<b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>
<b>(</b><b>Rose</b>: Eden’s mom Pov<b>) </b>
Memories shed, and I remembered how <b>it </b>all began…
The Silvermoon <b>Pack </b><b>wasn’t </b>far from mine, it <b>felt </b><b>like </b><b>crossing </b>into another <b>town</b><b>. </b><b>As </b>soon <b>as </b><b>I </b>arrived, I made my <b>way </b>to Belle’s <b>parents</b>‘ house<b>, </b>hoping for a familiar<b>, </bforting <b>face</b>. Belle <b>had </b>always been my <b>safe haven</b>, the friend I could <b>lean </b>on.
“Hey <b>Rose</b>! Belle’s <b>at </b>the Alpha’s house<b>,</b>” her mother said, wiping her hands on a cloth <b>as </b>she stood by the door. “There’s <b>a </b>small gathering <b>there </b>tonight.”
I thanked her and made my <b>way </b>toward the Alpha’s residence, thinking <b>it </b>would be a quiet chance to share the news with Belle. I hadn’t told anyone yet. <b>Not </b>even my own family knew I <b>was </b>pregnant. I needed to share this with someone I trusted.
When I finally found her at the gathering, <b>Belle’s </b><b>face </b>lit up <b>as </b>soon <b>as </b>she saw me. “<b>Rose</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>she squealed, pulling me into a tight hug.
Just then, the delicious earthy musk<b>, </b><b>like </b>the smell <b>of </b>a forest after a heavy rain–<b>raw </b>flooded my senses. My wolf, <b>Izza</b>, reared her head, howling, Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.
“Mate<b>.</b>”
I turned in the direction and <b>saw </b>him. Griffin–the young heir to the Alpha position. The man I’d heard so much about from Belle, but never met in person. He <b>was </b>striking, with a presence thatmanded attention, and I could feel the unmistakable pull of the mate bond between us.
My heart raced. <b>Was </b>this truly happening?
Griffin’s eyes locked on mine, and he seemed just <b>as </b>stunned. Within moments, he walked over and took my hand <i>to </i>lead me away from the gathering. It felt like <b>we </b><b>were </b>the only <b>two </b>people in the world.
We found ourselves outside, the evening air cool and quiet around <b>us</b><b>. </b>My heart was pounding, but I barely noticed anything but him. When he reached for me, I didn’t hesitate, leaning <b>closer</b><b>, </b>wanting nothing more than to be near him.
But just <b>as </b>our lips leaned closer, parting slightly, his whole expression changed. His <b>eyes </b>suddenly darkened, and his gaze shifted down toward my stomach. His wolf stirred, and a look of realization dawned on his face<b>. </b>
“I… I can smell a small pup growing inside you,” he whispered, the words thick with usation.
My chest tightened. “<b>Yes</b><b>… </b><b>I </b>came here to tell Belle. I didn’t know I would meet you,
Griffin’s face contorted in fury, his eyes hardening as he took a step back. “You came here<b>, </b>carrying someone <b>else’s </b>child, and you expect me to ept you as my mate?” His words cut,ced with resentment.
“Please,” I reached out, desperate to hold onto him, <b>to </b>exin, but he shook me off.
“That’s uneptable! You… you betrayed me before we even met,” he spat, turning away from me. “What’s your name?”
“Rose… Rose, Willows,<b>” </b>
“I, Griffin Silver, son of Alpha Damanac, reject you Rose Willows <b>as </b>my mate and Luna,” he said, and my heart shattered at his words and I could feel the bond weaken. It took me a lot not to fall to the ground in pain..
I stood on my feet, “No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I won’t ept your rejection. Please forgive me. I would fight and even stay till I win you back.”
He looked back at me, coldy “Then stay. Let’s see how long you can endure this.”
For the first time, I felt truly lost. I should’ve gone back to my own pack, but I couldn’t leave. I felt bound to him, and held onto the hope that he’d see reason, that he’d forgive me. I moved into Belle’s parents‘ house<b>, </b>determined to stay close to him, hoping he would change his mind.
But days turned to weeks, and Griffin grew colder. I saw him less and less, no matter how I tried. And eventually, Belle’s behavior toward me changed too. My best friend became distant, her smiles faded until she became so cold…
One evening, she walked into my room “I’m marrying him,” she announced, folding her arms.
I felt my heart drop. “Belle… he’s my mate. You know that. How can you…<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“He chose me<b>, </b>Rose.” She met my <b>gaze</b>, her toneced with triumph. “He’s made his decision, and it isn’t you.”
I couldn’t believe <b>it</b>. But when the <b>day </b>came<b>, </b><b>I </b>stood there<b>, </b>watching my mate marry my best friend. My heart <b>shattered </b>with every vow they exchanged. And <b>as </b>if that <b>wasn’t </b>enough, they <b>made </b>me <b>serve </b><b>as </b>the <b>lead </b><b>waitress </b>during the reception<b>, </b>carrying trays<b>, </b>while Griffin’s gaze never left mine<b>, </b>a satisfied smirk tugged at his lips.
I felt the full weight <b>of </b>what I’d lost. <b>But </b><b>I </b>clung to the hope that one <b>day </b>Griffin woulde to <b>his </b><b>senses</b><b>, </b>that the bond would bring him back to
<ol>
<li><b>me</b><b>. </b></li>
</ol>
It didn’t.
Griffin’s parents eventually stepped down, after passing the Alpha title to him and crowning Belle <b>as </b>Luna. They moved into the Alpha’s house, and I stayed, begging them for a ce. I lowered myself, asking if <b>I </b>could at <b>least </b>work there, if not as his mate, then <b>as </b><b>a </b>servant.
Life became a series <b>of </b>endless <b>tasks</b><b>, </b>the work more strenuous <b>each </b>day<b>, </b>Belle’s bitterness toward me was obvious in everymand she gave. She seemed determined to make me regret every second <b>I </b><b>stayed</b>. She’d send me on the most exhausting errands…
Then, on <b>a </b>cold winter’s night, I went intobor. <b>I </b>gave birth to you<b>, </b>Eden, alone in a <b>small</b><b>, </b>cold room in the Alpha’s home. When it <b>was </b><b>over</b>, Griffin came to <b>see </b>you, looking at you with something close to eptance, and for a time, he grew gentler. <b>I </b>thought, maybe, he was finally seeing us <b>as </b>a family<b>. </b>
I should’ve known better. We fell into a routine<b>, </b>one <b>where </b>I <b>became </b>his <b>secret</b><b>, </b>sometimes he’d sneak to in the night.
And when I discovered I was pregnant again, everything that night came crashing down. Luna Belle discovered the truth, and Alpha Griffin’s anger red back to life<b>. </b>
He came to me, yelling for me to <b>leave</b><b>. </b>
“But I have nowhere else to <b>go</b>, Griffin!” I cried, clutching 3–<b>year </b>old Eden close<b>, </b>with my other hand instinctively covering the small bump.
“<b>I </b>don’t care.” His voice was harsh, and his gaze pierced through me. “You should’ve left long ago.”
They pushed me out of the house, out into the bitter cold. The sky opened up, rain pouring down, soaking me through in seconds.
“…I looked back at the house, my heart shattering with every step. The ce I’d clung to, the man I’d loved, the dreams I’d dared to hold–all of it gone. I had nowhere to go, and the road ahead felt endless. And that was how I left, Eden…”