(02
Two weeks had passed since I was discharged from the hospital. Two weeks of silence so loud it threatened
to shatter me. I had spent every moment trapped in this wheelchair, staring out the grand windows of our mansion, wondering when the next blow would fall.
It came that evening.
The pack gathering was supposed to be a chance to strengthen bonds, to remind everyone of unity in times of
crisis. For me, it felt like a trial–one where I already knew the verdict.
I sat in my wheelchair beside Xavier. My husband, my mate, didn’t so much as glance at me. Instead, his attention was focused on the person seated beside him–my sister, Celeste.
Her laughter rang out as she leaned closer to Xavier, whispering something in his ear. He smirked, nodding slightly, as if they were the only two people in the room.
I clenched my fists in my lap, willing myself to stay composed. But the murmurs around the room were getting harder to ignore.
“It’s such a shame,” someone whispered behind me. “The Luna can’t even walk anymore. How can she lead us?”
“And no heir,” another voice added. “The Alpha deserves better. Tsk.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to let their words break me. But the final blow came when Xavier’s mo Evelyn, stood up and called for silence.
“Thank you all for coming,” she began, her sharp eyes scanning the room. “As you know, our pack is facing an uncertain future. Without an heir, the Nightshade lineage is at risk. It is our duty to ensure the strength of our bloodline and the stability of our pack. With Lyra unable to bear children,” Evelyn continued, her voice unwavering, “it is only logical for Xavier to take another mate. Someone who can give him the heir this pack so desperately needs.”
The room erupted in murmurs of agreement.
Evelyn stepped forward, her eyes landing on Celeste. “Thankfully, the solution is already in front of us. Celeste has graciously offered to fulfill this role.”
Banished and Betrayed, But She Walked Again–And Rejected Him
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I turned to Celeste, hoping for some sign of guilt, of hesitation–but
there was none.
She smiled, her face glowing with pride. “It’s for the pack, Lyra,” she said sweetly, as if her betrayal was a noble
sacrifice.
“You should be grateful,” someone from the crowd called out. “Your sister is saving your mate and your family’s
legacy!”
“Grateful?” I said, my voice trembling. “You expect me to be grateful that my sister is taking my husband?”
“Don’t be dramatic, Lyra,” Xavier snapped, his tone colder than I had ever heard. “This isn’t about you. It’s about the pack.”
His words cut deeper than I thought possible. “About the pack?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “You mean
it’s about you, Xavier. About what’s convenient for you.”
“Stop embarrassing yourself,” he said sharply. “You’ve done enough damage as it is.”
Laughter rippled through the room, cruel and mocking.
“Don’t act so surprised,” Celeste added, her tone light and cheerful. “You knew this was coming. After all, you can’t give Xavier what he needs anymore.”
The words were like a knife to my chest. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but I knew it would only make things
worse.
“F–fine,” I said finally, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to fall. “Do what you want. Take her. Take the
heir. Take everything. But don’t expect me to stand here and pretend to be happy about it.”
Xavier’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Evelyn stepped forward, her expression triumphant.
“You’re making the right decision, Lyra,” she said, her tone laced with condescension. “This is for the good of the
pack.”
I couldn’t bear another second in that room. The humiliation, the judgmental eyes, the laughter–it was
suffocating. Then Xavier ordered one of the warrior to accompany me home. I smiled bitterly.
The ride home was silent except for the rattling of my chair against the floor of the car. I refused to cry. Not here.
Not where anyone could see me.
When we reached the mansion, the maid helped me out and pushed me to my room. I wanted to scream at her to
leave, but I didn’t have the energy. She tucked a blanket over my lap before leaving.
Still, Xavier didn’t come.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the tears came. Silent, aching sobs that wracked my body as I sat there, staring
at the cold, empty room.
I clutched the armrests of my chair, my mind racing back to the Xavier I once knew.
I remembered the first time he confessed his love to me. It was raining, and I was standing under an old oak tree,
my umbrella broken and useless. He had come running, drenched to the bone, holding a bouquet of flowers so large I could barely see his face behind them.
“Lyra!” he shouted while his voice was desperate. “I don’t care what anyone says! I want you, and only you. Please, be mine.”
I’d laughed through my tears, shaking my head at how ridiculous he looked. But I had said yes. How could I not?
He had looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
And then there was the time he flew across the ocean just to see me. I had been studying abroad, and we had
a fight over the phone. I thought it was over. But the next day, there he was, standing outside my dorm with another ridiculous bouquet of flowers.
“I can’t do this without you, Lyra,” he had said, his voice breaking. “Marry me. Please.”
I’d thrown myself into his arme laughing and crving at the same time
