The ballroom fell silent as I was wheeled in,every eye snapping toward me.The whispers came fast—some shocked,others terrified.They thought I was dead.But tonight,I was here to prove them all wrong.
Alpha Jester stood in the center of the room,laughing with his new bride draped over him.The moment our eyes met,his laughter died.His face turned ghostly pale,and for a second,he didn’t move.But then he stumbled forward,desperate to make sense of what he was seeing.
I rose from the wheelchair,steady and strong.Gasps echoed around me,but I didn’t care.This was my moment.His lies,his betrayal—they had all led to this.As I laid bare the truth of his actions,the crowd watched in stunned silence.
And then,when I revealed the final blow—a truth he never saw coming—the color drained from his face completely.He wasn’t just losing me;he was losing everything.
“Mauve,please.I’m sorry.We can fix this.We can go back to the way things were..."
I straightened. My face was high as I said,"Goodbye,Jester.I’m finally free of you.Best wishes to you and Amber.”
Chapter 1
Mauve POV
I sat motionless in my wheelchair while I stared at my mate, Alpha Jester. He was tenderly applying lotion to my maid's swollen belly. His lips pressed against her baby bump as she giggled softly.
“Jester, stop; it tickles,” Amber teased.
“I just can’t help it,” Jester replied, and continued to massage her with lotion. "They said a pregnant woman's tummy should always be flawless, so the baby is flawless as well."
That was actually what my OB-GYN and healer had told me when I was pregnant with our first child. But I got a miscarriage.
I wanted to scream, to cry out, to demand answers, but my body betrayed me. My limbs refused to obey, and my voice remained locked within me. All I could do was watch, paralyzed in every sense of the word.
Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them away, determined not to let them see my pain. They had no idea I could hear and comprehend every word they said.
It happened a month ago. I had just left the pack hospital after hearing the most wonderful news: I was finally pregnant. After years of waiting, the healer confirmed it, and I was so excited to share the news with Jester.
But on my way home, a rogue wolf ran onto the road, and I swerved to avoid it. My car crashed into a tree, and the impact left me paralyzed. The healers said my nervous system was badly damaged, and I wouldn’t be able to move or talk again.
The only good news was that my baby had miraculously survived the crash. That little life growing inside me was my only source of hope now, even as my world seemed to fall apart around me.
“You’re going to be such an amazing father,” Amber cooed, placing her hands over his.
“I’ll do everything for our pup,” he promised. “He will be my heir.”
The words echoed in my mind. Our pup. Not mine. Not ours. His and Amber’s.
The ache in my chest grew unbearable, and I longed to escape, to turn away from the cruel reality unfolding before me. But I couldn’t. They continued their display, oblivious to my presence.
When Amber caught my gaze, she smirked. “Do you think she even knows what’s happening?” she asked Jester in a mocking voice.
“She doesn’t,” he replied dismissively. “Don’t worry about her.”
I clenched my fists, the only movement I could manage, as anger coursed through me. They thought I was helpless and that I couldn’t understand.
But they were wrong.
A knock on the door interrupted, and Amber got up from Jester’s side to answer it.
I couldn’t see her clearly, but I could hear the annoyance in her voice. “What is it now?” she asked.
Dr. Helen’s calm voice replied, “It’s time for Luna's checkup.”
Amber groaned. “Really? Can’t it wait? I was just about to enjoy some time with the alpha.”
Jester laughed, clearly entertained. “Maybe we should just move it to the bedroom. The checkup can wait a bit.”
Amber giggled. “I suppose you’re right.”
The two of them walked off toward the bedroom, and Dr. Helen stayed behind. She waited until the door clicked shut before turning to me. “They’re gone, Luna.”
Relief rushed through me, but it didn’t ease the heavyness in my chest. Slowly, I stand up in the wheelchair. My body felt weak, but I pushed myself. My legs trembled as I stood, and I almost lost my balance. I caught myself against the wall, but it didn’t stop the tears from coming.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My body shook as I cried, the pain of what I’d seen and felt breaking me apart. I didn’t want to be this helpless.
