After My Mate Poisoned Me, I Unleashed Silver

The autumn wind whispered through the sacred burial grounds as I knelt before Jake's gravestone, my fingers tracing the etched name that represented my last true family connection. The weathered gray stone stood among dozens of others—all that remained of the once-proud Moonridge Pack.

"I miss you so much, Jake," I whispered, my voice catching as I placed three handmade moon charms at the base of the stone. Each one was crafted from silver wire and moonstone beads, a tradition our pack elder had taught me before she too was gone. "It's been three years, but it still feels like yesterday."

The wind picked up, rustling the leaves around me. In my imagination, it carried Jake's response—warm, protective, telling me to stay strong as he always had. I closed my eyes, letting a tear slip down my cheek.

"The pack healer says I'm healthy," I continued our one-sided conversation. "But I lost another one, Jake. Four months, just like the others." My hand instinctively went to my flat stomach, the phantom pain of loss lingering despite my inability to feel physical discomfort. "Something's wrong with me. I can't even feel my wolf anymore... not since the mating ceremony."

The silence that followed was deafening. Three miscarriages in three years. Three little lives that never had a chance to grow. Three failures as Luna of the Shadowfang Pack.

"Marcus is... distant," I admitted, the words barely audible. "Sometimes I wonder if he regrets choosing a wolfless mate."

I stayed there until the sun began to set, the golden light casting long shadows across the memorial grounds. With one final touch to Jake's stone, I rose to my feet, brushing dirt from my knees.

"I'll come back soon," I promised, gathering my empty basket. "I love you, big brother."

The drive back to Shadowfang territory was quiet, my thoughts drifting between memories of Jake and anxiety about returning to the pack house—to Marcus. My mate. My Alpha. The man whose touch had grown colder with each lost pregnancy.

When I arrived, the pack house was unusually quiet. Most members would be preparing for dinner or finishing daily duties. I slipped through the grand entrance hall, heading toward our private quarters when voices from Marcus's study caught my attention.

The door was slightly ajar. I approached quietly, not intending to eavesdrop until I heard Victoria's sultry laugh. My hand froze on the doorknob.

"The council meeting went well," Marcus's deep voice rumbled. "The Silvercrest alliance will strengthen both our packs."

"Of course it will," Victoria purred. "My father is already discussing the terms. Once everything is... finalized, we'll have the strongest bloodline in the northern territories."

I pushed the door open slightly wider, my heart dropping at the sight before me. Marcus had Victoria pressed against his desk, his large hands possessively gripping her waist. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, fingers tangled in his dark hair.

*Marcus?* I reached through our mate bond, the mental connection all true mates shared.

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