Prologue

Prologue An ear-piercing scream shattered the sterile air of the Grimwood Pack hospital, tearing straight through Alpha Reaper Blackthorne’s heart. The agonizing labor had taken a dangerous turn, forcing the medical team to bar him from the delivery ward. Trapped in the corridor, Reaper paced like a caged beast, every agonizing second away from his mate feeling like a cruel punishment. Then, without warning, the screams stopped. A suffocating, heavy silence settled over the hall. Reaper froze, his gaze locked onto the heavy doors, every nerve in his body strained for the faint sound of a heartbeat, a gasp, anything. Minutes stretched into an agonizing eternity. The lock finally clicked, and the pack doctor stepped into the hall, clutching a soft pink bundle against his chest. “Alpha... it’s a girl,” the doctor murmured, stepping forward to gently transfer the tiny warm weight into the formidable werewolf’s arms. Reaper looked down, and for a fleeting second, the terrifying world around him vanished. Awestruck, his chest swelled with a profound, fierce adoration for his daughter. She was perfect. “How is Aline?” Reaper’s voice trembled, but as he raised his eyes to meet the doctor’s, the unspoken truth hit him like a physical blow. Grief and pity bled through the physician's tear-filled eyes. “I’m so sorry, Alpha. We did everything we could.” The words ripped through Reaper’s soul. Without warning, the mate bond snapped—a brutal, agonizing tearing of his very spirit that sent a searing heat roaring through his veins. The overwhelming shock threatened to drag him to his knees, his grip slipping on the bundle. Panicked, he clamped his arms tighter, protecting the newborn as his world collapsed around him. The agonizing void in his heart confirmed it: Aline was gone. Tears welled and spilled over his cheeks, but Reaper forced his trembling legs to hold firm. He couldn't fall apart—not now. He had to stay standing for his pack, and above all, for the tiny life against his chest.