Dr. Helen stepped forward, gently holding me up. “It’s okay, Luna. Let it out.”
“I can’t take it anymore,” I said through my sobs. “I can’t watch them anymore. I can’t be stuck like this, unable to speak. I don’t want to just watch my life slip by!”
Dr. Helen gave me a reassuring look. “You know how to escape from this hell, Mauve.” Her voice was breaking like how I felt inside. "Just say the word."
That stirred something inside me. Gazing at her, I said, "Please, Dr. Helen, can you help me submit my application to Shadowpine Hospital? I want to train to become the pack’s pharmacist, like what I always wanted to be."
Dr. Helen nodded. “I’ll help you. I’ll make sure the application is sent. You’ll start your training soon. For now, let's continue the therapy until your body and mind are strong enough to leave."
“Thank you,” I said, placing my hand on top of her own.
I might have lost my mate, but I wouldn’t lose myself.
Chapter 2
Mauve’s POV
"Time to eat, Luna!"
Amber brought the chicken soup to the dining table. She moved with an exaggerated grace, like she wanted to make sure I noticed every little effort she put in. Setting the bowl down, she turned to me with a smug smile and added, “You should be thankful I’m here to take care of you.”
'So much for taking care as you're extending it to my mate,' I thought.
She picked up the spoon, scooped some soup, and held it to my lips. I opened my mouth, letting her feed me. I had no choice but to play along, to pretend I was as helpless as they thought.
Amber tilted her head. “When Alpha Jester asked me to help you, I couldn’t believe how kind he was. Looking after you must be such a burden for him. Good thing I’m around to make his life easier. Maybe I'm not fulfilling Luna's job, but I am providing for his needs in your absence."
Her words stung, but I swallowed the soup and stayed silent. My mind drifted to the day she arrived.
It was shortly after the accident. I had just come home from the pack hospital, barely holding myself together. Jester brought Amber into our home, calling her a girl from a hardworking family. At first, I thought he was trying to help me, trying to make things easier for us both.
She cooked my meals, fed me, brushed my hair, and treated me like I was a baby. But it didn’t take long for me to notice the way Jester looked at her. He spent more time with her than he ever spent with me. And then, one day, I saw it with my own eyes.
She’d wheeled me into my bedroom, saying I needed to rest. Jester was already there, standing too close to her. I watched as he kissed her boldly, without hesitation. My heart shattered. And just one day, they were discussing Amber's pregnancy. My husband was so happy; they spent the whole day in our bedroom, celebrating the news while abandoning me like a worn-out cloth on the floor. They thought I was numb, then this numbness turned into a burning rage that consumed me.
From that moment on, I chose to stay silent. Pretending I didn’t see, didn’t hear, didn’t understand.
“You’re so slow today,” Amber’s voice cut through my thoughts, showing her annoyance. She tapped the spoon against the bowl. “You know, I worked hard to make this for you, but I guess gratitude isn’t something you understand very well!”
Jester walked into the dining room. His presence was overwhelming as always. He strode over to Amber, pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, barely glancing at me before giving her his full attention.
Amber pouted dramatically. “Luna Mauve doesn’t like my cooking. She barely eats anything I make for her. I cooked that chicken soup for hours so she would feel better, but she barely touched it. My efforts were wasted!"
Jester’s expression darkened as he looked at me. “You should be pleased that someone’s even bothering with you,” he said coldly. “You’ve been nothing but a burden. You couldn’t give me a pup before, and now you’re even more useless.”
The words sliced through me, but I didn’t let them see how much they hurt.
“At least Amber is here to take care of me and my wolf. You don’t get to be upset about anything you see."
Amber placed a hand on his chest, feigning innocence. “Don’t say that, Alpha. She doesn’t understand what you’re saying. She’ll just get confused.”
Jester sighed and leaned down to kiss her again, his anger melting into affection.
I watched them, my chest tight with heartbreak. But I kept my face blank, refusing to let them see how much they’d broken me.
