LYRA'S POV

The scent of rain and damp earth should have been comforting. It was the scent of home, of the Silvercrest Pack's territory. But tonight, for some reason I couldn't explain, it carried the bitter scent of smoke.

I smoothed the front of my dress: a deep emerald green that brought out my warm hazel eyes, the one Cassian had always said he loved, and smiled at my reflection.

Today was our fifth anniversary. Five years of being his Luna, his mate, and his wife.

And tonight, I was going to give him the best gift of all.

My hand drifted to my stomach, still flat, still holding my secret. I'd known for three weeks, and keeping it from him had been the hardest thing I'd ever done. Every morning I woke up wanting to tell him. Every night I fell asleep with the words burning on my tongue.

But I'd waited. I'd planned. Tonight, after the concert, I'd pull out the ultrasound and watch his face transform with joy.

My wolf, Kiara, stirred inside me, warm and content. ‘He's going to be so happy.’

I know. I could barely contain my excitement. I've been waiting for this moment for weeks.

I grabbed the tickets from my nightstand: front row seats to the Moonlight Serenade, the concert he'd mentioned wanting to see months ago. I'd called in favors, pulled strings, and spent more than I should have. But it was worth it. He was worth it.

“Cassian?” I called, practically floating into his study. “I have something to tell you. Well, two things, actually. But they're surprises, so you have to wait until tonight…”

He didn't look up from his desk. His phone was pressed to his ear, brow furrowed, his free hand waving me off.

“Lyra, you'll have to cancel your plans for tonight. I have to work overnight. The border patrols have been stretched thin. Can't afford to miss hours of work.”

My heart stuttered. “Tonight? But Cassian, it's our…”

“I know what day it is.” His voice was clipped, impatient. “But my duty doesn't stop for anniversaries, Lyra. You should understand that.”

I opened my mouth, closed it. The tickets felt heavy in my hand, the ultrasound burning a hole in my pocket.

“Of course,” I managed. “I understand.”

It's fine, I told myself, forcing a smile. He's busy now, but tonight, when he comes home, we'll celebrate together.

My wolf whimpered softly, but I pushed the disappointment down.

It was fine. Everything was fine until he said his next words.

“And cancel that ridiculous concert ticket.” He finally glanced up at me. “You're the Luna of Silvercrest, not a pup from the Hollow Pines Pack. Concerts are for young, unmated wolves.”

The words stung, but I bit my tongue to hide my pain.The concert has been his favourite topic for weeks, but now it's childish because I want to attend one with him?

“Of course,” I said again, my voice steady. “You're right. Concerts are silly.”

I walked over to his desk, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. “I'll be here when you get home. I have something special planned.”

His eyes flickered with something: irritation, maybe. Or guilt? It was gone before I could name it.

“Fine,” he said, already turning back to his phone. “Whatever you want.”

I left his study with the tickets still clutched in my hand and the ultrasound still hidden in my pocket.

Tonight, I thought, my excitement flickering back to life. Tonight, I'll tell him. And nothing, absolutely nothing, will ruin this moment.

But for now, there's no harm in living life a little.

After he'd left for his patrol, I retrieved the ticket I'd stashed in my journal a few minutes ago. A tiny act of rebellion. A single night to be just Lyra, and not Luna.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few miles away from the Eastern Territory of the Silvercrest Pack, the Moonlight Serenade was in full swing, the human band playing a frantic, passionate melody that vibrated in my bones. It was loud, messy, and alive. Everything my life was not.

I stood and watched the writhing bodies, moved my body to my favourite song until the music softened and a spotlight began to dance over the crowd.

“Kiss cam!” the lead singer shouted, and the pack members in the stadium erupted in howls of excitement. “Let's see the lovely couples we have this time.”

The camera panned over couples, each one locking lips with their eyes closed. I could smell the electric thrill of lust in the air.

Then, the screen froze, music stuttered. A deafening silence fell over our section.

Cold dread pooled in my stomach at the sight in front of me.

There, on a screen larger than the pack house, was Cassian.

He wasn't in his patrol gear. He was wearing the dark suit he'd worn to the Alpha Council meeting last week. And his hands were not on a scouting report, they were tangled in the raven hair of a woman I knew better than my own reflection.

Sabrina.

My best friend from the Ashclaw Pack. The one who'd stood beside me as my bridesmaid. The one who had told me, just two days ago, “Oh, I can't go to the concert with you, Lyra. Kieran is taking me out.”

Kieran. The name Cassian had used as a cover for his affair.

The sight of them on the jumbotron wasn't just a betrayal of my heart, it was an assault on my weak wolf. My mate, kissing my childhood friend in public while our song played in the background.

I felt it first in my chest: a searing, physical agony, like claws raking through my muscle and bone.

The camera zoomed in on the claiming bite on her neck: fresh, pink, still healing.

Rage exploded through me, hot and blinding. My wolf surged forward, claws extending, a snarl ripping from my throat.

‘I'll kill them,’ Kiara howled. ‘I'll tear them both apart…’

My body moved before my mind caught up. I was already rising from my seat, already pushing through the crowd, heading toward the private boxes where they were probably still entangled.

I want them to feel a fraction of the pain that was consuming me.

But then the pain hit me. Sudden and excruciating pain.

It ripped through my abdomen like claws, stealing my breath and my strength.

My hand flew to my stomach.

The baby.

Kiara's rage transformed into something else.

‘Lyra, something's wrong. We need to get to the hospital.’

I looked up at the private boxes, at the wolves who had betrayed me, at the confrontation I so desperately wanted.

I'll come back for them, I thought, the words a vow carved into my soul. I'll destroy them both.

But first, first I have to save my child.

