Invisible to My Alpha for Three Years

When Evelyn Berkeley signed the contract, she thought she was one step away from happiness. She'd loved Liam Dudley for ten years. She'd given him her heart the moment she first saw him at 15, even though their marriage had been a "deal" from the start. For three years, she'd been his hidden Luna, the assistant he could summon at will, and the mate he slept with but refused to have a child with. She put up with his coldness, his neglect, and his betrayal, because she still held on to one naive hope. Maybe someday, he'd finally see her. Then her half sister, Lily Berkeley, came back. Evelyn was pushed down the stairs. Pregnant with twins, she lay in a pool of blood while her husband swept another woman into his arms and walked away. Only then did she understand. Some love can't be taken back once you've given it, and some people will never love you back. The day she signed the papers to dissolve their mate contract, the proud Alpha finally bowed his head. But some wounds can't be healed by a belated "I love you," and real love takes a lifetime to prove. This is a story about mistaken identity, missed chances, and choosing again. When love has burned to ash, can it ever be lit again? Chapter 1 Breaking the Contract Evelyn's POV Elder Marcus Reed stared at me, his face grim. "Evelyn, are you sure you want to dissolve your mate contract?" I clenched my hands in my lap. Beneath them, on my thigh, the wound from a silver blade laced with wolfsbane still throbbed. It reminded me that leaving Liam was the right choice. "Yes," I said softly, meeting Marcus's eyes. "I can't keep being a Luna nobody in the pack knows about, stuck beside a mate who doesn't love me." Marcus gave a scornful laugh, as if he'd seen this coming. "This should've happened a long time ago. You're an Omega who showed up here on the run. Becoming the Alpha's contract mate was already more mercy than the Moon Goddess owed you." I was used to Marcus's sneers by now. After all, I was nobody. I was 15 when I first saw Liam, the heir to the Frostridge Pack. He was so dazzling that I couldn't help falling for him. I'd always thought I'd take this crush to my grave. I never expected to land a job as Liam's assistant after college, much less become his wife by contract. Everything had gone so smoothly that I could overlook how cold and dismissive Liam had been for three years, treating me only as his assistant and the mate he kept hidden in the bedroom. A week ago, when I got the test results from the hospital and confirmed I was pregnant with twins, I almost cried. For three years, I'd been so careful. Every time we slept together, I cleaned up right away and took the pill, because the contract forbade pregnancy. But now I had babies of my own, two little ones growing inside me. I cried in the parking lot of the pack hospital, gripping the report. I couldn't tell if it was fear or joy. Would it be a boy and a girl? Would the girl have my looks? Would the boy be as remarkable as his father? Would Liam be happy? I took a deep breath, pulled myself out of the tangle of feelings, and went to Liam's office to tell him about the babies. The elevator reached his floor, and I stopped outside his office. He hadn't shut the door all the way, and my sharp hearing picked up his voice as he spoke to his Beta, Henry. "Lily's really back?" That was Henry's voice. At the sound of Lily's name, my fingers tightened around my purse. She was my half sister. She had a pretty face and the one thing I'd always envied: our father's love. "We met last night," Liam said. Henry laughed. "Evelyn's going to be upset now. Three years as your secret Luna, and now the girl you never got over is back. The only way I can think of for her to win this one is to get pregnant with your kid right away." Liam's voice went cold. "She won't get pregnant." "Fine." Henry changed the subject. "I bet you had a great time last night. Lily's a very passionate girl, after all." Last night? I stood frozen. And what had my night been like? I'd been mugged on the way home. The attacker seemed to be after my wedding ring. I sprained my ankle. The silver blade in his hand cut my thigh, and it wouldn't stop bleeding. I finally managed to call Liam, but he never picked up. It took every bit of calm I had just to get away. When I got home, I bandaged my wounds alone in the empty estate, and that was when Liam came back. He reeked of alcohol. His eyes went to my wounds, but before he could say anything, I asked him what he'd been doing when I called. Liam just said, "Busy." And I'd believed him. I thought Liam had spent the night