Chapter 1My intended mate Ronald died on my birthday.
One year later? My best friend Heidi died too - same exact day.
They called me their princess. Now I'm the "Death Princess."
Five years of guilt eating me alive.
If I never celebrated, would they still be breathing?
Then I saw him at my nephew's pack school. My dead mate. Alive.
"Lottie! Hit another pup? No treats!"
The girl yelled: "Dad, you SUCK! He started it!"
Dad?
I froze. The kid's face - Heidi's eyes. Heidi's pout.
So they faked everything. Got mated. Even had a pup?
"Auntie Davina! Whatcha looking at?"
Ronald turned.
Our eyes met.
His Alpha aura slammed into me - but I didn't flinch.
My wolf snarled inside my chest.
Game on, you lying bastards.
...
I stood there like an idiot.
Should I feel relieved they're not dead?
Or should I be pissed as fuck they played me like this?
Ronald and I grew up together. He asked me to be his mate at twenty.
"Babe, everything before this? That was the preview. The rest of our lives? That's the real movie."
Day before my birthday, he literally swore:
"Princess, nothing's ever gonna hurt you. Not on my watch."
Yeah, right.
He was the thing that hurt me.
When did he even stop loving me?
Training bell rang. Pups ran off.
Ronald walked over. Not even trying to look sorry.
"Princess, you figured it out faster than I thought."
My stomach dropped. Was this whole thing just... fun for him?
I choked out: "When? When did you start wanting her?"
He scratched his jaw. Acting all thoughtful.
"Maybe that day you beat someone for Heidi. I dunno, something about a she-wolf who fights back..."
"Or graduation. That white shirt she had on... sexy."
He shrugged like it was nothing.
"Vina, people change. Who the hell knows why?"
"I used to hate spoiled rich wolves. Still ended up with you."
Ice cold. No filter. That's Ronald.
I pushed down the pain. Kept going.
"Why fake dying? Why not just break up like normal wolves?"
He didn't even hesitate.
"Because I know you. Back then, you couldn't handle choosing between love and your pack's standing."
"You would've blown everything up. Your parents, my parents, Heidi - everyone would've been screwed."
"But now? You've got your shit together. That's why you're here talking instead of posting receipts on PackNet."
He had me figured out.
Every move I'd make. Everything.
And he was right. I wouldn't blow this up.
Not because I'm "mature" now.
Because I'm dying.
Six months. That's it. I'm not wasting time on drama.
I sat in some random pack diner forever. Just staring.
How do I tell Mom and Dad I'm terminal?
Sky got dark. I finally went home.
A woman giggling inside.
I stopped at the door.
Mom's voice: "Heidi honey, take the pup and head out. Davina texted she's almost home."
"Look, what you two did five years ago? That was messed up. Davina's been miserable since. I know she's not my real daughter, but... it still kills me seeing her like this."
Dad let out this heavy sigh. "We'll try to make it right. Somehow."
Heidi - super soft, apologetic:
"I know, Mom, Dad. I'm gonna tell her soon. I swear."
Everything made sense.
Why Mom always dragged Heidi to family dinners.
Why she'd tear up looking at her.
Why she kept shoving cash in Heidi's hands.
Those weird pup toys showing up at the house.
Heidi's their real pup.
They KNEW she faked her death. Had Ronald's pup. All of it.
And they watched me blame myself for five fucking years.
Cold just washed over me.
My wolf whimpered deep in my chest, but I silenced her.
Perfect.
Guess I don't have to worry about them crying when I'm gone.
They can finally stop pretending.
Pulled out my phone.
Texted Dr. Howell:
"Done with chemo. Cancel everything."
The doorknob turned.
My claws itched to extend, but I shoved them down.
Let them come. I have nothing left to lose.
Chapter 2
I couldn't take another second. My wolf surged under my skin, begging to run. So I ran.
Didn't stop until I hit some neutral pack grounds and crumpled onto a rotting bench. Cried so hard my ribs ached. My wolf howled inside me - raw, broken, desperate.
The sky went black. There was nobody left in this world who gave a damn about me.
By the time I limped back to that house - the place that stopped being home years ago - my legs were dead weight. My wolf had gone quiet. She'd given up too.
Mom and Dad looked guilty as sin. Dad cracked first, his Alpha tone slipping with shame:
"Vina... Heidi's not dead."
They watched me like I was a rogue about to snap.
