Marked by the Wrong Alpha

Genevieves POV

The day we committed my fathers body to the earth, my mate never appeared.

Wolves from our pack formed a wide, silent ring around the grave, their dark coats immaculate, the scent of leather, steel, and restrained power thick in the wind. Even in human form, their dominance pressed against the air. My father had been Alpha for decadesunyielding, strategic, feared beyond our borders. Neighboring packs that once challenged him had sent wreaths woven with rare mountain herbs as a final gesture of respect.

But Nikolai did not come.

The last shovelful of soil had barely struck the coffin when my phone vibrated inside my gloved palm. For one foolish heartbeat, I thought it was him. An explanation. An apology. Something worthy of a mate.

Instead, the senders name made my stomach turn.

Sabrina.

My stepsister had also been absent from the burial.

I opened the message without thinking.

The first image tilted the world off its axis.

Nikolaimy mate, the reigning Alpha of the Virelli packwas kneeling before her. His large hand was splayed possessively over her abdomen, and his mouth pressed against it with unmistakable reverence. Not lust. Not obligation.

Reverence.

The caption beneath it read: Looks like the Virelli pack is finally getting its heir.

For several seconds, I simply stared. My mind refused to translate what my eyes were seeing. My hands began to shake so violently the phone nearly slipped from my grasp into the loose soil at my feet. I blinked again and again, trying to force the image into distortion, convincing myself it had to be manipulationclever editing meant to provoke tension between bloodlines.

Then another photo arrived.

Sabrina stood before the tall mirror inside the Alpha suite of the Virelli estatethe bedroom that had been mine since the night the Moon Goddess bound Nikolai to me. She wore my silk robe, loosely belted, her lips curved in a satisfied smile. Behind her, stretched across our bed, Nikolai slept bare-chested, completely at ease.

No caption was necessary.

Air refused to fill my lungs. The truth lodged inside me like shattered bone.

My mate had marked my stepsister with his child.

Tears streamed down my face before I consciously realized I was crying. A sharp, crushing ache bloomed in my chest, so intense it felt like claws had pierced straight through my ribs. On the very day I buried my father, the two people I had trusted most in this brutal world chose to disgrace me.

The earth over my fathers grave was still damp and uneven. When my knees gave out, I fell forward, my hands sinking into the soil as sobs tore through me. I broke there, at the graveside of the man who had raised me to survive among wolves.

I should have recognized the signs. Conversations that stopped when I entered a room. Glances exchanged too quickly. The way Nikolais attention had begun to wander whenever Sabrina laughed.

But I had never believed betrayal would come from within my own bond.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Nikolai.

Couldnt make it. Pack business required my attention. Well speak tonight.

I stared at the message through blurred vision. There was no regret in it. Only expectation.

That night, he returned to the estate.

He did not return alone.

The carved oak doors opened, and Sabrina stepped inside as though she already belonged there. A sleek suitcase rolled behind her. Nikolai followed, composed and unreadable, like an Alpha announcing territory expansion rather than dismantling his marriage.

Shell be staying here, he said evenly. Given her condition, she requires pack protection.

Her condition.

As though she were a strategic asset instead of the woman carrying my mates child.

Sabrina offered me a soft, carefully practiced smile. I never intended to hurt you. I told Nikolai we should wait before telling you, but the pups well-being comes first. Im sorry this happened today of all days.

I didnt respond. I stood in the foyer of my own home while they reorganized my life without my consent.

Nikolai stepped closer, lowering his voice. Shes pack. You wouldnt want harm to come to her.

Pack.

The word tasted like ash.

He exhaled slowly, as if burdened by my silence. What happened wasnt planned. But my feelings for you havent changed.

I studied his face and wondered when it had become so unfamiliar.

It was a lapse, he continued. And weve discussed what follows.

A quiet, humorless sound left my throat. Shes carrying your pup. You call that a lapse?

His expression didnt flicker. When the child is born, youll raise it. Youve always wanted one.

The implication hung between us, sharp and humiliating.

Youll have the family you couldnt give me, he added smoothly. And the pack secures its heir.

Heat flared through my veins, steadying me instead of breaking me. You betray me with my stepsister, impregnate her, and expect appreciation?

His jaw tightened. I expect maturity. This is bigger than emotion. We can stabilize this.

Behind him, Sabrinas eyes shimmered with theatrical tears. Maybe I should leave. I never wanted to come between you.

Then leave, I said evenly.

Nikolais gaze hardened instantly. Mind your tone. Stress is dangerous for her.

She has no place in this house.

Youre hardly in a position to dictate terms, he replied coldly. Remember whose name you carry.

Something inside me splintered, but I refused to let it show.

I want the bond severed, I said quietly.

The words cracked through the room like a gunshot.

Nikolai stared at me as though I had spoken nonsense. Youre not thinking clearly.

Ive never been clearer.

He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. You would abandon your position over this?

Over betrayal. Over public humiliation. Over you bringing her here on the day I buried my father.

Youre letting grief cloud strategy.

And youre disguising cruelty as leadership.

He stepped closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous calm. You dont walk away from an Alpha. Not from this pack.

I am not territory to be claimed.

You swore yourself to me under the full moon, he replied. That vow binds.

Yes, I answered steadily. And I regret it.

For a moment, his restraint faltered. You have no allies beyond me. No inheritance. No pup. Outside these walls, you are unprotected.

The threat beneath his words was unmistakable.

Ill survive.

He moved subtly, positioning himself between me and the staircase. Youre not leaving.

Im going upstairs.

Youre staying.

His tone shifted then, colder than before. If you attempt to disappear, I will track you. And if you think to use your fathers sanctuary as leverage, reconsider. I wont hesitate.

The mention of the orphaned wolf sanctuary my father and I had built together made my throat tighten painfully.

Why? I asked, my voice raw. Why do this to me?

You left me no choice, he replied, though we both knew that was false.

He reached for me, his touch almost gentle. Sabrinas pup can be ours. You lose nothing.