entertaining the pack's business partners, but in reality... he'd been on a cozy date with Lily. Henry kept cracking crude jokes. When Liam didn't answer, he laughed. "Okay, okay, dumb question. Boring Evelyn's got nothing on Lily." I stood there, humiliated. The tears came no matter what I did, and I had to bite down hard on my lip to keep from making a sound. This marriage was just a deal. Liam had made that very clear before I signed. He wanted us to be nothing more than business partners, but I couldn't do it. I'd loved him before he even knew me. Back then, I'd been naive enough to think that maybe someday, he'd love me too. But I was wrong. Three years were enough to prove how stupid I'd been. I couldn't take it anymore. Liam would never love me, and he'd never let me keep these twins. If not for my own sake, then for my babies', I had to leave. "The dissolution will take effect in five days. Then your bond with Liam will be gone for good." Marcus's haughty voice pulled me out of my memories. I lowered my eyes and laid my hand over my flat belly. "All right. Thank you." Just five more days, and my babies and I would be free of him. Chapter 2 Lily's Provocation Evelyn's POV Lily had posted on every one of her social media accounts. I should have ignored it. At least, that's what my common sense told me. But I couldn't. Like a masochist, I opened her profile. There were three posts. The first was a photo of Liam picking her up at the airport. His black umbrella was tilted toward her, covering Lily completely, while his own shoulder was soaked. I'd never seen Liam like that. He looked as if he were protecting something precious. Next was a photo of them having dinner at a restaurant. The lighting was romantic, and beside the wine bottle sat a velvet jewelry box. Lily had posted a separate photo of the emerald necklace, captioned "Love this gift so much." I stared at it in silence as bitterness seeped through me. Of course Lily loved it. I was the one Liam had asked to pick it out. Just last week at work, Liam had handed me a thick catalog and told me to pick out something a girl would like. I was stunned. He'd never done anything like that before. Maybe it was a gift Liam planned to give me? I pored over every page and finally settled on this emerald necklace. Because the stone was so much like my mother's eyes. After I told Liam what I'd picked, I kept hoping that someday he'd give the necklace to me. But now, seeing it in Lily's photo, I knew how naive I'd been. Liam would only ever choose Lily. It had always been that way. Even his company, the L&L Group, which brought the pack over a hundred million dollars, was named for them. Everyone in the pack knew where the name came from. L for Liam, L for Lily. It was their monument, and I hadn't even known. I'd worked myself to the bone for it. Well, maybe I should've been used to it by now. After all, I'd spent years watching my father favor Lily. When I was 15, my mother was in an accident. A week later, my father brought home Scarlett Berkeley, my stepmother, and Lily. That was when I found out he'd been cheating all along, and he even had an illegitimate daughter only two years younger than me. Back then, Lily promised me, "Everything you have is going to be mine." And she'd done it. My father, the house that had once been full of my mother's things, all of it became Lily's. Then our pack fell apart, and I came to the Frostridge Pack. I thought I'd finally escaped her curse. But I was wrong. Lily showed up in front of me again. She took Liam, my husband. Just then, the bathroom door opened. Liam came out shirtless, his muscles on full display. He walked straight up to me, bent down to kiss my neck, and slid a hand under my nightgown, stroking my skin. Heat rushed through me at his touch. It wasn't desire. The mate contract was pulling me toward Liam. Once, I would have melted into his touch. Now I didn't want it. He'd just showered, so there shouldn't be any scent on him. I knew that, but I still felt like I could smell Lily. That umbrella tilted toward Lily, that bottle of wine, that emerald necklace... and after that? Maybe they'd been in the same room, in bed, doing what he was doing to me right now. At the thought, I went rigid, and my stomach started to churn. Liam noticed. He stopped and studied me. As an Alpha, he was frighteningly perceptive. I didn't want him to notice anything, so I looked away and said quietly, "I'm not feeling well." "I heard you took half the day off today," Liam said. "Yes," I said, half lying. "I ate something bad and went to the hospital to get checked out." Liam's expression