tried again, softer now, coaxing. You need to rest. Youve been through too much.

Before I could stop him, his hands lifted the blanket higher, tucking it around my shoulders as if I were something fragile, breakable. His fingers lingered at the edge of the fabric.

I heard this helps you sleep, he added quietly.

I bit into my tongue until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

He was still pretending. Still playing the role. Still hiding behind a dead mans nameall for her.

When he finally left, the click of the door closing felt like a weight settling on my chest. I stared into the darkness until morning, numb, unmoving, unable even to cry.

---

I woke the next day to chaos.

Shouting rattled the walls. Feet thundered down the corridors. Elowens sobs echoed through the packhouse like a siren.

When I opened my door, I was met with hostile stares. Servants. Warriors. Elder maidens. All gathered, whispering with sharp mouths and sharpened eyes.

She destroyed them.

Burned everything.

Even the rare ones we nearly died collecting.

My stomach dropped.

Elowen appeared moments later, wrapped in a pale robe, tears streaking her cheeks. She looked pitifulsmall, broken, clinging to sympathy like a lifeline. But when her gaze met mine, I saw it.

Triumph.

She buried her face against the Alphas chest.

I saw her, she sobbed loudly. I watched Aveline burn my medicine. Every last bit.

My breath caught. Thats not true! I shouted, but my words were swallowed by gasps and angry murmurs.

The Luna mother spun toward me, horror twisting her face. How could you do something so cruel? You tried to kill her by destroying her treatment? Havent you caused enough harm already?

The word murderer drifted through the room like poison smoke.

I wanted to tear the truth from Elowens mouth. To scream until the walls cracked. But before I could move, the Alpha raised his hand.

Silence fell instantly.

His expression was cold, merciless. Confine her to her room. No meals. No water.

My wolf roared inside me, but my body froze. Two servants seized my arms before I could react, their grips brutal.

Elowens crying intensified. She clutched him tighter, shaking her head weakly. Please, Alpha dont punish her. Shes grieving. She lost her mate. She didnt mean it. Im finewell replace the herbs. Let her go.

Her voice was gentle. Virtuous. Convincing.

But Alarics jaw hardened. He looked at her with false concern, then turned to me with eyes like stone. No. Avelines actions are dangerous. She intended to worsen your condition by destroying your medicine.

You know thats a lie! I screamed. I never touched them!

Take her away, he said flatly.

They dragged me down the corridor as I kicked and fought, but the warriors were stronger. They threw me into my room, locked the door, and left.

For two days, no one came.

No food.

No water.

The first night, I clawed at the door until my nails split. By the second, my throat was so dry I couldnt scream anymore. My wolf whimpered faintly, weakened by hunger.

I curled on the floor, shaking, fury burning hotter than the tears streaming down my face.

I will make him suffer.

I will make him feel every shred of this hunger, this rage, this helplessness.

That promise kept me breathing.

On the second night, the lock turned.

The door opened.

Two servants stood there, faces unreadable. Stand up.

I blinked at them, dizzy. What?

Orders from the Alpha, one replied. Elowen wants you to prepare dinner.

My body shook as they hauled me through the halls. My legs felt hollow, barely holding me upright.

The kitchen stank of firewood and raw meat. They shoved me toward the counter. Cook.

My stomach twisted violently at the sight of food. My knees nearly buckled. But the warriors hovered close, daring me to refuse.

My hands trembled as I took the knife, slicing, stirring, moving through the motions. I cooked the same meals I once made for Alaricdishes he used to praise with a smile that once meant everything.

Now, they tasted like ash.

When the stew finished simmering, I caught my reflection in the polished metal of the pot.

Sunken cheeks. Red-rimmed eyes. A stranger staring back.

And in that moment, I swore silently:

This was not how my story ended.

They could starve me. Strike me. Lock me away.

But they would not break me.

And one day

he would understand what it meant to be trapped in hunger.

Avelines POV

I set the final platter onto the long oak table, my fingers shaking so badly I nearly dropped it. Every muscle in my arms screamed in protest, and my chest felt crushed beneath an invisible weight. Still, I straightened, forcing my body to obey. Serving, enduringthat was all I was allowed to do now.

The aroma of roasted venison mixed with herbs and slow-cooked roots drifted through the hall, rich and familiar. It was the dish Alpha Alaric had always favored.

