Lyra’s POV

I dragged myself up eventually, my legs numb, my head pounding where it had struck the wall. The guest room felt like a cage and the wall was pressing down on me.

I paced. Back and forth. Back and forth. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying it.

‘Mummy.’ Evans' voice rang in my ear and more tears came again, hot and endless.

I thought I’d cried them all out last night, but apparently, pain had an endless supply. My chest heaved either way sobs. I tried to muffle in my pillow.

Rylan’s words echoed in my head. ‘You’re nothing. You failed.’

Maybe he was right. Maybe I had failed. Five years of trying, and what did I have to show for it? A mate who hated me. A son who didn’t want me as his mum anymore or a best friend who’d stabbed me in the back.

I pressed my hand against my temple, trying to stop the spiral. I had to think, I had to figure out what to do.

But every path forward felt blocked. Every option led to more pain.

I needed to breathe.

I slipped out quietly, keeping my head down as I passed servants in the hallway. None of them met my eyes. Word had spread fast, apparently. They all knew.

The Luna was being replaced.

I walked into the stone path, my arm wrapped around myself. The evening air was cool enough to calm down my nerves but it was not helping.

Maybe I can just pretend or I could just leave....

But my son, I couldn’t leave my son with that monster.

“I don’t care what you think! You’ll do as I say, or you’ll be dismissed!”

Isla’s voice cut through my fantasy like a whip.

I rounded the corner and froze in a spot.

Isla stood in front of the fountain, her arms crossed, glaring down at a maid. The girl’s head was bowed, her shoulders shaking.

“But Lady Isla, I was only doing what Lady Lyra asked….”

“Lady Lyra?” Isla’s laugh was sharp and cruel. “Lady Lyra has no authority here anymore. I give the orders now. Do you understand?”

Her voice trembled. “Yes, but….”

“No buts!” Isla stepped closer, her tone vicious. “You will follow my instructions or pack your bags. There are plenty of girls who’d love to work in the Alpha’s household.”

Something snapped inside me.

“Stop.” I walked forward, my voice stronger than I felt. “Stop shouting at her.”

Isla turned slowly, one eyebrow raised. “Excuse me?”

“She was following my orders. If you have a problem with that, take it up with me. Not her.”

For a moment, the maid's eyes lit with hope. Then Isla smiled, and that hope died.

“You’re dismissed,” Isla said, not looking away from me. “Go tend to the laundry.”

The maid hesitated, glancing between us. Then she curtsied quickly and ran towards the house.

We stood there in the garden, the fountain bubbling cheerfully behind us like everything was fine. Like my world wasn’t crumbling.

“You have no right….” I started.

“I have every right.” Isla’s eyes glittered. “I’m the Alpha’s chosen mate. His real love. The woman who actually belongs at his side.”

“I’m still the Luna,” I said, but the words felt hollow. “This is my pack….”

“Was,” she said. “Was the Luna,” Isla examined her nails casually. “But let’s be honest, Lyra. You were never really Luna, were you? You were just a placeholder. A warm body the council forced on Rylan.”

Each word was a blade finding its mark.

“Was our friendship ever real?”

Isla tilted her head, considering. “Real? I suppose parts of it were. You were useful. Someone to confide in, to use as a shield when other she-wolves got too aggressive.” She shrugged. “But friends? No. I could never be friends with someone so pathetic.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Of course!” She continued. “You stayed with a man for five years and couldn’t win his heart.” Isla’s smile was pitiful. “You had every advantage, his ring, his name, his son and you still lost. What else would you call that?”

My throat closed and I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

“I’m not the one wearing someone else’s clothes and warming their husband’s bed,” I finally found my voice. “That’s the real definition of pathetic.”

“Pathetic,” I continued, “is crawling into another woman's marriage and calling it victory.”

She scoffed. “Rylan was never yours. He wants me. And I want him. That’s all that matters.”

“No,” I said simply. “That’s all you think matters. Weak women convince themselves that attention equals worth.”

Isla stepped closer, voice softening with fake sympathy. “Face it, Lyra. You lost. Maybe accept that.”

“Lady Isla?” A soft voice interrupted.

We both turned. One of the maids stood at the edge of the garden, holding Evan’s hand.

“Ah, perfect timing.” Isla’s whole demeanor changed, softening into something warm and maternal. “Thank you.”

She started toward them. Toward my son.

I moved without thinking, my legs carrying me forward. “Evan!”

He looked up at the sound of his name. My heart leaped. He was supposed to be in the training ground by now.