sharpened, and his voice turned serious. "Are you still taking the pills?" Birth control. He'd never let there be even the smallest chance of me getting pregnant. It hurt, but I said calmly, "I always do." Liam nodded and reached for me again, but when he lifted my nightgown, he saw the wound on my thigh. It still hadn't healed. It had just scabbed over, twisted like an ugly worm. Liam paused and asked, "How did this happen?" "I cut myself by accident," I said. "Cut yourself?" Liam frowned and pressed me for an answer. "When? How did you get cut with silver?" I lowered my eyes. "I don't know. I must not have noticed when it happened." There was no point in telling Liam anymore. Liam pressed his lips together, clearly not satisfied with my answer. He was about to say something else when his phone suddenly rang. "What's wrong?" His voice went soft. He walked toward the closet, answering as he went. "Tomorrow? Okay..." When he came back, he was fully dressed, the watch on his wrist catching the cold light. As he passed, the edge of his jacket knocked my purse off, and everything inside spilled out, including Marcus's business card. Liam stopped, bent down, and picked it up. I watched with my hands clenched, fighting to stay calm. When I spoke, I kept my voice even. "I'm just collecting the elders' contact information. It's for work." "Leave that kind of thing to someone else from now on." Liam put the card on the desk and said offhandedly, "Don't wait up for me tonight." He walked out. As I watched him disappear, all my strength seemed to drain away. My heart was pounding after all the lies I'd just told. Maybe I'd hoped Liam would notice something, but he didn't. He was letting me go. About half an hour passed. Bzzz. The phone on the desk buzzed. I picked it up. Lily had sent me a photo. A hotel suite, rumpled sheets, a bare shoulder, and Lily's triumphant smile. Even though I'd already decided to leave, I couldn't stay calm. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart. I had to gasp just to get air into my lungs. It's okay, I told myself. Evelyn, don't cry. It's almost over. Chapter 3 I'm Quitting Evelyn's POV Violent morning sickness woke me from a deep sleep. I ran into the bathroom, braced myself on the vanity, and threw up until there was nothing left. Panting, I washed the tears and snot off my face. The mirror showed me exactly how haggard I looked. Pale skin, and dull eyes ringed with dark circles. That was what carrying pups was like, especially when I wasn't getting enough rest and had no husband taking care of me. I stroked my belly and said quietly, "This is what you need, babies. We only have to wait three more days, and we'll have a new life." Enduring was what I did best. It was also the only thing Liam had ever taught me. The moment I stepped into the company elevator, the employees' gossip reached my ears. "I swear, I saw it with my own eyes. Lily Berkeley got out of Mr. Dudley's car, and Mr. Dudley even opened the door for her." "I know her! She's so pretty, especially that blond hair. She was Mr. Dudley's first love back in high school. Just think about the name of this building. L&L. That's so romantic." They chattered away behind me, while I, Liam's hidden mate, stood at the very front of the elevator like I wasn't even there. "I bet we can't even call her Mr. Dudley's first love anymore. She's more like the future Luna!" "I'm so jealous. Some women get everything, and the rest of us just work in a building named after their love story." The elevator arrived, and I fought back the urge to throw up as I got off. First love? Future Luna? No, none of that has anything to do with you, Evelyn. Stop letting it get to you. "Are you okay?" Noah came to my desk with a cup of coffee. "You look terrible." I didn't want Noah to notice anything, so I smiled at him. "Yeah, I'm fine." "Okay." Noah shrugged. "If anything's up, let me know. I can cover some of your work. But for now, could you take this coffee in for me?" I took the coffee and knocked on Liam's office door, waiting until he answered before I pushed it open. It felt staged. Lily was getting up from Liam's lap as I walked in. The gossips were right. Lily looked beautiful today, especially in that red dress. "Oh! Evelyn, it's you. It's been so long." Lily's greeting was so warm it felt like an act. I was used to it and didn't react at all. I just set the coffee on Liam's desk and said in my most professional voice, "Mr. Dudley, here's your coffee." "No, this should be mine." Lily laughed and picked up the coffee. She took a sip and complained, "Evelyn, this is way too bitter. You know I like