Chapter 5

Even though my own wolf was growling in fury, desperate to eat first, Luke handed the bowl to Doris without hesitation.

“She was soaked in the ocean for hours. Her body’s still fragile. Let her have the hot meal. Aria, you can have the sandwich instead.”

Just as he finished, Doris gave me a saccharine smile and said sweetly, “Of course, Aria. You can have mine—though it did fall on the floor earlier. But don’t worry, the floor was just cleaned.”

Luke quickly added, “I’ll make you another bowl of pasta, Aria—”

But Doris interrupted again.

“Luke, can you go out and get some herbal tea? The healers said Peter needs it to recover.”

Luke hesitated for a moment, then nodded and left.

It was several hours before he came back. When he saw the uneaten food still on the table, guilt flashed in his eyes.

“Thank God you ate something... I’m sorry I forgot to make your meal again.”

Then he looked at me, serious.

“I promise I won’t break our bond. And I hope you won’t cause trouble for Doris, either.”

My wolf urged me to tell him the truth—that our pup was gone—but I stayed silent. The words were too heavy. They turned bitter in my throat.

Maybe Luke felt bad for neglecting me, because that night, he talked to me more than he had in days.

“Our pups would be so cute,” he said with a soft smile. “Do you think they’ll be boys or girls?”

“You’re expecting twins?”

“Of course. I can’t wait to be a father. I know they’ll be strong enough to be future Alphas one day.”

His tenderness made my heart ache.

He was looking forward to becoming a father… but for five years, he had hated the very idea of having children with me.

Just then, a servant rushed in, breathless and worried.

“Alpha Luke—Doris’s wolf suddenly lost control and started attacking others!”

Before the servant even finished, Luke bolted from the room.

In his panic, his claws grazed my hand—he didn’t even realize he’d shifted partially. I looked down at the bleeding scratch, and all I could do was smile bitterly and shake my head.

When I stepped out, I saw Luke holding Doris in his arms, comforting her. He looked down at her like she was his whole world.

Then he saw me.

And the fury in his eyes… was almost enough to burn me alive.

“Aria, how dare you slander Doris as a dissolute she-wolf! Don’t you know you will ruin her reputation in the pack?”

“If you can throw around such vicious accusations, then why can’t I question whether your pups were fathered by another wolf?”

When he saw the injury on my hand, something flickered in his eyes—perhaps a realization. But not even a trace of apology appeared on his face.

My healer stepped forward, trying to say something, but he ignored her completely and walked away with Doris in his arms.

In that moment, I knew—truly knew—I had to leave him. Forever.

I quietly checked out of the infirmary and left our den without a word.

Meanwhile, Luke took Doris back to her house. Only when she finally calmed down did he remember I was still in the infirmary.

When he returned to the infirmary, he was met only by my healer.

When he was told I had checked out of the infirmary, he snapped, furrowing his brows. “She’s ridiculous! Doesn’t she know she’s pregnant with twins?”The healer’s voice was calm but cold.

“Pregnant? You didn’t even know? Her abdomen was severely injured by the raft after she returned from the seashore. She was too late to receive proper care. Your pups… they didn’t make it.”

Luke’s expression froze.

“What... what did you just say? What happened to my pups?”