Chapter 2

Nysera’s POV

A shot rang out, followed by a heavy thud. I screamed weakly and turned just in time to see Maelis collapse to the ground.

“Run, don’t look back, or they will get you!” Maelis cried out in pain, unable to move or escape.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back. I took a deep breath and kept running, not daring to look behind me in such a desperate situation.

“You catch that bitch, KILL HER!”

Terror gripped me, especially because I was heavily pregnant. I didn’t want to be in this situation — it was almost too much to bear. What if my child ended up dying? What if I never got to hold my baby in my arms? The thoughts tore at me as I ran, knowing they wouldn’t stop until they had me.

They chased me through the thick jungle, branches tearing at my skin while my breathing grew more ragged with every painful gasp.

Maelis’s words echoed in my mind: Vaelor really wanted me gone? He actually wanted me dead? It seemed impossible.

The Vaelor I loved would have done anything to protect me. But now he was furious because he believed I had killed his beloved father. I was sure that if I could just explain everything to him, he might understand and calm down. Yet as I ran, it felt like forever, until I suddenly had to stop short — I had reached the edge of a cliff.

I looked down at the raging river below. There was no way I could swim across it.

I clutched my stomach and turned back to see the wolves advancing toward me, teeth bared and ready to kill.

“I didn’t do it…” I whispered, tears rolling down my face.

I tried to step back but hesitated because of the cliff.

“I didn’t do it!” I cried out louder, hoping someone — anyone — would hear me. But they kept closing in like hunters stalking their prey, with no intention of backing away.

“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t do it, Nysera. Your fate is already sealed,” a voice suddenly spoke through the mind link.

I turned toward the sound and saw Vaelor standing there, spinning a small silver pistol in his hands, his expression wicked.

“You’re pregnant, Nysera should you really be running around like this?”

I moved to run, but he commanded, “Stop right there, Nova! There is no running from your sin. You’ll have to pay for your crime.”

He growled with such bloodthirst that fear trickled down my spine.

“HOW FAST CAN YOU RUN FROM ME?” His voice rang through the link once more.

I could feel it his rage, his hate.

“Vaelor…” I called his name.

He flashed a small smile that made my skin crawl as he slowly walked toward me. I took a careful step back, mindful of the cliff’s edge.

“Vaelor, you have to believe me I could never do something like that. I’m not evil, and I’m not capable of killing your father.”

“He cared about me more than you know, and I would never do anything to hurt him,” I pleaded, desperate for him to believe me.

“We know you didn’t do it, Nyseraphine. No need to try to explain yourself,” a voice said from the shadows.

I turned and saw Sylvara stepping out from the thick forest, an evil smile on her face as she tilted her head.

“You are sweet, kind Nysera, after all. Anyone who thinks you’re capable of murder is stupid,” she added.

For a brief moment I felt relieved, happy that at least someone still trusted me.

“If that’s the case, then please, let’s just go home. I don’t feel so good, and I’m so tired. Let’s find out who did this together.”

But instead of agreement, Sylvara burst out laughing, and Vaelor let out a small chuckle. They both stared at me like I was a comedian who had just told the funniest joke in the world.

“There is no home for you, Nysera, because you will die here,” Sylvara said.

Vaelor cocked the gun, making me jump in fear. I was confused and terrified. What was going on?

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Sylvara sneered. “Well, I don’t expect you to you’ve always been so stupid, so trusting and naive. We knew you weren’t the one who killed the Alpha because we did it. We planned everything.”

My heart pounded as her words sank in. What were they talking about?

“Vaelor and I have been in love with each other since we were young,” Sylvara continued, taking a deep breath as if trying to control her anger.

“Society might see us as siblings, but it doesn’t matter we’re not related anyway. We decided to wait until Father passed away he was old, after all so we could finally be together.

But then he brought you into the picture, the daughter of his late best friend he wanted his son to marry. How disgusting,” she spat, her voice full of rage. “Why the heck was he forcing you to marry the man I love? You were my best friend; you should have said no!”

“How would I have known?” I cried, tears brimming in my eyes. “How could I have known about your relationship when you never told me anything? How was I supposed to know you two were together?”

“You were my best friend we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. How could I have known when you kept it all a secret?” My voice trembled. I still couldn’t believe it. Vaelor and Sylvara were lovers?

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Sylvara said coldly. “We got rid of that annoying old man and framed you for it. He was old anyway he should have died long ago.

We were going to let the council take care of you, but since you’ve proven to be insufferable, we will have to do it ourselves.”

Vaelor raised the gun, pointing it directly at me. My heart raced with fear as I looked between them.

“You are not the only one who’s pregnant, Nysera,” Sylvara said, placing her hand over her stomach. “I am too, and for my baby to be born safely, you and your baby need to be gone.”

I couldn’t believe it. The betrayal cut deeper than any wound. These were the people who meant the most to me, and they had turned on me just like that. How could they be so cruel? How could they do this to me?

“Goodbye, Nysera,” Vaelor said, his voice cold as he aimed the gun at me.

“The bullet in this gun is laced with wolfsbane, so it should do the job.” He paused, a wicked glint in his eyes. “Tell my father hello when you see him in hell.”

“Please Vaelor, your child is innocent—”

“That BASTARD can never be mine, you slut!”

His accusation rang out, followed by a loud bang.

My eyes widened in shock.

I stared at him in disbelief, tears streaming down my face as I struggled to comprehend the betrayal. Instinctively, my hands flew to my belly, trying to shield my child.

“Vaelor?” I screamed as my foot slipped.

My body gave way and fell backward into the water.

Death… I could almost taste it.

The pain in my chest was overwhelming, though I couldn’t tell if it came from the bullet or the betrayal. As I started sinking into the water, my mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Why did this happen to me? Why did the two people I trusted most betray me like this? My fiancé and my best friend.

What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t bring my child into this world before dying such a miserable death? I prayed to any god that might hear me if I could just get one last chance to live for the sake of my child, I would do everything in my power to make sure those who betrayed me paid for their sins. I would see to it that they were punished severely.

“If I could get one more chance to live, I wouldn’t spare any of them not a single one. I just wanted to live for my child’s sake and punish those who dared to harm us. I just needed a second chance at life.”

It was as if my prayers were answered by a supreme being when I felt a strong hand grab my arm from above the water and start pulling me to the surface.

At that moment, I was barely conscious, but as soon as that hand touched me, I began to feel strange. My wolf stirred within me as if she was about to burst out at any moment. It felt strange, yet familiar. She had been like this before, but I couldn’t remember when.

And just as I was about to lose consciousness completely, my wolf whispered one last word, shocking me:

‘Mate…’