The Day They Chose Power Over Us

My sister Vera and I had both mated with the Alpha candidate brothers and gotten pregnant almost at the same time. To help our respective mates fight for power, we—once inseparable—had been at each other's throats all over the pack. Five months into our pregnancies, the pack was attacked by rogues. Of all times, our mates were out hunting with the pack, leaving the camp's defenses wide open. Vera grabbed me and ran desperately toward the forest. In the endless chase, we tumbled down a cliff together. Blood poured from my lower belly, warm and relentless, staining the snow red. Trembling, I sent a mind-link to my mate, Kevin, begging for help. He cut me off five times before finally picking up, annoyed. "Katherine, don't bother me at a time like this. I know pregnancy is hard, but that's no excuse to waste rescue resources." "Lilian scraped her knee while hunting. I need to get to her and bandage it. Whatever it is, deal with it yourself. We'll talk when I'm back." Then there was nothing but a long, dead silence in my head. Lilian was the current Alpha's Beta, with a voice in the succession. When my plea failed, my sister sent a message to her own mate. His response was cold: "I need to get herbs to Lilian before Kevin does. Don't interrupt me." A minute later, the rogues poured down the cliff after us. Vera was forced to shift, dragging me toward a cave. When I opened my eyes again, I looked at her ashen face and couldn't stop the tears. The mate I'd given everything for had left me to die. It was my sister who'd nearly killed herself to save me, the same sister who'd been at war with me for over a year. Two sisters who'd turned against each other over men exchanged a bitter smile. "Katherine, I'm breaking the mate bond. I'm leaving the pack." "Me too." Chapter 1 Out of the cave, the footsteps gradually faded. The rogues' shadows veered off toward another fork in the path. Once we were sure it was safe, Vera and I let out a small, shaky breath. Then I gritted my teeth and sent Kevin a mind-link to break the mate bond. Kevin, who hadn't answered me in so long, picked up right away—his voice thick with irritation. "Katherine, now is not the time for one of your little moods." "The pack's defenses are solid. A few rogues—how could they possibly be a threat to you?" "You're just jealous because I'm taking care of Lilian, so you lied about losing the baby and now you're threatening to break the bond just to drag me back, aren't you?" His tone dripped with the disappointment of a man who felt misunderstood—as if I were the unreasonable one, the one at fault. The wound from before had begun to fester, and Kevin's words cut through my chest like a blade. For a long moment, I couldn't speak. My silence seemed to infuriate him even more. His voice grew sharper. "I'm staying to look after Lilian because I need to win her over—to clear the path for me to become Alpha. Lilian got hurt because of me. You think I can just leave her?" "I'm fighting tooth and nail to become Alpha for you and our pup—so you'll be respected in this pack. Why can't you just understand that?" With that, Kevin shut down the link completely, as if terrified I might disturb him again. I collapsed onto the cold stone, too drained even to grieve. When Kevin and I first became mates, his eyes held nothing but love when he looked at me. If I scraped my skin during training, he'd bandage it with such tenderness, staying by my side until it healed. He'd reach out and brush my forehead, telling me I'd worked so hard handling all the trivial things. He'd stay glued to my side while I hunted—never more than a step away. The moment I showed the slightest fatigue, he'd send me home to rest and keep going himself, coming back with the game and berries I loved. But everything changed after the current Alpha fell gravely ill. A year ago, he announced the next Alpha would be chosen between Kevin and his twin brother, Simon. Whoever earned more of the pack's recognition would become the next Alpha. Power is an abyss—and it swallowed every bit of tenderness they had. Two brothers who'd once been as close as flesh and blood turned into bitter enemies overnight. As their mates, Vera and I were pitted against each other at every turn. In the council hall, I'd openly question Simon's proposals, and Vera would tear down my abilities in front of everyone. In front of the pack, Vera and I would expose each other's flaws without hesitation. She'd call me weak, useless in a fight. I'd say she only ever acted on impulse. Two sisters who'd once been inseparable hadn't spoken a word to each other in private for over