Chapter 3

The sun rose again, and the new day had begun.

I floated inside Hallie's hospital room as Ragnar walked in carrying a thermal flask.

He unscrewed the lid and poured the steaming, creamy lamb soup into a bowl.

Ever since I got pregnant, my morning sickness had been so severe that the smell of meat made me sick. But lamb soup was the one exception.

Back then, Ragnar had gone out of his way to find the best cook in the pack just to learn a dozen different ways to prepare it. He cooked it for me every day so I could stay healthy and keep the pup well nourished.

Now, he blew on a spoonful and gently offered it to Hallie. "Try this. I made it myself. You caught a chill yesterday. This will help you recover."

Hallie took a sip and looked up at him. "Ragnar, your cooking is still as good as ever."

Still as good as ever?

I couldn't help but think back to six years ago, before any of us had graduated from the academy. The three of us were inseparable.

Hallie hated the food at school, so Ragnar would sneak us into the kitchen and cook something better for us.

Hallie took the bowl from his hands and set it down gently. "Remember our school days? You used to cook all kinds of good food for us. Nerys would always help you in the kitchen."

She paused, her voice growing wistful. "Back then... she was such a sweet person."

She really was.

I sighed softly. But so much had changed.

I stood in the corner, watching the morning light fall across Hallie's face. Her expression was calm and gentle, filled with nostalgia, as if she were remembering someone who was gone.

She had no idea I was already dead. She probably thought I was just throwing a fit and playing my little disappearing act.

And that was exactly what she wanted.

"Nerys has changed," Ragnar said with a heavy sigh. "Since getting pregnant, she's been paranoid about everyone. I'm sorry... I thought she'd be happy to have you stay with us. I never expected things to turn out like this. I—"

"It's not your fault." Hallie reached out and gently took his hand.

I stared at their entwined hands.

Six years ago, when Hallie married her mate, I had been her bridesmaid. She'd tossed me her bouquet, and we'd hugged each other tightly, promising we'd be best friends for life.

Now her hand rested on my mate's, her eyes full of affection as she looked at him.

Suddenly, a ringing phone shattered the tender moment. It was my brother, Audric Thorne.

Ragnar answered.

"You finally picked up!" Audric's furious voice boomed through the speaker. "What the hell were you and Nerys doing yesterday? Why isn't either of you answering your phones?"

"Where is she?" he demanded, his voice tight with anger.

"I don't know," Ragnar replied flatly. "She hasn't replied to my texts since we got out of the river yesterday."

"She's six months pregnant. How could you let her go into the river?" Audric sounded both shocked and frantic.

Ragnar's brows furrowed. "I didn't. She jumped in herself."

"No! Hallie pushed me!" I shook my head frantically beside him.

While Ragnar had gone into the woods to gather firewood, Hallie and I were watching the fish by the riverbank.

Suddenly, she pointed into the distance. "Look! There's a rabbit over there!"

The moment I turned my head, a hard shove sent me tumbling into the freezing water.

But now I had no way to tell anyone what had really happened.

"How could she jump into the river? Don't lie to me to save your own skin!" Audric snapped.

"Audric, this is all my fault..." Hallie leaned closer to the phone, her voice soft, almost pitiful. "Nerys never wanted me living with her. I never meant to upset her... but my mate just passed away, and his relatives took our house away from me. I had nowhere else to go.

"I never imagined she'd throw herself into the river just to get rid of me, without even caring about the pup she was carrying... I feel so guilty..."

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Even though we were only cousins, Audric had always treated Hallie like a sister.

After a moment, he sighed and tried to comfort her. "Don't blame yourself, Hallie. Ever since Nerys got pregnant, she's had a worse temper and become more reckless. I'll go look for her."

I floated there, a chill spreading through me.

"Is that really how my own brother sees me?"

He had no idea that his pregnant sister had been pushed into the river, abandoned by her mate, and was already dead.

Ragnar rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking drained. "Audric's right. I should go look for her too."

As he stood up, Hallie clutched his hand and pleaded, "Ragnar, can you please stay until I finish my medical checks? The doctor said I might have injured my lungs after inhaling too much water. I'm really scared to go through this alone..."

Her eyes reddened, and she looked so fragile and helpless that she seemed less like a she-wolf and more like a frightened rabbit.

Ragnar looked at her hesitantly, then finally nodded.

Hallie's checkup took the entire morning.

That afternoon, she claimed she was too dizzy to get out of bed. By evening, she was clinging to Ragnar's sleeve, whispering that she'd have nightmares if he left.

So Ragnar stayed right by her side, never leaving her for a single second.

I wandered through the hospital corridor.

At one end, my body and my unborn pup lay cold in a dark room. At the other, my mate was gently soothing another woman to sleep.