Chapter 4

I opened my eyes and the white ceiling of the healing center slowly came into focus.

My body still ached from the injuries I suffered at the ceremony. The sharp sting of glass cuts throbbed beneath the bandages wrapped around my palm.

I reached for my phone and checked the screen.

No calls. No messages.

I already knew I should not have expected anyone to check on me. Yet the silence still confirmed everything I needed to know.

While everyone had been worried about Serena and her unborn pup, no one had cared whether I was bleeding alone somewhere.

I pushed myself out of bed and walked toward the door of my room. The moment I stepped into the corridor, voices drifted from the healer's station.

"The Alpha stayed beside her the entire night. He refused to let anyone else near her. He even threatened the head healer when he suggested moving her to a regular room.”

"To be loved like that by an Alpha... Serena is the luckiest woman in the territory."

I walked down the corridor and reached the door of Serena's room. It was slightly ajar.

Through the gap, Serena lay resting against the Alpha's chest. His hand remained protectively over her stomach while the healer examined her.

"The pup is completely safe. Neither the mother nor the child suffered any harm."

Hearing the healer's words, the Alpha's tension immediately disappeared. He let out a slow breath, pressing a kiss to Serena's temple.

"As long as you and the pup are safe, nothing else matters to me."

Serena's gaze shifted toward the doorway. Seeing me, her eyes widened in mock surprise.

"Elara, why are you here? Are you alright?"

She pulled away from the Alpha slightly, reaching toward me with a concerned look.

"I hope you are not blaming yourself for what happened. Everything between us is fine. The pup and I are perfectly safe."

The Alpha's eyes fixed on my face.

"Have you finally reflected on what you did at the ceremony?"

Instead of asking whether I was hurt, he immediately demanded that I acknowledge my supposed wrongdoing.

"I am willing to forgive you if you sincerely apologize."

He reached beside the bed and picked up a small silk bag. "The healer said the lace on her undergarments is chafing her skin because of the swelling. She needs them hand-washed with the mild soap, not the harsh detergent the servants use."

He held the bag out toward me. "Take these. Wash them for me. Make sure they're soft."

I stared at the bag, my feet frozen to the floor. Neither she nor the Alpha noticed the bandages covering my injured hand. Neither of them asked why I was wrapped in bandages.

Seeing my hesitation, the Alpha's expression darkened.

"What? You think you're too good for this? I've been washing her things myself for years to keep her comfortable. Don't be useless, Elara. Just do it."

Serena reached out and gently touched his arm. "Kael, don't force her. I can just soak them in the basin. Elara shouldn't have to—"

"You need to rest." The Alpha shut her down immediately, his voice softening only for her. "She's the Shadow Luna. Serving you is her only purpose right now."

I silently took the silk bag. There was no point defending myself anymore.

The Alpha turned back to the healer, asking about Serena's recovery schedule.

The moment his attention shifted, Serena's sorrowful expression vanished. A victorious smile took its place.

She leaned in close, her lips nearly brushing my ear.

"I have won, Elara."

"Everything you thought you could have—his mark, his loyalty, his children, it is all mine now."

"Do you know how he treats me? He holds me through the night. He kisses my stomach every morning before he leaves. He brings me breakfast in bed and refuses to let me lift a single finger."

I stared at her, refusing to react. I didn't argue, cry, or defend myself.

The Alpha's attention shifted back toward me, and Serena's expression instantly softened into innocence.

"Go home, Elara. I don't want anything to disturb Serena's rest."

He looked at me with cold expectation.

"Prepare her favorite meal for when she returns. If you do everything properly, perhaps I will consider accepting your apology."

“You know I can cancel your Shadow Luna status with a flick of my fingers."

I agreed without resistance, his approval no longer had any value to me.

To him, I was just a servant. A woman whose food soothed his pack and settled his wolf. He never looked beyond the kitchen to see what else I was worth. But I was done feeding a man who starved me of everything else.

Before I could turn away, Serena shifted on the bed and let out a soft wince.

"Kael, my stomach..."

The Alpha immediately cupped her face, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. "Where does it hurt? Should I call the healer back?"

"No, just... hold me tighter."

He pulled her closer, one hand cradling her head against his chest while the other pressed firmly over her stomach.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Serena smiled against his skin, then lifted her eyes to meet mine.

Watching them, I felt nothing.

Returning to the mansion, I walked straight to the utility room and dropped the soiled garments into the waste bin without hesitation.

I climbed the stairs to my room and pushed open the door.

The walls had been repainted a soft cream color. My belongings had been pushed into a small corner. A new crib sat by the window, surrounded by stacks of tiny clothes and toys.

The space that once symbolized my position as Shadow Luna had already been transformed into a nursery for Serena's pup.

The Alpha had already begun replacing me without waiting for me to leave.

Instead of feeling betrayed, I felt strangely relieved. There was nothing left for me to hold on to. For the next few hours, I slowly erased every trace of myself from the house.

My phone buzzed. A message from the Alpha appeared on the screen.

[I won't be back today. I have an important matter to settle. Don't wait up. I will make it up to you later. Just stay home and behave.]

A second later, a post from Serena appeared. The first photo showed a silver bonding cuff placed on a velvet pillow. The second photo showed the Alpha's arms wrapped around her from behind, his face buried in her neck, her body pressed flush against his.

The caption read: [I told him I needed to be marked before the pup arrives. He promised me an official bonding ceremony tomorrow. I love you, my Alpha.]

The "important matter" he had to settle was the bonding ceremony with Serena.

I stared at the screen. I felt no jealousy. I had no desire to compete with a woman who had already taken everything I once wanted.

Before I could put the phone away, two new notifications popped up.

The first confirmed that my request to dissolve my Shadow Luna status had been approved.

The second confirmed that my request to leave the pack had also been approved.

The final obstacle keeping me bound to this territory disappeared.

I packed the last of my belongings and closed my phone.

Looking around the nursery that used to be my room, I no longer saw the home I had once fought to protect. I walked out of the mansion and left the pack behind.

The morning air was cold against my skin, but for the first time in two lifetimes, I embraced the freedom ahead of me.