Wolves of Broken Hearts

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale, silvery light over the darkened forest that surrounded the Silvercrest Pack. The night was still, as if the very earth held its breath in anticipation, waiting for something to shatter the silence. But inside the pack house, Lilac's world had already begun to fall apart.

She lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her body curled protectively around her abdomen. Three miscarriages. Three tiny souls lost before they could ever draw a breath. The moon goddess, Celine, had fated her and Dean to be together, to share a bond that was supposed to be unbreakable. "Fated mates." That was what everyone called them. But lately, that bond felt more like a chain wrapped around her heart, squeezing the life out of her.

Beside her, Dean stirred in his sleep. His breathing was heavy, almost peaceful, and for a moment, Lilac allowed herself to remember what it had been like before. Before the miscarriages. Before the cruelty.

She had loved him once, with a fire that had consumed her completely. When they first met, Dean had been everything she had ever wanted—strong, powerful, protective. They had been inseparable, their connection deeper than anything she could have imagined. But that was before. Before the nights spent in silence. Before the bruises. Before the infidelity.

Lilac bit her lip, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry anymore. It was useless. She had cried after the first miscarriage, believing that her grief would bring them closer. After the second, she had clung to him, hoping for his comfort. But after the third, something had shifted. Dean had become cold, distant. He had stopped trying to console her, stopped looking at her with love in his eyes.

Then came the anger. The abuse and violence.

A sharp pain shot through her side, and Lilac winced, her fingers brushing over the fading bruise on her ribs. Dean hadn’t meant to hit her. He never did. That’s what she told herself, at least. Each time it happened, he would stare at her afterward, as if confused, as if the person who had raised his hand to her had been someone else entirely.

Yet it didn’t stop.

He mumbled something incoherent in his sleep, and Lilac flinched involuntarily, shifting to the edge of the bed, desperate to put distance between them. Even in sleep, she couldn’t trust him anymore. Her heart ached with the weight of the mate bond, the thread of destiny that tied her to him despite the broken promises and the betrayal.

It was easier to ignore the affairs.

The first time she caught the scent of another woman on him, she had confronted him. Dean had brushed it off, telling her that it was nothing, just a meaningless distraction. But when it happened again—and again—Lilac had stopped asking. She had turned a blind eye to his affairs, too numb to care anymore. He had even brought one of the women home once, shamelessly flaunting his infidelity in front of her.

Her chest tightened at the memory.

"Lilac…" Dean’s voice was rough, hoarse from sleep. His hand reached out, blindly searching for her in the dark. When he found only empty space, he shifted, groaning as he woke up. "What are you doing over there?"

Her breath hitched, and she hesitated before responding. She hated that she still feared him, hated the way her body reacted whenever his voice turned sharp. But she couldn’t help it.

"I couldn’t sleep," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Just… thinking."

Dean grunted in response, turning over again, his back toher. There was no comfort, no tenderness in his movements. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Lilac stared at his back, wondering how long she could keep living like this. How long she could pretend that their bond was still strong, that he still cared. She had thought about leaving so many times, but the bond—the bond kept her here. It was like a chain that wrapped around her heart, pulling her back whenever she tried to imagine a life without him.

A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. It was late—far too late for anyone to be visiting. Dean groaned in frustration and rolled out of bed, muttering curses under his breath.

"Who the hell…?"

Lilac’s stomach twisted into knots as Dean stormed toward the door. She sat up, suddenly alert, her pulse quickening. Dean’s temper had been shorter than ever lately, and she dreaded what might happen if the visitor upset him.

Dean flung the door open, and there stood James, his father. His silver hair was neatly combed back, but his eyes were heavy with concern.

"Dean," James said, his voice low and calm, "We need to talk. I received a message from the Summer Breeze Pack."

Dean frowned, his irritation fading slightly. "What is it? What do they want?"

"An invitation. For you and Lilac." James glanced at Lilac briefly before continuing. "They’re hosting a welcoming ceremony for the new Alpha. Alpha Liam and his twin sister, Samantha."

Lilac felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of a ceremony. The last thing she wanted was to attend a gathering, surrounded by people who would undoubtedly whisper behind her back about her miscarriages, about Dean’s infidelities. But there was something in James’ voice that told her this wasn’t just a simple invitation.

Dean rubbed his temples, clearly annoyed. "Why should I care about the new Alpha?"

James’ eyes darkened. "Because, son, Alpha Liam has a reputation. He’s not just any Alpha. He’s been asking questions about you—about your role in the Silvercrest Pack. And Samantha… well, she’s known to be ambitious."

Lilac’s heart pounded in her chest as James’ words sank in. Liam had been asking about Dean? Why? And why did the mention of Samantha send a ripple of unease through her?

"I don’t have time for this," Dean snapped, but James didn’t back down.

"You will go," James said firmly. "Both of you. It’s important for the pack’s alliances."

Dean clenched his fists, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t argue further. After a moment, he nodded sharply. "Fine. We’ll go."

As James left the room, Lilac’s mind raced. There was something about the Summer Breeze Pack that felt… off. And the way James had spoken about Liam and Samantha only added to her growing sense of dread.

Dean collapsed back onto the bed, his irritation clear, but Lilac’s thoughts were elsewhere. What was it about this ceremony that felt like a turning point? Was it her own anxieties speaking, or was there truly something dark on the horizon?

As Dean fell back into a restless sleep, Lilac turned toward the window, staring out at the moon that hung in the sky. The same moon that had brought her and Dean together. The same moon that had cursed them.

In her heart, Lilac knew that something was coming. Something that could either break her entirely or give her the strength to finally walk away.

The next morning arrived with a crisp chill in the air, a reminder that winter was creeping in. Lilac stood in front of the mirror in their shared bedroom, carefully adjusting the fabric of her dress. The dark purple gown was simple yet elegant, a contrast to the chaos she felt brewing inside her. She could hear Dean moving about the room behind her, getting dressed for the journey to the Summer Breeze Pack ceremony.

The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating. Dean hadn’t spoken a word to her since waking up. He seemed distant, lost in his own thoughts, and though Lilac was used to this behavior by now, it didn’t stop the sting of it.

As she fastened a necklace around her throat, Dean’s reflection appeared in the mirror behind her. His expression was neutral, but his eyes lacked the warmth they once held for her. He was handsome, striking even, but the man she had fallen in love with seemed more like a shadow now, fading with each passing day.

“We shoul