Alina’s POV

This was exactly what I craved—the sharp glint of fear flashing in Emily’s eyes, widening them just enough to betray her. She would pay for the jagged scar on Leo’s left hand. How dare she lay a finger on my son. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless and eager, urging me to lunge, to make her bleed. I had never thought I would awaken her, but now her presence burned through me like liquid fire—powerful, beautiful, and mine.

"You think you can just walk back in here and take everything?" Emily hissed through clenched teeth, her hands fisting at her sides. "I worked too hard for this. I won’t let you ruin it."

My expression hardened into ice. "You already ruined it the moment you laid your hands on Leo." My voice rose, raw with fury. "Now get out of my room."

"Your room?" A bitter laugh tore from her throat as she tilted her chin up, trying to mask the tremor in her voice. "This is Aiden’s room. You’re nothing but a guest here. A temporary mistake."

"Out, Emily." My tone dropped, deceptively calm, yet laced with an alpha command that made her skin visibly prickle. I took one slow step forward, my gaze locked on hers. "Before I do something we’ll both regret."

She glared at me, hatred blazing in her eyes like twin coals. "If you want war, Alina, I will give you war," she spat, voice shaking with rage, "because this house won’t contain the both of us."

A jagged laugh escaped me before I could stop it, sharp and unhinged.

I tilted my head, letting a smirk curve my lips. "What did you tell me, Emily? That you love Lucian, don’t you? You want him for yourself and Aiden is nothing—you’re just using him. So why are you fighting so desperately to stay here?" My smirk deepened. "Lucian is all alone... shouldn’t you be all over him?"

"I never said any of that!" Her voice cracked, cheeks flushing with fury. "You have no proof. I love Aiden—he is my husband. I am the pack’s Luna!"

I stepped closer, my pulse thundering. "You may wear the title of pack Luna," I said softly, watching her fists tighten until her knuckles whitened, "but they still need me for the pack’s stability. Not you." Her breathing grew ragged, chest heaving. I pressed on, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You’re truly nothing but decoration in this pack, Emily. You’re for Aiden’s aesthetic. He doesn’t even love you anymore."

Her face twisted. "I am his childhood! His first love—so of course he loves me!" The words burst out of her, frantic and sharp. Her smirk returned, cruel and trembling. "You are the one who’s nothing. You’re only needed to be used."

The smile slipped from my face. For a heartbeat, her words sliced deep, stirring the old ache—the orphaned girl from the slums who still lived somewhere inside me, small and unwanted. But I let the hurt fuel me instead of break me.

"I will put you in your place, Alina," she continued, voice rising with renewed venom. "You think now that you have your wolf you’re different? You’re not. You’re still the same orphaned girl who crawled out of the slums. And if you think you can challenge me—" She jabbed a finger toward me, eyes wild. "I give you the open floor. In just three days, Alina, I will have you thrown out of here and banished forever."

Her words rang with forced confidence, but I caught the faint quiver in her jaw, the way her gaze darted away for a split second. A slow, genuine smile bloomed across my lips as I held her stare, letting my wolf peek through my eyes.

"You know what? I really do love challenges," I said, letting a slow, confident smile curve my lips as I held her gaze without blinking. "So I accept. We’ll see who gets thrown out of here."

Emily’s smug mask cracked. Her smile faltered, lips twitching as the color drained from her cheeks. She spun around and stomped out, the door slamming behind her with a thunderous bang that vibrated through the walls.

The moment she was gone, my smile collapsed. I wrapped my arms around myself, breathing hard in the sudden silence.

"I need to make sure I get her out of here," I whispered.

’I will help you. You aren’t alone. I am here.’

My wolf’s voice wrapped around my heart like a warm embrace. Tears rushed to my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. A watery smile broke through as I hugged myself tighter, fingers pressing into my ribs, trying to hold onto this fragile, beautiful feeling. I wasn’t cursed. I wasn’t broken. I finally had my wolf... and I wasn’t alone anymore.

I only came back because I overheard Lucian’s men talking in low, urgent voices about the truth: Aiden’s pack was unstable, cracking at the seams, and they were desperately searching for me. I returned for Leo—only for him. Nothing else could have dragged me back here.

The memory of those faint, angry patches blooming across his soft little body flashed behind my eyes. My chest squeezed painfully. He was suffering because of the pack’s instability, and I blamed Emily with every single breath I took. If she hadn’t set me up, I never would have been ripped away from my son. I never would have missed his tiny hands reaching for me, his cries in the night, his fear.

My jaw tightened until it ached, fresh determination burning through the tears still sliding down my cheeks. Whatever it takes, I’m leaving this place for good. And I’m taking my son with me.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, but the tears kept coming—quiet, stubborn drops that refused to stop.

My legs felt heavy as I crossed the room, drawn toward the small connecting door that led to Leo’s nursery. I pushed it open slowly, the hinges whispering, and the sight of him hit me like a punch to the chest.