Ella's POV.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Just me and Jason, wrapped up in each other’s arms like we always did. But now I'm on the cold tiles, bleeding, while he grabs another woman by the waist and f*cks her like she belongs to him.

When did the man I had loved for years become this monster right in front of me?

Just hours ago, everything was different. I was so full of joy that I couldn't imagine anything bad happening to me. I still remembered sitting in Dr. Chloe’s office, staring at the sonogram in my hands while her words replayed over and over again in my head.

“Luna… this is truly a miracle.”

Dr. Chloe looked between the results and me with excitement. “With your condition, it was almost impossible to be pregnant at all… let alone with twins. I've never seen anything like this.” She paused, shaking her head slightly, like even she couldn't quite believe it.

My fingers had tightened around the paper. Twins. I was really having twins.

She reached across the desk and gently squeezed my hand. “Congratulations, Ella. I’m sure the Alpha will be so happy when he hears this.”

At that moment, I believed he would be. Without thinking, I rubbed my stomach, smiling as a tear slid down my cheek.

Dr. Chloe paused, her brow furrowing slightly as she glanced back at the results. “Actually, there's something I want to check. I'm a bit suspicious about a few things in your bloodwork, but I can't say for sure yet.” She looked at me, her expression turning serious. “Let's wait for the nurse to bring in the full results before you go.”

I shook my head, already gathering my bag. “I can't wait. I need to tell Jason right now. He's going to be so happy.”

She hesitated, her lips pressing together like she wanted to say more. “Ella, listen to me. Pregnancy is very fragile, especially in the early stages. You need to be careful… rest, avoid stress, and please, come back as soon as you can. I want to run a few more tests.”

I nodded quickly, already halfway out of my chair. “I will, Dr. Chloe. I promise. But right now, I have to go.”

My wolf was practically purring inside my mind. She was just as excited as I was to tell our mate.

I had always wanted to be a mother. I was eighteen when I was diagnosed with anovulation… a condition that meant my body might never give me a child. From that day on, I cried and prayed harder than ever, begging the Moon Goddess to bless my womb, even if it was with just one child. But somehow, she answered and blessed me with two.

I happily left the clinic and slipped into the midnight-blue Range Rover Jason had gifted me last month. The leather still carried a faint scent of his sandalwood cologne from all those evenings he had spent teaching me how to drive. I pressed the accelerator and sped toward the villa. I almost ran a red light on the highway, but I didn't care. All I could think about was sharing the news with Jason. I wanted so badly to see the look on his face when I told him.

Maybe, just maybe, this would finally force him to tell me the truth he had been hiding from me.

Because the truth was… I already knew something was wrong. For weeks, Jason had been very distant and secretive. There were calls he took outside our bedroom, messages he refused to explain, and too many nights when he came home smelling like someone else's perfume.

I had suspected another woman long before I ever found the courage to admit it to myself, but suspicion wasn't proof. And I refused to destroy our marriage over assumptions.

By the time I arrived at the villa, my hands were already shaking with excitement. But as I drove through the gates, something felt... off.

The compound was unusually quiet. The guards who normally stood at the entrance were nowhere to be seen. Even the maids who were always moving through the halls with their mops and linen baskets were missing.

It was strange because the villa had never been this empty. I grabbed my handbag from the passenger seat and stepped out, my frown deepening as I looked around. The only person I saw was Betty, who appeared from the front porch like she'd been waiting for me.

“Hi, Luna,” she greeted with a polite smile.

“Hi, Betty.” I glanced around again. “Where is everyone?”

Betty's smile didn't waver, but something flickered in her eyes. It was gone so quickly that I couldn't tell what it was.

“The Alpha sent them on errands,” she explained smoothly. “They should be back soon.”

Errands? All of them? At the same time?

The explanation felt a little thin, but I was too excited to think much of it, so I shrugged it off.

“Alright. Where is the Alpha?”

“He's upstairs,” she replied. “...but he asked me to tell you he's on an important call with the Pack Senate and doesn't want to be disturbed.”

I nodded slowly.

The Pack Senate… Well, that made sense. Those old wolves were notoriously sensitive and interrupting one of their meetings could cause a lot of trouble.

I turned toward the staircase, ready to head up, but I stopped. My hand rested on the railing as I glanced toward the mini bar in the corner of the living room.

Maybe I should wait downstairs for a bit and give him time to finish his call.

The excitement buzzing through me made it impossible to stand still, so I walked over to the mini bar, placed my bag on the counter and perched on one of the stools. My fingers tapped lightly against the polished wood as I waited.

A few minutes later, Betty came to me with a glass mug of steaming coffee. The rich, roasted aroma reached me before the cup even did. Lavazza had always been my favorite, and Jason always had it stocked in the kitchen because of me.

“Thank you, Betty.”

She smiled, but something about her expression felt strange. I noticed how her eyes darted away from mine a little too quickly. I should have paid more attention, but I was too happy to care.

I took a slow sip and hummed softly, enjoying the familiar taste as it melted across my tongue, and before I realized it, I had gulped down the entire mug faster than I intended.

But after a while, a strange discomfort settled in my stomach, not painfully, but enough to make me feel uncomfortable. I pressed a hand against my stomach.

Maybe I was just tired. Or maybe the excitement was making me nauseous.

I shifted restlessly on the stool before deciding to go upstairs and wait for Jason in the bedroom. He’d most definitely be in the study taking that call. I could at least lie down for a moment while I waited.

I was halfway up the stairs when I suddenly froze. A woman's moan drifted down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin.

I tightened my grip on the railing and hurried toward the bedroom. Every step made my pulse pound harder.

I reached the door and pushed it open.

And just like that, my entire world shattered right in front of me.