MIA'S POV

What the fuck were they saying?! Why would Lucas stop me from entering the palace? I wasn’t hearing things, was I?

“Allow me enter right this minute...” I snapped, but I didn’t even wait for permission. My hands shoved the door open with more force than I thought I had, slamming it against the wall as I stormed inside.

I didn’t know where that strength came from but it didn’t matter. I needed to see him myself.

The guards flinched, maybe even thought to stop me, but none of them dared to touch the Luna. They knew better.

I didn’t break stride as I stormed down the palace hallway. If it was really the Alpha’s order as they claimed, then I would need to hear it from him.

“Luna Mia?” a voice called and I saw that it was Zumer.

He stood there, eyes wide with surprise like he just saw a ghost. What was this look everyone had in their eyes? His hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to say more, but instead, he bowed low and stepped aside.

I didn’t slow down. I didn’t even look at him.

‘I’ll deal with you later.’

At the dining table, I stood still for a moment, watching my uncle and aunt, Robert and Vivian eating like royalty, dressed in expensive clothes that shimmered under the golden chandelier.

I had to push back a scoff at the sight and offer a polite bow, the way I was taught. They didn’t acknowledge it. As expected, they acted like I didn’t exist.

“Looking for the king?” Vivian asked, her tone unexpectedly sweet.

I looked up and nodded quickly.

“He’s in his chambers,” she said, almost too kindly.

I stared at her, puzzled. Her voice had a softness that didn’t match her usual coldness. I offered her a small smile and then without a word, I turned and made my way toward the Alpha’s chambers.

When I reached the door, I knocked once, then pushed it open just enough to peek inside.

“Is anything wrong, Alpha?” I called, stepping into the room.

Laughter echoed from inside and I realized there were two voices except from mine. Was he not alone?

“Now that her dad is out of the way,” a male voice said, “don’t you think it’s time we took care of her?”

My heart stopped beating.

I froze in the doorway, hand flying to my mouth as my heart slammed into my ribs.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

There, in plain sight, Lilith and Lucas were locked in a passionate kiss.

My world shattered in that instant.

I tried to blink and see if the image would disappear, but it was still there. It was real. My husband was having an affair with my cousin?!!!!

“Can… can someone explain to me what the heck is going on here!” I screamed, voice cracking as hot tears stung behind my eyes, threatening to fall.

At the sound of my voice, they jolted apart.

Lucas hesitated as his lips were too tangled with hers. It was Lilith who pulled away first, dragging her lips out of the kiss like she didn’t want to stop. Lucas blinked, slow at first, then suddenly threw on a look of fake surprise too late.

“I… I’m deeply sorry, Mia,” he stammered, voice low, guilty.

“Sorry for what?” I rasped, taking a shaky step forward. My eyes were locked on Lilith as she walked toward me. She had her hands clasped together and her face twisted into something that pretended to be remorse.

Lucas still said nothing. Just stood there. Why? Why was he silent? Was this real? I just needed to say something. At least deny it.

My gaze dropped and that’s when I saw it.

“Why are you wearing my gown?” I whispered, then louder, “Don’t you know only a queen is allowed to wear that?”

Lilith tilted her head, ran her hand slowly down the silk fabric like she was savoring the feel. Her lips curled into a smug smile. The fake remorse disappeared immediately.

“Calm down, little Mia,” she said gently, “What you saw… was true. Lucas, he’s the one who gave me permission to wear it.”

My chest tightened and a painful knot formed in my throat at her words.

“Tell me,” Lilith said, tilting her head with a smirk. “Doesn’t the gown suit me?”

I blinked in astonishment. How dare she ask me that?

My fists clenched at my sides. “Lucas,” I said, turning sharply to him, “why aren’t you saying anything?”

He let out a slow, tired sigh like I was the one wasting his time.

“To be honest, Mia,” he said coldly, “I’ve opened my eyes. This pack has no future with you as Luna. I mean, look at your father on death row for a crime...”

“He’s not guilty!” I shouted, voice breaking. My steps faltered as I stared at him, heart pounding. “Why are you talking like this? Didn’t… didn’t you promise to stop it? You said you’d fight for him. You swore, Lucas.”

Suddenly a mocking laughter echoed in the room.

It was Lilith.

She leaned against the wall with a smug tilt of her chin, her fingers trailing down her stomach like she was showing off a prize. “Lucas was fooling you, dear,” she said sweetly, “because there’s no way he’d risk all that for you… not when he has to take care of his unborn baby.”