I looked past him at her.

There was no remorse in her expression.

Only victory.

Something inside me went quiet.

Nikolai wanted to cage me, humiliate me, replace me.

Fine.

I reacted too quickly, I said softly. I wont make impulsive decisions. Ill remain. For now.

Relief flickered across his features. He pressed a kiss to my forehead like an Alpha granting mercy.

That night, I lay alone in a guest chamber while he installed Sabrina in the Alpha suite. I wept until my body felt hollow, grieving my father, my bond, and the naive she-wolf I had once been.

When no tears remained, I reached for my phone.

There was only one wolf alive who could challenge Nikolai without fear.

The only man in the Virelli bloodline more dangerous than the reigning Alpha.

My thumb hovered for a moment before I selected the number I had sworn never to call.

Kael Virelli.

Genevieves POV

Kael picked up before the second ring had fully faded.

Genevieve. His voice flowed through the linecontrolled, refined, and edged with something glacial. I didnt expect to hear from you.

Even separated by distance, his presence felt tangible. Kael Virelli did not waste words, and when he spoke, even seasoned Alphas measured their replies carefully.

I forced myself to breathe evenly. I need Nikolai brought down, I said. And I cant accomplish that on my own.

A deliberate silence followed. It wasnt hesitation. It was calculation. Then a low, knowing laugh drifted through the speaker, dark and faintly amused.

I was curious how long it would take you to reach this point, he said softly. Start from the beginning.

So I did.

I told him about the messages arriving at my fathers burial site, about the images of Sabrina in the Alpha suite, about Nikolai installing her in my place without hesitation. I described the threats, the warning about my fathers wolf sanctuary if I dared to leave. This time, I did not cry. My tone remained steady, almost detached, as though I were recounting the downfall of a stranger instead of my own humiliation.

Kael never interrupted.

When I finished, he asked only one question. How soon do you want him beneath the dirt?

Yesterday, I answered without pause.

A genuine chuckle escaped him. I appreciate decisiveness. He wont anticipate this.

For the first time since the funeral, something other than grief stirred inside me. It felt fragile, unfamiliarhope, perhaps.

Ill begin shifting loyalties tonight, he continued. When the moment comes, youll know.

His voice altered slightly then, losing its faint amusement and settling into something firmer.

There is one condition.

I closed my eyes briefly. Nothing in Kaels world came freely. Name it.

Become my mate.

The words were not raised. They didnt need to be.

They settled heavily between us.

I couldnt form a response.

Sleep avoided me entirely that night. I lay awake in the guest chamber, staring at the ceiling while Kaels proposal replayed over and over in my thoughts. He hadnt pressed for an immediate answer. He had simply told me to consider it carefully and contact him when I was certain. Once I agreed, he promised he would come for me himself.

Protection. Authority. Retribution.

But binding myself to Kael Virelli meant more than revenge. It meant stepping into the true heart of the packs power structurethe shadowed realm Nikolai navigated cautiously.

What would I gain?

What would I sacrifice?

By dawn, I had no clarity, only exhaustion clinging to my bones.

And then everything changed.

I stood alone in the bathroom, staring at the small white test resting in my shaking hands. Two unmistakable lines.

Positive.

For several seconds, I felt nothing at all. Then a fragile, broken laugh escaped me as tears blurred my vision.

Pregnant.

After years of hushed consultations, after enduring the word barren whispered like a curse, after watching disappointment flicker across Nikolais face month after monthI was carrying life.

And the timing was cruel.

Nikolai had already revealed exactly who he was.

I pressed the medical report to my chest, my pulse racing painfully. If he discovered this, he would never release me. The child would become leverage, legacy, possession.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Kael.

Everything is prepared. Three days. Decide.

Three days.

I stared at the screen as my thoughts spiraled. I could not raise a pup inside walls filled with deceit and calculated cruelty. Growing beneath Nikolais shadow would mean manipulation, expectation, and the constant weight of dominance politics.

What kind of mother would knowingly choose that path?

My vision blurred as I dialed the hospital.

Preston Medical Center, how may I assist you? the receptionist asked pleasantly.

My throat tightened, but I forced the words out. I need to arrange a termination.

There was no change in her tone. We have availability tomorrow morning. Does that suit you?

The sooner it ended, the cleaner it would be.

Yes, I whispered.

After the call ended, a hollow ache settled deep inside me. I was about to erase the one blessing I had begged the Moon Goddess for.

My thoughts drifted backward, to six years earlier.

Nikolai had been furious over a failed alliance negotiation. He had paced our penthouse relentlessly, whiskey in hand, his wolf close to the surface. I had pleaded with him to let the driver take us home. He refused, insisting control was his to maintain.

I still remembered the sudden glare of headlights. The scream of twisting metal. The copper taste of blood flooding my mouth before darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke in a hospital bed two days later, a healer explained gently that the internal damage had been extensive. Conceiving naturally would be unlikely.

I had wept until my body trembled. Nikolai had remained at my side then, brushing my hair back, murmuring apologies, promising he would never abandon me, swearing we would find another way.

He had looked at me as though I were irreplaceable.

I had believed him.

Love had made me blind.

Well, this is an unfortunate picture.

Sabrinas voice pulled me sharply back to the present.

I stiffened. Im not in the mood.

She entered the living room with deliberate grace, one hand resting theatrically against her stomach.

You look drained, she observed lightly. Is being Luna exhausting?

I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself. What do you want?

She offered a careless shrug. Cant I check on my sister?

Not after sharing my mates bed.

A soft, taunting laugh left her lips. Nikolai was restless. You were always so composed. He wanted something spirited.

Anger coursed through me, but I refused to give her the reaction she craved.

You should have seen him, she added sweetly. He was insatiable.

When I didnt respond, a flicker of irritation crossed her face.

The distant sound of an engine signaled Nikolais return.

I rose immediately.

Not staying to welcome him? Sabrina asked.

