Chapter 1
On the day of our mate ceremony, just after we had exchanged our vows, rogues stormed in, wreaking havoc.
My mate, Trenton Gonzales, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, didn’t hesitate. He pushed me aside and shielded Francesca Rice, his chosen mate, as they fled.
I was left alone, pinned to the ground by the rogues, humiliated in front of our pack elders and the guests who had come to celebrate our union. The pack watched in horror as the rogues violated me, their laughter echoing in my ears. By the time they were done, my body was broken, my spirit shattered.
My parents, who had witnessed the entire ordeal, collapsed from the shock. My brother, Ezrah Larson, the pack’s Beta, carried me to my room, his hands trembling. He stormed out, kneeling outside the pack’s shrine, pleading with the Lycan King to send warriors to hunt down the rogues and summon the pack’s healer to save my life.
In my delirium, I faintly heard Ezrah and Trenton’s conversation.
“The rogues have been dealt with. No one will ever know you orchestrated this,” Ezrah said, his voice cold.
“Why go to such lengths? If you wanted Francesca as your Luna, you could have just asked. I would have convinced Edith to step aside willingly.”
“Edith is too proud,” Trenton replied. “She would never willingly give up her position as Luna. She had to be broken, made to feel unworthy. Only then would she submit to Francesca’s authority.”
Ezrah sighed. “When you were poisoned, Francesca sacrificed herself for you. She’s carrying your child now. I’ve lost her forever.”
“I did this for her happiness,” Trenton said, his voice devoid of guilt. “Edith will still be cared for. She’ll be the most favored mate, even if she’s no longer Luna.”
Their words confirmed my worst fears. My suffering was nothing more than a stepping stone for Francesca’s rise.
With the last of my strength, I shattered the mate bond pendant Trenton had given me. I wanted nothing to do with this false love or this twisted family.
---
The pack’s healer, Jensen Wright, arrived quickly, his face grim as he assessed my injuries.
“Edith can be saved,” he said, his voice urgent. “But we must act now.”
Trenton and Ezrah exchanged uneasy glances. “Will she be able to bear children?” Trenton asked.
Jensen hesitated. “With proper care, she may still conceive.”
Before he could continue, Trenton unsheathed his claws and stepped forward. “No,” he said, his voice firm. “I can’t risk it.”
Before anyone could stop him, he slashed at my abdomen, cutting out my womb. The room erupted into chaos as Jensen and the others tried to intervene, but it was too late. Trenton held my womb in his hands, his expression unreadable.
“I made a promise to Francesca,” he said, his voice steady. “Her child will be my only heir. I can’t break that promise.”
He wiped the sweat from my brow, his eyes filled with a twisted kind of love. “Edith, you’ll understand, won’t you? I’ll make sure you live a long life, no matter the cost.”
Ezrah stood by, his face pale but resigned. “What’s done is done,” he said. “We’ll make sure no one speaks of this.”
As the pain consumed me, I realized the truth. The two people I had loved most in this world were the ones who had destroyed me.
---
When I woke, Trenton and Ezrah were by my side, their faces etched with worry.
“Edith, you’re awake!” Trenton said, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
“I failed you,” Ezrah said, his voice choked with emotion. “I should have been there.”
I looked at them, their faces filled with a sorrow that felt hollow. “I don’t blame you,” I whispered. “I blame myself for trusting you.”
Their expressions darkened, but they said nothing.
A pack member entered, announcing that Francesca was trying on the Luna’s ceremonial gown and wanted their approval. Trenton and Ezrah exchanged glances, their hesitation palpable.
“I’ll stay with Edith,” Trenton said, though his voice betrayed his longing.
“The gown is perfect,” Ezrah added. “I designed it myself. Francesca will be stunning.”
Their words cut deeper than any blade. They had poured their hearts into Francesca’s happiness while I had been left with scraps.
---
As the days passed, I grew weaker. Trenton and Ezrah stayed by my side, their guilt apparent but their loyalty to Francesca unwavering.
“Edith,” Trenton said one day, his voice soft. “I know you’re in pain, but I need you to understand. Francesca is carrying my child. Her happiness is my priority.”
I closed my eyes, the weight of his words pressing down on me. “I understand,” I whispered. “But I can’t live like this.”
With the last of my strength, I turned to Trenton. “I, Edith Larson, reject you, Trenton Gonzales, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, as my mate,” I said, my voice steady. “Francesca will be your Luna. I wish you both happiness.”
Trenton’s eyes filled with tears, but he said nothing. He knew it was too late for apologies, too late for redemption.
As I drifted into unconsciousness, I felt a strange sense of peace. The pain was finally over.