EPISODE 1

I was kidnapped a week before our fifth anniversary.

Alone and terrified, I called Alpha Lucas repeatedly within the week, but he never answered. I escaped and returned home to find that the anniversary party I had prepared had been turned into a celebration for my sister's homecoming.

At the estate, everything I had arranged from the decorations, the food, and the lights had been replaced with a grand welcome for Lilith. The gates stood open, music spilling onto the lawn. It looked like a happy celebration.

I felt completely out of place.

My boots left dried mud on the polished stone. My dress was torn and stained. I still tasted iron from the wounds I had suffered while escaping. It seemed nobody had even realized I'd been taken.

Inside, golden lights flickered on marble columns wrapped in silver streamers. The air smelled of wine and cinnamon. Lucas appeared at the top of the stairs, eyeing me with a disapproving frown.

"Selene," he said sharply, descending. "Where have you been? Why do you look like a mess?"

"Lucas." I met his gaze, my breath burning. "I've been calling you. Why didn't you answer any of my calls?"

Before he could respond, Lilith appeared radiant in the silver moon-gown Lucas had gifted me on our first anniversary, now perfectly fitted to her figure.

"Oh, Selene! Thank the stars you're here," she said, taking my hands with innocent delight. "We thought you were just busy at work. I'm so glad you made it to the celebration!"

I narrowed my eyes. "What exactly are we celebrating?"

Lilith gestured toward the room. "My return. I had planned a dinner for tomorrow, but Lucas said we should celebrate tonight since the house was already decorated for your anniversary tomorrow. I also don't want to disturb your celebration tomorrow, so... I hope that's alright. It wasn't meant to take anything away."

Lucas smiled warmly, his hand resting on Lilith's back. "It's not a big deal. Anniversaries happen every year. Lilith doesn't come home often. It felt wrong to ignore her arrival."

A slow, searing pressure built in my chest. I clenched my fists but didn't move.

"I see," I said through gritted teeth. "So, the party I planned was reassigned. Just like that."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably. "Lilith arrived yesterday, and we didn't have enough time to prepare something new, so we just used what was already here. It would've felt wrong not to do anything."

Lilith suddenly exclaimed, "I hope you don't mind me borrowing this dress. I found it in your wardrobe. It's so beautiful, and I didn't think you'd wear it tonight."

"You didn't ask?" I said, voice tight. "That dress was a gift from Lucas on our first anniversary."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh no…! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…, if I'd known, I wouldn't have worn it. I'll change."

She turned to leave, but Lucas caught her arm, frowning at me.

"What's the problem? You never wear it anyway. Let her enjoy it for one night."

"But she said it was meaningful," Lilith murmured, guilt cracking her voice.

"I gave the dress," Lucas said coolly. "I decide who wears it."

Turning to me, he added, "Stop making a scene."

"I'm making a scene?" I scoffed, glaring at him. "You used the plans I made for our anniversary without even asking, and I'm the one making a scene? Do you know how much time and money I spent on this?"

Lucas frowned. "If it's money you need, I'll pay it back."

"No thanks," I sneered. "Don't let me interrupt your party."

"No, please don't go," Lilith said, stepping in front of me. "It's my fault. I will leave now. You and Lucas should be together."

I looked at her and sneered, then turned and walked away.

"Selene? Where are you going?" Lucas called, his jaw tightening.

He was about to follow me, but Lilith pulled him back and hooked her arm through his. With a hopeful sigh, she said, "I always believed we could be a family again. Why is my sister treating me like this?"

"You don't have to worry," Lucas said gently, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I'll talk to her later. Go and enjoy your party. There's no need to be upset."

Lilith nodded. She turned toward the Elders by the hearth, drawing all eyes. The celebration where I should have been the center of attention had become hers, and no one dared to question it.

With that, I left amid the ruins of what was supposed to be our celebration. I climbed the stairs, betrayal weighing down every step. In the bedroom, I peeled off my ruined dress, revealing bruises and cuts earned from fighting for my life for almost a week.

No wonder Lucas hadn't answered my calls. He had been busy taking good care of my sister. I thought the bond we built over five years meant something more, but it was all just wishful thinking.

