Chapter one

The silver cup trembled in my hands, moonlight reflected on its polished surface like a thousand accusing eyes. Around me, the entire Silvercrest pack had gathered in the great hall, their faces showing anger and hate. My knees ached against the cold stone floor where Kieran had forced me down, but the pain in my body was nothing compared to my broken heart.

"Drink it,"Kieran said loudly.

The voice that once said sweet words to me now sounded cruel and mean.

I looked up at him—my mate, my Alpha, the man I had loved for four years—now I barely knew him anymore. His silver eyes, once warm and kind, now looked at me with cold anger.

Behind him, Selene stood with her hand resting protectively over her supposedly pregnant belly, her lips curved in what anyone else might mistake for concern. But I knew that smile. I had seen it a thousand times growing up together, every time she'd gotten something she wanted.

Something that had been mine first.

"Kieran, please." My voice cracked, and I hated myself for being so weak. “I didn’t poison her drink. I would never do that.”

"Be quiet!" His shout echoed through the hall, and I flinched.

Even the pack members looked shocked to see their Alpha so angry at his Luna.

"The maid saw you. She testified before the entire council. You put wolfsbane in Selene's tea because you're jealous that she is carrying my heir."

My heir.

Those words hurt like knives in my chest. I pressed my free hand against my lower abdomen, where new life had just begun to grow. I'd found out about it last night and was planning to tell him this morning. A desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, it would make him love me again.

But now...

"I'm pregnant too," I whispered.

Kieran laughed, but it was bitter and cruel. "More lies, Elara? Dr. Matthias already said you faked your pregnancy test. Did you really think I wouldn't check?"

My head spun. Dr. Matthias—the doctor I trusted, who confirmed my pregnancy some hours ago—had lied about me? I looked through the crowd for him. He stood at the back, looking down. When our eyes met, he looked afraid and quickly looked away.

"The doctor is lying," I said, stronger now, pushing to my feet despite Kieran's growl of warning. "I am pregnant. He examined me last night . He knows."

"Enough!" Kieran grabbed my arm tightly. His hand used to hold me gently. Now it hurts.

"You tried to poison my mate and my unborn child,” he said. “You've lied to this pack. You've disgraced the position of Luna." He pushed the cup toward me. "Drink it. Prove you are innocent."

Behind him, Selene's eyes shined with victory. At that moment, I understood everything—the careful manipulation, the calculated lies, the perfect trap. She had planned everything, from seducing Kieran to framing me for a crime I didn't commit. My best friend since childhood had destroyed me completely.

And I never saw it coming.

"Brother." I said turning to Dariaus, who stood among the pack leaders. He was the beta, second in command. He'd been silent this whole time. "Dariaus, please. You know me. Tell them I couldn't do this."

He stepped forward. My heart filled with hope.

My brother. The only family I had left since our parents died. He would help me.

"Alpha," Dariaus said calmly. "My sister has never been violent. She's gentle, maybe too gentle. I find this hard to believe—"

“Are you questioning my judgement?” Kieran snapped.

Darius froze. I saw the pain in his eyes.

"“No, Alpha,” he said quietly. “I only ask you to think about—”

"I've thought about everything." Kieran's hand gripped my shoulder tighter. "Including how your sister lied to us all." He looked down at me with cold eyes. "For the sake of the bond we once shared, I'm giving you this chance. Drink. Show us you are innocent."

Darius looked at me. His voice was calm but broken.

“Drink from the cup, sister. Show them you are innocent.”

My hope disappeared. Even my brother couldn’t save me.

I looked down at the cup in my shaking hands. The liquid inside looked clear like water. It looked harmless. But I could smell it now—under the flower smell of a tea, something sharp and bitter. Something wrong.

Wolfsbane. The same poison they said I used.

My heart beat fast as I understood. This wasn't about proving I was innocent. This was death. This cup had been poisoned, probably right after they accused me. If I drank it, I would die. If I refused, they would kill me anyway.

There was no escape.

I looked at Kieran one last time, remembering the face of the man I'd loved completely. The man who promised under the full moon to protect me, to love me, to stand with me against all enemies. That man was gone. Now a stranger stood there, watching me with cold eyes.

"I love you," I whispered. "I have always loved you. And I'm sorry I couldn't be what you needed me to be."

His face didn't change, but something—a tiny flicker—crossed his face or maybe it’s me hoping. But it's too late to matter now.

I lifted the cup and drank. The liquid touched my tongue, bitter and burning, as I forced myself to swallow.

The pain came instantly, like liquid fire in my blood. The cup fell from my hands and hit the floor. I screamed as pain took over. Then I collapsed.

My last thought was of the child I would never hold, the life I would never live.

And the revenge I would never take.

And then…nothing.