Chapter 7

Layla's POV

Kael hadn't come to our bed in over a month. Each night, he returned later, his green eyes distant, his voice clipped. It felt like a wall grew between us, cold and unyielding. My heart ached, but I kept trying to reach him. Last night, I found him in his office, papers scattered, his shoulders tense.

"Kael," I said, my voice soft, "you're exhausted. Come to bed. I'm worried about you."

He didn't look up. "Council meeting tomorrow, Layla. I'm swamped."

I bit my lip, hurt stinging. "Can you come with me to the healer tomorrow? For the fertility checks? I need you there."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I've got too much going on. Olivia's handling border patrols. I can't just leave."

Olivia's name hit like a punch. "Kael, please. I'm trying so hard. I need you."

He finally looked at me, his eyes tired. "Layla, I'm the Alpha of this pack. I can't afford to only consider your feelings. I need you to hold it together."

I nodded, tears burning, and left. His words echoed in my head, but they felt empty. He didn't see me anymore. Only Olivia.

Thankfully, I had Trent and Tristan—fifteen-year-old twins from Duskstar Home. Though omegas, their loyalty was my lifeline. They’d been at the pack’s academy for warrior training for months, but as soon as summer break started, they immediately came back to my side.

I'd broken down and told them everything—how Kael had changed, how Olivia seemed to be taking my place. They'd listened with growing anger, then promised to help.

In this chaos, they were my anchors.

One afternoon, we hid among the packhouse's rose bushes—their thorns a feeble shield against the coming storm. Trent's eyes burned like embers. "How is Alpha Kael so blind? Olivia's practically mounting him in council meetings, and he still thinks she's some innocent little wolf?" His claws unsheathed. "I'd tear her throat out with my teeth."

I forced a smile, saying, "Violence solves nothing, Trent."

Tristan didn't even look up from the patrol map he was sketching. "He's not wrong about Olivia." A line of ink split the parchment as his quill snapped. "But we play this smart. Evidence first. Then execution."

My heart sank. "You two are the only ones who get me. Olivia and I used to be so close. We'd stay up talking, laughing. How did she turn into this?"

Tristan's eyes softened. "People change, Luna. Don't blame yourself."

Trent grinned, nudging me. "Yeah, you're way better than her. She struts around as Kael's secretary, acting like a cocky rooster. Thinks she owns the pack."

I laughed, the sound surprising me. For a moment, the weight lifted.

Tristan's face grew serious. "We need to search Olivia's room. Find evidence she's lying."

My stomach twisted. "It's risky. If she catches you—"

"We're sneaky," Trent said, his eyes gleaming. "We've got this."

That night, they slipped into Olivia's room while I waited, pacing my own. My hands shook, fear and hope warring inside me. When they returned, Trent was practically bouncing. "Luna, we hit the jackpot! We found the same type of fertility herbs she uses for your tea, and more importantly, we found this!"

My jaw dropped. "What do you mean?"

Tristan pulled out a small vial with clear liquid. "This was hidden in her dresser drawer. It's wolfsbane extract, Luna. In small doses, it neutralizes fertility herbs."

Trent nodded eagerly. "She's been slipping this into your tea for weeks. That's why you haven't been able to conceive!"

My heart pounded against my ribs. "She's sabotaging me? Making it look like I'm barren?" The realization crashed over me. "She wants Kael to reject me so she can take my place."

Tristan nodded, his face grim. "That's her plan, Luna. You need to show Alpha this evidence."

I clutched the vial they handed me, my mind racing. "Not yet. Kael trusts her completely. He won't believe me without more proof."

Trent frowned. "But Luna—"

A loud knock cut him off. Beta Jasper's deep voice came through the door. "Luna, we need to check your room. Olivia says someone stole from her."

My heart pounded. I shoved the vial under my mattress, my hands trembling. "Come in."

Olivia stormed in behind Jasper, her red hair glowing in the torchlight, her blue eyes smug. "My pearl necklace is gone. Your maid Cassidy saw Trent and Tristan sneaking into my room. Can we search, Luna?"

Cassidy nodded quickly. "Beta Jasper, I swear I saw those two wolves in Olivia's room. Luna must've told them to do it."

Trent spat at her. "Liar! Fuck you, Cassidy! You're making this up!"

Jasper's dark eyes narrowed, his black hair falling over his forehead. "Luna, is this how you raise these kids? Letting them curse like that?"

My face burned, anger and shame mixing. "They're upset, Jasper. They didn't steal anything."

Jasper's men began searching. My stomach dropped when one opened my jewelry box. There, gleaming, was Olivia's pearl necklace.

"What the hell?" I gasped. "I didn't take that! I've never even seen it!"

Olivia smirked, crossing her arms. "Sure, Layla. You sent your little wolves to steal it."

Kael walked in, his face hard. "What's going on here?"

Olivia's voice turned soft, almost sweet. "Layla had Trent and Tristan steal my necklace, Kael. It's right there in her box."

I shook my head, tears stinging. "Kael, I didn't! She's framing me! She planted it!"

Kael's eyes were cold, his jaw tight. "Enough, Layla. You're confined to your room. Trent and Tristan get lashes for stealing."

"No!" I screamed, stepping forward. "You can't! They're innocent!"

Trent puffed out his chest. "We'll take it, Luna. We're not scared."

Tristan nodded, his face pale but steady. "We're loyal to you."

My heart shattered. "No, you're just kids! Kael, please!"

Jasper grabbed my arm as the guards dragged Trent and Tristan to the courtyard. Olivia followed, her smile vicious. The whip cracked, and Trent's scream pierced the air. Tristan gritted his teeth, his groans quiet but pained. Blood soaked their shirts, and I fought against Jasper's grip, tears streaming.

"Stop it!" I yelled. "I'll quit being Luna! Just let them go!"

Kael's voice was ice. "You don't talk to me like that, Layla. I'm the Alpha. They stole, and they pay. You don't get to quit."

I couldn't breathe. Trent's screams echoed, each one a knife in my chest. Olivia stood nearby, her smug grin burning into me. I felt helpless, my heart breaking as the whip fell again.

Jasper tightened his grip. "Stay back, Luna."

I couldn't watch them suffer. My eyes locked on Jasper's belt, where his dagger gleamed. I yanked it free, pressing it to my throat. "Let them go, or I'll kill myself!"

Kael froze, his green eyes wide. "Layla, put it down!"