Chapter 5

Silvia's POV

Ashley was gone.

I stared at Brian, his hand pressing against his bloodied lips.

My heart pounded like a drum in my chest. Yeah, I heard everything. Every word they said. I know Brian kissed her. Forced himself on her.

And I can't help wondering-if I hadn't made myself out to be someone on the brink of death, would he even be standing here right now? Would he have agreed to this sham of a marriage, even if it's just for six months?

No. He wouldn't have.

It's so obvious how much Ashley means to him. She's not just some stand-in, and she's definitely not a toy he picked up to fill the emptiness. That woman... She spent three years carving her name into the walls of his otherwise impenetrable heart.

Even when he threw those cruel words at her, his body gave him away. My grip on the wheelchair turned white-knuckled.

Leaving Brian all those years ago-that was the dumbest choice I've ever made. And you know what's worse? I didn't even save him that night. It wasn't me. It was some random she-wolf who showed up and left as quickly as she came. But I was the first person he saw when he woke up. He thought I was the one who saved him. Everyone in the Blackwood Pack thought so too.

Of course, I let them believe it. I was his girlfriend-who else would it have been, right?

I lied. I told him my wolf was gone, just disappeared. I wanted him to feel guilty for me. And with that guilt, I could finally put my long-planned scheme into motion.

I didn't want to spend my whole life as a Luna in the pack. I wanted to see the world beyond, to explore. Maybe out there, I'd find someone better than Brian. I deserved better.

So, I left. To make my lies more convincing, I found a hospital-one that catered to different species. They even had witches working there. I had one of them seal my wolf and forged an entire medical history for me.

But after dating humans and other male wolves, I realized something-none of them could even compare to Brian.

When I heard about Brian's bonding, I wasn't worried. It didn't matter. As soon as I went to him and brought up my request, he didn't hesitate-he agreed immediately.

I'll admit, when he said yes, my heart fluttered. I loved him. I knew that in that moment. But a few days later, I noticed something-Brian might've come back to me, but he wasn't happy.

That's when it hit me. Brian had changed. His heart, his mind-they weren't completely mine anymore. It looked like he'd fallen for Ashley, even if he hadn't realized it himself yet.

I couldn't let that happen. Before he truly figured it out, I had to reclaim everything that was mine. I needed to take back his heart completely.

I'd already done my homework on Ashley. I knew everything about her. Sure, she didn't have a wolf, but she was the daughter of an Alpha-basically royalty. But her father's gone now, and that title means nothing anymore.

Admittedly, she was highly praised during her time as Luna. She wasn't just some useless woman who only knew how to arrange flowers. She was outstanding-so outstanding that she was a threat.

But so what?

I'll erase every trace of her existence.

I took a slow, deep breath, forcing myself to calm the storm inside. Carefully, I moved my wheelchair closer to Brian. Reaching out, my hand trembled slightly as I gently touched the cut on his lips.

"Brian... did she hurt you?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He snapped out of his thoughts, the storm in his eyes dimming slightly, though his expression remained dark. "She's lost her mind," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Don't say that, Brian," I said, lowering my gaze. "She's just heartbroken. No female wolf can handle sharing her mate like that. It's all my fault... I shouldn't have come back and messed things up for you two."

I noticed his jaw tighten, his anger slowly fading, replaced by a conflicted expression-a mix of guilt and something else I couldn't quite name.

"No, Silvia, this isn't your fault," he finally said, crouching down so we were at eye level, his tone noticeably softer. "This is my promise to you. It's what you deserve. Don't blame yourself."

Hearing this, I felt a small sense of relief. For now, it seemed like Brian's heart leaned a little closer toward me.

"Lunch is ready, Alpha Brian, Ms. Silvia," a servant called respectfully, breaking the moment.

Brian straightened, and without hesitation, he began pushing my wheelchair toward the dining room like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You're hungry," he stated, not bothering to turn it into a question. "You need to eat something."

I savored the moment. Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow over the pristine dining table. Everything felt just like it used to, like we'd been transported back to a time when it was just the two of us, untouched by everything that came after.

The servants began placing dishes on the table, one by one. The rich aroma of creamy mushroom soup wafted up, tugging at my memory.

"I remember this was-"

"What is this?" Brian's cold voice sliced through the air, cutting me off. His sharp gaze locked onto the bowl of soup, brows furrowing as if it were some revolting concoction. "Didn't I make it clear? Don't serve this again." He glanced at the steak next to it, his expression darkening further. "And this? Medium? Are you trying to ruin my stomach?"

The servant froze, trembling as they quickly lowered their head. Their voice quivered with panic. "I'm so sorry, Alpha! I... I'll take it away right now! It's just that... Luna used to prepare all your meals herself, and she said-"

"What did she say?" Brian's tone shifted abruptly, his eyes narrowing.

"Ma'am..." The servant answered nervously, "Luna said your stomach doesn't handle heavy food well, especially after long patrols. That's why she changed your diet three years ago. She's been personally cooking your steak medium-well, saying it's the best for you..."

My chest tightened. Ashley actually changed his preferences!

"Cough... cough, cough..." I let out a deliberate series of coughs to draw his attention.

"Silvia!" Brian immediately looked over, alarmed, patting my back anxiously. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head weakly, leaning against him as I caught my breath. Once the coughing eased, I raised my pale face and looked at him softly. "Brian, don't blame the servants. They're only trying to take care of you."

I paused, summoning every ounce of strength to smile faintly. "From now on... let me make your meals. You used to love the sandwiches I made back then."

Brian froze. "No," he responded firmly, "your health-"

"The doctor suggested I do some light activity," I interjected, pushing on. "Besides, I hate the idea of you going hungry just because you're not enjoying your meals. Cooking for you... will make me happy, Brian. It makes me feel like... I'm still useful."

He looked at me, guilt and tenderness almost overflowing in his eyes. "Silvia..." He sighed eventually, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You're so kind-"

I smiled warmly, all the while sneering inside. Replacing Ashley starts with the food.

"Oh, by the way, Brian," I said like I'd just remembered something, my eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement. "There's something small I wanted to talk about. The Moonlight Salon is coming up, and... I was thinking about showcasing a few of my paintings."

The Moonlight Salon held significant influence within the wolf pack. If I could get my artwork displayed at such an event, it would definitely help enhance my standing.

Seeing his surprised expression, I added, "I want to do something meaningful for you and the Blackwood Pack. If... if by any chance my paintings sell, I'd like to donate all the proceeds to the pack's orphanage."

The emotion in Brian's eyes deepened, practically overflowing.

"Of course," he agreed immediately, his voice gentle, his smile kind. "Of course, Silvia. I'll have my Beta handle arranging the best spot for you. Whatever you want, I'll make it happen."

Perfect. Just as I planned.

Leaning into his embrace, I silently pieced together the next steps of my plan.