I stood in my room, arms wrapped around my body as I stared blankly. The last hour replaying in my head over and over again.
I don’t even remember leaving the grand hall.
A maid quietly entered carrying my luggage trunk before freezing at the sight of me.
"L-Luna..." Her voice broke instantly.
I looked away slowly, my heart clenching. "Don’t call me that anymore."
The girl immediately burst into tears. That seemed to break whatever restraint the others had been holding onto because more servants began entering the room one after another, all of them red-eyed and shaken.
Some started folding my gowns. Others packed jewelry into velvet boxes with trembling hands.
None of them said a word....until one spoke.
"We’ll go with you."
I looked up to see an older maid clutching one of my winter cloaks tightly.
"We don’t want to stay in Silver Creek anymore," she said tearfully. "Not after what they’ve done to you."
The others nodded immediately. "They don’t deserve you, Luna."
"How could the Alpha do this after everything—"
"Enough." I swallows tightly before forcing a smile on my face. "I’ll be alright."
The words felt hollow to me. But the servants looked even more devastated hearing them.
One of the younger maids suddenly fell to her knees crying.
"You saved my husband during the war," she sobbed. "The healers said he would’ve died without you."
Another maid quickly wiped her tears.
"Silver Creek will regret this."
Perhaps this was the cruelest part of all.
The people with the least power seemed to value me the most.
While the one I sacrificed everything for treated me as disposable.
"No," I whispered quietly. "They already made their choice."
And after five years, I was finally done begging to be chosen.
A knock broke through the room d the servants stiffened.
"Enter."
The door opened and Beta Tristan stepped in, Unlike the others, he looked deeply uncomfortable meeting my gaze.
His eyes briefly landed on the white streaks now woven through my hair before quickly shifting away again.
"Luna Evelyn." He greeted quietly.
I stayed silent. After a moment, he exhaled softly and held out several folded documents.
"The Alpha asked me to deliver these."
Divorce papers...or rather, separation terms.
The servants instantly looked furious. "How shameless. They couldn’t even wait a single night—" I
I raised my hand slightly, silencing them. Then I took the papers from Tristan calmly.
At first glance, the agreement appeared generous.
I would retain my title as Lady of Silver Creek.
I would continue residing within the western estate.
I would receive monthly financial compensation.
But the longer I read... The colder my expression became.
Clause seven required me to continue providing healing blood to Silver Creek’s warriors during times of war.
Clause nine demanded my cooperation with all future Alpha council summons.
Clause twelve prohibited me from remarrying without Kael’s permission.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
Even now...He still wanted access to my blood, to my entire existence.
I laughter bitterly, "How generous." I muttered. Beta Tristan looked uncomfortable.
"The Alpha believes this arrangement is best for everyone."
Of course he did.
"And what exactly do I gain from this arrangement?" I asked, holding up the papers.
Tristan hesitated for a second, "The Alpha is allowing you to remain in Silver Creek despite Lady Sophia’s return."
Allowing.
I folded the papers carefully "Where is the Alpha ?"
Tristan’s eyes widened, "Luna I—"
"Where is Kael?" I barked out angrily.
"His study."
I didn’t waste time, I walked straight to his study. My grip tightened around the separation papers in my hand.
By the time I reached Kael’s study, my chest felt so tight it was difficult to breathe.
I didn’t bother knocking. The doors slammed open under my hand.
Kael looked up immediately from behind his desk, his expression darkening slightly when he saw me.
Then his eyes landed on the papers clenched in my hand.
"I assumed you would calm down before coming here," he said coldly.
"You assumed wrong."
Kael leaned back in his chair slowly, watching me carefully. "You’re emotional right now."
"There it is again," I whispered.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"That look.....The look of a man who believes he’s being reasonable while destroying someone else’s life."
I stepped forward and threw the papers onto his desk.
"They’re insulting."
Kael barely glanced at them. "They’re practical." He argued.
"Practical?" I repeated in disbelief.
