Chapter 1

Scarlett's Point Of View 

After feeling tired, nauseous, and oddly emotional for the past few weeks, I went to visit the pack's healer at the east border of the pack.

Zara was the pack's healer and after father's death a few years ago, we'd become good friends. She smiled as she walked out of her camp.

“It's good news, Alpha Scarlett,” She announced with a warm smile, bright enough to send my heart racing.

“Come on Zara, please tell me, is it what I think it is? Am I really with a child?”

Zara's smile ran impossibly deeper as she nodded. “Yes. You're pregnant!”

I leaped up from the wooden chair in excitement, tears welling up in my eyes. Finally, Rand and I would have our own family, my dream was finally coming true.

I left the camp and ran through the halls of the Silver Crest Pack’s manor, my chest bursting with happiness. I was eager to tell the good news to Rand, my mate.

I searched around the manor looking for him but I couldn't find him, so I dashed to our chambers. I stood behind the door with my fingers resting on the cold steel of the handle. I took a deep breath and felt my heart pounding and my hand trembling with anticipation.

I couldn't wait to tell him the good news. I could already picture his face; his handsome face would break out into a wide smile, and he would scoop me up in his arms and kiss me passionately. I was already dreaming of our future, our children laughing as they played in the manor halls and us being a happy family.

I opened the door gently, a bright smile on my face, as I stood in the doorway ready to shout the exciting news.

My smile instantly disappeared, my face crumbling the moment I entered the room. The light in my eyes died when I saw the scene in front of me.

The candles were blown out, but the rays of light coming in from the curtains revealed two figures tangled on the bed. I gasped as I realized what I was witnessing. Rand, my mate, and my husband were sleeping with my cousin. Cassie. 

My heart shattered inside me, and I felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out of my lungs, leaving me panting as the blood surged to my ears.

“R….Rand.” I muttered, my voice cracking with emotions as tears gathered in my eyes. "Cassie..."

Rand shot up from the bed, his eyes wide with shock as he turned to look at me. Cassie jumped out of bed, scrambling for her underwear and clothes all strewn around the room.

"Scarlett, I swear can explain—" Rand began, quickly pulling up his breeches. He took a step towards me but I flinched, holding my hand up as I stepped back from him.

"Explain? How could you possibly explain this?" My voice grew louder, filled with fury and betrayal. "How long has this been going on, Rand? How long have you been sleeping with my own cousin?"

He took another step forward, Cassie standing behind him, holding her clothes to her naked body.

"Don't come any closer," I hissed. "I loved you. I loved you with everything, and you turned around to betray me. With my cousin?"

Cassie moved forward standing beside Rand. "Scarlett, please, just listen to us. It's really not what you think—"

"Not what I think?" I asked, my harsh bitter laughter echoing through the room.   

My mind raced, reeling with different thoughts. How long have they been sneaking around behind her the whole time? Had they laughed at me, the foolish Alpha while having sex behind my back?

The mate bond I shared with Rand, a bond blessed by the moon goddess herself, was just a cruel joke now. 

My vision blurred with tears, my hand cupping my stomach, the exciting news of my pregnancy now sour in my mouth.

"Scarlett, please," Rand begged, with desperation. "I promise it was a mistake, just a moment of weakness—"

I shook my head frantically, my eyes filled with disdain as I stared at both of them. "This is not a mistake, Rand!.” I spat in anger. My eyes darted from him to my backstabbing cousin. “I trusted you, Rand. I loved you with everything." My voice broke with pain.

My heart was shattering, and my whole world crumbling around me. I took a step back, my lungs closing in "I'm leaving," I said, fighting back tears. "And I'll make sure the entire pack finds out what you've done."

"No! Don't do that, Scarlett," Rand said, his jaw clenching as he stared at me in desperation. "You're not going anywhere."

I stopped in my tracks, looking at him in confusion. All the love and warmth in his eyes were now replaced by something cold and dangerous. I could suddenly see the true Rand.

