Chapter 1Everyone said Alpha Ironveil loved me to the bone.
As Luna of the Ironveil Pack, I'd been bonded three years without bearing an heir. No matter how vicious the whispers got, he never seemed to care.
This year, the bloodline ritual finally work. Triplets.
I'd been counting down the days, desperate to meet them. Until I overheard him outside the den, talking to his Beta.
"Luna's six months along now," Orin said quietly. "If she finds out those pups carry Evangeline's bloodline instead of hers..."
Thaddeus shot Orin a look.
"She won't find out. I've spent years on this—wolfsbane dust in her moonlight tea every night, healers on my payroll. That's how I convinced her she was barren. Made her desperate enough to accept the ritual without questions."
My hand found the wall. I couldn't breathe.
"Evangeline wants pups, but I'm not putting her through pregnancy. Isadora's held the Luna title for years. She owes me this. If anything happens to those pups, I'll end her myself."
Three years. The barren wolf diagnosis. The gentle reassurances. The mate bond I thought would break him if I left.
All of it. A setup.
I pulled out my phone. Hands shaking so bad I could barely type.
[Brother. Help me. I need to get out.]
---
Inside, Orin kept pushing.
"But Luna's been through hell carrying them. You've seen how happy she's been. If this blows up and she finds out—"
Thaddeus struck a match. The flame lit his face for a second.
"I bonded her for her womb. She's lived in pack luxury long enough. Time to pay up."
He took a drag. "Besides, she's the one delivering them. They'll call her 'Mother' anyway. She's not losing anything."
I couldn't stay there. My legs moved before my brain caught up.
The nursery door was open. I walked in like something was pulling me.
Two oak cradles. One smaller birch cradle.
Two boys. One girl.
Milk bottles lined up on the cabinet. Soft blankets. Little carved wolves I'd picked out myself.
My tears finally came.
Six months pregnant with triplets. My belly was huge. Walking hurt. Sleeping hurt. Everything hurt.
But I'd chosen every single thing in this room.
Now I was staring at it all, and the only thing I felt was sick.
They were inside me. But they weren't mine.
How screwed up is that?
My phone buzzed. Matthias.
"What happened?" His voice went sharp immediately. "You and the Alpha have been solid. Didn't you finally conceive?"
I tried to answer. My voice cracked instead.
Yeah. Thaddeus had treated me well. Everyone in the northern territories knew it. Alpha Ironveil ruled with an iron fist, but he had one weakness—his Luna.
Five years together. Three years bonded. Eight years of my life.
Eight years living in a lie.
If I hadn't heard him say it out loud, I never would've believed it.
Silence stretched. Matthias read between the lines.
"If you don't want those pups, I know a neutral healer. We can handle it."
His voice dropped. "Day after tomorrow, I'm coming to get you. You hear me? I've got you."
The call ended.
My eyes landed on the moon journal sitting on the desk. I didn't open it. Just seeing the cover made my knees buckle. I grabbed the cradle to stay standing.
The light must've given me away.
"Isadora?" Thaddeus's voice came from the doorway. "What are you doing up? It's late."
I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. Forced my voice steady.
"They've been kicking nonstop. Couldn't sleep. Just checking if we need anything else."
He crossed the room and slid an arm around my shoulders. Steered me toward the bedroom.
"Little troublemakers. Not even born and already giving their mother hell. Wait till their first shift. I'll straighten them out."
His eyes dropped to my belly.
His tone was gentle. Almost loving.
If I hadn't heard what he said in the den, I would've believed him. Believed he loved me. Believed he loved our pups.
Now I knew better.
He loved them because of Evangeline. Not me.
Thaddeus didn't notice anything wrong. He helped me into bed, same as every other night for eight years.
I kept my eyes down. Couldn't look at him.
"Going to sleep now. I'm exhausted."
Chapter 2
Next morning, Thaddeus drove me to the pack's healing clinic.
We'd barely stepped off the elevator when I spotted Evangeline leaving one of the treatment rooms. Thaddeus stopped dead.
"Why are you here alone?" Concern bled through every word. "Are you okay?"
Evangeline smiled. Like she fed off him worrying about her.
"My wolf's been restless lately. You know I've always had a weak heart. Had some time today, thought I'd get it checked."
Then her eyes slid to me. "What about you two? Routine checkup for the Luna? Or is something wrong?"
Maybe I imagined it. But there was something sharp in the way she looked at me. Calculated.
I spoke before Thaddeus could. "Nothing serious. Haven't been sleeping well. He insisted on bringing me in."
I dropped my gaze to my belly. "Honestly, I keep wondering whose traits these pups will take. They're so active. Almost feels like there's something off with their bloodline."
The air went cold.
Both of them froze. Thaddeus's arm came around my shoulders fast. His voice went smooth. Soothing.
"What are you talking about? They're our pups. Nothing's off about their bloodline."
He steered me forward. "The healer's waiting. Let's go."
During the exam, Thaddeus touched my hair the way he always did. Gentle. Familiar.
Then he stepped out to wait.
Before, I wouldn't have thought twice. He couldn't stay in the exam room anyway. But watching him leave now, suspicion crawled up my spine like something cold and alive.
