The moment I woke up, Keshia was gone.
I barely had time to think before I was on my feet, my wolf stirring violently. My instincts screamed to storm into the Blood Moon Pack's territory and tear apart anyone who dared take my child. But Eugene stopped me.
I didn't hesitate. My hand shot out, slapping him across the face. Tears blurred my vision as I glared at him, trembling. "How dare you," I choked out. "How could you give our daughter away like that?"
Eugene barely flinched. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his jaw. "Sarah, listen-"
"Listen?" My voice rose, raw and hoarse. "You gave her away without telling me why, and now you want me to listen?"
"It is necessary for the safety of the pack."
"So what? Didn't they also ask for Sabrina's child?"
"Are you saying I should've given up Sabrina's child instead?" His voice was sharp, defensive. "He's just a boy too, Sarah!"
A bitter laugh tore from my throat. "Oh, but our daughter doesn't count? She's just a baby! Or is it because that child belongs to Sabrina?"
Eugene's expression darkened, but he said nothing.
Sabrina. His first love. They had grown up together, inseparable. Everyone had thought they would be mates. Then, she disappeared for five years, only to return with a fatherless child.
I comforted him when she left. I had thought Eugene had moved on.
"It's not like that," Eugene muttered.
"Not like that? Then why did you pick our child? Shouldn't it be easier to send Sabrina's child, the spawn of some unknown wolf?"
"You shouldn't say that," Eugene snapped, meeting my eyes at last.
I laughed again, but it was hollow. "Unbelievable."
My voice dropped to a whisper, lethal and unyielding. "I'm getting my daughter back."
"Sarah, don't," Eugene warned. "We finally found a home here. Don't throw everything away over this!"
"This is not home without my daughter." My voice was cold, empty.
I turned my back on him. I refused to stand by and do nothing while my child was taken from me. I made my way to the old weaponsmith.
"I need a sword," I told him.
The old wolf studied me, his golden eyes searching my face. He didn't ask why.
He nodded once. "Come back by nightfall."
I made my way back to the den to gather supplies. Taking a shortcut, I passed by Sabrina's house and froze. A sound drifted through the night.
Soft. Breathless. Moans.
My stomach twisted violently. I knew those sounds. My feet refused to move, but my body trembled. A voice followed. A voice I knew too well.
"It's okay, don't worry. Everything will be fine," Sabrina said.
"I hope so," Eugene replied.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"My brother might be a menace," Sabrina said, her tone dripping with false sweetness, "but he's not at fault here."
"I know," Eugene murmured.
Sabrina's voice was laced with feigned sympathy. "Sarah must be heartbroken. Her daughter was taken away."
"She'll understand," Eugene said, as if it meant nothing. "It was for the pack. She won't do anything reckless."
"That's true, she's always been like that." Sabrina chuckled sweetly. "She sounded furious earlier."
"She's just being emotional." Eugene's voice was dismissive. "She'll get over it."
I'll get over it?
My wolf snarled, rage burning through my veins like wildfire. I wanted to storm inside, to tear him apart. But then, Sabrina giggled, a sickeningly sweet sound.
"It's okay," she whispered. "We still have our son. I'll make sure he grows up just like you."
Everything inside me shattered.
Son?
Sabrina's son. He was also Eugene's son.
The pieces fell together, sharp and unforgiving. The way Eugene always defended the boy. The way he refused to let him go. The way he spoke about him, as if he were precious.
The way he chose to keep him in the pack while giving away Keshia.
He wasn't just Sabrina's son. He was theirs.
Eugene had betrayed me long before tonight.
