Chapter 4

As I made my way to the temple’s outer rest area, a handmaiden approached me and whispered respectfully, “Representative of the Silver Fang Pack, please proceed to the central altar. The ‘Offering to the Moon’ you submitted will be presented personally by you.”

I froze. “My offering?”

She smiled. “Three sacred ritual items, submitted from your personal collection. They’ve been formally entered into the ancestral offering registry.”

A chill ran through me, but my feet were already carrying me up the steps.

At the center of the Moon Altar, the priestess announced in a solemn voice, “Ella of the Silver Fang Pack offers these tokens, once gifted by her mate, to the Moon Goddess. May her severed longing turn to ash, her spirit remaining unburdened.”

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

On the silver tray lay three items.

The wolf fang pendant—given to me by Nathan after his first mark, embedded with his blood and oath.

The hand-copied Moon Contract, which I had painstakingly transcribed for him from the old vow scrolls.

And finally… the Alpha bone ring—one half of a bonded pair, unlockable only between mates, which he gave me himself when inheriting his Alpha title.

My eyes dropped—and there he was.

Nathan had stood up from his seat, face pale as if struck by lightning.

Liora clung to his arm, but her expression wasn’t one of triumph—it flickered with panic.

I spoke slowly, clearly: “These were once yours to give. Now, I return them to the heavens.”

The ceremony had barely concluded, and I was still in ceremonial robes when I was summoned to the temple’s inner chamber—supposedly for a formal thank-you from the organizers for the Silver Fang Pack’s support.

I hesitated but didn’t suspect anything—until I stepped into a corridor lined with gold-threaded carpet, and heard the door click shut behind me.

Click.

I spun around.

Liora leaned against the door, a smile curling on her lips. “Finally, I get to lock you up.”

I frowned. “Have you lost your mind?”

“I warned you not to steal my spotlight.” Her tone was laced with mock sweetness, but every word dripped poison. “Tonight was supposed to be about me and Nathan. Who the hell are you to draw his gaze?”

“I didn’t steal anything. I simply returned what was mine.”

“Yours?” She suddenly shoved me. I staggered into the wall. “You’re just a rejected half-mate. A mutt. And you dare compare yourself to me? Do you know Nathan was going to publicly acknowledge me tonight? And then—you showed up. Everyone looked at you. No one remembered me.”

“I didn’t mean to, Liora. But if you insist on comparing… let me, be clear—you were never my equal.”

Her face changed instantly. “You want to be Luna? Dream on! Even if you gave Nathan ten pups in bed, you’d still never replace my place in his heart!”

I gave a low laugh. “You’re right. So long as you’re by his side, I’ll never win—because you’re not just his lover… you’re his excuse for everything foul he’s done.”

Liora flinched—then laughed bitterly. “Trying to provoke me? Too late, Ella. You’ll stay right here tonight and reflect. I’ve ordered everyone: that door stays locked until the morning bell.”

“This is illegal detainment!”

“Then sue me.” She turned to leave, pausing at the door. “Don’t worry. I’ll take your place at tonight’s family banquet—let them all see who the real Luna is.”

And with that, she was gone—leaving me behind.

The room was small but dressed like a guest chamber. A saffron incense burner. A wall-mounted icon of the Moon Goddess. Everything looked proper—yet sterile. The windows sealed shut. No signal on my phone.

I ran to the door and pounded. “Is anyone there? Open up!”

No answer.

I kept hitting it until my fingers tore and my palm bled, but not a soul appeared.

Slumping into the corner, I could only picture what was happening on the main stage—Liora smiling, thanking the Moon Goddess for “blessing her with the best Alpha,” while Nathan stood beside her, face blank as always, watching her perform…

My stomach churned. My chest burned. Sweat soaked my skin.

I don’t know how much time passed before a sudden commotion erupted outside the door.

“Hurry! She should be in here!”

“Break the lock!”

With a loud thud, the door burst open.

Fresh air rushed in. I nearly collapsed, but a man in black caught me just in time.

“Ella, are you alright?”

I couldn’t speak. My vision dimmed—and then went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a healing room. Wolfbane wind chimes hung from the ceiling. Beside me sat a doctor—his face both familiar and distant.

“You’re awake,” he said steadily. “I’m the head ritual healer from Silver Peak Ridge. I also oversaw your fertility assessments three years ago.”

My throat was parched. “What… happened?”

He handed me water, pausing briefly before speaking again.

“You collapsed from hypothermia after the ceremony. Your blood pressure was unstable. During our examinations… we found something unexpected.”

My heart clenched. “What kind of unexpected?”

He looked at me gently—almost tenderly. “Ella… you’re pregnant. Five months.”