Betrayed by My Alpha, I Became My Daughter’s Shield

Staring at the glowing words on the spirit crystal, I kept my face calm and sent no reply. When the light faded, my heart did not stir at all. Ronan had always enjoyed this. He liked seeing me jealous, losing control, breaking down because of him. Then he would watch me bow my head and forgive him, simply because I loved him too much. But I was truly tired. So tired that even anger felt heavy. Ardena told me to give her seven days. She would arrange everything within the pack council and settle the bond matter. I did not need to fight. I only had to wait quietly. When the week ended, I would be free beneath the Moon Goddess. The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I felt a familiar Alpha aura beside me. I did not know when Ronan had returned to our den. He leaned against the wooden headboard, lazily twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers. His other hand rested on my round belly. His head was lowered, as if listening closely to the tiny heartbeat inside. “The pup is moving.” He smiled at me. “Valea, he is clawing at me.” As if answering him, a small push pressed against his palm. Light but certain. Pain stabbed through my chest, but I did not move away. Ronan had always been like this. No matter how wildly he ran through other pack lands, once he came back to me, he became gentle and patient. A caring mate. A father waiting for his heir. He would tuck the fur blanket around me and speak in a soft voice. When I lost control of my emotions, he would whisper again and again, “Valea, I will correct myself.” Or, “Do not cry.” As long as I ignored the dirt outside our territory, our mating bond could still look peaceful and honorable. But I could not live like that anymore. That was why I chose to leave. “Sit up and eat something.” Ronan bent down and kissed my forehead. “After breakfast, I will take you to the healer hall for your checkup. You have an appointment today, do you not?” At the long dining table, he watched me drink warm milk. Then he gave a low laugh, testing me. “Valea, I thought you would howl at me through the crystal last night, just like before. Calling again and again whenever you caught me with another she wolf.” “What happened? My little crybaby changed her nature? You truly do not care anymore?” I held the cup without lifting my head. “Is this not what you always wanted?” My voice remained steady. “A quiet and obedient Luna who pretends nothing happened.” Ronan paused. It was clear my words surprised him. Then he reached out and stroked my hair, like calming a young wolf that had finally stopped fighting. “It is good that you understand.” He spoke casually. “Alphas like me must handle social matters between packs.” “Relax. No matter what happens, you are the only Luna I will ever mate. Those outsiders are just passing shadows.” Passing shadows… The words were light, yet they pressed on my chest until breathing felt hard. I suddenly remembered years ago, under the full moon. When Ronan confessed his love, he swore that in this lifetime he would love only me, stay loyal, and never turn his back on me. It seemed even vows made under the Moon Goddess could fade. Even he no longer believed them. My nails dug into my palm. The small pain kept me awake. “Let’s go.” I stood, cutting off the conversation. On the way to the healer hall, the carriage was silent. Before, I would speak happily on rides like this, talking about the pup growing inside me. Only when we spoke of the pup did I feel Ronan still cared for this family. But now I no longer wished to pretend. Ronan glanced at me several times through the mirror, yet he said nothing. Just before we reached the healer hall, his crystal slate rang. The voice on the other end sounded anxious. Words drifted through about causing trouble at home, dragging someone away, forcing her to mate with an old Alpha. Ronan’s expression did not change. “That is her pack’s problem. What does it have to do with me?” His tone turned cold. “Did I not say that when I am with my mate, do not bring me other matters?” He cut the connection at once. Soon after, he stopped the carriage at the healer hall gates. He placed his hand over my belly and spoke softly. “Baby, we are here.” For a moment, I thought perhaps he still had some conscience left. But after I received my waiting token and turned around, the seat beside me was already empty. A message from him appeared quickly. “Something came up.” “The day after tomorrow is your mother’s death anniversary. I will return to accompany you and the pup.” “Complete the checkup alone today.” A cold laugh left my lips. I finished every examination by myself and sat quietly in the stone corridor, waiting for the results. On the spirit network, the young she wolf streamer posted a new image. The restaurant light was warm and close. The Ronan who should have been sitting beside me in the healer hall was seated across from her instead, looking attentive. Her caption read, “Thank you Alpha Ronan for saving me from being forced by my own mother to mate with an old wolf. I will love him forever and stay by his side.” My throat tightened. I bit the inside of my cheek and placed my hand over my belly, rubbing it slowly. “Baby.” I asked in a calm voice, “If one day your father and mother sever their mate bond… will you blame your mother?”