"You strip me of my title, force another woman into my marriage, then expect me to continue bleeding for Silver Creek like some obedient little tool?"
"You are still a member of this pack."
"No," I snapped sharply. "I was a member of this pack."
For the first time, irritation flashed openly across Kael’s face.
"You are overreacting."
I stared at him then suddenly burst out laughing. It was almost frightening how often I’d laughed tonight.
Perhaps my mind was finally breaking.
"Tell me something honestly, Kael." My voice dropped quietly. "Did you ever love me at all?"
His jaw tightened slightly. The hesitation lasted less than a second.
But I saw it.
"You were my wife," he said finally.
Not yes, not even close. Just, you were my wife.
I swallowed hard against the pain clawing up my throat.
Five years of loving a man who could not even lie convincingly enough to spare me this final humiliation.
"I refuse these terms. I don’t accept."
Kael stared at me, I could see the anger beneath his eyes.
"I want a divorce. A clean divorce with no separation terms."
Kael exhaled slowly as though exhausted by the conversation already.
"Evelyn, your father is dead."
The sudden shift in topic made my stomach twist.
"What?"
"You invested most of the Valemont wealth into Silver Creek after your marriage. The trade routes, the eastern ports, the northern businesses..." His gaze remained steady on mine. "Everything you built is here."
I stared at him in disbelief.
Was he threatening me?
Or trying to convince me?
"You have nowhere else to go," Kael continued calmly. "Why abandon everything over pride?"
Pride.
I felt something inside me finally turn cold.
"You think this is about pride?"
Kael frowned. "You are still being offered status. Comfort. Protection."
The word nearly made me sick.
"I nearly died for this pack yesterday." My voice shook despite my efforts to steady it.
"My blood is barely recovered. My wolf can barely shift."
"And instead of asking whether I survived, You handed me a contract demanding more."
Something unreadable flickered briefly across Kael’s face.
Guilt perhaps.
But it vanished so quickly I almost imagined it.
"Sophia is my fated mate," he said again,"That cannot be changed."
"And what exactly does that have to do with keeping me chained here afterward?"
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You are still useful to Silver Creek."
The words hit harder than any slap.
I looked at Kael for several long seconds before nodding, "I understand now."
His brows furrowed slightly, perhaps sensing something different in my voice.
"For five years, I mistook obligation for love." I swallowed hard. "That was my mistake."
Kael’s expression hardened immediately.
"You’re twisting my words."
"No." I shook my head slowly. "I’m finally hearing them clearly."
I stepped back from his desk. "You don’t need me as a wife, Kael. You need me as a resource. Only to give my blood and save your people. That’s all."
A muscle in his jaw tightened. "You are being irrational."
"And you’re cruel."
Kael’s eyes darkened instantly. "I have tolerated your behavior tonight because of your condition," he said coldly. "Do not push your limits further."
"You keep speaking to me as though I belong to you."
"You are my wife."
"No," I replied calmly. "Not for much longer."
Without waiting for another response, I turned toward the door.
Kael’s voice stopped me before I could leave. "If you walk away from Silver Creek now, you will regret it."
I looked back over my shoulder. "No. My only regret is staying this long."
I left the study without another glance back.
The moment the doors shut behind me, the strength left my body almost instantly.
I pressed a trembling hand against the corridor wall, forcing myself to breathe through the tightness crushing my chest.
Useful. After everything... that was all I had become to him.
I shook my head, it didn’t matter anymore. None of it did.
I just needed Lily.
I still had my daughter and she was the only thing I needed. No matter what Kael did, no matter who he chose, Lily loved me.
That alone was enough.
I rushed to Lily’s room, By the time I reached Lily’s chambers, my breathing had grown uneven again.
But hearing her laughter from inside the room nearly brought tears to my eyes.
I pushed the doors open immediately only to freeze.
Sophia sat beside Lily near the fireplace.
My daughter sat comfortably in her lap while Sophia gently brushed through her dark curls affectionately.
