Chapter 2 

The days following the ambush felt like they stretched into months. I had returned to my duties, but it wasn’t the same. Something had shifted in me, and I knew I couldn’t ignore it anymore. The pack moved on as if nothing had changed, but I had. The loss–my secret loss–cut deeper than any wound I could show. Joshua didn’t know, and he never would. It wasn‘ t something I could share with him, not anymore. He wouldn’t understand. How could he, when his heart was already elsewhere? 

I threw myself into the routines. Morning patrols. Training. Meetings. But every move felt mechanical, like I was merely going through the motions of being Luna. There was no fire, no passion. Only emptiness. 

The whispers started soon after. “Where’s Luna Eloise?” they would ask when I wasn’t there, or 

“She hasn’t been the same since the attack.” They thought I couldn’t hear them, but I did. Let them whisper. I didn’t care. Not anymore. 

I was in the pack‘ s training grounds, watching a few of the warriors spar when I felt someone approach. The scent hit me before I saw him–Joshua. Pine and earth, the unmistakable scent of my mate. My wolf stirred slightly, but I forced her down. She wasn’t going to cloud my judgment. Not today. 

‘Eloise.” His voice was softer than usual, as if he knew something was off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. 

I turned to him, meeting his gaze without flinching. “What do you want, Alpha?” 

His eyes flickered with something–concern, maybe? But I wasn‘ t falling for that anymore. “You‘ ve been distant,” he said. “The pack needs you.” 

I let out a bitter laugh, “The pack doesn’t need me. They need someone who cares enough to lead them. I’m not sure I’m that person anymore. 

دو 

Joshua frowned, taking a step closer. “What are you talking about? You‘ re Luna. You‘ ve always been strong for the pack.” 

I shook my head, unable to hold back the frustration that had been building for weeks. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not here to be your shadow, Alpha. I’m not here to clean up after your mistakes or pretend everything is fine.” 

He stiffened, his jaw tightening. “I don‘ t see you as a shadow, Eloise.” 

“Don’t you?” I snapped, my voice rising. “Because ever since Monique arrived, you‘ ve done nothing but put her first. You didn’t even see me! You didn’t notice what I was going through. Joshua blinked, taken aback by the force of my words. “Monique has nothing to do with this. 

“She has everything to do with this,” I shot back. “Every time you chose her over me, every time you went to her, leaving me behind… You think I didn’t notice? The entire pack noticed. His brow furrowed. “I was protecting her- 

“I know.” I cut him off. “And I understand. You‘ re Alpha. It’s your duty to protect the pack. But that’s not the problem, Alpha. It’s that you didn’t protect me. You didn’t even ask how I was after the ambush. You didn’t see me. 

He stared at me, speechless for a moment. “I—” 

“I lost something that day, Alpha,” I said, my voice softer now, more broken than I wanted it to be. 

And you never even asked. You never cared enough to notice. 

“What are you talking about?” His voice dropped, concern creeping in now. 

I pressed my lips together, the words clawing at my throat. I lost our child, I wanted to scream. But I didn’t. What would be the point? He hadn’t noticed I was pregnant, and now it was too late.