The little wolf inside my womb stirred softly beneath the pull of the moon. I already knew my answer. After leaving the Healing Hall, I returned alone to the Mooncrest Tower, the heart of the pack company Ronan and I built together. I began reviewing the share ledgers, reorganizing trade routes, and dividing the warriors and resources under my command. Anything I could settle, I resolved at once. Anything unfinished, I listed clearly with risks, numbers, and future plans, sealed them with my mark, and sent them to the wolf advocate Elder Ardena arranged for me. The Valloren Alpha Kingdom holdings were not mine to claim. But this consortium was built by Ronan and me from nothing, claw and blood, and I would take what was rightfully mine. Not for myself. For the pup inside me. Since I had decided she would not be born into the Valloren Alpha line, I had to prepare every path for her. Her wolf name, her territory, her inheritance, her future, I would arrange each step. Even if she did not grow within the Valloren stronghold, she would rise safe and free under the blessing of the moon, never living on another’s mercy. After confirming the final scroll, my most loyal beta lowered his voice. “Luna, about the project ‘Moonbond,’ do you want the gold settlement, or control of the realm itself?” I did not answer at once. Instead, I opened the realm of Moonbond again. When the familiar ancient kingdom appeared on the crystal screen, my fingers paused. This old kingdom style world, from its lands and bloodlines to its fate paths, was created during the brightest years between Ronan and me. Countless nights beneath the moon, rebuilding territories again and again, fighting side by side, those days were real. I thought my heart had already grown cold. Yet at that moment, a thin thread still tugged at me. I entered the mate bond space once shared by Ronan and me, only to be expelled instantly. The Luna title beside that space had already been changed, at some unknown time, to Marielle Evergrove. Ronan clearly sensed my presence. He offered no explanation. The next second, a transfer request for two million gold coins appeared. One of my minor streamers was broadcasting Moonbond and needed a proper background. Let me use the mate territory for now. He truly knew how to borrow. In a single breath, he claimed the secret den we spent more than half a year building. I logged out immediately. Then I looked at my beta. “I want Moonbond itself.” And I wanted full authority. I would not allow Ronan and another she wolf to stain the world we created. During the next two days, I forced my mind away from Ronan. Yet he appeared everywhere. Inside the realm, Ronan and that streamer, Marielle, hunted side by side. Her chamber remained open nearly all day. The titles grew more intimate each time, and her viewers increased rapidly. I never entered. Still, others kept sending me images by accident. The newest image showed Ronan igniting moonfire blossoms inside her stream. He lit them for over an hour just to celebrate her winning first place in a duel ranking. I gave a faint smile and blocked the sender, then lowered my head to arrange the rites for my mother’s death memorial. The pack whispered that Marielle was the she wolf who had stayed beside Ronan the longest. They guessed whether she would one day take my place as Luna of Valloren. But no one noticed that I no longer wished to fight for the title of Luna Valloren. On my mother’s death anniversary, I dressed in pure black, a white mourning bloom pinned to my chest, standing in the center of the great hall. The guests wore solemn expressions, speaking in hushed tones. After offering condolences, they nodded respectfully to me. Everything should have remained quiet and dignified. Until, as I instructed the servants to guide the guests to their seats, a deliberately softened yet sharp voice sounded from the doorway. “Oh… why is everyone dressed in black?” I raised my head. Ronan stood at the entrance of the Alpha stronghold. Behind him stood a woman dressed in bright red, heavy makeup on her face, curled hair falling over her shoulders. She leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the hall, finally landing on my mother’s memorial portrait beneath the silver moon crest. “Ah… today… someone passed?” Then she seemed to realize her mistake. She pulled a red blossom from her hair and stepped toward the memorial altar. “Sorry, I did not know. May I place this flower here?” As her hand reached toward my mother’s shrine, the blood in my veins turned to ice. Instinct almost drove me to shove her away. “Get out. Who allowed you to step into this territory?” She stumbled backward, nearly falling, but Ronan caught her. I stared at him, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay calm. “Ronan, did I not warn you never to bring those low born she wolves into this pack hall to defile it? And today is my mother’s death anniversary.” The hall fell silent. All eyes turned toward Marielle. She clearly had not expected me to push her away. She stared at me blankly for a moment, then her eyes filled with tears as if summoned by magic. “I did not mean to cause trouble. It is my birthday today, so I wore red to bring myself luck. I truly did not know it was your mother’s memorial. I only came because Alpha Ronan asked me to return with him.” Her voice weakened until she leaned into Ronan’s chest, as though deeply wronged. Ronan’s face darkened like a storm over the northern mountains. He lowered his head first, checking her carefully, his tone softening. “Did she frighten you?” Marielle shook her head, then nodded, tears falling faster, still clinging to him. “I am fine.” Only then did Ronan lift his head and look at me. His eyes were cold, empty of warmth. “Valea, I thought you had finally grown wiser. I did not expect you to behave like this.” “Your mother has been gone for many years. I only learned today that her memorial day shares the same date as Marielle’s birth celebration.” “I brought her here because I believed a little joy might ease the sorrow of this day. I have done nothing wrong. Yet you are upset over even this? So immature.”