Even like thishollowed out, starved, stripped of dignityI had cooked for him. Somewhere deep inside, a foolish thought lingered: maybe the scent, the taste, the meals I once made with devotion would stir something in him. Maybe it would remind him of the woman who used to sit at his side.

He occupied the seat at the head of the table, posture rigid, expression carved from ice. But when his eyes flicked briefly toward the food, I saw ita momentary crack. A shadow of longing. As if memory reached for him despite himself. My heart clenched painfully, though I refused to let that fragile spark turn into hope.

Sit down, my mother-in-law snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut.

I moved toward one of the chairs, but she spoke again before I could lower myself.

Not there. On the ground.

I froze. My breath caught, lips parting in disbelief. Surely I had misheard. I lifted my eyes toward Alaric, silently pleadingbegging him to stop this, to say something, anything. He didnt even look at me.

I swallowed, my stomach twisting violently with hunger.

Slowly, unwillingly, I sank to the floor.

Not beside the table. Beneath it. Reduced to eating at their feetlike a stray, like something unworthy of a chair. Less than even the lowest omega.

The shame burned hotter than any wound, but my body was too drained to resist. Hunger gnawed mercilessly, hollowing me out from the inside. I pressed my lips together, forcing myself to endure. I had been humiliated before in this pack but never by Alaric. Never by the people who once called me family.

A plate was placed before me on the floor. I reached for it and began to eat, every bite scraping raw against what remained of my pride.

Then a sharp cough shattered the heavy silence.

Alpha!

Elowens voice rang out, brittle and panicked. She coughed again, harder this time, red staining her lips. Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with terror. IIve been poisoned!

The hall erupted. Gasps, chairs scraping back, warriors leaping to their feet. Every gaze swung toward metoward the woman crouched on the floor, the one Elowen had always painted as her enemy.

I froze, food still in my mouth, as she crumpled dramatically into another wolfs arms.

Alaric shot up so fast his chair shrieked against the stone. His fury was a physical force as he strode toward me and kicked the plate from my hands. Food scattered across the floor like debris.

How dare you? His voice thundered, his Alpha aura crushing down on me until it was hard to breathe. You didnt learn anything, Aveline. Now youre vile enough to poison a meal?!

I flinched as if struck. NoI didnt! I cried, my voice breaking.

He didnt hear me. His eyes blazed with betrayal.

Take Elowen to the infirmary, he ordered sharply. Immediately!

Warriors rushed to comply. In the chaos, bodies shifting around her, I caught one fleeting glimpse of Elowens face. Her lips curvedjust barelyinto a thin, victorious smile.

Ice flooded my veins.

She planned this. Every bit of it.

And Alaric Alaric never questioned it.

Elites, he called, his voice slicing through the noise. His gaze returned to me, merciless. Deal with her. Throw her into the Death Garden.

The world tilted. My legs gave way beneath me.

No My voice shattered. Tears spilled freely as I crawled forward, palms flat against the floor. Alpha, pleasedont. You know what that place does. Wolves dont survive it

Enough!

His command slammed down, silencing not only me but my wolf, who whimpered and retreated inside.

My chest rose and fell in broken gasps. I looked up at him, desperate. Please listen. I would never poison her. You know me. You know my wolf

His jaw tightened. The eyes I once trusted, once called home, regarded me like dirt beneath his boots.

That was when it sank in.

He would never choose me.

Not over her.

Hands seized my arms. I was dragged across the floor, my pleas dissolving into screams, then into hoarse sobs. No one intervened.

When the iron gates of the Death Garden creaked open, dread washed over me instantly. Rot and decay saturated the air, the cursed flowers radiating a deathly pressure that crushed a wolfs spirit. Mine whimpered in fear, curling inward. The moment my bare feet touched the soil, weakness flooded my limbs.

The gates slammed shut.

My breathing turned shallow, my chest constricting as though unseen hands were closing around my heart. Darkness threatened my vision, but I forced myself to move, clinging to one single instinct:

Survive.

With shaking fingers, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the burner phone I had hidden for weeks. The call connected almost immediately.

Aveline? my fathers voice answered.

I swallowed, forcing strength into my tone. We need to change the plan, I rasped. Burn the Death Garden. Make it look like make it look like I died here.

