Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Jessica's P.O.V I clutched my aching belly, my steps unsteady as I walked out of the hospital. The sharp smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, a bitter reminder of everything I'd endured. Yet, the betrayal I felt cut deeper than any physical pain. Lucas stood not far away, his familiar gentle smile now belonging to someone else. Lilith’s siblings surrounded her with care and affection, their familial bond evident. They seemed like a real family, while I was just an unwanted guest on the sidelines. The moment Lilith noticed me, her eyes sparkled unnaturally, and a blush spread across her face. "Luna, thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have survived," she said, her sweet voice dripping with false sincerity. Lucas turned toward me, his words devoid of concern, laced instead with subtle irritation. "Jessica, you're finally out? Took you long enough." He glanced at me briefly before shifting his gaze back to Lilith, who seemed to command all his attention. "You still look awful. Are you okay?" he asked casually, his tone perfunctory, as if asking out of obligation. I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to respond. What could I say? That the pain in my stomach was unbearable? "If you're fine, let's go. We still need to get back and make dinner for Lilith," Lilith's sister said, her words harsh and dismissive. "I want to sit next to the Alpha. His scent will help with my recovery," Lilith said, claiming the passenger seat with a calculated display of fragility. "Jessica, sit in the back," Lucas ordered, his voice carrying the tone of someone addressing a servant rather than a wife. The backseat was already crowded with Lilith's siblings, leaving no room for me. "Jessica, you can walk home. The car's full, and it’s too late to find a ride," Lucas said, not even glancing at me as he started the engine. Suppressing my growing anger, I forced myself to reply, "Fine. I’ll walk." Lucas sped off, leaving me standing there, tears finally spilling over as the taillights disappeared into the distance. Just because Lilith was his childhood friend, he treated her like the center of the world, forcing me to accommodate her every whim in my own home. Despite knowing I was carrying his child, he still drew blood from me to save her despite my protests. I had hoped for an explanation or an apology, but I was naive to expect anything at all. Between the hospital and the pack lay a stretch of forest. At that moment, the only thing that could numb my pain was to shift, allowing my wolf instincts to temporarily suppress my anguish. It took me over an hour of walking to return home. When I arrived, they were celebrating Lilith’s discharge from the hospital. Lucas was shamelessly flirting with her in front of everyone. Elodie, Lucas’s sister, pointed a finger at me and began to scold. “Jessica, you still have the audacity to come back? You’ve been in the hospital for seven days. Who do you think did all the chores while you were gone?” I silently endured her berating. Ever since my parents passed away, Elodie’s attitude toward me had grown increasingly hostile. “Jessica, Lilith wants you to cook for her,” Lucas said, turning to look at me with the same commanding tone. “Luna, your roasted chicken is the best,” Lilith added, sticking out her tongue in a playful, childlike manner. Lucas gazed at her with a tenderness that was almost sickening. This hypocritical woman only ever called me Luna when others were present. Behind closed doors, she would use my name without a shred of respect. After walking for over an hour, I had no energy left to argue. It wasn’t like my voice held any weight in this house anyway. I went to the kitchen and began preparing my own dinner. It had been a week since I last had a proper meal, and my stomach ached with hunger. I reached for my favorite coffee beans, hoping to brew a cup to soothe my stomach. Lilith walked in, her tone dripping with mockery. “Jessica, why are you so slow?” I ignored her, my only desire being to retreat to my room and rest. “Jessica, do you know how much Lucas loves me?” she said, her voice filled with arrogance and triumph. “Jessica, do you know I faked being poisoned just to get your blood?” Her words made my hands tremble with rage. “What? Are you going to tell Lucas?” she taunted, stepping closer. “Do you really think he’d believe you?” As she spoke, she deliberately tipped a pot of boiling water, spilling it onto my arm. “Ah!” Lilith screamed theatrically, jumping back. “Luna, are you crazy? Were you trying to burn me?” Her performance was flawless. Lucas came rushing in at the sound of her cries, shoving me aside to shield Lilith behind him. The force sent me stumbling, my lower back slamming into the counter. The searing pain made me gasp, but the ache in my heart hurt far more. “Lilith, are you okay?” Lucas asked, his eyes filled with worry as he examined her. He didn’t even glance at my scalded arm. To him, I was invisible. I looked down at my reddened arm, smiling bitterly. This was reality for me.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

