Chapter 8

Sylvia's POV

Morning light filtered through the windows as I stood outside Astrid's room, my resolve hardened by last night's revelations. No more games. No more manipulation. This had to end.

I knocked sharply. "It's me, Sylvia. Astrid. We need to talk."

She opened the door with that perfectly practiced innocent expression. "Oh, Luna! What a surprise..."

"Save it." I pushed past her into the room, then stopped cold. I was surprised to see on her dresser sat my mother's silver urn—the one thing I had left of her, the most precious possession in my entire home.

"Oh, that?" Astrid smiled sweetly. "Such a lovely piece. Raven told me all about your mother... how she died protecting your father, who then died protecting his pack. So tragic."

My wolf bristled at her casual handling of my family's pain. "This ends now, Astrid. I heard you last night. I know everything—about your relationship with Raven, about how the moon goddess separated you."

"Finally figured it out, did you?" Her mask slipped, revealing the snake beneath. "Took you long enough. Five years of marriage, and you never wondered why he runs to me every chance he gets?"

"You need to leave," I said firmly. "Find another pack, another life. Stop poisoning my marriage."

She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Your marriage? Do you mean the one forced on him by the moon goddess? The one that stole him from me?"

"He's my mate—"

"He's my love!" She snatched up my mother's urn. "I had him first. We chose each other. You? You're just some cosmic joke forced on him by fate."

"Put that down." My voice shook with barely contained rage.

"Or what?" Her fingers loosened on the urn. "You'll attack a pregnant woman? Prove to everyone what a monster you really are?"

"Astrid—" "

"You know what's funny?" She started pacing, still holding my mother's ashes. "How easy it was to make him doubt you. A few tears here, a swoon there... He's so desperate to atone for his father's sins against your family that he never questions my motives."

"This isn't about Raven anymore," I growled. "This is about you using my dead friend's child as a weapon. James deserved better than that."

Her eyes flashed. "Don't you dare speak his name! James was a fool who died for his precious Alpha, leaving me to play grieving widow. But it worked out perfectly, didn't it? Now I have the perfect excuse to stay close to Raven."

"You're insane." I stepped toward her. "Give me my mother's urn."

"Your mother?" She sneered. "Another weak wolf who died for nothing. Like father, like daughter—always playing the noble sacrifice. It's pathetic."

Something snapped inside me. "Give. Me. The. Urn."

"Come get it." And then, with a smile that showed her true nature, she let it slip from her fingers.

Time slowed. I lunged forward, but my weakened wolf wasn't fast enough. The silver urn shattered on the hardwood floor, my mother's ashes scattering like gray snow.

"Oops." Astrid's voice dripped false concern. "How clumsy of me."

A sound escaped me—part wolf, part human, pure anguish. My mother's ashes... all I had left of her...

"What's wrong, Luna?" Astrid taunted. "Upset about a little spilled dust? Like mother, like daughter—both of you just dirt on the ground."

I moved without thinking, grief and rage propelling me forward. Astrid backpedaled toward the balcony doors, her hand on her stomach, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Stay back!" she cried, a voice suddenly loud enough to carry. "Please! Think of the baby!"

"You did this on purpose," I snarled. "Everything—the urn, backing toward the balcony—it's all another manipulation!"

She smirked. "Yes, but no one will believe you, Luna. Poor Luna."

Then, with the grace of a dancer, she let herself fall backward through the open doors. A normal wolf would have easily caught themselves—the drop was nothing to our kind. But Astrid didn't even try. She just fell, her scream piercing the morning air.

"I promise I'll never go near Raven again!" she wailed as she fell. "Please don't hurt my baby!"

"Sylvia!" Raven's roar came from below. Of course, he was there. Of course, she'd timed this perfectly.

I rushed to the balcony, looking down to see Astrid sprawled dramatically on the ground, Raven already at her side. Pack members gathered, drawn by her scream.

"What happened?" Raven demanded, though his eyes said he'd already decided.

"She—she attacked me," Astrid sobbed. "Said she was tired of me being around. When I told her I'd leave, she said it was too late. That she'd make sure there was nothing left to keep you tied to me..."

"That's not true!" I called down. "She broke my mother's urn—"

"You want to know what she said, Raven?" Astrid's voice carried clearly. "She said her father was the true Alpha of the Cold Moon tribe. That you only have your position because of her family's sacrifice. She said she's always looked down on you, that she only tolerates you because of the mate bond."

Raven's face darkened with each word. "Sylvia. Get down here."

I descended the stairs, my legs shaking with fury. "She's lying. She deliberately broke my mother's urn to provoke me—"

"A high fall like that wouldn't hurt a wolf," I argued. "She didn't even try to land properly!"

"I was scared!" Astrid wailed. "When she came at me, all I could think about was protecting the baby. I... I just panicked." She leaned into my husband's arms and gave me a provocative look.

She thought I would come forward again in anger, she thought I would, but I didn't. I suddenly felt confused, their faces were in front of me, but so unreal.

"Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice rang out. His eyes, when they met mine, were cold with fury. "I've seen enough. Heard enough."

"Raven, please—"

"You attacked a pregnant woman. Used your father's name to undermine my authority. Threatened an innocent child." Each accusation felt like a physical blow. "I've been patient. Been understanding. But this? This is unforgivable."

My wolf cowered at his tone, but I forced myself to stand tall. "If you'd just listen—"

"No more listening." His voice dropped to something terrible and final. "You want to act like a traitor? Fine. I'll treat you like one. Perhaps the Blood Moon pack needs a new slave. They know how to handle rebellious wolves."

The world stopped.

The Blood Moon pack. Known for their cruelty. For breaking wolves into mindless servants. My mate—the man I'd loved since childhood—was threatening to send me there.

He was going to hurt me, and in the crook of his arm, he was guarding another woman in a protective position.

Something deep inside me shattered. Not just my heart, but every dream, every hope, and every bit of love I'd ever felt for him.

"A slave?" My voice came out strange and cold. "That's what I am to you now? Not your mate? Not your Luna? Just a disobedient wolf to be sold off?"

He faltered slightly at my tone. "Sylvia—"

"No." Power rose in me—not my weakened wolf, but something older. Something primal.

I stood straight as I stared into his eyes, fearless. "I, Sylvia, the Luna of Cold Moon pack, now break the mate bond with you, Raven, the Alpha of... "