LIANDREN'S POV

Never in my life did I expect to become this... an outcast, an adulteress, or a murderer.

Maybe if I had committed any of the crimes I had been convicted of, then maybe it wouldn't hurt so badly.

After Rowan found out that I was carrying his child, he had me locked up in the Werewolf clinic until I delivered—after he stripped me of my title and rejected me in front of the whole pack.

That day, my wolf howled nonstop at the betrayal of our mate, trying to call out to him through the bond, but all I got was nothing but the coldness of the floor slipping into my bones as I lay on the ground, waiting for a miracle.

The door creaked open, and I weakly turned my head in the direction. Gentle footsteps filled the room.

“Who’s there…” I cranked my neck to see that witch who ruined my life… Melody.

She stood there, looking all dolled up as usual as she crossed her arms at the entrance.

“What do you want? Have you come to gloat or admire the ruin you cursed?”

Melody pursed her lips as she slowly began to tap on her chin. Her heels clicked through the room as she moved over to where I was.

I ignored her, turning my face away as I gazed toward the window, cradling my slightly protruding belly. It wasn’t up to three months, but the babies were growing really fast—faster than normal pups. I could hear the hushed whispers through the hallway claiming it was because I committed adultery, and that’s why my children was different.

“I came to see you.” I could feel her presence hovering over my back, her palm placed firmly on my shoulder as she spun me to meet her gaze.

Her gaze lowered to my belly, and I flinched, noticing the glimmer of a faint smirk.

“And also, I came for the little bumblebees nesting in your belly.”

I swallowed hard, placing my hand over my belly. “Scheme all you want, but if you dare come after my children, I’ll never spare you.”

Melody scoffed as she reached out to tuck my hair slowly behind my ears and sighed.

Anticipation of what she might be able to do nudged at my chest. My ears perked up, ready to catch any faint movement...

“We would have been really good friends if you didn’t steal Rowan from me…” She clicked her tongue, and my brows knitted.

“Rowan? Is that what this is about? Is that why you framed me for murder and adultery?”

She cupped my chin.

“You brought it on yourself. So don’t blame me, you Ugly duckling...”

My heart leapt as I shook my head in disbelief, my pulse racing even more. “You’re not even denying it. How could you, Melody?”

She arched her brow and let out a bitter scoff. “Give it to me…” she ordered coldly, stretching out her hand toward the nurse, and I widened my eyes.

Panic clutched tight around my throat.

“Hold her down. I must get rid of that baby.” She rasped harshly, taking out the injection, and my eyes bulged when I saw it… Silver.

That was enough to kill my babies.

“No, don’t you dare!”

The nurse grabbed my arm quickly, her grip firm as I thrashed against her. Panic surged through me, and I tried to scream, but her palm slapped over my mouth, muffling the sound. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision, but I fought harder.

I couldn’t let her hurt my children.

Inside me, my wolf let out a desperate guttural howl. In my mind’s eye, she moved protectively over the pup, curling her body around it, shielding it with a fierce, maternal instinct as if she knew exactly what was coming.

“Stay still. This will all be over soon,” Melody hushed me.

Blood rushed to my head the moment I felt the sharp sting of the needle piercing my skin. I couldn’t wait any longer.

With rage bubbling to the surface, I summoned my wolf. Power I didn’t know was within surged through me as I snapped forward,

Teeth sinking into the nurse’s wrist. She cried out in pain, blood spraying as her grip loosened.

Melody froze in place, eyes wide.

I didn’t hesitate. My fingers closed around the syringe, and in one swift motion, I drove it into her neck.

Her body jerked, a sharp gasp escaping her lips before she coughed thick dark blood, spilling from her mouth and splattering onto the floor.

“I told you. Don’t touch my children!” I groaned, my chest heaving.

I took a step, and my whole body shuddered. I felt it break—water gushed from between my legs as the pain surged through my body, and I screamed. “Help! I need help!”

Sweat dripped through my body as my eyes dimmed. Heat shot up my spine and surged through my arms, my heart hammering in my chest and my lungs aching with heavy breaths.

“Anyone, please…”

My knees buckled, and I braced myself for a fall, but instead, I crashed into someone. The familiar scent of pine and musk filled my nostrils, stirring something within me.

His strong grip fastened over my waist, and I grabbed his shirt tightly, gasping as I slowly brought my gaze to meet his.

My vision blurred from the sweat, but I knew it was him… Rowan.

“Please… help…”

My eyes gave out, and I drifted into the darkness.

******

Cold.

That was the first thing I felt—a sharp sting as water smacked against my face, yanking me out of the darkness.

I gasped, instinctively turning my head, but the chill clung to me, soaking into my skin and dripping down my neck.

My eyes flickered open, but my lashes were still thick with droplets of water that blurred my vision.

“You’re finally awake.” The deep voice groaned inside my head.

Rowan? What was he doing here?

“Luna!” I heard Alice, my personal maid, sigh with relief.

I turned my gaze toward her as she curled her hands over my back, pulling me to sit upright. “Gentle, Luna. You just got out of labor.”

My body froze, and I snapped my head toward Alice. My nails dug into her arm.

“What do you mean, labor? My babies are not even up to four months…”

The words tasted bitter against my tongue as I swallowed hard. My shoulders threatened to slump again, but Alice held me back.

Rowan’s presence hovered as he stood in front of me, arms crossed with a frown on his face.

“What is she saying?”

Alice’s head tilted toward the floor as she heaved a deep sigh. My hand clutched over my stomach, but my eyes widened.

I felt nothing within, like I normally did since I got pregnant.

What the hell happened when I was unconscious?

“The stress made you go into labor, but the healers could only save one.”

Tears filled my eyes, and my chest heaved fast. “Where are my babies?” I demanded sharply.

Rowan grabbed my chin, tilting my face toward him, the edge of his lips tagged with a smirk.

“Do you mean your lover’s child? It’s probably in the kennels of the pack hounds. I sent guards to feed it to them.”

Blood rushed inside my head as my teeth gritted. “You monster. How could you?”

“It’s because I hate your entire existence, and this is just the beginning.” He scoffed.

He tried to move, but I grabbed his hand hurriedly. “What about the other one? What happened to…”

“Our child is dead.” His eyes softened for a while before they hardened. “It was a stillbirth.”

I gasped, feeling my heart break, tears filling my eyes as I cried even more.

His guards stormed the room, and Rowan loosened his grip on me.

“Take her to her cell. Let her rot in jail. That's what she deserves.”