Chapter 1
ELISA
When I caught my husband in bed with his brother’s widow—my best friend — Lyra, he didn’t show remorse, he didn’t stop, he didn’t even bother to look shocked or scared.
Instead, he picked up a pillow from the bed and threw it at me, like I was a mere servant who had accidentally walked in on them.
"We need a baby," he groaned, thrusting into her again. He gripped her hips in a tight, desperate way he had never, ever held me.
Lyra threw her head back. Her screams of pleasure ripped my heart completely in two. My chest burned so badly I could barely breathe.
"Tristan, stop!" I cried out, my voice cracking as I stepped forward. "How could you—"
"You should be grateful she's agreed to be your surrogate," Tristan interrupted, cutting me off coldly without even looking at me.
"Aren't you tired of being mocked by the pack? I am the only surviving male in the royal blood line. My uncle has turned into a mad beast with rage, and my brother is dead. Fucking women to bear a child is my responsibility."
A bitter, broken laugh tore out of my throat. I couldn't hold back the anger bubbling under my tears.
"And you chose my best friend? Your own brother's wife?"
"Maybe we should stop, Alpha," Lyra cut in quickly, pouting with a fake, pitiful look. She shifted her body, making sure to sit on his cock so she was directly facing me.
She wanted me to see everything, to see that everything i had ever wanted, ever desired, could be hers.
When I came to this pack seven years ago, she was the first friend I made, and she quickly became like a sister to me.
How could she?
"It must be sad for her, watching us do what she couldn't. She loves you, after all."
Tears spilled over my eyelashes and ran hot down my cheeks.
She was right. I loved Tristan.
Ever since my pack, Moonblood, fought a brutal war with his pack, Bloodfang, I was promised to him. I was a red wolf.
I was supposed to have rare, magical blood, red wolves like me were rare and rumored to have powers beyond normal comprehension. I was supposed to be different.
My pack believed I was the best gift to him, the best way to seal a permanent alliance between both Northern kingdoms.
But for seven long years, I hadn't been able to give him a single child.
Tristan scoffed. His eyes turned ice-cold.
"She should be happy she hasn't been thrown out of the pack. She should be glad we haven't attacked her pack for their lies and treason. Rare blood? Yeah, right. The only thing rare about her is her barrenness."
His words were a knife twisting in my stomach.
He didn't care about how I felt. He never did.
I couldn't stand here and watch them mate for another second. I spun on my heels and ran out the door.
I sprinted through the pack grounds, blinding tears blurring my vision.
The whispers of the pack members hit me like stones as I ran past them.
"There goes the barren lady," a woman sneered loudly.
"Can't even keep her own Alpha in her bed," a guard laughed to his friend. "I hear he's already mating with lady Lyra to give us an heir."
"Good. She's useless anyway," another voice muttered.
I covered my ears and didn't stop until I reached the pack healer's cottage at the edge of the woods.
I burst inside, the smell of dried mint hitting my nose, and collapsed onto the wooden floor.
I cried my heart out, sobbing until my ribs ached.
“Please, grand mage, help me! I do not want to lose my husband, I do not want to lose my home.”
The old mage wolf knelt beside me.
"Lady Elisa... what has happened?"
"He's replacing me," I choked out, grabbing the old man's robes with shaking hands.
"He's sleeping with Lyra. Please, you have to help me! Is there anything—any herb, any magic—that can fix me? I just want to give him a child. I want my husband back!" I believed that somewhere deep in Tristan’s heart, he still had love for me.
No matter how little it was, I could fix everything if I gave him what he truly desired, helped him fulfill his duties.
My pack had already given me to him, if he sent me away, I would have no place to go.
And if Lyra succeeded, I knew she would make my life hell…I saw it in her eyes, the look of victory.
He stroked my hair, looking at me with deep pity.
"Hush, child." He walked over to a dusty cabinet and unlocked a hidden drawer, then pulled out a tiny, glowing glass bottle.
"Take this," he said, pressing it into my hands. "This is nectar from the flower of Gerla. It is a very powerful potion. It can do anything."
I stared at the glowing liquid, my tears slowing down. "Gerla?"
"The flower only blooms once in five thousand years," the old mage whispered.
"I have kept it in the store for a very long time. I only wanted to give it to someone who truly deserves it. You are honest and kind, and there is deep truth in your pain. You deserve it, my lady."
"Will it really work?" I asked, a tiny, desperate flame of hope sparking in my chest.
"You and your husband must drink it together before making love," he explained softly.
"Do this, and your heir will finally come."
I clutched the vial tightly to my chest. This is it. This would fix my marriage. This would make Tristan love me again.
I ran back toward the pack house, not caring about the other wolves standing around anymore.
"Look at her, running around like a madwoman," someone whispered as I passed.
I ignored them and pushed past the heavy front doors, hurried down the hallway. I just needed to get to Tristan’s chambers.
I just needed to show him the potion.
But as I reached for his door handle, a hand slammed against it, blocking my way.
I looked up, and I was not surprised when I found her there.
Lyra.
Her hair was messy, and she was wearing Tristan’s oversized shirt. A smirk was plastered across her face.
"Where do you think you're going?"