Isadora POV.

"She's nothing more than a means to an end; Isadora is just a tool to secure my position as Alpha King," Eamon spoke, his words cutting through me like shards of ice. "Once she bears my child, she will be of no further use. Probably just a mere sex toy' to satisfy my sexual fantasies once in a while."

The world around me seemed to shatter at those words, and my body trembled with shock and hurt. This couldn't be real, I thought. Eamon, the man I loved with all my heart, speaking of me with such heartlessness and disdain?

"It's all about power, Alpha. You made the right choice. Love is for the weak, and you can't afford such vulnerabilities. Once you have secured your position, there will be other women who will vie for your favor. You need to be ruthless," the voice of his beta chimed in, echoing Eamon's cruelty.

"You're right; besides, she won't taste the same once my heir is born. It would be best to get rid of her. She's nothing to me."Eamon's words echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain. The pain was unbearable, and I felt as if the ground beneath me was crumbling. I couldn't bear to face him, not in that moment, not when the image of his tender smile and affectionate gaze clashed so starkly with the venomous words I had just overheard. I turned away, retreating from the door back to the dining room instead, my heart shattered and my spirit crushed. As I hurriedly wiped away my tears, I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I couldn't let Eamon see my pain, not now. As Luna, I had a duty to maintain appearances, and I couldn't let anyone, especially Eamon, suspect that I had overheard his heartless conversation with Victor. With trembling hands, I laid out the breakfast dishes on the dining table, my heart aching with every movement. I mustered a smile, hoping it would be enough to hide the turmoil inside me. But as the seconds ticked by, the charade became harder to maintain. The weight of the betrayal pressed down on my chest like an unbearable burden. Eamon's footsteps approached the dining room, and I forced myself to turn towards him, the mask of affection firmly in place.

"Good morning, my Alpha," I said, my voice betraying no hint of the pain I felt. His face softened as he looked at me, seemingly unaware of the tempest raging beneath the surface.

"Isadora, my love. I was wondering why breakfast was taking so long. Is everything alright?" he inquired.

"Oh, everything's fine," I replied, forcing a lightness into my tone.

"I just got a bit caught up in my thoughts, that's all. But your breakfast is ready now." As I placed the breakfast in front of him, he smiled, but I saw a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze. Did he suspect that something was wrong? I quickly averted my eyes, not daring to meet his gaze for fear that he might see the pain hidden within. Throughout the meal, we exchanged small talk, our words carefully chosen and measured. I played the part of the loving Luna, and he played the part of the caring Alpha King. But the weight of his callous words hung heavily in the air between us, an unspoken truth that neither of us dared to address. In the midst of the dramatic charade, a part of me yearned to confront him and demand an explanation for his heartless betrayal. But I knew that doing so would only escalate the situation and put myself and my unborn child in danger. So I bit my tongue, swallowed my pride, and continued the pretense. As breakfast came to an end, Eamon reached out to touch my hand.

"Isadora, my love, you seem distant today. If there's anything on your mind, you know you can tell me, right?" The tenderness in his voice pierced my heart, and for a moment, I almost believed that his affection was genuine. But the memory of his heartless words flooded back, and I withdrew my hand gently, offering a reassuring smile that hid a world of pain.

"It's nothing, Eamon. Just the usual preoccupations of being Luna," I replied.

As the day wore on, I found myself planning my escape with newfound determination. I knew I couldn't stay in the pack any longer, not when the love I thought was real had been nothing but a facade. My child deserved a better life, once free from the heartache and deceit that surrounded me. Later that night, after the pack had settled into slumber, I stole away to my private chamber. The moon's silvery glow illuminated the room, casting an ethereal light on the parchment and maps spread before me. With trembling hands, I plotted my route, identifying the safest paths through the untamed wilderness that would lead me far away from Aeloria or anywhere at all. As long as I'm far away from Eamon, I'll be good. As I focused on the plan, I felt a mix of fear and determination swirl inside me. My heart ached at the thought of leaving behind the life I had known—the life I had dreamed of with Eamon. But the pain of his betrayal fueled my resolve, and I knew that my child's safety was paramount. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on my escape plan, the door to my chamber creaked open, and there stood a shirtless Eamon, his amber eyes burning with intensity, at the door.

