Chapter 1

Jessica's P.O.V

I clutched my aching belly, my steps unsteady as I walked out of the hospital. The sharp smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, a bitter reminder of everything I'd endured. Yet, the betrayal I felt cut deeper than any physical pain.

Lucas stood not far away, his familiar gentle smile now belonging to someone else. Lilith’s siblings surrounded her with care and affection, their familial bond evident. They seemed like a real family, while I was just an unwanted guest on the sidelines.

The moment Lilith noticed me, her eyes sparkled unnaturally, and a blush spread across her face.

"Luna, thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have survived," she said, her sweet voice dripping with false sincerity.

Lucas turned toward me, his words devoid of concern, laced instead with subtle irritation. "Jessica, you're finally out? Took you long enough."

He glanced at me briefly before shifting his gaze back to Lilith, who seemed to command all his attention.

"You still look awful. Are you okay?" he asked casually, his tone perfunctory, as if asking out of obligation.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to respond. What could I say? That the pain in my stomach was unbearable?

"If you're fine, let's go. We still need to get back and make dinner for Lilith," Lilith's sister said, her words harsh and dismissive.

"I want to sit next to the Alpha. His scent will help with my recovery," Lilith said, claiming the passenger seat with a calculated display of fragility.

"Jessica, sit in the back," Lucas ordered, his voice carrying the tone of someone addressing a servant rather than a wife.

The backseat was already crowded with Lilith's siblings, leaving no room for me.

"Jessica, you can walk home. The car's full, and it’s too late to find a ride," Lucas said, not even glancing at me as he started the engine.

Suppressing my growing anger, I forced myself to reply, "Fine. I’ll walk."

Lucas sped off, leaving me standing there, tears finally spilling over as the taillights disappeared into the distance.

Just because Lilith was his childhood friend, he treated her like the center of the world, forcing me to accommodate her every whim in my own home. Despite knowing I was carrying his child, he still drew blood from me to save her despite my protests.

I had hoped for an explanation or an apology, but I was naive to expect anything at all.

Between the hospital and the pack lay a stretch of forest. At that moment, the only thing that could numb my pain was to shift, allowing my wolf instincts to temporarily suppress my anguish.

It took me over an hour of walking to return home. When I arrived, they were celebrating Lilith’s discharge from the hospital. Lucas was shamelessly flirting with her in front of everyone.

Elodie, Lucas’s sister, pointed a finger at me and began to scold. “Jessica, you still have the audacity to come back? You’ve been in the hospital for seven days. Who do you think did all the chores while you were gone?”

I silently endured her berating. Ever since my parents passed away, Elodie’s attitude toward me had grown increasingly hostile.

“Jessica, Lilith wants you to cook for her,” Lucas said, turning to look at me with the same commanding tone.

“Luna, your roasted chicken is the best,” Lilith added, sticking out her tongue in a playful, childlike manner. Lucas gazed at her with a tenderness that was almost sickening.

This hypocritical woman only ever called me Luna when others were present. Behind closed doors, she would use my name without a shred of respect.

After walking for over an hour, I had no energy left to argue. It wasn’t like my voice held any weight in this house anyway.

I went to the kitchen and began preparing my own dinner. It had been a week since I last had a proper meal, and my stomach ached with hunger. I reached for my favorite coffee beans, hoping to brew a cup to soothe my stomach.

Lilith walked in, her tone dripping with mockery. “Jessica, why are you so slow?”

I ignored her, my only desire being to retreat to my room and rest.

“Jessica, do you know how much Lucas loves me?” she said, her voice filled with arrogance and triumph.

“Jessica, do you know I faked being poisoned just to get your blood?”

Her words made my hands tremble with rage.

“What? Are you going to tell Lucas?” she taunted, stepping closer. “Do you really think he’d believe you?”

As she spoke, she deliberately tipped a pot of boiling water, spilling it onto my arm.

“Ah!” Lilith screamed theatrically, jumping back. “Luna, are you crazy? Were you trying to burn me?” Her performance was flawless.

Lucas came rushing in at the sound of her cries, shoving me aside to shield Lilith behind him. The force sent me stumbling, my lower back slamming into the counter.

The searing pain made me gasp, but the ache in my heart hurt far more.

“Lilith, are you okay?” Lucas asked, his eyes filled with worry as he examined her. He didn’t even glance at my scalded arm. To him, I was invisible.

I looked down at my reddened arm, smiling bitterly. This was reality for me.