Fianna's POV
I had no idea how long I lay on the floor before the door finally opened.
Bastien stood there, looking down at me with disgust.
"You should be thanking Valeska," he said coldly. "If not for her, you would still be locked in here. She begged me to release you because of your friendship."
His words cut deep, but I kept my face expressionless.
"How generous of her," I croaked. My voice was rough after hours of screaming.
He frowned at my sarcasm but ignored it.
Stepping aside, he allowed me to leave the room.
My legs trembled from weakness, but he made no move to help me.
"Make sure everything is removed from this chamber before tomorrow," he said coldly before walking away.
For a moment, I simply stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall for support.
Humiliation burned inside me. My chest ached, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Soon enough, they would pay for everything.
***
Later that evening, Valeska walked into the nearly empty room as if she owned it.
A bowl of soup rested in her hands. She placed it on the table and sighed.
"You should eat. You look awful."
I ignored her and continued packing the few belongings I had left.
She clicked her tongue. "You can fool Bastien, but not me."
Her voice lowered. "I can see it in your eyes. You know everything."
My hands paused for a second. Then I continued packing. Ignoring her.
She stepped closer.
"Tell me, Fianna. How does it feel knowing he sacrificed your daughter for me?"
I turned away.
She continued anyway, “He never loved you. Not even once."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You've always been nothing more than a burden to him."
I remained silent. I simply walked toward the window and refused to acknowledge her.
A mocking laugh escaped her lips.
"I wonder how it felt watching us together in his office."
Still, I said nothing. I was too tired to waste words on her.
Unfortunately, silence wasn't the reaction she wanted.
A moment later, a loud bang echoed through the room.
I spun around.
Valeska had slammed her own head against the wall.
"Bastien!"
Tears instantly appeared in her eyes.
Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway.
The door burst open.
"What happened?" Bastien demanded.
Valeska immediately broke into sobs.
"She smashed my head into the wall," she cried. "I brought her food. I was only trying to help, and she attacked me."
I stared at her in shock.
"That's a lie. I didn't—"
Before I could finish, Bastien's fist crashed into my face.
The force sent me stumbling backward.
My body slammed against the wall before collapsing onto the floor.
Pain exploded through me.
"Have you lost your mind?!" he roared. "If you touch her again, I swear—"
"I didn't touch her!" I said through bloodied lips. "She—"
A brutal kick to my stomach cut me off.
The air left my lungs instantly.
I curled over and clutched my abdomen, gasping for breath.
He towered above me, rage blazing in his eyes.
Behind him stood Valeska, fake tears running down her face.
"I—"
I coughed, tasting blood.
"Bastien... I'm—"
The word pregnant reached my lips.
But his fist struck me again.
My head slammed into the floor. Pain shot through my body.
Still, I struggled to speak.
"I'm... carrying—"
"Shut up!"
His roar silenced me.
Then another kick landed.
I screamed and wrapped my arms protectively around my stomach.
"You need to learn your place!"
He kicked me again.
After that, he grabbed Valeska and stormed out.
The door slammed shut behind them.
Agonizing pain ripped through my abdomen. Then suddenly, I felt warmth between my legs.
I froze.
Slowly, I touched the floor.
My fingers came away stained red.
"No..."
My voice broke.
I pressed both hands against my stomach. Shaking my head.
"No. No, no, no..."
Tears blurred my vision as the blood kept flowing, soaking through my clothes and spreading across the floor.
I didn't need a Moon Healer to tell me what had happened.
I already knew.
Tears streamed down my face.
Not from sadness.
Not from pain.
They were tears of hatred, of fury.
The only thing keeping me standing now.
"Bastien!"
My scream echoed through the manor.
Hatred was the only thing keeping me alive.
***
Groaning in pain, I dragged myself out of the Alpha Manor.
Every step felt like torture. Blood stained my dress. I could barely remain standing.
But I forced myself into a moon carriage and gave the driver the location of the nearest Moon Healers' Hall.
Hours later, I lay weak in a healing chamber.
The healer's words repeated endlessly in my head.
"We couldn't save the pup."
They kept me there through the night.
The following afternoon, I insisted on leaving.
Part of me expected Bastien to appear, or send a message, or at least ask where I was.
But he did none of those things.
When I returned to the manor, he didn't even notice I had been gone.
Or perhaps he simply didn't care.
***
Two days later…
With Valeska standing beside him, Bastien said, "Fianna, my moon-born day celebration is tonight. Be there on time. Valeska and I have somewhere else to go first. We'll meet you there later."
I smiled.
"Alright. I'll see you there."
Since losing my unborn pup, I hadn't argued with him once. Not even gave him sarcasm or complaints. Only quiet smiles and obedient nods.
I became silent. Simply agreeable and easy to control.
Those which Bastien loved.
His expression softened, then he smiled with satisfaction. Like an Alpha pleased with a wolf who had finally stopped resisting.
Then he leaned forward and tried to kiss my lips. But I turned my head slightly. So his kiss landed on my cheek instead.
He blinked in surprise.
But I only smiled sweetly as if nothing had happened. As if I hadn't noticed.
"See you later," I said softly.
Bastien grinned and turned toward Valeska.
The two of them headed for the door.
As they passed the table, Valeska's purse brushed against it.
Danica's framed picture fell to the floor.
The glass shattered. The frame cracked apart.
Bastien flinched at the sound. Then he looked at me. Waiting for a reaction.
Because he knew how much that picture meant to me.
But I simply smiled and stayed unbothered.
"It's alright. Go ahead. I'll clean it up."
Confusion crossed his face.
For a brief moment, he frowned. He looked as if he wanted to say something.
But before he could speak, Valeska slipped her arm through his.
"Come on, Alpha," she purred. "We'll be late."
He hesitated.
Then he allowed her to lead him away.
If only he knew…
This would be the last time he ever saw me.
I stood by the window and watched them leave. A cold smile touched my lips.
Then I gathered everything: the bond severance papers, the documents proving I had withdrawn my investments from Ashbourne Pack Holdings, the evidence of Bastien and Valeska's affair, my pregnancy report. And finally, the records proving he had sacrificed our daughter for his mistress.
I placed everything into a large brown envelope.
Across the front, I wrote: Happy Moon-born Day, Alpha Bastien Ashbourne. From Fianna Wolfhart.
I sealed it and handed it to a courier.
"Deliver this to the celebration."
A few minutes later, a black enchanted carriage rolled into the driveway.
It was my father's carriage.
The driver stepped out and opened the door for me. And without a word, he loaded my luggage.
As we rode away from the territory, I never looked back. I clenched my fists as hatred surged through me once more.
One day, Bastien and Valeska would regret everything they had done.
