Chapter 1

After four years as Luna of the Ironhowl Pack, I still had not given Garrick an heir.

I thought we had exhausted every remedy known to our kind. Pack healers had brewed fertility tonics beneath the full moon, elder witches had blessed moonstones for my womb, and I had spent countless nights kneeling before the Moon Goddess, praying for a miracle. Yet no pup ever came.

In the end, Garrick convinced me to accept another path.

"My mate," he would murmur, brushing my hair from my face, "your body is too delicate for pregnancy. Let another she-wolf carry our heir. The pup will still be ours."

I believed him.

I always believed him.

The she-wolf carrying our future Alpha was already eight moons along, and I spent my days preparing for the pup's arrival. Every tiny blanket, every carved wooden toy, every corner of the nursery filled me with happiness.

Then one evening, everything changed.

I was passing Garrick's study when voices drifted through the half-open door.

"You've been slipping those herbs into Lyanna's tonics all these years?" Roy asked in disbelief. Through the bond of blood, I recognized his scent immediately. "Garrick, that's madness."

"It was necessary," Garrick replied calmly.

My steps froze.

"She never needed to conceive. I made certain of that."

My breath caught in my throat.

"You altered her medicines?" Roy asked.

"Of course. The healers only knew what I allowed them to know. Lyanna believed her body was failing, but I was simply keeping matters under control."

Silence rang in my ears.

"She wanted to adopt an orphaned pup," Roy said quietly.

"The Ironhowl heir must carry my blood," Garrick snapped. "I needed my own offspring. Not another wolf's."

"And Lyanna?"

"She was never meant to carry a pregnancy. She's too fragile."

I pressed a trembling hand against my mouth.

Every tear I had shed. Every prayer. Every night spent blaming myself.

All lies.

Then Garrick spoke again.

"She'll never discover the truth. She's obedient. She trusts me. Besides, Virella's nearly due. Everything is already settled."

Virella.

The she-wolf carrying the pup.

My adopted sister.

My world shattered.

I remembered the night I had broken down before him after another failed blessing ritual. I had buried my face against his chest and sobbed until dawn.

"Perhaps the Moon Goddess doesn't wish me to be a mother," I had whispered.

Garrick had held me tighter.

"You are my mate," he had murmured. "Pups or no pups, that will never change."

Now I understood.

Those weren't words of love.

They were chains.

I left the manor without thinking, the cold wind cutting through my dress as I walked beneath the moonlit sky.

When my shaking fingers finally found my communication crystal, I contacted the healer overseeing Virella's pregnancy.

"I wish to revoke my authorization," I said.

The elderly healer sounded confused. "Luna Lyanna?"

"The arrangement is over."

A long silence followed.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

If Garrick wanted to build his future on deception, then he could watch it crumble.

The connection ended.

"Lyanna!"

Garrick's voice thundered across the mind-link before I even turned around.

Moments later he was striding toward me, fury darkening his face.

"You contacted the healer?"

I met his gaze.

"I know everything."

For the first time, something flickered in his eyes.

"You lied to me," I said. "You poisoned my remedies. You made me believe I could never have pups."

"I did it for your own good."

There wasn't a trace of remorse in his voice.

"You never gave me a choice."

"I protected you." He stepped closer. "You are too weak to survive childbirth. I refused to lose my mate."

"You protected yourself."

"No." His jaw tightened. "And now you would condemn an innocent pup because you're angry?"

The words struck deep.

Because despite everything, I had already loved that child.

Garrick must have seen my hesitation.

His expression softened instantly.

"There you are," he said gently, wrapping his arms around me. "You're upset. That's all. Let me take care of everything."

The familiar warmth of his embrace once would have comforted me.

Now it felt like a cage.

Then the manor doors opened.

I looked up.

Virella stepped inside as though she belonged there, one hand resting possessively on her swollen belly.

She was wearing one of my gowns.

My stomach twisted.

"What is she doing here?"

Garrick released me.

Virella smiled sweetly, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Oh," she said, "didn't Garrick tell you?"

She laid a hand on her stomach.

"This is my home now."