Chapter 1

Bella’s POV

The beeping of the machines surrounding me matched the thudding of my heart. It all came back to me. The pain and agony. My father and my brothers...the three powerful Alphas of the White Claw Pack forever gone.

I stared at the ceiling of the hospital, and the numb feeling was washing over me from head to toe. I lay on the bed like a lifeless body, and the only thing I could do was touch my belly—a baby was there.

Three months ago, the Lycan King summoned my mate, Jasper, to the North border, where there had recently been unrest. My father and brothers, as Alphas, went to the battlefield together. I waited at home, and every day, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to bring them back safely.

But Jasper bore the bad news when he came back. It was also the day I received the news that I was pregnant, the baby I had expected for five years since I married Jasper.

The increasing pain kept torturing me. I missed my family.

I never saw my mom after I was born. My father and brothers raised me. They were powerful, dominant, and aggressive soldiers on the training ground, but they never made me feel like I needed to surrender to them. We were just a happy, normal family. We talked about everything and created many special moments together.

They witnessed my first shift and held my hand, guiding me down the aisle on my wedding day.

They meant everything to me.

But now I've lost them. All of them at the same time. How was I supposed to keep going without them?

My pillow was soaked with tears, and I subconsciously looked for my mate. I felt panicked when I realized he wasn’t there.

I remember I fainted in his arms before he answered my question. “Who killed them?” Dr. Janna wasn’t here either.

It was then that I noticed a figure by the window. It was my friend Sadie.

““Sadie! My father and my brothers,” I said, my voice breaking. “I still can’t believe it.” She approached me and took my hand. “They were a force to be reckoned with. How could they have been killed?”

If anyone understood my pain, it was Sadie. We grew up together like sisters. She is the daughter of Uncle Conner, my father’s Beta and best friend.

Five years ago, she moved in with me from the White Claw Pack to Jasper’s Riverbank Pack on my marriage day. It was good to have a familiar friend in a new place.

At this saddest moment, having Saide by my side was a relief. I didn't know how long I had fainted, but she must have taken care of me for a long time.

She leaned closer as if she wanted to wipe my tears.

“I’m really sorry for you.” She laughed. “What? Do you think I came to comfort you?” My eyes widened in confusion.

“Oh, pitiful Bella.” Sadie sneered. “Blissful is this day, for at last Jasper and I could step out of the shadows and proclaim our love to the world.” Her mocking laugh was like a slap to my face.

“What do you mean?” The pang in my heart made me wish it wasn’t what I was thinking. Sadie’s satisfied grin only grew. Her boldness had no limits, and she continued with her self-satisfying rant.

“Because of you, Jasper and I had to hide our love for five years. He was by my side whenever he made an excuse for not being with you. I was the woman he loved.” My heart was trapped in my throat, and an invisible rope strangled my neck, taking my breath. This was not possible.

“You've never had enough, Bella. Always wanting more. Always taking away what was meant to be mine. You always had the better clothes and the most expensive jewelry. All the best for the pack’s princess. Then you have to go and shamelessly steal my Jasper!” She bellowed.

She hated me, not from today, but from the day I had something better than her

“Sadie...I never knew you thought so...” She was one of the most important people in my life. We grew together and had each other for our whole lives. My father and brothers treated her as part of our family.

Emotion controlled me, I pulled my arm, and the medical needle pricked the back of my hand and bled me.

Sadie walked close to me. Her wolf flickered in her eyes. She grabbed my hand, making me groan and struggle.

You know that marrying Jasper was the worst decision of your life. He should be mine.

“He is my fated mate. I didn’t steal him from you.”

“I saw him first. I talked to him first. But he chose you; it was your fault to seduce him.” She growled.

The person I considered a sister and my fated mate had cheated on me for five years, starting from the first day of my marriage.

"If you tell me..." Her face contorted. She hated to hear that.

“Shut up you bitch. He was always meant to be mine. But finally, I’m getting justice. Now you have lost everything. Your daddy and your brothers are no longer here to support you.” She laughed joyfully.

“Stop,” I whispered. Her words were killing me. She had been an illusion in my life. Everything I knew and thought of her was only a lie.

“You are no one to order me now, Bella, or I must say, ex Luna. Do you think you are feeling pain now? Wait until Jasper takes over your father’s pack and makes me his Luna. The first thing I will do is strip you of all your ranks. You will be my slave, nothing but a worm in the dirt. Small, dirty, and insignificant.” She spewed her venom at her heart’s content.

She left and then slammed the door. I could still hear her laugh all the way from here.

I put my shaking hands on my face to confirm I was still breathing; my head was about to explode.

I sat up and pulled out the needle linked to my hand. I needed to confirm the truth.

Dr Jana appeared at that moment as I was changing my clothes.

"Luna, you’re leaving? The Alpha wanted you to stay overnight. He seemed concerned about you.” Said Dr. Janna. Obviously, he probably wanted alone time with Sadie.

“I’m fine, Dr. Janna. Remember our deal. Nobody can know.” She nodded. I headed to Jasper’s office.

I walked into the Alpha’s mansion with determination. It was the middle of the day, and everyone was busy elsewhere. I heard voices coming from Jasper’s office. The door was ajar. I could see Sadie straddling Jasper’s lap on his office chair. A growl was caught in my throat.

“I missed you so much, Jas.” She said in between kisses. Bile rose inside my throat. Each kiss to my mate was like a lash with spikes against my body. “I can’t believe the excellent news you brought. We don’t have to hide our love anymore. As soon as you take over their pack, you can make me your Luna. My father will help you at every step.” Sadie cooed.

"Shut up and bend over. It’s been a long time, and Bella is still at the hospital.” Sadie’s exaggerated moans mixed with their unmistakable wet pounding almost made me empty my insides right then and there.

I went straight to my room, feeling like a ghost of myself. The wedding picture of Jasper and me hanging from the wall was a mocking reminder of his lies.

'Bella, I will love you forever.'

'I will protect you for the rest of my life.'

The promises he made to me and my family were untrue. All five years of care were merely a disguise. He even pretended that he wanted to have a baby with me..

Two stray tears fell down my cheeks. Should I give up on this little life?

Jasper was a bastard, and he conspired to take the Alpha title of my father’s pack.

If I keep the baby, Jasper will use it as a weapon to threaten and imprison me.

No! My heart ached immediately at the thought of losing my child. I just couldn’t; the baby was the only one who shared the same blood with me. I needed to protect my blood, and I still had the chance now.

Sadie thought I lost everything with the death of my family, but she was wrong.

She didn’t know the real me.