I always knew he never truly loved me, not even for a single day.

But I had loved him for as long as I could remember. So, when he said he was willing to marry me five years ago, I said yes through tears, thinking it was the happiest moment of my life.

Now, our fifth wedding anniversary is just tomorrow. I should give Lucas a proper gift.

The music played on. The laughter never stopped. I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.

"Lawyer Toby," I said, my voice was cold and clear. "I need you to draft divorce papers and send them to me tonight."

EPISODE 2

"Selene, your bond didn't come easily. It was blessed by the Moon Goddess. I advise you both to think carefully before signing anything," Toby said, his voice calm but firm.

"I've made up my mind," I told him. "I don't want to lie to myself anymore."

The divorce papers had arrived early that morning. As I was getting ready to leave, I found Lucas in the kitchen. He was humming quietly as he flipped eggs, acting like everything was perfectly normal.

Cooking had always been one of his quirks. He enjoyed it despite his busy schedule, but he rarely did anything for me unless he wanted something or was trying to smooth things over after an argument.

He noticed me coming down the stairs and smiled as if it was just another ordinary day.

"You're just in time. I made breakfast, it's your favorite."

I looked at the plate. Fried eggs. Scrambled eggs. Everything eggs. I scoffed silently. I was allergic to eggs. He knew that, or at least, he should have. Lilith liked eggs, not me. But apparently, five years of marriage hadn't been enough for Lucas to learn something that basic.

He sat down, completely unaware of how ridiculous it all looked.

"About last night," he began, "I think what you did was unreasonable. I know you and Lilith have issues, but you didn't have to cause a scene in front of everyone."

I didn't bother sitting down. I pulled a folder from my bag and placed the documents in front of him.

"You need to sign these."

Lucas clearly hadn't expected paperwork first thing in the morning. He froze.

"What's this?"

"Something important," I replied, arms crossed. "It should've been signed last night, but you were too busy parading Lilith around like your Luna, so I waited."

His jaw tightened.

"Selene, I don't have feelings for Lilith anymore. Yes, she's my ex-mate, but we're family now. I treat her like a sister. Can you not see that?"

I didn't answer directly. "Just sign the papers."

"Is this really the time?" he snapped, clearly losing patience. "We haven't even talked about your behavior last night, and now you pull this?"

"It's not a stunt," I said, my voice cold. "It's important. And I'll listen to whatever you have to say after you've signed."

Glaring, he scribbled his signature at the bottom of the pages without bothering to read the details. Maybe if he cared, he would've noticed they weren't just divorce papers, they also included a severance clause.

Then again, maybe he saw it and simply didn't care enough to argue.

Everyone knew Lucas had once been in love with Lilith. They were the golden pair of the Silver Fang and Red Moon packs. But five years ago, just days before their mating ceremony, Lilith had run off to Europe to chase after some high-ranking French alpha she claimed was her "true mate."

The scandal would've created a rift between both families, so they turned to me, the adopted niece of the Red Moon matriarch, the girl taken in after my parents were killed in a rogue ambush.

I was always quiet, always in Lilith's shadow, always the fallback plan. When she left, I became the convenient solution. I stepped in, married Lucas quietly, and spent five years trying to earn my place beside him.

I truly loved him, and at the time, that was all that mattered. I was willing to give him everything.

He said he was grateful. He said he appreciated me. I thought that would be enough.

It wasn't.

"Here," Lucas said, sliding the papers back across the table. "Now that we've settled that, can you at least apologize to Lilith? She just got back. I don't understand why you're treating her like a stranger."

I stared at him, anger rising beneath disbelief. "So, I'm the problem now?"

"Who else would it be?" he said without hesitation. "You acted childish over some decorations and Lilith wearing your clothes. She's your sister. Treat her better."

I let out a dry laugh. "Lucas, I spent weeks planning our anniversary. I poured everything into it. And you handed it all over to her like it meant nothing. You say she's family but what about me? I'm your wife."

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words died when he saw the tears forming in my eyes. For a moment, something shifted. I saw guilt flicker across his expression. He stepped forward, reached out as if to hold me, but I took a step back.

