Chapter 2: The Last Promise I Stopped Believing

That night, a friend request popped up on my phone.

It was from Vera.

She told me to move out of the Pack House as soon as possible; she wanted to redecorate the nursery.

I screenshotted the sections of our dissolution agreement detailing my residence rights and asset division and sent them to her.

A long voice message arrived less than a minute later.

“Evelyn, what right do you have to take so much of the pack’s assets?”

“Those resources belong to Kane and the Calder family. You’ve lost the Luna position. You have no right to stay in the Pack House or take a cut of the territory’s profits.”

“Those belong to my pup. Move out now and return the assets, or I’ll have the council review the agreement.”

I didn’t reply. I just deleted her message and blocked her number.

I slept lightly that night.

My bedroom door was shoved open. Before I could sit up, a hand yanked me out of bed.

A sharp crack echoed by my ear.

Kane had slapped me.

An Alpha’s strength snapped my head to the side, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

My wolf snarled, instincts screaming. My nails sharpened into claws, and the urge to shift burned up my spine, but I forced it back down.

I turned my head to see Kane’s face, dark with fury.

“That was too far, Evelyn.”

“You knew Vera was pregnant, and you sent her that agreement just to antagonize her. If anything happens to her pup because of you, I’ll make you regret it.”

“I told you, Elder Elias showed me great kindness. I only see Vera as a younger sister who needs my protection.”

“Once the pup is entered into the inheritance registry, I’ll restore our bond. Why are you still throwing a fit?”

“You were our Luna. Why can’t you show her some grace?”

I covered my swollen cheek and stared at him.

A trace of regret finally crept into his scent. When he saw the blood on my lips, his expression stiffened.

Kane softened his voice and reached for me.

“Evelyn, we’ve been together for so many years. Don’t you trust me? You’re the only one I love.”

“I promise. This is the last time I’ll help Vera.”

“Once you’re Luna again, we’ll go back to how things were. I’ll make it up to you.”

I numbly let him hold my hand, believing nothing.

Back at the academy, Kane had publicly defied the match his family had arranged for him, all to be with me.

He pursued me for four years. Eventually, even his mother started creating opportunities for us to meet.

He’d said that from the first moment he saw me, he could never forget me.

He’d said that even if we weren’t fated mates, he would spend his life choosing me.

I believed him.

In the end, all I got was one betrayal after another.

When had I started to lose hope? When had I decided to leave?

Maybe it was when Vera posted intimate photos of herself in his arms online.

When someone questioned if she was challenging the Luna, Kane publicly defended her, claiming I was the one who had used tricks to secure the position.

From that day on, pack members stopped bowing to me. Even the guards began to gossip about me to my face.

Maybe it was during my first pregnancy.

I had just felt our pup’s heartbeat when Kane dragged me to the healing center to give blood for Vera, who had suffered a dangerous amount of blood loss.

The donation compromised my recovery, and I lost the child.

When the Calder elders demanded an explanation, Kane, to protect Vera from their investigation, blamed me, claiming I’d hidden a pre-existing condition.

Or maybe it was on Vera’s birthday, when she wanted the entire park to herself for a fireworks display.

Kane ordered the guards to seal the roads and hung up on my frantic calls for help, one after another.

The vehicle bringing the healer was blocked outside our territory.

My adoptive mother missed the window for treatment and never woke up.

If she hadn’t made me promise to live, I might have followed her long ago.

When Kane saw I still wasn’t responding, his patience wore thin.

He pressed a key into my hand.

“I have another estate in the next community over. Move there for now. Leave the Pack House to Vera. She needs to learn the duties of a Luna before the pup arrives.”

I took the key.

“Fine.”

Kane hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. He tightened his grip on my hand, a flicker of unease in his eyes.

“Evelyn, why are you being so agreeable? What are you planning?”

I looked at him.

“Isn’t this what you always wanted from me?”

Kane’s lips tightened. He opened his mouth to ask something else, but his phone rang.

It was Vera.

His expression grew more anxious the longer he listened, but his voice was a gentle murmur.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll be right there.”

He left in a hurry, without a backward glance.

I opened the ticketing app and bought the earliest flight out of the pack.