Chapter 1

Alaria:“Liam, no.”I said, looking at my husband who sat quietly, staring at me as if I was some kind of lunatic. His eyes were cold and void of any emotion. It was as if this was the most casual thing that he was throwing at me and he was just expecting me to accept it. “I am not going to sign these papers. Not like this. I'm not going to agree to something like this.”“I am not asking your permission, Alaria. I am telling you to sign them. Whether or not you agree does not concern me.”He, the man I once loved, the man I trusted with every broken part of me, the man who once held me as though the world would crumble if he let go, spoke like I was a burden. Like I was the one ruining everything.“It is going to be a lot easier if you sign them without a problem.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest. He walked towards the hearth and I watched as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.I blinked, staring at the ink-stained line with my name already printed above it. He had already

Last Updated : 2025-05-15

Chapter 2

Alaria:I walked out of the house knowing that it was the last time that I was going to be in this place.I didn't even want to pack my things. I did not care about that. I wanted to get out. I wanted to spare myself whatever dignity I had left. I felt her inside. I knew that she was within the pack. Of course, she would be. She would want to gloat about this.It wasn't until I felt them behind me as they walked out that I turned around, my chest aching when I saw them, when I saw his arm wrapped around her like a prize that he had claimed. His eyes met mine and he smirked.“Things are going to be different from now on. Our previous Luna was never fit to take her role. She had manipulated it. She had taken advantage of everything that she carried.” He said coldly. I gulped and looked down at my feet as everyone turned their attention to me. I put my hand on my stomach. But I said nothing.“It is time for our pack to be run by a strong Luna. This should have happened since day one, but

Last Updated : 2025-05-17

Chapter 3

Alaria:Four years later…“Mommy, look!”A little hand tugged at the hem of my coat as I hung the laundry on the line. I turned to see her standing barefoot in the grass, silver leaves from the nearby alder trees tangled in her curls.Anastasia.My little angel, the one person who kept me strong through everything that I went through.She pointed proudly at the messy crown of daisies she’d twisted together and placed unevenly on her head. “I made it myself! And I made sure not to break any of the flowers. I tried my best to tie them all carefully and I did not lose the petals.”I smiled despite the tight knot that lived constantly in my chest. “You did a beautiful job, sweetheart. You look like a little forest queen. But Mommy told you not to go too far. The daisies are far off the garden. Please next time come to me before you do so.”“Yes, Mommy.” She said, and I smiled.“Now what is our forest queen planning to do?” I asked, teasing her.She giggled, spinning in place as her wild b

Last Updated : 2025-05-17

Chapter 4

Liam:The rogues never stood a chance.No matter what they wanted to try and prove, they were not going to be able to stand against me now when I had arrived at the territory. I was chasing them off, wanting to lure them away from the forest. Their presence meant danger, but what I did not expect was for them to end up attacking a woman.I tore through them without hesitation, ripping one away from the woman bleeding on the kitchen floor, crushing the ribs of another before it could strike again. The woman's heartbeat slowed. She tried to regain her composure. She tried to fight back but she was bleeding badly.But though they were chased off, I knew that there was something off, something that was wrong. They were dragging me somewhere.They weren’t here by accident. They did not run in this direction by accident.This house. This woman. This moment.It had all been planned.The last one fled, limping, tail tucked between its legs. I let it go. His whimpers were loud enough for anyon

Last Updated : 2025-05-18

Chapter 5

Alaria:The scent of antiseptic hit me before the light. My eyes were still closed, but I knew that I was somewhere different. I was not at home. I was not at the cottage.The smell was sharp. Clean. And even familiar.My lashes fluttered open, and I blinked up at a ceiling painted in soft gray. Too smooth. Too precise. Not the cottage. Not the forest. Not anywhere I recognized. At least not anywhere that I was familiar with recently. The science, however, was familiar. Though I did not understand how.I turned my head. The memory of the rogues attacking played in my mind. And my eyes widened as I tried to move but I couldn't.Pain lanced through my side, sharp and cold. I winced, fingers instinctively going to the bandage at my ribs.I was in a bed.White sheets. Fresh linens. Machines humming quietly beside me.Then I heard it.A quiet breath. A child’s breath.“Nasia…”My voice came out hoarse. Barely there.I turned more slowly this time, and there she was.My daughter. She was sa

Last Updated : 2025-05-18

Chapter 6

Liam:She was mine.The truth burned through my chest like wildfire, slow and unforgiving. Anastasia, she was mine. And Alaria kept her from me for four goddamn years. She did not even mention that she was pregnant. She did not bring it up. It was as if this was a detail that she chose to ignore.And I couldn’t decide who I was angrier at.Her, for the lie. For the secret that she kept.Or myself, for giving her every reason to keep it. For giving her a reason to think that she needed to hide it.My footsteps thundered down the corridor, fists clenched, thoughts spinning so fast I barely noticed where I was going until I reached the east wing. She needed her break and I knew that I was to give her that, but it did not mean that I was not going to investigate on the matter.Claire, however, was there waiting for me, her arms crossed over her chest as she raised an eyebrow, carrying the same attitude that she has been since I brought her here, since she saw her wounded in my arms, and s

Last Updated : 2025-05-19

Chapter 7

Alaria:I had just gotten Nasia to sleep. She was restless, refusing to go to bed. However, I could not blame her. After what she had seen, after the fear, I knew that it would be hard for her to be able to go back to normally going to sleep without being frightened.“Mama's going to be right by your side. All you have to do is just call.” I had whispered to her before she allowed herself to go to bed.Her tiny form was curled up against the pillows of the guest house bed, cheeks flushed from exhaustion. I smoothed her curls back gently, placing a soft kiss on her forehead before pulling the blanket up to her chin.The house was quiet.The maids were cleaning the kitchen after dinner. I sat down on the couch, ignoring the throbbing pain that I felt. I wasn't supposed to be walking around at all, but I also knew that my daughter needed me.But the silence within the house did not feel peaceful. It felt dangerous. It was painful and filled with memories that I did not want to hold on to