my coffee sweeter. Make me another one." She bossed me around without a second thought, just like back when we lived at home. I refused. "Making you coffee isn't part of my job." Lily pouted playfully. "Liam, look. My own big sister won't even make me a cup of coffee." I frowned and was about to turn and leave when Lily spoke again. "Evelyn, can you take me to the restroom? I've been wanting to go, but I can't find it." I had a bad feeling. She was definitely up to something. I knew Lily too well. But Liam hadn't said a word the whole time. He was silently giving Lily the go-ahead. I knew perfectly well that if I refused something he'd quietly approved, things would only get messier. "Sure." I took a deep breath and tried to sound professional. "Follow me." Lily's heels clicked behind me all the way into the restroom. The moment the door closed, all the friendliness vanished from her face, and she looked down at me with a mocking smile. "You really love this kind of work, don't you? You used to cook and clean for Mom and me at home, and now you're Liam's nanny. Oh, and if I remember right, you sleep with him too, don't you? Just like those whores out there. Actually, no. Just like your mother." I hated the look on her face. I clenched my teeth. "You don't get to talk about my mother." "Is that because you think she was pathetic too?" Lily laughed. Her perfume was so heavy it was hard to breathe. "Think about your mother. She gave everything she had just so someone would love her. And what did she get? No respect at all. Think about how she ended up, Evelyn. You're exactly like her now..." Smack! I was breathing hard, my palm stinging. Lily stared at me in shock, a red, swollen mark rising on her cheek. I'd slapped her, giving the mistress's daughter a little lesson. Lily recovered quickly and sneered at me. I realized something was wrong and tried to get out of there, but before I could take a single step, Lily suddenly started screaming like a madwoman. She tore at her own hair and clawed bloody scratches into her arms. The next second, Liam kicked the door open and stormed in. Lily threw herself into his arms and started crying pitifully. "Liam, I don't know what's wrong with Evelyn. She suddenly went crazy and hit me!" "No." I shook my head at Liam. "I didn't..." "Apologize," Liam cut me off. His face darkened, and his Alpha aura pressed down on me. "Evelyn, don't lie to me. Own up to what you did." My bones trembled under the pressure. I fought through the pain and looked at Liam. He wasn't joking at all. A chill swept through me, as if I'd been plunged into ice water. It was over. All of it was over, right here and now. "I won't apologize." I looked at him. "I didn't do anything wrong." "Don't risk your job over this," Liam warned. "I don't care." I forced a stiff smile. "I'm quitting." The whole room went quiet. Lily stared at me in surprise, and Liam froze too. "What did you say?" "I'm quitting," I repeated. "I'll send the email to HR in a little while. Mr. Dudley, you can find a more suitable assistant for Lily." I turned and walked out. Liam's voice rang out behind me. "Stop right there, Evelyn! You..." I didn't stop until I was out of the building. Then I made a call. He picked up right away, sounding pleasantly surprised. "Evelyn? It's been ages since you called me." He was my college classmate, William Parker. "Yeah," I said. "I'm leaving him. Can we meet?" Chapter 4 You're Pregnant Evelyn's POV We agreed to meet at a nice café. The moment I walked in, I saw William. He hadn't changed a bit since college. When he saw me, he broke into a grin, stood up, and waved. "Over here." I felt like I'd come back to life. I went over and sat across from William. The server set a steaming, sweet-smelling drink in front of me. "Hot chocolate," William explained. "I remember you don't really like coffee." I held the cup in both hands, feeling the warmth coming off it. My vision started to blur. Maybe it was the steam, maybe something else. "Evelyn," William said with concern, "are you okay?" I sniffled and made myself smile. "Yes. I just... haven't had hot chocolate in a while." My job and my home life never left me enough time to just enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. William's brown eyes softened. He didn't press. Instead, he pulled out the tablet he'd brought and showed me a project: a luxury boutique hotel in neutral territory. It had an eye-catching concept and a relaxing layout, with light and shadow as part of the décor. I loved it, and before I knew it, I was thinking out loud. "The space should mostly be warm white, light gray, and dark