(Grace's POV)
The sterile air of the pack hospital burns my nose, each breath carrying the sharp tang of antiseptic mixed with my own blood. Through swollen eyes, I watch Alexis pace the length of my room, his massive frame casting shifting shadows under the fluorescent lights. The machines monitoring my vitals beep steadily, a rhythmic counterpoint to the chaos about to explode.
"I want to sever our mate bond."
The words hang in the air like shattered glass. A vase explodes beside my bed, water and flowers scattering as Alexis's power lashes out. His silver eyes flash dangerously, dark hair with those distinctive silver streaks standing on end as his Alpha energy fills the room.
"What did you just say?" His voice comes out deadly quiet, a warning growl underlying each word.
I force myself to meet his gaze, ignoring how my omega wolf whimpers at the fury radiating from our mate. Through split lips and bruised face, I maintain unwavering eye contact. Something has broken inside me today – the submissive omega who always understood, who always forgave, died watching him rush past my hospital room to comfort Victoria.
Earlier That Day
My hands trembled as I stared at the pregnancy test crystal, its surface glowing with an unmistakable silver aura that only appeared for Alpha heirs. A pup. After three years of feeling worthless as Luna, I was finally carrying the Alpha King's heir.
Tears of pure joy blurred my vision as I pressed a hand to my still-flat stomach. My omega powers sang with the tiny life force growing within me, a miracle I'd begun to think would never happen. All those whispers about my "common bloodline" making me unsuitable, all Victoria's subtle jabs about my inability to conceive – none of it mattered now.
"My precious little one," I whispered, feeling a warmth spread through my chest as my omega instincts surged protectively. The silver aura pulsed stronger, responding to my touch. "Your daddy's going to be so happy."I practically floated down the corridors of Sterling Pack's main building, my heart racing with anticipation.
The sight that greeted me through his office's glass walls stopped me cold.
Victoria stood wrapped in Alexis's arms, her face buried against his chest as his hands moved soothingly over her back. The remains of what must have been an intimate dinner for two littered his desk – wine glasses, scattered rose petals, and Victoria's signature moon-blessed pastries that she only baked for "special occasions."
Even from outside, I could see the tenderness in how he wiped away her tears, his broad back turned to the door in a picture of intimate comfort.
Then Victoria's eyes met mine through the glass.
My chest physically ached as her lips curved into a triumphant smirk. With deliberate cruelty, she mouthed the words silently but clearly: "He's mine, Loser."
The scene triggered an avalanche of memories I'd tried so hard to suppress...
_______________________________________________________________________________
Extended Flashback
Growing up in Sterling Pack had been a study in contradictions. To the public eye, we were the perfect trio – Victoria, the Beta's beautiful daughter; Alexis, the future Alpha prince; and me, the quiet omega who completed their circle. But reality painted a very different picture.
I watched from the shadows as young Alexis and Victoria shared secret smiles and inside jokes, my own silent love for him burning like acid in my chest. Victoria played her role masterfully – the perfect friend to Grace, always including me, defending me from other wolves' whispers about my gambling-addicted father.
"Don't you dare say a word about Grace's father," she'd snap at other wolves, then turn to me with a saccharine smile. "They just don't understand what you're going through, sweetie."
But in private, her true face emerged.
"Who would ever want a gambling addict's daughter?" she'd whisper sweetly while 'accidentally' shoving me into walls, leaving bruises that my developing healing powers would struggle to fade. "You should be grateful I let you hang around us at all. It's the only way you'll ever get close to Alexis."
After my mother's death, the torment escalated. Each time Victoria "comforted" me about my father's mounting debts, it came with subtle reminders of my social inferiority. Her words always carried twin blades – kind on the surface, cruel underneath.
"Oh, Grace," she'd sigh, patting my hand while twisting the knife deeper. "At least you have me. Who else would want to be friends with someone whose father keeps embarrassing the pack? But don't worry – I'll always protect you. As long as you remember your place."
The day I finally gathered my courage to tell Alexis about Victoria's true nature remains seared in my mind. His snarl of rejection, the contempt in his eyes as he defended his precious childhood friend, cut deeper than any of Victoria's physical torments.
"How dare you try to poison me against Victoria?" he'd growled. "She's been nothing but kind to you! She defends you, includes you, treats you like family – and this is how you repay her? With jealous lies?"
Victoria's "lesson" afterward involved a week of escalating torments, all while maintaining her perfect public image. "Who would believe you?" she'd whispered, her gentle mask never slipping even as she crushed my wrist. "I'm his best friend. You're nothing but a gambling addict's daughter. Know your place, Grace, or next time I'll make sure Alexis sees what a pathetic, jealous little omega you really are."
