Wolf Queen Rising: Betrayed as a Wife, Crowned as a Queen

I, Ella Vance, was the fated mate of Damian Blackwood, the Alpha of the Laurel Valley Pack.

While carrying his offspring and afflicted with the incurable Blood Reversal Curse, he walked arm in arm with my cousin Selena Vance, forcing me to sign the application to dissolve our mate bond.

I pleaded with him to let me keep our pups, but he only looked at me with disdain. "Those pups are tainted by the curse. Their disappearance will be good for the pack."

Later, Selena orchestrated a car accident, allowing me to fake my death and escape.

Eventually, he realized I was the one who could awaken his bloodline.

Five years later, I returned. When he saw me, he was ecstatic, kneeling like a loyal dog and begging for my forgiveness.

He believed that if he showed enough devotion, he could win me back and be reunited with the pups.

But he didn't know I was no longer the humble Ella I once had been.

......

"Have you finally agreed?" Damian's voice came through our mental link, cold as ice.

I sat on a hospital bench, clutching two medical reports. One read "Blood Reversal Curse," the other "Quintuplets, 25 weeks pregnant, fetuses weak."

The Blood Reversal Curse was virtually incurable.

Those afflicted had their souls gradually dissipate, replaced by another soul within.

No one had ever been cured.

The doctor had told me that I had only three years left to live.

In these final years, I no longer wanted to be entangled with Damian.

"Yes." I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Damian, let's talk."

"Hmm." The man's usually calm voice was now urgent. "Wait for me at home." The link was severed at once.

My wolf howled mournfully, as if crying.

I looked at the two reports in my hand, unable to suppress a bitter smile.

Happiness and misfortune always seemed to arrive together.

After ten years of marriage, I had finally conceived pups.

Yet at the same time, I had foreseen my own death.

"Not being able to watch you grow up is my eternal regret," I said softly, touching my rounded belly.

When I returned home, the living room lights were already on.

Damian sat on the sofa, with a cup of freshly brewed coffe on the table before him.

His expression was as calm as ever, but his clenched fists betrayed his agitation.

Two elders sat beside him, looking at me with pity.

"You want to dissolve the mate bond?" Damian asked, not caring about my pale face.

"Yes." I placed the medical reports on the table. "The doctor said I'm cursed with the Blood Reversal Curse."

He didn't even glance at the papers.

"Very well." Damian smiled, pulling out a document and tossing it in front of me. "The application to dissolve the mate bond is ready. Sign it, and we'll go to the Moon Temple immediately."

I froze.

I thought he would at least show some concern about why I was cursed, maybe a hint of surprise or even reluctance.

But he said nothing.

"However, I have one condition." Just as I was about to sign, Damian spoke.

"What?" I looked at him in confusion.

"I know you're pregnant." He looked at me with disdain. "The pups you're carrying will be raised by me and Selena." As compensation, I'll give you a house."

I was dumbfounded.

My heart felt as if it had been slammed by a fist.

"Damian! They are my pups."

Damian cut me off, his gaze like ice. "And you, a woman who can't even protect her own body, are unfit to be the mother of pups."

"You can't do this!" I shot to my feet, my voice trembling. "They are my pups-you have no right to decide their future alone!"

"Your pups?" Damian rose to his feet as well, staring at me. "If they stay with you, they'll only become as vile as you are. Besides, you know exactly how they came to be. If you hadn't drugged me, would I have slept with you?"

The Alpha's aura spread through the room, choking the air from my lungs, yet I forced myself to stand my ground.

"I've said it over and over-I never drugged you! Believe it or not, my pups are innocent!"

Damian looked at me with icy indifference. "No matter what you say, I won't change my decision."

With that, he gave a cold, mocking laugh and strode toward me. "I'm merely informing you."

I clutched my slightly rounded belly, tears streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks. "Please, Damian. I can leave, I want nothing-just let me keep the pups..."

"Impossible." Damian's voice was firm, and I trembled, clenching my fists.

"If you don't agree to let me take the children," I said, "I will never sign the application to dissolve the mate bond."

No sooner had I finished than the Alpha's aura pressed down on me even harder. Blood burst from my lips, yet a smile curved on my face.

"Damian, if you don't let me take the children, then my dear cousin will be nothing more than your mistress for the rest of her life!" Those words drained the last of my strength.

My legs gave out beneath me.

"Ella." Damian's gaze turned dangerous. "Give birth to the pups, let your cousin raise them, and then leave. If you can't do that, I'll kill you myself."

"You can't do this, I'm your Luna!" I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the floor.

"That title can be taken from you." Toby showed his first smile of the day.

He walked up to me and stomped down, snapping one of my legs.

"My Luna betrayed me, and I caught her coupling with a rogue wolf. So I will petition the elders and the Moon Goddess to forcibly sever the mate bond. Everyone will support me."

Agonizing pain tore through me. I tried to run, but my body wouldn't obey.

"You're utterly cold-blooded," I ground out through clenched teeth.

There was only one way to forcibly sever the mate bond-by killing the other's wolf.

After the wolf died, a silver blade would be driven in, punishing the guilty werewolf.

The one whose mate bond was severed would soon waste away and die.

But compared to a swift death, this was more like slow torture.

"Think it over carefully. Give me your answer tomorrow night." Damian walked out the door without the slightest hesitation.

I slumped onto the floor, feeling as if my entire world was collapsing.

Ten years of marriage, and this was all it came to.

Perhaps forming the mate bond with him had been a mistake from the very beginning.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through my abdomen.

I looked down as fresh blood dripped from my mouth onto the medical report.

The blood spread across the paper, blooming like an omen of death.

The curse had begun to take hold, and I no longer knew how much longer I could endure.

"Wouldn't it be better to just hand your body over to me? I'm far stronger than you-I can help you take revenge. And I can keep your pups alive." A deep, low voice echoed in my mind.

I felt a little dazed.

Was it the other soul inside my body?

"I don't trust you," I said, enunciating each word. "I won't seek your help. Before I completely lose consciousness, I'll choose to end my own life."

I meant every word, but the soul within clearly didn't care.

It let out a cold laugh in response. "One day, you will beg for my help."