walnut, with less texture on the walls and floors. And these public areas, maybe a continuous colonnade could create a sense of order. And reflections, they could be key to making the building feel less heavy..." I stopped mid-sentence and glanced up at William. He hadn't said a word the whole time. "Sorry, I got carried away." "Don't be." William shook his head and said wistfully, "It's just been a long time since I saw the girl who painted murals in the college hall. I thought she'd forgotten the way back." He was right. I'd almost forgotten how to find my way back to myself. I pressed my lips together and smiled. "But I haven't done any design work in a long time. William, are you really sure you want to hire me?" "Of course. You're..." "Evelyn." Liam's cold voice cut William off. I looked over on reflex and saw Liam striding toward me. He didn't look happy, and he eyed William with hostility. How had Liam even found me here? He should have been at the office with Lily right now. "Alpha Liam?" William stood and offered his hand. "I'm William, William Parker, Evelyn's college classmate." Liam always cared about appearances, but this time he ignored William's outstretched hand. He grabbed my wrist and stared at me with his blue eyes. "Outside." His grip was too strong for me to pull free. Besides, this was a public place, and I didn't want to make a scene. All I could do was give William an apologetic look and follow Liam out of the café. Anger simmered in Liam's voice. "William? What is he to you? Tell me the truth." "A friend," I said shortly. "You're lying." The suspicion in Liam's eyes felt like it could cut right through me. "Friends don't look at you like that." I frowned. "Then what do you think he is? My lover? Don't assume the worst about everyone." Liam paused, then tried another angle. "What were you two doing?" "Talking about work." "I don't remember L&L working with this friend of yours on anything." "It's my own work," I said. "It has nothing to do with L&L. I already quit. If having Lily in your arms kept you from hearing me, I'll say it again. I quit." Liam's voice went tight. "You're obligated to stay by my side. It's in our contract." "But it doesn't take away my right to find a new job." I looked Liam in the eye, my voice turning firm. "If you want, I can recite every clause for you." Liam didn't back down. "Not with him." "Why not? Because you think he's into me?" I said it on purpose. "Are you jealous?" Liam stiffened, then scoffed. "Was there booze in that drink of yours?" "If that's not it, then there's no problem." Liam probably hadn't expected me to stand my ground this time. He frowned and said irritably, "Do whatever you want, but don't forget your obligations. Evelyn, we signed a contract. You're still my mate in name." I didn't want to answer him anymore. The contract, the contract... the word was like a shackle that had chained me in place for three whole years. I was sick of it. William was still waiting for me in the café. When I told him I could sign the job contract right away, he laughed out loud and started going over the hours and salary with me. It was evening by the time I finally got home. The light in the second-floor bedroom was on. Maybe Liam was already home. I went upstairs, and when I saw who was in the bedroom, I froze. It was Lily. She was lying on my bed, wearing my favorite ivory silk pajamas. When she saw me, she rolled onto her stomach and laughed coyly. "You've got good taste in bed. Well, in pajamas, anyway. These are so comfortable. Oh, you know, I just got back to the pack, and Liam was worried the place I was renting wasn't safe, so he insisted I stay here." She watched me like she was waiting for a show, hoping to see anger or pain on my face. But I was about to disappoint her. I turned and left to find Liam and ask him to set me up in a guest room. "Are you going to find Liam?" Lily's voice rang out, light and cheerful. "Go ahead. He's in the study. You'll be so glad to see him." She was up to no good. I was sure of it. I went to the study. The door was ajar. Liam sat behind the desk, holding something. He looked up and held up the document in his hand. My pregnancy report. His voice was ice-cold. "When were you planning to tell me?" Chapter 5 He Chose Lily Evelyn's POV My blood ran cold. It took me two full seconds to get my feet moving, and I walked into the study. He shouldn't have found out, at least not now. "I..." "Twelve weeks pregnant. Three months. And three months ago, I was in another pack for an entire month." Liam slowly stood up from behind the desk. He stared at me as if I were prey and he