Chapter 4

Her hand brushed against my shoulder, right where the silver wounds were still healing. But instead of comforting me, her perfectly manicured nail pressed down hard against the tender flesh.

I cried out in pain, the silver-inflicted wounds screaming in agony.

"Oh no!" Victoria exclaimed, pulling her hand back. "Your wounds look terrible! Ethan, maybe you should get the healer to check on her."

"Yeah, I should," Ethan said, already moving toward the door. "I'll be right back."

The moment he was gone, Victoria's concerned expression melted away into a cold smile.

"Yes, I'm pregnant," she said casually. "But here's the thing, sweetheart. It's not his."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"Ethan's just a toy to me. A powerful Alpha who'll give me status and protection. But the baby? That belongs to someone much more... useful."

Rage boiled up inside me. "You're lying."

"Am I? You think I'd tie myself to one man when I could have so much more?"

I tried to sit up, fury giving me strength despite my injuries. "You can't do this to him. He deserves to know."

"He deserves nothing," she hissed. "And neither do you."

I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "I'm telling him the truth."

She screamed dramatically just as Ethan returned with the healer.

"She attacked me!" Victoria sobbed, cradling her wrist. "She's completely lost it!"

Ethan's eyes blazed with fury as he looked between us. "What the hell is going on?"

"She's pregnant," I said desperately. "But Ethan, the baby isn't—"

"I know she's pregnant," he cut me off sharply. "What I want to know is why you're attacking her."

"The baby isn't yours!" I shouted.

Ethan's face went deadly still. Then his body began to shake with rage.

His eyes flashed gold as his wolf surfaced. In one fluid motion, he shifted into his massive Alpha form, placing himself protectively in front of Victoria.

"How dare you," he snarled, his wolf's voice echoing through the room. "How fucking dare you try to destroy what we have with your lies."

He moved toward me, power radiating from every muscle. "You're pathetic, Sylvia. Desperate and pathetic."

With one powerful motion, he shoved me backward.

My injured body slammed into the hospital wall. The silver wounds that couldn't heal properly tore open, blood immediately soaking through my bandages.

"Everything between us was a mistake," he growled. "Every moment I spent protecting you, every kindness I showed you. You're nothing but a delusional child who can't accept reality."

Pain exploded through my body, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my chest.

He stood there, his massive wolf form protecting Victoria, looking at me like I was something disgusting he'd scraped off his shoe.

"Stay away from us," he commanded. "Stay away from my mate and my pup."

I slumped against the wall, blood pooling Alexeath me, watching the man I'd loved my entire life choose someone else completely.

My heart died in that moment. Whatever foolish hope I'd been clinging to finally shattered into nothing.

I lay on the cold hospital floor, blood seeping from my reopened wounds, still coughing up water.

Victoria was sobbing dramatically beside Ethan, her voice shrill with fake distress.

"She cursed my baby!" she wailed. "She said the Moon Goddess would never let a bastard like this be born! She wished for my child to die!"

I tried to speak, to deny her lies, but only a weak croak came out.

Ethan's eyes flashed with renewed fury. His wolf was barely contained Alexeath his skin, muscles rippling with barely restrained violence.

"You sick, twisted—" he snarled, taking a threatening step toward me.

His Alpha power filled the room like a suffocating wave. I could feel it pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

"Ethan, don't," I whispered, trying to crawl backward.

But he was beyond reason now. His wolf wanted blood.

Just as he lunged forward, Alex burst through the hospital doors.

"Get away from her!" Alex roared, throwing himself between us.

The two Alphas faced each other, power crackling in the air like electricity.

"Your sister is psychotic," Ethan spat. "She attacked my pregnant mate and cursed my unborn child."

"You lying piece of shit," Alex growled. "I know exactly what kind of man you are."

"Alex, don't," I pleaded weakly. "Please, just get me out of here."

But it was too late. Alex's wolf erupted forward, slamming into Ethan with bone-crushing force.

The two massive Alphas rolled across the floor, claws and fangs flashing. Their combined power was devastating—medical equipment shattered, windows cracked, the very foundation of the healing center seemed to shake.

"Stop!" I screamed. "Both of you, stop!"

Other pack members rushed in, trying to separate them, but these were two of the most powerful Alphas in the northern territories. Their rage was beyond control.

Finally, I managed to stagger to my feet, ignoring the agony shooting through my body.

"ALEX!" I shouted with every ounce of strength I had left. "PLEASE!"

Something in my voice cut through his fury. He froze, still pinning Ethan to the ground.

"We're leaving," I said firmly. "Now."

Alex slowly released Ethan, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from cuts on both their faces.

He came to me, carefully supporting my weight as we headed for the exit.

Behind us, Ethan's voice was cold and final: "Stay away from us, Sylvia. I mean it. You're nothing but trouble."

In Alex's car, my brother was still shaking with rage.

"I should have killed him," he said through gritted teeth. "I should have ripped his throat out."

"No, Alex. Please," I said wearily, leaning against his shoulder. "Let it go. For the pack's sake."

He looked at me in disbelief. "For the pack? After what he did to you?"

"Your pack and his are the two strongest in the northern territories," I said quietly. "If you start a war over this, innocent wolves will die. Children, families—"

"Sylvia—"

"I see him clearly now," I interrupted. "Finally. And he's not worth destroying everything for."

Alex's hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he nodded slowly.

"You're too good for this world, sis," he said softly. "Too good for any of us."

"I should have told you, Sylvia. I should have told you the true nature of Ethan. How ruthless he would be when he wanted something, or someone."

He let out a heavy, broken sigh.

"He's always taken advantage of others. I just... I don't want to believe he could be so cruel to you. You've been so good to him, always have been."

I closed my eyes, feeling the last pieces of my heart crumble to dust.

I had finally seen the real Ethan. And he was exactly what Alex had always known he was—a selfish, cruel man who would destroy anyone who got in the way of what he wanted.

The boy who gave me that silver dagger and taught me how to protect myself had never really existed at all.

"I'm going to be okay, Alex," I told him later in my quiet hospital room.

My voice was stronger now.

The tears had dried up. A strange calm had settled over me.

It was the calm of acceptance.

"My application to the Royal Healing Academy has been approved. I'm going to Europe."

Alex looked at me, surprise flickering in his eyes before being replaced by understanding.

"Good," he said firmly. "That's good for you, Sylvia. You deserve to get out of here and find happiness."

He squeezed my hand. "I'll support you. Whatever you need."