Chapter 2

ALESSIA

Max didn’t come home last night.

I sat alone at the massive dining table the next morning, the room felt colder without him—too quiet and empty. Even the soft clinking of cutlery echoed uncomfortably. From the corners of the hall, I could hear the Omegas talking about me, a chorus I had grown too familiar with.

“Alpha Maximillian must be bored with her by now."

"Of course. Everyone knew she wouldn’t last. He was bound to throw her away.”

Max had never been a man of many words, especially at breakfast. Still, he would sometimes ask about my day, and I would fill the silence with small stories—the errands I ran, the little gifts I bought for him, the things I hoped he cared about. Sitting alone now, I realized how much those few words had meant.

After breakfast, I retreated to my room and opened my laptop. There it was—an old email I had been searching for, buried in my inbox for years.

Westvale Medical College — Admission Offer.

Westvale had been my dream since I was a child, since the day my parents first placed medical tools in my small hands and showed me how they save lives. I still remember that midnight when they rushed out of our home because an old man was dying from a beast attack. I watched them leave, never knowing it would become the last memory I would ever have of them together.

The very next day, a car accident took them from me. The world I had known ended at their graveside.

I was still kneeling there when a man appeared. He introduced himself and said he owed my parents a debt of blood and honor.

He was Beta Ragnar of Blacksteel Pack, the man whose life my parents saved.

“From now on you're my daughter,” the Beta told me, hands steady on my shoulders, “I swear I will protect your life and give you everything you need.”

And he did.

Moving to Blacksteel should have been a nightmare, but Ragnar’s presence became my shield. And because of him, I was safe, and I almost believed I belonged. Until Ragnar fell ill. The man who had stood between me and their cruelty was reduced to a bed and fading whispers.

That was when the truth of this world revealed itself. Among werewolves, a human was less than nothing.

More than once, I had thought of running — of going back to human society, going back to Westvale and continuing my parents’ legacy. But my marriage to Max stood in the way, even though I had already been accepted.

My eyes dropped to the contact number at the bottom of the email.

I dialed.

“Westvale Medical College, how may I help you?” A cheerful voice answered almost immediately.

“This is Alessia Stone, I was accepted to Westvale three years ago.”

There was a brief pause.

“Miss Stone?” The voice suddenly brightened with recognition. “Of course! We remember you very well. We were wondering what happened. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied softly. “I just couldn’t start back then. But now I want to try again, is it still possible?”

“Try?” she laughed warmly. “There’s no need to try! We would be thrilled to finally have you. Your credentials were outstanding, and you can come whenever you feel ready.”

“Thank you. I will be there in thirteen days.”

I stared at the acceptance letter as if it might vanish if I blinked. A dream I once thought lost was finally in my hands. 

The days that followed passed in a blur. 

Max’s absence turned out to be a relief, giving me the space to pour myself completely into my preparations. From dawn until dusk, I lost myself in books and articles, the world outside ceasing to exist. Quietly, I gathered the gifts Max had given me and discarded them, one by one, each a reminder of a life I no longer wanted.

That afternoon, my phone rang again. I didn’t look at the caller ID as I accepted the call.

“Hello, Westvale-"

“Luna.” The cold, familiar voice answered instead.

“Doctor Myra?"

“Yes, it’s me.” Her tone was clipped. “As I told you at the hospital, this pregnancy is dangerous. Carrying wolf DNA inside you could start to damage your human body, I’ve sent you a Lunar Bloom infusion to help prevent that. Take it for three days. When you’re done, I’ll send more.”

Like everyone in Blacksteel Pack, Doctor Myra had never approved of me as Luna. Unlike the others, however, she hid her disdain behind professionalism and I respected her for that.

“Thank you, Doctor Myra,” I said. “But may I request something else?”

“Go on.”

“Please send enough for nine months of pregnancy,” I said carefully. “So you won’t need to keep sending it repeatedly. It will be easier for both of us.”

Silence stretched between us.

Then, “Very well. I will arrange it.”

I thanked her, and the line went dead.

After the call, an Omega arrived at my door carrying a small sealed box. As I accepted it with a quiet nod. Hushed voices drifted toward me.

“Alpha Maximillian must’ve spent the past few days with another woman.”

“She’s already been replaced.”

I ignored them.

Inside my room, I opened the box and took a pill, washing it down quickly. Then I moved to the mirror, lifted my sleeve, and saw my mating mark was already fading.

Nine days. There’s not much time left.

“We’ll leave soon, my love,” I whispered, touching my stomach, where a fragile life was growing inside me. “Just you and me. I’ll protect you.”

A sudden noise echoed from the guest wing, making my heart jump.

I turned and ran toward the sound. I rushed toward it, and found the maids hard at work; dusting, moving, and rearranging the furniture as if preparing the room for someone important.

“What’s going on?” I asked a maid breathlessly. “Did Alpha order the guest room to be prepared?”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself, Luna?” the Omega sneered. “Has he stopped speaking to you? How sad. It means your time is up, Lady Clementine is here now.”

My blood ran cold.

“W-what?”

Her lips curled into a cruel smirk. “Alpha Maximillian's true love has moved into the packhouse.”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Where is Alpha?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

She gestured down the hall. “In his study.”

I didn’t waste another second.

My mind was in chaos, and I forgot his rule about knocking as I pushed the door open.

The sight inside froze me where I stood.

Max was seated beside his desk, his suit jacket tossed over a chair. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, his tie loosened. Perched on his lap was Clementine, feeding him fruit as they giggled together. 

At the sound of the door opening, they both turned toward me.

Clementine tilted her head slowly, her full lips curving into a slow, satisfied smile, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Oh, Alessia, I hope I’m not intruding,” she said, mock sympathy dripping from every word. “My husband just died. Surely you don’t mind your husband comforting his childhood best friend?”

Max gently set her down and walked toward me. Instinctively, I took a step back.

“Clem will stay here temporarily,” he said calmly. “I’m still looking for a suitable house. Without a mate, it’s dangerous for her to live alone. I trust you can understand that, Alessia.”

My eyes drifted to his collar.

A smear of red lipstick.

“Sure,” 

My answer made his eyes widen slightly.

Behind him, Clementine rested a hand over her stomach, her smile already blooming with quiet triumph.

My gaze returned to my husband. “But is that really your only reason?”