was about to tear out my throat. "Evelyn, whose child are you carrying?" Wait. I couldn't understand what Liam was saying. Three months? That was wrong. The twins inside me were only two months along. I'd gotten the test results just a week ago. I opened my mouth to tell Liam the truth, but the look on his face kept me from making a sound. He suspected me. He'd already made up his mind the moment he doubted me. Liam was clearly enraged by my reaction. He threw the report on the floor and kicked the chair beside him across the room. Then he backed me against the wall and slammed his fist into it. The heavy thud made me flinch, and my heart raced with fear. "It's William, isn't it?" A storm churned in Liam's eyes. "How long have you two been together? And the contact info for Elder Reed. Don't you have anything to say for yourself, Evelyn?" Explain? Explain that the babies inside me were his, or that I'd loved him since I was 15? I looked at him, fighting back tears with everything I had. My voice shook, but I didn't back down. "Think whatever you want. Let me go, Liam. There's no point in talking right now." "You'd better take care of that thing inside you," Liam said, cold as stone. "Or I won't go easy on you, or on William. I'll have you both banished from the pack." I didn't stop walking until I was out of the study. Lily was waiting for me at the top of the stairs with a triumphant smile. "See? I told you. He's never trusted you. He'll always be mine. Everything you have will be mine." I understood everything now. "You're the one who let Liam see the report." "Of course." Lily admitted it without a second thought. "And I swapped it too. Do you like my gift?" I glared at Lily, hatred burning in my chest. There was no need to ask where the original report had gone. It was in shreds in a trash can or burned to ash. Either way, Lily would never have let it survive. "Don't look at me like that." Lily slowly came down the stairs, every step as graceful as a princess. "Evelyn, my dear sister, do you know what the best part is? How easily he believed it. One doctored document, one little hint that his precious wife was cheating, and he fell apart. He's never trusted you. He's always been mine, Evelyn. You were just a placeholder." "Stay away from me," I growled. Lily laughed and ignored my warning. She grabbed me. I tried to pull free, but she was shockingly strong. "Here's one more gift," I heard her say. The next second, she shoved me down the stairs. Time seemed to stop. My vision spun, and every part of my body hurt as it slammed into the stairs. I couldn't do anything except curl up as tightly as I could to protect my belly. At the bottom, my forehead hit the floor hard. My head spun, and a sharp pain tore through my belly. My ears were ringing. The only sound I could hear was Lily's scream. "Ahhh! Ahhh!" Liam ran out of the study. His feet passed right in front of my eyes as he went to help Lily up a few feet away. Lily leaned into his arms, clutching her wrist and wailing, "Evelyn, why did you push me down the stairs... If you don't want to see me, I can stay out of your sight forever!" "No, I didn't..." My voice came out weak. The pain in my belly wouldn't let me speak any louder. As an Alpha, Liam had sharper hearing than most people. He should have heard me, but he didn't. Or maybe he chose to ignore it. He frowned. "Evelyn, you've gone too far." I shook my head. Something warm was spreading between my legs, and fear swallowed me whole. Tears streamed down my face as I reached out to Liam. "Please, save the babies... They're yours..." Liam, my husband, the man I'd loved for almost ten years, didn't hesitate at those words. He still chose Lily. He bent down, swept her into his arms, and said to me, "Noah will take you to the hospital." With that, he left. He left me on the cold floor to feel my babies slipping away. I couldn't stop crying. I curled up and tried to make my body heal itself, but I couldn't. The wounds from the attack were still affecting me, and with the fall on top of it, I couldn't summon any of my healing at all. "No, please don't..." I cried helplessly, wrapping my arms around my belly through the pain. "Don't leave me. Please stay with Mommy. You're all I have. Don't do this to me. Please—" I prayed to the Moon Goddess. I even begged my mother. But there was more and more blood. I could smell it in the air. No one could help me. Then the darkness swallowed me whole, and death was waiting inside it. Chapter 6 The Miscarriage Evelyn's POV I had to be dreaming. How else could I be seeing high-school Liam again? He was as handsome as ever, his