One month after giving birth, Evelyn Hart traveled alone to the healers’ hall for the customary post-birth examination.
Among werewolves, the first month after childbirth was considered sacred. A new mother remained within the protection of her territory while her body recovered and her wolf slowly regained balance after bringing life into the world. Only after the completion of one full moon cycle would she appear before the pack healer to confirm that both mother and pup had received the Moon Goddess’s blessing.
Evelyn had expected nothing more than an ordinary visit.
Instead, the elderly healer studied the moonstone tablet before him for far longer than necessary. His brows gradually knitted together, and when he finally looked at her, there was hesitation in his eyes that immediately stirred unease in her chest.
“There seems to be a problem,” he said.
Evelyn frowned slightly and sat straighter. “What kind of problem?”
Rather than answering, the healer turned the polished moonstone disk toward her. Pale markings shimmered faintly across its surface—the official records of lineage, births, and bloodlines recognized by every pack under the High Moon Council.
“Luna Evelyn,” he said carefully, “according to these records, your wolf has never carried a child.”
For several moments, she simply looked at him.
The words reached her ears, but her mind refused to accept them.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the armrest. “There must be some mistake.”
Her voice sounded calm at first, though she could already feel something cold beginning to spread beneath her skin.
“I delivered my son here a month ago.”
The healer’s expression did not change.
“Your name does not appear in the birthing registry. The female connected to all recorded examinations and birth documentation is Vanessa Sterling.”
Evelyn stared at him.
Then she laughed once—a small, disbelieving sound.
“That’s impossible.”
Without waiting for permission, she opened her satchel and removed the collection of records she had kept throughout her pregnancy. Every examination. Every moon-blessing. Every healer’s note documenting the growth of the pup she had believed was hers.
She laid them across the table.
“I came here every month,” she said, forcing steadiness into her voice. “The moonwater readings, the blood confirmations, the final labor preparation. My mate accompanied me himself.”
The healer accepted the documents and began reviewing them one by one.
As he read, his expression shifted.
At last, he looked up.
“These records are authentic,” he admitted quietly.
Relief nearly surfaced in Evelyn’s chest—
Until he continued.
“But they were never issued under your identity. These belong to Vanessa Sterling.”
The room became unbearably silent.
Evelyn remained still, yet her thoughts had already begun collapsing inward.
She remembered everything.
She remembered waking before dawn with her hand resting against her stomach and speaking softly to the life she believed could hear her. She remembered the nights Adrian held her during difficult moons and promised that after their son was born, she would never have to worry again. She remembered the labor, the pain, the silver-blade procedure performed to save both mother and child.
Most clearly of all, she remembered opening her eyes afterward and seeing Adrian beside her bed with a newborn wrapped in white fur blankets.
He had kissed her forehead and whispered—
You did well, my mate.
The memory remained vivid.
Too vivid.
Which made the healer’s next question feel almost insulting.
“Luna Evelyn,” he said after a pause, “are you absolutely certain your wolf conceived?”
The question should have angered her.
Instead, it left her strangely empty.
Because for the first time—
she realized she could remember every part of the pregnancy except the one thing every she-wolf spoke about.
The bond.
No first awareness of another heartbeat.
No instinctive pull.
No soul-thread.
Only memories.
Memories that now felt frighteningly easy to question.