I walked past her without answering and retreated to the guest room, locking the door. My limbs felt heavy, my chest tight with suppressed emotion. Three days, I reminded myself. Three days and I would no longer be trapped here.

I had just closed my eyes when the door burst inward with violent force.

Nikolai entered, fury radiating from him like heat before a storm.

What is your problem? I demanded, startled by the aggression in his posture.

He didnt answer.

His hand struck my face with brutal force, snapping my head sideways as white light exploded across my vision.

Silence swallowed the room, broken only by the sharp ringing in my ears.

Genevieve's POV

His strike sent me reeling sideways.

My head jerked sharply, and before I could process what had happened, the room spun violently out of balance. I crashed against the marble floor with enough force to drive the air from my lungs. A broken sound escaped mehalf gasp, half crymore from shock than pain. For a moment, everything dissolved into darkness.

When my vision cleared, heat radiated across my cheek in a fierce, pulsing ache. I remained sprawled on the cold stone floor of the guest chamber, stunned and disoriented, my wolf restless beneath my skin.

Nikolai had hit me.

In all the years we had been boundthrough pack disputes, territorial challenges, and bloody confrontations with rival Alphashe had never once raised his hand against me. Not even at the height of his fury.

My thoughts scrambled uselessly, searching for some explanation. Had I provoked him? Said something unforgivable? Nothing justified this.

I blinked hard against the dizziness and slowly pushed myself upright. My palms shook against the polished marble as I steadied myself. When my focus sharpened, I saw Sabrina standing several paces behind him.

Her arms were wrapped loosely around herself, tears streaking down her face. She appeared small. Delicate.

Believable.

What is going on? I asked, my voice rough from the impact.

Nikolai towered over me, his chest rising and falling with restrained rage. You put your hands on her? he demanded. On a she-wolf carrying my pup?

The accusation made no sense. What are you talking about?

She came here out of concern, he continued, his tone sharpening. And you attacked her? Have you completely lost control?

For several seconds, I could only stare at him.

Sabrina stepped forward hesitantly, her shoulders trembling as though she were barely holding herself together. I only wanted to bring her tea, she murmured. She looked so distressed, and I thought maybe we could talk. But she started shouting. She said I destroyed her life. Her voice cracked convincingly. Then she struck me.

Disbelief flooded through me.

She told me I should be dead, Sabrina added in a hushed tone, lowering her gaze. I didnt want to upset you, Nikolai, but she frightened me.

The audacity of the lie stole the air from my lungs.

Youre fabricating this, I said quietly, still seated on the floor. I never touched you.

Her lower lip trembled, and she turned her face away as though wounded by my denial.

Nikolai didnt hesitate.

Get up, he growled. And remove yourself from my sight before I forget youre Luna of this pack.

I lifted my gaze to his, my cheek burning, my lip throbbing. You truly believe her? I asked. You think I would harm her?

For a flicker of a second, something uncertain crossed his eyes. Doubt. Then it hardened into cold resolve.

Youre not thinking clearly, he said flatly. Jealousy has corrupted your judgment.

A hollow sound slipped from me. Jealous? Of what, exactly?

The taste of copper filled my mouth. When I wiped at my lip, my fingers came away stained with blood.

His eyes dropped briefly to it. His jaw tightened, and for an instant he looked almost conflicted. He stepped forward.

Genevieve

Nikolai, Sabrina interrupted faintly, pressing her hand to her temple. I feel lightheaded. She hit me harder than I realized.

His focus shifted immediately.

Without hesitation, he turned away from me and gathered her into his arms, supporting her as though she might shatter. She leaned against him, fragile and trembling.

I watched in silence.

Over his shoulder, she glanced at me.

The tears were gone.

Only triumph remained.

Three days, I reminded myself.

Three days, and I would never have to endure this house again.

At dawn the next morning, I slipped out before the household stirred.

The drive to the clinic felt surreal, as though I were observing someone elses life from a distance. My chest tightened in the waiting room while the seconds dragged mercilessly. I fixed my gaze on the far wall, unwilling to think too deeply.

My hand drifted to my abdomen without conscious thought.

It was still flat, unchanged, revealing nothing of the life quietly growing inside me. But I knew.

A pup.

After years of believing my body incapable, after enduring whispers that I was defective, unworthy of carrying an Alphas heir, life had taken root within me.

Tears threatened again, but I forced them back. This wasnt about longing. It was about survival.

A nurse called my name.

I rose slowly, my legs heavier than they should have been, and followed her into a consultation room. The doctor scanned my file before turning toward me.

Recognition dawned instantly in his expression.

Mrs. Virelli? he said, clearly startled.

He had stood at my bedside six years ago after the accident, explaining with rehearsed sympathy that my injuries made future pregnancy unlikely.

I managed a faint, strained smile.

He glanced between me and the chart. Are you certain about this decision?

My throat constricted, words refusing to form.

He set the file aside and stepped closer, his tone gentle but steady. You need to understand how rare this is. Given the trauma you sustained, this pregnancy is remarkable.

I closed my eyes briefly.

If you proceed with termination, he continued carefully, there is a significant chance you will never conceive again. Even with medical assistance. This may be your only opportunity.

The weight of his statement settled heavily over me.

Only opportunity.

I saw Nikolais hand striking my face. Sabrina draped in my robe. Kael waiting for my answer.

My world had already shattered.

Now I had to decide which fragments were worth saving.

Genevieves POV

His warning lingered in my ears long after he stopped speaking.

For several seconds, I couldnt seem to draw a full breath. The doctors wordsa miracle perhaps your only chancecollided violently with the chaos of the past few days. My pulse pounded so fiercely it almost hurt.

My hand drifted to my abdomen again without thinking.

I remembered the countless nights I had lain awake inside the Alpha estate, staring into the darkness while Nikolai slept beside me as though nothing in the world troubled him. I remembered the quiet humiliation of pack gatherings, when other Lunas would announce their pregnancies beneath glittering chandeliers while congratulations echoed around the hall. I would always excuse myself before my composure fractured, hiding in empty corridors until the ache in my chest dulled.

