Chapter 1

Aurelia POV

I waited for the pain to go away. But it didn't.

Loud screams tore from my throat before I could stop them. My fingers clawed at the blood-soaked sheets, my nails dug deep into the thin mattress of the birthing room as another contraction ripped through me like fire.

“Push!” the midwife urged, her gloved hands already in place. “You’re almost there!”

I was drenched in sweat, trembling, breathless, and the pain I felt was way out of this world. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

This is it, I told myself. Just a little more. One more push and I’d be done. One more push and I’d get the money, and I could save my mama. All of this was for her; I only agreed to be a surrogate because I couldn't just watch my mama die in that hospital bed. She's been in and out of a coma, and if nothing is done, she's definitely going to die.

I opened my eyes, forcing my body to give one final, desperate push. With a guttural cry, I bore down. My body tore, and I felt relieved.

Seconds later, there was a loud cry from the baby.

"A healthy baby boy!" the midwife announced, holding up the tiny baby in the air.

I collapsed back onto the bed, chest heaving. Tears slipped down my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath. I turned my head just as Luna Selena stepped closer to the baby. Her ice-blonde hair was swept back into a tight bun, her emerald eyes glinting with so much happiness as she held him.

Her lips curled into a perfect smile. “Thank you for your service, Aurelia. But it's quite unfortunate that this will be your last day on earth.”

My heart stopped. I blinked, trying to comprehend what she had just said. But then a sudden, wet gurgling sound snapped my head to the other side.

The midwife’s eyes were wide open as she gasped for breath. Her throat had been slit clean across, and her blood sprayed everywhere as she crumpled to the floor.

“Oh good goddess!” I choked, trying to sit up.

The doctor slumped next, as a scalpel lodged in his temple. The nurse didn't move. She couldn't. I was stock-still too. With trembling legs, the nurse started backing into the corner, only for her head to be twisted with a sickening crack.

My gaze slid around the room, everywhere was stained with blood. At this point, I'd forgotten how to breathe. All I wanted was for this to be a dream.

“You…” My voice trembled. “Why did you kill them?!”

“Because I can. And frankly,” she sighed, examining the baby’s tiny face like she was inspecting a doll, “I do not want any inconvenience in the future.”

My black eyes widened. Fear slid down my spine immediately. “I don't understand. What's going on?!”

Selena suddenly let out a laugh, then turned to look at me on the bed. Noticing a tear had slipped down my cheek at some point, she gently wiped my cheek with her thumb. "You must be dumb, aren't you? So after all these months, you still couldn't tell that the king is your true mate?"

I froze. My heart slammed to a stop, then I lifted my head slowly. "What did you just say?"

She laughed, almost delighted by the horror on my face. “Yes, Alpha Dominic is your mate but I made sure he never found out. I am his true Luna, and you're nothing but a piece of trash, a flimsy distraction from the moon goddess.”

My mouth opened, then closed, unable to form words.

“The potion I give him every morning? Oh, that was what suppressed the mate bond. But now I don't have to do that anymore, because you will be gone for good. But before that, I have a visitor for you. You might want to see him.”

Before I could say anything, I turned to see my own father. He was as terrifying as a demon crawling out of hell to claim lives, his stare enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

I hadn’t seen him in almost two years, not since he sold off the last of our belongings and disappeared with the money. He hadn’t called. Hadn’t visited the hospital when my mama got involved in the accident.

But for a moment, I dared to hope that maybe my father would save me from this nightmare.

“Papa?” I croaked. “Please… help me.”

But that only triggered his anger. He moved closer, and with a swift kick, his boot connected with my face before I could even flinch.

“Don’t you ever call me that again, you miserable mistake,” he growled.

Pain exploded in my jaw as my head slammed into the floor. I let out a piercing scream, but my father didn't bother to listen. He went on and on until I was so weak, I lost the ability to even speak.

He walked over to Selena, took a thick envelope from her hand, and counted the money casually. That was when it dawned on me that this had been their plan.

Selena turned to me, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Say hi to your mama for me.”

My breath caught. Cold terror wrapped around my throat.

“…What did you do to her?”

She knelt beside me, her breath hot against my ear, and then she whispered, "Same thing I'm about to do to you."

A dagger drove straight into my chest. I coughed, and blood gushed out of my mouth. My body was numb, and slowly I started losing my vision. But the pain in my heart was so fierce, I was afraid to recognize it. My mind was becoming coherent, savagely so, screaming at the moon goddess to give me one more chance!

I had their faces imprinted in my heart, and I do not think my soul will find peace if they don't feel the same pain they've caused me today.

****

When my eyes flung open, I gasped. I thought was in hell but it seemed too silent for a place meant for sinners. My hands flew to my chest, searching for the wound but there was nothing. 

I blinked hard, trying to focus as I saw the room was small and cramped. A single bed, torn curtains, and the smell of cheap soap. This wasn't the birthing room.

This was the servant quarters. I sat up too fast and my head spun.  I looked down at my stomach and my breath caught. It was completely flat.

What the hell?

I stumbled to the cracked mirror on the wall and my reflection stared back. My face looked younger, and less exhausted and the dark circles under my eyes were barely there.

Then I saw the calendar pinned beside the mirror and my heart stopped. This was ten months ago.

The exact day I was supposed to sleep with the Alpha King for the surrogacy.

But I already gave birth. I already died. This couldn't be real. Was it?

A sharp knock rattled the door.

"Aurelia!" I heard the head maid Constance's voice.

 "You're expected in the Alpha's chambers in two hours. Move!"

Two hours? I had just two hours before I'd be in his room, in his bed, starting this nightmare all over again.