Nyx's POV

I lay in the sun, basking in its warmth as I stretched out on my back. The peaceful rays filtered through the trees, calming my body and mind. I had returned early from the hunt with Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw, my pregnancy slowing me down. The walk had become more difficult lately, and I couldn't stay on my paws for long stretches of time.

But I was content, at least for the moment, resting in the quiet of the forest. That was, until a sound broke through the stillness. A series of sharp cries, hissing voices, and frantic rustling cut through the air. Instinctively, my ears pricked up, and my body tensed, a sense of unease washing over me.

I heard Squirrelpaw's voice, laced with bitterness. "You need to tell her, you coward!" she spat, her words sharp and filled with venom.

My blood ran cold. What was she talking about? What did she mean?

Brambleclaw responded, his voice soft and unsure. "I can't..." he said, but she interrupted him, her frustration mounting. Their conversation was low, too muffled for me to catch every word, but the tension in their voices was impossible to ignore.

I tried to stand, my body heavy with the weight of my growing belly. A sharp pain shot through my side as I moved, a cramp that made me pause. But I pushed through it, my heart pounding with a growing sense of urgency.

Something wasn't right. The sound of their voices, the bitterness and anger in the air—it felt wrong. I slowly rose to my feet, my body protesting, but my instincts told me to move closer. The pain in my side intensified, but I couldn't ignore the unease twisting in my stomach.

As I started to approach, I heard a rustling in the brush, something shifting just ahead. My body froze, my ears straining to hear. Something was happening. Something I wasn't prepared for.

What were they talking about? Why was Squirrelpaw so angry? And what did Brambleclaw have to do with it? Whatever it was, I needed to find out.

I stood up slowly, my paws heavy as I approached Brambleclaw. My heart raced with every step, the sharp pain in my side now a dull throb I could barely register.

I fixed my gaze on him, a mix of confusion and hurt in my eyes. "What is she talking about, beloved?" I asked, my voice strained, demanding an answer.

Brambleclaw flicked his tail nervously, his eyes avoiding mine as he took a step back. I saw the tension in his body, the way his muscles stiffened, and it made my blood run cold. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

"Nyx, I—" he started, but then his voice faltered. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if the weight of what he was about to say pained him more than anything. My heart clenched in my chest as I watched him struggle.

"I can't be with you anymore," he finally whispered, the words breaking through the air like a shard of ice. His gaze was downcast, his expression twisted in pain. "I'm sorry, but I can't."

The world seemed to shift under my paws, the ground no longer as solid as it had been moments before. The words reverberated in my mind, over and over, as though I were hearing them from a great distance. "I can't be with you anymore." His voice echoed in my ears, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

Everything I had believed, everything I thought was certain, now felt like it was crumbling. How could this be happening? Why was he saying this to me?

The sharp pain in my side flared again, but it barely registered as my world spun out of control.

He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his words. "You see... the others are talking, and—and I..." He paused, running a paw over his face, clearly struggling to find the right words. "You're just not my type anymore," he muttered, his voice quiet and broken.

The words hit me like a physical blow. My chest tightened, and I felt a cold wave wash over me. I could barely process what he was saying, but the hurt was already swelling inside me. How could he just... say that?

He shook his head, his eyes avoiding mine, unable or unwilling to meet my gaze. "I've seen Squirrelpaw behind your back," he added, his voice tinged with guilt. "She's... she's the one I want now."

The words hung in the air like poison, sinking deep into my heart. Squirrelpaw. My friend. The one I trusted. And Brambleclaw, my mate, was betraying me with her.

I couldn't move, couldn't speak for a moment. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the betrayal. But it all felt like a nightmare, surreal and impossible. He couldn't be serious. He couldn't.

"How could you?" I whispered, my voice trembling. I could feel the sharp sting of tears behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't let him see me break.

Brambleclaw looked at me then, his expression filled with regret and something else I couldn't quite place—maybe guilt, maybe relief, but whatever it was, it didn't soften the blow.

