When the Surrogate Spell Breaks

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a bed in the pack's infirmary.

"Ms. Ewing, congratulations."

The healer closed her notebook and said gently, "You didn't faint because you were sick. It's low blood sugar. You're already ten weeks with pup."

Ten weeks with pup? But didn't I die?

Before my mind could even process the impossible truth of coming back to life, a gift box was placed in front of me.

"Sienna, this is amazing! I'm so happy for you!"

The person speaking was my adopted sister, Alayna Ewing.

She was recently bonded as Luna to the pack's Alpha, Misael Finch.

"I heard you've been having trouble sleeping. Turns out you're with pup. I made this aromatherapy spray to help you sleep. Use it, and get some rest."

She pushed the gift box toward me, but I avoided her gaze and didn't reach out.

My mother, Lilia Gallagher, who was standing nearby, immediately scowled. "Sienna, what are you waiting for? Alayna specially made this for you. Take it! Don't be so ungrateful.

"Alayna's the Luna now. She's got so much on her plate, yet she still cares about you. And look at you. Who exactly are you putting on this cold expression for?"

Alayna's two lackeys immediately chimed in, their tone thick with sycophancy.

"Exactly. If I were Alpha Misael's mate, I wouldn't spare you a glance. Only Luna Alayna would be saintly enough to care about a poor relative like you."

"Luna Alayna made this aromatherapy spray herself. It's a waste on someone who can't appreciate it. Even being with pup hasn't helped you think straight. Say thanks to Luna Alayna already!"

Alayna shook her head, feigning concern. "Don't say that. Sienna's with pup. Her emotions are all over the place. Here, Sienna, let me help you open it. See if you like the scent."

As she said that, she held the spray bottle up to me.

"I added some moonflower pollen to help with sleep. If you don't like the smell, I can make you another."

As I stared at the bottle, I quickly held my breath.

This was it.

In my previous life, as soon as I found out I was with pup, I hadn't even had time to celebrate before I smelled this aromatherapy spray from her.

That night, my womb erupted in a pain so agonizing I screamed until my voice broke. It felt as if a phantom hand were clawing and tearing inside.

When the healer came to check, my belly was flat.

Strangely, my body showed no signs of miscarriage. It was as if the pup had never existed.

But that nightmare was only the beginning.

After that, I became with pup two more times. Each time, the pup disappeared amid unbearable pain.

The healer ran every test but never found a cause.

The pack started whispering behind my back, saying I was cursed, that even the Moon Goddess wouldn't protect my pups.

I was on the verge of breaking when Mom pulled out a time crystal ball and showed me a disturbing scene.

Inside, I was pounding at my belly like a madwoman, even tightening a belt around it, as if I were desperately trying to crush the pup inside me.

But I never did that.

I dared not walk too fast, dared not let my emotions stir, and even when I turned in my sleep, I did so with the utmost caution.

I pleaded for them to believe me, even swearing by the Moon Goddess that I would never hurt my own baby.

However, everyone thought I was losing my mind.

To make things worse, a Rogue burst into the pack one day, accusing me of cheating behind my mate's back.

"Sienna's miscarriages weren't accidents! She was so depraved during her pregnancy that she kept sleeping with me until she killed her own pups!

"She wanted to kill the pups because she was afraid they were mine and that her mate would find out. I couldn't bear to watch this wicked she-wolf murder another innocent pup, so I had to expose the truth!"

My mate, Jaxon Pitts, was consumed with rage. He rejected me publicly and had Misael exile me from the pack.

I wandered alone, freezing and starving, until I died that winter.

After I died, my spirit returned to Alayna's side. That was when I learned the truth—my miscarriages happened only because Alayna had cast a surrogate pregnancy curse on me.