I let out a sharp laugh filled with anger. When my mother was alive, she treated Ronan like her own son of the pack. Yet he walked into our Alpha hall with another she wolf in red, stood before my mother’s spirit tablet, and still dared to call me small minded. I lifted my head and met his eyes. My voice turned calm and firm. “Ronan, on my mother’s remembrance day, you brought your chosen mate into our den. Is that what you call generous?” My words made his face darken at once. He stared at me for a moment, then gave a cold laugh. “Valea, you are impossible. You cannot even see goodwill when it stands before you.” He pulled Marielle into his arms, shielding her, and turned to leave as if speaking to me any longer was beneath him. I took a slow breath. Then I turned back, forced a polite smile, and bowed slightly to each elder and guest, offering apologies and farewells. When the last of them left the stronghold, I walked step by step to my mother’s spirit tablet and let my guard fall. “I am sorry, Mother. On your sacred day, I still caused unrest. Let us not speak of sorrow now. Mother, I prepared a small den for the pup. Will you come and see it?” Holding the tablet close, I walked toward the small room. But when I pushed the door open, my body froze. The room was ruined. The tiny wolf clothes I had folded with care were gone. The little wooden toys placed on the shelf had disappeared as well. My first thought was that an outsider had broken into our territory. I quickly called the pack guards. The guard’s voice was uneasy. “Luna… it was not an intruder. It was Alpha Ronan. He ordered warriors to remove everything.” I stood still, a loud ringing filling my ears. After ending the call, I opened Marielle’s public page and scrolled through her recent posts. Soon, in a few casual photos, I saw something I knew too well. The pet wolf in her chamber was wearing the small outfit I had prepared for my pup. The soft cloth had been bitten out of shape, soaked with saliva. On the fur rug nearby, the toys I bought were torn into pieces. My teeth clenched so hard my chest hurt and I could barely breathe. If those were random items, maybe it would not have cut so deep. But they were not. Those clothes were gathered by asking respected elders from different packs. They were passed down from their own pups. I repaired each piece carefully, washed and dried them under moonlight, pressing them smooth, filling them with my blessings for my pup’s future. The toys were gifts from old allies and kin when they learned I carried an heir. And Ronan personally took them away. To give them to his mistress’s pet. All calm left me. I held my belly and rushed toward the company tower. The front guard froze when he saw me and quickly stood straight. “Luna, Alpha Ronan cannot meet anyone right now.” I ignored him and walked forward. He hurried after me and blocked my way, lowering his voice. “You truly cannot enter.” Before I answered, sounds drifted from the half-closed office door at the end of the hall. A woman’s forced and uneven breathing mixed with a man’s low laughter. The dull sound of furniture hitting the floor followed. Heat rushed to my head, then faded at once, leaving my limbs cold. I did not look at the guard again. I raised my hand and pushed the door wide open. The door struck the wall loudly. Everything inside was exposed. The desk was messy, scrolls scattered, a chair pushed aside. Ronan leaned against the desk, his clothes disordered. Marielle leaned against him, her skirt wrinkled, her face red. The air smelled heavy and sickening. Marielle jumped. The next second, tears filled her eyes and she pressed herself into Ronan’s chest. I stood at the doorway, fingers digging into the wood, pain tightening across my belly. “Ronan.” My voice trembled. “Why did you give the clothes I prepared for my pup to this woman’s pet?” As soon as she heard that, Marielle’s tears fell. “Luna… Valea…” Her voice sounded soft and wronged. “A few days ago, I saw those little outfits on Alpha Ronan’s crystal screen. I thought they were adorable, so I joked that my pet would look cute wearing them.” “The next day, Alpha Ronan brought me the clothes and toys. I truly did not know they were for your pup. If I had known, how could I accept them?” Pain throbbed in my head. I had barely parted my lips when Ronan let out a short laugh. He looked down at her gently. “Why explain so much to her?” “How could you not accept them?” His tone was careless. “Those old worn garments, letting a pet use them is suitable enough.” A loud buzzing filled my mind. Old? Suitable for a pet? My voice scraped out slowly. “Ronan, those were the clothes I asked from—” “Enough.” He cut me off impatiently. “Must you turn everything into a scene?” He patted Marielle’s back lightly, his tone dismissive. “What you did during your mother’s remembrance upset Marielle. I sent a few clothes and toys to comfort her. What is wrong with that?” He looked at me with cold eyes. “And now you storm into the company to shout?” Comfort her? Using our pup’s clothes and toys to please his mistress?

