Alpha Kael yanks the chains around my wrists and shoves me onto my knees.
Blood drips onto the cold floor as I cower before him, and plead for him to believe me.
“I didn’t lie to you, please,” I say to him, my voice hoarse. “You have to believe me!”
But he ignores my words.
I gaze into his silver eyes, those same powerful Alpha eyes I fell madly in love with at the age of 18, but all I see there now is ice.
And I know he won’t listen to me. He won’t hear me.
With my heart breaking, I steel my resolve and say, “Do it.”
“What?” he asks.
“Do. It,” I repeat.
His jaw ticks. “You’re not going to plead for mercy?”
“There is none, remember?”
Just like he had once said…just like I had once said.
He pauses, and then he walks behind me, up to the podium.
I stare at the stone floor, waiting, preparing, bowing under the pressure of every wolf in the pack, gawking at me — their Luna — weeping in chains, on my knees.
Then, he speaks the words I never imagined he could speak.
“I, Alpha Kael Winters of the Shadow Ridge Pack, reject you, Talia Hale, as my mate and Luna — ”
The words slice through me like a blade.
My wolf howls in agony, a raw cry echoing within me as the mate bond snaps, leaving me gasping for air. Every wolf in the pack hall feels the impact of its break; some look away, unable to watch me writhing in agony.
“Do you accept?” Kael finishes, his voice a husky growl. Pain pierces my heart as his words ring in my ears, and I fall backward.
Instinctively, I place my shackled hands on my belly, but Kael doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe he doesn’t care. If he only knew.
As I struggle to steady myself, my gaze falls on Ronan — my brother, and Kael’s Primary Beta. He stands there next to Kael, watching it all unfold with a cold detachment that chills me to my core. He knew, and he didn’t warn me. The realization hits like a fresh wound, twisting the knife of betrayal deeper.
A flash of designer perfume stings my nose as Sabrina, my former best friend, glides forward, all perfect curves and calculated grace, to claim her spot at Kael's side. Her manicured fingers curl around my Alpha’s arm like poisonous vines.
"Make her accept, Kael." Sabrina's voice drips honey-coated venom.
His hand tangles in my hair, yanking me close enough to smell winter pine and betrayal on his skin. Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
"Answer me, Talia Hale!" His Alpha command vibrates through my bones. "Do you accept my rejection?"
I stare at Sabrina and wonder — how did she turn Kael against me? What poison did she drip in his ears to convince him I lied to him. How could she have broken his love for me, when he believed for three years I was his fated mate?
Kael jerks my hair again and pulls my face close to his. "Answer me, damnit!"
I force myself to look up into his steely eyes, my vision blurred, my heart splintering. The pain radiates through my wolf, Eira, who whimpers in sorrow.
“Do it,” my wolf whispers, “for the heir.” And that’s when I know what I must do.
I lift my chin and answer Kael, my voice breaking as I spit out the words.
"I, Talia Hale, accept your rejection, Alpha Kael." My whisper carries like a death knell through the silent hall.
The final severing rips through me like molten steel. I stagger, clutching my chest where the mate bond used to pulse with life and love. But I will not fall. Not here.
Not in front of her.
For a fleeting moment, I catch a shift in Kael’s expression — a flicker of something — regret? Pain? But it's gone before I can place it, erased by Sabrina's triumphant smile.
“This is destiny, remember Talia?” Sabrina says with a sneer, “Or did you think you were above it all?” Destiny.
Her words cut deep, igniting a wildfire of anger and fear in my veins, but I refuse to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.
“You can have your chosen Luna now, Alpha Kael,” I whisper bitterly, avoiding Sabrina’s glare, but unable to mask the betrayal in my voice. “I hope she gives you a worthy heir.”
Kael’s gaze darkens, but he stays silent as he unwraps the chains from my bloody wrists and sets me free. I rise to my feet, turn and walk away, each step heavier than the last, the weight of every pack member’s stare pressing down on me.
My eyes catch Ronan’s. He holds my gaze as I walk away, his expression unreadable, cold-hearted. The betrayal settles over me, thick and suffocating. My brother, the one person I thought would always have my back in this pack, says nothing as I leave the hall in disgrace.
I am alone, truly alone, unwanted even by my own blood. A hollow ache blooms within me, making the decision to leave feel inevitable. I’m not welcome here anymore.
“Wait!” Sabrina’s cold voice rings through the pack hall. I freeze mid-step, my heart pounding in my chest.
Slowly, I turn, and Sabrina strides toward me, Kael close behind. Her sharp gaze locks onto mine, her lips curling into a cruel smirk.
“She can’t leave,” Sabrina declares, her voice laced with authority. “We can’t risk her betraying Shadow Ridge’s secrets to a rival pack.”
Kael’s expression tightens, and my breath catches in my throat. My gaze darts between them, and a sickening thought claws its way into my mind. Did he tell her? Did he share the pack’s most sacred secret? The one he swore he would only ever share with me?