When I finished and walked out, the waiting area was empty.
I wandered the corridor until I found them in the stairwell.
Evangeline's face was tight. Annoyed.
"You've been so soft with her just now," she said, voice sharp. "You're not actually catching feelings, are you?"
Thaddeus pulled her close. Patient. He smoothed the crease between her brows with his thumb.
"How could that be? She's carrying our pups. I have to keep her calm so she doesn't suspect anything."
His voice dropped. Dismissive.
"She's nobody. Don't let her ruin your mood."
I couldn't stay there. My legs felt like they'd stop working any second. I drifted back to the bench outside the exam room.
To him, the Luna he'd been bonded to for three years was nobody.
Evangeline's mood was what mattered.
"Done already?" Thaddeus's voice snapped me back. "I just hit the restroom. Let me check if your results are in."
I nodded. Watched him disappear into the healer's office.
He came back out frowning. Crouched in front of me so we were eye level.
"Isadora, the healer says your emotions have been all over the place. The pups' heartbeats are irregular. She wants you to stay for observation."
I nodded. Didn't argue.
Matthias was coming tomorrow. Until then, I couldn't let Thaddeus suspect anything. I didn't want a fight.
I'd just stood up when Evangeline appeared.
"Perfect timing. My wolf's been acting up too. Healer wants me to stay for observation as well."
She turned to Thaddeus. Smiled.
"Since we're in the same clinic, Alpha, put my room next to Isadora's. That way she won't be alone. I can keep her company."
Chapter 3
I was done watching them play house. I followed the healer's assistant straight to my assigned room.
Evangeline trailed behind us anyway. Like my resistance didn't exist.
The second she stepped inside, she started making a whole production out of looking around.
"God, Alpha," she breathed. "You treat Isadora way too well. This room is basically luxury. It's insane."
She turned to him. Smiled.
"Well, it makes sense. She's your Luna. All of this is hers. If she asked you for the moon itself, you'd probably figure out how to get it for her."
Thaddeus looked at her. The tenderness in his eyes was so obvious I don't think he even knew it was showing.
Evangeline pouted. Glanced between him and me with this playful little grin.
"I'm starting to regret staying unbonded forever. You treat Isadora so well, you're actually making me jealous."
She laughed. "Should've said yes back when you were chasing me."
Then she turned to me. Voice light and fake.
"Isadora, I'm joking. The Alpha knows me. He knows this is just how I am. Don't take it seriously, okay?"
I lifted my eyes to hers. Caught the smugness flickering underneath.
Truth was, I barely knew Evangeline at all. I'd only heard she and Thaddeus grew up in the same pack. Then her family moved overseas when they were teenagers. They lost touch.
I met Thaddeus when I was eighteen. We'd been together five years.
Even after Evangeline came back, she'd been nothing to me. Just "an old friend." A woman who claimed she'd never bond with anyone. That was it.
For years, whether Thaddeus had hidden her too well or I'd just been blind, I never once saw her as a threat. Never doubted what they were.
When I didn't respond, Evangeline's mouth curved into this practiced little frown.
"Are you upset? Sorry, I wasn't thinking."
"I've known the Alpha forever. We're basically like siblings. I didn't expect you'd take it the wrong way."
Her voice went soft. Fake concern dripping off every word.
"Please don't be mad. And don't fight with the Alpha because of me. If it's really bothering you, I'll leave."
I stared at her. When I spoke, my voice came out colder than I expected.
"You call my mate 'Alpha.' Then you should call me 'Luna' as well."
Evangeline froze.
Thaddeus moved instantly. Stepped in front of her like I'd physically threatened her.
"Isadora," he said sharply. "You're practically the same age. Evangeline's just trying to be friendly. Why are you making this a problem?"
He exhaled. Like I was exhausting him.
"Forget it. You're pregnant. Your emotions are all over the place. You got up early today. Rest. I need to handle some pack business anyway."
I watched them leave.
It felt like someone had cracked my ribs open and left the wound exposed. Cold air poured straight in.
Evangeline kept calling him "Alpha" and claiming they were like siblings.
If that were true, as his Luna, I was supposed to be "Luna" to everyone. Including her.
I'd said one simple truth.
And Thaddeus had walked out. Left me alone in the clinic, six months pregnant.
In front of Evangeline, he couldn't even be bothered to pretend.
Hours passed. Night fell.
Thaddeus never came back.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
[Hey, come see the room next door. I have a gift for you.]
I didn't need to guess who it was.
I didn't want to respond. But somehow, I threw off the covers and got out of bed anyway.
When I opened my door, the room next to mine was cracked open. Just barely.
I moved quietly to the crack and looked in.
Thaddeus's voice drifted out.
"Her belly's getting bigger. I haven't had much time with you lately."
His voice warmed. "But you're smart. You even found an excuse to get admitted next door. Evangeline... I swear I'm liking you more and more."
Evangeline's pale arms wrapped around his shoulders. When she spoke, her voice was soft enough to break bone.
"Really? If I hadn't come, you might've actually fallen for that Isadora."
She laughed. Teasing.
"Don't be so eager. She's right next door. What if she hears?"