Not yet, I told myself. Don’t let them see. Your time will come. Soon, I’d be free.
Chapter 3
Mauve’s POV
Amber giggled as Jester pulled her close. Her laughter rang out, cutting through me like a knife. My lips trembled, but I forced myself to stay quiet. I blinked quickly, fighting to keep my expression blank even as my heart shattered.
I had survived the accident, but sitting here now, I wondered if the pain of their deception would kill me instead. Inside, I screamed for them to stop. Please, not in front of me. But they didn’t care.
Jester lifted Amber onto the kitchen counter, knocking over utensils and dishes. Their hands wandered, their kisses deepened, and my chest tightened with a pain so sharp it felt unbearable.
A tear slid down my cheek. I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried. Despair, anger, and humiliation burned inside me, but I kept my body still. I couldn’t let them see.
They finally stopped when Amber touched her belly. “Jester, what if my baby gets hurt? We shouldn’t be doing this here.”
"Oh, damn. I didn't realize." Jester froze. Then he saw me in his peripheral vision, so he turned toward me briefly and noticed my tear-streaked face. He let out a soft laugh, brushing it off. “Sorry,” he said casually, like my feelings didn’t matter.
Amber tugged on his arm, pulling his attention back to her. “I’m scared. We need to go to the clinic.”
Without hesitation, Jester grabbed his phone and called Dr. Helen. “We need you at the packhouse now. I'm going to accompany Amber to the clinic, and Mauve is alone at home."
By the time Dr. Helen arrived, the two of them were dressed and rushing out the door. I listened as their car sped away.
The second they were gone, the dam inside me broke. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed loudly, the pain too much to hold in. My body shook, and every tear felt like it was draining the life out of me.
Dr. Helen sat beside me and handed me a glass of water. “You’ve held this in for too long. Soon, this will all be behind you.”
I wiped my tears, taking a deep breath to steady myself. My hands were shaking, but I stood up anyway, forcing my legs to hold me. I lifted my chin and stared at the door where Jester and Amber had left.
“How’s my application?” I asked.
Dr. Helen smiled gently. “Good news. You’re scheduled for an interview today.”
My heart jumped. “Today?”
“Yes,” she said. “Get ready. I’ll help you prepare.”
The interview for the pharmacy training at Shadowpine Hospital was nerve-wracking but straightforward. They asked why I wanted to join, what I knew about medicine, and how I’d handle challenges. When it ended, the interviewers smiled and told me I’d done well. Relief washed over me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of hope.
That evening, Jester and Amber still hadn’t returned. Dr. Helen decided to stay overnight in the guest room. While she rested, I sat at my desk, researching everything I needed to know about the training.
My focus broke when I opened social media. The first thing I saw was a post from Amber. It was a picture of a hotel window overlooking a romantic sunset. She’d tagged Jester.
My stomach twisted with disgust. She wasn’t even trying to hide their affair anymore. Jester’s name appeared beneath the post, showing he’d liked it.
My fingers hovered over the screen. I wanted to react, to leave an angry comment, anything to show my rage. But I stopped myself. They didn’t know I could move now, and I wasn’t ready for them to find out.
Instead, I blocked Amber and deleted my account.
Shaking off the bitterness, I turned back to my computer and focused on the articles and videos about the training program. Every step I took was one step closer to escaping this nightmare.
Chapter 4
Mauve’s POV
The next morning, I woke up with my usual blank expression on the bed, but something was different. Jester was sitting on the edge, scrolling through his phone.
“It’s our anniversary,” he said flatly. “My phone calendar reminded me.”
A knife couldn’t have cut deeper. My breath hitched, but I kept my face still, refusing to let him see the storm brewing inside me. He’d forgotten again. Forgotten the years we’d shared, the promises we’d made. Forgotten me. He pulled out his phone and calculated how long we’d been married. He’d forgotten the number until his phone told him. If I hadn’t set the reminder myself months ago, he wouldn’t even remember.
The silence in the room was suffocating. I stared at the ceiling, trying to remember how we got here, how the man who once looked at me like I was his whole world could now barely muster a glance.
