Chapter 5

Ridley’s expression changed in an instant.

Without another glance at me, he bolted from the room.

"Yolia!" his voice was filled with panic. "What's wrong? What happened?"

I heard him scoop her up, followed by the sound of frantic footsteps.

"Get the doctor! Now!"

"Yolia, wake up!"

"Damn it, why did she suddenly collapse?"

The sounds faded into the distance.

I stood in the infirmary, staring at the overturned chairs and the blood on the floor.

Leo hadn't followed his father.

He stood in the doorway, his small face twisted with anger and hatred.

"This is all your fault!" he pointed at me. "You upset Auntie Yolia!"

I turned to look at my son.

An eight-year-old boy who should have been innocent.

But his eyes held nothing but disgust for his mother.

"Leo, Yolia's condition has nothing to do with me."

"Yes, it does!" Leo marched into the room, his little fists clenched. "Daddy said you're a bad woman! Uncle Jaxon said you're awful, too!"

"Is that so?" I knelt to meet his gaze. "And what do you think?"

"I hate you!" Leo's voice was shrill. "I don't want you to be my mama anymore! I want Auntie Yolia to be my Luna!"

I looked at his furious little face, and the last flicker of motherly love inside me died.

This child was completely brainwashed.

In his mind, I was the villain destroying the harmony of the pack.

The irony was, he was the person I loved most in this world.

The one you love most...

Yes, if I die in front of him…

"Fine," I stood up. "Since you hate me so much, I'll give you a gift you'll never forget."

"What gift?" Leo watched me warily.

"A gift that will get rid of me for good," I walked to the infirmary's supply cabinet. "But I need your help."

"I'm not helping you!"

"I promise," I said, my voice softening as I opened the cabinet. "But I need you to be a brave boy and help me. In the ritual room next door, there is a silver dagger on the stone altar. Can you bring it to me?"

Leo's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really. Help me with this one thing, and I promise I will never show my face to you again. You'll never have to call me 'mama' again."

Leo practically bounced with excitement.

"Okay! I'll go get it!"

He ran out of the room and down the hall.

I waited in the infirmary.

My heart was calm.

There was no fear, no regret.

Only a strange sense of relief.

A few minutes later, Leo ran back in.

He held a silver dagger in both hands, presenting it to me carefully.

"Here!" His eyes were bright with anticipation. "So… when will you disappear?"

I took the dagger from him.

The silver hilt was cold, the blade sharp enough to make my heart tremble.

"Soon," I smiled. "Leo, Mama has one last question for you."

"What is it? Hurry up!" Leo urged impatiently.

"Do you hate me?"

"Yes!" Leo answered without a shred of hesitation. "I hate you!"

"Good," I tightened my grip on the dagger. "Then what you're about to see won't make you sad."

"See what?" Leo looked at me, confused.

I raised the dagger, admiring how it gleamed in the light.

"Leo, this is the last gift I'll ever give you."

I looked into my son's innocent eyes and gave him a gentle smile.

Then, holding his innocent, hopeful gaze, I drove the dagger into my own throat.

The silver blade tore through my skin. Blood erupted in a hot, crimson spray.

It splattered across Leo's horrified little face.

"MAMA!" His scream tore through the silence of the pack house.