Chapter 1

Ailara's POV

"Are you sure that you've thought this through? If you break the mate bond, you and your Alpha will be in terrible agony."

The staff member at the council hall sought confirmation from me one last time.

I nodded without any hesitation.

He approved my application, then informed me, "Your mate bond will fade completely within seven days."

"Okay."

After leaving the council hall, I dragged my exhausted body back home.

Staring into the deathly pale face looking back at me in the mirror, I suddenly felt my abdomen start twinging with pain again.

Two days ago, on the night of the full moon, the pack's Gamma warriors suddenly went berserk.

When the chaos broke out, my mate and Alpha of the pack, Lucian Perell, had been standing beside me. However, he had immediately run off to save Freya Barton without a second thought.

I was knocked down to the ground by a Gamma warrior who had lost control. Within seconds, a sharp tearing pain radiated from my abdomen. As blood soaked my dress, I anxiously cried out for Lucian to help me.

Yet, his entire focus was on Freya, and he didn't even look back at me as he said, "Freya has a frail constitution and can't handle this kind of shock. Once I've gotten her settled, I'll come back to save you."

The agony coming from my abdomen dragged me into the darkness. The last thing I saw right before my vision went completely dark was Lucian's back as he carried Freya away.

When I next opened my eyes, the healer told me sadly, "I'm sorry, Luna. We failed to save the pup."

Just like that, I lost my very first pup.

I suddenly jerked awake, only then realizing that I had dreamt of losing my pup once again. Burrowing under the blanket, I curled up with my arms wrapped around my abdomen.

I had no idea how much time had passed before my bedroom door was abruptly shoved open.

"Ailara! Since you're home, why did you block our bond? Are you purposely trying to make me worry over you?" Lucian growled, his tone filled with fury and displeasure.

What he didn't know was that I hadn't been blocking him—that was simply a sign that our bond was slowly weakening.

I had to struggle to open my eyes. When I did, I spotted his tall, broad-shouldered figure standing in the doorway.

Behind him was Freya Barton, looking as frail and innocent as ever.

"Ailara, you don't look so good. Are you feeling unwell?" As Freya spoke, her eyes reddened. "This is all my fault. If it weren't for me being too weak, the Alpha wouldn't have left you behind to rescue me. I had the healer whip up a herbal remedy for you. Hurry up and drink it. Once you do, you'll feel much better."

Then, she came over with a bowl of herbal remedy before I even gave her permission to do so. The steam wafted over to me, and I immediately smelled the almost undetectable sting of wolfsbane mixed in it.

Was Freya actually trying to kill me?

I shoved her away from me, wanting to get as far away from that bowl of lethal poison as possible.

Although I hadn't used much force, Freya staggered back in an exaggerated motion and screamed. The bowl crashed to the floor, shattering.

Lucian immediately lunged forward to steady her. Glaring at me furiously, he bellowed, "Ailara Torren, are you done throwing a tantrum? Freya had that made for you out of the kindness of her heart! What the hell is with that attitude?"

Before I could tell him to smell the spilled liquid, Freya interjected just in time.

"Forget it, Alpha. It's my fault for having such a frail body and taking up so much of your attention. It's only normal that Ailara would be mad at me."

That had Lucian instantly forgetting all about berating me. He looked down and gently comforted the crying Freya. "No, Ailara is just being too petty. This isn't your fault at all."

Rendered speechless, I lost the desire to explain.

I could already predict what would happen if I even tried. All it would take was Freya innocently saying that she hadn't been aware the remedy contained wolfsbane, and Lucian would instantly believe her. He would then turn on me and accuse me of making a huge fuss out of nothing.

After all, the same thing had already happened many times before.

I turned on my side, not wanting to waste any more time and energy on them.

"Get out. I'm tired and want to sleep."

Freya's sobbing grew louder at that, which prompted Lucian to continue comforting her softly. "Ignore her. I've indulged Ailara too much over the years, so she's become spoiled and inconsiderate."

A moment later, my bedroom door clicked shut before the sound of footsteps faded away.

When Lucian finally returned, he ordered me, "You have to apologize to Freya."