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Evan immediately interjected. "Alpha, Luna Selene should not eat raw meat in her condition. She needs something more nourishing."

And I had never liked rare steak. That was Lilith’s favorite.

Kieran faltered for only a moment before recovering, but I heard it—the crack in his composure.

"Ah. My bad," he chuckled, too forced, too light. "I’ll have the chef prepare something else for you."

Then he left with Evan.

And the moment the door shut behind them, my phone vibrated. I reached for it blindly, fingers trembling as I clicked it open.

A message. It seemed as an audio file was attached. The moment I opened it, the recording began to play automatically.

Lilith’s voice. Sweet, airy, and dripping with feigned innocence. "Kieran, I miss you so much."

Then came his voice. "Goddess, you look so sexy, my baby."

I froze. My stomach twisted into a violent knot.

"Your eyes… so stunning."

Lilith let out a breathy giggle. "Thanks to your little idiot mate, of course. Her eyes look even more beautiful on my face. And, not to mention, with these eyes—her eyes—I can see things so much clearer."

Then, the unmistakable sound of a kiss.

Disgust clawed up my throat.

Kieran chuckled, his voice lowering. "She must feel so hideous now. She won’t even have the audacity to beg me to touch her. I’ll be yours only."

Enough. I slammed my finger against the power button, shutting the phone off before I could hear another second of their sick, twisted game.

As if taking my son away from me wasn’t enough. As if killing him, carving out his heart, and gifting it to their bastard daughter wasn’t enough.

Kieran had given her my eyes. Not because I was dying. Not because there was no other way. But because his mistress couldn’t see clearly with her own.

And Ana. Their precious child. The daughter he so desperately protected.

I clenched my jaw, my breathing sharp and erratic.

She was older than Tim. Which meant Kieran had already started his affair before I ever became his mate. And because of her, because of Ana, he had ordered Evan to alter my medicine— So that I would be infertile. So that no child of mine could threaten Ana’s place as his only heir.

I had spent years wondering why I couldn’t conceive, why the Moon Goddess had seemingly denied me the chance to bear a child.

Only for Kieran to "allow" it—once Ana was diagnosed with an incomplete heart.

I was never blessed. I was nothing more than a tool.

Tim—my beautiful boy, my greatest treasure—was nothing more than a contingency plan. A backup. Created only to be sacrificed for Kieran’s bastard daughter.

Rage boiled inside me, searing, violent. I forced my trembling hands into fists.

The audio file had been sent by Lilith herself.

She wanted me to hear this. She wanted me to know.

To throw it in my face, to taunt me with everything she had stolen—my son, my mate, my body, my eyes.

But if they thought for one second that they had broken me—

They were wrong.

If losing my eyes meant Kieran and Lilith would lower their guard, so be it. I didn’t need my sight to destroy them. I had everything I needed.

…

I regained my strength quicker than expected. Soon, I was well enough to be discharged from the pack hospital.

On the day of my departure, Kieran came in person.

He held me like I was the most precious thing in his world, his embrace gentle, his touch careful. Step by step, he guided me out of the hospital and headed toward the mansion we had once called home.

Through the journey, we encountered many werewolves—some his friends, some mine. One by one, they sang his praises.

"Alpha Kieran, you're so careful when it comes to Luna Selene."

"Did you really carry her all the way from the hospital? How devoted!"

"You must love Luna Selene so much."

"Aww… when can I have a mate like you, Alpha Kieran?"

I almost laughed. If they truly wanted a mate like Kieran, they’d be dead already.

But beneath my amusement, I felt something else—a cold realization. Kieran’s reputation was flawless. Everyone believed the illusion he presented. To them, he was the devoted mate, the caring Alpha, the perfect partner.

No one knew the truth. That beneath the charming smile, beneath the loving gestures, lay a monster. A beast without a shred of humanity.

And then, of course, there was Lilith.

I could smell her from a mile away—that signature perfume, sickeningly sweet. "What a coincidence, Alpha Kieran," Lilith's voice dripped with false innocence. "Are you carrying Luna back home?"

The moment she approached, Kieran put me down.

His grip shifted from holding me to simply guiding me forward, hand in hand. He didn’t want her to see him carrying me.

But I had overestimated my strength. The second he let go, my balance wavered. I nearly fell.

"Oh dear! Luna Selene, are you alright?" Lilith gasped, the fake concern in her voice almost admirable.

Before I could react, she seized my hand. "Here, let me help you."

She led me forward, her pace too fast, too eager, too careless. And with each step, her scent grew stronger—and something about it caught my attention.

It was different.

New. Expensive. Unmistakable.

The top-tier perfume that had been auctioned off for nearly a million gold coins at a witch’s auction half a year ago.

Rumors said whoever wore it would maintain their beauty—perhaps even become more radiant over time. It was also said to enhance health and make one appear more alluring.

Back then, Kieran had told me the bidding price had gotten too high. That he couldn’t afford it. That the perfume had been bought by some mysterious buyer.

And yet… here Lilith was, wearing it. Kieran had bought it for her.

Another lie. Another betrayal.

It never ends.

Before, I might have confronted him, demanded an explanation. But now? Now, I was almost impressed by the sheer grandeur of his deception.

"Lilith," I said smoothly, keeping my voice neutral. "You smell different. New perfume?"

She giggled.

"A very special gift from a very special someone."

Her fingers tightened around mine in a small, taunting pinch. Then she turned to Kieran. "Hey, Alpha Kieran, tomorrow is Ana’s birthday. You’ll be there, won’t you?"

Tomorrow marked exactly one month since my son was taken from me. And yet, Lilith dared to speak of Ana’s birthday—right in front of me.

She wanted to humiliate me.

But she had no idea what I had planned.

"Of course, I’ll be there," Kieran said, too eager. But then, almost as if realizing how obvious he sounded, he quickly changed the subject.

Lilith didn’t linger. With a sickly sweet giggle, she left.

And so did Kieran.

I couldn’t see their expressions, but I didn’t need to. I could predict it perfectly. Kieran followed her.

However, Kieran’s Beta, Damon, remained behind. Silently, he took my hands and guided me the rest of the way home.