My Mate Chose the Fake Luna Who Hurt Our Baby

A deafening screech of tires. The sickening crunch of metal. Then—nothing but darkness.

When I woke, the sterile bite of antiseptic burned my nose, and blinding hospital lights stabbed at my vision.

"Olivia. Thank the Moon." James—my foster brother and the pack's head healer—let out a shaky breath as I blinked up at him.

I tried to sit, but my body screamed in protest, every muscle throbbing as if I'd been trampled by the entire pack.

"Easy." His hand pressed my shoulder down. "You're lucky. Just bruises and a concussion."

My mind clawed through the fog. I had been driving to the supermarket to do my weekly grocery shopping for the pack when, suddenly, a truck lost control and veered straight toward me. The impact had sent my world spinning.

"I'm sorry," I murmured bitterly. "Another burden on the pack."

"Don't say that, Olivia," James's jaw tightened. "You're the Luna of the Blackwood Pack."

Then, his voice softened: "There's more. You're pregnant, Liv. Six weeks."

My breath vanished.

Five years. Five years of hollow pity and whispered rumors that I'd never give Dominic an heir. Five years of watching my mate's eyes grow colder with every failed fertility test.

Yet now… My fingers trembled against my stomach. "Are you sure?"

His smile was the first warmth I'd felt in months. "Positive. And don't forget—top of my class at Johns Hopkins." He ruffled my hair with familiar ease. "Now rest. I've got an emergency surgery, but I'll check on you after."

As the door shut, hope fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird. Maybe this was the Moon Goddess's mercy—a child to finally make Dominic see me as more than the thief who stole his future.

Then the hallway whispers slithered under the door:

"—that Omega fraud's back in the hospital—"

"Olivia stole everything from Evelyn—"

"She never deserved the title of Luna—"

My grip twisted the sheets. I wanted to find some words to deny them. But they weren't wrong. If it weren't for the prophecy, I'd have no right to be Dominic's Luna.

Ten years ago, Elder Alyosha's prophecy declared only the true Blackwood Luna would bear the Phoenix mark—a sacred omen of power that could lead the Blackwood Pack to glory.

Everyone believed Dominic's beloved girlfriend, Evelyn, was destined for the honor. Their love story was well-known. The pack waited breathlessly for the sacred flames to claim her...

Until the fire chose me instead.

An Omega.

An outcast.

The most hated she-wolf in Blackwood history.

No one accepted it. Not the pack. Not Evelyn. Certainly not Dominic. But prophecies don't bend for broken hearts. Officially, I became Luna.

But in most people's eyes? I was just a usurper who shackled Dominic to a bond he never wanted.

Now, fate had handed me a chance to change everything.

I couldn't miss it.

I reached for my phone and dialed Dominic's number. My wolf had died in an attack that left me mMindlink-mute at eighteen. Thank the goddess, my device had survived the crash.

One ring and. Ttwo . vVoicemails.

It was the norm. Dominic rarely answered my calls. I understood—an Alpha always had the pack's emergencies first. I never pushed. But today...today was different.

Today, I needed him to hear me.

To know about our baby. To pretend, just for one second, that I mattered.

The phone rang endlessly. No answer.

Dread coiled in my stomach. Had something happened? Dominic was powerful, but enemies lurked everywhere. Lately, he'd been distant, buried in work he refused to share. I knew there must have been something. But I didn't dare ask.

The Phoenix mark on my neck made me Luna in name only—the pack still saw me as just another Omega, fit only for grocery runs and chores.

My trembling fingers redialed. Moon Goddess, protect him—my mate, the father of the baby we'd waited so long for.

As if answering my prayer, a commotion erupted from the hospital hallway. Clinging to the wall, I forced myself toward the doorway.

The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the silence as doctors rushed toward the entrance. I tried to look up, but a powerful force knocked me to the ground.

"Ah!" I screamed as I fell, pain lancing through my hips—the baby—and looked up.