I remembered praying silently to the Moon Goddess for somethinganythingthat would fill the hollow space inside me.

And now, that answer was here.

And I had nearly chosen to destroy it because of a male who had already erased me from his life.

The realization broke whatever restraint I had been clinging to. Tears spilled over as I covered my mouth, my shoulders shaking. The thought of willingly ending the only life that had chosen me felt unbearable.

No, I whispered hoarsely, shaking my head. I cant do it.

The doctor studied me carefully. Youve reconsidered?

Im keeping this pup, I said, my voice trembling but firm. Even if I have to raise it alone. This isnt a mistake. Its the only blessing Ive ever been given.

A faint warmth touched his expression. Then well proceed carefully. Given your medical history, well monitor you closely. Youll need to be cautious.

When I stepped out of the hospital later, the air felt differentlighter somehow. For the first time in days, something steadier than grief settled in my chest.

In three days, I would leave.

And this time, I would not be alone.

Genevieve!

My name cut sharply through the air, freezing me mid-step.

Nikolai.

I turned slowly, tension tightening every muscle. He crossed the hospital entrance in long, urgent strides and seized my arm before I could speak, his fingers gripping hard enough to bruise.

Thank the Goddess I found you, he said, breath uneven, eyes alert in a way that told me this wasnt about reconciliation.

I pulled slightly against his hold. Whats happened?

Its Sabrina, he answered quickly. Shes been admitted.

I frowned. Admitted for what?

She spiked a fever during the night, he said, his tone sharpening. After the stress you put her under.

My jaw clenched. I never laid a hand on her.

He ignored that entirely. She collapsed this morning. The physicians say shes weak and dehydrated. They need to transfuse blood.

A cold sensation crept through me. And?

Nikolais gaze locked onto mine. Her blood type is rare. Youre a universal donor. Youre the only immediate match available.

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

You expect me to give her my blood? I asked quietly.

This isnt about your wounded pride, he snapped. Its about protecting my heir.

He began pulling me toward the entrance.

I dug my heels into the pavement. You command half the hospitals in this city. You have access to private reserves and blood banks. Why me?

He turned sharply, his eyes hard as stone. Because this situation is your fault.

The accusation stunned me. She lied to you!

I dont have time for your delusions, he cut in coldly. She carries my pup. If anything happens to her

Something inside me snapped.

Im pregnant, I said.

The words escaped before I could reconsider them.

He went completely still.

What did you say?

Im pregnant, I repeated, louder now, my voice shaking despite my effort to remain steady. The doctor confirmed it. Its high risk. If I donate blood, it could jeopardize the pregnancy.

Silence stretched between us.

Then he laughed.

It wasnt disbelief.

It was disdain.

You expect me to accept that? he said slowly, shaking his head. You think fabricating a pregnancy will excuse you from responsibility?

Im not lying, I whispered, tears threatening again. You remember what the healers told us after the accident. They said it was nearly impossible. This is a miracle.

His expression only hardened. Youve always wanted leverage. Now you believe this makes you untouchable.

Nikolai

Enough. His voice dropped, final and absolute. You will donate. That is not negotiable.

Anger surged through me, stronger than fear this time. I pulled my arm free.

No, I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. I wont risk my child for her.

His face darkened dangerously.

You would let her die because of jealousy?

I wont sacrifice my pup, I answered steadily. Not for Sabrina. Not for you.

The fury in his eyes burned hotter.

If you walk away from this, he said slowly, jaw clenched tight, I will dismantle that sanctuary your father built. Stone by stone. And Ill make sure youre there to witness it.

The threat struck exactly where he intended.

The sanctuary was the last untouched piece of my fathers legacythe only place in this territory not stained by pack politics or blood.

And Nikolai knew it.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to something lethal. Choose wisely, Genevieve.

In that moment, clarity settled over me.

I was no longer afraid of losing him.

I was afraid of what I would become if I stayed.

Genevieve's POV

Ice spread through my veins the instant he mentioned the sanctuary again.

He knew precisely where to wound me. That place wasnt just some charitable front funded by pack politics and blood-soaked deals. It was my fathers final untouched legacy in a world ruled by dominance and violence. He had built it long before alliances with the Virelli pack, before power carved the softness out of him. The orphaned wolf pups there were the last innocent thing left tied to my name.

You wouldnt, I said under my breath, though the tremor in my voice betrayed the doubt I felt.

Nikolai stepped closer until the heat of his anger brushed against my skin. There was no uncertainty in his expressiononly a challenge. Try me.

For several seconds, I could only look at him. This was the male I had once trusted with every vulnerable part of myself. The Alpha who had sworn to protect what I loved. Now he was threatening to destroy it without hesitation.

My palm drifted instinctively to my stomach. Tears slipped down my cheeks in silence.

When he seized my wrist and began pulling me toward Sabrinas private wing of the hospital, I didnt resist this time. I followed without protest, numb, his threat echoing inside my skull.

He had secured one of the elite suites reserved for high-ranking officials and powerful Alphas. Sabrina lay propped against crisp white pillows, machines humming steadily around her, an IV threaded into her arm. Her complexion looked pale, lips parted slightly as if she were struggling to remain conscious.

Nikolai went to her immediately.

Im here, he murmured, his voice soft in a way I hadnt heard directed at me in months. He took her hand carefully. Youll be fine. I brought Genevieve.

Sabrina released a weak, trembling breath. Nikolai it hurts everything feels wrong

I stood near the doorway, watching my mate lean over her with tenderness that felt like claws dragging across my ribs. He brushed strands of hair from her face and whispered reassurances meant for her alone.

Then he turned to call for the physician.

The moment his back faced her, Sabrinas eyelids lifted.

One eye opened.

She looked directly at me.

And she winked.

Slowly. Deliberately.

A faint curve tugged at her lips before her expression slipped back into feigned fragility.

The sound of my own pulse thundered in my ears.

Was this entire display a performance? Was I about to endanger my child for a staged spectacle orchestrated by a woman who took pleasure in humiliating me?

