Chapter 4

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in an unfamiliar den.

Remembering something, I bolted upright, my hand immediately going to my belly.

A deep, masculine voice resonated, "Your pup is fine."

Lifting my head, I saw Ryker, the Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack.

Relief washed over me; thank goodness, my baby was safe.

Kaelen rushed in, his eyes lighting up with joyous surprise when he saw I was awake.

"Ella, you're finally awake!"

He grasped my hand, his eyes rimmed with red.

"You were unconscious for two days," he said, "You scared me half to death."

But as I looked at him, the image of him holding Seraphina, walking away without a backward glance, surfaced in my mind.

I gently withdrew my hand, an unexpected calm settling over me.

"Kaelen, we..."

Before the words 'sever our bond' could leave my lips, a rush of hurried footsteps cut me off.

A werewolf guard was whispering anxiously at the entrance.

Kaelen listened, his expression shifting. He turned to me, said, "Get some rest," and then rushed off.

He never used to keep things from me.

Now, that had long since changed.

Just like our bond.

I averted my gaze, my eyes falling to my flat belly.

After Kaelen was gone, Ryker entered.

"He's gone to look after Seraphina."

I nodded. "I know."

After recuperating in the Bloodfang Pack for a day, and with my body mostly recovered, I decided to return to my own pack.Ryker didn't stop me, only saying, "My door is always open for you."

Back in the Black Moon pack's territory, I headed straight for the Moon Goddess Altar.

I was going to sever this rotten bond with my own hands, in front of all my packmates.

The moment I stepped onto the altar, Seraphina blocked my path.

She wore a triumphant smirk, ostentatiously stroking her belly.

"I'm carrying the Alpha's heir. It's been over a month."

I clenched my fists, thinking it wouldn't hurt anymore, but the bond of our souls still felt as if pierced by a sharp blade.

Over a month...

So, that incident in the den... it wasn't the first time.

It didn't matter anymore.

"Well, I wish your bloodline prosperity."

I spoke calmly, walking around her towards the center of the altar.

But just as I was about to chant the ancient severing incantation, Seraphina suddenly lunged at me!

My eyes widened. I instinctively sidestepped, but she crashed straight into one of the altar's stone pillars.

"Seraphina—"

Kaelen rushed over and cradled her in his arms, completely ignoring me standing to the side.

A sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I felt a wet warmth spread beneath me; reaching down, my hand came away covered in blood.

"Save... my child..."

All color drained from my face as I watched Kaelen's retreating figure grow smaller in the distance."I'm so sorry, your cub couldn't be saved. The impact of the severed link was too great. If you hadn't gone onto the altar, perhaps there would have been a chance."

The healer's words left me lying numbly on the stone bed, my tears already run dry.

The healer had just left when Kaelen rushed over.

"Seraphina's bloodline is unstable. She urgently needs pure Moonlight Blood to stabilize her fetus. You and she are both blessed by the Moon Goddess..."

I stared at him with bloodshot eyes. "I won't go!"

"Seraphina is carrying my heir... She can't have anything happen to her. Ella, if you hadn't insisted on severing the link, how could things have turned out this way?"

Kaelen frowned deeply, as if accusing me of being unreasonable.

"I promise you, once Seraphina gives birth to the child, I'll send her away. The child will be yours to raise. Besides, your bloodline makes it difficult for you to conceive anyway."

But Kaelen, I did have a child.

My heart felt as if it were being slashed by a knife.

In the end, Kaelen forcibly made me give Seraphina a blood transfusion. My already pale face became even more like paper.

"Draw more."

The nurse's voice hesitated. "But she looks..."

"The future Luna and the heir are what's important!"

I felt my consciousness growing increasingly dim, while Kaelen went to care for Seraphina without a backward glance.Weakly, I fumbled out the communication crystal, using the last of my strength.

"Ryker... I agree to remarry."