I turned, ran, pushed through the crowd, ignoring the shouts and the angry looks, my hand pressed against my stomach.

“Move,” I snarled at a beta wolf who blocked my path. “Get out of my way.”

The pain suddenly hit me again, sharper this time.

No, no, no… this can't happen to me. I can't lose my child.

Then I felt the warm liquid streamed down between my legs.

The world narrowed to a pinprick of light in seconds.

I didn't remember stumbling through the corridor, or the taxi driver's concerned expression when I gave him the Silvercrest address.

But I remembered the crash, the sudden, sickening weightlessness as the car rolled.

The last thing I heard was the horrifying crunch of metal before the world went black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke to white lights and the smell of antiseptic, a machine beeping a steady rhythm beside me. My body felt wrong, hollow, like something essential had been scooped out and discarded.

“Is she stable?” A voice, muffled, asked from beyond the curtain.

“Yes Alpha, but I'm afraid we lost the baby. The trauma was too severe.”

“No.” I muttered under my breath, hands hovering over my flat tummy. “It can’t be.”

“Her ovaries are damaged as well. She'll need a full removal.” The voice continued.

I wanted to scream, to tear through the curtain and claw the faces off whoever was having this conversation. But I couldn't move. I could barely breathe.

“Alpha, we'll need your authorization.” He added.

Cassian’s voice came next, and the casual disdain in it was worse than any cruelty he could have invented.

“Do it.” His tone was ice. “She doesn't need them anyway. Sabrina will provide the heir for Silvercrest. A pure-blooded pup. It's what's best for the pack.”

He wasn't even surprised to hear the news. Just the urgent need to get rid of me and the possibility of having another child.

The pack doctor hesitated. “Alpha, with respect, there are alternatives we could explore…”

“I said do it.” Cassian snapped. “Don’t you get it? A barren Luna is easier to control. She'll have no choice but remain at my side.”

My hand flew to my mouth, muffling the sob that threatened to escape.

The doctor's voice reduced to a whisper. “Of course, Alpha. Forgive me.”

My chest tightened painfully.

My entire life had been a lie that only a few people knew about. Our mating ceremony? Nothing more than a political alliance. The years I spent waiting for a child? A carefully crafted lie to keep me obedient.

And now, he'd threatened the doctor to erase my very purpose, my last shred of hope, because I was inconvenient.

The curtain slid back. Cassian stood there, handsome as ever, his golden eyes arranged into a perfect mask of concern.

“Lyra.” He pulled up a chair and took my hand in his. It took every ounce of my will not to recoil. “You're awake. Thank the Moon Goddess. I was so worried.”

“Were you?” I yanked my hand from his. “Because it took you hours to get here, Cassian. Hours. I was in surgery. I was dying. And you were... where exactly?”

His jaw tightened. “I told you earlier, Lyra. I had to go to the border…”

“The border.” I cut in, letting them hang in the air between us. “Must've been very important for it to take much of your time.”

“Lyra…”

“No, no, it's okay.” I held up my hand, “I'm just the woman who could barely carry your child, anyway. Why would any of that compare to the border?”

He shifted in his chair, discomfort flickering across his features. “You're being unfair.”

“Am I?” I snapped. “I'm lying in a hospital bed, Cassian. I lost our child. And you show up hours late with an excuse that sounds like you rehearsed it on the drive over.”

“Rehearse? I didn't…” He sighed. “The doctor said you'll make a full recovery. Just a simple procedure here and there.”

Procedure. He called the theft of my future a procedure.

I simply stared at him. Just stared.

Silence stretched between us, the machine beside me the only sound.

Then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his posture changed. Urgency replaced his feigned care.

“Someone was attacked at the border during the rogue incursion. I have to go.”

The audacity. He was leaving his wife who had just lost their child to go running to his mistress.

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to scream. I wanted to see his face when he realized I knew everything: every lie, every betrayal, every moment he'd spent wrapped in Sabrina's arms while I waited at home like a fool.

‘Not now, Lyra,’ Kiara whispered painfully. ‘Soon. Be Patience.’

Patience? I thought. Yes, I can be patient.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

Let him have his fun. Let him think he's winning. Let him believe I'm still the same blind, trusting wolf who loved him.

Because when I finally showed my hand, it would be in a way he'd never see coming.

“A rogue incursion,” I repeated, my voice devoid of all emotion. “Of course. I understand.”

He didn't look back. The door clicked shut behind him, and I was alone with the beeping machines and the empty spaces where everything that mattered used to be.

My wolf stirred weakly. ‘Lyra…’

“Kiara, we can't stay here.”

‘Where would we go?’

There was a reason I'd left the Moonveil Pack. I'd stopped speaking to my brother after he'd called Cassian dangerous and I'd called him jealous and bitter.

‘He'll help us.’

I don't deserve his help. I really don't.

But I reached for my phone on the bedside table anyway.

My fingers trembled as I scrolled to a number I hadn't dialed in years. My brother, the one I'd exiled from my life to please Cassian.

I didn't know if there was anything left of the bond we'd shared as pups, before I threw it all away for a wolf who never wanted me.

But I dialed anyway.

The line connected.

A voice, rough with sleep, growled through the speaker. “Who is this?”

“Rowan.” I closed my eyes. “It's Lyra.”

The silence was so deafening you could hear a pin drop.

“You have five seconds to explain why I shouldn't hang up.”

“Cassian,” I whispered, my voice cracking for the first time. “He cheated… there was a car crash…”

“Lyra.” His voice was different now, sharper. “What happened? Fuck… just tell me what you need.”

“I need to come home,” I whispered, a tear slipping down my cheek. “Please, Rowan... I need a divorce.”