Cassie stepped forward trying to salvage the situation. "Scarlett, please. Just give us a chance to explain—"

I scoffed, turning around and leaving the room. I stormed into the hallway, my footsteps echoing as I ran down the stairs and through the doors of the manor. As I stepped out, a strong hand gripped my arm tight, pulling me back.

I turned, my eyes filled with anger as I tried to pull my arm free, but Rand’s grip was too strong. “Let me go!” I yelled.

“No, Scarlett, I can't let you go and destroy our lives,” he responded, his tone cold and emotionless.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my tone worried as a shiver went down my spine.

Cassie moved closer, her eyes burning with rage as she stared at both of us. “Rand, we can't just let her go. She would ruin our lives—”

Rand shot Cassie a cold glare, shutting her up. He turned to me, his eyes hard, “I can’t let you leave, Scarlett.”

My heart pounded in her chest as I wrestled against his tight hold. “You have already ruined everything, our love and bond. Rand! Let me go!” I shouted at him but he didn't budge.

He looked down at me, his face unrecognizable. “I can't let you ruin us. If you won’t keep quiet, I’ll have to shut you up forever.” He growled 

My eyes widened in realization, fear coiling around my heart. “Rand… no… please…you can't do this”

I tried harder to break free pulling against his arm, but Rand was stronger. Cassie followed quietly, making no move to help, as Rand drew us into the forest.

“Please, Rand,” I pleaded, tears running down my face. “You can't kill your mate, I'm pregnant with your child,” I shouted as a last resort to stop his madness.

Rand froze staring at me for a moment, his jaw clenching in annoyance. “I can't let you ruin me, Scarlett.” He muttered.

I can't believe the moon goddess would curse me like this to die at the hands of my mate. My mate, the man I loved with everything, was going to kill me.

We walked further into the woods, stopping at a clearing; he threw me down roughly, and my body hit the ground with a loud thud.

I immediately scrambled up trying to crawl away from him. Cassie ran after me, her claws sharp as she caught me, dragging me back to Rand.

“Finish her off fast!.” She snarled as I struggled against her grip.

Her fingers released me and I made to run when Rand's claws tore into my back.

My guttural screams echoed through the forest as I fell hard onto the forest floor, my back bleeding from the wound.

His eyes were devoid of emotion as he slowly stalked towards me, and in one swift move, he plunged his claws into my stomach.

I shrieked in horror, my hands reaching out to my abdomen to hold down the cut. My baby. I cried, I lost my child before I even met him. 

Tears streamed down my face, as I begged Rand to stop, but he kept plunging his claws, cutting through my skin.

Cassia watched, a devious smile on her face as she watched him kill me. And I wondered how I could have missed her hatred for me right under my nose.

Rand stepped back, holding me by my throat, his eyes flashing with satisfaction as he saw the damage he had done.

I could already feel the darkness closing in around me, but I couldn't let them kill me off so easily. Determination riled through me. I couldn’t let it all end this way—not without putting up a fight.

With the last strength I had, I lashed out, my knee connecting with Rand’s midsection, he grunted in pain as he doubled over, his grip loosening for just a second.

It was enough.

I scrambled free, stumbling back and running as I gasped for air, my throat burning with pain. 

“Scarlett!” Cassie called out but I ignored her. I staggered away from them as Rand recovered from the shock of my kick.

“Get back here!” he roared, his footsteps heavy as he followed me.

I tore through the woods, the branches clawing at my already bruised skin, her feet barely touched the ground as I raced away from them. Behind me, I could hear Rand crashing through the forest, 

I had no idea where I was going and I could hardly see a thing, only that I needed to get as far away as I possibly could.

Suddenly my foot caught on a low branch, and I fell hard, pain booming in my side.

“Scarlett!” Rand’s voice was very close now, too close, and I knew I needed to run but my body was tired as I tried to catch my breath.

In a moment Rand was upon me, his hands grabbing my arms and yanking me back towards him. I cried out, my arms flailing as I tried to get away but he was so strong, his eyes burning with fury.

“This is your fault!” he snarled, as his claws cut through my throat.

Warm blood guzzled down my neck, as I stared at him in horror, darkness closing in around me.