[1]

I never imagined I’d spend my thirtieth birthday like this—heavily pregnant, sitting in a glittering ballroom, forced to watch my Alpha mate flirt shamelessly with my stepsister under the bright lights meant to celebrate my day.

Alaric Drayden—my husband, my Alpha—was hosting the grand ball. I didn’t want to come. I told him I was tired, that the baby was kicking too much, that the scent of perfume and champagne would make me sick. But he’d looked at me with that charming smile and said, “It’s not just my victory, Cass. Our pack will celebrate both of us.”

So I came. I wanted to be the supportive wife—the Luna who stood proudly by her Alpha’s side.

I put on the white silk dress he chose, smiled for the cameras, and tried to ignore the growing uneasy twisting in my gut.

I should have known better. I should have stayed home.

Because tonight, surrounded by applause and flashing lights, I realized the cruelest truth of all—my husband wasn’t celebrating me.

He was celebrating with her.

Damn it.

“What the hell is this?” The words slipped through my clenched teeth before I could stop them.

Everywhere I looked, I saw them—Alaric and Lyra, the golden pair, laughing together like the world belonged to them.

The champagne flute in my hand trembled, the bubbles spilling over my fingers. Laughter and music filled the ballroom, but to me, it all sounded muffled—like I was trapped underwater.

Every time someone whispered Lyra’s name, another crack formed in my chest.

“Look, Miss Lyra looks stunning tonight.”

“They look so perfect together, don’t they?”

“Even Alpha Alaric can’t take his eyes off her.”

Can’t take his eyes off her.

Not his wife. Not the woman carrying his child.

Alaric had worked himself to the bone for this project. Everyone knew that. But they didn't know that I was also working behind the scenes. When I was pregnant, I was still trying to help Alaric with everything I could. But the way the crowd's gaze only lingered on Lyra, not even me—as if she was the one who had made it all possible—made bile rise in my throat.

My gaze stayed fixed on the stage, on the man I loved… and the sister I should have been able to trust.

My sister stood there in a sparkling white gown, her hair pinned elegantly, her face radiant under the party lights. And beside her—Alaric looked at her with that same look that used to belong to me. Warm, proud, as if Lyra was the only one who mattered in the world.

My hands clenched tightly in my lap. I didn’t want to cry, but my whole body trembled with anger and pain. Without meaning to, my eyes dropped to my body—one that had changed so much.

The pregnancy I’d been waiting over seven years had transformed me in ways I hadn’t expected. My weight has increased drastically. Hormonal acne dotted my face. My skin looked dull and dry, and my hair kept falling out. The doctor had said some pregnancies could cause intense hormonal shifts.

“No, Alaric wouldn’t ignore me because of this pregnancy,” I whispered to myself, trying to hold onto that fragile belief. When Alaric first learned I was pregnant, he was overjoyed. For a moment, I thought we had finally found wholeness. But that joy vanished quickly. He buried himself once again in his work, in the Pack, leaving little time for me, more for Lyra. The longer I looked, the clearer it became—Lyra was crossing the line.

She's always been like this, ever since we were kids. Anything that was mine, she always tried to take it. In the past, I let her have her way for the sake of our sisterhood. But just like her mother took my father away from me, she's now trying to take Alaric from me.

And Alaric… he wasn’t stopping her. He didn’t even flinch when she reached out to fix his tie.

Hey! This was a public event—people were watching! Were they always this comfortable being that close?

Just as I was about to step closer to them, Russel Ivanov, our Pack’s Gamma, blocked my way.

“Where are you going, Luna?”

“I want to speak with my husband,” I said firmly.

Gamma Russel chuckled. “Our Alpha must be in the best mood tonight. Olium Corp just signed a huge contract, driving out our biggest rival, Holdem Group. Because of this victory, our Pack has risen straight to the top of the national ranks. SilverFang’s name is spreading everywhere. Quite an achievement, isn’t it?”

“Yes, you’re right.” I couldn’t deny it. And yet…

“Miss Lyra is truly remarkable. This is all thanks to her and Alpha Alaric. What a glorious celebration.”

“Don’t they look perfect together? So close, so… affectionate.”

“I can’t help but feel Miss Lyra is more suited to be Alpha Alaric’s Luna.”

“Yes, I agree. Miss Lyra is beautiful, graceful, intelligent, resourceful, well-connected in business—she matches Alpha Alaric perfectly.”

“Careful what you say. Isn’t Luna Cassandra here tonight as well?”

“I heard it’s her birthday. But why hasn’t anyone mentioned it?”

I pushed through the crowd, each step heavier than the last—not because of my swollen belly, but because my pride was being trampled underfoot.

