Mira’s POV
The drive to Althea’s clinic felt endless. The clinic itself sat near the edge of Windbloom territory, hidden among thick forests for privacy.
When I entered her office, she immediately stood from her chair.
“Mira.” Concern flashed across her face.
“You look terrible.”
Althea guided me toward an examination room and performed several tests.
The entire time, her expression became darker and darker. Finally, she removed her gloves and looked at me.
Neither of us spoke for several moments. The silence itself made my heart sink.
“What is it?” I asked.
Althea sighed heavily. “Mira…”
Her voice softened.
“You’re too far along.”
I froze. “What?”
“The pregnancy is almost full term.”
She sat across from me. “You’re expected to give birth next month.”
My fingers clenched. “I don’t care.”
Althea’s face tightened. “You should care.”
“Mira, this isn’t a simple procedure anymore.”
I stared at her.
She continued carefully. “Your wolf connection was already unstable before the pregnancy.”
“Your body has been under enormous strain carrying triplets.”
Althea looked genuinely worried. “If we terminate the pregnancy now…”
She paused. Then forced herself to continue.
“You could die.”
The room became quiet. A normal person would probably feel fear. I felt nothing. Because dying somehow seemed less terrifying than continuing like this. Less terrifying than giving birth to children that weren’t mine. Less terrifying than spending the rest of my life knowing everyone had used me.
“I still want it.”
Althea blinked. “Mira.”
“I still want it.” My voice was steady.
“I would rather die than continue being their breeding animal.”
Pain flashed across her face. She reached for my hand.
My throat tightened. “They made me carry another woman’s children.”
Finally, she released a long breath. “If you’re determined…”
I nodded. “I am.”
She closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened a scheduling book. “I need time to prepare.”
The words sounded reluctant. “A week.”
“I’ll schedule everything for one week from today.”
One week.
Just seven more days. Seven more days until I could finally be free.
The ride back to Windbloom Packhouse felt even longer than before. By the time I arrived at the packhouse, evening had settled over the territory.
The halls were unusually quiet. Most pack members were either training or preparing dinner.
I slowly made my way toward my room. Toward the room I shared with Alpha Dylan.
Then I heard voices. A woman’s laugh.
My steps stopped. Something felt wrong. The corridor ahead was mostly empty.
One door stood slightly open. Only slightly.
Enough for voices to slip through. My stomach twisted. I recognized the voices immediately. It was Alpha Dylan and Cassandra.
I should have walked away. Instead, I stood frozen.
Their conversation drifted into the hallway.
Cassandra sounded amused.
“Alpha.” Her voice carried a playful tone. “You always call for me.”
A laugh followed. “Won’t you make me your next Luna someday?”
Then Alpha Dylan’s familiar chuckle. The same chuckle that used to make my heart race.
Now it made me sick.
“Hush.” His voice was affectionate.
Then came the sentence that shattered whatever remained of my heart.
“After that fatty gives birth, all of you will be my top priority.”
I stopped breathing. The hallway suddenly felt too small.
“Once she’s done her part, we’ll all be happy under the same roof.”
The same roof. Like my only purpose was delivering babies.
If I stayed another second, I might scream. Instead, I turned around and walked away. As if my entire world hadn’t just collapsed again.
I ended up downstairs. Sitting alone in one of the common lounges.
Nearly twenty minutes later, footsteps echoed from the staircase. Cassandra and Alpha Dylan appeared together.
The moment they spotted me, both of them froze. Just briefly.
Cassandra recovered first. “Mira?”
Her eyes widened. “When did you get back?”
Alpha Dylan’s expression changed too.
“Your appointment ended already?”
I simply shrugged. “Everything went fine.”
That wasn’t technically a lie. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
“I came home early.”
Relief visibly crossed both their faces. Alpha Dylan immediately walked over. His hand settled against my stomach.
“I can’t wait to meet them.”
His eyes softened. The picture-perfect future father. The devoted husband. The greatest liar in the world.
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. A gesture so gentle it almost felt cruel.
“I promise.” His voice was warm.
“After you give birth, you’ll be taken care of the most.”
I almost laughed. Instead, I smiled. A small fake smile.
I couldn’t even bring myself to enter our bedroom immediately. The thought of Alpha Dylan and Cassandra together lingered in my mind.
Eventually, I opened the door. Suddenly, the room felt contaminated. I turned around immediately.
No. I couldn’t stay there. Instead, I walked toward one of the guest rooms and locked the door behind me.
Only then did I pull out my phone. There was one person I needed to call.
My mother. The Luna of Moonclove Pack. The woman I hadn’t listened to.
Years ago, my parents hated Dylan. They hated the complications surrounding him. Four mates.
They had warned me repeatedly. I hadn’t listened. Because I thought I was special.
Alpha Dylan had chosen me as Luna.
Me. Out of everyone.
I thought that meant something.
My parents had even arranged a potential marriage between me and the future Alpha of Eclipse Pack. A strong neighboring territory beside Moonclove. But I refused. I chose Alpha Dylan. I even ran away with him.
Looking back now, I felt like a fool.
The phone rang several times. Then my mother answered.
“Mira?” The sound of her voice almost broke me.
I closed my eyes. Suddenly feeling like a little girl again.
“Mom.”
Silence. Then concern.
“Mira, what’s wrong?”
My throat tightened. Tears finally escaped. “You were right.”
Silence.
“I should’ve listened.” My voice cracked.
“You were right about him, Mom.”
The line became completely quiet. For a moment, I thought the call had disconnected.
Then I heard her breathing.
The voice that finally emerged was soft. Far softer than I expected.
“When do you want us to send someone to pick you up?”
Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. Relief washed through me.
“Please.” My voice trembled. “In a week.”
A pause. Then I whispered.
“After I get an abortion.”
Suddenly—The guest room door opened.
My blood ran cold.
I slowly turned around.
Alpha Dylan stood in the doorway. His expression unreadable. Then his gaze shifted toward the phone in my hand.
“Abortion? Did I hear that right?”
