The pack house loomed before us, a grand estate nestled deep within the forest. Cassian walked ahead, his posture tense, while I followed in obedient silence. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my expression neutral, my lips curved in a polite smile as we stepped into the grand dining hall.
A long wooden table stretched across the center, adorned with lavish dishes and golden candelabras. Laughter and idle conversation filled the room, but it all came to a halt the moment I stepped inside. Eyes flickered toward me, some filled with amusement, others with disdain.
My father sat at the head of the table, his smile sharp as he gestured for us to take our seats.
And then, there she was.
Vivian, radiant and smug, her four-month-pregnant belly on full display as she leaned back in her chair with a knowing smirk.
"Oh, Anna," she sighed dramatically, placing a delicate hand over her swollen stomach. "I'm truly heartbroken over your loss. It must be so painful for you."
Her tone was laced with false sympathy, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her true intentions. Around the table, soft chuckles followed her words, their expressions carefully masked behind casual smiles. I could feel their mockery pressing down on me like a suffocating weight.
I forced my own smile in return, mimicking their expressions. They never learned sign language, never made an effort, thus I would often just mimic whatever they're doing. It seems that I should've learned to lip read, so I would have known all the mockery they've done to me.
But it's okay now.
They thought I couldn't hear them. They thought I was too oblivious to understand their taunts. But inside, my wolf howled with rage, and I imagined nothing more than tearing them all apart.
"Such a shame," another voice chimed in, a woman from a lesser-ranking family, her tone laced with poorly hidden glee. "To think that Cassian's wife couldn't even carry his child properly. Isn't this the tenth baby already?"
"Don't you think he would be considered barren at this point? Unable to give birth for so long, she's not really fit to be our Luna," a cousin responded. "Actually, Cassian could just bring some other females to his den to continue his lineage. Anna won't still hear them even if they do it every night."
"Now, now," a man chuckled. "Be kind. She's already deaf and useless. Give her some slack."
"Oh, I think it's rather convenient," someone else added. "She's a perfect target. A Luna who can't even stand up for herself."
Laughter rippled through the table. I also laughed, which must have made them feel more funny about my obliviousness. But my grip on my utensils tightened, my nails pressing into my palm. The air grew thick with their amusement, suffocating me with its cruelty.
Slowly, I pushed back my chair and rose to my feet, my smile never faltering. I gestured toward the hallway, pretending I needed to use the restroom. Cassian barely acknowledged me, too engrossed in whatever conversation he was having with my father.
That was fine. I wanted to be away from them all.
The restroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of the wall sconces casting eerie shadows along the marble walls. I turned the faucet on, letting the cool water run over my trembling fingers. My reflection stared back at me, hollow and numb.
Just as I exhaled, the door creaked open. My heart sank as I saw Vivian step inside, her smirk widening.
"Oh, Anna," she cooed, stepping closer. "You poor, pitiful thing. You really thought you were meant to be Cassian's Luna? How tragic."
I smiled at her, nodding slightly, as if acknowledging her fake kindness. As if I couldn't hear the malice dripping from her words.
She let out a small laugh. "You know, I was worried for a moment that you'd actually give Cassian an heir before me. But fate was on my side, wasn't it?"
She placed her hand on her belly, stroking it with slow, deliberate movements.
"Your pup was strong, Anna. So strong. It's a shame it had to go to waste… but I understand you. After all, I am also not capable of bearing a child."
Vivian smiled, looking at me in the eye with a friendly smile.
"You see, I was struggling, and someone suggested a solution. A way to make sure I could carry a child of my own. I have told you about it many times but well I guess there's nothing wrong of saying it to you again."
I had a bad premonition, sending a sharp, searing pain through me. Not physical but deep, primal, something that clawed at the very core of my being. My wolf stirred violently, thrashing against the chains I had kept so tightly wound around it.
Vivian tilted her head, her smile sickly sweet. "You see, I need nourishment for the baby to be born. I need something with a strong life force... Like your pups."
My thoughts halted, feeling the tinnitus in my ears.
Vivian places her hand on my shoulder, looking friendly and demure, but the words she spouted were full of malice and provocation.
"You should be proud, Anna. Your loss gave me life. My baby is thriving, thanks to you."
Something inside me snapped.