He looked frustrated but didn't press further.

"Fine. Let's have dinner tonight. I'm sorry for not considering your feelings. Let me make it up to you. Just the two of us, at our favorite steakhouse. For our anniversary. What do you think?"

I stared at him, unsure. There was something in his eyes… guilt, maybe sincerity, maybe both… but whatever it was, I knew this would be the last time.

I nodded slowly. "Okay."

Lucas smiled like he had fixed everything. He left right after breakfast to make the arrangements.

The rest of the day, I kept glancing at the divorce papers, second-guessing everything. Maybe I was being dramatic. Maybe it was just jealousy. My emotions have been all over the place lately. I told myself I'd wait until dinner before making any final decisions.

I waited for Lucas to come back, but he never did. As darkness began to fall, I figured maybe it was all part of the surprise. I didn't want to ruin it, so I went to the steakhouse myself, trying not to overthink it.

At sunset, I arrived early. I spotted his car parked out front, and despite everything, my heart fluttered like an idiot. But when I stepped inside and turned toward our booth, I froze.

There he was, sitting exactly where we always sat.

And across from him, Lilith leaned in, smiling sweetly, pressing a kiss to his lips.

EPISODE 3

I was sure Lilith had seen me standing at the door but she didn't care. In fact, she smirked at me before deepening the kiss, as though she were marking her territory. She was claiming Lucas as hers, right in front of me.

I stood there frozen, cold sweat clinging to my back as the truth finally sank in. Then I turned around and left.

Back at the house, I drifted through the rooms like a ghost. I couldn't even name what I was feeling, betrayal? Grief? It was something I should have seen coming, and yet it still gutted me. I had truly loved Lucas.

And now it hurts like my heart was being torn apart piece by piece.

I found the divorce papers and signed them without hesitation.

After that, I began packing. Memories clung to every corner, photos of us together, old gifts, tokens from anniversaries that only I seemed to remember. As I looked at each picture, it hit me just how alone I had been in that relationship.

I was smiling at every single one of them.

Lucas wasn't.

He didn't come home that night.

Morning arrived too quickly. I was still sorting through my things when the front door finally creaked open. Lucas stepped inside and saw me hunched over the cabinet. His expression shifted from surprise to something that almost resembled guilt, as if he had just remembered what last night was supposed to be.

Our anniversary dinner had never happened.

I said nothing. Lucas lingered in the doorway before walking toward me. When he noticed the pile of clothes beside me, he moved as if to help, but I pushed his hand away. He frowned.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Just cleaning," I replied. "When I saw the dress Lilith wore the other day, I realized how many clothes I've kept but never worn. Some of them were chewed through, probably rats. Others smelled unpleasant."

His frown deepened. "Rats? In here?"

"I don't know," I said with a shrug. I pulled out another set of clothes such as dresses, sweaters, jackets. He recognized them instantly. They were all gifts he had given me over the years.

"What are you doing with those?" he asked again.

"I'm going to wash them. Hopefully, they can still be saved. I can't wear them anymore, so I'm planning to donate them."

Lucas blinked. "Why donate them? You can keep them as long as you want."

I shook my head. "There's too much, and they're not being used. Someone else might need them more. Don't worry, since they're from you, I'll make sure they're donated under your name."

He looked as if he was about to argue when the door behind him opened again, and Lilith walked in confidently. She wrinkled her nose dramatically.

"What donation?" she asked, then covered her nose. "Ugh, it smells like rats in here."

Lucas turned to her, his voice softening. "Selene said the cabinet might have rats. She's sorting it out."

Lilith's gaze fell on the pile of clothes, and she immediately recognized them as the gifts Lucas had given me. Her smile stayed sweet, but there was something sharp underneath, hatred and jealousy barely masked.

"I heard you're donating them?" she asked in a syrupy tone.

"Yes," I answered flatly. "I thought—"

"Oh no," she interrupted with a light laugh. "You can't donate those. They've been messed up. What if they're contaminated? Donating them under Lucas's name could reflect badly on him."

