Chapter 3

Ryan's entire body went rigid.

Clara clutched her stomach and glanced at him, whispering something into his ear that I couldn't catch.

Ryan turned his head to look back at me.

"Celine, there's no need to lie just to get my attention."

"No matter what, I'm not leaving Clara behind."

With that, the two of them walked away together without looking back a single time.

At that moment, the last spark of hope in my heart finally died.

A pup that isn't wanted shouldn't be brought into this world—no, I instinctively stroked my belly. This pup is mine, and I will protect it with everything I have.

As for this fractured mate bond? It was only a matter of time before it snapped completely.

When I got home, the house was pitch black.

Ryan didn't come back for several days.

I didn't call to ask where he was. Instead, I focused on taking care of myself and the pregnancy, and I privately consulted the pack elders about the procedure for severing a mate bond.

The next time I saw Ryan was on Clara's Instagram.

An Alpha who usually hated photos was actually wearing a cartoon headband, posing for pregnancy portraits with Clara.

They were both gently stroking her belly, looking into each other's eyes with a tenderness that made them look like a devoted couple eagerly awaiting their first pup.

This time, I silently gave the post a "like."

After days of silence, Ryan finally called. He told me to come to the Pack House that evening for the Full Moon Ceremony. Every full moon, the pack members gather to celebrate and pray to the Moon Goddess.

I had spent the last few days packing up most of my things, and I had already drafted the declaration to dissolve our partnership. It was time to tell him about severing the bond, so I agreed to go.

When I arrived at the Dark Moon Pack House, someone else was already sitting in the seat at the long table reserved for the Luna—Clara.

Ryan's mother, Vera, was holding Clara's hand and chatting warmly. Vera, who hadn't given me a single genuine smile in five years, couldn't stop grinning.

She had never been happy with me as the Luna, and the fact that I hadn't produced an heir after five years of being mated only made her resent me more.

I used to think this pup would finally fix things between us. Now, I realize there was no point.

When Clara saw me, she gave me a shy, apologetic smile.

"Celine, once Vera found out I was pregnant, she insisted I move into the Pack House so she could look after me. Please don't think too much of it..."

I didn't have the energy for her little games. I just pulled out a chair and sat down.

Vera looked me up and down. While patting the back of Clara's hand, she stared at me and spoke in a heavy, lecturing tone.

"Celine, you and Ryan have been mated for five years without a single pup. Now Clara is carrying the Dark Moon bloodline. You don't have an issue with me moving her into the Pack House, do you?"

I was used to Vera's way of "asking" things—it was always a demand masked as a question.

But I no longer cared about anything involving Clara or the Dark Moon Pack.

I gave a faint nod.

"I don't have an issue with it at all."