Audrey's POV
On the night of my lunar-marking day, I cooked a full feast—venison stew, root vegetables, fresh bread still warm from the hearth. I set the dishes out on the table and waited, ears flicking toward every sound, glancing now and then at the clock on the wall.
My mate, Rowan Blackthorne, was supposed to bring our son home. Fen had been staying with Rowan's mother, Elder Mara. I wanted my pack—my family—together tonight.
When everything was finally ready, my phone buzzed.
"I'm staying late at the forge," Rowan said, voice flat, emotionless. "I won't be home."
"Rowan, today is my—"
He hung up.
The dead tone hummed against my ear. My chest ached with a hollow, familiar hurt.
I had only wanted to tell him it was my marking day. I'd hoped that after six nights of constant work, he might spend just one with me. Just one.
Before I could swallow the disappointment, the ground trembled. A violent boom shook the building, sending my instincts screaming. The lights blinked out, plunging everything into darkness.
When I opened my eyes again, fire crackled around me. Pain tore through my leg—something heavy had crushed it. A storage cabinet lay across my shin, pinning me. Smoke thickened the air, burning my throat.
I clawed for my phone, hands shaking, and dialed Rowan.
"The number you've reached is unavailable. Please try again later."
Why wasn't he answering?
By some miracle, firefighters hauled me from the flames. Only then did I learn: a ruptured gas line on the floor below had caused the explosion. My skin was scorched in patches, and my leg—my good running leg—was broken.
As the medics loaded me into the ambulance, I heard a furious voice outside.
"My mate is hurt! Get her inside now!"
Rowan?
Wasn't he supposed to be at work?
I forced my eyes open. Rowan stood out there under the streetlights, wild-eyed, shouting at the medics—holding someone in his arms.
A woman.
He clutched her like she was the moon itself threatening to fall from the sky.
In eight years of marriage, I had never seen him that frantic.
Beside him, Fen sobbed. "Please help my mom! She's hurt!"
A medic answered, "Sir, we prioritize the most serious injuries. This woman is critical. She must go first."
"Rowan, it hurts," the woman whispered, burying her face into his chest.
Rowan's expression darkened as he tightened his hold on her. "No one is more important than my mate!"
Fen cried harder, torn between us. "Help my mom! Don't be scared, Mom. We'll go to the healer soon."
Another medic stepped forward. "Mr. Blackclaw, we can arrange transport for both families. What floor do you live on?"
"Building Ten. Thirty-second floor."
"And the injured woman inside lives on the twenty-fourth floor, just beneath yours. You can ride together if needed."
I froze.
My blood ran cold.
Rowan had another home. In the same building—eight floors above mine.
And Fen—the pup I had carried for nine months, raised, protected—was clinging to another woman… calling her "Mom."
My breath shattered. I swung myself off the stretcher, ignoring the agony. I stared at the three of them, voice flat.
"Give them the ambulance."
Rowan and Fen turned—eyes wide.
They hadn't realized I was the one already inside.
And now, with nothing hiding it, I saw the woman's face clearly.
Lisa Ashwood. The housekeeper's daughter.
Years ago, Rowan's parents forbade him from choosing her—said she wasn't worthy of the Blackthorne line. So they forced them apart.
He met me afterward. Chose me. Or so I thought.
Rowan stood silent, jaw tight. After a moment he muttered, "Lisa's hurt. I'll explain later."
He didn't even look at me again as he carried her into the ambulance.
Fen glanced at me once—only once—before following them without hesitation.
…
Half an hour later, I lay in a hospital bed, overhearing the pack doctor's whisper.
Lisa had only a few scratches. Yet Rowan acted as though she were dying—dragging the emergency healer from other patients, insisting she be treated first.
Some nurses giggled, saying Lisa was lucky to have a male so devoted.
Lucky.
I looked at my burned hands. My broken leg. My wreck of a state. A humorless laugh scraped up my throat.
I wheeled myself down the corridor, searching for my mate and son.
Before I found them, voices drifted from a half-open door.
"Rowan, Audrey's here too," Lisa murmured. "Aren't you going to check on her?"
Rowan's reply was cold enough to frost the air.
"Lisa… you are Fen's true mother. No one matters more. I made sure Audrey's daughter wouldn't survive—so she'd raise yours instead. My Lisa is a moon-blessed princess. You deserve a peaceful life. Audrey is fine—only minor injuries. You're the one who matters."
Lisa's soft laugh floated out. "Rowan, I love you."
My world snapped in two.
Fen isn't mine.
And Rowan… Rowan killed my pup.
Our pup.
My heart howled inside my chest.
All those nights I held Fen through fevers… all the stories, the lullabies, the love—none of it had ever truly been mine.
Eight years.
I had been nothing but a stand-in. A caretaker. A convenient female to raise the child of the woman Rowan really loved.
I didn't remember returning to my room. I lay there, numb, wishing I could tear the memories from my mind.
I never even saw my daughter's face.
The door opened. Rowan walked in, expression blank. "I just finished everything and came to check on you."
A bitter laugh slipped from me.
"You should check on Lisa, not me."
His brows creased, annoyed. "Audrey, what's with this tone? I simply brought Lisa here. Why are you acting petty? She's like a little sister to me."
Sister. The "sister" you had a child with.
How shameless.
Fen burst in, eyes flashing. "Mom! Why are you mad at Dad? Lisa is my godmother! Dad did nothing wrong! You're just being mean!"
So to him, I was the villain.
"Of course I don't blame you," I whispered. "Do what you want with Lisa. I'm stepping aside. Let's divorce."
Rowan's eyes hardened. "You're overreacting. I apologized. Isn't that enough?"
Enough? As if a cheap apology could replace the pup he stole from me.
Tears spilled as I thought of the daughter I lost because of him.
If I had never saved Rowan all those years ago…
When he saw my tears, his anger softened. He reached out, touching my hair gently. "Audrey, don't overthink. Lisa's father works for us. That's why I helped her. You're upset. Once you calm down, we'll talk again."
Fen muttered sharply, "Mom, Lisa asked about you. You're the one who's being unreasonable. You always poke me with your needles, force Dad to drink your bitter brews. Your cooking tastes awful. Lisa cooks better!"
He stomped the floor. "If only you were half as good as her!"
His words sliced deep.
He didn't know the needles eased his weaknesses. Or that the "soup" was medicine for Rowan's stomach.
He didn't know.
But Rowan did.
And he let Fen blame me anyway.