Chapter 1 Betrayal From Home

ELENA 

Three years of marriage, and my mate had never touched me. Not once.

Now, I’ve been on my deathbed for thirty days, and he hasn't even bothered to check if I’m still breathing. To the Moonspire Pack, I am the Crown Luna—a title that bought Lucian his throne. To him, I am merely an obstacle to be discarded.

He hadn't severed the bond, either. It was the only thing keeping me alive, in more ways than one. The pack law was ancient and absolute: as the first daughter of the last Alpha, I was destined to be the Crown Luna. Any man who bonded with me was meant to become Alpha. Without my blood-binding to the throne, he was nothing more than an usurper. 

—

"Luna, the Alpha has refused to see you but he requested that this document be given to you.” 

The paper felt rough between my trembling fingers as I stared at the surface. 

DIVORCE PAPERS.

My heart hung in my chest when I turned the pages and saw his signature.

I was dying and this was all he could think of; getting rid of me.

A dry laugh escaped my throat. My body was weak, every breath feeling like needles, but the pain from deep within my chest hurt worse than my sickness.

Memories from our mating ceremony night came flooding in. I had reached for his hand, wanting just a little warmth, but he pulled away like I was a disease. He wouldn’t even look at me. That night I made an excuse for him, shifting the blame to stress and shyness. It continued that way for three good years. I had been so desperate for him to love me that I ignored how empty he really was. 

The door to my bedroom opened softly. 

Nora walked in, her face pale, her eyes red as if she had been weeping for hours. She looked so fragile, so innocent in her white dress. She rushed to my bedside and dropped to her knees, taking my cold hands into her warm ones.

"Oh, Elena..." Nora collapsed by my side, her voice a soft, pitying sigh. Her hand stroked my arm with tenderness. "I heard what Lucian did to you and believe me I tried to talk to him, really, I did. I told him how sick you were, how much you needed him. But he’s… well, he’s already moved on. And tonight he’s even hosting a dinner to celebrate. I’m so sorry, sis."

I looked down at her, my eyes blurry with unshed tears. “To celebrate? Wha–what do you mean?”

She sniffed hard, grabbing my hand in a supportive way, "That bastard sent an invitation to me to come celebrate with him for divorcing you. But I declined it. Damn his invitation!”

Nora, my ever-loving, kindhearted sister. Always on the lookout for me. We had always been so inseparable since childhood.

"This is what I get for forcing myself on him."

"No. Don’t say that, sis. Lucian is a monster," Nora spat out, her voice full of anger and pity. She looked up at me with wide, sad eyes. "You did nothing wrong and trust me, I won't let you suffer alone, Elena. If the worst... if something worse happens to you... know that I will never let him forget what he did to you. He doesn't deserve happiness after the way he’s treated you."

A painful cough tore through my chest. I doubled over, blood staining the white handkerchief I pressed to my mouth.

Right then, the door opened again.

Julian stepped inside. He was my personal guard, my protector, and the most loyal person in my life. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in his uniform, his presence always brought a sense of safety. 

Without looking at Nora, his sharp eyes fixed entirely on me, filled with deep concern.

"Luna, I need to speak to you in private," Julian said, his voice level and strict. "Can lady Nora please excuse us?”

Nora stood up immediately, crossing her arms over her chest. Her sweet expression almost got swallowed by fury for a split second. "Excuse you? I am her sister. We are one. Whatever you have to say to Elena, you can say in front of me."

Julian didn't respond. He just stood there like a statue, his silence making it clear that he was not going to negotiate.

"Nora... please," I whispered, my voice raspy. "What he has to say must be really personal. Give us a moment."

Nora’s face softened again. “Okay, fine. I’m only listening because you said so.” She turned back to me, leaning down to wrap her arms around my neck in a tight hug and kissing my cheek gently. "Please take care of yourself and stay strong for me."

Once the door clicked shut behind her, Julian moved fast. The calm mask fell from his face, replaced by anguish. He dropped to his knees right beside my bed and took my hand. His skin was warm, his touch so gentle it made my heart ache.

"Elena," he murmured, his voice thick with uncertainty. "For—Forgive me for… for what I’m about to tell you. Goddess knows you have suffered enough. But I cannot keep this truth I have just found from you."

Another violent coughing fit shook my frame. The metallic tasting liquid leaked more from the side of my mouth. "I doubt anything else would hurt more than receiving a divorce from my husband while at the brink of death," I managed to say, struggling to catch my breath. “Tell me what you have just found."

Julian squeezed my hand, tears swimming in his dark eyes. "Your sickness isn’t natural. Someone has been poisoning you with wolfsbane for the last two months."

The world seemed to stop. A single tear slipped down my face. Someone was poisoning me? Only one person would want to get rid of me. Only one man could be this heartless to do such a thing to me.

"Lucian..." I breathed out the name, the truth hitting me like a stab to my heart. "It’s Lucian, isn't it? Drop it already."

Julian swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes. He ordered it, Elena. But... he is not the one who has been putting it in your food every day."

Before I could ask what he meant, Julian pulled out his phone. He tapped the screen and held it up between us. An audio recording began to play.

"Is it done?" Lucian’s cold voice asked in the recording.

"Almost," a sweet, soft female voice replied. A voice I knew better than my own. "In a few days, Elena will finally die and we will get married before anyone can find out I am with your child. No one will suspect a thing, my love."