Chapter 4

I looked at Kael with tears streaming down my face. "You promised you'd protect me forever! But now you've destroyed everything we had for Maya!"

"That's enough, Lila!" Kael growled impatiently, a frown forming between his eyebrows. "I've already told you that I don't remember you. If you keep this up, don't blame me if I get rough!"

Sofia's fury had boiled over by this point. She raised her hand and slapped Kael hard across the face. "That was for Lila, you ungrateful bastard!"

"Don't touch him!" Maya screamed as she lunged forward, shoving both Sofia and me.

I was caught off guard, so I crashed to the floor. My lower back slammed into the edge of the table.

Pain exploded through me as my vision went blurry. I instinctively reached downward and felt warm liquid spread beneath me.

Sofia dropped to her knees beside me. Panic was written all over her face. "Lila! Talk to me. Are you okay?"

Kael's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the blood pooling beneath me. A flicker of panic crossed his expression.

He instinctively bent down, scooped me up, and headed for the door. "Start the car! We're going to the infirmary!"

Sofia followed closely behind him.

On the other hand, Maya stood where she was, her face ashen.

My consciousness drifted in and out. Kael's arms were warm, just like they used to feel.

I lifted my cold hand and touched his face. Tears slid down my cheeks as I murmured, "Kael…"

"I'm here!" he replied in a hoarse voice.

His grip tightened, and he barked to the driver in the front seat, "Drive faster!"

That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

…

When I came to, I was back in the infirmary again.

Kael was slumped over the bedside, with exhaustion etched into his face.

The moment he noticed I was awake, he looked up. "You're awake."

The door swung open, and Sofia entered the ward carrying a food container. Tears fell the moment she saw I was awake.

"Lila, how are you feeling?" she asked.

I parted my lips. My voice came out raspily as I said, "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry," Kael apologized awkwardly. "The healer said you lost the pup. But maybe that's for the best. You don't need to use carrying my pup as a way to tie me down."

"What did you just say?" Sofia snapped.

She shot to her feet and slapped him again, her voice rising to near hysteria. "She didn't just lose the pup! They had to remove her uterus! Do you hear yourself? Are you insane?"

I froze, feeling my mind go blank.

My uterus was removed? Did that mean I would never carry another pup again?

A flicker of irritation crossed Kael's face. He hated this uneasy feeling within him. "Maya didn't mean for this to happen."

"She didn't?" I asked with an eerily calm voice. "Sofia, step outside for a bit. I want to talk to Kael alone."

Sofia was about to say something when I stopped her with a look. She let out a heavy sigh, shot Kael a vicious glare, and walked out.

With just the two of us left, the room fell into terrifying silence.

I looked straight at him. "Kael, do you really not remember me at all? Not even a little?"

He avoided my eyes. His tone faltered. "I… Sometimes I'd get flashes, but they're vague. The healer said it's the wolfsbane."

Just then, his phone rang.

He answered it, and his expression darkened the more he heard what the other party said.

When he hung up, he shot up and demanded through clenched teeth, "Where's Maya? What did you do to her?"