"She's with Ronald. They got mated. Have a pup together."
I just stared. My claws itched. I shoved them back.
Mom's voice turned ice-cold: "Don't you dare blame Heidi. You got switched at birth, remember? She suffered through YOUR hell while you played princess here. So Ronald chose her. Get over it. You're still a Sinclair. That's more than she ever got."
More than she got? Then why does it feel like someone's tearing my heart out with their bare claws?
But I couldn't scream. Couldn't shift. Couldn't break down. Only the favorite pup gets that luxury.
I nodded like a good little wolf.
They looked shocked - like they'd already planned their damage control speech.
"Your niece's pack school is too far. They're moving in. Starting tonight."
Not a request. A done deal. My father's Alpha command hung in the air.
Ronald walked in that night dragging Heidi and their brat behind him. His Alpha aura flooded the den like he owned it.
Everyone's faces lit up like the full moon had risen early.
Their crap took over every corner of my house. Scent-marked everything. Like I was already gone.
Mom practically floated around the kitchen with this disgustingly warm smile plastered on her face.
"Heidi baby, don't lift a claw. I've got everything. You deserved so much better growing up. Let me make it right."
Ronald stretched out on MY couch. Eyes lazily found me frozen by the doorway. His wolf flickered behind his gaze.
"What are you doing all the way over there? Sit."
I didn't budge. My wolf growled low, but I choked her down.
Twenty-three years in this den. Now I felt like the omega help.
Dinner was psychological warfare.
Every single thing on that table was Heidi's favorite. Mom's Luna instincts had her catering to her real pup like it was instinct.
She kept shoveling food onto Heidi's plate. Practically cooing while she ruffled Lottie's hair.
"Eat more, sweetie. Your poor mama never got spoiled like this."
Every word was a silver-tipped claw aimed straight at my gut.
Lottie looked up. Locked eyes with me. Those innocent pup eyes that saw too much.
"Auntie Vina, why aren't you eating? You mad we're here?"
Everyone froze. All eyes on me. Ronald's Alpha gaze burned into my skull.
Heidi delicately set down her fork. "Lottie, sweetie, don't. Auntie's just tired."
Before I could breathe, Mom attacked:
"Davina. I thought you'd FINALLY grown up. That's the ONLY reason I let them move in. But no - you're sitting there sulking like a spoiled brat."
"For once in your life, stop making everything about YOU."
My fork bent in my grip. My lungs forgot how to work. My wolf thrashed.
I shook my head frantically. Then started coughing. Couldn't catch my breath. Something hot and metallic flooded my mouth. I swallowed it down.
Dad sighed like I was exhausting him. His Alpha disappointment radiated through the pack bond. "Vina, if you hate the food that much, your mother can make you something else."
I plastered on a smile that hurt my face. Shoved food into my mouth. It was like eating ash.
"It's perfect."
Ronald stared at me. Something flickered in his eyes - his wolf shifting behind the surface.
Guilt? Too late for that.
Dinner ended. Nobody looked at me.
I had to get out of this den before it killed me.
Locked myself in my room. Finally cracked. Slid down the door until I hit the floor. Pain kept slamming through my chest. My wolf let out a silent howl that only I could hear.
Sobbed into my knees.
My phone buzzed. Dr. Todd: "Ms. Sinclair, please reconsider. Without chemo, you have months at best. Treatment gives you six more."
I stared at the screen until my eyes blurred. Typed back: "I'm leaving anyway. Thanks for everything."
Sharp knock. His scent hit me before I even opened the door.
I scrubbed my face and opened up.
Ronald. Holding a plate. His Alpha presence filled my doorway like a wall.
"You didn't eat. Thought you might want this. Your old favorite. Made it myself."
I didn't touch it. My voice came out dead: "I don't like that anymore."
I moved to slam the door. He blocked it - faster than I could blink. The plate tipped. My phone hit the floor.
Screen still glowing.
He saw the message.
His eyes went wolf-gold. His fangs lengthened. His whole body went rigid.
Chapter 3
"Wait - you're leaving?"
I grabbed my phone off the floor. My wolf cowered inside me, but I forced her still.
He'd only caught part of the text. Stared at me with those Alpha eyes boring into my skull.
"Because of me?"
I stepped back. His scent flooded my space - pine and smoke. Familiar. Wrong. "No. Just... want a change of scenery."
