My Mate Chose Her Over Our Pup

I was four months pregnant with the Alpha’s heir when my best friend, Ariana, slammed into me. She called it an “accident.” I lost the pup.

My brother, Liam, tried to expose her to the pack elders. But he was framed for treason, stripped of his Beta title, and thrown in the pack dungeons.

I ran to my mate, Alpha Byron, begging for help.

He held me close and swore he'd save Liam.

The next day, I found Liam in the dungeons, chained in silver, barely alive.

Heartbroken, I went to Byron again, searching for a way to prove Liam's innocence. That's when I overheard him talking to his right-hand man.

“Alpha, if the Luna finds out you let them frame Liam… she will hate you.” Byron’s voice was laced with exhaustion and suppressed pain.

“I know what she’s like. This was the only way to make her forgive Ariana at the Blood Moon ceremony. Ariana saved my life. I won’t let this destroy her.”

He paused, his voice completely cold.

“As for Sandra… I’ll more than make it up to her. She will never know the truth. Ever. Right now, she just needs… to obey.”

The mate I trusted with my life… He threw my family to the wolves. All to protect the woman who killed our child.

My heart shattered. Shaking with a fury I’d never known, I called the one person I hadn't spoken to in seven years. My father, Alpha Caden.

[Father, I'll accept the strategic alliance. The marriage you wanted. But I have one condition. I need your help… to burn the Blackwood Pack to the ground.]

I was framed and lost my pup. But my mate, Alpha Byron, protected the killer, Ariana. He was even willing to harm my own mother and brother for her.

"Sandra has to forgive Ariana publicly."

Byron's voice cut through the wall from the next room.

I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath.

"Alpha, but she just lost the pup—"

“That’s exactly why we have to shut this down. Now,” he cut his Beta off. “I can’t lose anyone else.”

“The only way this ends peacefully is if Sandra forgives Ariana in public. If she refuses, cut off her mother’s supply of Moonpetal."

My heart stopped.

Ever since my mating ceremony, my mother had been struck by a mysterious blood curse.

Moonpetal was the only thing keeping her sane.

Without it, the curse would shatter her mind within three days.

“Alpha, that’s cruel!”

Pain strained Byron’s voice. “I know it’s cruel, but she has to learn to put the pack first. I’m protecting her from more pain! After the ceremony, I’ll apologize to her myself and double the supply of Moon Orchids. For now, she just needs to calm down.”

I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palms so hard I tasted blood.

Protection? He was hurting my family, protecting the one who killed my pup, and he dared to say it was for me?