I stood still in the office, the pain in my chest making each breath heavy. I once believed that no matter how Ronan treated me, he at least cared about the pup. I believed he would become a worthy Alpha father. Now I finally understood that it was only my own dream. Our pup was not even born, yet he could already take everything meant for her and use it to please another she wolf without hesitation. I did not dare imagine that if my daughter were truly born, would she one day have to fight a pet for her own clothes? The last bit of hope I had shattered completely. When I stayed silent, Ronan stepped closer instead. He bent slightly, his eyes falling on my belly, then said with a gentle voice, “Little one, when you arrive, your father will buy you the finest and most beautiful garments in all the Alpha kingdoms, alright?” “We do not need those old clothes from other packs.” He reached out and lightly pinched my cheek, smiling the same charming smile as always. “Do not look so upset, little crier,” he said softly. “Be good. I will make it right for you.” Looking at the face I once knew so well yet now felt so far from, a bitter laugh rose inside me. There was a time when Ronan and I stayed in this same tower office night after night, studying trade maps, speaking with allied packs, planning future territories. Now the floor was covered with scattered scrolls, overturned documents, and even used protective charms thrown carelessly onto the carpet. Everything in the room felt filthy. The crushing feeling rose in my chest. I covered my mouth and rushed out. I barely made it to the washroom before I threw up, my body shaking until I could hardly stand. When I returned home, I never mentioned the clothes again. Instead, I quietly packed every item prepared for my pup. The garments, the toys, the small storybooks of wolf legends, the moon charm hanging for the cradle. I had them all sent to the house I purchased years ago in a distant human land beyond pack borders. Ronan noticed nothing. He thought I had finally learned to be understanding. So he began sending gifts to please me. Expensive maternity robes made from rare fur, limited edition jewelry blessed by minor priests, designer garments stacked high in the walk-in closet. I never touched them. Each time he sent a batch, I had someone remove them just as quickly. At the same time, Marielle began streaming more often from her chamber. Sometimes, during her broadcast, with a slight turn of her head, Ronan would appear in the background. At times he handed her water. At times he leaned close to whisper to her. At times only his blurred profile could be seen. Even those brief moments caused excitement among viewers. More and more began pairing their names together. Some envied her. They said Marielle was fortunate. They said Ronan was strong, wealthy, gentle, and willing to appear publicly by her side. But not all voices praised them. Soon other comments surfaced. “Is this not betrayal?” “So cheat long enough and it becomes true love?” “When Alpha Ronan once pursued Luna Valea, did he not give her everything and almost kneel for her?” “Let us be honest. He is only playing.” Reading those words late at night, my thoughts drifted back many years. In the Royal Werewolf Academy, I was the top student of my division. Moon scholarships, combat contests, elder recommendations, everything came easily. My life was the library tower, the training field, and ancient spell books. While Ronan was the opposite. He skipped lessons, arrived late, ignored instructors, and lived wildly. If not for Elder Ardena, I would never have crossed paths with him. That year, with her support, I completed my studies without worry. She treated me kindly and spoke plainly. “Ronan’s wolf runs untamed. You steady him.” I agreed. So I dragged him to lectures, forced him to train properly, made him finish assignments, even arranged his study scrolls. I used every simple method I knew to make him behave like a future Alpha. Slowly, he changed. He arrived on time. He left his reckless circle. He began focusing on study and real responsibilities. Later, Ronan fell in love with me openly and fiercely. He cut off all unclear bonds, declared before the entire academy that he was courting me and began taking on serious duties to prove himself. Many said I was the chain that anchored Ronan. Back then, I believed it. I thought I was special. I thought I was the one who saved him. Now I see clearly. I was never a chain. Perhaps I only appeared earlier than the others. Three days remained before the mating bond would be dissolved. Today was the fifth anniversary celebration of Moonbond. We prepared for a full year. I believed that even if our bond was broken, Ronan would still keep reason when it came to the company. Moonbond was not only my work. It was the kingdom we built from nothing, the heart of the company, and the shared memories of countless wolves. Because I was carrying a pup and easily tired, Ronan was meant to stand on the stage tonight as the main Alpha. Two weeks ago, during rehearsal, everything went smoothly. I assumed today would be the same. The host’s voice echoed with excitement as he introduced the special guest of the night. The lights brightened. The one who was meant to rise onto the platform was a newly famous wolf actor we paid heavily to invite. Instead, Ronan slowly rose from beneath the stage platform, holding Marielle’s hand tightly in his own.

