Chapter 2

I walked away.

My legs moved, but my mind didn’t. Everything felt numb. The walls of the palace blurred as they closed in on me. My heart ached so badly, it felt like someone had taken a knife to it.

I barely noticed the curious glances of the pack members as I stumbled out of the palace. I didn’t care. Let them watch.

The cold hit me like a wave. I wasn’t wearing a coat. No shoes. Nothing to guard me from the bitter air. But I welcomed it. The chill grounded me, numbed me... it was better than the heat of betrayal that had just burned through every part of my soul.

I walked without direction, without reason. I let my feet carry me wherever they pleased, because my mind… it wasn’t there. It was lost in a storm of questions, questions I didn’t have answers to.

What do I do now? Where do I go? How could they do this to me?

And then, I thought of the tiny life growing inside me.

I stopped. My hands moved to cradle my stomach.

“I won’t let them take you away from me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

I kept walking. Hours passed. The moonlight spilled across my path like a silent witness. The woods around the pack’s territory looked different tonight.

After what felt like forever, I ended up at the lake. The same lake where Theo and I had first met. The stars shimmered on the surface of the still water, almost mocking me with their peace. I sank into the grass, eyes locked on the reflection in the water.

Tears welled up before I could stop them. My chest rose and fell with quiet sobs, my whole life unraveling in a matter of hours.

“I’ll figure this out,” I told myself, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. My voice trembled, but I forced it to stay steady. “I don’t need Theo. And I definitely don’t need Josephine. This child… this child will be my strength.”

And for the next three days, I survived. Alone.

But I knew I couldn’t stay out there forever. If I wanted to protect my child, I had to face them again—Theo and Josephine. But I would do it on my own terms.

And I wouldn’t tell them I was pregnant.

When I finally returned to the palace, it felt different. Bigger. Colder. Like a cage pretending to be home. I stepped inside, and the familiar scent of the pack hit me. But it brought no comfort. No warmth.

Theo was there. Waiting in the main hall.

His expression was unreadable.

I paused, drawing in a breath. Then walked right past him.

“Everleigh," he called out. His voice was hesitant, unsure.

I stopped but didn’t turn around. “What is it?” I asked, my tone flat, emotionless.

“We need to talk.”

I sighed, finally facing him. “About what?”

“About everything. About us,” he said, guilt flickering in his eyes.

I crossed my arms. “Fine. Talk.”

He motioned toward the sitting room. I didn’t want to follow, but I did. Reluctantly.

Then I saw her.

Josephine. Sitting there on the plush sofa, looking smug... like she already owned the place.

And I knew this conversation was about to get worse.

My face dropped slowly and I frowned at her.

"I'm sorry for how things happened," Theo began, his voice low. "I love you... But I need an heir. The pack depends on it. We both know that, Everleigh."

My jaw clenched, but I stayed silent, letting him continue.

"I didn't want things to go this way, but Josephine... she's pregnant. And I can't ignore that." He paused, as though waiting for me to respond. When I didn't, he added, "I've decided to take her as my second wife. You are still my Luna."

My eyes widened, but I quickly masked my shock. I glanced at Josephine, who was smirking ever so slightly.

"Of course you have, if you don't, I will be shocked," I said bitterly. "And what choice do I have in this?"

Theo shifted uncomfortably. "I... I thought you'd understand. It's for the good of the pack, Everleigh."

I let out a hollow laugh. "The good of the pack? Or the good of Theo? You get to be Alpha now, don't you?"

Josephine interjected, her voice sounded sickeningly sweet. "Luna, this doesn't have to be so hard. We can all coexist peacefully. Alpha Theo loves you too, you know."

I shot her a glare that could freeze fire. "Don't you dare speak to me about love or anything."  

Theo stepped between us. "Enough. Everleigh, please, this how it's going to be. Josephine will stay here with us as my second mate. I expect you both to get along."

I was already very angry but swallowed it down. I nodded curtly.  