a year. Lilian's family had served as the Alpha's Beta for generations. Win her over, and you'd have a voice whispering in the old Alpha's ear. So they groveled at her feet like dogs in heat. And Vera and I? We were tossed aside without a second thought. A few days ago, Lilian mentioned offhand that she wanted to see the flowers deep in the forest. Kevin and Simon's eyes lit up instantly, both desperate to prove themselves. Under the guise of "escorting her for safety," they pulled every elite warrior from the camp. The vast stronghold became an empty shell overnight—nothing left but a handful of old, weak, and wounded guards. When the rogue pack broke through the defenses, I was clutching my belly, begging Kevin for help. I had never been so terrified in my life. Before, I'd charge headfirst at a rabid beast without flinching. But now there was a pup inside me—even the slightest impact could kill it. "Kevin, help me... the camp's been breached. Our baby... there's no heartbeat..." Blood poured down my thighs. But the other end of the link stayed silent. The memory sent a wave of grief crashing over me, and I slumped against the stone. A moment later, footsteps shattered my thoughts. A rogue leaped down the cliff, the stench of blood rolling off it as it stalked toward me. Then one after another, its kin followed. Vera and I looked at the sea of wolves closing in and shut our eyes in despair. Chapter 2 The lead rogue fixed its eyes on Vera and me, its voice dripping with mockery. "Kevin and Simon—they teamed up to drive us out, just to wipe out anyone who stood in their way. More than half our pack froze to death in the snow because of them." "And now? They're even colder. All to please a Beta, they threw away their own mates and pups." "Revenge is ours now. Today, we make them feel what it's like to lose the ones they love." Before the words even landed, the rogue bared its fangs and lunged straight for my throat. In that same instant, Vera—who'd been abandoned just like me—snapped. She shoved me aside, and despite five months of pregnancy, shifted into a massive wolf, tearing into the rogue with feral savagery. Blood sprayed. Horrible howls filled the air. Vera carved a bloody path out of certain death and crushed the enemy's throat between her jaws. When the remaining rogues saw their leader dead, they fled in terror. I survived. But Vera, back in human form, collapsed hard onto the ground, her body wrung dry. Black blood gushed from her lower belly. Trembling, I crawled to her and pulled her weak body into my arms. Two sisters who'd turned against each other over men's power games—covered in blood—exchanged a bitter smile. Then Vera's mind-link buzzed with Simon's voice. "It's all your fault. Kevin beat me to it because of you." "Don't bother me at important times from now on. Deal with your own problems first." Vera stared at the corpses scattered across the ground, let out a cold laugh, and crumpled, too spent to hold herself up. I walked over, lifted her, and said through my tears: "Vera, let's go back, break the mate bonds, and leave this place. Forever." Vera looked at me and smiled, her voice barely a whisper: "Okay." We held each other up in the snow, walking for what felt like forever. Every step sent agony through my lower belly, blood trailing down, staining the snow behind us. The pack's outline flickered in and out through the blizzard. A few pack members spotted us and rushed over, carrying us into the clinic. After a day and a night of unconsciousness, the healer's footsteps woke us. He sat by the bed and sighed. "Ladies, we checked the outer defenses. Except for the gap where you were attacked, everything else is intact." The healer frowned as he applied medicine, confusion thick in his voice. "Katherine, Vera—those rogues seemed to deliberately avoid the traps. They came straight for you." My heart dropped. Only Kevin and Simon had ever seen the pack's defense layout. How would rogues know... Before I could think further, the mind-link in my head buzzed. Kevin. He'd finally returned to camp with the elite warriors. I thought seeing the wreckage would bring at least a flicker of guilt. It didn't. His cold voice came through the link. "Katherine, listen. This is the critical moment of the election. Father is furious about me pulling the troops." "But this is also an opportunity. I need to find a way to pin the breach on him—say he abandoned his post." "Once I win Lilian over, get her to testify for me and pin this on Simon, the Alpha seat is mine!" Through the link, his voice was electric, drunk on the taste of power. The camp had been breached. His mate had nearly