Chapter 1

Elara's POV

My world began to crumble the day my adopted sister, Opal, forced her way back into my life with a fatherless daughter in her arms.

My eldest son, Finn, was strapped to an operating table and used for live experiments until he was tortured to death. His remains were tossed into Death Valley.

For her, my husband struck me, costing me my second unborn child.

For her, my own brother locked me in a freezing dungeon. And my late father? He had been a slave to her charms long before he died.

While they threw a lavish birthday party for Opal’s daughter in the brightly lit banquet hall, I was pinned down by dungeon guards, my clothes being ripped off, inch by inch...

——

I pushed the bedroom door open, still clutching my ultrasound report. Ever since Finn died, I had begged the Moon Goddess countless times to give my blue-eyed little pup back to me.

But as I reached the second floor, I saw maids throwing out Finn’s favorite toys and blankets like garbage.

"What are you doing?!" My mind went blank. I rushed over like a madwoman to shield Finn’s crib.

"I told them to do it." Opal stepped out from the shadows of the hallway, a smug, fake smile on her lips. "Lila needs a bigger room. Dead people's things are bad luck. They should’ve been burned ages ago."

"Get out! This is my son’s room!" I screamed, my nails digging into my palms.

"Your son is dead, Elara," Opal sneered, stepping closer and dropping her voice. "They are both Darien’s flesh and blood. Why shouldn't my Lila live here? Just because you parade around as the high and mighty daughter of the Grayhold Pack?"

Raw jealousy flashed in her eyes. "Don't pull your Luna rank on me. If that old bastard Silas hadn't died so early, I might be the one sitting in your mother’s seat today. Didn’t you ever wonder why she was in such a rush to leave Grayhold and flee to Europe?"

My blood ran cold. I raised my hand. "You disgusting bitch!"

Before my hand could even fall, Opal let out a bloodcurdling shriek and threw herself backward, landing hard and scraping her elbow until it bled.

"Are you insane, Elara?!"

A familiar roar echoed from the stairs. Darien rushed up, his dark eyes filled with absolute frost. He didn’t even glance at me, going straight to pull Opal into his arms.

"Darien, I shouldn't have come... I just wanted to set up a room for Lila so Elara wouldn't be sad looking at his old things," Opal sobbed against his chest, tears streaming down her face. "I'm just a Mercer family stray. I know she looks down on me. I swear, I’ll do anything for her..."

"Darien, she just admitted it! She and my father—"

"Enough!" Darien snapped. "I’ve decided to let Opal and Lila move in temporarily. If you have a problem, take it up with me. But I will not let you bully her!"

I lost all reason. I grabbed Opal by the collar and yanked her away from him. "Say it to his face! Tell him that you and Silas—tell him you slept with my father!"

"I didn't... Elara, you're hurting me..." Opal shrank back in terror, looking at Darien with tearful eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Liar!" I gripped her collar tighter.

"Let her go!" Darien shoved me hard.

I stumbled backward, lost my footing, and hit the floor hard. A tearing agony exploded in my lower abdomen. Hot blood streamed down my legs, soaking the floor in red.

"Save me... save my baby..." I whimpered, curling up in my own blood.

When I finally opened my eyes to the harsh smell of antiseptics, I couldn't feel my lower half.

Darien sat by the bed, his clothes stained with my blood. His eyes were red, full of guilt and heartbreak.

"Where is the baby?" I grabbed his arm, my voice hoarse.

He held my hand, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Elara... The baby didn't make it."

"You're lying!" I yanked my hand away like I'd been burned, clutching my now-flat stomach. "He's alive! I want to see him! What did you do to him?"

"Listen to me, Elara. The doctor said you were too upset. His heart just stopped." Darien gripped my shoulders. "Once you recover, we can try again."

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, tears breaking free. "Darien! Ever since Opal gave birth to Lila two years ago, you haven't cared whether Finn lived or died. You won't even tell me where my son is buried! You blinded, brainwashed fool! And now you're using the same lies to steal my second child?!"

A heavy slap landed across my face.

The force threw me across the hospital bed. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and a burning print blossomed on my left cheek.

Dead silence filled the room.

Darien stood frozen, staring at his raised hand. His pupils shrank in sheer panic as he rushed toward me. "Goddess... Elara, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I just..."

I turned my head away, avoiding his touch. The last spark of fire in my heart—the one that had survived every nightmare—finally went cold.

"Darien," I looked at him calmly, my voice icy. "I want a divorce."