Chapter 1

Four months pregnant, my Alpha Kaelen’s obsession Lyra, had to know who he cared about more – me or her.

So, up on the snowy mountain, she howled, started a snow-beast stampede, caused an avalanche.

She smirked, watching me, expecting me to hit Kaelen’s comm rune.

I didn't. I just wrapped my furs tighter, tried to stay warm, and waited.

Because last time, when the avalanche hit, I’d called him right away, begging him to get me to a healer.

He’d saved me for the pup’s sake, got me to the pack healers. But Lyra? She "accidentally" died up there because Kaelen didn't come for her.

He’d held me so tight, his Alpha scent all around me, saying it wasn't my fault. Even took time off to stay with me, "to help me feel better."

Bullshit. The day our pup was born, he dragged us both to the ice caves.

Left us to freeze. Me and our pup.

The last thing I saw, through a thick sheet of ice, was his twisted wolfish snarl.

"If you hadn't distracted me, Lyra would still be alive! Think you can play innocent and fool me? You and your whelp will pay for her life!"

"Cold? Good! I want you to feel exactly what Lyra felt before she died!"

Then I woke up. Back at the avalanche.

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1

Icy slush soaked my furs. I was shaking all over.

That bone-deep cold snapped me out of the nightmare of my past life.

I fumbled in my furs for my bone whistle. This time, I wasn't blowing the special call for him, Kaelen, my Alpha mate.

No. Shaking, I blew the ancient howl for public rescue. Any pack but ours.

When the pack guard finally showed up, the first wolf I saw was Kaelen.

He pulled Lyra from the snow, laid her gently on a stretcher. Only then did I dare ask the other wolves for help.

Those warriors thought I was messing around, snarled at me for wasting pack resources.

The ice and snow were making me lose heat fast. My lower body was numb.

My face was probably a nasty purple-blue, my lips white. I was even seeing stars.

But it was like they couldn't even see me. They were all crowded around Lyra.

I dragged myself out of a snowdrift, aching all over. All the warm furs, every scrap of healing herb, went to Lyra.

Kaelen didn't even glance my way. Like I was trash.

I was shivering so hard, my breathing getting shallow. I could feel the pup’s life fading inside me.

Last time, when the avalanche hit, both Lyra and I had called Kaelen.

He’d come alone, fast. For the pup, he’d chosen to save me first.

But when he went back up the mountain, a second avalanche hit. No rescue possible.

Lyra froze to death under the snow, a blue, twisted mess.

Kaelen didn't blame me. Not then. He’d even soothed me with that deep, sexy Alpha voice of his, telling me not to stress, for the pup's sake.

To "take care of me," he’d taken leave from his Alpha duties, stayed by my side. Back then, his strong male scent was like a drug to me, I thought it was love.

But the day our pup was born, he’d dragged me and our newborn to the same mountain where Lyra died.

Right in front of me, he threw our pup into a bottomless ice chasm.

Cold snowflakes landed on his face, making his eyes look even more empty.

"Seraphina, do you know what it feels like to freeze to death? The pain Lyra went through? I want you to feel every last bit of it!"

Then, he pushed me into the abyss. Me and our pup, dead in the snow.

This time, reborn, all I wanted was to get away.

I never thought he could be so cruel. He wouldn’t even spare me a single warm pelt.

My lower body was already frozen stiff. I couldn’t even feel the pain, just endless numbness.

Bright red blood stained the white snow. Stark.

I used every last bit of strength to grab the nearest warrior’s leg, my voice a weak rasp.

"Please… save the pup… save my pup…"

He looked down at me, then snorted, disgusted.

Kicked my hand away.

"Luna-to-be, still playing games? The Alpha is busy with Lyra. He won’t see your little show. Give it up."

Another warrior pulled his arm. His eyes were full of scorn.

"Why bother talking to her? She’d risk her own pup for a male’s attention, then try to harm another she-wolf. Females, ugh. Vicious."

"You better hope Lyra’s okay," he growled. "Or you’ll face the Alpha’s wrath!"