“Some college friends called,” he continued, oblivious to my silence. “They’re coming over tonight. They said they want to check on you.”
Check on me. The irony wasn’t lost. I was a ghost in my own home, and now they were coming to see if I was still breathing.
That night, our friends arrived with gifts and food. Despite my blank façade, they cheered me up like I was normal, like I wasn’t silently screaming. For a moment, I felt I belonged. My friends had always been my family since I was an orphan. They knew me better than anyone, or at least they used to.
I remembered one wild college party when Jester had declared, “Among all of us, I will become Mauve's real family. She’s my mate. We’ll be together forever.” His voice had been filled with such conviction, his eyes shining with love. I’d believed him. God, I’d believed him.
A hot tear slipped down my cheek at the memory. One of my friends, Pia, noticed and wiped it away gently. “You’re loved, Mauve. We believe that you will wake up soon, and we will party like those good old days."
I wanted to believe her. I wanted to hold onto that small, fragile hope. But the warmth didn’t last.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Amber’s sour expression as she watched Jester laugh and talk with our friends. She sat off to the side, a dark cloud in the room. For once, he ignored her entirely. I grinned inwardly. At least tonight, she didn’t belong here. Not with my people. Not with my mate.
But the triumph didn't last. Suddenly, Amber clutched her belly and cried out, “My stomach hurts!”
The room fell silent. Jester’s head snapped toward her. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side. "Damn, what did you eat to make your tummy feel upset?"
Our friends exchanged confused looks, whispering among themselves as Jester scooped her up. Her lips curled into a smirk as he carried her away.
“I’m taking her to the hospital,” he announced in a panicked voice. Not a glance, not a word for me.
The door slammed shut behind them. My friends stared at him, stunned. One of them finally said, “He left his mate for her?”
My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms so hard it hurt. Even on our anniversary, Amber had ruined everything. She’d taken him away again.
For the first time in a long while, I let my rage consume me. Images of smashing her perfect façade, of tearing down the lie she’d built, filled my mind. But I stayed still. Outside, I was a statue, unmoving and unreadable. Inside, I was a storm.
This was the last time she would humiliate me.
Chapter 5
Mauves POV
My days in the guest room became my haven. It wasn’t much, but the privacy gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: freedom. With the door closed, I could do things no one knew about. I stretched my legs, practiced walking, and even looked up self-defense moves online. Each step was shaky, unsteady, but it was mine. At night, I felt determined. During the day, I played the part everyone expected—weak, helpless, incapable.
It wasn’t hard to keep up the act. Amber was always hovering, helping me with meals, showers, and whatever she could. I let her. I pretended to be the fragile woman she and everyone else thought I was.
One evening, Amber was helping me shower. Her voice had that smug edge I was starting to hate.
“You know,” she started, adjusting the water, “Jester and I shower together all the time.” She looked at me, clearly fishing for a reaction. I kept my face blank, saying nothing. That didn’t stop her. “He’s so sweet, always making sure I’m comfortable. He even washes my hair and…wait, do you want me to elaborate on that?”
I stared at the tiles, letting her words slide off me. My chest ached, but it wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. Maybe I was moving on. Maybe what Jester and I had didn’t matter as much anymore.
Amber’s voice turned bitter, her smugness slipping into venom. “He’ll never look at you the way he looks at me,” she hissed. I didn’t respond. And that alone felt like a small, quiet victory.
When my birthday came, it was clear no one cared. There was supposed to be a small party that Jester had reluctantly agreed to. But as I sat in my room, I heard Amber’s voice whining from the living room.
“I can’t do all this!” she complained. “I’m pregnant, Jester.”
My hand rested on my stomach as an uninvited thought crept in: If Jester knew I was pregnant too, would he care? Would he treat me differently? Would he stay?
Jester’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Then we’ll cancel the party. I’ll call everyone and tell them it’ll just be Mauve and me tonight.”
My heart sank.
From the living room, Amber laughed. “Thank you, darling,” she purred.