Aveline

Do it, I insisted, tears spilling as my knees finally gave out. If Alaric wants me gone so badly, let him believe it worked. Let him live with it. Let him regret.

The rescue came swiftlyshadows moving through the night. I barely registered the arms lifting me, the smoke filling my lungs, the fire roaring behind us as flames consumed the cursed garden.

A bodyalready preparedwas left behind to burn. Around its charred neck, they placed the necklace Alaric had once given me. The symbol of a love I once believed in.

Now, it would mark my death.

And the beginning of his punishment.

...

Alarics POV

The door slammed open as my Beta staggered inside, breathless and pale.

Alpha! he gasped. The Death Gardenit caught fire. The flames were uncontrollable. We couldnt save her. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. We found a body burned beyond recognition. But

He hesitated.

She was wearing Avelines necklace. The one you gave her.

Alarics POV

I could hardly breathe when the whispers reached me.

The omega servant stammered the words like she was afraid theyd slice my chest open, Alpha Lady Aveline shes gone. Burned in the garden.

For a moment, I thought my ears deceived me. Nomy mind refused to accept it. I stood there frozen, but my wolf stirred violently inside me, howling and thrashing against my ribs.

No, I muttered, shaking my head, clenching my fists.

But the look in her terrified eyes told me it wasnt a jest.

My legs carried me before I even realized it, storming out into the garden with dread clawing up my throat. The scent of ash and char filled my lungs the moment I stepped outside. Wolves murmured, scattered about with their heads low, avoiding my gaze.

And then I saw it.

The earth was blackened, still smoking faintly, and there among the cinders lay a shapesmall, scorched beyond recognition. My heart dropped into a pit so deep it felt endless.

Beside it, half-buried in the ashes, was a necklace. Her necklace. The one I gave Aveline when I swore I would never let her feel alone again.

My knees buckled. I stumbled forward, my hands trembling as I picked it up, its chain burnt and warped, the pendant charred but unmistakable.

No My voice cracked, my chest squeezing so hard I could hardly get air. Aveline

My wolf wailed inside me, the sound so raw I nearly doubled over. I wanted to deny it, to rage and demand proof, but the truth was burning in front of me.

She was gone.

And I had done this.

I sank to the ground, numb, my hands shaking around the broken necklace. My breath came ragged. My vision blurred with tears I didnt even know I still had in me. My heart was breaking open, bleeding memories. Avelines laughter. The fire in her eyes when she challenged me. The warmth of her touch when she carried my pup inside her.

I should have been at her side. I should have fought for her. Instead, I let lies and schemes take root. I chose Elowen. And now now there was nothing left.

Aveline I whispered her name like a prayer, but the wind only carried smoke.

I didnt know how long I knelt there before I heard footsteps. Elowen. Her scent reached me even before her soft voice did.

Alpha She crouched beside me, her hand reaching for my arm. Dont dont look at it anymore. Come inside. Please.

I didnt answer. Couldnt.

Her hand rested lightly against my shoulder, but it felt like ash against my skin. I flinched away, eyes still fixed on the ruin before me. Words choked me, trapped in my throat.

Shes gone, I finally rasped, the words tasting like venom.

Elowens breath hitched, but she tried to sound soothing. You you still have me.

I turned to her then, and the look in her eyes startled her into silence. Because I saw it, clear as the flames that consumed Avelinethis was the cost of my betrayal. I had planned to return to Aveline once Elowens illness had run its course. I thought time would wait for me, that I could twist fate to my liking.

But fate had burned her alive before I could crawl back.

And I had no one to blame but myself.

The funeral was held the next day. The air was heavy, the pack cloaked in black. The wolves gathered, heads bowed as the pyre was lit anew. They spoke of Aveline as though she had been nothing but a troublesome she-wolf, a fiance who had lost her way. Lies. All lies.

I stood apart, the flames reflecting in my eyes, burning the hollow inside me.

I hadnt wept openly in years, but now I couldnt stop. I let my pack see me on my knees, fists pressed to the earth, shoulders shaking. My wolf howled in mourning, echoing through the bond, raw and unrestrained. They were wondering why meTheowas weeping like I lost my other half.

I realized, in that merciless firelight, just how much I loved her still.