"Isadora," he said softly, stepping inside. My heart quickened at the sight of him, my body betraying the turmoil within as I quietly pushed aside the maps on the table.

"Eamon, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to maintain my composure. He took a step closer, the distance between us melting away.

"I couldn't sleep," he admitted.

"I felt a distance between us today, and I couldn't bear it."

I averted my eyes, unwilling to let him see the truth of my emotions. "It's been a long day, that's all," I replied.

He cupped my chin, gently guiding my gaze back to his. "Isadora, my love, you can't hide from me. I know there's something you're not telling me."

My heart clenched at the tenderness in his touch and the genuine concern in his eyes. It was the man I had fallen in love with—the one I had thought was real. But the memory of his heartless words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't let myself be swayed by his charm.

"There's nothing to tell, Eamon," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

"I'm just tired, that's all." He leaned closer, his breath caressing my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Is that all it is?" he whispered, his lips tantalizingly close to mine. I closed my eyes, my resolve wavering, torn between the love I once felt and the pain of his betrayal.

"Oh, please, like you care, Eamon; you're only here to play with your favorite play toy, isn't it?" I murmured, my voice barely audible. But he didn't relent. Instead, his lips met mine in a passionate kiss, and for a moment, I was lost in the sensations he stirred within me. The memories of our past, the love we shared, and the hope for a future together surged through me, clouding my judgment. Yet, even in the midst of the steamy embrace, the truth of his heartless words and even more heartless reality gnawed at me, and I gently pushed him away.

"No, Eamon," I said, firmer now.

"This changes nothing." He looked at me with confusion and desire mingling in his eyes. "Isadora, I don't understand. What's come between us?"

"I'm just tired, Eamon; maybe it's the pregnancy," I said, avoiding his gaze and trying to hide my feelings under the umbrella of vulnerability.

Eamon nodded, but he didn't press further. "Rest well, Isadora," he said softly, turning to leave. I followed him behind, shutting the door behind me. I couldn't continue with this act for too long. It wouldn't be long before Eamon figured it out. I had no choice but to leave immediately. Hopefully, my stepfather's pack, which was only a few minutes away, would be a good place to gather my thoughts.

Isadora POV.

Making my escape from the pack, running through the night, the darkness of the untamed wilderness cloaked me as I sought refuge in my stepfather's pack. I needed a safe place to rest, a place where I could gather my strength and protect my child from the dangers that lurked around us.

Arriving at the borders of my stepfather's pack, exhaustion threatened to consume me, but I pushed myself forward, driven by my love for my child and the desperate need for solace. The scent of familiarity greeted me as I stepped into the territory, and I made my way toward the main den, praying that my stepfather would grant me refuge. Eamon would be mad at him if he found out he allowed me to hide here for some time. I can only keep my fingers crossed right now.

knocking on the door, my stepfather, Alpha Philip, stepped out. His expression was a mix of surprise and concern. "Isadora, my dear, what brings you here in the dead of night?" he asked, his eyes searching behind me, clarifying whether I came alone.

"I had to leave," I replied. "I needed to find a safe place for my child and myself."

His brows furrowed, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "But your home with Eamon should be safe enough, shouldn't it?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, knowing that I couldn't reveal the truth, not to him or anyone else. "It's complicated," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "I needed some rest, and I thought coming here would be best."

My stepfather narrowed his gaze, his intuition sharpened by years of navigating the intricate politics of various packs. "Isadora, you're not telling me everything," he said, his tone firm. "If all you needed was rest, then your castle with Eamon would be an even more comfortable place to find it."

swallowing hard, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. "I just needed to get away for a while," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please don't inform Eamon that I'm here."