Into the eyes of my husband.

Dominic stood over me, his sculpted face twisted with a hatred so raw that it stole my breath. His glare cut deeper than claws, his massive frame vibrating with revulsion. Why? What had happened? What made him look at me like that...when I carried his heir?

"DOCTOR!" His roar shook the walls.

Then I saw her.

The woman cradled against his chest like something precious.

My throat sealed shut.

Evelyn.

The Luna he'd always wanted.

She'd vanished five years ago. I'd almost let myself believe she was gone for good.

But here she was, limp in his arms, her porcelain skin marred by gashes—while Dominic looked at her like the world would end if she faded.

A look he'd never given me.

"Move!" He kicked my leg aside like trash and charged toward the ER.

The pack's laughter surged around me, a riptide dragging me under.

Every insecurity I'd fought since taking the Luna title erupted like a wound ripped fresh. The prophecy, the baby—none of it mattered. His heart had always been hers.

And now she was back to claim it. Could my baby and I survive?

OLIVIA'S POV

I watched his back as he left, and he didn't glance back even once.

I pressed a hand to my still-flat stomach. Our child. His heir. But the words lodged in my throat like broken glass.

I wanted to tell him, but how could I start when Dominic had just carried Evelyn through those doors as if she were the only woman who mattered?

My phone, which had clattered to the floor, buzzed again.

Luna Grace flashed on the screen—Dominic's mother and the only person who despised me more than my mate did.

"Where are you?" Her voice was a whip-crack. "How long does it take to buy groceries?"

"There was an accident," I managed. "I can't return yet."

Grace's laugh was razor-edged. "Useless. Can't even handle a simple task. Hurry back—I've got more work for you."

The call ended. My fingers trembled around the phone, but my gaze was drawn back to the ER doors. To them.

Was this the Moon Goddess's idea of a joke? Dangle hope in front of me—a baby, a future—then snatch it away the moment Evelyn reappeared?

The taxi ride home was a blur. Cold leather. Colder silence.

"Miss, are you alright?" The driver's kindness almost shattered me.

I forced a smile. "Just an accident."

But the real wreckage was inside me. For five years, I'd clung to the delusion that time might soften Dominic's hatred. That the prophecy binding us meant something.

Now Evelyn was back, and I was exactly what he'd always called me: an impostor.

Blackwood Packaging Factory loomed ahead—the pack's financial heart, its plain concrete walls a stark contrast to the opulent pack house. The rogues had attacked here five years ago. The night Evelyn vanished and my wolf died.

That's why Dominic tried to kill me.

"You planned this!" His hands were around my throat, his voice raw with fury. "You murdered her! You jealous, scheming—"

Tears blurred my vision as I desperately shook my head, the bandages James had carefully applied coming loose as I struggled. The wounds reopened, but nothing hurt as much as the look in Dominic's eyes.

I wanted to tell him the truth that I'd only just gotten my wolf before the attack, that I'd never even had the chance to greet her before the rogues struck. That if not for James, I would have bled to death in the dirt.

But the truth meant nothing to a man who had already decided I was guilty.

"I won't defy the prophecy," Dominic snarled, his grip tightening. "You'll remain Luna of Blackwood—but I swear, you'll rot in that role alone. You will never have my heart."

The words cut deeper than any blade. I had always known he hadn't married me for love. But knowing and hearing his words were two very different things.

The pack had already branded me a murderer. If not for the Phoenix mark on my neck—and Elder Alyosha's intervention—I would have been exiled. Or worse.

For years, we all believed Evelyn was dead.

For years, they hated me for it.

But no one stopped to consider that I might be the one who wanted her back the most.

Because if Evelyn was alive...

Then maybe—just maybe—I could finally prove my innocence.

"What are you standing there for?" snapped a cold voice, jerking me from my thoughts. Luna Grace stood by the staircase, glaring at me with evident disdain.