Rage tightened my fists.

I stepped forward, ready to expose her, but Nikolais grip clamped down on my hand with bruising force. His fingers dug into my skin in silent warning, his gaze sharp and unmistakable.

Dont.

The memory of his promise to tear down my fathers sanctuary snapped me back into stillness.

The door opened, and a doctor entered briskly. Nikolai moved toward her without hesitation.

Shes getting worse, he said. Begin the transfusion.

The doctor glanced at the monitors. Her vitals are stable at the moment. We can wait until we confirm compatibility

Sabrina let out another fragile sound.

Nikolais patience evaporated. The donor is here, he said curtly, gesturing toward me as though I were a tool rather than his Luna.

The doctors eyes shifted to me briefly before she nodded and instructed the nurses to prepare.

Cold sweat slid down my spine as they arranged the tray. I had always despised needles. Nikolai knew that. Once, he would have stood beside me, distracting me until it was over.

For a fleeting moment, his hand hovered near mine as though memory tugged at him.

Then Sabrina whimpered again.

He withdrew instantly and returned to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as if I no longer existed.

Something in my chest tightened painfully.

I turned my face away when the nurse approached, my stomach twistingnot from fear of the needle, but from what this could cost.

Please, I begged silently. Please let something interrupt this.

Just as the doctor lifted the needle toward my arm, the door flew open.

Stop!

Another physician rushed in, breath uneven, a file clutched tightly in his hand.

The room went still.

He looked directly at Nikolai. Mrs. Virelli is pregnant.

The doctor holding the needle froze mid-motion.

Nikolai stared at the newcomer as though he had spoken nonsense. Thats not possible.

She was scheduled for a termination this morning, the doctor explained quickly, extending the chart. She canceled. The test results confirm the pregnancy.

Nikolai took the file, scanning it with narrowed eyes.

Relief surged through me so abruptly my knees nearly buckled. Proof. Tangible proof that I hadnt fabricated anything. That I wasnt manipulating the situation to escape responsibility.

For the first time in hours, I exhaled fully.

Then Nikolai closed the file.

When he spoke, his voice was colder than I had ever heard it.

Continue.

The word didnt register immediately.

My eyes widened slowly. What did you say?

He didnt even look at me.

I said take the blood.

Genevieves POV

The room went completely still.

Doctors and nurses exchanged uneasy looks, disbelief written plainly across their faces.

Alpha Virelli, one of the senior nurses began carefully, your Luna cannot donate. You heard the diagnosis. Her pregnancy is unstable. Even minor strain could cost her the pup.

Nikolais expression didnt shift.

I heard you, he replied calmly, stepping forward with quiet authority. Continue.

The attending physician hesitated. Sir, this goes against medical protocol. We risk losing both mother and child.

Im not concerned about protocol, Nikolai interrupted, his tone turning razor-sharp. Youre compensated generously. Do what youre instructed to do.

The air felt thin in my lungs. I stared at him, disbelief hollowing out my chest.

This was the male who had once sworn before the Moon Goddess to protect me. The Alpha who had promised my safety above all else. Now he was ordering a room full of professionals to gamble with our unborn child as if it were nothing more than a strategic inconvenience.

Nikolais jaw tightened as his gaze swept across the staff. If anyone here refuses, Ill have this hospital shut down by sunrise. I sit on half the board. Dont test how far my reach extends.

No one doubted him. The Virelli name carried weight in every corner of the territory.

The nurse turned back to me, her voice gentler. Luna we require your consent.

I couldnt look away from Nikolai.

You said you wanted a pup, I said slowly, my voice shaking despite my effort to steady it. Now that you finally have one, youre willing to sacrifice it over a convenient fever?

His eyes darkened. You were scheduled to terminate it this morning.

I changed my decision, I shot back. You heard the doctor.

He exhaled in frustration. Sabrinas pregnancy is strong. Yours is fragile. The specialists already warned you that you may lose it regardless.

My stomach dropped.

So youre choosing hers.

It isnt about choosing, he replied, though his tone suggested the opposite. Shes unstable and needs blood. Your pregnancy may not even survive the first trimester.

The words echoed emptily inside my skull.

This wasnt clinical judgment.

It was preference.

And I wasnt the one he preferred.

Youve already decided, I said quietly.

For a brief second, something unreadable flickered across his face. Before he could respond, Sabrina let out another faint cough from the bed.

Nikolai turned instantly, returning to her side.

That was answer enough.

A strange calm settled over me.

Arguing would change nothing. His mind was made up. The staff were bound by his influence, just as I had been.

The nurse squeezed my arm gently. Luna we need a clear answer.

I looked at Nikolai one final time.

He didnt even glance back.

My throat tightened, but I forced the words out. Do it.

The doctor moved quickly. The needle pierced my skin, and dark red flowed through the tubing.

I didnt flinch.

I didnt cry.

I stared at the glossy white tiles beneath my feet and focused on breathing evenly.

At first, it was only a slight wave of dizziness.

Then it deepened.

My chest tightened sharply, and an icy weakness spread through my limbs.

Something was wrong.

I tried lifting my head, but my vision blurred at the edges. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, erratic and far too fast.

The nurse monitoring me glanced at the screen and paled. Her blood pressure is dropping!

Stop the transfusion, the doctor ordered urgently, rushing toward me. Shes crashing!

Sabrina whimpered from the bed.

No! Nikolai barked, shoving the doctor aside hard enough to make him stumble. Keep it going. She needs it!

Shes stable! one of the nurses shouted. Her vitals are completely normal!

You dont know that! Nikolai roared. Look at her. Shes in pain!

A searing cramp tore through my abdomen, and a cry escaped me before I could suppress it.

Nikolai didnt turn toward me.

Not once.

Every ounce of his attention remained fixed on Sabrina.

The room spun violently. My body felt distant, as if I were slipping outside of it. The taste of iron flooded my mouth.

So this was how it would end.

