Escaping the Wrong Mate for the Right One

For eight years, I was nothing more than a shadow—living beneath the memory of my sister, the woman Alpha Rowan chose over me. When she died, I remained, not as his mate, but as her replacement. I bore the weight of their children, suffered his punishments, swallowed his cruelty—because staying meant being near. Because leaving felt like betrayal.

And what was my reward?

Ridicule. Degradation. Scorn.

On the very day I dressed to honor Rowan’s heir, Theron, he doused me with wolfsbane, sneered into my face, and said he wished I had never lived.

That was the moment the truth seared into me—I would never belong here.

So I ran. I gathered my daughter and fled. But Rowan refused to let us slip away. He hunted us down, driving us to the brink of death, backing us into a corner with no escape.

I chose the only escape left.

I leapt.

Let him believe the fall destroyed us. Let him believe he claimed victory. Because if I claw my way back from this abyss, I will not run again.

Next time—I’ll fight. For myself. For my freedom.