died. And all he cared about was how to please another woman and use this disaster to take down his brother. "Kevin..." My voice came out hoarse. "When the rogues broke in... our pup..." I meant to say our pup might not make it. He cut me off cold. "Katherine, I don't have time for this right now. Lilian's shaken up. I need to report to Father. Wait at home for good news." Kevin cut the link. Silence swallowed my mind again. I stared at the ceiling, tears sliding down without end. A while later, Vera got a mind-link from Simon too. His voice was smug. "Vera, lucky me. Kevin just tried to pin it all on me, but Lilian spoke up—confirmed I was the one who noticed something was off and called for the return first." "Now the blame's probably swinging back to Kevin. The Alpha seat is as good as mine!" Vera's jaw clenched. Her whole body trembled. "Simon, I almost got torn apart just now. I lost half my blood." "Enough." Simon's voice went cold. "Vera, you're the strongest female warrior in the pack. A few rogues? Please." "Lilian helped me. I need to go thank her properly. You've had it rough with the pregnancy—once I'm Alpha, I'll make it up to you." The link was cut from his end. Vera slumped against the hospital bed, a cold laugh escaping her lips. I looked at her frail body, a pang of pity cutting through me. "Forget it. You're completely drained. Rest." Two sisters wept together, and all those days of snarling at each other's throats suddenly seemed utterly ridiculous. Chapter 3 Outside the door, a few pack members' chatter woke us. "Did you see that? To bandage Lilian's leg, Kevin literally propped her foot up on his own lap. And Simon was leaning against her, wiping her down—he was practically about to press his face to hers." "What's so special about this Lilian anyway? She barely scraped her skin. Why are they freaking out over her like that?" "Ugh, I heard Katherine and Vera got attacked by rogues. And those two, for that woman, just left their own pregnant mates to fend for themselves..." Vera was shaking with rage, too furious to speak. I gripped the bedsheet until my knuckles went white, forcing down my own grief, trying to calm her. Then the healer walked in. She looked at us, then let out a long, heavy sigh. "Katherine, Vera... I'm so sorry. The babies didn't make it." "And your bodies are badly damaged. I'm afraid... you may never be able to conceive again." I'd rehearsed that outcome in my head a thousand times. But when it became real, Vera and I broke down sobbing anyway. After a long while, I wiped my tears, and my voice came out calmer. "Healer, could you deliver a letter to the Council for us?" "Vera and I intend to break our mate bonds and leave the pack. For good." The healer froze, her mouth opening and closing, words catching in her throat. Then she simply said: "Okay." She took the letter and walked out. But hours passed, and there was nothing. No reply from the Council. No plea from Kevin or Simon. Nothing. The sky darkened. I ran out of patience first and linked Kevin. He must have been busy—it took forever for him to answer, and his voice came through annoyed. "Katherine, you used to be so understanding. What's gotten into you today?" "You dragged our personal business to the Council—do you have any idea what that does to my approval rating? I had to bust my ass to bury it." He sighed, his tone thick with exasperation. "Katherine, I know I've been neglecting you lately. Tomorrow's the selection ceremony. Once I take over, I swear I'll make it up to you—double, triple, whatever you want." "Just be good and stop distracting me, okay?" Before I could get a word out, Kevin cut the link instantly. My chest split open like a blade had gone through it. The healer had delivered the letter to the Council herself. If he'd cared even a little— If he'd taken five minutes to actually read it— He'd have known right then that Vera and I were gravely wounded and had lost our babies. But he didn't. The man he was now—just a demon devoured by power. I looked down, running my finger gently over the ring. I still remembered the day of the binding ceremony. Kevin knelt on one knee and slid the ring onto my finger with such tenderness. His eyes went red as he swore to the Moon Goddess he'd be faithful to me forever—that he'd never let me suffer. But now, no matter how wronged, how furious, how broken I was; He dropped me without a second thought. The man who once looked at me like I was his whole world died the moment he became the heir. I pulled the ring off and tossed it to the ground without a care. Then I took Vera's hand and said coldly: "If they won't even care whether we