He started to say something. I shut the door. Slammed the lock. Leaned against it and let out a shaky breath.
Next morning I'm clearing out my den. Found this old box shoved way back in my closet. Dusty. Forgotten.
Pictures of Ronald and me. That necklace he gave me freshman year - had this tiny "P" on it. Silver. Cheap. I'd worn it until the chain broke.
God, the way he used to look at me. Like I was his whole world. The way Mom and Dad actually cared back then. Before they knew Heidi was theirs.
My throat got tight. My wolf whimpered.
I dumped everything in a trash bag. No hesitation.
Walked out. Almost stepped on Lottie.
She's sitting there with her blocks. Little wolf cub, barely shifted for the first time last year. Looks up at me with those too-bright eyes.
"Whatcha got there, Auntie?"
I knelt down. Ruffled her hair - her head was so warm against my freezing fingers it almost hurt. Her pup scent hit me. Innocent. Uncomplicated.
"Just old stuff. Nothing important."
She tilted her head. Studied my face like she could see right through me.
"Do you not like us?"
Looking at her was like looking at Ronald. Man, that stung. Same jaw. Same stubborn set of the mouth.
"What? No. You're sweet, kiddo."
"Then how come you're always sad?" She grabbed my hand. Her little claws were still soft. "Daddy says you were a princess. And Grandma told me you had everything. Like, you were the happiest wolf ever."
Princess.
Nobody's called me that in forever. Now it just feels mean.
Everyone thinks I've got it made. Nobody wants to see me breaking.
My eyes started burning. My wolf pushed forward - wanting to comfort the pup, wanting to run, wanting to die. I shoved her back down.
Turned away.
Footsteps. Ronald and Heidi came around the corner. Ronald looked surprised seeing me with Lottie. His wolf flickered behind his eyes - confused. Uneasy.
Heidi basically ran over. Scooped up the kid like I was a threat.
"Come on, sweetie. Don't bug Auntie, she's not feeling good. We gotta let her rest."
The way she said "not feeling good" - like she's warning Ronald I'm pulling some attention-seeking BS. Her scent soured with fake concern.
Lottie kept looking at me over Heidi's shoulder. "But Mom, she's crying. Her hands are freezing."
Ronald's eyes went to my face. Saw how red my eyes were. He froze. His Alpha instincts warred with something else.
Then he yanked the bag out of my hands. Stuff spilled everywhere - photos, that stupid necklace. My heart dropped.
His face did something complicated. His wolf surfaced - gold bleeding into his irises. "You're seriously throwing this away?" Voice came out rough. Almost a growl.
"Yeah. What's the point?"
His fist closed around the bag. Claws punctured the plastic. He looked pissed and hurt at the same time. "Davina, you can really just... forget everything? Like it meant nothing?"
I smiled. It hurt. "Ronald, what we had is dead. I'm trying to move on here. Why wouldn't I throw it out?"
"Move on?" He laughed - sounded awful. More like a wounded snarl. "You call this moving on? You're destroying yourself. Can't you see that? Don't you get how messed up - "
How worried you are?
Yeah, okay. The Alpha who faked his death and ran off with my best friend is worried about me.
I just looked at him. Didn't say anything. Let whatever was left in my eyes just... go out. Empty. Hollow.
Heidi grabbed his arm. That soft voice cutting in like a blade:
"Ronald, hon, just drop it. You know how Vina is. She grew up with everything. Course she's not thrilled we're here now. Makes sense."
Beat. Her eyes got all tragic. Her scent shifted - carefully curated pity.
"I'm fine, really. Long as I have you, long as we're together... I can handle whatever."
I didn't bother. Just turned and left.
Ronald came after me. Grabbed my wrist hard. Shoved me against the wall. His eyes were wild - wolf-gold, pupils blown wide. His Alpha aura crashed over me, demanding submission.
"Davina, what happened to you? You're like - God, you're like a ghost or something. Why are you doing this?"
I pushed at his chest. Barely moved him. My arms felt like twigs. "Ronald, what I do isn't your problem anymore. You gave up that right."
Blood just started pouring out of my nose. Mid-sentence. Wouldn't stop. Hot and metallic, dripping down my chin.
His face went white. His nostrils flared - he could smell it. The sickness underneath. The rot.
His grip on my wrist went slack. "You're sick. Oh my Goddess, you're actually sick. Davina, what's wrong? What's going on?"
