Chapter 1
Elena's POV
I was knitting a tiny blue sweater. My swollen belly made it awkward to hold the yarn, but I was determined to finish at least one set of clothes before the babies arrived. The doctor said I could go into labor any day now, though my due date was still a month away.
I paused, catching hushed voices in the hallway outside.
"Alpha is coming back tonight," one of the household servants said.
My heart leaped. Richard was coming home? He hadn't been home for nearly two weeks. I set down my knitting and pressed my hands against my stomach, feeling the babies shift inside me.
"Did you hear that, little ones? Your father is coming home." I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "He might not be too fond of mommy, but I know he'll love you."
That wasn't entirely true. I had no idea if he would love these children. Our marriage was merely an alliance between the Winter and Blackwood wolf packs. My family had lost standing in the competition and was forced to migrate to his territory. Marrying into the powerful Nightfall pack was supposed to ensure our security.
Except Richard had made it clear I wasn't his choice.
I hadn't even awakened as a werewolf yet—a rarity in our kind. I wasn't sure if I would ever successfully awaken as a werewolf.
With effort, I pushed myself to my feet. If he was coming home, I wanted to prepare some food for him. Maybe his favorite rosemary lamb chops would soften his perpetually cold demeanor.
When I heard the front door open, I walked out of the kitchen to greet him, but stopped when I saw the woman beside him.
His father Gerald and mother Riley also came down from upstairs.
"What is the meaning of this, Richard?" Gerald's authoritative voice boomed. "You bring this... woman into our home? With your pregnant wife right here?"
I froze, wanting to confront him but couldn't open my mouth. Our relationship was as fragile as paper, easily torn. Richard stood tall in a perfectly tailored black suit, his chestnut hair impeccably styled. The woman beside him had her hand resting on his arm.
Richard's face remained impassive. "Father, Mother, this is Victoria. I believe it's time we stopped pretending."
Riley stepped forward. "Pretending what, exactly what's going on?"
"That this marriage to Elena was ever my choice." Richard's words cut through me like claws. "This political union you arranged with the Winter family was your decision, not mine. Victoria is the woman I've always wanted as my mate."
Victoria smiled, her red lips curving triumphantly as she squeezed Richard's arm.
"Have you lost your mind?" Gerald snarled. "Elena is carrying your children. Your heirs."
"That was also the result of you drugging me," Richard replied coldly. "Of course, I'll provide for the children. But I won't continue this charade any longer. Victoria will move in, and once Elena has recovered from the birth, arrangements will be made."
I must have made a sound, because suddenly all eyes turned toward me. The pain that shot through my chest at his words was nothing compared to the sudden cramping that seized my abdomen.
"Elena..." Riley stepped toward me, concern in her eyes.
I stumbled backward, one hand clutching the marble column, the other pressed against my stomach. Something warm trickled down my legs.
"You..." I gasped as another wave of pain hit me.
Richard's expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of something—alarm?—in his eyes.
The cramping intensified, and I felt a gush of warm liquid. But this wasn't just my water breaking—the liquid pooling at my feet was bright red.
"Elena!" Riley rushed toward me as my legs gave way.
I locked eyes with Richard, inner rage building. "If anything happens to my babies," I hissed, "I curse you to never know peace again. Your nights will be torment and your days shadow. Richard Blackwood."
The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Victoria's smile.
I felt myself floating in an ocean of pain, each contraction like a massive wave engulfing me. The delivery room lights stung my eyes, and sweat soaked my hair, sticking to my cheeks.
"The first one is out! It's a girl!"
I heard Jacey's excited voice, followed by the baby's loud cry. I wanted to smile but found I didn't even have the strength to lift the corners of my mouth. Another wave of pain hit me again, and I clenched my teeth.
Jacey held my hand, but I could feel her fingertips trembling. I was grateful my friend was by my side. But he wasn't here—did he truly feel nothing for me at all?
"Elena, hang in there, I know it hurts, but you need to push again," Jacey's voice contained unmistakable worry.
I wanted to respond, but found my consciousness becoming increasingly foggy, an ominous feeling washing over me.
I heard the monitor emit a sharp alarm, and the medical staff began rushing around anxiously.
"Blood pressure dropping! Unstable heart rate!"
"Elena! Don't sleep! Think of your children!"
I felt life slowly draining away, my consciousness becoming blurred. My children, my babies...
Pain. Darkness. Then light.
I gasped, air flooding into lungs that had stopped working. My body felt like it was being torn apart and put back together simultaneously.
"Oh my god, Elena! You're finally awake." Jacey's voice was tearful.
My eyes flew open, and the world looked... different. Sharper. I could hear crying outside the delivery room, it sounded like Riley. I could smell antiseptic, blood, fear, and something else... my babies.
"The babies," I croaked. "My babies—"
"The first baby is safe, but the second and third are still inside you! Your heart stopped, we almost lost you both! But you've awakened, your wolf is healing you. You can save your children!." Jacey said with joy.
I felt it then—the change washing through me. The wolf within me had awakened; for so many years I couldn't feel her, but in this critical moment I finally sensed her presence. My body was continuously recovering.
"Help me," I gasped, grabbing Jacey's wrist. "Help me save my children. And then help me disappear."
"What?" After a moment of confusion, she understood my intention. "What do you need me to do?"
"Tell everyone I died. And get me out of here with my children. I'm never going back to that man."
As another contraction ripped through me, I made my choice. Elena Blackwood would die tonight. But I and my children would live—far away from Richard and his cruelty.