Chapter 1

"Lila, I know you are understanding and considerate so today marks Rebecca's birthing day and my parents invited her to the den for a meal. But don't worry. You're the only one who can ever be my Luna — there's no place for her in my heart or in the pack."

Rebecca hid behind him, tenderly grasping his hand.

On her slender ring finger, the dazzling Howl Gems ring flashed.

The ring Terrence had sworn beneath the full moon was destined for my finger on my 6th anniversary bonding day.

Noticing my gaze, Terrence tugged her hand down sheepishly.

"Luna Lila, that bracelet looks so lovely on you," Rebecca said with a sweet smile, her voice laced with false innocence.

Terrence hurriedly wanted to say something, but I smiled.

I unclasped the bracelet. "Here it is. After all, it's a gift from the Howl Gems ring on your finger, take it, it's just right for a matching set."

Tears welled in her eyes instantly, "Forgive me, Luna Lila! If I have offended you, punish me! But please... spare my innocent pup!"

Terrence immediately frowned.

"Lila!" he snapped, his Alpha voice cracking like a whip. "Rebecca knows nothing of these things! Why bully her so?

It's just a ring. I'll buy you another."

I laughed bitterly, and I felt a sheer stab of pain weighing down my heart.

I hadn't laid a claw on her, yet I was cast as the villain.

Terrence's cell phone rang, and he squeezed my hand, softly coaxing, "Don't lose your temper, let's go back and talk about what's going on."

He turned and strode purposefully towards the den entrance.

Rebecca seized the moment, slinking closer, "Luna Lila, today is my birthday. Terrence specially ordered my favorite blueberry cake for me. Won't you share my joy?"

Hearing "blueberry cake", a wave of cold dread washed over me, and I instinctively recoiled.

blueberry cake had been my childhood favorite, a treat I craved every year on my birthday.

But that ended on my 12th birthday.

My mother, determined to get me the best blueberry cake across the territory, ventured out alone. On her way back, she was ambushed and savagely killed by a pack of rogues. She died because of my childish whim, because she was bringing me that damned cake.

That day, every blueberry was stained with blood, spilling all over the ground, stabbing me in the heart, and becoming my lifelong nightmare.

Every crumb of that uneaten cake became a symbol of my guilt.

The very sight of blueberry or their confections plunged me back into that horror, the crushing weight of knowing her death was tied to my desire.

I vowed then, amidst the grief and self-loathing, that I would never, ever eat blueberry cake again.

However, Rebecca jammed a chunk toward my mouth, her nails digging into my flesh with a force not unlike a pregnant wolf.

"I won't eat it!"

I swatted her hand away anxiously, not exerting much force, but she fell back with a shriek.

"Ah..."

A maid just happened to come out of the kitchen, holding a pot of scalding moon-bane soup.

The searing liquid cascaded over me.

Terrence stormed back in, and what he saw was the scene of Rebecca "weeping" pitifully on the floor and crying her eyes out.

"Luna Lila! I only wish to share my joy with a piece of cake! How could you... push me like that? It was my obsession to stay by Terrence's side that made you angry, but the pup is innocent."

I looked at her incredulously.

"Lila!" Terrence's golden eyes turned bloody, and his voice was cold as ice, "I told you that Rebecca is just having two pups for me. She won't affect your position, why are you so intolerant of her?"

"I didn't!" I choked through the burning pain, my vision blurring. I pointed desperately towards the den's surveillance cameras embedded in the walls. "Check them! The truth is there!"

Seeing this, Rebecca immediately jumped into his arms, covering her stomach and crying loudly, "Terrence! Alpha! The pup... I feel... something's wrong!"

He scooped her up with frantic urgency, and his face was full of panic and heartache. Spotting the blueberry cake on the floor near me, his golden eyes blazing with Alpha rage.

"Lila," his voice was a low, dangerous growl that vibrated through the den, "Your kindness has withered and died. If you refuse her gift so violently, then..."

He turned his furious gaze on the servants, "Make your Luna finish it. Not a single bite left."

"Terrence!" I fought desperately, "I can't! The blurberry... you know what they do to me!"

But he was already striding away with Rebecca, his mind solely on her and her pup. Over his shoulder, Rebecca shot me a look of pure, venomous triumph.

Terrence's parents, murmuring disapproval, left soon with their grandpups.

The servants, obeying their Alpha's command without question, forced me down.

One clamped my jaw open while another shoved chunks of the cursed blueberry cake down my throat.

But the true horror was the familiar, gut-churning terror as the blueberry hit my system. My wolf howled in distress within me.