Chapter 3

The wolves sneered, their breath foul against my face. "He left you, little princess," one growled, raising the blade. "Seems you aren't worth the silver."

I closed my eyes, waiting for the end, but it didn't come. Instead, a sudden, violent burst of shadow exploded through the cathedral.

The Clan’s elder whom I had informed of the attack on time, had sent help.

The trained fighter vampires materialized from the darkness. The wolves were flung across the hall, their bodies shattering against the stone pillars.

One of the fighter vampires caught me just as my legs gave out. But as he pulled me against his chest, a sharp, agonizing cramp seized my abdomen. A warmth spread through my torn gown—not the blood from the wolves, but something deeper. Something final.

"The child..." I gasped, clutching my stomach as the world turned gray.

"Easy, little one," the stranger’s voice was a low rumble. "I have you."

Three hours later, I woke up in a sterile, dimly lit room. The stranger was gone, but the silence was deafening. The doctor’s face told me everything before he even spoke. The stress, the silver-laced wolf bite, and the betrayal had been too much. My baby was gone.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was our Clan’s group chat.

They had been sharing Alaric and Celeste's wedding pictures. Most of them had captured Alaric kissing Celeste passionately.

After leaving the Cathedral, they moved to the seven-star hotel and slept in the room I had decorated myself.

The next morning, Celeste posted a selfie. She was lying wrapped in a white blanket while Alaric was lying down, evidently doing something between her legs as her mouth hung open in a moan.

The picture had gotten so many heart emojis. One of them was my father's. He even commented.

[Congratulations, sweetheart. Now make me grandpa.]

My hands abruptly moved to my belly. The loss of my baby hit me even harder.

While my baby and I were fighting for our survival, Alaric and Celeste were having the best of their lives, and my father had been congratulating them.

I did not intend to confront them. I simply liked my father's comment and exited the Clan’s group chat.

Just then, my phone vibrated. It was Alaric's call.

I picked up, my voice a hollow shell. "Hello?"

"Where the hell are you, Elara?" Alaric’s voice was sharp with irritation, the background noise suggesting he was already back at the estate, likely comforting Celeste. "The attack is over. My father is furious, and Celeste is traumatized. You’ve had your fun with this little 'revenge' plot. Get home and apologize."

"I'm at the clinic, Alaric," I whispered. "I... I lost the baby."

A short, mocking laugh came through the line.

"Still sticking to that script? You really are desperate. Give it up, Elara. We both know vampires don't conceive that easily, and we certainly know you weren't actually in danger from your own hired thugs. Stop lying and get home before I have the guards drag you back."

I looked at the empty space beside my bed, the place where a life should have been. The last thread of my heart didn't just break; it evaporated.

"Don't worry about the guards, Alaric," I said, my voice eerily calm. "I’m not coming home. Not today. Not ever. Since Celeste wants my life so badly, she can have the wreckage of it."

"Elara, don't you dare pull another pathetic act. I have talked to Alaric. He is holding the wedding with you tomorrow again. You can still be his wife.” My father's voice sounded from behind.

I laughed in sarcasm before I hung up the call and switched it off.

As I walked out of the clinic, I shot a glance at the wooden box that contained the DNA of my baby– a proof of its existence, evidence I had managed to collect that the attack on the wedding was orchestrated by Celeste, not me, and a heart-shaped pendant Alaric had given me when he first proposed to me. It belonged to his mother. It proved his sincerity towards our bond.

Since he was no longer sincere to me or the blood bond we shared, what's the point of having his mother's pendant with me?

He could have it back or just give it away to Celeste. I don't want it.