He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine for the truth. "Isadora, you can't keep running from your problems," he said. "If something is wrong, you need to face it and fix it, not hide from it."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. "I can't do that without strength; that's why I'm here to recover," I admitted.

My stepfather stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I may not always agree with your choices, Isadora, but you are my daughter, and I will always protect you," he said, his voice filled with a mix of tenderness and concern.

The weight of his words and the memories of the love he once showed me overwhelmed me, and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I just need some time to figure things out and protect my child."

He nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "While you're pregnant and caring for Eamon's heir You can stay here as long as you need," he said, his voice unwavering. "But remember, running away won't solve anything. You have to face your fears and confront the truth, whatever it is, because I know certainly for a fact that you're not telling me everything. Besides, the toad doesn't run in the daytime for nothing; it's either something is chasing it or something is chasing it. Clearly, Isadora, something is chasing you. That's the only reason you'll be knocking at my door this late in the night with your pregnancy, but it's fine if you don't want to tell me; I respect your decision."

I nodded my head in response, too weak to say anything else.

My relationship with my stepfather remained complex, a mixture of past affection and the strain of our conflicting motivations.

The next morning, the sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden hue over the pack's territory. I stood at a distance by the alpha's den balcony as I watched the pack members go about their daily routines. A mixture of emotions swirled within me: relief at finding a safe haven, but also uncertainty and fear of the consequences that might follow.

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I overheard the hushed conversation between my stepfather and someone on the phone from the window. My heart skipped a beat as I heard Eamon's name. What was my stepfather doing? Had he snitched on me, betraying my trust?

"I thought you should know," my stepfather's voice echoed. "Isadora came to seek refuge here last night, claiming she needed some rest. She said she didn't want you to know; I found that strange."

The sound of Eamon's voice came through the phone, and my heart raced with trepidation. "What? Why would she do that?" Eamon's voice was laced with surprise and confusion.

"I'm not entirely sure," my stepfather replied, his tone careful. "But I have a feeling that something is troubling her deeply. She seemed broken and lost when she arrived."

Eamon's anger was palpable over the phone. "Did she say anything about why she left? Did she mention me at all?"

My stepfather hesitated for a moment before replying, "She didn't say much, but she seemed hurt. It's possible that something happened between you two. You need to talk to her, Eamon. She needs you."

Before my stepfather could say anything else, Eamon abruptly ended the call. I could feel the tension in the air, and my heart pounded in my chest. He was coming for me, and I wasn't ready to face him, not after the pain he had inflicted upon me.

Fear and uncertainty gripped me as I realized I had to leave to escape before Eamon and his men arrived. Without a moment's hesitation, I made up my mind. I couldn't confront him, not now. I needed more time to heal, to gather my strength, and to protect my child from the storm of emotions that surrounded us.

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I slipped away from the den. I couldn't risk going back into the living room to grab my stuff, my heart heavy with the weight of my decision, but I couldn't bear to see Eamon.

My breath came in ragged gasps as I ran, my heart pounding in my chest and tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't face Eamon, not when the wounds of his heartless betrayal were still fresh. The pain of his callous words weighed heavily on my soul, and I knew that I needed time and space to heal before I could even consider confronting him.

I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, heading in the opposite direction from both my stepfather's pack and Eamon's. The stress of running for so long, coupled with the weight of my pregnancy, began to take its toll on my body. Even though I used my werewolf abilities, my vision blurred, and my legs felt like lead. The darkness of the wilderness seemed to close in around me, and with one final step, my strength gave out.

I collapsed to the ground, my body crumpling in a heap of exhaustion and despair. The tears continued to flow as I lay there, overwhelmed by the weight of my emotions.

As the minutes ticked by, my consciousness wavered, and the darkness threatened to consume me. The world around me became a blur, and I could feel myself slipping away.