and our pups live or die, then we don't owe them a damn thing." "Tomorrow is the Alpha selection ceremony. Before that—we break the mate bonds. Then we leave. Forever." Chapter 4 The next morning, Vera and I walked to the edge of the pack lands and looked back one last time at the place we'd called home for so many years. A mind-link suddenly buzzed in my head. Kevin. The second it connected, his voice came through, barely containing his fury. "Katherine, where the hell did you run off to? The ceremony's about to start—why aren't you here backing me up?" "Today's the last day. Are you really going to watch years of our hard work go down the drain?" Listening to that entitled tone, I couldn't help but laugh. He probably thought that with Vera's and my strength, we'd have driven off those rogues easily. Then we'd go back inside and keep slaving away on his campaign. And he'd keep shamelessly cozying up to Lilian, paving his way to the election. Except he had no idea—when he finally remembered I existed after a whole week—I no longer wanted him. When I didn't answer for a long while, Kevin's voice softened. "Katherine, I had people scout the back mountain. There's a spring there—warm, crystal clear. Perfect for a healing pool." "I never forgot what I promised you." "I used to say I was too busy. Now I swear—once I'm Alpha, I'll build you that healing pool right away. Katherine, just bear with me one more day, okay?" Listening to him, I felt dazed. This was one of the rare tender moments he'd shown me in years. A few years back, my body developed a strange condition—I'd feel cold for no reason. Even under the June sun, I'd shiver uncontrollably. The healer was helpless. Back then, Kevin had just gotten tangled up in the power struggle, and there was still some warmth left in him. He'd pull me into his arms and stroke my forehead. "Katherine, don't be scared. I'll always protect you." "I heard the spring on the back mountain has healing properties. Once things settle down, I'll build you your own private pool there." Until then, Kevin had never broken a promise to me. But as power blinded him, he had less and less time for me. He always used the election as an excuse, pushing that promise back again and again. Because I couldn't bear to add to his exhaustion, I got used to enduring the occasional chill. I never brought it up again. I never expected Kevin to actually remember. "Kevin..." His name slipped out before I could stop it. My mind went blank—I didn't know what to say. "Okay, Katherine, just get over here." "Lilian's injury hasn't fully healed. I'm going to go check on her again." With that, the link went silent. Beside me, Vera patted my shoulder and cut off my link. She said flatly: "Let's go. No more wasting words on people who don't matter." Then we gritted our teeth and drank the potion the witch had given us, the one that could sever the bond. When the pain finally passed, we left and never looked back. At the same time. After leaving Lilian's room, Kevin—just about to step onto the stage—felt a sudden, searing pain. His chest, his bones, his organs—everything felt like it was being carved apart. And his heart—it felt hollow, like some part of him had been ripped away forever. He stood frozen, not understanding what had happened, until his hand drifted to his neck. The mate bond between him and Katherine was gone. "Katherine... how? She was fine just a minute ago." "Why would you do this to me? This is the most important day of my life!" He collapsed to the ground and didn't move for a long time. In the distance, Simon came stumbling over, stopping in front of Kevin, unable to speak. After a long pause, he forced the words out. "Kevin... it's bad..." It was the first time in two years Simon had called Kevin by his name to his face. The pack members watching froze. The crowd went dead silent. "The rogue attack—there was something off about it after all..." "The Council finished the investigation. The leader of that rogue pack was Wayne—the pack's former top warrior, the one we exiled. They came specifically for revenge on Vera and Katherine." "The elders also said... they were both badly wounded. Our pups... they lost the babies." Kevin went rigid. He'd thought it was just a minor border skirmish—a few rogues couldn't possibly break through the pack's defenses. He'd even convinced himself Katherine was just jealous, using an "attack" as an excuse to drag him back. Then it hit him—after the attack, he'd been so busy courting Lilian, he never once went home to see Katherine. Kevin collapsed, his whole body shaking. "What the hell happened? Katherine, what the hell happened?!"