Lucas's expression shifted. He took her words to heart and turned to me, face serious. "She's right. It's not worth the risk. Just throw them out."

I said nothing, but something inside me cracked. Those gifts had meant something. I cherished them. Now, he discarded them like trash, because she told him to. And he didn't even hesitate.

Before I could collect myself, Lilith's eyes wandered toward my room.

"Oh, perfect. There's a clean room in the house," she said brightly, stepping forward. "Lucas, can I stay here? The sunlight hits just right, it's perfect."

Lucas glanced toward the room, then nodded like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Sure. If that's what you want."

I stared at them, stunned. Lilith noticed my expression and gave an exaggerated pout, pretending to be concerned.

"Oh… is that your room, Selene?" she asked innocently. "Oops. I didn't mean to assume. It just looked so cozy and neat. But if it's yours, I won't take it."

I didn't respond right away. My brain was still trying to process everything. Then Lucas, as if nothing were wrong, spoke again in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

"She told me she doesn't have a place to stay yet. She's been staying at a hotel, and you know how expensive that is, so I offered her the room. She'll be more comfortable here."

"Oh, no problem," I said, glancing between the two of them. "Then she can stay in the guest room."

"It's not clean yet," Lucas said. "It might take too long, and she's already tired from the trip. Your room is already in order, so it makes more sense for her to use it for now."

I turned to him, sarcasm lacing my voice. "I can clean the guest room if that's what you want. It won't take long."

Then I looked at Lilith. "Actually, why not just sleep in my husband's room? We're all family, right? You two sharing a bed shouldn't be a problem."

"Selene! What on earth are you trying to imply?" Lucas snapped. "You're acting like this over a room?"

"What?" I shot back, glaring at him. "I'm just offering her suggestions. She seems more eager to sleep beside you than to use my room."

"You—" Lucas raised his hand slightly, as if struggling to hold himself back, but before anything could happen, Lilith threw her arms around him, her eyes glistening with tears.

"It's okay. I'll just stay at the hotel," Lilith said.

"No," Lucas said, his voice lower, colder. He glared at me and said with gritted teeth. "Stop being selfish. Lilith is your sister. Treat her like one."

EPISODE 4

From the start, I had known Lucas treated anything that involved Lilith differently. He was always careful around her. He never raised his voice. He never said no. Whatever she asked for, she got.

So, when she looked at me with teary eyes and a bright smile before hugging Lucas like they were the only two people in the room, I understood that my silence was all she needed to take over.

"I'm so glad you said yes, Selene!" she said cheerfully, holding him like she already belonged here.

Lucas didn't correct her. He just gave her a small nod and turned away like everything had already been decided. I watched him leave the room, carrying a bag that clearly wasn't his. It had to be Lilith's.

He must've planned to let her stay here all along and didn't even think to ask me.

But I didn't argue. I didn't ask questions. I had already made my decision. I was leaving this house, and this marriage.

Neither one felt like mine anymore.

By the afternoon, everyone in the pack already knew Lilith was back. There was even a formal welcoming party organized at the Red Moon estate. Apparently, the small gathering in our home had just been a warm-up. The real event had already been planned, like everything else in her favor.

I followed behind Lucas and Lilith as we arrived at the estate. The mansion was filled with fresh flowers, silver and red banners, hanging lights, and crystal decorations. Everything shimmered under the chandelier glow.

It was bigger, fancier, and far more extravagant than the anniversary party I had planned just last week.

As we moved through the crowd, I heard people whispering and smiling.

"Is that really Lilith? She looks stunning."

"She doesn't even look like she left. Five years? You'd never guess."

"Lucas and Lilith always looked good together. They just… fit, don't they?"

They didn't notice me. I was right behind them, but I might as well have been invisible.

Someone murmured, "Oh, Selene's here too."

A woman coughed and gave me a polite smile. "Selene. Nice to see you. It's been a while."

"Right. Lucas's wife," another one added, as if trying to remember why I was there.

Then came Lilith's parents, Gregor and Amara, Alphas of the Red Moon Pack. They entered with confident steps and warm smiles only for their daughter.