I stare into Kael’s steely eyes, searching for answers, for some shred of the man I once knew. Does he really believe I would betray Shadow Ridge?
Kael’s jaw clenches, and for an instant, a flicker of longing softens his gaze. But then he nods, his voice cold and clipped. “She’s right. Talia stays.”
A bitter laugh bubbles up in my chest, but I choke it back. Of course, at Sabrina’s command, he will let me stay.
“As my slave,” Kael adds, his tone like a dagger to my heart.
Before I can protest, strong hands seize my arms, and I’m strapped in chains again and dragged through the pack hall by guards. The wolves part, their eyes filled with pity or indifference.
The dungeon is dark and damp, the air thick with the stench of mildew and despair.
A guard shoves me to my knees onto the cold stone floor, and my body trembles uncontrollably as Kael and Sabrina step into the dark room. Sabrina’s wicked grin lights up the shadows, her eyes gleaming with twisted delight.
"Teach her, Alpha." Sabrina says, her voice dripping with malice as she hands Kael the whip. "Teach her how to behave like a proper slave."
Kael hesitates, the whip in his hand hanging heavy. For a moment, I see the conflict in his eyes, the doting husband he once was fighting against the ambitious Alpha he’s become.
But then his eyes harden, and he makes his choice. He lifts the whip, and the first lash cuts through the air, searing across my back.
I bite back a scream as my hand flies to my belly, shielding the life growing within me. Eira whimpers in my mind, urging me to stay strong.
"Weak!" Sabrina snarls. "Prove to me she means nothing to you, Kael. Show me!"
Kael’s hand trembles, but he obeys. He cracks the whip against my skin again, and my back arches, the pain tearing a raw scream from my throat. My vision blurs, my knees buckling under the agony.
“Again!” Sabrina shrieks, her voice a crescendo of cruelty.
Kael strikes again, and again, each lash driving me closer to the brink. My body shakes, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears stream down my face, but I refuse to beg. I refuse to give Sabrina the satisfaction.
“Kael,” I croak, my voice barely audible. “Why?”
His face twists with pain, his voice gruff as he answers, “You know why — I need a Luna who can give me an heir.”
The words hit harder than the whip, stealing the air from my lungs. My vision darkens, and I sway on my knees, nearly collapsing.
My lips tremble, the truth hovering on the edge of my mouth — I have to tell him, have to let him know that I'm carrying his child — but suddenly Eira surges forward in my mind.
"NO!” My wolf's command rings through my consciousness. "Sabrina must not know."
My voice seals in my throat, the words trapped as surely as if I'd been gagged. I watch helplessly as Kael turns away, his shoulders rigid with tension. Sabrina's triumphant laugh echoes off the stone walls as they leave me here, broken and bleeding on the cold dungeon floor.
I lie crumpled on the ground, my body screaming from a thousand shards of pain. My hands cradle my belly as I rock back and forth, back and forth, my mind lost in a haze of agony and betrayal. Hours pass like centuries as moisture seeps through my torn clothes from the damp floor.
The echo of footsteps jolts me from my delirium. My wolf's ears prick up, but we're too weak to do more than lift our head.
"Talia!"
The voice wraps around me like a warm blanket, and through my matted hair, I see Rhea — my cousin and closest confidante — rushing toward me, her arms laden with food and water.
My chains rattle against the stone as I reach for the water flask with trembling hands.
"Slowly," she whispers, helping me drink. "You need your strength."
The cool water soothes my raw throat, and I devour the bread she offers like a starving wolf. Only when the edge of hunger dulls does Rhea speak again.
"Why didn't you tell him?" Her voice is soft but urgent. "About the baby?"
I shake my head weakly. "Eira wouldn't let me. Not with her there."
"Sabrina?" Rhea's brow furrows. "But why? Talia, if Kael knew you were carrying his child…" She leans closer, her eyes bright with hope. "He hasn't completed the mating ritual with Sabrina yet. He'd take you back. You know he would."
My hands press protectively against my stomach as I meet my cousin's concerned gaze. "This isn't just any child, Rhea."
"What do you mean?"
I draw a shaky breath. "The Prophecy," I whisper, my voice barely audible even in the silent dungeon. "The one Grandma told me before she died."
Rhea's sharp intake of breath echoes off the stone walls. "You mean…" Her eyes widen as understanding dawns. "The prophecy about the heir?"
I nod, tears sliding down my cheeks. "It's him, Rhea." My voice trembles as I cradle my belly. "This child…he's the Moonborn Heir.”
"Please Talia, tell him!” Rhea pleads, her fingers wrapping around my chains. "Kael would do anything to protect the Moonborn Heir. The prophecy said this child will unite all packs, bring them together as one." Her eyes shine with fierce hope. "Isn't that the future you and Kael dreamed of building together?"
I shake my head, wincing at the movement. "You don't understand, Rhea."
