Sever The Bond

MAELIS

I stumbled back, cradling my throbbing wrist. “Theron, it’s not what you think. She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her neck herself, I swear by my chil… I mean I swear on the moon goddess.”

“Enough,” he bellowed, his eyes staring daggers at me. “I know what I saw Maelis.”

“You didn’t see everything. You walked in at the end,” I protested, desperately wanting him to believe me.

Nerine sniffled softly.

“I only came to check on her,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was worried she was upset about what you said concerning our wedding but I got this in return.”

“I understand her though, Tee." She winced, touching her neck gently. "She's finding it hard to process my return and Caden's presence."

Theron’s eyes returned to me. “She just came back and this is how you treat her? She’s your sister Maelis! I know you to be a lot of things but certainly not this.”

His eyes narrowed, as if he was trying to understand my actions but then his gaze hardened.

“I didn’t do anything,” My voice came out stronger than I expected, even though everything in me was shaking.

Nerine stepped back slightly, like she was overwhelmed.

“I shouldn’t have come back…” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. “I always ruin things.”

Just as Theron was about to speak, the door pushed open and Evelyn walked in with Alistair behind her.

“My baby… what happened?” She demanded immediately, taking Nerine in her arms.

“I just wanted to see Mae, I didn’t mean to make her angry…” Nerine whispered, trembling.

Evelyn turned to face me, her face mirroring the anger she felt. She closed the distance between us, her eyes not leaving mine.

“I warned Alistair ,” she began coldly. “I told him we should send you back where we picked you from the moment we found our child but no… he insisted we keep you and now look where it has gotten us. You keep hurting my baby, over and over again!”

“I didn’t——“

“Save it,” she interrupted harshly.

She turned to Alistair. “This will be the last time I’ll ever let this slide. If she ever hurts my baby again, I’ll make sure she pays dearly with her blood.”

The words hit me hard and I stood there for a second, pondering over them. Pay dearly with my blood, over a lie? Over something I didn’t do?

Anger bubbled within me and before I could stop myself, my mouth opened.

"I never asked to be Luna," I said. "I never asked any of you to adopt me either. But I never stopped trying to earn your love every day. You do not even know the full extent of what happened but yet you blame me just like always.”

Evelyn’s lips curled in disgust but she said nothing. Theron’s expression softened for a split second, like he felt guilty for hurting me.

But suddenly, Nerine swayed slightly, her soft wince cutting through the silence.

“I feel dizzy,” she whispered.

Theron’s whole demeanor shifted instantly and in seconds, he was by her side. "Let's get you to bed,” he said, holding her tightly to himself.

He guided her out without sparing me a glance. Alistair and Evelyn followed, throwing one last look of disgust my way before the door shut behind them.

And then I was alone.

I stood at the same spot for a long time, my hand pressed against my stomach as my thoughts went haywire. The room still smelled like Nerine’s perfume.

My child was the only thing I had left, my only family. I needed to make sure he was fine, that he would survive even without the mark.

Without hesitation, I headed straight for the clinic.

Sera looked up the moment I walked in, her expression shifting straight to concern. "Mae, what happened to you?"

"Long story." I sat down. "Can you check the baby now? Please."

She nodded, not asking any questions. She ran a few checks quietly, her frown deepening as she stared at the results.

“The bond is weakening faster this morning,” she finally said. “Whatever happened today, your stress spiked and the baby felt and absorbed it.”

“How long do I have?”

“At this rate,” she exhaled. “Less than the month we estimated. Your body is already starting to really struggle. Your wolf is the one holding you up and even her energy is on red right now.”

My throat choked with emotions and I blinked hard, refusing to let my tears fall. “What do I do now Sera? Help me please.”

Sera closed the distance between us, taking my hand in hers. “You need to remain calm. Don’t get all worked up now, it’ll mess things up.”

With a sigh, she continued. "There's something though," she began slowly. "It’s very rare but some mothers have carried it alone, no mark, no father at all. But it only works if the mother fully and actively severs the bond completely herself. Don't wait for it to fade. Reject it completely and damn the consequences.”

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips and I closed my eyes briefly.

Sever the bond?

I already knew what severing the bond meant. As a Luna, I had sat through enough council meetings and pack discussions to know how tough and long the road was. I knew how many walls stood between a woman in my position and any sort of freedom. The one Luna who attempted it lost her sanity.

I pressed my hand against my stomach, biting my inner cheeks in worry. I had just six months left on the contract and a child who had one month to live.

I knew I had no time to deliberate and no other choice than to see things through no matter the cost.

“Mae,” Sera's voice filled my ears. "Look."

I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the screen before me. The ultrasound image filled the small screen—tiny, and fragile.

My throat tightened and my heart constricted with an emotion I couldn’t quite describe.

“There’s your baby Mae, your little one,” she said, her excitement evident.

The tears I had been struggling to hold finally fell free, staining my cheeks.

“Hi…” I croaked at the screen, my voice barely above a whisper. “My baby, my own child.”

I reached out my hand toward the screen slowly and in that moment, the clinic door suddenly swung open.

My hand froze midair and Sera stiffened immediately and I turned around to see who it was.

My breath caught in my throat as my eyes landed on Theron whose gaze swept across the room before landing on the glowing ultrasound screen.

His gaze darkening as he took a step forward.

“What are you doing here?”