Chapter 1Ten years with Alpha Ronan Blackthorn—I'd lost twelve pups.
His excuse? Enemies everywhere. A pup would just be a target with a bow on it.
Then number thirteen happened. And Ronan actually let me keep this one.
Once things stabilized, he pulled out of pack business altogether. Left all that ugly stuff behind.
Seven months in, I find out he's been keeping someone on the side.
Isadora Duskmere.
She's pregnant too. Further along than me, actually. Two months.
I lost it. Cried, yelled, the whole thing.
And Ronan? Just looked annoyed.
"Isadora's not like you, Maren. She's an omega. She just needs something to hold onto."
"She's not competition, come on. You'll always be my Luna."
I stared at him. My nails dug into my palms so hard it hurt.
I took a breath.
"Forget it. Ronan. We're done."
---
His frown went deep fast.
He didn't see that coming. Not from me. I never said those words—not even with a blade at my throat from some rival pack.
"Seriously, Maren? You're doing this now?"
That low growl in his voice. I knew it too well. His eyes went gold, waiting for me to take it back.
He thought this life—this quiet, safe little life—was everything I wanted. He genuinely couldn't figure out what my problem was.
Honestly? Neither could I.
But I held my ground. Chin up.
"Yeah. Seriously."
You could've cut the air with a knife. His face got darker by the second.
Then Isadora spoke up.
She was tracing little circles on his palm. Half flirting, half comforting him.
"Ronan, babe, if this is too much right now, we could push the ceremony back a little..."
My head snapped toward her.
That sweet, innocent little face. My brain just went blank.
Ten years, and Ronan always had a reason not to claim me.
Scared it'd make me a target. Scared he couldn't keep me safe. Scared he couldn't give me the life I deserved.
I told him over and over I didn't care. He still wouldn't give me the mark.
And now? Now he's planning some huge ceremony. For her.
My chest hurt so bad I couldn't breathe right.
"No, we're not waiting. Baby's coming soon. Can't push this back anymore."
"As for Maren"—his eyes locked on me, cold, waiting for me to break—"that's not her business."
Our eyes met. Something in me just... stopped.
I thought about the night I took a hit meant for him. Almost died from it. He tore through half a pack just to get to me. Held me like I was the only thing that mattered.
I was bleeding out in his arms. He was crying. Screaming my name. Kissing me like it'd bring me back.
That's the night I fell for him. Crossed every line an enforcer shouldn't cross.
After that, the whole pack started calling me Luna.
Guess I wasn't the only one wearing that title, though. He had a backup ready to go.
Well. I was about to hand that title right back.
I shook it off and turned away. Wasn't sticking around for their little love scene.
Barely got two steps before I heard her scoff behind me.
"Ronan, honey, did I do something wrong? Why's Maren still so upset?"
Poor little wounded voice. Real convincing.
Ronan laughed.
"Not your fault, sweetheart. She just forgot her place."
Chapter 2
"But Ronan, what if Maren gets so pissed she just takes off with her pup? What happens to ours?"
"You know I grew up without a pack, baby. Never had Maren's luck. Someone looking out for her since she was a kid. Carrying a healthy pup, no problems."
"God, I'm so damn jealous of her right now."
"You know what? Forget it. I can't keep doing this to you. Maybe I should just take our pup and jump. Maybe in the next life we actually get to be normal. Get to be together."
Isadora shoved past me. Straight for the window.
When she pushed me out of the way, I caught it. Something calculated, flickering behind those eyes.
Then she's out on the fire escape. Full dramatic show. Swaying like the wind might just take her.
This tiny, fragile little thing, hair blowing everywhere, and Ronan completely loses it. Voice cracking, begging her to come back inside.
I press a hand to my chest. Turn to leave.
Ronan grabs my wrist.
First time in years his voice actually goes soft.
"Come on, Maren. Ten years running with me. You're stronger than this."
"I'll get the best surgeons in the territory. A moonstone-forged heart, top of the line, whatever it costs."
"Just do this for Isadora. Just this once."
Ten years. First time Ronan Blackthorn ever asked me for a single favor.
And I still couldn't wrap my head around what he was actually asking.
He helps Isadora climb back through the window. Keeps talking.
"Maren, even if—if your pup doesn't make it—I'll get you pregnant again. I swear."
I just stared at him. Like he'd completely lost it.
Get me pregnant again?
Who the hell did he think he was, playing god with my kid's life like it's some deal he's cutting?
