Chapter 2

"Mommy!" Mia whimpered softly.

"Mia," I called out to her, "hold on, baby."

She gave me a weak smile. Her eyes were unfocused, her lips completely drained of color.

"Mommy, I'm okay... I... I love you," she said in broken breaths.

Her body was terrifyingly cold. The second we reached the hospital, I started screaming like a madwoman.

"Save my daughter!" I roared.

The healer rushed over. His face paled immediately. "It's silver poison!"

"She needs Moon Herb for the antidote, but the hospital is completely out of it right now!"

"Moon Herb..."

I suddenly remembered. I had a stalk of it in my bedroom!

I had acquired it by chance a while ago.

"Hold on, Mia! Mommy will be right back!"

I turned and sprinted out of the hospital, driving back to the pack manor like a maniac.

I burst through the door of the master bedroom.

But the scent that greeted me wasn't my own familiar scent.

It was the pungent perfume of another Omega.

The room had been completely rearranged. My clothes, the photos of Mia and me—they were all gone.

In their place were expensive clothes scattered on the floor, and Valerie, sitting at my vanity, smugly applying lipstick.

"What are you doing here?" she raised an eyebrow, looking at me through the mirror.

She touched her flat stomach, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips.

"Are you here to celebrate my pregnancy too?"

"Gideon was so happy. He said from now on, the whole pack will belong to me and his pup."

Her words plunged into my heart like daggers.

He had left my daughter to die in a deadly silver trap, only to turn around and celebrate his new lover's pregnancy!

I bit my lip so hard it bled, forcing down the tearing agony.

"That has nothing to do with me," I said hoarsely, stumbling toward the hidden drawer by the bed. "I just want my things, and then I'll leave."

I yanked the drawer open, but it was empty.

"Looking for this?"

Valerie’s mocking voice came from behind me.

I whipped around. In her hand was the stalk of Moon Herb, glowing faintly!

I stared at the herb. It was Mia’s last hope for survival!

"Give it to me!" My eyes turned red as I lunged at her recklessly. "Mia needs it to save her life! Please, Valerie, give it to me!"

She sidestepped gracefully, dodging my hand.

"Really?" She sneered, her eyes instantly turning venomous. "Then I definitely have to destroy it."

Right in front of me, she picked up a lighter from the table and set the Moon Herb on fire!

"No—!" I screamed miserably.

The blue flame instantly consumed the herb. The ashes drifted down onto the carpet.

"A bastard nobody cares about should have died a long time ago," she giggled, looking at the ashes on the floor. "Just like you, Scarlett. You both belong in the trash."

"You bitch!"

The last thread of reason in my mind snapped.

I lunged forward, raised my hand, and slapped her across the face with everything I had!

A heavy slap echoed through the room.

I put every ounce of my strength into that strike.

Valerie screamed. But she didn't fall; instead, she deliberately threw herself backward, slamming her head against the sharp corner of the table.

"Ahhh—!" she wailed pitifully, sliding to the floor.

Urgent footsteps echoed in the hallway.

The door was kicked open with a loud crash.

Gideon charged in like a furious beast.

"Gideon! Save our pup!" Valerie cried weakly, pointing at me. "She's trying to kill me! She's jealous that I'm pregnant, she wants me to miscarry!"

"I didn't!" I shouted back, pointing at the ashes on the floor. "She burned the Moon Herb that could save Mia! Mia is dying in the hospital, Gideon, hurry—"

"Shut up!"

Gideon roared, cutting me off.

He strode over without a second of hesitation, raised his hand, and slapped me hard across the face.

I was sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"You really have no remorse. How dare you hurt Valerie!"

"Throw her in the dungeon!" Gideon ordered as he tenderly gathered Valerie into his arms. When he looked back at me, his eyes were as cold as if he were looking at a corpse.

Two hulking guards rushed in and grabbed my arms tightly.

"Let me go! Mia isn't going to make it, she's really dying!" I struggled desperately, tears and blood running down my neck. "Gideon, she is your own flesh and blood!"

Leaning against his chest, Valerie tugged weakly at his sleeve.

"Scarlett is lying again. I just saw Mia earlier, she looked perfectly fine..."

"No! She's lying to you!" I screamed hysterically.

But Gideon just kissed Valerie's forehead gently.

"Take her away. Not a drop of water without my permission," he commanded coldly.

I was dragged out of the room violently, my nails leaving deep bloody scratches on the floor.

Despair. Bone-chilling despair.

I was thrown into the dark, damp dungeon.

The heavy iron door slammed shut with a boom, cutting off the last sliver of light.

There was no light in the dungeon. Being trapped inside felt suffocating.

"Let me out... Let me out..."

I banged on the iron door with my bloody, mangled hands, screaming until my throat tore and bled.

No one answered.

My vision started to blur, and my strength was drained away drop by drop.

I slid powerlessly down to the freezing floor, my breathing growing weaker.

My last thought was: My Mia, who is going to save her?