I had convinced myself otherwise, let myself be led by guilt, duty, and Elowens fragility. But Aveline, she was supposed to be my luna, my true heart. Every memory of her burned sharper than any blade. Her stubbornness, her courage, even the way she looked at me when she was angry, it was all gone, and I would never hear her voice again.

Elowen stood behind me, her hand brushing my arm, whispering, Youre not alone, Alpha. Im here.

I didnt move. My chest was stone.

Her words rang hollow. Because no matter how she clung to me, I couldnt feel anything. Not warmth. Not comfort. Only regret so sharp it carved me open.

If I hadnt agreed to Elowens plan, if I hadnt staged my death to be with her, none of this would have happened. Aveline wouldnt have spiraled. She wouldnt have been left to suffer, to abort our pup, to stand alone against whispers and cruelty.

I had destroyed her.

After the funeral, I shut myself away. I didnt want Elowen near me. I didnt want anyone. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the flames, heard Avelines voice, remembered the feel of her hand in mine the night I first swore Id never leave her.

But I had left her.

I became cold to Elowen. Her gentle touches, her attempts at comfort, they turned my stomach. My wolf snarled at her presence, a beast that wanted nothing to do with the woman I had sacrificed everything for.

Alpha, she whispered one night, tears brimming in her eyes. Why wont you look at me? I I need you.

You need me? I finally snapped, my voice breaking. She needed me. And I wasnt there.

Elowen flinched, shrinking back. I never meant for this

Dont. My voice was ice. Dont speak her name. You will never understand what you cost me.

I left her there, sobbing softly in the shadows. I didnt care. Because the truth was simple, cruel, and unchangeable.

Aveline was gone. And I had loved her too late.

That night, I sat alone in the garden where the fire had claimed her. The scorched earth still smelled faintly of smoke. I clutched the charred necklace in my hand until it cut into my palm.

Im sorry, I whispered into the night, though no one would answer. If there is a moon beyond this sky, if theres a place where your spirit roams, hear me, Aveline. I was a fool. And Ill never forgive myself.

The wind stirred, cold against my face. My wolf curled into himself, silent in his grief.

And I knew then that no matter how long I lived, no matter how strong I became, I would carry this regret until the day the Moon Goddess called me home.

Avelines POV

I could barely recognize myself when I finally stepped foot back into Thorndike territory. My body was weak, my spirit even weaker, but what truly weighed me down was the betrayal festering in my chest like a poisoned wound. Every breath tasted of ash, and every memory of Alaric burned like fire in my veins.

I almost married that man. I almost gave my life, my future, my heart, all of me, to someone who could stage his death and walk away as if I were nothing.

Coward. Liar. Betrayer.

The words looped in my head until I felt sick.

I told myself that faking my death had been the only way out of that hellhole. And it was true. But truth didnt soothe the bitterness. No, it sharpened it. I had been driven to such an extreme because of Alaric, because of Elowen, because of the Vandolph Pack that coddled lies and drowned me in humiliation.

I would never forgive him. Not in this lifetime.

As I crossed the familiar gates of Thorndike, the scent of pine and mountain air hit me, wrapping me in the comfort of home. This was where I belonged, where my blood ran deep into the soil. I hadnt realized how much I missed it until now.

The first person I saw was my mother, Luna Grecia. She rushed toward me the moment her eyes landed on me, her face wet with tears. Aveline! Her voice broke as she pulled me into her arms, clutching me as if shed never let go again.

Mother, I whispered, my throat tightening. I hadnt cried since I left Vandolph, but now, against her embrace, my dam nearly broke.

My child, my sweet girl, she murmured into my hair. Youre home. Youre safe now.

Behind her, my father, Alpha Gregory, stood tall. But even an Alphas stoic mask couldnt hide the way his eyes glistened. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, fury rippling through his aura. When I stepped out of Mothers arms, he came forward and held me by the shoulders.

They will pay, he growled. His voice was low, trembling with a dangerous promise. Vandolph dared to treat my daughter this way, dared to He cut himself off, grinding his teeth. They will have no ties with Thorndike ever again.

A sob tore from my chest, not because of weakness, but because of relief. Father

You dont need to say a word. His jaw tightened, but his eyes softened when he looked at me. Youre home now, Aveline. Thats all that matters.

