Chapter 5

Xavier's POV:

"Lily has a prenatal checkup at 9:00 AM tomorrow. You'll accompany her. Also, get yourself examined."

The message was sent a long time ago but remained unread. I was not at all surprised she did not want to see my messages.

However, what I had not expected was for Clara to block me.

She vanished just like that, decisively and resolutely, like a lock that would never open for me again.

The next morning, the healer's room was filled with the scent of herbs. Lily clutched my arm tightly, her voice trembling.

"Xavier, is our pup okay?"

I nodded, trying to keep my tone calm. "The healer says the pup is strong. Looks like he's eager to be born."

Lily exhaled in relief. "Thank the Moon Goddess. You've looked terrible since last night. I thought something had happened."

Something had happened.

I could not forget Clara's expression.

She lay on the floor, struggling to breathe, yet she did not cry out, did not show disappointment, and did not even call for my help.

It was as if she had already known I would not choose her.

Perhaps this was my punishment for saving Lily first. By the time I sent Lily to the healing cottage and went back to find Clara, she was already gone.

…

After lunch with Lily, I sent her back to the estate and headed straight to the council hall.

"Alpha, your father has returned. Tomorrow's his birthday." My Beta, Marcus Duskbane, gave me a report.

I was startled. I had actually forgotten tomorrow was Father's 60th birthday.

I maintained my composure. "I know. Prepare a gift for me."

My steps remained steady, but something inside me began to pull and tug. Unease, oppression, and a wrongness that threatened to spill over.

Clara had never missed Father's birthday. Each time, she carefully prepared two gifts, hers and mine.

However, this time, she had not gone to the treatment room. She had not returned to the estate either.

She had not contacted a single friend, and no one in the pack had caught her scent. She had simply evaporated from our world.

Where had she gone?

I had no idea how she slipped away right under my nose.

I turned to Marcus again. "Go buy some of the latest fashion and shoes."

"For Ms. Shaw?"

I paused. "Send them to the apartment Clara used to live in."

If Clara had run away from home, she could only have gone back to that apartment.

However, what if she were not there?

Just thinking about it made my chest tear with pain, like the day of the fire.

The scent that belonged only to her was fading bit by bit from my wolf's senses.

My wolf kept questioning me, "What if she's gravely injured and near death? Or worse, what if she has truly left?"

...

A week later, I returned home after a meeting. It was already late at night.

Under the soft lighting, a figure was curled up on the silk sofa. That posture was so familiar it made me hold my breath for a moment.

"Clara," I said softly with a smile. "I told you I'd come back. You don't have to..."

The she-wolf turned her head, and I froze. It was Lily, not Clara.

"Alpha, Clara hasn't come back in so long. Is she angry with me? Maybe I should move out?"

She looked up, her eyes reddening. I sighed, reached out to stroke her hair gently, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

It was only meant as comfort.

"Don't overthink it. Your mood will affect the pup."

I hesitated for a moment before finally saying the words I loathed even as they left my mouth. "This is your home now, and the pup's home too. Whether Clara likes it or not."

Lily smiled. I knew that was exactly what she had been waiting to hear.

...

That night, I stood alone on the terrace in my robe, pouring myself a glass of moonlight wine.

I had not drunk this wine in a long time. The last time was at my bonding ceremony with Clara.

The wind blew, and the starlight reflected in the wine flickered like some kind of countdown.

I pulled out my phone and found Clara's name. I stared at it, and countless things I wanted to say stuck in my throat.

In the end, I only sent one message.

[Clara, tomorrow is my father's 60th birthday. You'd better show up on time.]

I waited a long time, and there was still no reply. The wind grew colder.

…

Father's 60th birthday banquet was extravagantly lavish.

I entered with Lily on my arm. Her belly had begun to show slightly, drawing every eye in the room.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, but none of it mattered. No one dared question their Alpha.

Not until my father, the former Alpha, walked in did I release Lily's hand.

Father had always liked Clara as my Luna. He disapproved of me spending time with an Omega she-wolf.

"Where's Clara?" Father asked me directly.

"She's preparing your gift. She'll be here shortly," I answered naturally, almost convincing myself.

Father gave me a long, meaningful look but said nothing.

Two hours passed. The gift-giving ceremony was about to begin, yet there was still no sign of Clara.

I tried to look unconcerned but kept glancing toward the entrance.

Where was she?

I was about to step out to make a call when a delivery wolf walked in, carrying three gift boxes.

The courier's gaze shifted between me and Father, unsure who to hand them to.

"These are from Ms. Lachmann. The receiver is listed as Xavier's father."

The moment I heard her name, my heart raced.

I cleared my throat. "I'm Xavier. Give them to me."

The courier hesitated. "But she said they must be delivered directly to your father."

I stepped back, my voice cold. "Do as she said, then."

Father had been conversing with another elder when the courier's voice drew his attention.

"Sir, these are from Ms. Lachmann. She wishes you a happy birthday."

Father looked surprised. "Where's she? Why didn't she deliver them herself?"

The courier shook his head gently. "I'm sorry, sir. I was only instructed to deliver these to you. I don't know where she is now."

Father's eyes filled with confusion, but he opened the gifts anyway.

The first gift revealed an exquisitely embroidered cloak with lines of blessing prayers sewn into it, wishing for longevity.

Clara had sewn this herself. I had seen her working on it by lamplight late into the night.

The second gift was a Luna crown, the bonding token I had given her.

My chest tightened. What did it mean for her to return this now?

Before the third box could be opened, I could no longer restrain myself. I reached out and seized the gift box from Father's hands.

The moment I tore open the wrapping, my blood ran cold.

Inside were two documents.