Rachel’s POV

I thought I knew the worst pain on the battlefield. I was wrong.

Turns out, watching your child slowly die in your arms was far more unbearable than any war I had survived.

The moment I pressed the cold cloth against Sophie’s forehead, she let out another weak cry. Tonight, she was having another Silverheart attack, and every sound of her suffering felt like claws sinking deeper into my chest.

Her body trembled beneath the blanket while the cursed black veins continued spreading across her legs inch by inch. Silverheart always came cruelly, but tonight it felt even more merciless than usual. Perhaps it was because she was trying so hard not to scream. Every time she bit down on her lip just to endure the pain, I saw too much of myself reflected in her struggle.

What kind of mother allowed her child to suffer like this?

I smoothed her damp hair away from her face and forced my shaking hands to stay steady. “It’ll pass soon, baby,” I whispered, even though the lie left a bitter taste in my mouth. “Just hold on a little longer.”

The cabin had been cold all night. The old fireplace had died hours ago because I could not afford more wood. Things had been really tight lately. I couldn’t even give my daughter a decent meal.

I sighed because of my incompetence. Five years had passed and until now, my little girl knew nothing about comfort and bliss.

The cabin was dark. The only light that allowed me to see Sophie’s face came from the television in the corner. Its flickering glow and fading sound were the only sign of entertainment we had in this goddess-forsaken place. I normally didn’t pay attention to the show that was on until I heard his name.

Ethan Thorne.

The sound alone made my entire body stiffen. My eyes lifted toward the screen before I could stop myself.

“E—Ethan…??” I murmured. The sound seemed like a magic potion that gave a small burst of energy to my little girl.

Ethan was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that probably cost more than everything inside this cabin combined. He looked exactly as I remembered him from six years ago, yet the luxury covering him from head to toe was enough for me to feel a little strange. But he was still the same…the same wolf who promised Sophie and me a good life.

Except now, there was another woman beside him.

Madeline White.

She was beautiful, elegant, and of high rank. She was everything that I was not.

And the worst part?

Ethan carried a little boy who had his ocean-blue eyes.

My fingers weakened around the cloth in my hand. Cold water dripped onto the floor,\. I barely noticed the tears flowing endlessly down my cheeks.

The television host continued speaking with enthusiasm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the future of Blackthorne Pack and his beautiful family. Ethan and Madeline Thorne!”

My body shivered. It felt like the whole world blurred. All I could think about was the worst uttered by the host.

His beautiful family…

If that’s the case, what are we?

I stared at the screen without blinking. Memories of what we endured surfaced in my mind.

Six years ago, I had thrown myself in front of a silver landmine to save Ethan’s life. I could still remember how the deadly substance pierced and tore my skin.

I remembered collapsing into the snow while silver melted my skin like acid. I remembered Ethan screaming my name while blood pooled beneath me. Half my face had been destroyed that night, and the scars never healed properly no matter what healer we sought.

Back then, Ethan held me and whispered, “You saved me, Rachel. I owe you my life. I swear I will never leave you. Once I become Alpha, I will give you and our child everything.”

And like a fool, I had believed every word.

The scars on my face left me disfigured. Ethan decided to leave us here and asked me to stay hidden temporarily until his position stabilized. I had every reason to say no but I shut my mouth. Regardless how ridiculous it sounded, I chose to believe him. I chose to believe his promise.

And look where it had gotten us?

While Ethan climbed higher within Blackthorne Pack, I remained in warzones handling what he could not. I negotiated with rogue factions who trusted no one but me. I built alliances through blood and strategy, while he earned recognition from victories I had helped secure.

He was on the top because of my sacrifice. And how did he repay me?

By building another family.

My chest tightened so painfully.

On the screen, Ethan lowered his head and kissed Madeline softly on the cheek while cameras flashed around them.That small gesture destroyed the last piece of hope I had for him.

That our love was no more.

My throat burned painfully. I quickly wiped my tears away before Sophie could notice, though children always noticed everything in the end.

She turned her pale little face again toward the television. Her eyes lingered on Ethan for several quiet seconds before she looked back at me with innocent confusion.

“Mommy, who’s that lady beside Daddy?”

The question nearly broke me.I did not know how to answer her without destroying what little innocence she still had left her. Sophie loved her dad so much despite not even meeting him. How could I tell her that his dad had abandoned us?

For years, I had protected Ethan’s image in Sophie’s eyes no matter how much it hurt me. I had not wanted her to grow up hating her father. I had believed he would come for us one day and make everything right.

Now I understood how hopeless that belief had been.

I knelt beside her slowly. My legs suddenly felt too weak to hold me upright. Sophie watched me quietly, waiting for an answer I did not want to give.

My voice almost failed when I finally spoke.

“She’s…” I swallowed hard against the ache in my throat. “She’s someone —”

Crash!

A deep growl tore through the silence and before I could react, the cabin window exploded inward with violent force.