3

Marcus said impatiently: "Scarlett, that's enough..."

His voice carried a warning edge, the same tone he used with disobedient pack members. Not the voice of a mate, but of an Alpha losing patience with a subordinate.

"I've been more than generous. I've given you time to heal, resources to recover, and now I'm asking for one simple signature."

He stepped closer, his presence intimidating in the small room.

"Don't test my patience any further."

Before he could finish his threat, Celeste suddenly gritted her teeth and grabbed the knife from the table.

The blade gleamed silver in the afternoon light streaming through the window.

"Scarlett, I'll atone with my death!"

Her voice cracked with theatrical desperation, but her eyes remained calculating.

She slashed viciously at her hand, cutting so deep the white bone was visible through the gaping wound.

Blood gushed out, splattering across the pristine white documents on the table.

The metallic scent filled the room, making my stomach churn.

But my heart felt nothing. I only wondered why she didn't aim for her throat instead.

If she really wanted to atone, that would have been more effective.

"Celeste!"

Marcus's roar of panic shattered the tense silence.

He quickly knelt beside her, pressing his hands against the wound to stem the bleeding.

"Get the healers! Now!" he shouted at the servants hovering in the doorway.

"Bring the highest grade healing potion we have!"

His hands were stained crimson as he cradled her injured arm.

The same hands that used to hold me with such tenderness now trembled with worry for another woman.

Celeste looked up at him with tears streaming down her face, the picture of fragile femininity.

"Marcus, I'm just a rogue wolf living day to day. How can I let my actions affect your relationship with Scarlett?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, designed to tug at his heartstrings.

"I'd rather die than cause problems between you and your mate."

She swayed dramatically, as if about to faint from blood loss.

Marcus caught her, his face a mask of fury and concern.

His protective instincts were fully activated, just as she'd planned.

Marcus's face turned red with anger as he looked between Celeste's bleeding hand and my unmoved expression.

He breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling with barely controlled rage.

Then he turned to me with venomous eyes, his voice dripping with accusation.

"Scarlett, she's atoning with her death and you still won't forgive her?"

The disappointment in his tone cut deeper than any blade.

"What exactly do you want from me? From her? She's already suffered enough!"

His voice rose with each word, filling the room with Alpha dominance.

"Even a rogue wolf knows to consider the pack's welfare. Your body has mostly recovered, so why must you send her to Silver Prison?"

His tone grew more poisonous with every syllable.

"Is your heart made of stone? Can't you see she's genuinely sorry?"

As if I was the only one wrong in this entire situation.

As if I was the monster for not forgiving the woman who had my child murdered.

I stared at the blood on the floor, feeling dizzy and nauseous.

The sight of it brought back memories I'd tried to suppress.

Blood on my thighs. Blood on the forest floor. Blood where my baby should have been.

In my daze, that pool of blood seemed to gather and form into a tiny baby, reaching out tender hands toward me.

The hallucination was so vivid I could almost hear a whispered cry.

"Mama..."

The word echoed in my mind, breaking what remained of my resolve.

I couldn't hold back anymore. My tears burst forth like a dam breaking.

Sobs wracked my body as months of suppressed grief came pouring out.

"Fine," I whispered through my tears.

"Take her to the healing center. I'll sign when you get back."

I choked out my answer to Marcus, my voice barely recognizable.

The defeat in my own words made me hate myself.

But I was tired. So tired of fighting, of hurting, of being the villain in everyone else's story.

Marcus's relief was immediate and obvious.

He immediately lifted Celeste in his arms, calling for servants to surround them.

"Prepare the car! Move quickly!"

His urgency for her wellbeing was everything he'd never shown for mine.

They headed out the door without a backward glance, leaving me alone with my demons.

I collapsed to the floor, my knees hitting the hardwood with a sharp crack.

The phantom sensations returned - the feeling of my child moving in my belly, the warmth of my wolf's presence in my soul.

But I knew it was just wishful thinking. They were gone forever.

Both my child and my wolf, murdered by the woman Marcus just carried away like a precious treasure.

I cannot get past this.

The realization hit me like a physical blow.

Marcus, goodbye.

Never again will I see you.

---

Hours later, under the moonlight streaming through the bedroom window, Celeste looked completely satisfied in Marcus's arms.

Her earlier wound was perfectly healed, not even a scar remaining.

Convenient how quickly she recovered when she wanted to.

"You've worked so hard these past weeks, taking such careful care of Scarlett every day."

She moved behind him with practiced seduction, her fingers working the tension from his shoulders.

Her touch was possessive, marking her territory.

Marcus pulled her waist closer to him, his hands spanning her slim figure.

"Wasn't it because you went too far that time? You gave the Alpha Council leverage against you. Otherwise, would I have had to endure this charade for so long?"

His voice carried exhaustion and irritation.

The mask of the caring mate had finally slipped away.

Celeste kissed him deeply, then placed his hands on her small but growing belly.

"Baby, say hello to daddy."

Her voice was sickeningly sweet as she played the devoted mother.

"Your daddy has sacrificed so much for you. You must be a good child and take care of daddy when you grow up."

She smiled up at Marcus with practiced innocence, nestling deeper into his embrace.

Marcus's eyes sparkled with genuine happiness for the first time in weeks.

His smile was tender and warm as he caressed her stomach.

This was the look he used to reserve for me.

BANG!

The bedroom door flew open with such force it hit the wall.

Neil burst through the doorway in a panic, his clothes disheveled and his face pale.

"Alpha! Something terrible has happened! Scarlett, she..."

He was breathing hard, as if he'd run all the way here.

Celeste acted as if the sudden commotion startled her, pressing closer to Marcus for protection.

"Scarlett isn't going to cause trouble for me again, is she?"

Her voice trembled with fake fear, but her eyes held satisfaction.

Marcus shot up from the bed, grabbing Neil's arm with bruising force.

His naked chest heaved with anger at the interruption.

"Neil, how many times have I told you not to mention that woman in here! Whatever happened, you handle it yourself."

His dismissal was cold and final.

But Neil's face remained stricken, his eyes wide with horror.

He stared at Marcus with bloodshot eyes, his voice breaking.

"Scarlett was in an accident on her way to another pack. The car exploded!"

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

"She's dead! Burned to death!"