I felt as if moon magic had frozen my whole body in place. In my ear crystal, the voices of the backstage warriors came low and tight. Several kept asking what went wrong, yet no one dared rush onto the stage to stop it. The crowd went silent for one breath. Then anger exploded like a storm. “Where is the star we came for?” “Who is she? Did she walk onto the wrong stage?” “Get down!” Marielle gripped the moon mic. Her voice trembled. The moment she tried to sing, she lost the tone. Her weak singing completely fell apart under pressure. Each line sounded worse than the last. My head buzzed. Ignoring all rules, I almost rushed backstage and ordered them to cut the music. But someone stepped in front of me. His face was tense. “Luna… this was Alpha Ronan’s arrangement.” His men blocked me from going onstage. Meanwhile, Marielle forced the song to the end. The shouting grew louder. According to the schedule, Ronan was next to speak.Under countless floating cameras, he began calmly. “In these past years, for Moonbond to reach today, we must thank someone. Marielle Evergrove.” “Because if it’s not for her livestream support, Moonbond would not have grown so fast. Today’s success belongs partly to her.” The audience erupted again. I closed my eyes. My chest tightened again and again. My communicator shook nonstop in my hand. The public relations team. Investors from other Alpha kingdoms. Trade partners. Core elders. Calls came without pause. Yet Ronan stood proudly on that stage, openly shielding his mistress. He used everyone’s hard work as a gift to please her. After he finished, the host almost ran out to fix the disaster, quickly bringing back the planned program and inviting the famous young wolf actor we had paid heavily to attend. Only then did the atmosphere calm a little. But the rest of the event felt rushed and broken. Offstage, Ronan stood beside Marielle, speaking softly. Her eyes were red as she whispered. “It is all my fault. If I had not sung poorly, they would not shout at you.” Ronan answered gently, almost indulgent. “It is fine. Wolves forget quickly. This will pass.” I could not bear it any longer. I stepped forward and raised my communicator before him. On the screen, the top trending tags glowed. #MoonbondFiveYearAnniversaryDisaster #AlphaVallorenBringsMistressOnStage I looked at him and spoke each word clearly, “You think it’s not serious? Alpha, tell me. Who will repay the losses from tonight?” He clearly did not expect such backlash from the online packs. The livestream channel was flooded with mocking comments and anger. The backstage message box was exploding. I held the screen toward him. Within seconds, more partner calls came in. He only frowned slightly. “Is it truly that severe? Players only want comfort. Give them some free spirit skins and limited outfits. They will forget.” He continued speaking lightly, “I will cover tonight’s losses. Stop making a scene.” As soon as he finished, several partners hurried over and pulled him aside to deal with the chaos. After Ronan left, the quiet and obedient mask on Marielle disappeared. The fear on her face faded, replaced by a faint smug smile. “Luna, even if you carry a pup, what does it change? You still cannot keep your Alpha.” “You are already being pushed aside. Why not step down yourself? If you wait to be cast out, it will look worse.” I looked at her calmly, then said, “Who do you think you are, speaking to me this way?” Her face stiffened. Anger flashed in her eyes as she opened her mouth. I did not let her continue. My hand struck her across the face. The sound was clear in the tight backstage room. “Being a mistress is shameful enough. But someone as low as you, this is the first time I have ever seen.” She covered her cheek, stunned. Then tears poured down. Almost at once, Ronan rushed back in. He shoved me aside without restraint and pulled Marielle into his arms. “What happened? Marielle, who hurt you?” Curled against him, Marielle cried harder. “Alpha… I only wanted to explain things to Luna Valea… But she called me low and suddenly struck me…” Her lies flowed smoothly. Ronan had pushed me so hard I stumbled backward. My back hit a metal camera stand, sharp pain shooting through me. My stomach tightened painfully. But Ronan’s eyes were already cold as he looked at me. “Valea, have you caused enough trouble?” “Look at yourself. What part of you still resembles Luna of Valloren? You look like a jealous and loud woman.” “What proper she wolf behaves like this, bullying an ordinary girl?” “How did you become so cruel? We have been mated for five years. How did you turn into this? Where is the gentle Valea from before?” I held my belly. My fingers were cold. I fought back the sting in my nose. “So what?” “Is kindness only when I endure everything, hide and cry, stay silent, and never fight back? Is that your meaning of gentle?” “Like before, staying in the den feeling pain alone, pretending not to see anything, only then am I a good Luna in your eyes?” I lifted my head and looked at him. My voice trembled. “I am not the same as five years ago.” “And you, Alpha Ronan… You bring your mistress into our territory more boldly each day. Are you still the same Ronan who once swore he loved only me?”