"I'm sorry, Nyx," he said, almost too softly to hear, before he turned and walked away, leaving me there in the fading sunlight, my heart shattered and my world torn apart.

A sharp growl suddenly pierced the air, and I turned to see Harestar, my sister, leaping down from the stones. Her fur was fluffed out in anger, her amber eyes blazing with fury. She was a fierce warrior, strong-willed and proud, and seeing her this angry sent a chill down my spine.

"How could you say something like that to her?!" she snarled, her voice a low, seething growl. She stepped toward Brambleclaw, her tail flicking in agitation. "She's carrying your kits! How could you betray her like this?"

I barely registered the words through the numbness that had settled in my chest. My mind was still reeling from Brambleclaw's confession, but now Harestar's words hit me with another wave of pain. My sister—my protector, my only family from a different father—was furious on my behalf. She had always been there for me, even though we were different in so many ways. I, a wolf with wings and horns, and she, a cat with the sharp claws and fierce spirit of our clan.

Brambleclaw stood there, frozen, unable to meet either of our gazes. His ears flattened against his head as Harestar's anger pressed down on him like a weight. His eyes were filled with regret, but there was something deeper in them, something I couldn't quite place.

"How could you?!" Harestar continued, her voice trembling with fury. She was in no mood for any more of his excuses. "She's pregnant, Brambleclaw! She trusted you, and you betray her with that—that?" She motioned vaguely toward Squirrelpaw's absence as if the very idea of it was enough to spark her fury further.

I wanted to say something, to stop the two of them from tearing each other apart, but the words caught in my throat. How could I defend him when everything inside me was broken?

Harestar turned back to me, her gaze softening for a moment as she took in the pain written across my face. Her tone gentled, but there was still an undercurrent of fierce protectiveness. "You don't deserve this, Nyx. You never have."

She moved closer, standing between me and Brambleclaw, her fur bristling with a protective energy. She had always been my shield, my closest ally, and in that moment, I needed her more than ever. I wasn't sure if I could face Brambleclaw again—not after everything he had done—but I knew one thing for sure: Harestar would stand by me, no matter what.

Brambleclaw looked at me once more, his eyes full of regret. But it was too late for apologies. Too late to undo the damage. Harestar stood her ground, her fierce loyalty to me unwavering. In that moment, she was more than just my sister. She was the one who would fight for me, who would make sure I didn't have to fight alone. And that was more than I could say for Brambleclaw now.

I swallowed hard, the bitter taste of betrayal still fresh on my tongue. "Leave," I whispered, my voice trembling but firm. "Just... leave."

Harestar's tail lashed in warning as Brambleclaw hesitated, but eventually, he backed away, his head low in shame. As he disappeared into the trees, I felt my wings tremble, the weight of everything settling heavily on my shoulders.

Harestar stayed with me, her presence a steady force in the storm of emotions swirling inside me. We didn't need words—she understood. She always had.

The rest of the clan began to gather, slowly moving closer toward me. Majje, Malte, and Stikle all approached, their expressions softening when they saw me. I smiled faintly, grateful for their presence. I sank down onto the ground, my wings folding at my sides, the weight of the day slowly beginning to settle in. At least they were here for me.

Bearstrike, my niece, padded up to me and gently licked my cheek. Her touch was soothing, though the sting of betrayal still lingered. "I should have told you," she said quietly, her voice full of regret. "I heard them talking... I never wanted you to find out like this."

Before I could respond, Ashfur stepped forward, shaking his head with a slight, rueful smile. "Mousebrained," he muttered, his voice carrying a trace of his usual teasing tone, though there was no humor behind it this time. His gaze softened as he looked at me. "You deserve better than this, Nyx. All of you do."

I didn't say anything in return, but the comfort of their presence, the quiet understanding in their eyes, was enough. In that moment, surrounded by those who cared for me, I knew I wasn't alone. Not anymore. Not in the way I had been.