"Mom! Dad!" Lilith exclaimed, running over to hug her mother tightly.

"My sweet girl," Amara said, kissing her cheek. "Still glowing. Are you sure it's been five years?"

"You should've stayed in touch more," Gregor added, patting her back. "We missed you."

Amara turned to Lucas with a gracious smile. "Thank you for welcoming Lilith home, Lucas. I know how busy things must be."

Lucas nodded. "It's not a problem."

Gregor gestured toward the dining area. "Come now. Everyone's waiting."

I followed them into the banquet hall. At the long table sat Victor and Elaine, Lucas's parents, alongside several elders and ranked members from both Red Moon and Silver Fang.

Victor gave Lilith a warm smile. "So, Lilith, what have you been up to all these years?"

She laughed, settling down beside Lucas. "Nothing too exciting. Just traveling. Figuring things out."

"And now?" asked one of the elders.

"Now, I'm happy," she said, her tone light. "I'm staying with Lucas for a while. It feels like home again."

Elaine looked confused. "You're staying… with Lucas?"

Lilith nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Just until I know what's next. He offered his house."

Elaine looked between Lucas and me. "But... isn't that difficult? He's married."

Lucas leaned back and waved a hand. "It's fine. The house feels more alive with her in it."

"Lilith's always had that spark," Amara said proudly. "She brightens up any room."

Victor smiled politely. "Yes, she's certainly full of energy."

Amara continued, "And since there's still no child in the picture, I don't see why she shouldn't stay. A little joy is always welcome."

Elaine glanced at me. "Selene, dear… are you expecting?"

I froze. "No," I said simply.

The table fell into a brief silence.

Gregor cleared his throat. "It's already been five years, hasn't it? Still no children?"

Lilith tried to speak up. "Maybe Lucas and Selene are just waiting for the right time."

Someone across the table snorted. "At her age? Most already have their second, even third."

Amara chuckled. "If Lilith had married Lucas, we would've had three by now."

"Mom!" Lilith exclaimed, clearly embarrassed. "That's not something you say out loud."

I didn't say anything. My hands were clenched in my lap. My stomach had started to ache, a dull pain growing deeper with every word. My expression stayed calm, but I could feel my chest tightening.

"I need to excuse myself," I said, rising from the table without waiting for permission.

As I walked away, I heard the sound of glasses clinking and chairs shifting. Conversations resumed as if my presence was something they did not need.

Then, Lucas's voice followed me down the hall.

"Maybe she's barren. I might need to consider someone else for the heir."

He said it so casually. Like it wasn't about me. Like I wasn't even human. Just a failed part of a plan to produce the next Alpha.

And no one said a word.

EPISODE 5

I stood at the sink, splashing cold water on my face, hoping it would calm the tight knot in my chest. The humiliation I had felt at the dinner table still clung to me. I kept hearing the words, the stares, the silence that followed every cruel remark.

But something else had started growing inside me, something worse.

It began as a dull ache in my lower stomach, but it kept getting sharper. I gripped the edge of the sink just to stay upright. At first, I thought it was just stress or maybe something I had eaten, but the pain kept building. My skin burned, my hands trembled, and something inside me felt wrong.

I turned to leave, thinking I needed to lie down, but when I grabbed the doorknob, it didn't move. I tried again, harder this time, but it still wouldn't budge. That's when I realized that it had been locked from the outside.

A second later, I heard her voice.

"Well, well. Look who's stuck," Lilith said, her tone fake and sweet, like she was savoring the moment. "Poor Selene. Locked away like the pathetic little stray you are."

Each word was soaked in smugness. My skin crawled. I slammed my hand against the door. "Lilith, open the door. Now."

She laughed, not loud or forced, just amused, like this was all a joke to her.

"Why would I do that?" she said. "So, you can go crawling back to my mate? Oh, right… he's your husband now. I keep forgetting."

Pain twisted in my stomach again, sharper than before. I leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to my abdomen.

She kept going. "You really thought he stayed with you out of love? No, sweetie. He stayed because I left. You were convenient. Quiet. Harmless. Easy to forget."