Ronan’s face tightened for a brief second. But he did not notice my reddened eyes. He did not hear how close my voice was to breaking. He only saw that I questioned him in front of others, without restraint. In the next breath, his expression darkened completely. Burning with anger, he lifted Marielle into his arms and turned away. He left behind one cold sentence. “You better not regret this.” The pain in my back made my heart pound wildly. I did not even have time to ask where he was going. He clearly still had chaos to handle. I could only go to the Healing Hall alone. When the moon healer confirmed that the pup was safe, I finally released a breath. The fear that had been pressing on me rushed back. I sat on the corridor bench, covering my face, crying until I could barely breathe. I did not dare imagine what I would do if something had happened to my pup. When I returned to the Alpha stronghold, Ardena already knew everything. She held my hand, her eyes red with pain for me. “Two days remain before the bond severing is complete. Valea, you have endured too much.” I sniffed and forced a faint smile. “I am fine.” She sighed softly. “Tomorrow is your grandfather’s eightieth winter. He does not have much time left. Can you, for these final two days, let him feel peace?” I still nodded. Grandfather Theron’s celebration was held at the old ancestral manor of the Valloren Pack. Ardena and I arrived first. Theron sat upright in the main hall chair. His aura was weak, yet he forced himself straight. When he saw me, he gave a small nod. His gaze shifted toward the doorway, and he sighed. “Where is that foolish boy? On a day like this, he still refuses to appear.” It was clear he knew of Ronan’s recent conduct. I only smiled lightly and said nothing. Soon, movement sounded at the entrance. Ronan stepped inside. Marielle followed closely behind him. In that instant, the air in the hall froze. Theron’s face darkened at once. His cane struck the stone floor heavily. “You dare bring this shameless girl into my hall?” The cane swung down in the next second. “You unworthy grandson!” Ronan stepped back, jaw tight, but he did not resist. Suddenly, Marielle rushed forward. She spread her arms and shielded Ronan, tears falling immediately. “Elder, please do not strike Alpha Ronan. This is my fault. It is because I am carrying Alpha’s pup that he brought me here. I know I am low born and do not deserve to stand in this hall.” She bit her lip and added softly. “But the pup is innocent.” Pup? I stared at her, unable to believe what I heard. Ronan’s face shifted slightly. He pulled Marielle into his arms. “Marielle is with pup. It is my blood. I must take responsibility.” He paused, then spoke as if convincing himself. “And her pup is a son. While Valea carries a daughter. Grandfather, I am doing this for the Valloren bloodline.” For the bloodline? Those words felt like a dull blade pushed into my chest. In a clan like Valloren, the gender of my pup had been known from early moon rites. Yet Ardena, Theron and even Ronan’s parents in distant territories never once cared whether my pup was a boy or girl. Ronan once held me tightly and swore. “Boy or girl, as long as the pup is yours, it is precious to me. It carries the Valloren name.” In the past year, many she wolves tried to conceive his heir. He rejected them all. But now Marielle was pregnant. And she carried a son. And my own mate stood before me, using the words carry the bloodline as if it were right. I drew in a slow, deep breath. The collapsing pain inside me, I forced it down. Theron shouted in anger, his cane striking the floor again and again. Ardena’s eyes were red as well. She struck Ronan’s back, scolding him for foolishness. Everyone expected me to lose control. To cry. To question him. To break. But I did not. I rose slowly. My voice was calm and cold. “Today is Great Grandfather’s birthday. It is a joyful gathering. Let us not ruin it over this. As for the pup, we will speak when the time comes.” The hall fell silent. Ardena opened her mouth, but in the end swallowed her anger. She steadied herself and continued the banquet while everyone hid their thoughts. During the feast, I said I felt unwell and left early. Seeing that I neither cried nor argued, a strange unease rose in Ronan’s chest. “Was she planning to dissolve the bond?” He quickly dismissed the thought. How could I ever choose to leave him?