I nodded, though anger still gnawed at me. I cant believe I almost My voice cracked. almost gave my life to Alaric.

Mothers arms wrapped around me again, as if shielding me from the very name. Dont you speak of him again. Hes not worth your breath.

I wont. I forced my tears back. Hell never see my face again.

And I meant it. I would never look back. Never meet that man again in my life. Let him rot in his own lies with Elowen clinging to him like a parasite. I was done.

The Thorndike Pack received me with open arms. Wolves I grew up with, warriors who once sparred with me in training, omegas who served in the kitchensall of them gathered around, offering embraces, smiles, tears of joy. Their happiness at my return was like a balm to my battered soul.

You should rest, Mother insisted once the greetings quieted.

But before I could retire, I noticed a group of strangers near the edge of the training grounds. Their scents were different. Stronger, sharperlike steel and storm. Lycans.

I frowned. Father, why are there lycans here?

He followed my gaze, his expression unreadable. Theyre not enemies. They came seeking refuge.

Refuge? My brow furrowed. Lycans rarely mingled with packs.

Theyre tired, Father explained. Tired of endless battles, of living on the edge every day. You know their kind has been hunted and threatened for decades. Some wanted a quieter life, away from the bloodshed. Thorndike offered them sanctuary.

Mother nodded in agreement. They are warriors no less, but even warriors grow weary.

I studied them from a distance. They were taller, broader, carrying an air of restrained power. Even in stillness, their presence was commanding. I shouldve been wary, but instead, curiosity tugged at me.

Theyre different, I murmured.

Different, yes, Father said. But they will follow our laws while they stay here. That is all that matters.

I nodded slowly, though unease lingered. My thoughts wandered to the rumors I had overheard even before returningrumors about the lycan princes.

Two of them, heirs of a bloodline both feared and revered. The older was said to be the steady one, the one wolves could admire. But the younger they called him dangerous. Evil. Ruthless.

I pushed the thought aside. Princes and politics had nothing to do with me anymore. I had too much to heal from, too much to rebuild inside myself. I wouldnt waste a single heartbeat thinking about menlycan or wolf.

As I finally retreated to my chambers, I sat by the window and stared at the forest stretching out beneath the twilight sky. The moon was rising, silver and solemn. My wolf stirred faintly inside me, weary but alive.

Youre home, I whispered to her, to myself.

Yet even in the peace of my own room, rage simmered beneath my skin. Rage at Alaric, at Elowen, at the life they stole from me and the baby they forced me to lose.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, eyes burning. Never again, I vowed. No one will ever break me like that again.

For the first time since that nightmare, I felt something new stir within menot weakness, not despair, but resolve. Revengeful, perhaps. But above all, determined.

Avelines POV

The sala of the Thorndike packhouse smelled faintly of pinewood and lavender polish, the kind of scent that always reminded me of home. I sat cross-legged on the long couch, the cushions swallowing me whole, my phone still warm in my palm. I shouldnt have opened the damn thing, I told myself again, but curiosity had gotten the better of me.

Alaric.

The screen was littered with his name. Drunk texts, drunk calls, even voicemails I refused to open. His words were messy, half the letters swapped or missing, like he couldnt even keep his own fingers steady.

Ali Im sorr I shoulve never gods, I still

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. With a sharp exhale, I pulled out the tiny SIM card and stared at it resting in my hand. This little chip was the last thread tying me to him, to everything that almost destroyed me.

Good riddance, I muttered under my breath.

I stood, crossed the sala, and tossed the SIM into the trash bin near the hearth. My heart felt lighter instantly, as if Id just cut off a chain that had been dragging me under. Never again. Not in this lifetime. Alaric Vandolph could drink himself into oblivion for all I cared.

That night, restlessness gnawed at me. My wolf paced inside me, unsettled, agitated. The walls of the packhouse felt too close, too suffocating. So I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders and slipped out into the night, my bare feet quiet on the earth as I walked toward the woods.

The moon was high, casting silver light through the pines. Crickets sang their endless song, and an owl hooted in the distance. I inhaled deeply, letting the cool air cleanse me, letting it seep into the cracks of my weary soul.

Then I heard it.

