CHAPTER 3

AURORA

My wolf scoffed, “We’d be better off with him dead.”

Her words tore through me like a knife. Wolves were the last to give up on their mates, but Jess had. Rowan had pushed her, pushed us, too far. The pain, the humiliation, the rejection… it had finally broken even the bond between souls.

Still, I needed to know what had happened to him. I wanted to leave knowing I had done my part — that I wasn’t walking away as the heartless one.

“Doctor?” I called softly when I entered the infirmary.

He looked up at me coldly. No one respected me as Luna anymore. Why would they? Their Alpha didn’t, they merely followed his lead.

“The Alpha requires four hundred ccs of blood,” the doctor said flatly.

I froze. That was a dangerous amount. He must have been gravely injured.

My stomach twisted again, nausea rising, it had been happening a lot lately, and I could barely find the strength to get through the day. I hadn’t had time to see a doctor. And now, Rowan needed me. I had to be strong. I would give him my blood.

“I’ll do it,” I said quietly. “Take as much as he needs.”

Even if I had given up on us, I couldn’t turn my back when he was hurt.

Afterwards, I felt faint, my vision swimming. Beta Jayson thanked me warmly, his expression kind.

“Our Luna is so devoted to Alpha Rowan. You’ve taken care of him with such loyalty. The Alpha is lucky to have you.”

Lucky? I almost laughed. Still, I managed a smile. “He’s, my mate. I would do anything for him.”

Jayson’s gaze faltered, discomfort flashing in his eyes. That should’ve been my first warning.

“Can I see him?” I asked hopefully.

Both he and Gamma exchanged a look. “Hmm, no,” Jayson scratched the back of his neck. “The doctor says he’s still unconscious. He needs to stabilize.”

I nodded, relieved he wasn’t dying, but disappointed. My body was trembling from blood loss as I turned to leave.

And then I heard it.

Rowan’s voice.

It came from the next ward, low but unmistakable. I froze. My heart raced. He’s awake?

I reached for the door, ready to run to him, but another voice stopped me cold.

“You really did it,” said by Jayson, “One word from you, and that woman gave away four hundred ccs of blood without hesitation. Aren’t you afraid she’ll know the truth?”

My breath hitched.

Rowan’s mocking laugh followed.

“She’ll never leave me. Aurora would give me anything I ask for. She’s bound to me, whether I want her or not. I win the bet!”

My hand fell from the door handle. My entire body went numb.

Each word was a blade, twisting deep into my chest.

A Bet?

I had nearly fainted giving him that blood. I had done it out of love, or what remained of it. And all the while, he had been laughing about my devotion like it was some pathetic joke.

You were being foolish to think he’d ever change, Jess whispered bitterly. Now do you see? It’s time to leave.

I stood there until my legs could no longer hold me. Something inside me, something that had held on for far too long, cracked.

When I walked out of that hospital, I wasn’t the same woman who had walked in.

That night, when Rowan came home, I no longer looked at him with longing. I didn’t cook him dinner with care or add healing herbs to his food. I told an omega to feed him and threw away the meal I’d made earlier.

 “Where’s my dinner?” he looked well for someone who was hospitalized a few hours ago.

I looked at him remembering the cruel things he had said about me at the hospital. For the first time, my gaze wasn’t warm and loving. Instead of cooking for him myself, as I always did, carefully adding herbs to aid his recovery, I ordered an omega to prepare his meal. I took the food I kept for him and threw it in the trash.

Rowan having noticed my indifference, he frowned.

He frowned. “Don’t be petty. I was sick because it’s Vivian’s death anniversary. You know how I get that day.”

I bit back a laugh. So that was his excuse. Always Vivian. The ghost between us.

He would never stop loving her. And I — I would no longer waste my tears on him.

Rumor had it he was searching for a way to bring her back. They said that with the Wolf Mother’s bone and the heart’s blood of a she-wolf, one could resurrect the dead. I had overheard his beta and gamma whispering about it, their voices heavy with unease.

The thought made my skin crawl.

Rowan caught the faint scoff that escaped me. His eyes darkened.

“What kind of expression is that?” he snapped, crossing the room in two strides. “Are you daring to disrespect Vivian?”

Before I could speak, his hand wrapped around my throat, slamming me against the wall.

The breath fled my lungs. My vision darkened.

“Rowan…” I choked out, my voice barely a whisper. “Please… stop.”

I had not been well these past days. Since donating blood, my body had been weak and exhausted. Suddenly, the world spun around me.

My vision blurred and I collapsed to the ground, gasping.

Rowan sneered.

 “Still pretending? You’ll do anything for attention.”

I reached out my trembling hand.

 “No…Rowan, help me…”

He shoved his hands in his packets glaring at me. Just then, his phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and answered. Listened for a moment, then said briskly:

“What? The Wolf Mother’s bone has been found? I’ll be right there.”

He grabbed his coat, his silhouette blurring before my eyes.

“You can drop the act now,” he said with a cruel chuckle, then walked out.

The door slammed shut.

The last thing I saw before the darkness took me was the faint red smear of blood on my fingertips.

******

When I woke, the sterile scent of disinfectant filled my lungs. The world was bright white and painfully quiet. I blinked until the blur sharpened into shapes — a hospital room.

Dr. Marlene entered, clipboard in hand, her expression strangely gentle. “Luna,” she said softly, “congratulations.”

I blinked at her, confused. “For what?”

Her smile deepened. “You’re pregnant.”

My breath caught.

 Pregnant?!