“Luna, I know you didn’t do it on purpose. You didn’t burn yourself, did you?” Lilith’s voice sounded concerned, but I clearly saw a flash of triumph in her eyes. “Lucas, Luna really didn’t mean to. She just wanted to make me a cup of coffee...” Lucas glared at me, holding Lilith tightly in his arms with a look of concern. Looking at this scene, I couldn’t help but feel amused. “Jessica, are you jealous that Lilith is prettier than you? “You’re always bullying my sister! You don’t even act like a proper Luna! “You’re only doing this because Lilith is weak, intentionally pouring hot water on her! “Lilith, don’t be afraid. I’m here," Lilith's brother said. “It was clearly she who poured the hot water on me. Why are you blaming me?” I retorted. “Shut up!” I wanted to tell them the truth, but Lucas cut me off. It felt like a huge stone was pressing down on my heart, making me hard to breathe. She didn’t even have a drop of water on her, yet Lucas, as if blind, was blaming me. “Jessica, is this how you apologize for doing something wrong? Hurry up and apologize to Lilith!” Despite the scorching summer heat, my heart felt a cold chill. I clenched my jaw and whispered, “I am sorry.” Those three words weren’t an apology; they were the final farewell to this relationship. He would rather believe others than trust his wife of five years. “Jessica, what kind of apology is that? You didn't sound sincere at all!” Elodie was still nagging incessantly. I couldn’t bear this humiliation any longer, I didn’t want to stay here for another second. “Jessica, stop right there!” Lucas grabbed my wrist and pulled me back with such force that it felt like he might crush my bones. “Lucas, look, I need to treat my wound!” I winced in pain as the blisters on my arm had burst, revealing raw, red flesh that was horrifying to look at. Lucas glanced at my arm and eventually let go of my wrist. I returned to my room, unable to hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes. “Sorry, it’s all my fault that you all misunderstood Luna. “I should have left. I shouldn’t have caused you any trouble.” I heard their loud voices outside, and Lilith ran out, followed by the others. I thought I was the only one left at home, but not long after, Lucas opened the door and walked in. He came over and gently stroked my stomach. “Jessica, for the sake of the baby, don’t be angry anymore, okay?” He tried to touch my face, but I recoiled in disgust. “Jessica, Lilith is just my childhood friend, but you will always be my Luna.” Lucas tried to calm me down, his tone even sounding somewhat appeasing. But his soft words felt like a slap to the face, harsh and painful. “Lucas, so you do care about our child? Do you remember I’m your wife?” I couldn’t help but mock him. Lucas froze. His silence made me even colder. Just then, his phone rang. “Lucas, Lilith’s wolfsbane flared up. She was just taken away by the ambulance. Come to the hospital, quickly.” Elodie sounded panicked. Without saying a word, Lucas retrieved my card from my purse. “Jessica, my finances have been tight recently. I need to use your parents’ compensation to pay for Lilith’s medical bills.” His words were like a thunderbolt, striking me hard. I could hardly believe my ears. Two months ago, a rogue werewolf had attacked a nearby pack, and my parents died on the frontlines. The Werewolf Association had given me 100,000 dollars as compensation for their deaths. “Are you crazy? Why would you use the money I got from my parents’ death to pay for Lilith?” I roared at him in anger. “Money can be earned again. You know Lilith needs this money more right now,” Lucas said matter-of-factly, as if it was a completely reasonable thing to do. “No!” I raised my voice, desperately trying to snatch my card back from him. That was my bottom line. I wouldn’t let him cross it. “Jessica, stop being unreasonable!” Lucas pushed me to the ground, showing no mercy. My head hit the floor, and a sharp pain shot through my body. I felt something leave my body. Warm liquid trickled down my legs, and the sticky sensation filled me with panic. Trembling, I reached for my phone and dialed emergency services. The pain made my consciousness blur, and in my dazed state, I thought I saw Lucas whispering in my ear when he marked me. “I will always love you and protect you.”