Chapter 6

Mirelle's POV

My shoulder throbbed with pain but not as fiercely as my heart ached. I could barely hear my son’s sobs as he clung to me, his little arms wrapped tightly around my waist, begging me not to leave him again. My heart pounded in my chest as my gaze locked with his.

The very man who had banished me nine years ago now stood before me. Disbelief shadowed his eyes as he stared down at my trembling figure. I couldn’t tell what I felt in that moment…anger, longing, or maybe… hate.

Hate for casting me aside and leaving me to fend for myself with a child in my belly.

Hate for never believing me, for turning a deaf ear to my pleas.

Hate for never once searching for me all those lonely years.

“What… how?” he stammered, taking a step back. “What the hell is going on? How are you even here?” His voice trembled with confusion and something else I couldn’t quite name.

“Mummy, this uncle saved me,” my son finally broke the tense silence, his small voice shaking as he reached for the man’s hand. “He killed those bad men and made sure I was safe.”

Despite the pain in my shoulder, I forced a smile and nodded. “Come, let me take a good look at you,” I said softly, afraid Dominic might realize the truth, that the boy he’d just saved was his own flesh and blood. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I made sure to—”

“Do you mind?” I cut him off sharply, my glare slicing through the space between us as I held my son closer. “I’m speaking to my son.”

Something lodged in my throat, tightening painfully. What if Dominic already knew? What if he had recognized the boy’s eyes…his eyes…and had only come to confirm what his instincts were already screaming?

“I have a place where you can rest for the night,” Dominic finally said, his voice calm but his gaze still fixed on Callan. “The woods aren’t safe. Rogues roam these parts after dark. Stay with me until morning… or longer, if you wish.”

I met his gaze, my voice trembling with controlled restraint. “Thank you, sir, for saving my son,” I said, then turned to Callan, brushing a tear from his cheek before looking back at Dominic. “But there’s no need to worry about us. We’ll be fine.”

I took my son’s hand, holding it tightly. “We’re leaving now.”

As soon as I rose to my feet, a sharp pain tore through my chest. My breath hitched. The knife had cut too close to my heart, too deep, but that shouldn’t have mattered. I should’ve healed by now. My kind always did.

But something was wrong. The wound wasn’t closing, the  pain wasn’t fading.

“Are you okay?” Dominic’s voice broke through the haze, laced with concern. Before I could answer, my knees gave out and he caught me effortlessly, his arms wrapping around me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His gaze dropped to my wound, his brows knitting together.

“You’re not healing,” he said, his tone darkening with realization. His eyes met mine, those same storm-gray eyes I once loved and my heart twisted. “You’ve been cut too close to your heart. I can smell it… wolvesbane.” His voice dropped, almost a growl. “It’s mixed with your blood. You’re dying.”

He lowered me gently to the ground, his large hands pressing against my wound to stop the bleeding. His touch was firm, desperate. He looked around as though searching for help or hope.

“What are you doing?” I rasped, my pulse hammering in my ears. “Let go of me!”

I shoved him weakly, my palms slick with my own blood. “You have no right to touch me!” I cried, tears stinging my eyes. “I don’t need your help! I told you, I’m fine! Don’t you get it? I don’t need you!” My voice cracked, breaking under the weight of everything I’d buried for nine long years.

My son rushed forward, panic flashing across his small face. “What are you doing to my mummy, uncle? Are you hurting her?”

He spread his little arms wide, standing between us protectively, his body trembling but brave. “No one hurts my mummy,” he said, his voice fierce and trembling all at once.

“Trust me, Mirelle,” Dominic said, his voice low and urgent. “If I don’t do something about it, you will die—”

“Then I die!” I snapped, my voice cracking as tears welled in my eyes. But the moment the words left my lips, regret hit me hard. Callan’s small voice trembled before me.

“Is there something wrong mummy?” He asked and now, his eyes were teary. “Why do you want to leave me? Have I been a bad boy? Do you not want me anymore?” His arms dropped to his side as he stared down and sobbed while I pulled him in.

“No, my love, you’re not a bad boy,” I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I will never leave you, my angel. Mummy will never dream of leaving you. I’m right here.” 

But Alas, it wasn’t true because I could feel my strength slipping and my eyelids heavy. 

The last thing I saw was the moon hanging high in the night sky as I fell backward, the cold ground meeting my body. Callan’s frightened cries echoed somewhere distant, and Dominic’s voice broke through, screaming my name.

Is this how I die?

Tears slipped down my cheeks. The scent of fresh blood filled my nostrils. My nerves went numb one by one, and as darkness crept in, the world around me faded into nothing.