Chapter 1

Sharp pain tore through my consciousness. I tried to move my heavy body, but the immense weight of my distended belly pinned me down. "What’s wrong? Is it time?" Derek’s voice cut through the haze, accompanied by hurried footsteps. My Mate stood in the doorway, his tall, imposing frame nearly filling the entire frame. But something was off. I squinted. Derek looked far too young, like he did just after our Marking ceremony. "Emma!" He was already at the bedside, his strong arms lifting me. His deep voice held a note of reproach. "How long has your water been broken? Why didn’t you call for help? This could kill you!" As he carried me out of the bedroom, I caught a glimpse of the calendar on the nightstand. My nails dug deep into the fabric of Derek’s uniform. Dear Goddess. I had been reborn. Back to the day Arthur stole my child. In my previous life, I endured over two hours of excruciating labor before giving birth. And while I lay exhausted and unconscious, Derek handed our newborn son to his Beta, Arthur. When I awoke, they told me the child hadn't survived due to congenital weakness. I believed them. For years afterward, I lived consumed by guilt, blaming myself for failing to give my child a strong body. Later, I discovered by chance that my child was alive. But every attempt to find him was thwarted by Derek. Derek spoke as if discussing the weather: "Arthur lost his fertility saving me. This is my debt to him." "But that’s my child!" "We can have more children. Pretend this one never existed. It’s better for everyone." Better? My child, treated as a bargaining chip to settle a debt—that's better? From that day on, I began my long, desperate search. But as the Alpha of the SilverMark Pack, Derek always managed to relocate the child just as I was closing in. Until the year I turned forty, searching near the border, I fell into a hunter's trap. I died without ever holding my child again. Now, fate had given me another chance. A contraction seized me, pulling me back to the present. This time, no one will take my child. But first, I needed allies. In this critical moment of labor, I couldn't be alone with Derek. "Wait," I gasped, clutching the badge on his chest between waves of pain. "Send someone to the Shadowhowl Pack to inform my mother. I... I need her here." Derek looked down at me, a placating smile touching his lips. "The Shadowhowl Pack is busy preparing for the trade season right now. Your mother likely can't get away. Don't worry, I'm your Mate. I'll ensure you and the baby are safe." As he spoke, he gestured for servants to quickly gather birthing supplies. My heart sank. Just then, Aunt Sophia, who lived in the guest wing, rushed over, drawn by the commotion. Concern was etched on her face. "Moon Goddess bless! The Luna is in labor? What help do you need?" Sophia was the Mate of an Elder, known for her cheerful nature, fairness, and considerable influence within the pack. Crucially, like me, she had married into SilverMark from Shadowhowl. With her present, at least Derek wouldn't dare act too brazenly. I seized the opportunity, my voice trembling with pain. "Aunt Sophia... could you please accompany me to the pack clinic? I... I've never done this before. I'm terrified." "Of course, dear!" The laugh lines around her eyes softened. "The first birth is always chaotic. You'll need another woman there..." Her agreement offered a sliver of relief to my frayed nerves. However, Derek's voice, cool and commanding, cut in from above me. "Sophia, aren't you assisting the Elder with compiling those documents? Going to the clinic now would surely delay that critical work." The Elder was working on a critical map of wolf tribe combat strength distributions, under Derek's tight deadline. Sophia, as the Elder's Mate, was naturally expected to help. Without this task, she absolutely would have accompanied me. Derek was doing this deliberately. Sophia hesitated visibly. Seeing this, Derek added smoothly, reassuringly, "I've already sent word ahead to the clinic. Everything is prepared. Besides, am I not capable of caring for my own Mate and child?" His tone was so confident, so utterly in control. Sophia finally nodded, clearly swayed. My heart lurched again. Another contraction hit, sharp and overwhelming. I gritted my teeth, reaching desperately for Sophia's wrist. "Aunt Sophia... I'm so scared... Please, come with me..." I repeated my pleas, my fear palpable. The bitter truth was, no one knew Derek's true intentions. Even if I screamed it now, that he planned to give the child away, no one would believe me. Who would believe an Alpha would secretly give his own child away behind his Mate's back? In my past life, I'd been blinded by that very assumption, readily accepting the lie of my child's "death." Only those discovered letters had revealed the truth. —That my Mate could so readily offer our child as payment for a debt. Sweat soaked my back, my lips pale from the pain. Seeing my distress, Sophia's eyes filled with pity. "Alright then, I'll—" But at that crucial moment, her servant rushed up, waving a scroll of parchment. "Madam! The documents you needed! Is this them?" Sophia's attention snapped away, her gaze instinctively drawn to the offered papers.