(Isara’s POV)
“All I needed to do was mix a small potion into her meal to force an early birth,” Xavian said lightly, almost entertained. “Then I would tell her there were pack complications. She would weep, I would hold her and everything would continue as before.”
Memories struck me like claws. Each lost pup. The agony. The blood staining white sheets in the healer’s den.
After every loss, Brienne would arrive at the Moonstone Healing Hall carrying warm broth.
“I made this for you myself,” she would say, her eyes shining with fake sorrow. “I know your heart is broken. I am here, sister.”
She would sleep beside my bed, curled in a chair, gripping my hand whenever I woke up crying from empty womb pains.
Xavian would sit on my other side, brushing my hair back. “We will try again,” he would whisper gently. “The Moon Goddess will bless us. I promise.”
I believed them. I trusted them.
My hands shook so badly I bit down on my palm to stop myself from screaming.
They had poisoned me four times.
“Will you truly cast her aside once my womb is fully restored?” Brienne asked, her tone sweet and false.
“Of course,” Xavian replied calmly. “Once the pack healer confirms the rituals succeeded, there is no reason to keep her as Luna.”
I could almost hear his smile. “Then we can stand together openly as Alpha and Luna.”
Brienne’s voice softened. “And my family. What will they think?”
Xavian let out a cold laugh. “The same family that always favored you over her. They will support us. Her own mother once told me she finds Isara an embarrassment to the bloodline.”
The words cut deep because they were true.
“She already transferred her five percent shares of Silverhowl Trading House to me years ago without knowing,” Xavian continued. “When I reject her, she will leave with nothing. No allies. No pack support. She will crawl back to some forgotten border village where she belongs.”
Brienne frowned slightly. “How will you make it happen?”
Xavian’s chuckle was dark. “Next week we will hold a grand gathering in the Alpha Hall to announce your pregnancy to the elders, allied Alphas and trading partners.”
He went on. “During the feast, someone will slip a potion into her moon wine. Later, Blaise will discover her in one of the upper chambers with strange males in a disgraceful scene.”
Brienne gasped softly. “You will trap her?”
“She will be too drugged to understand anything. Blaise will ensure images are captured by crystal record. Before the night ends, everyone will believe Isara Silverhowl betrayed her loyal mate during a celebration for her sister’s pregnancy.”
“That is perfect,” Brienne breathed. “She will look like the villain.”
“Exactly. The separation will be clean. She will walk away empty handed.” Xavian sounded pleased.
My heart pounded so violently I feared it would break my ribs.
He planned to poison me again. Shame me before the entire pack. Strip me of everything.
Their sounds filled the clearing once more. I stepped back slowly from the carriage, silent as a shadow. Blood dripped from my bitten palm, yet I felt nothing.
Only ruin. Only fury. Only heartbreak.
When I was far enough, I ran.
I climbed into my own carriage and trembled so badly I struggled to grip the reins. I sat in darkness, tears falling freely, my hand resting over my stomach to shield my unborn pup.
Four pups slaughtered. Used in cruel moon experiments to heal my sister so she could bear my mate’s heir.
And now he meant to destroy my name and steal what little remained mine.
The ride back to the pack castle felt unreal. I nearly crashed twice as my thoughts replayed his words.
“She is foolish. She has no one. She belongs in a poor border hut.”
I entered the castle like a ghost and went straight to Xavian’s private study.
I needed proof. Truth. Something solid.
My fingers shook as I searched through scrolls, his rune bound tablet and locked drawers. Beneath a drawer lining, I found a small bronze key. I opened the cabinet.
Healer records with my name. Dates matching every pregnancy. Ritual procedures I never agreed to. Payments sent to a secret research coven.
My breathing grew uneven as I searched faster.
Then I found it. The transfer parchment. The company shares he gifted me at our mating ceremony. I had unknowingly signed them back to him.
“She will leave with nothing.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. Xavian knew nothing.
He believed he built Silverhowl Trading House with his own strength.
But five winters ago, when his business nearly collapsed, a hidden investor rescued it. All debts were paid. Expansion funded. Losses covered.
That investor was me.
Under my maiden name, Isara Ashmoon, I created a secret account no one knew. Before my mating, Sariah had left me her entire savings from decades of seamstress work and her parents’ inheritance.
It was nearly a million gold coins. I invested carefully. The wealth grew.
When Xavian’s empire began to fall, I poured one hundred forty-seven million into saving it.
His kingdom of trade stood on my fortune.
And he called me foolish.
I copied every record and hid them where he would never search.
Then I sank to the cold stone floor and cried until nothing remained inside me.
When the tears ended, emptiness stayed. I did not know my next move.
Then I remembered his warning months ago.
“Stay away from Raiden Ravengrowl. He is my greatest rival. Ruthless. Dangerous. He would destroy me without mercy.”
Raiden Ravengrowl. Alpha of the Ravengrowl Pack. Xavian’s sworn enemy.
He was the only one who could stand against him.
With shaking hands, I searched through hidden contacts. It took long minutes before I found Raiden’s private number buried deep in Xavian’s secured files.
I stared at it.
Once I made this call, my life would change forever.
But when I thought of my murdered pups, Brienne’s laughter and Xavian’s cruelty, I pressed the call rune.
It rang twice before a deep voice answered. “Who speaks?”
My throat tightened, yet I forced the words out. “My name is Isara Silverhowl. I am Alpha Xavian Silverhowl’s mate.”
Silence followed.
“The Alpha’s mate,” he said slowly. “What do you seek from me?”
Tears blurred my sight. “I require your help.”
“Why would the Luna of Silverhowl contact me? I am your mate’s enemy.” His tone sharpened.
“Because I want him ruined,” I whispered. “And I believe you despise him as much as I do.”
The silence stretched long.
Then Raiden laughed. Low. Dark. Dangerous.
“Luna Silverhowl,” he said calmly, “you now hold my full attention.”