That evening, the door to my room burst open, and Amber stormed in with fury imprinted across her face. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm, grateful I’d hidden the exercise mat earlier.
“You should have just died,” Amber spat. “Do you know how much easier things would be if you weren’t here? If Jester didn’t have to pretend to care about you?”
I stared at her, keeping my face blank, giving her nothing.
Amber stepped closer and whispered cruelly. “I tampered with your brakes,” she admitted. “You were supposed to die that day. But you didn’t! How come Jester still keeps you in that useless state of yours!.”
My stomach churned, my pulse pounding in my ears. But I refused to react. I just stared at her, letting my silence speak louder than any words ever could. But, God! This very shameless woman was the reason why I almost lost my life? I was close to losing it. I wanted to stand up and confront her, or at least, slap her.
The door opened again, and Jester walked in, his eyes darting between us, confusion written all over his face. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
Amber’s expression shifted instantly. She turned to him, all sweetness and innocence. “I was just checking on Luna Mauve. But she’s staring at me like I’m a bad person.”
Jester’s eyes hardened as he looked at me. “Stop this, Maive! Amber’s pregnant. She doesn’t need your attitude. Why are you making her life harder? If there’s a bad person here, it’s you. No wonder you got in an accident. That's your karma!”
Jester shook his head. “I can’t deal with this right now,” he muttered, giving me a cold look before turning to Amber. “Let’s go. You don’t need this stress.”
He walked out of the room without another word, leaving the door slightly ajar. My nerves were trembling, but I stayed silent, keeping my expression blank.
Amber lingered, dropping the moment Jester was gone. She stepped closer and said, “You should’ve stayed in that car. Life would’ve been so much easier if you weren’t here.”
Before I could react, she lashed out, hitting me in the stomach. Pain flared, sharp and overwhelming, but I stayed frozen, my body betraying me. She stepped back with a mocking smile on her face.
“Jester doesn’t care about you. He never did,” she sneered. “You’re just a problem he has to deal with, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t have to for long.”
Laughing, she walked out, closing the door behind her. The sound echoed in the silence, but I was already curled over, clutching my stomach. The pain was unbearable, and tears spilled down my face despite my best efforts to hold them back.
I reached for the landline on the nightstand. My hands shook as I dialed Dr. Helen’s number. “Dr. Helen… please… I need help. It’s bad. Please come quickly,” I said, my words breaking as the pain grew worse.
I collapsed back onto the floor, the phone still in my hand, and closed my eyes, praying she would get here in time.
“Mauves, you have to stay awake!”
Before I could respond, the darkness pulled me away and I slipped into unconsciousness.
‘If I lose this child, I’ll reject Jester as mate.’ I swore bitterly to myself, just before the darkness claimed me fully.
Chapter 6
Mauve’s POV
The sharp sting of antiseptic filled my nostrils as I stirred. I kept my eyes closed, focusing on the voices around me. Their words came in muffled tones at first, then sharpened into clarity.
“She was unconscious on the floor, Alpha Jester. There was blood on her thighs. What happened? She’s your mate! Why wasn’t anyone looking after her?”
Jester’s reply was cold and defensive. “Are you accusing me of neglecting her? I checked on her myself. She was asleep when I left.”
“Then explain this!” Dr. Helen snapped.
A tense silence followed before Jester spoke again. “Amber, what happened? You were supposed to be watching her.”
Amber’s voice trembled, dripping with fake remorse. “I—I didn’t check on her properly. I thought she was fine! I swear! I didn’t mean for this to happen!” Her dramatic sobs filled the room.
Dr. Helen cut in. “This is unacceptable, Amber. You were responsible for her safety.”
“It’s not Amber’s fault!” Jester barked.
Dr. Helen’s tone hardened. “Alpha, I need to examine Luna Mauve. Please leave the room. Both of you.”
Amber’s wails continued as they left, her cries grating against my nerves. The door clicked shut, leaving only the steady beeping of machines.
Dr. Helen leaned over me. “They’re gone, Luna Mauve.”
