Chapter 2: Sister To Sister

Hazel’s POV

Ulysses was nothing but a monster. What was he even thinking, trying to take my son from me? 

After Kimberley returned, he treated me with cold words and cruelty right after I gave birth, and I told myself I could endure it. But when he tried to take my child from me, it was as if he were tearing the flesh from my own body.

The pain in my stomach was so sharp it stole my breath, yet even that was nothing compared to the cruelty in his heart. Clutching my aching body, I forced myself out of bed.

I had to find him. I had to confront him, my final struggle.

Then I saw them.

Ulysses had his arm around Kimberley’s waist, supporting her like she might break. His face was soft in a way I’d never seen before. Gentle. Caring. The way I’d dreamed he might look at me someday.

Kimberley leaned into him, her head on his shoulder. She looked perfect—not a hair out of place, her dress clean and pressed. For someone who’d supposedly been held prisoner for three years, she looked remarkably well.

They saw me at the same time.

“Long time no see,” Kimberley said, her voice sweet as honey.

She said it so casually, like she had no idea my world had just fallen apart because of her.

“Why?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Why did you lie to him?”

Kimberley’s eyebrows rose in mock surprise. “Lie? About what?”

“You know what.” I took another painful step toward them. “You told him I hired rogues to kidnap you. You know that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” She tilted her head, studying me like I was some interesting insect. “Then where was I for three years, sister? Having a vacation?”

“I don’t know where you were!” The words came out louder than I intended. “But I had nothing to do with your disappearance. Nothing!”

Kimberley turned to Ulysses, her lower lip trembling. “See? She’s still lying. Even now, when you’ve caught her, she won’t admit what she did to me.”

“All those years,” she continued, her voice breaking perfectly on cue. “All that suffering. And it was because of her jealousy. Because she couldn’t stand that you were mine first.”

“That’s not true!” I looked at Ulysses desperately and reached out toward him, but he stepped back. “Ulysses, please, The Luna title—take it. Give it to her. I don’t care. But Liam…he’s my son. You can’t take him from me.”

“Can’t I, Hazel?” He stared at me coldly. “You’re not fit to be anyone’s mother. Not after what you’ve done.”

“Ulysses—”

“Tomorrow morning, you’ll participate in the rejection ceremony. My son will stay with me. With his real family.”

Kimberley smiled at that, a small, satisfied curve of her lips.

Before I could say anything else, a warrior approached us, his face grim.

“Alpha,” he said, bowing slightly. “Urgent news from the border.”

“What is it?”

“Alpha Jacob from Ironheart Pack has sent a formal war challenge. His messenger is waiting for your response.”

Ulysses’s jaw tightened. “Jacob.” He spat the name like a curse. “That bastard’s been waiting for any sign of weakness.”

“Sir, Beta Zack requests your immediate presence in the war room. The council is already assembling.”

Ulysses nodded curtly. “I’ll be there in five minutes.” He turned to Kimberley, his voice instantly gentler. “Will you be alright here? I need to deal with this.”

“Of course,” she said, squeezing his hand. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

He kissed her forehead—right there in front of me—then strode away, the warrior following.

The moment they disappeared around the corner, Kimberley’s entire demeanor changed. The fragile, wounded act vanished like smoke. She straightened up, rolling her shoulders back, that sweet smile turning into something evil.

“Well,” she said, dusting imaginary lint off her dress. “That was fun.”

I stared at her. “What?”

“The whole injured damsel thing. Honestly, it’s exhausting being that pathetic.” She stretched her arms above her head. “Much better.”

“You…you were faking it?”

“Obviously.” She cackled. “The injuries, the trauma, the whole ‘poor me’ routine. All performances.”

“But the soldiers said they found you—”

“They found me exactly where I told them to. Amazing how cooperative people can be when you promise them gold.”

My mouth fell open. “You bribed them?”

“Please. Do you think I’d actually let myself get captured by rogues? I’m not stupid, Hazel.”

“Then where were you?”

“Having the time of my life.” She examined her red-painted nails. “There was this man, you see. Yves. Claimed he was an Alpha from the eastern territories. Rich, powerful, charming. Everything Ulysses wasn’t back then.”

“Back then?”

“Well, Ulysses was still just a young Alpha struggling to prove himself. Yves promised me wealth beyond imagination. A pack three times the size of this one. So I left.”

I felt sick. “You abandoned your mate bond for money?”

“I abandoned a boring life for an exciting one. Unfortunately, Yves turned out to be a fraud. Took everything I had and disappeared.” Her face darkened briefly, then brightened again. “But no matter. Look how well things turned out! Ulysses has made something of himself. Thunderstrike Pack is prosperous now. And the best part? It should have been mine from the beginning.”

“You left him at the altar!”

“A minor inconvenience. Though I do appreciate you keeping my spot warm.” She smirked. “Not that you did a very good job of it. Three years and he still doesn’t love you. Pathetic, really.”

Heat flashed through me. “At least I was here. At least I tried to—”

“To what? Steal my life?” She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You always were jealous of me, weren’t you? The pretty sister. The one everyone loved. The one who was supposed to be Luna.”

“I never wanted—”

“Don’t lie. You wanted everything I had. You must have been delighted when I left!”

“That’s insane!”

“Is it? Poor little Hazel, always in my shadow. Finally gets her chance to shine.” She circled me like a predator. “Well, guess what? I’m back. And I’m taking everything that belongs to me.”

“Ulysses isn’t property!”

“Oh, but he is. He’s my mate. Has been since we were eighteen. And our son—”

“Liam is not your son!”

“He will be. Luna Fiona absolutely adores me, you know. Always said I should have been her daughter-in-law. She’s already talking about making it official.”

My hands shook. “You can’t just—”

“Oh? Watch me! I will take back what’s mine,” She grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin.

I tried to pull away, but she held tight. “Let go!”

“Make me.” She shoved me backward.

I stumbled, my weakened body barely keeping me upright. The pain in my abdomen flared white-hot.

“What’s wrong, sister? Not feeling well?” She shoved me again, harder this time.

I fell against the wall, gasping. “Stop…”

“Should I stop this?” She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. “Or should I stop taking back my life? Stop reclaiming my mate? Stop becoming mother to your bastard child?”

Red rage filled my vision. With every ounce of strength I had left, I swung my fist at her face.

She dodged, laughing. “There’s the real Hazel! Not so innocent after all!”

She lunged at me, nails aimed at my face. I grabbed her wrists, and we struggled, her pulling and scratching while I fought to keep her away from my stitches.

“You ruined everything!” she hissed. “Everything that should have been mine!”

“I never asked for any of this!” I pushed back, but she was stronger, healthier.

“Stop it!” a voice shouted from behind us.