Chapter 3

After being cast out of the Stormfang pack and bearing the traitor imprint, I had no choice but to hide in a motel in the nearest human town.

In the days that followed, I felt constantly weak, like the day of the exile ceremony. Worse still, I puked up everything I ate.

Since I didn't know what was going on with me, I dragged myself to the witch's clinic. It was the only place that would take me now that I had no official identity.

After the checkups, the witch stared at me in disbelief. "Good heavens, you're pregnant! How could you allow yourself to be subjected to an exile ceremony in this condition? That could harm your pup!"

I didn't know what to feel about her words as I pressed my hand to my belly.

I used to dream of carrying Zev's pup. But just when I'd finally resolved to leave him, the pup showed up instead.

Clutching the test slip, I sat in the lobby of the clinic and stared blankly into space.

Suddenly, a mocking voice reached my ears. "Ha! I knew leaving the pack was just for show! Did you come for me after learning I was here?"

I whipped my head around and saw Zev standing behind me with his arms wrapped around Lessie. The latter leaned into him weakly, and it seemed almost as if she were the perfect fated mate for him.

I clenched the pregnancy test slip and said nothing.

"A pregnancy test slip?"

He snatched the slip from me and gave it a quick glance before laughing incredulously. "You're pregnant? No way!"

His expression switched to a smug look as if he'd seen through my lies, and he sneered down at me. "Are you faking a pregnancy just to get my attention? Fine. Since I'm in a good mood today…"

His voice dripped with mock generosity as he said, "If you beg me, I'll take back what I said and complete the marking ceremony with you."

I closed my eyes and swallowed the bitterness in my throat. What was I still hoping for? What was I still hesitating over? This pup was never meant to be.

I snatched the pregnancy test slip back and coldly snapped, "Don't worry. I won't use such a pathetic trick to deceive you again."

With that, I turned and walked into the witch's consultation room.

"Wait!"

For a split second, Zev's voice wavered with uncertainty. Perhaps he finally realized that I wasn't the kind to lie about carrying a pup.

"Zev, don't go…" Lessie clutched his arm and pressed a hand to her chest with a pale face. "I feel so awful… Please stay with me while I get some rest. I'm begging you…"

Zev gave me one last, complicated look. In the end, he helped Lessie back to her ward.

As for me, I didn't hesitate for a second and went straight to the witch. My voice was calm as I announced, "I want an abortion."

Surgery was possible, given my condition. The witch didn't question me and began making the necessary preparations.

Meanwhile, Zev helped Lessie into her ward. She hooked her arms around his neck and pulled him down onto the bed with her. But no matter how much she tried to flirt with him, the gnawing unease in his heart grew stronger.

Lessie frustratedly nipped at his throat and grumbled, "Zev, focus!"

Just as they were making out, the voices of two witch assistants drifted through the door. "This is Ms. Elrick's pre-op assessment slip. Her abortion is scheduled to begin in five minutes."

"Alas… Poor Ms. Elrick. It must have been so tough for her to conceive."

Elrick?

"Kira? Is she really pregnant?"

Their words hit Zev like a lightning bolt. He was ready to storm out and question them, but Lessie clung to him desperately.

Her eyes darted with a calculative gleam, and her honeyed voice dripped with cunningness as she said, "Don't be fooled by Kira, Zev. How could she be pregnant? Plus, Elrick isn't a rare last name.

"Did I… hurt you?" Her hands roamed his body in an attempt to incite his lust. Before giving him the chance to think, she started to satisfy his desires.

Half an hour later, Zev stumbled out of bed. The unease within him was now at the peak of a suffocating storm. "I need to see for myself. Stay here."

He sprinted to the operating room just as the doors opened.

I exited with a pale face and unsteady steps, just after finishing the surgery.

Zev locked his eyes on me, looking utterly horrified. "W-Were you really pregnant? And you got rid of it?"