A snarl. Sharp, vicious, carrying the promise of blood. My body stiffened, my wolf ears pricking up though I was still in human form.

Another snarl. Louder. Then the thunder of bodies colliding.

I followed the sound, heart pounding, until the trees opened up into a clearing. Thats when I saw themtwo wolves locked in a brutal fight.

One was broad and massive, his fur bristling like shadows come alive. The other was smaller, still strong, but compared to the beast towering over him, he looked like prey.

It wasnt a fight. It was a massacre.

The larger wolf moved with terrifying precision, every strike deliberate, every bite calculated. The smaller wolfs yelps tore through the clearing, raw with desperation. But within moments, he faltered. Blood sprayed across the grass.

No, I gasped, too shocked to move.

With a final snap of powerful jaws, the massive wolf struck the killing blow. The smaller body crumpled, twitching before it stilled. Slowly, painfully, the dead wolf shifted back to human forma man I recognized. One of the Lycans who had sought refuge in Thorndike. His lifeless eyes stared up at the stars, unseeing.

My stomach twisted. He had been under our roof and now he was gone. Just like that.

The killer wolf lifted his head. His chest heaved, his muzzle slick with blood. His eyes locked onto me.

I froze. My body screamed at me to run, but my feet rooted themselves to the earth. My wolf inside went wild, howling in a way I had never heard before.

Because in that moment, something shifted.

The bond.

I felt it slam into me like lightning, rushing through my veins, into my very marrow. Heat bloomed in my chest, spreading fast, curling into my fingertips. The mate bond. The unmistakable tether of the Moon Goddess.

My breath caught.

No, I whispered. My lips trembled as I said it.

The wolfs eyes glowed faintly, golden and fierce. He felt it tooI could see it in the way he stilled, the way his massive frame shuddered as though the world had tilted beneath him.

A murderer. The Moon Goddess had tied me to a murderer.

The wolf growled low in his throat, but it wasnt directed at me. It sounded conflicted, tortured. Then, without another glance, he turned. Muscles rippling under his dark fur, he bounded into the trees and vanished, swallowed by the night.

I stood there, trembling. My lungs burned, but I couldnt force air in.

This cant be real, I muttered. I pressed a hand to my chest, where the bond still pulsed like a brand.

The murdered Lycan lay before me, blood soaking into the soil. The metallic tang coated the back of my tongue. My wolf whimpered inside me, torn between fury and recognition, between the instinct to mourn and the instinct to chase.

I sank to my knees, staring at the lifeless body, and felt rage claw up my throat. The Moon Goddess must be laughing at me. First Alaric, now this? Was this some kind of curse on my life.

My fathers voice echoed in my head from earlier, The Lycans are restless. Some seek peace, but not all are to be trusted.

And here I was, staring at the proof. One Lycan dead. Another, my supposed mate, running into the night with blood on his paws.

When I finally stumbled back toward the packhouse, dawn was beginning to lighten the horizon. My shawl clung to me, damp with night dew and sweat.

Inside, the packhouse was still and quiet. I slipped through the doors and up the stairs to my chamber, my hands still shaking.

I couldnt tell anyone. Not yet. How could I? Hey, Father, Mother, I just witnessed one of our new guests being slaughtered by my fated mate. No. I would be locked away, pitied, feared.

I gripped the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my eyes wild, my lips pale.

And all I could think was, the Moon Goddess chose him for me. A killer.

I pressed my forehead to the cool wood of the bedpost, whispering through clenched teeth, I wont accept this. I wont.

But even as I said it, the bond hummed stubbornly in my chest, reminding me of the truth I didnt want to carry.

That somewhere out there, in the depths of the Thorndike woods, my mate was running. And he had blood on his hands.

Avelines POV

I couldnt sleep that night. No matter how tightly I pulled the sheets around me, the memory of what I had witnessed in the woods clawed at my mind. The sound of bones snapping, the sheer violence of the fight, and then that momentthose glowing eyes meeting mine, and the shiver that rolled down my spine like fire and frost combined.

My mate.

The word made me sick.

I sat at the edge of my bed, my fingers curled into the sheets. How can the Moon Goddess be so cruel? Of all the wolves, of all the men in the world why him? A killer. A lycan who had no mercy, who tore down another of his own kind before my eyes.

