Chapter 2

By the time Barry came back downstairs, Elara was gone. Her chest had stopped rising. Her lips were pale and blue.

But I couldn’t accept it. I kept patting her cheeks, whispering through trembling lips.

“Elara, sweetheart, Mommy’s here…Come on, baby, wake up. Let’s go home, okay? Don’t scare Mommy like this.”

Barry knelt beside me, his eyes glassy. “Luna Emma… she’s gone.”

“No!” I snapped, clinging to her. “She’s not! My Elara’s not dead! She’s just tired, that’s all—she’s just tired!”

I wrapped my arms around her, trying to give her my warmth, trying to convince the universe to give her back to me. But her small body kept growing colder. Her blood had already soaked through my dress. Her little fingers were stiff.

That’s when I knew. She wasn’t coming back. A guttural scream ripped from my chest.

“No… No, no, no…”

I crumbled.

I hadn’t cried when I turned eighteen and left my family behind to follow Brian, the Alpha who ruled with blood and fear.

I hadn’t cried when I lost the ability to shift after taking a blade to the back to save him in a rogue ambush.

But this? Losing Elara? This broke me.

Brian, I hate you. I hate you with everything I have left.

—

Barry and a few loyal pack members helped arrange Elara’s funeral. They didn’t speak much, but their eyes said enough.

One by one, I saw them steal glances, trying to wipe their tears without drawing attention.

Barry approached quietly. “Luna Emma…should we notify Alpha Brian?”

I clutched Elara’s tiny urn to my chest and let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

“He doesn’t deserve to know.”

I turned toward the others, men and women who had risked their lives with Brian for years. I bent at the waist, my voice choked with gratitude.

“Thank you for coming. Thank you… for not forgetting my daughter.”

“Luna, please—don’t bow to us,” one of the warriors said quickly, stepping forward. “If Alpha Brian finds out—”

Another added, “He’ll be furious. He could… punish us.”

I smiled tightly through the pain. Even now, they fear him more than they grieve her.

Barry quickly ushered them away. Once we were alone, I turned to him, my voice low and cold.

“How long has she been around?”

He hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. “…About a month.”

A month. He’d been betraying me for a month already. Pretending. Lying. Touching me with hands that had already held her.

It was almost impressive—how quickly Sarah had taken everything from me.

Barry’s voice shook slightly. “Luna Emma, I know things seem bad, but… you’re still the most important person in Alpha Brian’s life.”

That made me laugh. Truly laugh. The sound was sharp, bitter. Almost cruel.

I looked up at the photo of Elara. Her sweet smile. The way her cheeks dimpled when she giggled. The pressure in my chest returned like a vice grip.

“Don’t worry, baby. Mommy’s going to make them pay. I swear it.”

When I got home, I didn’t expect to see him. Brian stood in the hallway, arms crossed, that smug arrogance never far from his face.

“Done playing your little game?” he scoffed. “Finally remembered where you live?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t trust myself to speak without screaming. He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, grabbing my chin roughly.

“Emma, I’ve already told you—you're the only one meant to be my Luna. When Elara’s older, we’ll do the Moon Ceremony. But you need to stop this jealousy act over some teenage girl—”

“Elara won’t be growing up,” I said, cutting him off.

He blinked. “What?”

My voice cracked as tears welled in my eyes.

“She’s dead, Brian. Our daughter is dead.”

For a moment, I saw something flicker across his face—shock, maybe. But then his brows drew into a scowl.

“So now you’re cursing our own pup to get attention? Is that what this is?”

I staggered back. It wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t worth it. I clutched Elara’s urn and turned to go upstairs.

But he ripped it from my arms. He looked down at the image on the urn and went pale. Then his expression twisted into something monstrous.

“Are you seriously this twisted, Emma? You made an urn? You had ashes made—for a child who isn’t even dead?”

“Give it back,” I whispered.

“No.” He hurled the urn to the floor.

It shattered. Elara’s ashes scattered across the hardwood like dust in a storm.

“You want to play games? Fine. Reflect on your actions while you’re here—alone.”

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I stood frozen, staring at the broken remains of my daughter. Something inside me snapped again—but this time, it didn’t break. It sharpened.

“This is war now.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Barry rush in. His face twisted with rage and disbelief as he fell to his knees beside the ashes.

“How could he…? How could Alpha Brian do this?”

Ten years. Ten years of loyalty. Of sacrifice. Of love.

Gone in a single, shattering moment.