Chapter 6

After returning home, Serena began methodically packing her belongings.

She sorted through everything that belonged to Marcus and the Bloodclaw Pack. The armband symbolizing her status as the pack's Alpha's mate, the mate ring worth 100 million dollars, and that mate bond dissolution agreement Marcus had signed himself—all laid out on the table like settling accounts for an absurd dream.

Three days later, Marcus was discharged from the hospital.

He'd returned to being the cold, commanding Alpha, appearing at the door in an impeccable suit with his tie knotted perfectly. He showed no signs of having been severely injured and near death.

"Baby, pack affairs have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to spend with you."

He concealed his injury and hospitalization, approaching to embrace me while carrying the faint scent of medical treatment.

I knew he was afraid of arousing suspicion, not knowing how to explain, which was why he'd rushed to discharge himself.

But what he didn't know was that I'd witnessed everything.

I'd clearly seen how he'd risked his life for another woman.

"How's the baby been lately?" Marcus suddenly asked, his gaze falling on my abdomen. "Have you been taking your supplements and vitamins on schedule? Your belly seems... smaller somehow."

He reached out to touch my stomach, and I instinctively rejected his touch. "I'm not feeling well. Don't touch me." My voice was cold.

Marcus frowned deeply and immediately called over an omega servant to ask about my recent condition.

Learning that I hadn't been taking the supplements and vitamins, his expression changed dramatically, and he personally went to prepare them for me.

"Baby, be good." He held the medicine bowl, his tone so gentle it could melt water. "For a smooth delivery, drink this. It'll prevent suffering during labor."

I looked at the pile of supplements and vitamins, about to find an excuse to refuse, when the doorbell suddenly rang.

It was Marcus's beta assistant with several Gamma guards, all looking urgent. I recognized them as the Gammas Marcus had specifically assigned to protect Rose.

Seeing this, he instructed me to rest well and took them to his study.

After the footsteps faded, I immediately poured the supplements and vitamins down the sink.

I was about to go back to the bedroom when I heard heated discussion coming from the study.

"Alpha, Rose has been poisoned with silver. The healer says she won't last more than a month! Her family has locked her up to wait for death! Her final wish... is to have a Mating Ceremony with you!"

"Crash"—the sound of a teacup shattering.

After an unknown amount of time, Marcus's cold and indifferent voice came through: "I understand."

"What do you mean you understand?" a Gamma asked.

"I mean," Marcus said word by word, "I will fulfill her final wish."

The study instantly erupted.

"Are you insane? You want to hold a Mating Ceremony with a dying she-wolf?"

"Alpha! Get a grip! You have a mate, and your child will be born in a few months!"

"Have you thought about your mate? Why should she tolerate her mate holding a mating ceremony with someone else?"

"Aren't you afraid she'll dissolve the bond? Leave you completely?"

Among all the protests, Marcus's voice cut through decisively, overriding all opposition.

"I'll handle it properly. This matter won't reach Serena's ears."

"What if she finds out?" His beta assistant still tried to stop him.

After a few seconds of silence, his voice came through.

"She'll never know. Even if she did, she wouldn't leave me. She became my mate right after she came of age and shifted. I am her everything. Bloodclaw Pack is her home. She has no other choice."

"Besides, she's so pure and kind-hearted, she wouldn't compete with Rose."

I stood outside the door, my fingertips digging into the doorframe until they hurt, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.

But strangely, there wasn't the expected tearing pain.

When disappointment accumulates to its peak, even pain becomes numb.

In this moment, I felt with crystal clarity that the Serena Cross who'd deeply loved Marcus Stone was dying bit by bit inside my body.