Chapter 1

Elyssa POV

The moment the rose-covered arch came crashing down, I instinctively shoved Raya out of the way.

Most of the weight landed on me; she only ended up with a few superficial scratches from the falling glass ornaments.

I hit the ground hard, the pain knocking the breath out of me.

Asher rushed over at the sound, scooping the screaming Raya into his arms, his face etched with worry.

Between hiccupped sobs, Raya whimpered, “I just wanted to say hi to Elyssa… I never thought she’d do this to me…”

Asher’s gaze cut toward me, cold, sharp, and merciless.

A shiver raced down my spine.

“I didn’t touch her,” I stammered, gritted my teeth through the pain, “And I got hit too...”

Asher’s buddies closed in, their voices overlapping in a chaotic chorus.

“Elyssa’s acting again. Look at her, barely a scratch, and she’s already on the floor.”

“Meanwhile Raya’s actually bleeding. Talk about desperate for attention.”

“Jealousy looks ugly on you, Elyssa.”

Their words sliced through the air, through me.

Asher stayed silent, but his face darkened by the second.

In his eyes, a flicker of disgust surfaced.

The first-aid kit was handed over. Asher grabbed some disinfectant and quickly cleaned Raya’s wound.

Then he scooped her up into his arms and barked, “Jack, get the car. We’re going to the hospital.”

All I got was a single, icy glance.

I was sprawled on the floor, forcing out a shaky whisper with what little strength I had left.

“Asher… can you take me too?”

The pain in my back was spreading, dull at first but growing sharper by the second.

He paused, his face hardening.

“Raya’s hurt, Elyssa, and you still want to compete with her? I don’t have time for your games. If you want a ride, figure it out yourself.”

Raya tightened her arms around Asher’s neck, a smug little smile curling at her lips. And it cut across my heart like a blade.

I scrambled up, grabbed his arm.

“Asher, please... I’m really hurt. Please help...”

He shook me off, his voice cold and hard.

“You injured Raya out of jealousy. You’re getting out of line. When I get back from the hospital, you’d better be ready to face the consequences.”

He turned and strode off without looking back, a crowd trailing behind him like loyal shadows.

The party hall emptied in seconds, leaving me alone amid crushed rose petals and shattered glass.

I collapsed onto the floor, biting back my sobs until they turned silent.

A waiter approached cautiously, eyes full of pity.

“Ma’am, do you need help?”

My voice cracked. “Call me an ambulance.”

Five years of loving him, and in that single moment, it all began to turn to ice.

After a full check-up at the hospital, I was relieved to learn that my body was mostly fine.

But the impact had nearly caused me to lose the wolf pup growing inside me.

Yes, I had only just found out that I was pregnant.

This should have been wonderful news for Asher and me.

But clutching the pregnancy test in my hand, a suffocating weight pressed on my chest, making it hard to draw a single breath.

Ever since Raya came back six months ago, the distance between Asher and me had grown wider.

Every choice, every concern, tilted in her favor.

I had cried, I had begged, but Asher always dismissed my feelings.

He insisted that I was overthinking, that he and Raya were just childhood friends.

But his constant favoritism toward her was something I could never accept.

Five years of love… maybe it was time to let it end.

This was definitely not the right moment for the pup to make an appearance. I wasn’t going to let him know.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, Asher and his buddies passed by the treatment room.

His eyes swept over me, and for a brief second, he froze.

He stepped inside.

“Elyssa? What are you doing here?”

I quickly shoved the pregnancy report under the pillow and stared silently at the IV bag hanging beside the bed.

Raya slipped her hand through Asher’s arm.

Her shallow scratches were now wrapped dramatically in layers of gauze.

“Just getting an IV. You don’t need to be sick to get one, you know.

“Elyssa, I'm actually injured and I didn’t even need this. But you somehow got the doctors to play along with your little act.”

The white gauze waved like a flag in front of me, making my eyes sting.

Asher’s buddies joined in.

“She didn’t get enough attention at the party, so she came here for round two.”

“Raya’s hurt and she still didn’t make a fuss. Elyssa just loves the spotlight.”

The faint concern that had flickered across Asher’s face earlier vanished.

His expression darkened. He shot them a sharp glare.

“Out. All of you.”

They shut up instantly and slipped out of the room.

Asher’s voice was low, like he was forcing down a wave of anger.

“Elyssa, you really you went too far today. I don’t want to see any more conflict between you and Raya.

“If you want to stand by my side as Luna, you need to learn some restraint.”

My eyes burned, my throat tightening.

“What did I do wrong? When the flower arch fell, I tried to save her…

“She’s the one who hired the florist, she designed the setup, I...”

Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them.

“Enough!” Asher snapped. “Stop making excuses. Just behave yourself, okay?

“Luna’s place will always be yours. No one’s taking it from you.”

Asher went out.

At the doorway, Raya lifted her bandaged hand and whispered something to Asher, her pitiful look clearly meant to draw his attention to her injury.

Without hesitation, Asher scooped her up in his arms, throwing me one last cold glance before walking out.

I pressed my face into the pillow as the tears came harder, soaking the fabric.

My fingers trembled around the pregnancy report.

If his love was gone, then so was my reason to stay.

I unlocked my phone and booked a flight, five days from now, I’d be gone.