Chapter 4

Juno's POV

Two weeks later, late at night.

I lay quietly in bed, gently stroking my seven-month belly. The twins were actively kicking inside, sometimes painfully enough to keep me awake, but this pain reassured me—they were healthy.

Darren was handling pack business tonight and would return late. I lay alone in bed, listening to the wind outside, feeling safer than ever.

Click.

The soft sound of the door lock turning woke me instantly.

I held my breath, watching through my lashes. A figure was silently approaching the bedside, footsteps soft as a cat's.

Not Darren.

When the figure stepped into the moonlight, my blood froze.

Serena!

How could she be here? Wasn't she locked in the dungeon?

She was disheveled, clothes in rags, clutching a silver dagger that gleamed coldly in the moonlight. Insane hatred burned in her eyes, a twisted smile on her lips.

"Sleeping so peacefully, my dear sister-in-law." She whispered to herself, voice eerily sinister. "Sweet dreams, because this will be your LAST dream."

She's going to kill me!

I forced myself to stay still, looking for an escape opportunity. But Serena had already raised the dagger, aiming at my heart.

"FIVE YEARS! Five whole years I endured the shame of being barren!" Her voice was filled with venom. "The pack's mockery, Martin's disappointment, the Alpha's coldness! And you, this FOREIGN BITCH, get pregnant with twins the moment you arrive!"

The dagger trembled in her hand, silver light flickering.

"WHY? Why YOU?" Her voice grew higher. "I'll send you and those BASTARDS in your belly straight to HELL!"

Just as she prepared to strike, I suddenly rolled away: "SERENA!"

The silver blade stabbed into the mattress with a hissing sound.

"Trying to escape?" She laughed maniacally. "No one can save you!"

I fell from the bed, protecting my belly, crawling desperately toward the door.

"HELP! Someone's trying to kill me!"

"SCREAM! Scream as loud as you want!" Serena jumped down from the bed, chasing after me. "I want you to DIE in terror! Just like I've been living in terror every day for five years!"

I grabbed a vase from the nightstand and threw it at her, but she dodged nimbly.

"You think you can stop me?" She raised the dagger, eyes full of murderous intent. "I've lost everything—I have NOTHING left to lose!"

"You're INSANE!" I gasped. "Your pain isn't my fault!"

"Not your fault?" She let out a piercing laugh. "If you hadn't appeared, if it weren't for your children, Martin would forever be the only heir! YOU ruined everything for me!"

She lunged at me again. I barely dodged, but the silver blade sliced my arm, leaving a bloody gash.

"Ah!" I cried out in pain.

"BLOOD!" Serena was excited like a demon. "This is what happens to those who betray Silver Moon Pack! All OUTSIDERS should DIE!"

She raised the dagger again, this time aiming at my abdomen.

"I'll kill the little BASTARDS in your belly first, then slowly torture you!"

NO! My babies!

I kicked at her legs with all my strength. She staggered but quickly regained her balance.

"Fighting to the death? GOOD! This is more fun!" She wiped blood from her mouth, eyes even more insane. "I'll make you experience TRUE despair!"

Just as she lunged again, the door suddenly EXPLODED open.

"SERENA! STOP!"

Darren burst in like an enraged beast, Martin close behind.

"You PSYCHO!" Darren tackled Serena, snatching the dagger from her hand.

"NO! I haven't killed her yet!" Serena struggled frantically. "She MUST die! She and her children MUST DIE!"

Martin also stepped forward to help restrain her: "Serena, calm down!"

"CALM DOWN?" She turned and bit Martin, leaving deep teeth marks. "You useless man! If you weren't incompetent, how would the succession fall to them?"

Darren slammed her to the floor, knee pressed against her back: "You tried to kill my wife and children—I'll RIP YOU APART!"

"DO IT! Kill me!" Serena laughed insanely. "I have nothing left anyway! Kill me, and you'll never know the TRUTH!"

"What truth?" I asked weakly.

Serena looked at me, complex emotions flashing in her eyes, but quickly consumed by madness: "The truth is... you'll NEVER belong here! OUTSIDERS should DIE!"

"She's mentally unstable, everything she says is crazy talk." Martin said quickly. "We need to get her back to the dungeon immediately."

The Alpha's footsteps echoed in the hallway. He rushed into the room, seeing this chaotic scene, his face dark as thunder.

"What happened? How did she escape?"

"A lapse during guard shift change," Martin explained. "Fortunately, we arrived in time."

I leaned against the wall, my arm still bleeding, watching the subdued Serena. Hatred still burned in her eyes.

"She's finished this time." The Alpha said coldly. "Using silver weapons to attempt murder of heirs—according to pack law, there's only one outcome: DEATH."

"Death? I'm not afraid of death!" Serena laughed maniacally. "I only regret not KILLING her!"

Looking at her twisted face, complex emotions surged in my heart. This woman had been completely consumed by hatred, becoming a demon who only knew killing.

"Take her away!" The Alpha waved his hand. "Execute her TOMORROW!"

Two guards entered, dragging the still-cursing Serena away.

"I CURSE you all! Curse Silver Moon Pack! Curse those BASTARDS!" Her voice gradually faded away.