For a moment, neither of them noticed me.
Sophia finally turned toward me slowly, surprise flickering briefly across her face before sadness replaced it.
"Evelyn..."
I barely heard her. My eyes remained locked on Lily.
"No," I whispered instinctively.
Lily blinked in confusion before tightening her small arms around Sophia’s waist.
Something inside me snapped.
"What are you doing?" I demanded sharply, stepping forward. "Why is she holding you like that?"
Sophia immediately stood up carefully with Lily still in her arms.
"Please calm down—"
"Give me my daughter."
Lily looked frightened. Not of Sophia but of me.
That realization hurt worse than anything else tonight.
Sophia took a small step backward. "She’s upset right now—"
"Don’t touch my child." I hissed out.
I moved forward instinctively and grabbed Lily from Sophia. It wasn’t hard, but Sophia cried out anyway.
She stumbled backwards against a table and cut herself slightly, blood appeared instantly.
"Mommy!" Lily screamed.
For one horrifying second, my heart stopped.
Then Lily tore herself completely from my arms and ran straight toward Sophia instead.
"Mommy!" she cried again, throwing herself against Sophia’s legs.
I stood frozen in the middle of the room, my arms still half lifted. Sophia immediately knelt down despite the blood running from her wrist.
"It’s alright, baby," she whispered softly, gathering Lily into her arms protectively. "Don’t cry."
Lily buried her face against Sophia’s shoulder before turning to glare at me through tears.
"Don’t touch my mommy!"
The words struck harder than any blade ever could.
I stared at her blankly"...Lily?"
My voice sounded broken but Lily only clung tighter to Sophia.
"You scared me!" she cried.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. "No..." I whispered shakily. "Sweetheart, it’s me."
Lily shook her head hard enough to send tears flying down her cheeks.
"No! Daddy told me everything!"
A cold chill crawled slowly down my spine.
"What did Daddy tell you?"
Before Lily could answer, Sophia looked up tearfully.
"Evelyn, please... she’s already overwhelmed right now—"
"What did he tell her?" I snapped.
Lily pointed at me with trembling little fingers.
"He said you’re my evil stepmother!"
The room tilted beneath my feet. For a second, I genuinely thought I had misheard her.
"No," I whispered immediately. "No, sweetheart..."
I stepped toward her again, panic rising in my chest.
"I’m your mother."
Lily cried harder. "No! Mommy is my real mommy!"
She wrapped both arms tightly around Sophia’s neck.
"You’re the bad woman!"
I stared at her in complete horror.
My child. The little girl I carried for nine months.
The child whose fever I stayed awake through night after night.
Now looking at me like I was a monster.
Sophia tightened her hold on Lily before looking at me with false sympathy.
"Please don’t force her," she whispered softly.
I looked at Sophia in disbelief. "You’ve been poisoning her against me."
"I would never—"
"Then why is my daughter calling you mother?!"
The room’s atmosphere shifted abruptly.
It was Kael.
He stood there silently as his gaze moved between us.
The moment Lily saw him, she burst into louder sobs.
"Daddy!"
Kael immediately crossed the room toward Sophia and Lily.
He gently touched Sophia’s bleeding wrist before his cold gaze finally settled on me.
"You frightened her."
"She’s crying for another woman," I whispered. "Kael... what is happening?"
For the first time all night, his expression shifted slightly.
"Lily already knows the truth. You’re the only one in the dark." he said calmly.
My stomach twisted inexplicably.
"What truth?"
No one answered immediately.
Fear unlike anything I had ever known began creeping through me.
"No..." I whispered instinctively.
Kael looked directly at me. "You are not Lily’s mother."
The words destroyed something inside me instantly.
"That’s not funny. She’s my daughter," I whispered desperately. "I carried her."
Kael’s gaze never wavered.
"You gave birth to a stillborn five years ago.
"Sophia here had given birth too and it was mine. I switched your dead child for mine. Lily is Sophia’s daughter."