Chapter 3

When I woke up, I was in a strange cave. It smelled of herbs and campfire smoke.

Kaelen wasn't by my bedding. It was a strange she-wolf, Elara.

"You’re awake? I’m a lone wolf, Elara. I was going to try my luck on the mountain after your pack left, but then I saw you lying there. So I brought you back. Are you okay? Anywhere else hurt?"

She asked, handing me a bowl of warm meat broth.

"Are those pack warriors blind or something? If I hadn't come by…"

I took the stone bowl, listening to her grumble. The smile froze on my face when my hand touched my belly.

"I’m so sorry… When I found you, your pup… there was no heartbeat…"

I forced a twitch of my lips. Tears silently streamed down my face.

"Thank you for saving me."

"Maybe this pup and I… just weren't meant to be."

Two lifetimes, and I couldn’t keep him.

Even a stranger, a lone wolf, would help a pregnant she-wolf lying in the snow. But my Alpha, my mate, could just ignore me.

Seeing me silent, Elara got even more worked up.

"These big packs nowadays are so irresponsible! A whole living wolf lying there and they don't see her!"

"If I hadn't had a whim to go up there, you’d be one body, two deaths!"

"And the father of your pup? You were out холодный for so long, and not even a warning howl from him! Males are useless."

"Can you tell me your pack’s token? I’ll help you contact your people. You can’t be alone right now."

"Oh, and I’ve already reported that Shadowpeak pack’s guard to the neutral territory elders. If they let this slide, who knows how many more wolves will die!"

I looked down, my eyes full of complicated feelings.

"The pup has no father. He’s dead."

At my words, Elara’s face filled with regret and sympathy. She apologized over and over.

She offered to take care of me until I recovered.

I refused her kindness. I didn't want to drag her into my mess.

Elara was a lone wolf, it wasn't safe for her. I gave her what few trade goods and tokens of thanks I had, and persuaded her to leave.

She left, but the rumors about the Shadowpeak pack started to spread among the other packs.

The news that "Snow Mountain Rescue Negligence Almost Caused Luna-to-be One Body, Two Deaths" got everyone’s attention.

It quickly became the top gossip in all the packs.

Elara had spread the story of my terrible situation (without revealing my face) through some traveling merchants.

It instantly caused a huge uproar.

Everyone was accusing the Shadowpeak pack of rescuing air, of ignoring the safety of their own pack members.

This time it was me. Next time, it could be a member of any weaker pack.

I sifted through the rumors of support. Every one was a condemnation of Kaelen, a questioning of his leadership.

I just thought, this punishment still wasn't enough for him.

I reached out through the faint mate bond I still had with Kaelen, wanting to send him a message about breaking it.

But Lyra’s gloating thoughts stabbed into my mind first, carrying her sickeningly sweet scent and Kaelen’s strong Alpha presence.

Recognizing the familiar setting, I realized she was also in a luxury cave in this area, right on the edge of our pack territory, in the VIP section.

In the mental image she sent, Kaelen was carefully blowing on a stone spoonful of meat broth, his eyes full of tenderness. His powerful Alpha pheromones practically oozed out of the image, wrapping around Lyra.

I’d seen them together like that countless times.

A scene like that couldn't stir any emotion in me anymore.

I silently cut off the connection and contacted Kaelen through the inter-pack emergency comm rune.

The seventh call, on the fifth ring, he finally answered.

Before I could say anything, his impatient voice, full of Alpha dominance, hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Seraphina, you still have the nerve to contact me? Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused Lyra?"

"What, are you calling to ask if Lyra’s dead? Let me tell you, she’s alive and well. You could die, and she’d still be fine!"

"You venomous bitch, do you even know what you’re doing? This is attempted murder! You’re a lunatic! Have you fed all the Moon Goddess’s teachings to the snow wolves?!"

"I’m giving you one day. Get your ass over here and apologize to Lyra. Or don't blame me for breaking our mate bond!"

Before the echo of his words faded, Lyra’s weak,委屈 voice came through.

"Kaelen, darling, don’t blame sister. She’s still pregnant, she can’t get upset. I’m sure she didn’t mean it. Whatever she says, it’s fine. I’m okay."

Kaelen sighed, his voice dripping with affection. That unique male scent of his almost seemed to drift through the rune. "Lyra, you just think too well of wolves. You’re too kind. That’s why you always get bullied."

"We knew each other first, but you always gave way. Don’t try to persuade me. This time, I’m going to make sure she learns her lesson!"