Chapter 1

Selene’s POV

“Mom, where’s Dad? You said he’d be here before my birthday started, but I can’t find him anywhere,” Ella whined, tugging on the hem of my dress. Her big, tear-filled eyes stared up at me, searching for answers I didn’t have.

The weight of guilt pressed down on my chest. Crouching to her level, I prepared myself to tell another carefully crafted lie.

“Baby, Dad called. He said he’s on his way,” I murmured, trying to sound convincing.

Her little brows furrowed. This was the second time I’d spun this tale, and I could see the doubt creeping into her innocent gaze. Still, she clung to a fragile thread of hope.

“You know your dad wouldn’t miss your birthday, right? You’re his little princess, his favorite girl in the whole world. He’ll be here.” I stroked her soft hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She nodded, but the sadness in her eyes remained. “Okay…”

“Why don’t you go play with your friends?” I said, forcing cheer into my voice. “They’re waiting for you, and I don’t want you to miss the fun.”

“Everyone!” I called out, “It’s time to sing for the birthday girl and share the cake!” The room erupted with excited cheers, and Ella’s friends ran over to pull her back into the festivities.

As she disappeared into the crowd, my wolf growled low with hate in my mind.

‘Tell her the truth. Tell her he’s not coming.’

‘No, Alexander will come. He’s just busy and maybe lost track of time.' I replied to her, but more like convincing myself. I had called him several times before now, and it had gone straight to voicemail.

Where the hell could he be? What could be more important than his daughter's birthday?

I slipped into the kitchen, away from the noise, and dialed his number again.

“Alex, if you can hear this, it’s the sixth voicemail I will be leaving. Please, Ella needs you here. I need you here. Please. Just… just come.” I felt my voice break before ending the call.

I had been holding the tears for so long now, but it was just too much to handle.

For months, Alex had been so cold to me. He barely spoke to me unless it was about an errand or about Ella, and even then, his words were curt. He didn't touch me; he didn’t smile at my joke; he never reciprocated any attempt I made to rekindle his emotions.

But at least today wasn’t about me. It was our daughter's birthday; the least he could do as a father was to be here.

Swiping my eyes dry, I walked out of the room with the cake. The children were singing around the table, and Ella was smiling and dancing with her friends, carefree and radiant.

It was beautiful. I would not miss it if the world were ending outside. Alex should feel that way as well, about his only child.

“Who wants cake?” I called, holding up the tray. The kids cheered and crowded around, their energy infectious. I handed out slices, grateful for the distraction.

That’s when I noticed one of the kids leaning on the Alpha’s statue in the corner. It wobbled precariously, the heavy stone base shifting on the uneven floor.

“Get out of the way!” I immediately screamed, shifting to my wolf form to push her out of the way before the statue hit her.

Pain shot through me as my weakened legs gave out. I collapsed to the floor, but not before shoving the child to safety. The statue crashed into the table, splintering wood and scattering debris.

Most times I forget how bad the legs of my wolf were. I let out a silent sigh. My back sagged to the floor in exhaustion as I shifted back to my human form.

•••

“Daddy didn’t come,” Ella said softly as she sat beside me. Her voice was quiet, resigned, and it broke me.

The party eventually ended, but Alex never showed.

“No, baby, he didn’t,” I admitted, my heart shattering into pieces. But before the tears could fall, I forced another smile.

“But guess what? He called me earlier. He said he has a special present for you at his office. He wanted to give it to you without your friends around, so it’s extra special. Should we go see him?”

“Really?” her face lit up.

I faked a smile as I lied through my lips, “Yes! Let’s drive over to Dad's office, shall we?”

“Yay!” She hopped down from her chair and then tugged on my fingers. “Let’s go, Mom! Dad will be waiting.”

She grabbed my hand, bouncing with excitement, and I let her pull me toward the door. My wolf was silent now, simmering with quiet anger.

For months now, the Alpha had been so detached that my wolf felt so weak and resentful, leaving us more vulnerable than ever before.

I drove us to Alex’s office, calling him repeatedly along the way. Each unanswered call made my stomach twist tighter. What would I tell Ella if he wasn’t there?

“Wait here, sweetheart,” I said when we arrived. “Mommy will go get Dad.”

I left her in the lobby and walked toward his office, my heels clicking against the polished floor. Two of his colleagues stood outside the door, shifting uncomfortably when they saw me.