Not in battle. Not through a coup.

But in a hospital suite, discarded for another wolfs deception.

Regret surged through me as Kaels face rose in my mind. The way he had said finally, as though he had always known this reckoning would come. I had told him to wait.

I had hesitated.

Voices rose around medoctors arguing, nurses protestingbut Nikolai stood unmoved, staring at Sabrina like she was the only life in the room that mattered.

My lips parted weakly.

Moon Goddess please I whispered, barely audible. Protect my pup

The lights above me blurred into white streaks.

The shouting grew distant.

And then everything went dark.

Genevieves POV

When my eyes finally opened again, I almost wished they hadnt.

Pain wrapped around me from the inside out, dull and relentless, as though my body had been torn apart and stitched back together without care. There was a hollow ache in my chest that felt heavier than the physical agonya strange emptiness that no medicine could numb.

Luna Virelli youre awake.

A female doctor stood beside the bed, relief flickering briefly across her face. We werent certain you would regain consciousness so soon.

My throat felt scraped raw. My limbs were sluggish, foreign, as if they didnt belong to me. I blinked against the harsh white lights overhead, disoriented and weak. For several seconds, I couldnt piece together where I was or why my body felt like it had survived a battlefield.

Then memory struck like a blade.

The transfusion. Nikolais command. The sharp drop in pressure. The shouting. The darkness swallowing me whole.

My pulse spiked.

I turned my head toward the doctor slowly, dread creeping into every vein.

She was composed, professionalbut I saw it in her eyes.

Sympathy.

My pup The words scraped painfully from my throat. Is my baby alive?

She hesitated.

That pause was enough.

My stomach plunged as if I had fallen from a cliff. The doctor drew a careful breath and shook her head.

Im deeply sorry, she said gently. We did everything within our ability. But the pregnancy could not be preserved.

For a heartbeat, the world ceased to exist.

Then a sound tore out of me that didnt feel human.

It rose from somewhere shattered deep inside my chest. My ribs felt as though they were collapsing inward. I couldnt breathe properly. I couldnt think. I couldnt accept what she had said.

I had believed I had no tears left.

I was wrong.

Sobs wracked through me until my entire body trembled. My throat burned. Grief poured through me so violently it felt like it would split me open. I cried for the tiny heartbeat that had existed beneath my palm. For the child I had already imagined cradling. For the miracle I had chosen to protect.

And for the Alpha who had cost me everything.

A bitter part of me wished I had gone through with the termination that morning before hope had taken root. Losing the pup nowafter I had chosen itfelt like being carved open while still breathing.

The doctor remained beside me quietly, allowing me the dignity of breaking.

Eventually, my sobs faded into uneven breathing. My hands shook as I wiped my face, though tears continued slipping down regardless.

Kael.

The name cut cleanly through the haze.

What day is it? I managed hoarsely.

Its Thursday, she answered softly. Youve been unconscious for two days.

Two days.

My mind calculated automatically. The three days Kael had given me were almost gone.

I need my phone, I said quickly, attempting to push myself upright despite the sharp protest of stitches and bruised muscle.

Its in the drawer beside you, she said, moving to assist, but I was already reaching for it.

My fingers trembled as I typed.

I accept. Meet me at the sanctuary in three hours.

The reply came almost instantly.

Finally. I was beginning to think youd hesitate forever.

I stared at the message before answering.

I wont.

The doctor studied me carefully. Is there anything else you require?

I forced a brittle smile. Did anyone visit?

Her expression shifted.

No, she admitted gently. No one has come.

Of course.

Nikolai hadnt appeared. Sabrina hadnt appeared. The pack I had bled for hadnt even checked whether I was alive.

Strangely, the pain I expected didnt arrive.

There was only emptiness.

A void where something precious had once lived.

I turned my face toward the wall and lay there until I heard the soft click of the door closing.

After a while, I pushed the blanket aside.

Every movement sent sharp waves of pain through my body. My stitches pulled. My muscles screamed in protest. I ignored all of it.

A nurse entering the room froze when she saw me trying to stand.

Luna Virelli, you cannot leave your bed. Youve suffered severe blood loss. You require further monitoring

Im leaving, I said evenly.

She blinked in surprise. You havent been cleared for discharge. We still need to complete

I am not requesting permission, I interrupted calmly, though my voice held no warmth. Bring whatever documents require my signature.

She hesitated, clearly torn between hospital procedure and the unspoken warning in my expression.

After a moment, she nodded and stepped out.

When she returned with the paperwork, I signed without reading a single line.

Standing upright felt like stepping through flames. My legs trembled under my own weight. My back ached with each breath. But enduring pain was easier than remaining in that room another minute.

I gathered my belongings and stepped into the corridor.

Halfway down the hall, something slowed my pace.

Through the glass window of a private suite, I saw Nikolai.

He stood beside Sabrinas bed, posture relaxed, shoulders loose. She was sitting upright, laughing softly at something he had said. Her cheeks were no longer pale. No frantic monitors surrounded her.

They looked comfortable.

Untouched.

Unaffected by the chaos that had nearly ended my life.

Nikolai leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

And neither of them looked even slightly concerned.

Genevieves POV

Nikolai sat beside Sabrinas hospital bed, a porcelain bowl balanced in one hand and a spoon in the other. He blew lightly across the surface of the soup before lifting it with careful precision to her lips. His eyes never left her face, and the tenderness in his expression bordered on reverence.

Once, that sight would have shattered me.

Now, there was nothing.

No jealousy tightening my chest. No anger clawing at my throat. Not even sorrow.

Only a vast, hollow quiet.

I turned silently, intending to leave before either of them noticed my presence. Unfortunately, fate had never favored me.

Genevieve?

His voice reached me just before I could disappear down the corridor.

I stopped, my jaw tightening, and slowly turned back.

The softness that had warmed his features moments earlier vanished the instant our eyes met. Something closer to unease replaced it.

I didnt realize you were conscious, he said, rising from the chair. How are you feeling?

I didnt answer.

