All Chapters of The Fatal Favor: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

When I was 18 years old, I stepped between Eric Ludlow and a silver arrow loosed by another contender so I could help him win the Alpha Trials. The silver sank deep into my wolf. Ever since then, I've lived as a broken werewolf without a mind-link and unable to conceive. Drowning in guilt, Eric decided to mark me. He pulled me close and vowed, "I'll love you for the rest of my life, Evelyn. I'll never see you as less."I really did believe him back then.At 25, he wins the pack war again and emerges as the strongest Alpha. But he turns our mate bond into a joke. At the celebration dinner, during a thoughtless game of Truth or Dare with his secretary, Mia Sadler, he speaks across the mind-link to everyone."Evelyn, you're painfully dull. You're not the least bit appealing, your scent is thin, and you can't even bear a pup. You're just dead weight. I wish you'd never been saved back then. I wish you'd died."I clutch the medical report that says my wolf is about to be gone for good, s

Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the best stonemason in the pack. I was dying, and it felt like it was time to choose my own headstone.He was warm and eager. He led me out back, showed me the rows of headstones, and talked me through what each one cost. I took my time, looking from slab to slab, and in the end chose a plain, white stone.I had no family left but Eric. I was worried there would be no one to sort things out once I was gone, so I figured I should make the arrangements myself.I'd barely had a life of my own for years because I'd been busy helping Eric run the pack. I finally had time now, but I was spending it on this.The stonemason asked whose name to carve on the headstone."Evelyn Metcalf," I said.He hesitated. "Luna Evelyn, is this for you?"If word got out that the Luna was losing her wolf and dying, it would ruin the pack's reputation. I meant to take the headstone and leave before I died, slipping quietly out of the world.I shook my head and kept my voice steady

Chapter 3

Eric pulled Mia behind him, shielding her with his body. Those eyes of his that once used to soften just for me were frosted over now.I parted my lips, but my voice caught and died in my throat.He frowned at me. "Have you lost your mind? Mia's carrying the pack's heir. Are you really going to disappoint me?"I had no interest in arguing. I just wanted to leave immediately.Just then, the stonemason stepped out and handed me a headstone with the name already carved on it."Luna Evelyn, the headstone you ordered is ready."Eric and Mia saw my name on it and froze.Mia's hand flew to her mouth. "What? A headstone? Luna Evelyn, you followed Alpha Eric all the way here just to put on this show? You even had a headstone made just to fish for sympathy. How original."Anger flashed across Eric's face, and his voice turned cold. "So this is what you were after? Why keep pulling these stunts to win my favor and grinding my trust to dust?"The stonemason fidgeted and gave a nervous wav

Chapter 4

Day by day, my body wore down. I slept more than I lived. The time I spent awake grew shorter, and the time wracked by unbearable pain grew longer.My friends invited me on a trip, and I said no. I wanted to stay here, alone, in the house that once held so much joy, and see this last stretch through quietly.But Mia refused to let me have any peace.She kept sending me photos and messages—she and Eric doing territory rounds, their intimate selfies in some luxury hotel, and the two of them at the infirmary for a prenatal checkup.I stared at what should have wrecked me and didn't feel a thing.Then one day, another photo arrived. In the background was the secret wooden cabin Eric and I had built for our dates, tucked deep in the woods.I hadn't even reacted before Mia's next message arrived."A gift for you."I rang Eric immediately, but he didn't answer.Jittery and weak, I forced myself up and went to the woods. That cabin was the first place Eric and I had called ours, back

Chapter 5

I lay alone amidst the cabin's wreckage, each breath a battle.My phone lit up. It was Mia."I won. Wait for it. I'll take everything you have now, including your title as the Luna, one by one."I stared at the text and let out a dry, crooked laugh.What was left for her to take? My wolf was slipping away, and so was I.As the pages of the wall calendar were torn away one by one, somehow, I felt calm.On the day I mailed the scroll to break the mate bond between Eric and me, I found an old diary in the back of a drawer. A fine layer of dust covered it.I opened it. Inside were the small moments of how Eric and I met and fell in love. I read slowly, a smile tugging at my lips without me realizing it. The farther I read, the messier the handwriting got and the shorter the entries grew. The last page held only one line."He says he needs an heir, which I guess makes me the problem. I can't have pups."I checked the date. It was months ago. I hadn't opened the diary after that d