I sank to the floor. My body was giving up.

"He never chose you. Not really," she added. "You were the safe option when I wasn't around. A placeholder. A backup plan. A warm body for cold nights."

I curled in on myself, my forehead against the tile. The pain was blinding now.

"You're not his mate, Selene. You never were. You were just a pause while he waited for me to come back."

I wanted to yell at her, scream something, anything but my mouth was dry, and my lungs barely worked. Then I heard something being dragged across the floor outside. A loud scrape. A heavy thump.

"‘Restricted Area. Do Not Enter,'" she read aloud. I could hear the smile in her voice. "Perfect. Just in case someone gets the idea to come looking for you."

Her heels clicked as she walked away, each step fading until silence returned.

I stayed there, curled up on the cold floor. The pain came in waves, worse each time. I didn't know how much time had passed. Minutes. Hours. My mind drifted. My body shook. At some point, I felt something wet between my legs, and my dress clung to my skin.

Then I heard footsteps. The lock clicked and the door creaked open. Light flooded into the room as a tall figure stepped inside. He wore a black suit and moved with a certain elegance and power. The air shifted the moment he entered.

I smelled pine, leather, and something distinctly wolf. Familiar, but I couldn't place it.

His eyes locked onto mine the second he saw me. And unlike everyone else, he didn't look shocked. He looked furious. He dropped to one knee beside me. His movements were sharp but controlled, like he was holding something back.

"Selene," he said. His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

I tried to lift my head to see him clearly, but my vision swam, and my lips barely moved.

"Who...?"

He leaned closer and brushed my damp hair from my forehead. His touch was rough, but careful.

"You shouldn't have been left alone," he murmured, mostly to himself. There was weight in his voice that made my chest tighten. "I should've come sooner."

His gaze dropped to the blood staining my dress. Under the harsh light, his eyes glowed faintly gold, unnatural and full of fury.

He stood and lifted me into his arms. His movements were efficient and steady, making me feel weightless and fragile all at once. My head rested against his chest as he turned toward the door.

And just before the light swallowed us, I heard him speak again and this time, with quiet finality.

"I warned him. I told him what would happen if he ever failed to protect you."

EPISODE 6

The antiseptic scent of the hospital clung to my nose when I woke. My body felt sore, heavy in all the wrong ways.

The door creaked open, and a doctor entered with a clipboard in hand, his face drawn in a frown.

"You've been under extreme stress lately," he said, glancing at the monitors beside me. "Even last night, you nearly succumbed to hypothermia. Fortunately, you were brought in on time."

"I accidentally got locked and..."

"Whatever the case," he said with a sigh, "it's a pity. I'm afraid your body couldn't handle it."

He paused, his eyes flicking toward my stomach.

"The baby didn't make it."

My breath caught.

"What baby?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"You didn't know?" His expression softened, his tone gentler now. "You were in the very early stages. But yes…, you were pregnant."

I stared at him, numb. I was pregnant? I had no idea. Then… the pain I felt last night, was that the baby? My hand moved to my stomach instinctively. It still ached, but now it feels empty. Hollow. As if something had been taken from me.

The doctor continued, unaware of the storm beginning to churn inside me.

"I've already scolded your husband. I couldn't believe it. He looked decent, but he completely neglected your condition. He should never have let it get this far."

I blinked, momentarily confused. "My husband? Who?"

"The man who brought you in," he replied, frowning at my reaction. Then, seeing the confusion on my face, he hesitated. "He seemed really concerned when he arrived at the ER last night. Is he… not your husband?"

I didn't answer. I didn't know. But I was certain it wasn't Lucas. He hadn't even saved me from when I was kidnapped. Why would I expect him to notice I was gone? My own Alpha had been too busy coddling my sister to even realize I was missing.

Instead, I asked, "When can I leave?"

"You should stay for at least a few more days. Your body needs to rest."

"I'm fine," I interrupted. "I want to leave."

He looked at me for a long moment, clearly debating whether to push the matter further. But in the end, he simply nodded.