“Luna, please—”

“Move.”

Before they could stop me, I heard a woman’s voice—a laugh. And then his voice, low and familiar, “Come and kneel down here, baby, let me taste your naughty…”

My heart dropped.

I pressed my ear to the door, and her voice became unmistakable. Natasha.

My sister.

I burst through the door without thinking.

“What!” Alex jerked from his seat in horror as I entered. Natasha scrambled to cover herself, but it was too late. Her clothes lay in a heap on the floor, and she sat on his desk, her face flushed and smug.

Unbelievable!

“Alex? Natasha?” Lost for words, I walked towards them in disbelief.

“It’s not what you think, sister; I promise, it’s not what you think,” said Natasha as she picked up her clothes.

“What are you doing here? You are meant to be at home with your child,” Alex snapped, as if I were the one out of line.

“Our child, you mean? And you asked about what I am doing here?” My voice rose as the words spilled out, trembling with anger. “What are you doing here? With her?”

Natasha had wanted everything I owned! She wanted my life so desperately, stealing whatever she could—my parents’ affection, my belongings, and now my husband?

Did she even remember that she’d once refused Alex? When our father first proposed the political match, she scoffed at the idea. Back then, Alex wasn’t the Alpha yet, and Natasha deemed him beneath her. They’d pushed me into marrying him instead—the lesser daughter, the backup plan.

And now? Now that he was Alpha, she wanted him too?

I’d been so naive, chalking up Alex’s recent coldness to stress or a passing mood. How foolish I was!

“What more do you want, Natasha?" I yelled at her in pain and anger.

“Selene, it’s not what you think,” Natasha said softly, taking a step toward me.

I recoiled, stepping back before she could touch me. She stumbled, more dramatically than seemed necessary, and landed on the floor with a cry.

“Ouch my legs!” She wailed, clutching it like she’d been struck. It wasn’t a new sight to behold; she had always done this. Always!

“What have you done?” Alex’s voice was sharp as a blade. He pushed past me, dropping to his knees beside her as though I didn’t exist.

“I just wanted to apologize,” Natasha whimpered, her eyes glistening with tears as she clung to him. “She pushed me!”

“I didn’t even touch her!” I shouted, my hands shaking. “She fell on her own!”

“Apologise to her now,” he snarled.

“What? Are you serious? She’s lying!”

“You are so heartless, even to your pregnant sister.”

Pregnant.

I staggered backwards.

‘Impossible,’ my wolf snarled, her fury mixing with disbelief.

My eyes narrowed back to Alex, desperate for some sign that this wasn’t real. But he wasn’t looking at me. He was cuddling Natasha, his face softening as he comforted her.

“She’s pregnant... with your child?”

“Yes.” His answer was simple, spoken with no hesitation. No regret. “Natasha carries the next heir.”

My heart broke into a million pieces so small I couldn’t even feel the pain yet.

I stared at my sister, who now clung to him like a prideful wife; she was also unremorseful about it!

“I’ve always wanted an heir,” Alex said, his tone steady and almost... proud. “And Natasha has given me that.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, not sparing me a glance.

“If you wanted an heir so badly,” I choked out, tears stinging my eyes. “Why didn’t you try with me? Why?”

He sighed, rolling his eyes as though the question were beneath him. He didn’t answer. Instead, he lifted Natasha into his arms, setting her on the table as though she were something fragile and precious.

The way he looked at her—the tenderness, the care—it was a look I hadn’t seen directed at me in years.

“Mummy!”

Ella's voice echoed from the lobby; she was approaching. I quickly wiped my eyes, forcing myself to compose what was left of me. She couldn’t see this.

“You know what, Alex, whatever you want to say, we’ll handle it later at home.” I closed my eyes, drew in a shaky breath, trying to ignore the painful howl from my wolf. “Please. Ella is coming; let’s put this aside. I told her you would be giving her a gift; that’s the least you can do; it’s her birthday.”

He turned to face me, and for a second, I saw the look of a father who at least had love for his first offspring and only daughter.

“If you don’t do it for me today, do it for her,” I continued, “she deserves the love and respect as Luna's daughter."

The look I had seen on his face disappeared, and it was instantly replaced by contempt.

“More like the daughter of my biggest mistake!”