Chapter 3

I sat quietly in the corner of the banquet hall, watching Ashley host the ceremony.

The pack members seated near me looked over with open displeasure in their eyes.

"Ivy never used to show up for gatherings, so why is she here now?"

"Ashley would be so much happier if she weren't here."

"I wish Ashley were our Luna! I really like her."

As I listened to their whispers, I realized I had no reason to stay any longer.

The moment I stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I stumbled two steps back, right into Owen's arms.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Just as I was about to reply, Owen scooped me up without any hesitation and rushed toward the witch's hut in the woods.

I wanted to tell him I was just a little dizzy from drinking too much.

"Why is this happening? Didn't you say she wouldn't feel anything? What's going on?" Owen grabbed the witch furiously by the collar.

The witch stammered as she touched my body. "Alpha Owen, she's just weak. There's nothing seriously wrong with her."

Owen looked at me with suspicion in his eyes. "Are you sure? I'll kill you if anything happens to her!"

I let out a cold laugh. Just before this, he had been demeaning me like I was nothing. Who was he trying to fool by acting so concerned right now?

Owen leaned down and gently held my hand, whispering, "Ivy, you'll be alright."

I pretended to have just regained consciousness as I said with a pained expression, "Owen, what happened just now? My stomach really hurts!"

Owen patted my back gently, showing a tenderness I had never seen before. His voice sounded choked as he said, "The witch examined you just now. Our pup is gone."

I pinched myself and forced out a few tears.

Upon seeing this, Owen cupped my face and kissed the tracks of my tears. "Ivy, we'll have another pup. I'll stay by your side until you fully recover."

At that moment, a phone rang, again and again.

"Ashley says she's feeling scared and alone. I should check on her. She's pregnant now and needs someone to care for her. Don't overthink it, okay?" Owen said.

I smiled faintly as I watched him leave.

I'll take care of myself in a place without you.

After Owen left, I got up and packed my things.

Once I finished, I stood before the door of the study, that room that had once caused me so much heartache.

Unlike before, the door was now wide open.

Perhaps out of guilt for killing my pup with his own hands, Owen had replaced everything in the room with things related to me. But this act of remorse just made me sick.

I gathered up everything in the study and carried it to the garden, then set it all on fire.

With that fire, I burned away everything from the past three years.

…

Owen's POV

I was still with poor Ashley when suddenly, a searing pain tore through my chest.

My wolf howled in anguish. The sensation was the unmistakable sensation of the mate bond being broken.

But how was that possible?

I started to panic a little. At that moment, Ashley had just wrapped her arms around my neck. Her hands were exploring my body, but my mind was completely elsewhere.

The unease inside me grew stronger and stronger, and I suddenly stood up.

Ashley was startled. "What happened?"

"I need to go check on your sister," I said.

Ashley clung to my waist in protest. "You promised to stay with me! Ivy pushed me earlier, and I'm still in pain. What's the point of going back anyway? It's not like Ivy will run away."

I paused for a moment, and my nerves relaxed a bit.

Ashley was right—Ivy was just staying at home. Where could she possibly go?

With that in mind, I wrapped my arms around Ashley again. "You're right. She loves me so much. She would never leave me, no matter what happens. She wouldn't…"

As I murmured to myself, the Beta suddenly burst into the room. "Alpha! The villa is on fire! Ivy's still inside!"