The Betrayed Wolf’s Vow

Instinctively, I cradled my belly and turned aside, almost losing my footing.

“I’m fine, Chisel,” I whispered.

Sylvia leaned lazily against his chest, tilting her chin to look at me with open disdain. “Leah, you’re already Luna. Why do you insist on framing me? I’ve never fought you for Chisel.”

In my head Ruby howled, claws raking at my mind: We never brought the snake in! She did this on purpose!

“Leah, do you even know what you’re doing?”

Chisel’s head snapped toward me, his face filled with naked disgust. “If you’re angry, aim it at me. Don’t you dare harm Sylvia! We already have a pup on the way—do you want the Moon Goddess to withhold Her blessing because of your vile tricks?”

The words knocked the breath from my chest.

I stared at him, at the male I had loved for three years, carrying his pup in my womb—and he would rather believe another she-wolf than me, even curse our unborn pup with the Goddess’s wrath?

Chisel started to walk out with Sylvia in his arms. I lurched forward, grabbing at his sleeve without thinking. “Where are you going? Chisel, today is our third bond anniversary. You’re walking out holding another woman—what is this?”

“Let go!”

He tore my hand off with such force I stumbled back. Pain slashed across my chest like a claw. “Leah, if anything happens to Sylvia, I’ll never forgive you!”

I trembled all over, tears stinging my eyes, the same words spilling from my mouth: “It wasn’t me who brought that snake! Why won’t you believe me?”

But he no longer saw me.

His heart had always been with Sylvia. I, the Luna arranged by his family, and the pup inside me were nothing more than an unwanted tether in his bloodline.

I watched as he walked away holding Sylvia, my fingers numb. At some point the wolf rune necklace had slipped from my grasp and fallen to the floor, the sharp, clean sound echoing—but it could no longer call back the Alpha who had once sworn to protect me.

“You’re still lying! Get out of my sight!”

Chisel’s voice was harsher than I had ever heard.

A heartbeat later his palm slammed against my shoulder. My foot slipped. My body pitched backward—the edge of the stairs struck my bones, and agony ripped through me.

The pain surged like a tide. I lay sprawled on the cold steps, vision blurring, only able to see Chisel’s back as he turned to leave.

With all the strength I had left I reached out, clutching at his coat. My voice broke into a tremor. “Chisel… don’t go… my belly…”

He finally stopped—but when he turned, his eyes held no concern, only a cutting coldness. “Leah, I don’t have time for your games.”

His gaze swept over my crumpled body without a shred of warmth. “Sylvia just returned to the Pack. As Luna you should be more tolerant of her. Look at yourself now—how vile you’ve become.”

Then, without hesitation, he severed our Mate Bond.

The tears came harder.

But the sudden, sharp pain from below sent panic screaming through me, followed by the hot metallic scent of blood flooding my nose, confirming what I already feared.

“No…” I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

Warm, heavy blood soaked beneath me as my vision dimmed. I could feel our pup’s heartbeat, faint and fading, slipping away.