Chapter 7

Willow’s POV

To calm myself, I went downstairs again and ladled a bowl of hot, thick broth in the kitchen.

Then, I heard light footsteps approaching from behind.

"Sister Willow?" Isolde's sickly sweet voice called out. She was wearing one of Rowan's oversized shirts, a fresh claiming mark on her neck.

I did not answer.

"Oh, sister, do not be so cold. I just wanted to have a little heart-to-heart."

I continued to ignore her.

"Turn around and look at me."

She stepped directly in front of me, blocking my path.

Her mask of false kindness was gone, replaced by the arrogant sneer of a victor.

"You look so pathetic, sister," she taunted, her voice dripping with false pity. "Like a scorned mate."

I held my bowl of broth, motionless.

She pressed on. "But I have to make you face reality. I am carrying Rowan's pureblood heir in my belly. I am the mate he has chosen."

I lifted my chin slightly, looking at her.

She laughed without restraint. "He says you are cold and lifeless in bed. That your frozen body does nothing for his wolf. He even says that every time he mates with you, he has to close his eyes and imagine it is me."

My knuckles turned white from gripping the bowl.

"And what about your short-lived pups?" she giggled, covering her mouth.

"Three chances, Willow. And you could not protect a single one. What kind of Luna who cannot even bear a pup deserves to stand by an Alpha's side?"

My eyes were already flashing with the gold of my inner wolf.

"Your precious bloodline must be cursed," she chattered on. "This is the Moon Goddess's punishment, proving you are nothing but a barren failure."

Her words, each one a silver dagger to the heart, finally ignited my rage. Holding the steaming bowl of broth, I moved toward her.

"Rowan loves me," Isolde said, her face tilted up in a triumphant smile. "He is going to build a dynasty with me. Because I can give him what you never could: a living heir and a future for this pack."

I did not have the patience for her venom. I tried to go around her.

In that instant, she lunged at me like a madwoman, grabbing my wrist and forcefully pulling the bowl of scalding broth from my hands, splashing it all over her own face!

A piercing shriek echoed through the entire packhouse.

"Alpha Rowan, help me! My face!"

I was completely stunned. What was this lunatic doing?

The kitchen door was violently thrown open by a terrifying force, the hinges groaning as they shattered.

Rowan stormed in, radiating a furious Alpha aura, his eyes bleeding into solid black with his wolf's rage. His features were twisted in extreme fury.

What he saw was this. His pregnant 'darling' collapsed on the floor, half her face red and dripping with broth, crying her heart out.

And his Luna by name, standing frozen before her, an empty bowl in her hand.

Behind him were my parents, who had rushed in at the sound. They scrambled to help the wailing Isolde.

"How dare you?" Rowan's voice was a deathly growl.

"What? No, I did not even touch her..."

"She came to the kitchen to talk to you out of the goodness of her heart," my mother said, trembling with anger. "To try and mend your relationship. And you resort to this!"

"It is not what it looks like!" I dropped the empty bowl. "She deliberately blocked my way, taunting me with those disgusting words..."

"She is lying!" Isolde howled, clutching her scalded face. "I just came to tell my sister to take care of herself. To see if she was hungry. And she... she tried to ruin my face!"

"I was just trying to get past her! She grabbed my hand and splashed it on herself!"

Before I could finish my defense, Rowan's hand, heavy with brutal Alpha power, slammed into my shoulder.

The overwhelming force sent me flying backward.

My head cracked against the sharp corner of the marble island with a sickening thud. The impact exploded behind my eyes.

I slid to the floor, my hands instinctively wrapping around my stomach.

In the last moment before I lost consciousness, the small life inside me gave a faint flutter, as if desperately clinging to its last thread of life. I swore in my heart that no matter the cost, I would not let them take this last pup from me.

Darkness washed over my vision.

I saw my mother rush to Isolde's side, shoving past me in her haste.

I saw my father stand there for a moment, glance down at me, and then walk away.

My lips parted, trying to call Aunt Maeve's name.

I thought I saw Rowan clutch his chest, then rush toward me with a look of alarm...

And then everything went black.

When I woke up in the pack infirmary, my head throbbed as if pierced by silver shards. One side of my face burned, and I could taste blood on my tongue.

In a panic, I felt for my stomach. The massive weight on my chest finally lifted when I felt the faint but tenacious maternal bond still there. Thank the Moon Goddess, my pup was still safe.

I struggled to sit up, but my limbs felt as heavy as lead.

"You are finally awake," Rowan's voice was weary.

I forced my eyes open. He was leaning against a chair by the window, staring at me, his eyes bloodshot.

The memories of last night flooded my mind, and hot tears instantly blurred my vision.

In the seven years of our mate bond, Rowan had never once been violent with me. Until last night.

"Rowan," I began, my voice barely a whisper. "How could you, for her..."

"Apologize to your sister for what you did."

"What?"

"You heard me," he said, his gaze turning to ice.

"I did not lay a single finger on her!" I ignored the pain in my head and struggled to sit up. "It was her! She deliberately grabbed my hand and splashed the broth on her own face!"

"I do not care what she did," he said, standing up. His shadow fell over the edge of the bed. "She is carrying the future of this pack. You nearly killed my heir."

"It was her own setup!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "Rowan, she has been acting from the very beginning..."

"Apologize."

"No," I said, biting my lip.

His face darkened. "What did you say?"

"I will not apologize for something I did not do."

He watched me silently, a look that sent a chill down my spine. Then he smiled.

It was a smile that no moonlight could penetrate, a smile that turned my entire spine to ice.

"Fine."

He grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out of the bed. My legs were too weak to support me, but he did not wait for me to find my footing.

"What are you doing?"

He did not speak, just dragged me roughly out of the room and down the cold hallway of the infirmary.

"Rowan, let go! Where are you taking me?"

He ignored my struggles, pulling me straight toward the ICU.

My heart plummeted into an abyss.

"No," I let out a terrified whimper. "No, Rowan, I am begging you..."

He paid no attention to my fear, forcing me into the innermost room on the third floor.

He kicked the door open.