Chapter 6

A still form lay beneath a white sheet on the bed.Eric's heart lurched. He made a stiff turn, following the healer's pointing finger, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot."No way. Evelyn called me yesterday about the wooden cabin," he mumbled, as if arguing himself back into the world he knew.She was always doing this, trying to get his attention. But this joke was over the line, wasn't it?"Wake her up. Tell her to cut it out," Eric said.The lead healer rasped, "Alpha Eric, when Luna Evelyn was found, she was already cold. Her wolf… was gone.""Her wolf is gone?"Eric gave a laugh that sounded worse than a sob. "You're healers. If her wolf is gone, restore it! If the silver acts up, suppress it with potions! You saved her seven years ago. Why can't you save her now?"The healers lowered their eyes and said nothing.In the end, Eric forced himself to cross over to the bed, each step stripping away what strength he had left. He reached out, but the moment his fingertips

Chapter 7

Eric turned page after page. Evelyn's diary entries dwindled, and her handwriting became sloppier."Today, he didn't come home again.""His scent has changed.""He says he needs an heir, which I guess makes me the problem. I can't have pups."The last page bore the date of her death. Her handwriting ran crooked, as if setting the words down had cost her the last of her strength."The cabin was torn down. Whatever we had left was destroyed with it. Everything hurts, Eric. I think I'm truly dying this time. I meant to slip out of the world quietly to spare you."But I… can't make it any farther. I'm sorry. This is the last time I'm troubling you."The diary slid from Eric's hands and hit the floor with a dull thud. He pressed both hands to his face and howled, wounded and unraveling.He hadn't answered Evelyn's last call. Her final words, of all things, were an apology to him. He felt he was the one who should have died.…Evelyn's funeral was simple.Eric chose to bury her on

Chapter 8

Eric jolted awake with a cry, cold sweat running down his back.The mansion was engulfed in darkness, with only a pale strip of moonlight through the window offering light to the room.His stomach lurched. He staggered up to get some water, but as he passed the bedroom, he heard a voice.Mia."Evelyn's dead. Eric's drinking himself senseless every day. Don't worry. The pup is yours. Once I'm named Luna and the pack's assets are in my hands, we'll disappear. Just wait a bit longer. Alright. Love you."Eric stood in the dark. His blood went cold at once.The pup Mia was carrying wasn't his?Rage surged through him like a breaking wave. He nearly stormed in to confront Mia. But if he did it now, she would deny everything, and deciding the pup wasn't his based on just a few words would be foolish.He needed proof.…The next day, Eric appeared in the council chamber like nothing had happened. He summoned his Beta, Clyde Tillard."Dig into Mia Sadler. Track her recent movements,

Chapter 9

Eric didn't spare Mia another look. He ordered over his shoulder, "Throw Todd in the water cell. Take Mia to the infirmary and run a bloodline test on her pup. She doesn't leave until we have the results."The Gammas surged forward. Todd tried to fight, but Clyde kicked him right in the knee. Todd screamed and collapsed onto both knees.Two Gammas yanked Mia upright. She turned to Eric in despair. "Eric, please, don't take me to the infirmary. I'm afraid of the pain! The pup is yours, I swear!"Eric didn't look back as he left the hotel.The cold wind washed over him, but it couldn't scatter the regret in his chest. All he wanted now was an answer, one that would leave him without hope.…A day later, the bloodline test report arrived. Eric kept it sealed and sat in the study, looking out at the dull gray sky.Evelyn's diary sat within reach. He'd gone through it again and again until every sheet was damp with his tears and regret.He could see how lonely and desperate she'd be

Chapter 10

Mia's confession ripped out of her. "Yes! All of it was my doing! I was jealous of Evelyn! She's useless. She can't even bear a pup. What right does she have to sit in the Luna's seat and keep all your love to herself?"What do I lack compared to her? I'm younger and prettier, and I can give you an heir! I hated her! I wanted her gone! I set her up at the stonemason's so you'd turn against her."I tore down the wooden cabin to erase your last memories of her. I needed you to see her as a dull eyesore, so you'd cast her aside for good!"Mia laughed and sobbed at once, as if she'd finally snapped."I won, didn't I? You really stopped loving her. You said it yourself—you wished she'd die. Don't pretend your hands are clean, Eric. I wasn't the only one who pushed her to her death. You did too.""Yeah. Me."Eric closed his eyes. His throat felt choked up, and his voice came out rough. "You're right. I killed her with my own hands. And now you and Todd will be buried with her."Eric d

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