"Ronan, honey, my water just broke! It's happening!"
Isadora starts screaming. Doubles right over.
Ronan flips into Alpha mode.
One nod, and his wolves—the same ones who've taken hits for me—grab my arms. Pin them behind my back.
Ronan snatches a syringe off the table. Jabs it straight into my stomach.
These guys are built like brick walls. I'm thrashing, fighting, going absolutely nowhere.
All I can do is lock eyes with Ronan. Look for something. Anything. Some sign he's gonna stop this.
Nothing.
His face stays ice-cold while he pumps shot after shot into me.
Third one goes in, and one of his own guys grabs his arm. Hands shaking.
Osric Fenwick. Pack healer.
Only one who muttered sorry when they first grabbed me.
"Alpha, three's the max! You can't give her more than that!"
"I get Isadora's in labor and you're losing it, but Maren's gonna die if you keep going!"
"Get your hands off me!"
Ronan's voice drops into that low growl. The one that used to make rival packs piss themselves.
I knew right then he'd hit some kind of edge.
Only seen him go this far twice, in all these years.
First time, I took claws meant for his throat. Nearly bled out. He sat by my bed all night. Silent. Seething.
Next morning he walked into Cordelia Nightshade's territory alone. Tore through her entire pack.
This was number two.
I squeezed my eyes shut while he kept jabbing needles into me. Pain ripping straight through my gut.
Then everything went black.
Chapter 3
When I woke up, I was already on the table.
Felt the blade cut into my skin. Cold sweat running down my face.
I clenched my fists. Screams just ripped out of me.
No pain meds. Ronan wouldn't allow it. Had to keep the pup stable. Had to make sure Isadora got that perfect little heart she wanted.
My chest ached worse than my body did. And my body was in pieces.
Osric saw me awake. Looked at me like his heart was breaking. All that pity in his eyes.
I actually laughed.
Ten months knowing this guy, and he cared more about my pain than the Alpha I gave ten years to.
Then I heard it. Three pups crying.
I gave up right there. Let the dark take me again.
No idea how long I was out. When I came back, the pups were gone.
No time to feel guilty. I dragged myself off that table.
Something in me was screaming.
Find them. Find them now.
Blood dripped behind me the whole way down the hall.
Pain between my legs so bad I could barely walk straight.
Right before I went down, I found them. The healing chamber.
I stood at that window and everything in me went cold.
Only two pups.
Where was the third?
They were hooked up to machines. Tubes running everywhere. Blood moving through the lines.
One line ran to Isadora. The other to her pup.
Both of mine were pale. Barely breathing. Their cries so weak I could hardly hear them.
My chest just tore open. I ran in. Started ripping tubes out with my bare hands.
Fingers shaking so bad. Terrified I'd hurt them worse.
I tried to scoop them both up. Tried to tell them mama's here.
That's when Isadora grabbed my hair. Slammed me straight into the floor.
She was grinning. Like she'd been waiting all night for this.
Then her heel came down on my head.
That's when it hit me. She wasn't some soft little omega. She was stronger than me. And I'd been killing wolves for a living.
"There you are, Maren Ashgrove. Finally showed up."
She was loving every second of it.
"You should be thanking me, actually. If my pup didn't need a heart, you'd never have gotten Ronan anywhere near your bed."
"All it took was a few words in his ear. Boom. He's pumping you full of shots like you're some prize breeder. Wanted you cranking out pups for my little prince."
"Shame trash stays trash, though. You think I'd actually let their filthy little hearts go into my perfect pup? Makes me sick just picturing it."
"Guess they die now."
She pressed her hand down. Just a little pressure on one small head.
The whimpering stopped.
"Isadora, I will fucking kill you!"
My whole body was shaking. How does someone snuff out a life that easy?
I stared at her through tears. Pure rage.
My screaming just made her worse. Made her enjoy it more.
She lifted her hand. The other pup dropped.
Maybe three feet down. That's all.
Hit the floor and just... came apart.
Blood. Pieces of my own child. All over my face.
Then nothing. Dead silence in my head.
Every drop of blood in me went cold, then hot. I lunged for her. Wanted to rip her apart with my bare hands.
She just smiled wider.
Before I got close, something hit me. Sent me flying across the room.
Didn't even see what it was. Just heard Isadora start sobbing behind me.
"Ronan, help me! I was just trying to help! Brought Maren's pups in to stay with ours! And she went insane! Said she was gonna kill our baby first, then kill me!"
