One

I lay across my deathbed in the intensive care unit of the pack hospital, waiting for death to come. My body was a prison of pain, each breath dragging me closer to the end.

“Fight for us, Eve,” my wolf, Maya’s panicked voice sliced through my consciousness. “You can't give up now.”

My cracked lips parted, but no words came out. Maya scratched against me, making me wince. My eyes fluttered closed, and a single tear slid down my temple, disappearing into my matted hair.

Beside me was a manila envelope containing all the certificates of my assets: lands, investments, bank details, and everything to be transferred to my husband, Lance, and shared equally with my best friend and doctor, Crystal.

Faint voices grew louder outside the door, approaching the room.

“Let’s hope she’s dead,” Lance’s voice drifted through the door. “Once this ends, we’ll finally have what we deserve.”

My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t make out the rest of the conversation. A sharp giggle pierced the air, too cheerful for the atmosphere of death lingering around the hospital.

Why would Lance, of all people, my husband of four years, who'd begged me to fight for my life yesterday, want me dead?

Maybe I was imagining things.

“Our baby will grow strong. We’ll be the perfect Alpha and Luna. Everything will finally be as it should,” his companion said.

They walked in. The woman’s voice, now recognizable as Alice—a divorced woman who had sneaked into my home and begged to work for me—sent waves of pain through me.

I wanted to hate Lance for what he’d done, but part of me couldn’t stop picturing the man who held my hand through my darkest days. Was that all a lie, too?

The bed dipped slightly as his lover leaned over, poking a finger at my shoulder. It felt more painful than an injection, and my breathing hitched just enough for her to notice.

She scrambled back as if I had risen from the grave. “She’s still alive! The last poison was supposed to knock her cold.”

I turned my head painfully, and my cracked lips moved with effort. I opened my eyes and locked my blurry gaze on Lance.

“Why… did you… do this?”

Lance froze, blinking like a startled owl. The surprise was immediately replaced with a blankness.

“That wasn’t meant for your ears,” he muttered coldly.

“After… all I’ve done for you.”

Scoffing, he pulled his lover close, wrapping an arm possessively around her waist. “I’m sorry, Eve, but I found my mate,” he said as if that excused everything.

“Pathetic!” Maya spat in my mind. “Look at you, letting the world happen to you instead of taking control.”

Sobs wracked my body, sending a sharp pain through me, and my grief filled the room.

“Stop dragging this out. Do us all a favor and die quietly,” Lance snapped.

“Get your filthy hands off her!”

The door burst open, and Crystal stormed into the room. She didn’t even look at me—her eyes were locked on Lance and his mistress. 

“This isn’t your business, Crystal. Stay away,” Lance warned her.

“The hell it isn’t! She’s my patient and best friend. Why are you making her cry?”

She blinked in shock, seeing Lance’s hand on his lover’s waist. Her shock turned to rage, and her words trembled with fury.

“Everything you are—everything you’ve built—came from Eve. And this is how you repay her?”

“I’m not in the mood for this. I came to get the certificates. She's dying anyway,” Lance said breezily, extending his hand toward my bed.

Crystal jumped and snatched the envelope before Lance could reach it.

“Give me those!” he demanded.

Crystal’s hand tightened around the envelope. His mistress lunged for them, but a loud slap echoed through the room as Crystal’s palm connected with the woman’s cheek.

“Touch me, and I’ll break your hand, you ugly whore.”

The mistress staggered back, clutching her reddened cheek. “Lance, are you going to let her do that to me?” she whined, bursting into fake tears.

“Get out of my hospital,” Crystal growled, pointing at the door.

“You’ll regret this. No one will believe your story,” Lance wagged a finger at Crystal before glancing at my trembling figure.

“Your time’s up, Eve. Don’t expect anyone to mourn.”

He walked away with his lover. Crystal wiped her tears and returned to me, gently dabbing my cheeks with a cool cloth.

“Look at me, Eve,” she said, leaning closer. “I have great news.”

My eyes fluttered open, barely focusing on her.

“I’m dying,” I managed to whisper.

“You’re not dead yet. I know someone who can help—King Axel, the Lycan King.”

The name hit me like a blow. He was the beast who tore my family apart. Images of blood and screams flooded my mind. Now Crystal wanted me to beg him for help? I’d rather crawl to my grave than allow that monster to touch me.

Crystal met my gaze head-on. “Eve, this isn’t just about survival. It’s about making every single one of them regret crossing you. Lance doesn’t get to win. That Lycan monster doesn’t get to win. You don’t have to forgive him or even have to like him. But he’s your last hope.”

“What if I don’t make it?” I asked weakly, tired of talking and wishing death could hurry up.

“I’ve already arranged a jet. We’ll take oxygen tanks and everything you need. I’ll be with you. You will live and make every single one of them pay.”

Her voice grew softer as she leaned forward with sympathy in her gaze. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but Axel is the only one who can help. They say he's blessed with healing hands. I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought there was any other way.”

I wanted to push back. But I was desperate. Desperate enough to look my parents’ killer in the eye and beg for my life.

For once,my wolf fell silent. I could feel her fear as keenly as my own. We were both running out of time.