"Madam, I—"

"Don't call me madam," she sneered. "You aren't fit to be Luna of this pack. An Omega with no wolf, unable even to buy groceries without crashing."

My teeth sank into my lip as I swallowed the truth about my pregnancy once more. Grace had always despised me—if not for the Phoenix mark branding my neck, she wouldn't even tolerate sharing the same roof with me. Her affection had always been reserved for Evelyn, the she-wolf she'd chosen to bear Dominic's heir.

I couldn't risk my child's safety. Not yet.

"What are you gawking at?" Grace flicked a hand toward the west wing. "Clean it. Spotless."

The west wing? That was for honored guests. For—

My stomach lurched. Evelyn.

Grace's smile was a knife. "Now. Or you'll starve tonight."

My palm pressed to my belly—protect the pup, survive the storm—as I grabbed the mop.

By dusk, my body screamed with exhaustion, but the real agony came later.

Footsteps. Familiar. His.

And he wasn't alone.

Dominic strode into the common room, Evelyn cradled against his chest like something fragile. Precious. Loved. The pack gathered, murmuring.

"Evelyn stays as our honored guest," he announced, his voice brooking no argument. Then his eyes—golden, glacial—found mine. "Olivia will tend to her."

Shock widened my eyes, quickly replaced by a glimmer of hope. Evelyn must have told Dominic the truth. Why else would he trust me with her care?

My hesitation was misunderstood.

Evelyn's lips curved in a plea. "Liv... you're my best friend. You'd never refuse me, right?"

Grace snorted. "You should be on your knees thanking her for this mercy."

Dominic's fingers dug into my arm, bone-deep. "If she suffers even once," he growled, "I'll kill you. No matter what the prophecy says."

I stared at his hand—the same hand that had controlled me, despised me for years—then a cramp twisted low in my belly. The baby.

A fierce protectiveness surged through me, hotter than any fear.

"I'll do it," I answered coldly, wrenching free.

"Dominic," Evelyn took his hand intimately, her eyes full of pleading, "Don't be so hard on her. The last thing I want is you two fighting..."

My breath caught. Was that... guilt in her voice? Later, when I brought her a meal, I'd find out.

I turned toward the kitchen. If Evelyn cleared my name, this nightmare might finally end.

My fingers brushed my abdomen.

Hold on, little wolf. Mama will make them see you.

OLIVIA'S POV

Evelyn's words had given me hope.

If she cleared my name, my pup might be accepted—even if I had to watch her live in my home, sleep in my bed, and love my mate.

I would endure this.

"For the pack's prosperity," Elder Alyosha had whispered to me five years ago, holding me as I wept. "You must be strong."

And I had been. For five years. Without Dominic's love, without a wolf, without even the pack's respect. But now? Now I had my child. I had James. I had my adoptive father, the Beta.

That was enough.

It had to be.

The kitchen timer chimed. Herbal steam curled from the pot as I poured Evelyn's medicine, the bitter scent clinging to my skin.

I pushed open her bedroom door—

And froze.

Dominic cradled her against his chest, his hands—those cruel, beautiful hands—stroking her hair like she was made of moonlight.

"I was so scared that I'd never see you again," Evelyn sobbed.

"Shh." He kissed her tears away. "Your love kept me alive, too."

The bowl nearly slipped from my grip.

Dominic's head snapped up. Gold eyes locked onto mine, all tenderness vanishing. "Stop gawking. Bring it here."

I moved mechanically, handing Evelyn the medicine. Every cell in my body screamed to run.

But Evelyn caught my wrist. "Thank you, Liv." Her fingers were ice. "After everything… you're still here for me."

I wished I could say something. Yet there I stood—watching another woman curled against my husband's chest as if she belonged there, while I remained on the sidelines like some unwanted servant. The sight tore through me sharper than any claw.

I had no right to jealousy.