My carriage had just left the main stone road outside the old manor when a strange iron van appeared in the mirror rune. At first, I paid it no mind. Then the vehicle suddenly sped up and swerved hard toward me. A sharp screech cut through the night air. Before I could react, my carriage door was yanked open from the outside. Strong hands grabbed me. The world spun. The back of my head struck something solid. Before I could cry out, a rough palm covered my mouth, and I was thrown into the van. The door slammed shut. In the darkness, I heard the engine roar again. Fear surged through me. By instinct, I wrapped both arms around my belly, protecting my pup. My fingers shook badly as I searched inside my bag for my communicator. When the screen lit up, I called Ronan without thinking. No answer. I called again. A third time. A fourth time. The crystal device vibrated again and again in my hand. But he did not answer. I began sending voice messages, forcing my tone low though it trembled. “Ronan… something has happened to me.” “Please answer, alright?” “Just pick up. I am begging you…” Each message disappeared into silence, as if swallowed by a dark forest with no echo. I stared at the glowing screen. My hand grew colder with each passing second. The man sitting across from me suddenly laughed. “Stop trying. It is useless.” The inside of the van was dim. His face remained hidden in shadow, but his voice carried open mockery. “You are Luna of Valloren, right?” “You look miserable.” His tone was lazy. “You cannot even get your own Alpha to answer your call. Makes me wonder why you still cling to him.” I forced myself to stay calm. My throat felt tight, but I managed to ask, “Why did you kidnap me?” “Because you are blocking my sister’s path. If someone blocks the road, she must be removed.” My heart sank. “Your sister… is she Marielle?”

That man did not answer me at once. Another low, heartless laugh slipped from his throat, echoing inside the dark van like a curse. A heavy cramp twisted in my stomach. Cold sweat slid down my spine beneath my dress. The pain was not only fear. It was the fragile life inside me reacting to my panic. I knew I could not stall any longer. “I have gold,” I said, my voice hoarse but steady as I forced the words out. “I have more than enough.” I swallowed, fighting the shaking in my chest. “Let me go. Please. Whatever Marielle promised you, I will give you ten times that.” Silence filled the van. Even the engine seemed softer for a moment. He had paused. I could sense it. Hope flickered weakly inside me. Then he laughed again, colder than before. “Marielle is my blood,” he said. “Do you think coins can weigh more than my own sister?” The cramp in my stomach sharpened into a blade. I bent forward instinctively, both arms wrapping around my belly as if I could shield my unborn pup from danger through sheer will. Fear spread through my limbs, turning them numb. This was no longer just terror for myself. I was terrified for my pup. My hands trembled so badly I could barely hold the communicator. A wild thought kept circling in my mind. What if the stress forced my pup to come too soon. What if I lost her here in this moving prison. “I will give you one million,” I cried out, my voice cracking as tears spilled down my face. “I can transfer it now. Right now.” He stopped shifting in his seat. One million was far beyond what he expected from a Luna taken off a lonely road. The van fell quiet again. I heard only my own uneven breathing and the distant hum of tires against stone. He seemed to think it over carefully. When he spoke again, his tone was slower, pretending calm. “Two million,” he said. “Transfer two million, and you walk free.” I no longer had the strength to bargain. My body was shaking too hard. The pain in my stomach was coming in waves now. “Fine,” I whispered. “I will send it.” My fingers would not obey me. I entered the security code wrong again and again, my vision blurred by tears. The glowing screen swam before my eyes. I forced myself to breathe, to focus, to think of nothing but finishing the transfer. When the chime of a successful payment sounded, my body almost collapsed from relief. Without another word, he cut the rope binding my wrists. The van door slid open, and cold night air rushed in. He shoved me out onto the roadside. “Consider yourself fortunate,” he said. The door slammed. The van vanished into the darkness, swallowed by the forest that marked the edge of pack territory. I fell to my knees on the gravel. My legs would not hold me. Then I felt warmth spreading beneath me. At first I did not understand. Then I saw it. Blood. Too much blood. My breath hitched. My shaking fingers dialed for emergency aid from the nearest healing den. I gave them my location between gasps, my wolf side howling in silent panic. The wail of sirens grew from distant to near. Strong hands lifted me onto a stretcher. I caught glimpses of worried faces above me. “Pregnant she wolf in premature labor.” “Severe bleeding.” Their urgent voices blurred together as another wave of pain tore through me. By the time my pup entered the world, pale morning light had already touched the sky. Under the harsh white glow of the healer hall, I was wheeled into the birthing room, then later pushed back out into the corridor. The healer approached and gently laid my newborn beside me. She was so small. Wrapped in a white cloth, her skin was reddish and thin, her breathing faint and uneven. She looked fragile, like a tiny creature born before the full blessing of the Moon Goddess could settle into her bones. Too small. So delicate that my heart ached just looking at her. The moment I saw her, I knew she had come far too early. My chest tightened painfully. I lifted my trembling hand and brushed my fingertips against her cheek. She was warm. That tiny warmth felt real enough to shatter me. Tears slid down into my hair as I whispered, barely able to speak. “I am sorry.”

