Chapter 1

I was eighteen the first time I shifted—truly shifted—between my wolf and human forms. That’s also the age I pledged myself to Brian, Alpha of the Devon Pack.

For ten long years, I stood beside him, bled for him, killed for him. I gave him everything—my loyalty, my strength, my youth. I thought we’d finally earned a future of peace. A future filled with laughter, not blood.

But all it took was one night. One kidnapping. And everything crumbled.

They took my five-year-old daughter, Elara—my pup. And some random college girl. Two lives. One choice.

When Brian stormed in with his warriors, I thought—I prayed—he’d come for Elara. For our child.

But he didn’t. He carried out the girl. That girl. Some barely-grown, wide-eyed stranger.

Before I could even process what was happening, before I could scream his name, he turned on me—rage in his eyes.

“You’re almost thirty, Emma. Thirty! And you’re still so jealous, so childish, that you'd turn a rescue into a twisted game of who deserves saving? An innocent girl or your own daughter? You’ve spoiled that pup beyond repair. Maybe if you spent more time raising her right—”

I didn’t hear the rest.

Because when I ran inside, I found Elara. Lying in a pool of her own blood. Her tiny body torn apart. Her breathing shallow. She was still just a child—still too young to shift.

I scooped her into my arms, my hands shaking. “Brian… Brian, please! Help her!”

But he didn’t come. He was still outside, cradling the girl. Whispering to her. Stroking her hair.

He told his men to get me out. Elara died in my arms. Something inside me snapped. Whatever part of me still loved him—whatever part that still believed in mates—died with her.

I went straight to the Lvan Pack—our sworn rivals—and threw my pride at their feet.

“Help me destroy him,” I said. “And everything he owns is yours.”

—

The rain fell hard that night, but I didn’t move. I knelt outside Brian’s mansion, soaked to the bone, clutching Elara’s lifeless body like she could still be saved.

My voice was hoarse from screaming, my tears mixing with the downpour.

“Brian, please… she’s still warm. Please, save her…”

I could barely breathe. Each inhale felt like a knife in my lungs. My nails dug into my palms until I drew blood.

Inside, Brian heard me. He paused. But the girl in his arms—Sarah—clutched him tighter and whimpered, “Brian… Emma’s your mate. I don’t want to be the reason you’re torn.”

He sneered and cupped her cheek.

“Don’t say that. I don’t want Emma. You’re the only one I care about.” He kissed her—hard. “Even if fate says she’s my mate, she means nothing to me.”

Sarah smiled like she’d won. “Brian, you’re so good to me.”

He laughed softly, brushing his lips across her jaw.

“You little girls are so easy to please.”

Then my voice broke through again, ragged and desperate:

“Brian, I’ll get on my knees if I have to! Just—please—save our daughter!”

Sarah hesitated, her smile fading. She stood, but Brian yanked her back down.

“Stay. She’s just acting. Let her pretend.”

Then he called out to his Beta.

“Tell her to leave. Now.”

Barry, one of the lowest-ranking Omegas, stepped outside moments later. His expression was tight with guilt.

“Luna Emma… please. Take the pup and go home. Don’t stay out here in the rain.”

I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. I just clutched Elara tighter and stayed kneeling.

He took a breath, then added—reluctantly:

“Alpha Brian says… stop pretending. And leave.”

My body trembled violently.

“Barry,” I croaked, my voice almost gone, “please. I beg you. The Pack Doctor—he won’t help me without Brian’s word. Please…”

I laid Elara’s broken body out before him. Her face was bruised, her eyes gouged out, her belly torn open and bleeding.

Even Barry, who’d seen war and death, staggered back in horror. He spun around and ran inside.

Upstairs, Barry banged on Brian’s door.

“Alpha! Please, open up!”

Brian yanked it open, shirtless and furious. “Didn’t I say not to come back unless you wanted broken legs?”

Barry didn’t flinch.

“Alpha Brian—the pup is dying. Her eyes were torn out. Her insides are spilling out. She’s barely holding on—she’s going to die.”

Brian blinked… then scoffed.

“Oh, I see. Now Emma wants us to believe she didn’t plan all this? That she didn’t hire those men herself just to make me feel guilty?”

Barry’s voice cracked. “You don’t believe that. She would never hurt her own pup.”

Brian’s eyes iced over.

“Get out. If you disturb me again, I’ll break every bone in your body.”

Then he slammed the door.

Behind it, laughter and the sound of clothing hitting the floor echoed through the halls.

Barry stood frozen, his fists clenched, tears mixing with the rain on his face. He pounded the door once more.

“Alpha Brian…” His voice broke. “You’ll regret this.”