The prophecy had bound Dominic to me, ripping apart his happiness with Evelyn—even if I never wanted it that way.

But gods, I hadn't expected it to hurt this much.

Dominic snatched the bowl. "Drink. Then sleep." His voice softened only for her.

"Dominic..." Evelyn batted her lashes. "Can I talk to Olivia alone? Just ten minutes?"

"No." His glare sliced through me. "She's done enough damage."

The words shouldn't have hurt anymore. They did.

Evelyn pouted, tugging his sleeve. "Please? Girl secrets?"

A beat. Then—

Dominic smiled. A real one, warm and reluctant. "Ten minutes." He ruffled her hair like she was a pup before striding out.

The door clicked shut.

Evelyn's sweetness melted like sugar in fire.

"Thank you, Olivia." Her whisper was a serpent's tongue. "For making this so easy."

My pulse stuttered. "What?"

"I'll take everything." Her nails dug into my arm. "Just like I should've had from the start."

"I never wanted—"

"SHUT UP!" Spittle hit my cheek. "Because of you, I lost five years with him!"

"That's not what happened—"

"Don't play innocent!" She glared at me. "This all should have ended five years ago. Now I'm back, and don't try to stop me."

"Evelyn—"

"GET OUT." She pointed at the door, face twisted.

I stumbled into the hallway, my heart a lead weight.

It didn't matter what the truth was.

To Evelyn, I would always be the thief who stole her life.

I couldn't sleep well all night. I didn't know what Evelyn was planning, but it felt like my life would continue to be a living hell, perhaps even worse.

Dawn came so soon. My door exploded inward. Two warriors hauled me from bed, their grips bruising.

"What's happening?!" I thrashed, but they dragged me down the hall—past gawking pack members, through the grand archway—

Into the judgment hall.

Dominic stood at the center, jaw set. The elders flanked him. And there—Evelyn, her eyes red-rimmed, playing the victim perfectly.

My stomach dropped.

"Evelyn," Dominic commanded. "Tell them."

The hall fell deathly silent as every gaze locked onto her. Tears glistened in her eyes—perfectly timed—as she began her tale.

"Five years ago, rogues attacked me." Her voice broke on cue. "I was taken. Forced into hiding. Barely surviving. But I remember..." A dramatic pause. "I remember who orchestrated it all."

Then she turned to me, her face a masterpiece of practiced anguish.

"Olivia."

A collective gasp ripped through the room.

My breath vanished. What?

Even I could hardly believe the audacity of her lie. As if I could ever—

"She was jealous," Evelyn continued, her voice cracking like shattered ice. "Hated how close Dominic and I were. Hired those rogues to eliminate me. The Moon Goddess spared me for one purpose—to expose her true nature."

My head shook violently. This wasn't happening.

"No!" The word tore from me. "Evelyn, why are you—"

CRACK.

Grace's palm split across my cheek before I could finish. Pain exploded as I staggered back.

"You wretched girl!" she spat, eyes blazing. "I knew you were unworthy of my son—but this? This is unforgivable!"

I whirled toward Dominic, searching his face for doubt, for hesitation—

Nothing.

Only glacial indifference.

"Dominic, you know this isn't true," I choked out, my voice raw with desperation. "You know I would never—"

"Enough." His command cut through the air like a blade—final, absolute. "Take her away."

My world shattered.

Everything was going exactly as Evelyn had planned. No one cared about the truth. Just like five years ago, I was being forced to pay for crimes I didn't commit.

Back then, without evidence, my life had become a living hell.

Now, with Evelyn's return, her lies had cemented my guilt. What fresh torment awaited me this time?

I wanted to rush to Dominic, to beg for mercy. But the warriors didn't hesitate, their grip iron-tight as they dragged me away.

Through my tear-blurred vision, I caught Evelyn's face—her pitiful mask slipping, replaced by a smirk of triumph.

I wanted to scream. To fight. To demand justice.

But what was the point?