She rubbed her belly slowly with a dramatic pout.

My mouth fell open when I realized.

“She’s… she’s pregnant?” I stammered. I turned to Lilith, blinking like the words didn’t make sense. “You’re… pregnant?”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, fool. Two months in.”

My breath hitched. I couldn’t breathe.

My heart pounded wildly in my chest, up and down like it wanted to tear itself free. The tears I’d been holding back finally poured down my cheeks.

Then suddenly—“Ouch. Oh my goodness,” Lilith winced, clutching her stomach dramatically.

Lucas moved without thinking. He was at her side in a heartbeat, placing his hands on her shoulders like she was made of glass. The concern in his eyes for her hit me like a slap.

“Are you okay, Lilith?” he said softly, brushing her hair from her face. “You and the baby need to rest, darling.”

Darling.

He had never looked at me like that. He had never spoken to me like that. Not even once.

I couldn’t hold the anger in anymore.

With a sharp breath, I stormed forward, grabbed Lucas by the collar, and yanked him toward me, my hands shaking. “How could you!?” I cried, eyes locked on his. “How could you betray me like this? I loved you, Lucas! I gave you everything! Please, come back to your senses!”

“Let me go!” he barked and shoved me hard as I stumbled backward and hit the floor. My hands caught the edge too late. My breath left my lungs.

“You are infertile and can’t give me a child, for goddess sake Mia!”

For a second, I just lay there and stared up at him with my heart shattered beyond recognition.

“I swear to the Goddess,” Lucas growled, eyes blazing, “if anything happens to my unborn child, I’ll kill you… and that insane father of yours!”

I turned into a statue at his words. How could he…say such horrible things to my face?

Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse…

"I, Alpha Lucas of Darkfall reject you, Mia Balkova as my mate and Luna.”

No…no…this can’t be happening. I couldn’t let that happen!

I swallowed my saliva hard as I got ready to plead with him but he wasn’t even done yet.

“Lilith is three times the woman you’ll ever be,” he sneered. “You are just a barren lady who can't conceive a child for the throne and you should be grateful I even made you wolfless person like you, my Luna.” He leaned closer, voice dripping with venom.

The words sliced deeper than any blade I’d ever seen. I couldn’t believe this was the same man I’d come to love in a year.

"But… but I loved you," I sobbed, my neck drooping as if it couldn’t hold me up anymore.

“Love?” He scoffed. “Give me a child, you useless, barren woman!”

He turned his back on me and walked away, leaving me feeling like I was nothing at all.

Lilith followed behind him, but not before casting me one final glance, a wicked smirk tugging at her lips like she’d already won.

The door slammed shut behind them.

And I broke.

Tears poured down my face as I collapsed into myself on the floor, my body trembling, my hands clutching the edge of the cold marble.

So that was it.

My life, my title, my love, my family, shattered in one single moment.

Ruined… just like that.

*********

I scoffed bitterly and took another shot of cheap liquor, the burn in my throat nothing compared to the ache in my chest. My eyes stung, but I wiped the tears away roughly. The motel bar was half-empty, the lighting dim and not a single handsome man in sight worth spending the night with.

I sniffed and reached for the bottle again, but before I could pour, a hand appeared in front of me, holding out a white handkerchief.

I blinked.

“And why’s a beautiful lady like you sitting here, crying all by yourself?” a deep voice asked, smooth and masculine.

I turned slowly to look at him.

The man beside me was tall with broad shoulders straining against a black fitted shirt, arms thick with muscle. His skin was smooth and golden, and his face… sharp jawline, deep dimples, and eyes that glowed red under the low light.

“How much for a night?” I asked.

The man blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”

“You wanna fuck?” I slurred again, the liquor now crawling through my veins, dulling the ache in my chest and shoving all dignity out the door.

Before I could even process what I was doing, I stood up, grabbed him by the collar, and crashed my lips against his.

But he didn’t kiss me back.

Instead, his hands gripped my wrists gently but firmly, and he pulled away, his cold eyes pierced into mine.

“What are you doing, young lady?” he asked in a cool voice.

I swayed slightly, still holding onto his shirt for balance.

“You’re wearing royal clothes,” he continued, eyes narrowing. “So I can only assume… you’re someone of high rank here. A noblewoman… maybe even the queen?”

My heart sank. Who was he?