I didnt even see his human face. I had no name, no voice to attach to him. Just his wolfmassive, dark, and terrifyingly strong. A beast that made my heart stutter with fear and something I hated to acknowledge: recognition.

I pressed my palm over my chest as if I could crush that bond before it rooted deeper. No. I wouldnt accept it. I didnt need a mate, not after everything. Especially not one drenched in blood.

By morning, Thorndike was in uproar. News of the lycans death spread fast. I heard it from the halls before I even stepped out of my room. The pack house buzzed with whispers, with warriors rushing in and out, with my mothers sharp commands ringing down the corridors.

When I entered the dining hall, my parents were already waiting. Luna Grecias eyes were stern but softened when she saw me. Fathers jaw was set tight, the way it always was when he was preparing for conflict.

Aveline, my mother said as I sat down, though I had no appetite. You look pale. Did you not sleep?

I couldnt, I admitted. Because I saw it happen.

Both of them froze.

Fathers voice was immediate, commanding. You saw the fight?

I nodded, throat dry. I went for a walk near the woods last night. I didnt mean to I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. One of the lycans you took in he was killed. I saw it. I saw everything.

My mother leaned forward. Tell us. Every detail.

So I did. I told them about the fight, about the sheer dominance of the killer wolf, about how easily he overpowered the other. My voice trembled when I described the moment he turned his glowing eyes on me. I didnt say what else I felt, not the burning pull of the mate bond that nearly dropped me to my knees. That was mine to carryand mine to bury.

When I finished, my fathers hand slammed against the table, rattling the plates. Unacceptable. Thorndike offers sanctuary, not a battlefield. The lycans will answer for this.

Theyll claim its a private matter between their kind, my mother said sharply. But not when it happens on our lands. Not when it endangers one of our own.

I swallowed. Youre youre calling the lycan leaders?

Yes, Father said without hesitation. An emergency meeting is already being arranged. If one of their princes has lost control, well know soon enough.

I lowered my gaze, blood rushing in my ears. A prince.

The rumors Id overheard days ago surfacedtwo princes, the younger whispered to be the evil one. Could it be?

I shook my head violently. No. I wouldnt even think it.

I dont need a man in my life, I muttered, more to myself than to them.

My mothers eyes softened. She reached over and squeezed my hand. You dont, child. Youre strong enough on your own.

I clung to those words like a lifeline.

That evening, the entire pack house was on edge. Guards patrolled every entrance, and the meeting hall was prepared for the lycans arrival. The scent of tension hung heavy in the air, burnt wood from the torches, the iron tang of sharpened blades, the restless energy of wolves preparing for confrontation.

I stood near the back of the hall, my parents at the front. Warriors flanked the walls. My heart pounded harder with each passing second.

Then the doors opened.

The lycans entered, one by one. They were taller, broader, carrying that aura of raw power that made even seasoned warriors stiffen. Their presence filled the room like a stormcloud, suffocating and impossible to ignore.

And then it happened.

The moment they stepped inside, something in the air shifted. My breath caught in my throat, and my wolf inside merestless, achingrose with a low growl I couldnt contain. My body trembled, my heart pounding so loud I thought the entire hall could hear it.

He was here.

I lifted my gaze, and there he was among them.

The second lycan prince.

The bond slammed into me with full force, stronger than before, undeniable. My chest tightened as his scent hit mewild forest, storm winds, danger wrapped in something inexplicably intoxicating.

Our eyes met.

Cold, piercing eyes that gave nothing away. He looked at me as though I were just another face in the crowd, but I felt it. I knew he felt it too. The bond shimmered between us, an invisible chain locking us together.

My lips parted, but no words came.

Its him. My mate. The killer.

The room around us blurred, voices muffled as if I were underwater. All I could focus on was him.

And yet, he didnt falter. He didnt flinch. His expression was carved from ice, his posture proud and unyielding. If he felt the bond, he didnt show it.

But his eyes didnt leave mine. Not for a second.

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to breathe. This couldnt be happening. Of all wolves, of all menthe Moon Goddess tied me to a murderer, to a prince who had spilled blood on our lands.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to deny it.

Instead, I stood frozen, locked in his gaze, as my parents began the meeting with heavy accusations and demands.

And all I could think was: I dont need a mate. Not him. Not ever.