The final twist of the knife came when Victoria married Alexis's half-brother Marcus, devastating him. I watched him mourn that loss, even as Victoria continued our friendship charade. When Alexis won the Alpha king selection and chose me as his mate, his words cut deeper than any of Victoria's torments:
"You're Victoria's friend... you have a suitable Luna personality."
Even then, I was chosen not for myself, but for my connection to her.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Stumbling away from Alexis's office, my vision blurred with unshed tears, I ran blindly through the pack grounds. My feet carried me to the ancient forest at the territory's edge, where the old growth trees stood sentinel, their branches blocking out most of the afternoon sun. It was a forbidden area, dangerous for its proximity to rival pack borders, but in my emotional state, I couldn't bring myself to care.
My knees hit the forest floor as sobs wracked my body. One hand pressed against my stomach protectively while the other clawed at the earth, my wolf howling in distress. The tiny life inside me pulsed with that beautiful silver aura, completely unaware of how its father was embracing another woman at this very moment.
The first warning came as a shift in the air – a sudden stillness that made my omega senses scream in alarm. Before I could move, five massive wolves melted from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
I recognized their scents – Montgomery Pack. Our biggest rivals.
"The Alpha King's little Luna," one of them sneered, shifting to human form. His scarred face twisted into a cruel smile. "All alone in the dark woods. How... convenient."
My heart thundered as they circled me. Through our mate bond, I reached desperately for Alexis.
"Alpha, please! I need you!"
His response came back cold and impatient through our bond: "Stop it. I have important PACK business to attend to."
The first attack came from behind – claws raking down my back, tearing through flesh and muscle. I screamed, my legs buckling as blood soaked through my dress. Another wolf lunged for my throat, but my newfound maternal instincts exploded with primal force.
Golden light erupted from my hands as my omega powers surged to protect my unborn pup. The barrier felt like it was being torn from my very soul, but I poured everything I had into maintaining it around my midsection.
"The bitch has some fight," the scarred one laughed, then nodded to his companions. "Break her."
What followed was a nightmare of teeth, claws, and crushing blows. They were careful to avoid fatal wounds – this was meant to send a message. But as my blood stained the forest floor and my consciousness began to fade, I realized I might lose something far more precious than my life.
"Please...," I whimpered through the mate bond one last time.
Before losing consciousness, I only saw the hastily approaching beta guard, and still no sign of my husband...
Consciousness returned in waves of searing pain. The harsh hospital lights stabbed at my eyes as whispered conversations filtered through the haze.
"...critical condition..."
"...the pup's aura is fluctuating..."
"...might not make it..."
My heart stopped at those words. Desperately, I tried to sense the silver aura that had filled me with such joy this morning. It was there, but so faint, flickering like a candle in the wind.
Then I heard his voice in the hallway.
"Vix!" Alexis's tone carried such tender concern. "You shouldn't have gotten up so quickly after fainting."
Through my half-open door, I watched him rush past my room without a glance, his face twisted with worry as he supported Victoria's trembling form. She leaned heavily against him, one hand pressed delicately to her forehead.
"I was so worried about you after you fainted," he murmured, helping her to a nearby chair. "You need to rest..."
"Alpha King?" A nervous nurse interrupted. "There's something urgent you need to know. The Luna..."
Alexis's head snapped up, his silver eyes widening as he finally registered my scent mixed with blood. "Grace? What about Grace?"
Then I heard the commotion at the nurse's station.
"Alpha King, please calm down-"
"Where is she?" Alexis's voice boomed through the corridor. "Why wasn't I informed immediately?"
"Sir, we just confirmed the Luna's pregnancy. The healers are doing everything they can-"
A crash echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of splintering wood. Alexis's power rolled through the hospital wing in waves of barely controlled fury.
"Which. Room."
The door to my room burst open as Alexis rushed in, his silver eyes widening at the sight of my battered body. Shock, guilt, and horror warred across his face as he took in my injuries and the faint scent of our pup's flickering life force.
"Grace..." His voice cracked. "The baby... I didn't know..."
But I was beyond caring about his guilt or surprise. The memory of his cold dismissal through our mate bond while I fought for our child's life had killed something fundamental inside me. The last shred of hope that he might one day choose me – choose us – over Victoria.
"I want to sever our mate bond."
The words fell into the sudden silence like stones into still water. The machines monitoring my vitals beeped steadily as Alexis stood frozen, his face draining of color. Objects around the room began to rattle as his power surged with emotion.
Before he could speak, the door flew open again. The pack's head healer rushed in, her face lined with concern but her eyes bright with unexpected relief.
"Luna, Alpha King," she exclaimed, "the pup's aura has stabilized. Your protective instincts saved your child's life."