3

After the examination, the pack's chief healer ordered me to rest.

I finally learned why Garrett had been so furious.

With the child dead, the old Alpha was grief-stricken and announced he would banish Scarlett from the pack.

Scarlett mistakenly thought I was retaliating. She went crying to Garrett with her exaggerated version of events.

That's when Garrett attacked me.

Not only that, Garrett revoked my position at the Pack House office and gave it to Scarlett instead.

To make her happy, he bought twenty purple crystal healing stones at an auction for Scarlett.

During an interview, Scarlett smugly showed off her diamond ring embedded with top-grade healing gems.

"I never considered myself a homewrecker. Matebonds without love won't last—they won't receive the Moon Goddess's blessing."

"Besides, the current Mrs. Blackwood only became Garrett's mate for the Luna's power and status. I'm different. My feelings for Garrett are pure and true."

The comments were sharply divided.

Scarlett's fanatic followers on Facebook tagged my account.

Various insults and curses demanded I step aside for Scarlett.

Watching it all, I only felt the irony.

After all these years, Garrett's methods for charming women hadn't changed at all.

Back then, he had done the same thing to me.

When he learned my family was poor growing up and I'd never had a family vacation, he planned a month-long trip around the world.

From the seaside adventures I'd missed as a child, to the mountain hiking I'd yearned for as a teenager, to the Northern Lights I'd dreamed of seeing as an adult.

He said he would show me all the places I should have seen with my family.

I still remember that day on the sunset yacht in the Aegean Sea, when he held my hand.

"Aria, I lost my parents when I was young. From now on, I'll treat your mother like my own. I'll build the happiest family with you and take you both to even more distant places."

I melted in his passionate gaze.

I naively thought I'd found someone to spend my life with.

But later, when the novelty wore off, Garrett quickly moved on to someone else.

I had once obtained a precious top-grade healing stone. All the healers said with that stone, my mother's wolf would awaken.

But Garrett took that stone and gave it to his lover. Without the best healing material, my mother lost her only chance at recovery. She remained bedridden until she died protecting me from the rogue wolves.

Later I discovered Garrett's lover didn't even need that stone. She gave the healing gem that could have saved my mother to her pet dog.

That should have been when I understood.

This man was selfish and fickle. He would never settle down for anyone.

That agreement was just an excuse he used to justify his cheating.

Thinking of this, I left a comment under Scarlett's video.

"Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and many children."

Not long after I posted it, Scarlett deleted the video.

What followed was Garrett's angry phone call.

I didn't answer.

Instead, just as he always did to me, I calmly blocked him.

Then I suddenly remembered—today was my mother's cremation.

I explained the situation and processed my early discharge.

The attending healer was worried but couldn't argue with me, so he offered to accompany me.

When the funeral worker handed me the urn, I didn't feel the overwhelming grief I'd expected.

I only felt that the shackles that had bound me for ten years had finally broken completely.

I sighed softly, said goodbye to the doctor, and returned alone to the Blackwood house to pack.

As soon as I entered the living room, I saw Garrett and Scarlett sitting on the sofa.

Seeing me return, Scarlett quickly pulled up her dress zipper.

But the red marks covering her body still revealed how intense their recent activities had been.

I felt no sadness, no anger.

As if I'd seen nothing at all, I walked expressionlessly into the bedroom.

When I came out, Scarlett had already left.

Only Garrett remained, sitting there drinking.

Seeing me emerge, he slowly lifted his head.

The dim light fell across his face, making his expression unreadable.

"Aria, where did you go today?"

"None of your business."

I didn't want to say more, but Garrett suddenly smashed his glass.

He strode over to me.

"Stop acting so pure and innocent. Don't think I don't know you went off to mess around with other Alphas."

"Aria, are you really that desperate? Are you blaming me for neglecting you lately? If that's the case, I'll give you what you want!"

With that, Garrett roughly tore my clothes and dragged me toward the bed.

I was startled by his actions.

I struggled desperately. "Garrett, are you insane? Our child...!"

Garrett had lost all reason and wouldn't listen to anything. He bit down hard on my shoulder.

I pushed Garrett away with all my strength and slapped him.

Enraged, Garrett didn't hold back either. He released his Alpha wolf's dominance to suppress me.

Having just suffered severe injuries and lost my child, my wolf had no power to resist.

A trickle of blood slowly slid down from my forehead.

Garrett froze for a moment, instinctively reaching out to help me.

"When did you become so fragile..."

I staggered back a few steps, trying to speak.

But my body couldn't support me, and I collapsed.