Chapter 03

Chapter 03

CALISTA

The door opened and Kieran entered.

I immediately turned away from him, still standing beside the things I salvaged.

Kieran closed the door behind him.

"Are you still mad at me? I've already explained everything," he asked as he walked closer.

"I've just returned from war and I expected you to welcome me, yet you've spent the entire time arguing with me." He almost sounded like he was actually hurt.

"What do you want exactly?" he asked, exhaling hard.

My nostrils flared, and I exploded. "You think this is just about a nursery?" I growled and he appeared slightly startled.

"You betrayed our mate bond and the vows we made before the Moon Goddess. You returned from war with another woman pregnant with your child. Then, instead of protecting our home, you brought that woman into it and allowed her to take over the nursery I prepared for our own future child."

I pointed toward the nursery belongings I brought back.

"What happens next, Kieran? Does she take my bedroom too? My position? How long before there's nothing left that's mine?"

His expression turned serious.

I expected him to try to placate me.

He stepped closer. "You know what the elders think, Calista. You know what the pack needs."

"Brielle is a warrior. The child she carries will be strong. Why can't you see that this is good for the Pack?"

I scoffed in disbelief. "I told you yesterday,"

He paused.

He remembered.

"I thought you were saying it because you wanted me to send Brielle away."

"I wasn't lying!" I snapped.

I sighed deeply. "Then answer me this. If you knew I was carrying your child too, would anything change?"

Kieran hesitated.

"Whatever happens, I can't abandon Brielle and the child."

I nodded briefly.

For five years, I'd tried to prove that being wolfless didn't make me useless.

But standing before Kieran now, I finally understood.

To him, I could be loved.

I could be his Luna.

But I could never give him what Brielle could.

My hope finally broke.

If he insisted on keeping Brielle in our marriage and protecting her child, I saw no reason for me to remain.

I said quietly, "Then let me go, Kieran."

"If protecting her and child is what you want, divorce me."

The moment I said the word, Kieran's entire demeanor changed.

His eyes darkened, and a vicious growl rumbled from his chest.

I felt his wolf surge beneath the surface, furious at the very thought of losing me.

He reached out, catching my wrist in his hand.

"No. Divorce is impossible."

His grip tightened around my wrist.

"You're my mate, Calista. You're my Luna. I'll never let you leave me."

My hands trembled.

"Let me go."

"I'm tired, Kieran. I'm tired of carrying the title of Luna like it's a shackle around my neck."

I had spent years enduring the Pack's disdain because I was determined to be worthy of the position.

Now I didn't want their approval anymore.

I just wanted to leave.

Tears slid down my cheeks. "Kieran." My voice broke. "Please, let me go."

Kieran fumed, but before he could respond, a knock came from outside.

"Alpha Kieran, Beta Daryl has arrived to speak about Lady Brielle."

Kieran's attention shifted at once.

I couldn't help but notice it.

My chest tightened.

Once again, something involving Brielle took precedence over me.

I watched as he immediately turned toward the door.

He cast a final glance at me. "I need to see Daryl first. I will return after you've calmed down," he said, still frowning at my earliest words.

"Promise you won't leave," he said as he reached the threshold.

I refused and anger flashed briefly in his eyes.

"Don't think about divorce again."

"Stay here until I return. We will discuss this when you've calmed down."

Then the lock clicked.

I froze.

I hurried to the door and tried the handle.

It didn't open.

My breath grew heavy.

He wasn't merely asking me to stay. I was being confined.

The realization sunk deeper as time passed.

I waited.

At first, I was angry, ready to unleash on Kieran the moment he opened that door.

Then I became uneasy. I tried the door again. It remained locked.

"Kieran," I called.

No answer.

I realized he was gone much longer than he promised.

I felt thirsty all of a sudden.

I called for a servant. Nobody responded.

Eventually I called for a guard.

"Yes, Luna Calista."

"Please get me water. And some food."

I almost thought he had gone to get it, until a scoff rang out.

"A Luna who defies her Alpha and can't even give the Pack an heir doesn't deserve to waste its resources."

My heart sank.

"What?..." I stared at the door in disbelief.

I tried to remain composed.

I touched my stomach, worrying about my unborn child.

Eventually, I became increasingly weak from hunger and thirst.

"Anyone there, please?" I called again, desperate this time.

But nobody came.

I staggered, my vision beginning to blur.

I struggled to remain standing.

My fingers tightened around the corner at the edge of the table.

The room tilted.

I reached for the door, but my legs suddenly gave out.

Darkness swallowed me.