I only looked at him.

The silence stretched, deliberate and heavy. I didnt break eye contact.

He did.

What you did, he began carefully, lifting his gaze again, it made a difference. Sabrina is stable. The pup is strong. You you saved them.

A faint, humorless sound escaped my throat before I could stop it. It wasnt loud, but it was sharp enough to make him stiffen.

Sabrina placed her hand protectively over her stomach, her expression soft and luminous. Nikolai hasnt left my side for a second, she said gently, her eyes glinting. Hes been wonderful.

I didnt react.

There was nothing left in me to give them.

I turned again, but Nikolai moved quickly, reaching toward me.

Wait.

I paused, not out of care, but out of curiosity.

Im arranging a gathering tonight, he continued, speaking as though the past days hadnt nearly cost me my life. To celebrate your recovery and Sabrina being discharged safely. Its been tense. I thought it would help morale to bring the pack together. My father will be there. Hes asked about you.

I remained silent.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. Let me drive you back. Were returning to the estate.

I wont be going there, I replied evenly.

His brows drew together. Then where?

The sanctuary.

My tone remained calm.

Kael had assured me that once I gave my answer, the sanctuary would be protected beyond Nikolais reach. I intended to ensure every legal safeguard and financial barrier was firmly secured. Nikolai would never hold that place over me again.

The sanctuary? he repeated, clearly puzzled. For what reason?

There are matters I need to address.

Sabrina suddenly brightened. Oh, that sounds lovely, she said lightly. Ive always meant to visit. It was our fathers passion project, wasnt it?

I glanced at her with quiet disbelief.

She had mocked that place countless times. Called it sentimental excess. A waste of pack resources.

Nikolai nodded without hesitation. Then well all go together.

I studied him.

This was the same Alpha who had once complained that the sanctuary drained funds better invested elsewhere. The same male who dismissed every renovation proposal I brought to him.

Now, because Sabrina suggested it, he agreed instantly.

A faint scoff slipped from me.

Very well, I said coolly. Youre welcome to come.

Relief flickered across his face, almost hopeful.

But before we leave, I added, reaching into my bag, I need you to sign something.

He straightened slightly. What document?

I handed him the folded papers I had kept with me since the night he brought Sabrina into our home.

He skimmed the top page. What is this?

My discharge forms, I replied calmly.

He hesitated.

Nikolai Virelli was meticulous with paperwork. He never signed contracts or agreements without reading every clause, every condition. His caution was legendary.

For a fleeting second, I saw that instinct stir.

Then Sabrina shifted on the bed.

Im feeling tired, she murmured softly. Can we leave soon?

Nikolais focus snapped back to her. Whatever scrutiny he might have applied vanished.

He signed.

Without reading a single line.

He handed the papers back absentmindedly and immediately turned to assist Sabrina as she rose, adjusting her coat and murmuring reassurances.

I slipped the document into my bag, a faint, controlled smile touching my lips.

Thank you, I said quietly. Im free now.

He didnt catch the meaning behind my words.

He was too occupied steadying Sabrina, completely unaware that he had just signed away far more than a simple hospital release.

Genevieves POV

When we reached the car, Sabrina moved quickly, as though the front passenger seat already belonged to her. She reached for the handle without hesitation.

To my mild surprise, Nikolai caught her wristnot harshly, but firmly enough to stop her.

Wait, he said, then glanced toward me. Genevieve you can sit in the front.

There was something almost regretful in his tone, as if offering me the seat could somehow balance everything else he had done.

Sabrina can sit in the back.

No, Sabrina protested at once, her lips forming a delicate pout. I feel sick in the backseat. The pups been making me dizzy all day, Nikolai.

I released a slow breath through my nose.

Nikolai paused, clearly calculating how to keep the peace between us.

Its irrelevant, I said calmly. She can take the front.

But

I said its fine. My voice sharpened just slightly. I truly dont care where I sit.

A brief silence followed.

Sabrinas mouth curved in quiet victory.

Nikolai frowned but didnt push the matter further.

I eased myself into the backseat, biting down on the pain that flared through my body. Every bruise and stitch reminded me of the hospital bed I had only just left behind. My muscles protested even the smallest movement.

I rested my head against the cool window and focused on the passing streets, separating myself from the scene unfolding just feet away.

Five minutes into the drive, Sabrina began.

Her hand drifted casually onto Nikolais thigh. The movement was slow, deliberate. I didnt turn my head, but I caught the reflection in the side mirrorthe subtle slide of her fingers, the sideways glance she threw in my direction.

Nikolai stiffened.

Sabrina, he warned quietly, removing her hand.

She blinked at him with exaggerated innocence. What?

When he didnt answer, she placed her hand back on his leg, this time moving higher.

I said stop, he said more firmly.

Instantly, her eyes filled with tears. She withdrew her hand and covered her face.

Why are you snapping at me? she whimpered. Im pregnant. Youre upsetting me.

Nikolai exhaled heavily, irritation dissolving into concern. Im not snapping. Just not while shes here.

He didnt say my name.

As though I were nothing more than a presence in the background of my own life.

Sabrina sniffled softly before leaning forward to open the glove compartment. Im just looking for tissues, she murmured.

What she retrieved was not tissue.

She held up a scrap of red lace between her fingers, letting out a soft laugh.

Oh, Nikolai, she said in a sugary tone. Remember this? That night we never made it to the hotel? You pulled me onto your lap right here

Thats enough, Nikolai cut in tightly, his eyes fixed ahead on the road.

She gave a small shrug. Relax. Genevieve understands its hormones. Pregnancy makes everything feel heightened. Her hand drifted back to his thigh.

This time, he didnt move it away.

Through the rearview mirror, his eyes flicked toward me.

For a brief second, our gazes locked.

I looked away first.

There was nothing left in me for him to read.

The moment the car rolled to a stop in front of the sanctuary gates, I stepped out without waiting.

I didnt look back.