face cold, but he picked up my books for me like a perfect gentleman. That was just good manners, nothing to do with me. I knew it, but I still couldn't help falling for him. In a blink, Liam was a grown man, broader and even more handsome. He sat behind his desk and pushed a contract toward me. "Read the terms carefully. I don't want you changing your mind after you sign." He needed an obedient mate to keep certain elders happy. My heart raced anyway. I heard myself answer with forced calm. "Okay, Alpha Dudley." My hand shook with excitement as I signed my name. I looked shyly at Liam, but his face was blank. To him, this contract was no different from any other piece of work. My vision blurred, and Liam's face changed. He had a different haircut and stood on the other side of Marcus. This was our mate bonding ceremony. Only Liam, me, and Marcus, the elder who led the ceremony, were there. I wore a white dress, the closest thing to a wedding gown I could find. I was so nervous, but Liam never looked at me once. His eyes were on his phone the whole time. I slipped the ring onto my own finger, a simple diamond band. Liam reminded me calmly, "It's only for the elders to see. Other than that, don't let anyone see it or know what you are to me." I opened my mouth to say something, but Liam disappeared. In his place was a bright, sunny room, and children's laughter rang out from behind the curtains. "My babies..." I stumbled toward it. "It's my babies." I called out to them, but the room kept stretching. No matter how hard I ran, I stayed in the same place, watching helplessly as the window receded and the children's laughter faded. Everything vanished, and I was left alone in the dark. "No." I collapsed where I stood, covered my face, and sobbed. "Don't leave me alone. Please, don't leave Mommy alone." The steady beep of a monitor filled my ears. I opened my eyes. Tears still clung to my lashes, a reminder of that painful dream. "Evelyn, you're finally awake." It was Aurora, my best friend. She stood up and leaned over me, her eyes swollen from crying. "You've been unconscious all night." I laid my hand on my belly, the IV tugging at it. It was still flat, but I could feel that something was missing. "Where are my babies?" My voice was hoarse. Aurora's face fell, and tears filled her eyes again. "The doctors did everything they could, Evelyn, but it was too late. They couldn't save the babies." My heart shattered. I couldn't accept it. "No..." Tears ran from the corners of my eyes and soaked my hair. "I didn't even get to tell them I quit my job, that I found a new one, that I was going to start painting again, that I was going to get everything ready for them to be born. Why did this happen?" "I know, Evelyn. I know." Aurora held me, giving me what warmth she could. I was too weak to keep crying for long, and at some point I passed out again. When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside the window, and the nurses were whispering outside the door. "Do you know Lily Berkeley? She's at the hospital next door, and our Alpha is watching over her." "Of course. For a bruised wrist, Mr. Dudley called in three pack doctors and even brought in a doctor from Geneva to treat her. He's probably still sitting by Lily's bed right now." "..." Their laughter grated on my ears. The best doctors. All-night care. Constant attention... Liam could do all of it. He just never had for me. Evelyn, your life really is pathetic. I thought Liam would stay with Lily the whole time, but he came the next day after all. He stood at the door. "The doctor says you'll make a full recovery." But my babies would never come back to me. I gave a mocking smile and looked up at Liam. "How's Lily?" With Liam fussing over her, a little bruise like that should've healed by now. "She's fine. She's being discharged today," Liam said. "Well, that's good news." I said it calmly, but Liam frowned. "Evelyn, what are you trying to say?" What could I say? What was there to say? In Liam's eyes, no one was allowed to offend Lily. The phone on the nightstand suddenly buzzed. It was an email from Marcus. A dissolution contract, already signed by a witch. My way out, and my way forward. As soon as Liam signed his name, everything would be settled. "What are you looking at?" Liam walked over. Without hesitating, I turned the screen toward him. When Liam saw what it was, he froze, every muscle going rigid. "The dissolution contract." I'd never imagined I could be this calm. I felt no pain or hatred over the years I'd spent loving him. Only relief. "Sign it. Let me go." Like my babies, I would leave Liam behind.