Chapter 1

The pup I, Ivy Calisto, finally conceived with my mate, Owen Wagner, after three long years, was going to be killed by his own hands.

"You must guarantee this potion will kill the pup in Ivy's womb. Otherwise, I won't let you off," Owen barked.

I could see the fury on Owen's face through the study door.

The witch trembled as she handed him the potion. "I guarantee it will kill the pup, and she won't suspect a thing."

Owen took the potion and smiled in satisfaction. At that moment, I felt like my heart was torn apart.

As I cradled my belly with both hands, I could feel the pup's strong life force within. But what use was it for an unwanted pup to be born?

When I went to the hospital, the healer looked at me in disbelief. "This is the pup you and Alpha Owen tried for three years to have. Are you sure?"

I thought back to all those nights after intimacy when Owen would hold my hand with tenderness and say how much he wanted to have a child with me.

Now, I realized that those were all just lies. They were lies to keep me by his side so that I wouldn't go after my stepsister, Ashley Calisto.

The funny thing was, I even thought the fact that I couldn't get pregnant after three years was a problem with my body.

I took countless pills and injections because of that. In the end, the truth was that he simply never wanted to have a child with me.

I held back my tears and nodded to the healer. "Let's begin."

As the potion entered my body, I felt the pup's soul wail in anguish.

My pup didn't want to leave me, which caused the procedure to be unusually difficult.

The searing pain below was unbearable. I had to dig my nails into my palms just to keep myself conscious.

The pain started to spread from my belly to my chest.

In the haze of pain, I seemed to see Owen, holding flowers and earnestly asking me to be his Luna.

He had held my hand so sincerely and said, "I'll protect you forever, till death do us part."

Because of that promise, I was ecstatic when I found out I was pregnant. I thought that someone who loved me that deeply would be thrilled to know we were having a pup.

But when he heard the news, all I saw in his eyes was disbelief. I thought it was just shock, that he was too happy to process it.

But now, I realized that he was probably wondering how I even got pregnant.

When I dragged my frail body home, I noticed that the study door, which was usually locked, wasn't locked today.

After forcing my weak body forward, I stepped into the room that I had never been allowed into before.

At that moment, my breath caught in my throat.

The room was full of Ashley's things. Owen had even turned a baby bottle she used when she was one into a pendant.

Her ballet shoes from when she was five were displayed on his desk like a prized possession.

Even more shocking was the wall that was covered in photos of Ashley.

My gaze stopped at one particular photo, which was of Ashley holding a bouquet. It had been the same bouquet that Owen used to propose to me.

I had wondered at the time if those flowers smelled like Ashley. But when I saw Owen's sincere expression, I told myself I must have imagined it.

I finally realized how foolish I'd been.

I staggered out of the study, tears pouring down as I looked at a framed photo of me and Owen in the living room.

It was no wonder he never held an official Luna appointment ceremony for me.

So, my mate was actually in love with someone else.

While I was cradling my face in despair, Owen returned.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

He patted my head gently as he said, "It's normal to feel unwell in early pregnancy."

Owen's eyes were so full of concern as he spoke.

Then, he pulled out the witch's potion from behind him without any hesitation. "I spent the day learning about prenatal care. This is a tonic I had a friend get for you. It'll help stabilize the pregnancy."

When I didn't take it, Owen pulled me into his arms. "This is our first pup. I want him to be born healthy more than anything."

I smiled bitterly.

It seemed like choosing to end this pregnancy had been the right decision after all.

Under his gaze, I drank the witch's potion.

As I tossed the empty vial into the trash, I saw the satisfied smile on Owen's face.

All the sweetness of our past turned into ash at that moment.

Owen, I didn't love you anymore.

Since you never loved me, I would vanish from your world forever.