No one would believe me. Dominic had never believed me. A few pretty words from Evelyn were all it took to destroy everything.

As they hauled me through the pack grounds, the whispers followed like a death march:

"Murderer."

"She never deserved to be Luna. That prophecy was a lie..."

"Five years ago we just spat at her. Today, we throw stones."

THUD.

A rock struck my forehead. Blood trickled into my eye, but I barely felt it—I was already numb.

The confinement room swallowed me whole, its darkness thick and suffocating. My knees hit the stone floor, pain radiating through my battered body.

Then—

A sharp twinge in my abdomen.

My trembling hand flew to my stomach. No. Not my pup.

Dominic might hate me, but our child was innocent. He needed to know.

"I DEMAND TO SEE THE ALPHA!" My voice cracked, but didn't waver. This was my last card. And I hoped I could win this time.

OLIVIA'S POV

No one came.

The confinement room's stone walls seemed to press closer with every breath, the air thick with the stench of betrayal—not just from Evelyn, my once friend, but from Dominic.

My mate. The man who'd rather see me rot than question the lies poisoning our pack.

Five years as his Luna. Five years enduring his contempt. And still, he didn't know me at all.

Didn't care to.

A whimper escaped my cracked lips. My body ached from dehydration, my wrists raw from the cuffs, but the real agony ran deeper. It nestled beneath my ribs, where my pup fluttered weakly. Alive. For now.

The door groaned open.

My heart lurched—Dominic?—but the scent of pine and parchment hit me first.

My adoptive father, Beta Jason. Just his presence brought me a sliver of comfort in this nightmare.

When he entered the cell, his eyes filled with undisguised worry, the last of my composure shattered. He knelt before me, his calloused hands trembling as they closed around mine.

"Olivia..." His whisper was barely audible. "Tell me the truth. Did you hurt Evelyn?"

I shook my head violently, my lips moving soundlessly. Tears spilled down my cheeks as his grip tightened—his own eyes glistening.

"I'll get you out of here," he vowed, voice thick. "I promise."

I clutched his hands like a lifeline, sobs wracking my body. At least someone still believed in me. At least I wasn't completely alone.

"Dad... thank you. I need to see Dominic. Can you help me?"

He hesitated. "Yes, but not yet..."

Seeing my confusion, he added, "Elder Alyosha knows what's happened. He went straight to the Alpha. They're speaking now."

A spark of hope flickered in my chest. If anyone could make Dominic listen, it was Alyosha.

"I have to go," he said reluctantly, "but I'll return the moment there's news. James and I won't abandon you."

The cell door clanged shut behind him, leaving me to curl against the freezing stone. I clung to that promise, gathering my fractured strength.

Every second of waiting felt like an eternity. Then—

The screech of metal.

A guard shoved inside, unlocking my cuffs with brutal efficiency.

"Alpha's orders. You're free to go."

I stumbled into the hallway, ribs protesting, but my legs gave out halfway. A searing cramp tore through my abdomen—

No. Not the baby.

***

The sharp sting of antiseptic burned my nose as consciousness returned. James' clinic. My adoptive brother's worried face swam into view above me.

"You're finally awake, Liv." His shoulders sagged in relief. "How do you feel?"

My hand flew to my stomach before I could speak. "The baby—"

"Is fine," he soothed, squeezing my shoulder. Then, quieter: "It's you I'm worried about. You shouldn't have been able to survive that crash."

"As long as the baby's safe," I whispered, tears welling. Then the realization hit. "Dominic? Does he—"

"Isn't here." James' voice turned cold. "I sent word. He's... preoccupied."

The unspoken—with Evelyn—hung between us. I clenched the sheets, then made my choice. "I need to tell him."

"You'd go back?" James blocked my attempt to rise, his surgeon's voice scalpel-sharp. "After everything?"

"I have to." My palm cradled the barely-there swell beneath my hospital gown. "He deserves to know."