My mind flashes to that full moon night when Kael led me down to a hidden chamber beneath his office and showed me Shadow Ridge's most guarded secret. The truth burns in my throat, begging to be shared with my cousin, but I swallow it back. Even thinking about it is too dangerous.
"Promise me," I grasp her hand, my voice hoarse but urgent. "Promise you'll never tell anyone who this child's father is."
"But how long can you hide it?" Rhea's brow creases with worry. "Everyone will know you're carrying Kael's baby when you start to show."
A bitter laugh escapes my split lips. "Once he completes the mating ritual with Sabrina, he won't even remember my scent."
"Time's up!" A guard's voice echoes down the corridor, followed by heavy footsteps. He appears at the cell door, his eyes raking over my battered form with undisguised hunger.
"Everyone will just assume a guard took advantage of me," I whisper, my voice hollow. My stomach turns under the guard’s leering gaze, but I swallow the bile. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Then, as Rhea rises reluctantly to her feet, I force myself to ask the question burning in my chest. "When is the mating ritual?"
Rhea pauses at the cell door, her voice barely a breath. "Tonight."
My heart shatters all over again, but I manage a small nod. What's one more crack in something already broken?
"I'll bring more food tomorrow," Rhea promises, her voice thick with tears.
As her footsteps fade away, I curl around my stomach, protecting the precious secret growing within. Let them think what they want. Let them believe what they must. As long as my child is safe, I can endure anything.
The minutes crawl by like years as I wait for the inevitable pain of Kael's mating bond with Sabrina. Every breath is agony, knowing each one brings me closer to losing him forever.
Then I catch it — that familiar scent that makes my wolf stir. Pine needles and winter storms. Footsteps approach, and there he is, alone.
My breath catches in my throat. His steel-grey eyes are softer now, gentle in a way I haven't seen since before everything between us shattered. He looks at me the way he used to, and it hurts worse than his whip ever could.
"How are you?" His husky voice makes my heart clench.
Tears sting my eyes, and the secret of our child burns in my throat. My lips open, unbidden, and I am about to tell him everything, about our child, about the Prophecy, but Eira stops me once again.
"You cannot trust Kael with this truth. If you tell him, Sabrina will find out, and the child’s life will be in grave danger.” At Eira’s insistence, I shut my mouth, and bury the secret of the child deep within.
"Why, Talia?" Kael’s voice breaks my thoughts, his eyes narrowing as he searches my face. "Why did you lie to me?"
My chest tightens, confusion swirling with the ache already lodged deep inside me. "Lie to you?" I whisper, shaking my head. "About what, Kael? I would never lie to you. Why won’t you believe me?"
For a fleeting moment, doubt flickers across his face, softening his features. His eyes drop to where my hands are clenched in my lap, and then he sighs. “I guess you had no choice.” Slowly, he reaches out, taking my hand in his. His touch is warm, familiar, but it only deepens the ache in my chest.
"Once the mating ritual is complete," Kael says softly, "Sabrina will be secure in her position as Luna. Then I can free you." He kneels beside me, close enough that his scent surrounds me. "I still need you, Talia. Your mind, your strategic insight. Help me unite the packs, as my advisor. Like you always have."
My voice catches in my throat. If he only knew the truth — our child, the Moonborn Heir, would be the one to unite all the packs, if he hadn’t rejected me as his mate. But I force myself to stay silent and just nod, accepting the protection he’s offering, for our baby’s sake.
Kael’s hand moves gently, almost hesitantly, to my back. His fingers brush the raw marks left by the whip, and I stiffen, pain flashing through me like lightning. His touch lingers, tender and uncharacteristically vulnerable, as though he’s trying to erase the marks with his presence alone.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice barely audible, rough with emotion. He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Forgive me, Talia. As Alpha…I couldn’t show weakness. Not then.”
A single tear escapes my eye, sliding silently down my cheek. I whisper, “No mercy,” the words barely audible but weighted with every ounce of my pain.
For a fleeting moment, I swear I see his eyes glisten with moisture, before he blinks it away. Slowly, he takes my hand, his touch firm yet gentle, and though my heart aches, I don’t pull away.
"Talia," he whispers, his voice breaking. "I need you…one last time. Please."
Then he lifts my hand, guiding it down to his hardness, and I feel him, rigid and pulsing with desire. The sensation sends a rush of wetness between my thighs, my body reacting against my will, and my mouth parts with anticipation.
Then he wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls my face into his, breathing heavily. “Let me taste you one last time.”
When his lips meet mine, I know I should resist. But as his hands cup my face with heartbreaking tenderness, I realize I can’t deny him this goodbye.
Kael's kiss is a fierce claim, his lips pressing hard, yet there's this moment, this fleeting softness when he pulls back slightly, his breath coming in rasps. His eyes, a storm of gray, search mine for permission, for that silent okay to proceed.
"Talia," he whispers, his voice rough with need, yet tender with longing. He pushes my hand down again, and as my fingers wrap around his hard dick, I get wet, so wet I soak through my underwear. “Will you let me inside you again?”