“What is he doing here? Is he not supposed to be in the training ground by now?” I questioned the maid who had brought her, she stared at Isla as if asking for a go ahead sign before she turned back to me.

“Young Alpha has refused to go to training today Luna, Lady Isla promised to take him to the playing ground.” The maid bowed a little bit.

I turned back to Isla, staring at her intensively. “And what right did you have to change my son's schedule?”

Isla smiled and took a step forward. “I have every right, I and Evan needed free time, not training time. Maybe if you were not so strict with his schedule, he’d have chosen you as his mother.”

I felt a pang of headache immediately, turning to Evan whose gaze was only on Isla with a bright smile.

My son. My son.

I crouched to his level and opened my arms, maybe it’s true, maybe his schedule was too tight, all I want is for him to be a great son, never thought it could get back at me in this way.

I forced a smile. “Baby, come here. Come to Mama.”

Evan stared at me, his little face scrunched up, uncertain.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I urged, my voice breaking. “It’s Mama. Don’t you want a hug?”

He took a step back.

The movement was small, barely noticeable. But it shattered me completely.

“No, I don’t want to go to the training ground” Evan said, his voice small but sharpened in a way that cut deeper. He turned toward Isla, reaching up with both arms. “Want Mummy. Want to be with Mummy so I can play around and eat candies.”

I stayed there, frozen on my knees in the dirt, my arms still outstretched for a child who didn’t want me.

Isla smiled, a triumphant, victorious smile, and scooped Evan up. He wrapped his little arms around her neck, burying his face against her shoulder.

“Of course, baby,” Isla cooed, rubbing his back. “Mummy’s here. I’ve got you.”

She met my eyes over Evan’s head. The message was clear.

‘He’s mine now’.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Isla adjusted Evan on her hip. “Let’s go get ready so we can go have candies. Daddy can take us out after then, he will be home soon.”

She walked past me like I wasn’t there. The maid followed, casting one sympathetic glance back before hurrying after them.

I stayed on my knees in the garden, staring at nothing, feeling nothing but the empty ache where my heart used to be.

My son didn’t want me.

My own son didn’t want me.

-----

I don’t know how long I stayed there. Long enough for the sun to set. Long enough for the garden lights to flicker on. Long enough for the evening chill to seep into my bones.

But I finally stood up. My legs were stiff, my knees dirty from the ground. I brushed myself off mechanically, my hands moving without thought.

I had to try one more time. One last time.

Rylan would be home soon. He had to listen. He had to see reason. This was madness, throwing away five years of marriage, taking my son, replacing me with Isla.

There had to be some part of him that remembered our vows. I remembered I was his mate, his Luna, the mother of his child.

There had to be.

I walked back to the house on shaking legs and waited in the hallway, my back pressed against the wall. Minutes ticked by like hours. Finally, I heard the front door open.

Rylan stepped into view as he shrugged off his jacket, handing it to a waiting servant. He looked tired, his tie loosened, his hair slightly mussed.

He used to come home to me. I’d greet him, ask about his day, try to ease the tension in his shoulders even though he’d always pull away.

Now he didn’t even glance in my direction.

“Rylan.” My voice came out steady. Stronger than I felt. “We need to talk.”

He paused, his jaw tightening. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Please. Just… just give me five minutes.”

“Daddy!” Evan’s voice rang out as his tiny feet pattered against marble.

I watched as my son ran past me, literally ran past me like I was invisible, and launched himself at Rylan’s legs.

Rylan’s whole face transformed. Softened. He scooped Evan up, genuine warmth in his eyes. Love.

He’d never looked at me like that.

“Hey, little man.” Rylan’s voice was gentle, affectionate. “Were you good for Mummy today?”

“Yes! Mummy and I played games! And we had ice cream!”

“Did you?” Rylan smiled, actually smiled. “That sounds fun.”

“Uh-huh! Mummy’s the best!”

Each word was a stab to my heart.

Isla appeared in the dining room doorway, elegant and perfect. “Welcome home, darling.”

Rylan carried Evan toward her, toward them, his family.

I stepped forward, blocking his path. “You have to send Isla away. ”

He finally looked at me. Really looked at me. And what I saw in his eyes made my blood run cold.

“Send her away?” He said the words slowly, like I was stupid. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m your wife! I'm Luna! This is my home, my pack….”

“You’re Luna by name only.” Rylan’s voice was cold, dismissive. “A title you never earned. Never deserved.”

“I’ve stood by your side for five years….”

“And accomplished nothing.” He shifted Evan to one hip. “You want to know why Isla’s here? Because she’s everything you could never be. Not in this life. Not in a thousand lifetimes.”