James exhaled hard through his nose. "Why would the Moon Goddess do this?" He turned away, running a hand through his hair—a gesture so uncharacteristically distressed it chilled me.

"James?" I reached for him. "What's wrong?"

When he finally met my eyes, his stethoscope clattered onto the tray. "Without your wolf... without Dominic renewing the mating bond..." He swallowed. "The pup won't survive past twelve weeks."

The world tilted. "You're lying."

"I wish I were." His clipboard hit the counter with a crack. "Werewolf fetuses need magic from both parents. You're already at eight."

All the pain—Evelyn's schemes, the pack's hatred, Dominic's cruelty—meant nothing compared to this.

I would crawl through broken glass for this child.

Even if it meant begging the man who hated me most.

The packhouse loomed like a gilded prison.

Through the study window, I saw them: Evelyn adjusting Dominic's collar, her fingers lingering on his neck. He allowed it—no, leaned into it—his gaze soft in a way I'd never earned.

My knees threatened to buckle.

But then—a flutter. Faint but fighting. For my child.

Taking a deep breath, I shoved the door open.

Dominic turned, golden eyes flashing with annoyance. "What?"

Every instinct screamed to run. Instead, James' words echoed in my mind.

"I need to talk to you," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady as I looked right at Dominic.

He frowned but nodded.

I placed a trembling hand on my stomach and whispered the words that would change everything.

"I'm carrying your heir."

For the first time in years, I saw something flicker in his eyes—shock, disbelief, something else I couldn't name.

And just like that, the fate of my child rested in his hands.

OLIVIA'S POV

The air crackled with tension as Dominic stood frozen, his golden eyes burning into mine.

"Is this real?" His voice was rough, edged with something I hadn't heard in years—doubt.

My hand trembled against my stomach. "You're the Alpha. Use your senses. Feel our pup's heartbeat yourself."

A muscle twitched in his jaw before he closed the distance between us. When his calloused palm pressed against my belly, the entire pack seemed to hold its breath.

Then his breath hitched—that tiny, miraculous thump of life between us undeniable now.

Luna Grace's sudden clap shattered the moment. "Marvelous!" Her delighted smile didn't reach her cold eyes. "This calls for celebration!"

For one fragile heartbeat, I dared to hope. Maybe this child would be my redemption. Maybe Dominic would finally—

"Congratulations, Olivia." Evelyn's honeyed voice dripped poison as she appeared at Dominic's side. "I suppose even mistakes can bear fruit."

My nails bit into my palms. Mistakes? She meant the lies she'd planted, the crimes she'd framed me for. The fire in my veins burned hotter when Dominic snapped:

"Silence." His command vibrated with Alpha power. "You're here by Elder Alyosha's grace alone. Remember your place."

His words should have soothed me. Instead, they stung—I wasn't his to protect, just his to tolerate. And now I was trapped in this gilded prison, not by Dominic's will but by biology.

James' warning echoed in my mind: Without the Alpha's renewed mark, our pup would die.

I had to endure all this for my pup.

That evening brought surreal changes. No kitchen duties. No scornful glances. Grace even ordered Evelyn to keep her distance. As the pack murmured congratulations, I touched my stomach and whispered to the Moon Goddess:

Please let this fragile peace last.

When dinner ended, Grace turned to Dominic. "Escort her to her room. She needs rest."

Before retiring to bed, I visited Elder Alyosha to thank her.

The warmth of Elder Alyosha's hands lingered on my belly long after I left her room. Her words echoed in my mind, wrapping around me like a fragile shield against the storm that was my life.

"The truth will come out, child. You are stronger than you think. You are the one in the prophecy, and as a mother, you must grow even stronger."

I had never cared much for prophecies, but her unwavering faith in me sparked something deep within my heart. For the first time in years, someone believed in me without question. Someone saw beyond the lies and betrayal.