My throat burned as if I had swallowed fire. When I finally spoke, my voice sounded broken and strange to my own ears. “This is all my fault,” I whispered. “Mommy failed you.” If I had not left the pack house alone... If I had not been taken from the roadside like prey… If I had not endured that terror inside the van… My little pup could have remained safe inside my womb longer. She would not have been dragged into this harsh world before her time, small and fragile beneath the cold lights. “It was Mommy who did not protect you.” The healer stood close to the bed, speaking in a gentle but serious tone. He explained that my daughter had been born too early. He said she needed to be placed inside a spirit warmed incubator crafted for premature wolf pups. He assured me that her heartbeat and breathing were stable for now. His words reached me in pieces, like scattered leaves in the wind. Yet my mind felt painfully sharp. “The father of the pup…” the healer began carefully. I interrupted him before he could finish. “Do not inform him.” My tone was so calm that it frightened even me. There was no anger in it. No tears. Only emptiness. The healer looked at me for a long second, then gave a small nod. When they wheeled my daughter away, I kept staring at the door until it closed. Only after it shut completely did I allow my eyes to fall shut. I did not know how much time passed. Soon the ward door opened again with force. The scent reached me before the sound did. Ronan. My Alpha stepped inside, his aura sharp and cold. Several pack members followed behind him, their faces tense. His expression was dark with fury. He did not ask how I was, or even just looking at my pale face or the bloodless lips that proved how much I had suffered. No. He just strode straight to my bed. “Are you satisfied now?” he demanded. Even lifting my eyelids felt like lifting stone, yet his accusation cut through my weakness and froze my heart. “Valea, must you really take things this far?” He let out a harsh laugh, one filled with blame. “Last night during her live broadcast, she was attacked by a crowd of haters. They shouted at her without mercy. They called her a home breaker. They said she carried a pup that should not exist. She endured it alone until she collapsed. She nearly drowned herself in the bath.” Each word struck like a blow. “Those attackers were sent by you, right? Just because I did not answer your call? Is that not too vicious, even for you?” I lay there in silence, my body stiff beneath the blanket. For a moment I could not even feel anger. Only disbelief. He truly believed I would do such a thing. Ronan’s gaze turned colder, if that was even possible. “Why are you trying to drive her to death?” he pressed on. “Marielle only wishes to remain quietly at my side. She poses no threat to you. You already hold the title of Luna Valloren. You are my Luna in name. What more do you want?” His words were sharp, each one meant to wound. “Do you know her pup nearly died?” he added, his voice rising. At that, a silent laugh escaped me. No sound came out, but something inside me shattered completely. So this was why he had come. Not because I lay here pale and empty after nearly losing my life. Not because his own pup had been born too soon. But he came to defend Marielle. The blanket covered my stomach, now flat and hollow. He did not notice. Or perhaps he just did not care enough to see. I did not pull the blanket away. I did not tell him that his daughter had already been taken to an incubator fighting for strength. Instead, I spoke softly, each word costing me breath. “Then do you know this?” I asked quietly, “That because of Marielle, I was kidnapped on my way back to the pack?” His brows tightened slightly, but he did not interrupt. “I was taken off the road like prey. I almost died in that van.” My fingers tightened weakly over the blanket. “And I almost lost my pup.”