“Cassandra!” Lyra’s bright smile hit me the moment she saw me. “Oh Moon Goddess, I didn’t see you there! I’m so sorry, I’ve been busy managing everything.”

“Busy managing?” My voice was low, but sharp enough to cut. “Or busy taking what doesn’t belong to you?”

Lyra’s expression faltered, her lips trembling in a show of hurt. “You’ve misunderstood. I was only helping Alpha Alaric. This is an important project.” Her gaze lowered demurely, like a perfect little actress.

“By fixing his tie in front of everyone?” No. I refused to play along with her game.

“Cass—”

“Don’t.” My voice came out like ice. “Don’t say another word, Lyra.”

Every eye in the ballroom turned toward us, but I didn’t care. I turned to Alaric, hoping—just once—that he’d defend me. But the look he gave me was cold enough to freeze my blood. Alaric didn’t use to be like this.

“Don’t ruin the mood,” he said flatly. “Tonight is important for the SilverFang Pack.”

“This is my birthday, Alaric,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He let out an irritated sigh.

“Of course. It’s your birthday, my dearest sister. How could Alpha Alaric ever forget?” She signaled to one of the staff, and a large cake was brought forward. It was placed on the main table—a grand, towering cake that drew everyone’s attention.

But when I looked closely, my stomach turned. The frosting read Congratulations on the Success of the Olium Corp Project.

In the corner, written in tiny, half-faded letters, were the words happy birthday, Cassandra—as if someone had added it at the last minute, just to avoid guilt.

The room felt frozen around me, but everyone else clapped, their cheers filling the air with praise for Lyra.

“I want to go home,” I whispered to Alaric, my throat tight. I couldn’t stay here another second.

“Not now,” he snapped. “It’s your birthday, isn’t it? Everyone’s still enjoying the party. Don’t be childish, Cassandra.”

I stared at Alaric in disbelief. Before I could even speak, Lyra cut in smoothly.

“Cassandra, come on, let’s cut the cake.” She handed me the knife with an innocent smile, as if she hadn’t just stolen the spotlight from me.

“Why should Cassandra cut it?” Alaric took the knife from my hand and passed it to her instead. “You should be the one cutting the cake, Lyra. Without you, this project would’ve never succeeded.”

Lyra laughed softly, feigning modesty. “Oh, Alpha, please don’t say that—”

“No need to be shy.”

Applause filled the room again. And there I stood between them, at my own birthday party, watching the two people I loved most stand together under the bright lights as if I no longer existed.

“Enough!” I snatched the knife back from Lyra’s hand, my voice shaking with fury and tears. “I want to go home. Now.”

“Not now,” Alaric said sharply.

“Alaric.”

“Cassandra, stop being childish.”

For a moment, I could only stare at him, too stunned to speak. “Childish? I’m your wife—your Luna! But look at you… staring at my sister like I’ve vanished from your world!”

The ballroom fell silent. Even the music seemed to die.

“If it weren’t for this event, I’d have reprimanded you right here and now,” he said coldly. “You’re an embarrassment, Cassandra. A Luna who acts like a spoiled child.”

Then he turned and walked away—leaving me standing there—while Lyra followed, throwing me a faint, smug smile over her shoulder.

My breath came in short gasps. That look… that commanding tone. It wasn’t just anger; it was dominant. The kind only an Alpha could exert over his Luna. Every word he spoke was an order my wolf could barely resist obeying.

But I couldn’t let him walk away from me. Not like this.

Ignoring the eyes on me, I rushed after him, my heels clicking against the marble floor. I didn’t notice the slick patch beneath my feet—cream, maybe, or spilled champagne. The next thing I knew was that my body hit the ground hard, and a sharp, unbearable pain tore through my stomach.

“Ah—” The sound escaped me as I clutched my belly.

Screams erupted around me.

“Luna Cassandra! You’re bleeding!”

Warm liquid seeped between my thighs, pooling beneath me. My knees gave out, my vision blurring.

“Alaric…” His name escaped my lips in a whisper—fragile, trembling. For one foolish second, I still hoped he’d come running, like he used to when I was his everything.

But that hope shattered when he finally turned. His eyes were cold.

“Stop this pathetic act, Cassandra,” he said flatly. “I don’t believe you anymore.”

I saw Lyra’s hand cover her mouth in fake shock as chaos broke out around us. People shouted, footsteps echoed, voices blurred together—but everything was fading.

The last thing I felt was the crushing pain in my chest and the sting of tears sliding down my cheeks. And before I could even catch my breath to ask him what he meant, darkness swallowed everything.