With a quiet sigh, I made my way back to my room, exhaustion tugging at my limbs. The weight of the past few days sat heavily on my chest, but when I opened the door, I froze in surprise.

Dominic was there.

He stood by the window, his broad frame silhouetted against the moonlight. I hesitated at the doorway, uncertainty clashing with the small flicker of warmth in my chest.

"You're late," he muttered, his voice devoid of its usual hostility.

I stepped inside cautiously. "I went to see Elder Alyosha," I admitted, watching for any flicker of reaction. "I wanted to thank her."

His lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. Instead, his gaze dropped to my stomach, and after a long pause, he walked toward me.

I tensed instinctively, expecting another round of cold indifference, but what happened next caught me completely off guard.

Dominic knelt in front of me, his large hands hesitantly resting on either side of my waist. His forehead pressed lightly against my belly, and for the first time in five years, I felt something tender in his touch.

I sucked in a shaky breath, my fingers trembling as they found their way into his thick, dark hair. "Dominic..."

His grip tightened slightly, his voice low, almost vulnerable. "I feel it," he murmured. "The heartbeat."

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. I had endured five years of nothing but distance, cruelty, and silence from this man. And now, in this quiet moment, I saw a glimpse of the mate I had once dreamed of.

I didn't know what possessed me, but I slid down to my knees beside him, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders. He didn't pull away. Instead, his arms came around me, holding me close. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, and for the first time in so long, I felt safe.

It didn't matter that this was for the baby. It didn't matter that he still didn't trust me.

Just for tonight, I wanted to pretend and hold on to the hope that maybe things could change.

I fell asleep in his arms, his warmth lulling me into a fragile sense of peace.

________________________________________

The morning sunlight streamed through the hospital window as James examined me, his brow furrowing in concentration.

"You're doing much better than I expected," he finally said, stepping back.

I exhaled in relief. "Really?"

He nodded. "Your vitals are stable, and your body is responding well. If you keep this up, your pregnancy should be smooth."

A small smile tugged at my lips. My hand instinctively went to my belly. I thought back to last night—Dominic's warmth, his touch, his momentary tenderness. Could it be?

"Maybe it's because of Dominic," I murmured absentmindedly.

James' sharp gaze snapped to mine. "Olivia..."

I shook my head quickly. "I just mean... if he's around, if he's softer to me, then maybe... I can earn his trust. Maybe things can change."

James sighed, clearly unconvinced, but I held onto that fragile hope.

I had to.

Because if I didn't, I didn't know how much longer I could survive this.

________________________________________

I returned to the packhouse feeling lighter than I had in weeks. I had a good check-up, I had spent the night in Dominic's arms, and for the first time, I dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could rebuild something.

But that hope shattered the moment I stepped inside.

A sharp, searing pain exploded across my cheek, sending me stumbling backward. The force of the slap was so strong that my vision blurred for a moment. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I gasped in shock.

My hand flew to my stinging cheek as I looked up—only to meet Dominic's enraged gaze.

My breath caught. "Dominic...?"

His golden eyes burned with fury, his chest heaving. "Elder Alyosha is dead."

A cold chill ran down my spine. "W-what?"

"Don't pretend you don't know," he spat, his voice like ice. "She was the only reason you were allowed to walk free, and now she's dead. Murdered. And I know you had something to do with it."

The world tilted beneath me. My heart pounded so hard that it felt like it might burst.

"No... no, I swear, I—"

"Enough!" His voice cracked like a whip. "I should've never trusted you. I should've never let you anywhere near me again!"

His words cut deeper than any wound ever could.

Just hours ago, I had held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, I could earn back his trust, and maybe he could care for me, even if just a little.

But now, staring at the man who had just struck me, the man who looked at me with nothing but loathing in his eyes...

I knew the truth.

I would never be anything more than a murderer in his eyes. No matter what I did, no matter how much I begged.

And that realization shattered me more than anything else ever could.