Chapter 1

Veda's POV

My fingers trembled as I dialed the number I hated most.

"I accept," I whispered into the phone, my voice raspy from the cold that still clung to my bones. "I'll leave Draven Vane. But I have one condition: send me somewhere he will never find me. Somewhere even his Alpha nose can't track."

On the other end, Elder Silas let out a dry, satisfied chuckle. "Finally sensible, are we? A night in the freezer does wonders for clearing a human's head. You should have known your place long ago, Veda. A human mate was never worthy of the Vane bloodline."

His disdain dripped through the speaker like poison. "On the night of the full moon, in ten days, you'll be gone. Until then... stay out of sight. Don't ruin Draven's happiness."

The call ended. I slumped against the cold marble wall of the hallway, shivering.

Through the slightly ajar double doors of the living room, I saw them.

Draven had shifted into his massive, midnight-black wolf form—his fur thick and majestic. He lay on the rug, letting a giggling toddler tug at his ears. Little Nola.

Next to him sat Kaia St. John. She looked radiant, her hand resting gently on her swelling belly, smiling with the kind of tender satisfaction that only a beloved wife could possess.

The perfect family portrait.

The sight hit me harder than the freezing cold of the punishment cell I had just been released from.

"Ms. Cross?"

Kaia spotted me first. Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of exaggerated fear. She instinctively pulled Nola behind her, shielding the child as if I were a monster.

Draven shifted back in a blur of motion. Naked from the waist up, his muscles rippled as he stood protectively in front of them. He handed the child to a maid, barking an order to take her upstairs.

Then, he turned to look at me.

His gaze wasn't filled with the love he once promised. It was sharp. Wary.

The man who once whispered, "I only want pups if they come from you," now looked at me like I was a threat to his real family.

After the child was gone, Draven walked over. He stopped a few feet away, his nose twitching as he took in my scent. "You're back. Did the freezer... hurt you?"

I looked at him. This man, who had once taken a silver bullet for me. This man, who swore I was his true mate despite my human blood.

Now, he stood there, glowing with the health of a powerful Alpha, while I stood shivering, frostbite gnawing at my fingers.

I turned my face away. "Does it matter?"

He frowned, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Veda, look at me. You know why I couldn't stop them. If I defended you too much, the Elders would have killed you. They hate that a human holds my heart..."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We're leaving soon, anyway. Once Kaia delivers this heir, I'll take you away. Just... why did you have to provoke her? Why did you put wolfsbane in her tea?"

My head snapped up. "I told you, I didn't! I would never use poison!"

"Okay, okay!" He held up his hands, clearly not believing me but wanting to end the argument. "It's done. Nola is fine. Just... don't do it again."

His dismissal was like a knife to the gut. He didn't believe me. He just didn't care enough to fight for the truth anymore.

Before I could speak, Kaia walked over, rubbing her baby bump. Her other hand brushed back her hair, revealing a bracelet on her wrist.

An antique crystal bracelet.

My blood froze.

I lunged forward and grabbed her wrist. "Where did you get this?!"

"Veda!" Draven barked, yanking my hand away. "Stop it!"

"I gave it to her," he said coldly, stepping between us. "Kaia likes vintage jewelry. Consider it an apology for the wolfsbane incident."

My voice shook with pure rage. "That was my mother's! It's the only thing I have left of her! You know that! How could you give it to her?"

I reached out again, desperate to snatch it back.

"Ah!" Kaia suddenly stumbled back, clutching her stomach. "My belly... Draven, it hurts!"

"Kaia!"

Draven didn't even think. He shoved me. Hard.

"Enough, Veda! She's carrying my heir! Haven't you caused enough trouble?"

His Alpha strength was too much for my weakened human body. I flew backward, crashing into the heavy oak bookshelf.

Crack.

My head hit the corner of a shelf. Pain exploded in my skull, and warm blood instantly trickled down my neck.

I slumped to the floor, dazed.

But Draven didn't look back. Not once.

He scooped Kaia into his arms, his face pale with panic.

"Draven..." she sobbed into his chest. "Our baby..."

"Shh, I've got you," he cooed, rushing toward the door. "You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you or the pup."

I watched them leave through a haze of tears and blood.

He didn't see me bleeding. He didn't care.

In his world, there was only the mother of his children. I was just... the mistake he was trying to hide.