Chapter 4

Vera glanced at me, looking a bit surprised. When she saw no trace of anger on my face, her expression softened slightly.

"I'm glad you finally understand." After all, the Dark Moon Pack can't go without an heir to the bloodline."

"It's a good thing Ryan is such a loyal man, and we're lucky to have Clara." Otherwise, the Dark Moon line might have ended with you."

As she spoke, Vera gently stroked Clara's stomach, her face beaming with joy.

I found the whole thing nauseatingly ironic.

Loyal?

If Kaleb knew that Ryan's "care" for his mate involved knocking her up, his soul would probably storm back from the Moon Goddess's side just to tear him apart.

Seeing that I remained silent, Clara shot me a timid, sideways glance.

"Celine, are you still mad at Ryan and me?"

"I really just wanted a pup of my own." I was so lonely and scared being in that house by myself."

Clara started sobbing softly, acting as if she were the victim of some great injustice.

Vera rushed to wipe her tears with a tissue before shooting me a look of pure disgust.

"Celine, a female who can't produce a pup has no right to throw a tantrum. The bloodline in Clara's womb belongs to the Dark Moon Pack. That baby will be born."

I looked at the two of them playing their roles and spoke coldly.

"Fine. It works out perfectly, then. I'll step aside for Clara. That way, when the pup is born, it can call her 'Mom' properly, instead of calling me 'Stepmom' and her 'Auntie'."

I was about to say more, but Clara suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me. She grabbed the hem of my pants, sobbing hysterically.

"Celine, I know you're still angry, but the pup is innocent! Please don't make Ryan kick me out. Don't kill this little life!"

I didn't know if Clara was just deaf or delusional. Frowning, I reached down to pull her up, but a roar cut through the air.

"Stop it!"

Ryan burst through the door and saw Clara on her knees, crying about how the pup was innocent. He immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was trying to kick her out or force her to have an abortion.

Without thinking, Ryan shoved me aside. He was so desperate to get to Clara that he didn't check his strength.

I went flying, chair and all, slamming hard into the floor. My head cracked against the corner of the wall, and the edge of the chair jabbed violently into my lower abdomen.

A two-month-old pregnancy is fragile. It couldn't handle a blow like that.

I felt a sudden, bone-chilling cold wash over me, like I'd been dropped into an ice bath. My vision tunneled into darkness, and sharp, stabbing pains began to radiate from my stomach.

Through the haze, I could still hear Ryan screaming at me.

"Celine! I can't believe you'd try to throw her out! Wasn't the scene at the clinic enough for you? You are pure evil!"

He scooped Clara up and headed for the door without giving me so much as a second glance.

"Come on, Clara. I'm taking you home to rest. I won't let this crazy woman scare you anymore."

Their footsteps faded into the distance. I curled up on the floor, feeling something warm and wet spreading beneath me.

I looked down. It was blood.

My blood.

...

When I finally came to, I was lying in a bed at the pack clinic.

The doctor told me the pup was still there, but things were unstable. I needed absolute bed rest and had to avoid any form of stress or trauma.

I was staring blankly at the ceiling when my phone screen lit up.

It was a text from Clara—sent directly to me.

"Celine, thanks for stepping aside for Ryan and me. Once I'm gone, he'll go back to you—but who knows when that'll be? This silver poisoning doesn't seem so bad lately."

A few minutes later, another one popped up.

"By the way, Ryan said if your pup is ever born, it'll just steal the fatherly love meant for mine. So, you should really think about that."

"After all, he doesn't even know you're pregnant, does he? But he's guarding my pup every single day."

I stared at the words on the screen and suddenly started to laugh.

So, that was their plan.

I touched my stomach, thinking of the doctor's words—the pup is still there—and a wave of determination washed over me.

I will protect this pup myself.

I forced myself up and wrote out a formal declaration to dissolve the mate bond.

I left the papers on the coffee table in the Pack House, right next to my wedding ring.

Before leaving, I sent Ryan one last text:

"I left the dissolution papers at the Pack House. Once you sign them, we're done. Take good care of Clara. Her silver poisoning doesn't seem to be that serious anyway."

Outside, the moonlight shimmered over the snow. I turned away and hailed a cab to the airport.

As I stepped onto the plane, I held my stomach and didn't look back.

This pup and I no longer need a man who doesn't deserve to be a father.