The ride home felt like drifting through fog. My body moved, but my mind lagged behind, heavy and slow. As soon as I stepped into the house, a familiar scent struck me. It was Lilith's scent. And not just that. Her scent was mingled with something sweeter, more intimate, thick and cloying with the unmistakable trace of heat.

I followed it down the hallway to the room that used to be mine. The door was slightly ajar, and I didn't bother to knock.

From the hallway, I could see them, Lucas and Lilith, tangled in the sheets, both of them are not wearing anything. Her leg was draped over his body. His arm was curled lazily around her bare shoulder.

I didn't feel rage. Not anymore. I just… watched.

Then I laughed. A quiet, humorless sound that echoed too loudly in the silence. Even I was startled by it.

Without another glance, I turned away and walked to the guest room, where I had been keeping my things. I opened the closet and pulled out a small wooden box hidden beneath my clothes. Carefully, I placed the freshly signed divorce papers inside, followed by the hospital report confirming the miscarriage.

I stared at the report for a long time.

My fingers hovered over the printed words, unable to touch them. They described the end of a life that never even had a chance to begin.

Our child.

A child who died quietly, without even the whisper of a heartbeat.

Then my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but I was too numb to care. I answered without thinking.

"Hello?"

"You left without a word," said a deep voice.

I froze. It was him, the man who found me locked in that cold bathroom. The one with steady hands and a scent of pine and wolf and something I still couldn't name.

"I thought you'd still be resting," he said gently.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "I'm at home. Just picking up my things."

There was a pause. I could hear his breath in the line, calm but tense.

"I'm outside."

I blinked, startled. Slowly, I walked to the window and peeked through the blinds.

There he was. Standing beside a black SUV I didn't recognize, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the house like it had personally offended him.

"Come with me," he said. "I'll take care of you."

--

Lucas stirred awake after a few hours.

The soft buzzing of his phone on the nightstand grew louder, more insistent. He winced, his hand blindly searching for the device while the pounding in his head reminded him of how much he had drunk the night before.

As he sat up, rubbing his eyes, his hand brushed against warm skin beside him.

He froze.

Lying next to him, tangled in the sheets, was Lilith who was bared. Her scent clung to the room, sweet, overwhelming, and unmistakable. His gaze dropped to the marks on his chest and neck, evidence of what had happened.

His brows pulled together as he tried to piece together the night. He didn't remember kissing her. He certainly didn't remember sleeping with her. Weren't they just having a dinner for Lilith's homecoming? Then what was this…?

The phone kept buzzing.

"Darn it," he muttered, grabbing it and answering without checking the caller ID. "What?"

"Alpha Lucas, it's the board," the voice on the other end said quickly, breathless and urgent. "Something happened. Gold Fang Enterprises just pulled out. Our stocks are crashing. The board of directors is calling an emergency meeting. They want answers."

"What?" Lucas sat up straighter, now fully alert. "What do you mean they pulled out? Are you kidding me?"

"No, sir. Their CEO made the announcement early this morning. They're pulling all investments and cutting ties with our projects. Other investors are panicking. We've already lost half of them."

"What? Alright. I'm on my way."

He ended the call and jumped out of bed, reaching for the wrinkled suit he had tossed over a chair the night before. Behind him, Lilith stirred. She stretched, her tone teasing and sleepy. "What's going on?"

"I have to go," Lucas said, hurriedly fixing his collar and searching for his shoes. "There's an emergency at the company."

She got up slowly and walked out into the living room, unconcerned that she wasn't wearing anything. As she passed the couch, her eyes caught something.

It was an exquisite box, sitting neatly in the center of the living room. It was impossible to miss. It looked like a well-prepared gift with an elegant ribbon tied in a perfect bow.

"Oh, what's this?" She asked with a smile. "A gift for me?"

Lucas glanced up and frowned. "I don't know where that came from."

"Really?" She turned it over in her hands and looked for a name tag, but there was none.

Lucas walked over, something twisting in his gut. He realized he hadn't seen me after I went to the restroom last night. More importantly, he couldn't sense my presence in the house. A sudden chill crawled up his spine.

He took the box from Lilith and slowly lifted the lid. What he saw was like a punch to his chest.