"Fine. If that's what you want. I'll do as you say, Alpha," I mocked. I turned and left the room, my hands trembled but I managed to keep myself from lashing out.

I kept to myself after that. I avoided Theo and Josephine as much as possible, spending most of my time in the pack's library or out in the woods. When I was forced to be in the same room with them, I remained silent, with a blank look on my face.

Theo kept trying to initiate conversations and started paying more attention to me like he used to when we just got together, but I was not having any of it.

The pregnancy wasn't showing yet, and I did everything I could to keep it hidden. I wore loose clothing and avoided any situation where someone might notice. This was my secret, and I intended to keep it that way.

Tasana, Theo's younger sister, became my only source of comfort. Tasana had always been close to me, and she made it clear she had no love for Josephine.

"Everleigh," Tasana started, her voice low and full of empathy, "you can't let them have this win. Theo and Josephine... they don't deserve your silence or calmness or whatever the fuck it is that you are doing."

I stared at my hands, my fingers held onto the fabric of my skirt. "What do you expect me to do, Tasana? Your brother has made his choice, and Josephine..." My voice trailed off. "She's carrying his child, that bitch. That's all he cares about now. Not me. Not what we built together."

Tasana leaned forward, her eyes were dull. "That's exactly why you can't just sit back and let this happen. Do you know what happens to wolves who don't fight back? They're cast aside, forgotten, or worse, destroyed."

I frowned. "And what would you have me do? Fight Josephine? Challenge my husband's decisions? He's already made it clear that I have no place in this anymore."

Tasana shook her head. "Not fight them in the way you're thinking. You need power, Everleigh. Real power. As long as Theo thinks you're just another submissive wife, he'll keep walking all over you. You need to rise above him and her."

I blinked, I looked confused. "How? What kind of power are you even talking about? He is now our Alpha..."

"The kind that makes you indispensable," Tasana said firmly. "The pack listens to strength, to leadership. Theo may be the Alpha, but you're still his mate, his wife. If you start taking control, making decisions, involving yourself in the pack's affairs, they'll have no choice but to respect you."

I hesitated. The idea of stepping into a position of power felt strange, but something in Tasana's words struck a chord.

"And what if Theo doesn't approve?" I asked.

Tasana smirked. "Let him disapprove. You're not here to make him comfortable. You're here to survive, and to protect yourself. You have a child to think about now, don't you? Let's hope it's a male child, so that things will fall better for you. Don't let him know that you are pregnant yet though."

My hand instinctively went to my still-flat stomach. I nodded. "You're right. I can't stay in the shadows anymore."

Tasana smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Good. Now let's figure out how to make this happen. I will support you, no matter what."

We both went back to the chambers and I went to take a nap, but was almost immediately awoken by the noise in the palace.

"What was that?" I asked, rising to my feet and I was already heading towards the door. "It sounds like the wolves. Something's wrong."

I followed closely behind as the distant howls grew louder. They were sharp, mournful, and synchronized, a sequence that every werewolf knew too well. It was the call of death.

The corridors of the palace were in chaos. Wolves ran past us, their faces carried panic and urgency. My heart pounded as I made my way through the commotion.

"Do you think it's an attack?" I asked one of the guards, but he just pointed towards the grand hall.

We rounded a corner and entered the grand hall, where a crowd had gathered. My eyes scanned the room, searching for Theo. My heart hurt painfully at the thought of him lying lifeless somewhere. Despite everything, I couldn't bear the idea of losing him.

At the center of the crowd, Theo knelt on the ground, his shoulders hunched and shaking. Beside him was a woman, crumpled and lifeless. I was glad that Theo wasn't dead and hoped that it was Josephine.

I pushed through the crowd. "What happened?" I demanded, my voice sounded shaky.

Theo didn't respond. He was sobbing, his hands holding the woman's body. I looked at the face of the woman and I was shocked.

"It... can't be," I said.

Tasana... is dead.