I passed through the iron entrance and into the building my father had raised with his own hands long before the territory trembled at his name. The scent of aged wood and disinfectant wrapped around me. For an instant, memory pressed hard against my chest, but I forced myself to keep moving.

Mr. Ronan, the administrator, glanced up from his desk when I entered his office.

His eyes widened. Miss Genevieve, he greeted warmly, rising immediately. We didnt know you were coming.

I wont keep you long, I said. There are urgent matters we need to address.

We reviewed security logs, financial statements, and property deeds. I ensured every clause was airtight, every layer of protection reinforced. By the time we finished, I felt steadier than I had in days.

Then a scream shattered the calm.

It wasnt playful.

It was terrified.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Another cry followed, sharper and desperate.

I didnt hesitate. I rushed from the office, Mr. Ronan close behind me.

The scent reached me first.

Smoke.

Thick. Bitter.

It scraped down my throat immediately.

The screams were coming from the west wingthe dormitory housing the youngest pups.

I ran toward it, dread coiling tightly through my muscles.

When I reached the corridor, I stopped short.

Flames climbed along the far wall near the emergency exit. Smoke curled along the ceiling in heavy waves. Children were crying, some clustered near the stairwell, others coughing as staff tried to usher them away from the spreading fire.

For one suspended heartbeat, everything felt unreal.

Then instinct took over.

Get them out! I shouted, my voice cutting sharply through the chaos. Use the east exit! Move now!

My fathers sanctuary was burning.

Genevieve's POV

The west wing was engulfed.

Flames tore through the aging corridor like a living predator, devouring doors, curtains, desksanything unfortunate enough to stand in their path. Dense black smoke coiled along the ceiling before spilling downward, invading my lungs the instant I breathed in.

Children were screaming.

Some had already been rushed into the courtyard, coughing and clinging to one another in terror. Others were still inside, their cries piercing through the chaos while caretakers fought their way deeper into the smoke.

What happened? I demanded, grabbing one of the staff by the shoulders. How did this start?

She was shaking uncontrollably. Your stepsister she was in the kitchen. She kept messing with the gas valves on the industrial stoves. We told her to leave it alone. Then there was a blast. Her voice cracked. It just exploded.

For one blinding second, rage overtook everything.

Sabrina.

But fury could wait. The fire would not.

Get every child out, I ordered sharply. Count them. Ill clear the rooms.

Before she could argue, I plunged into the smoke.

The heat struck immediately, scorching my skin and stealing the air from my lungs. I covered my mouth with my sleeve and forced my way down the hallway, kicking open doors and shouting over the roar.

Im here! Follow my voice!

In one room, two small boys were crouched beneath a desk, faces blackened with soot. I hauled them up, one under each arm, ignoring the way my muscles screamed in protest. Every breath felt like swallowing fire, but I kept moving.

Room after room.

Pup after pup.

I did not stop.

My own child had been denied life.

These would not be.

Even if it cost me the last of my strength.

The blaze spread faster than I anticipated. The ceiling above crackled ominously, embers raining down around me. My vision blurred from smoke and exhaustion, but I pushed farther into the wing, checking the final rooms.

Is anyone still inside? I shouted, my voice rough and breaking.

No answer came.

After one last sweep, I staggered back toward the main corridor, coughing violently as the smoke thickened into something nearly solid.

I could barely see. The air was suffocating. One hand stayed pressed against the wall as I felt my way forward.

Then I collided with someone.

I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance.

Sabrina? I managed through a cough.

She stood a few feet away, face streaked with ash, eyes wide. When she recognized me, something like fear flashed across her features.

I didnt mean for this to happen, she choked, waving uselessly at the smoke. I just wanted to frighten you. I didnt think it would spread.

For a moment, I couldnt process her words.

You lost your mind? I shouted. You set fire to a building full of pups?

She shook her head frantically. I only wanted to hurt you. I know how much this place means to you.

Above us, the ceiling groaned.

Move! I grabbed her arm and yanked her aside just as part of the structure collapsed where she had been standing.

Debris blocked the nearest exit.

We were trapped.

Sabrina began sobbing, backing away from the flames. I dont want to die, she cried. Nikolai! Nikolai!

Through the roar of the inferno, I heard it.

Genevieve!

Nikolais voice.

My heart faltered.

Hes still inside! someone shouted faintly from outside.

Moments later, he burst through the smoke, face smeared with ash, eyes wild. In his hands were two gas masks, likely taken from the emergency kit in his vehicle.

His gaze locked onto me first.

Genevieve! he shouted, pushing toward us.

For one fragile heartbeat, I believed he had come for me.

That I mattered.

Then Sabrina coughed weakly.

Nikolai I cant breathe the pup

His expression changed instantly.

He hadnt known she was inside.

Without hesitation, he moved toward her.

No, I rasped, reaching for one of the masks.

He pulled them away from my grasp. She needs them, he snapped. What if one fails?

Before I could argue, he secured a mask over Sabrinas face and lifted her into his arms.

The second mask remained in his grip.

Unused.

Our eyes met.

There was no apology in his.

No regret.

Only decision.

He turned away and carried her toward the exit, disappearing into the smoke.

And in that moment, clarity settled over me.

He had chosen.

The heat intensified. Flames crept closer, consuming everything in their reach.

My knees gave out.

There was barely any air left. My body felt impossibly heavy. My lungs burned, my skin blistered, but I no longer fought against it.

If this was how my story ended, then so be it.

Through the roaring in my ears, I thought I heard movement.

Then armsstrong and unyieldingwrapped around me.

A familiar voice cut through the haze, low and steady.

Ive got you, he said near my ear. Stay with me.

I tried to lift my head, but everything felt distant and unreal.

Youre safe, he murmured. Im here.

I didnt need to see him.

Kael.

I let my weight fall against him as he carried me through the burning corridor, his voice steady and relentless while the world dissolved into smoke and darkness.

That day, the Luna known as Genevieve Virelli burned in those flames.

And something far colder rose from the ashes.

Nikolai Virelli

One day, I will make you answer for this.