I opened my eyes, tears streaming as I whispered, “How’s my baby?”
Her expression shattered me before she spoke. “Mauve… I’m so sorry. The trauma was too much. The baby didn’t make it.”
"No!" A sob ripped from my throat as I clutched my stomach. “It was her! Amber did this. She killed my baby.”
Dr. Helen’s eyes darkened with fury, but her voice was steady. “She’ll pay for what she’s done. But first, you need to heal. You need your strength, Mauve.”
Hours passed, but the ache in my chest didn’t fade. My thoughts churned, replaying the events that led to this moment. My baby had survived so much—only to be stolen away by Amber’s viciousness.
The door opened without warning. I quickly shut my eyes, acting like I was unconscious. The sharp click of heels approached, and Amber’s sweet voice filled the room.
“Poor little Mauve,” she cooed mockingly. “What a mess you’ve made of things. Couldn’t even protect your own baby. What kind of mate—or mother—does that make you?”
“How could you survive that car accident? I tampered the breaks myself so you wouldn’t stand a chance!” Her voice dropped. “Die! Just die once and for all so I can have Jester’s attention to myself!”
Before I could react, I felt her press a pillow over my face. My body jerked in instinctive panic as I struggled against her grasp.
“No! I cannot die! I will not die!” I screamed internally.
Then, my wolf’s voice cut through my panic. “Pretend you’re dead!”
“Why?” I asked in desperation.
“Don’t move. Hold your breath. Pretend you’re dead, so she’ll stop!”
With immense effort, I stilled my movements, letting my hands fall limp at my sides as I forced my body to go slack.
Then Amber stopped and slowly removed the pillow from my face. "Wow, that was fast. Who knew your life was so fragile that a simple pillow could do the trick?"
Amber’s cruel laughter echoed in the room as she stepped away. “Rest in peace, Luna. Don't worry about your pack and the Alpha. I will take good care of them now."
My body was trembling as I rose from the bed, panting and sobbing as I held my face in my hands. The woman really wanted me dead; I would give her what she desired.
—
Later that night, I told Dr. Helen what happened. But before she could react violently, I said, “Please, have someone from the pack alert them that I'm already dead."
Her eyes widened in shock. “But why?”
"Amber and Jester need to believe I’m gone," I said, staring wide at her. "Amber wants to play dirty, I will play dirtier."
After a long pause, she nodded reluctantly. “Alright, Luna.”
With that, Dr. Helen sent her trusted medical crew to see Jester. That same day, the messenger returned.
"What's Jester's reaction?" I asked impatiently. The meal I was presently having was suddenly tasteless as I awaited the news. "Tell me!"
His expression was grim as he relayed the news. “Alpha Jester was shocked, Luna. He almost collapsed when he heard you were gone.”
“And Amber?” I followed up, gritting my teeth.
The messenger hesitated before continuing. “She proposed to him immediately, saying their pup couldn’t be born a bastard. Alpha Jester agreed. Their wedding is in three days.”
My hands clenched into fists as a surge of rage coursed through me. “She didn’t even wait for my body to cool before securing her place!”
Dr. Helen placed a hand on my shoulder. “What are you planning to do, Mauve?”
I turned to her. “I’ll attend their wedding. And I’ll bring them a gift they’ll never forget.”
——
Soon it was time for their wedding.
I sat in my wheelchair, my hands gripping the armrests, pretending to be in a vegetative state. Dr. Helen wheeled me through the gilded doors of the grand reception hall. I wore a black dress as though I was mourning. Although that was actually true since those who just got wed stole the life that was meant for me.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as we entered.
“Is that Luna Mauve?”
“Are you sure? She's dead.”
“It can’t be!”
I kept my gaze forward, my face blank, refusing to acknowledge their shock or fear. Let them stare. Let them wonder.
Then, I saw Jester. He stood on the dance floor, Amber clinging to his arm like the parasite she was. They were mid-laugh when our eyes met. His laughter stopped abruptly, his face draining of color.
