CHAPTER 7

“Why are you crying, Maddena?”

My spine froze, my breath caught in my throat.

Damien.

Did he trace me here?

I wiped my tears quickly, trying to hide them, but my voice betrayed me. “I’m… no.t crying,” I sniffed, the words broken.

“Lycan Damien,” Elizabeth bowed deeply, her tone filled with respect and submission.

His cold gaze swept over me before settling on her. “What happened? Who hurt her?”

Elizabeth swallowed hard, her voice soft. “She refused to speak about anything, Lycan Damien. I kept asking, but she wouldn’t answer me.”

Something about his presence unsettled me. The way he cared—it frightened me. It wasn’t normal. Why did he keep bringing up the pup? Was he worried for his brother’s child? Yes, that must be it. He was just being protective, nothing more. I shook off the forbidden thoughts that dared to surface. I had never met him before all this, never had an encounter with him. Whatever the witch said, she must have been mistaken. Yes. She had to be.

I forced myself to wipe the tears off my cheeks and turned toward him. “Nothing happened. It’s just… some memories came rushing back, and I couldn’t hold it in.” My voice wavered, eyes fixed downward, afraid he would see through me.

But when I dared to glance up, I met his gaze. Those eyes pierced straight into my soul, cold, unreadable, deadly. His expression remained blank, yet every stare, every flicker of movement, was dangerous. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to remain composed.

He finally made a low sound, a hum, before speaking. “You need to rest. Your body needs it. Your child needs it.”

The mention of the child again clawed at my nerves, and I snapped before I could stop myself. “Why do you care?” My voice trembled, laced with insecurity and fear.

It was the third time he had mentioned my child, and with each mention, the witch’s words replayed mercilessly in my mind. My hands trembled. No, Maddena, stop it. Stop. There’s no way it could be true.

I braced myself for him to lash out, to snap at me for my insolence, but his expression didn’t flinch. He remained unreadable.

“I don’t have interest in you or the child,” he said coldly. “It’s your choice if you want to rest in your chambers or not.” His words were flat, stripped of care, as he turned away and stomped off. His tall, murderous figure faded into the distance, leaving me shaken and confused.

Elizabeth touched my arm gently. “Ma’am, are you okay?” It was the hundredth time she had asked me that.

I forced a nervous chuckle. “Yes, I’m fine. I just need rest.”

She didn’t argue, but her worried eyes lingered on me as she held my hand, guiding me down the hallway. The air grew heavy around me. I couldn’t shake the sensation of being watched. My skin prickled, my chest tightened. I glanced around, but the hallway was empty—just Elizabeth and me.

She noticed my unease. “Ma’am, are you sure you’re okay?”

I sighed, exasperated. “Elizabeth, you’ve asked me this question a hundred times. I’m fine. Truly. You don’t need to worry.”

But even as I spoke, the same weight pressed on me. The absence of my wolf gnawed at my soul, leaving me bare, unguarded. Every shadow felt threatening, every silence too loud.

Elizabeth quickened her steps, almost dragging me into my chambers. I collapsed on the bed, my body aching as though the world’s burdens sat on my shoulders. My hand slid to my stomach, caressing it gently. Tears slipped down my cheeks without restraint. My heart ached so fiercely, it was hard to breathe.

The door creaked open, and I sat up abruptly, wiping my tears.

The healer entered, her presence warm and calm, with Elizabeth trailing behind her. Concern filled her eyes. “Dear, Elizabeth told me what happened. Are you okay? Why were you crying?”

I didn’t answer, only sniffed softly.

She sat beside me, the mattress dipping under her weight. Her hand brushed my arm gently as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I understand. Losing your wolf can be painful.”

My soul froze. My eyes widened, panic flooding me.

How did she know?

My heart hammered violently. If she knew, then she also knew how powerless I had become. What if she tried to hurt me? What if she betrayed me?

“I don’t… kn..ow w-what you’re talking about,” I stammered. My voice cracked, trembling, betraying me even as I tried to deny it.

The healer took my hands into hers, smiling softly. “You’re just like my daughter. Even when she’s wrong, she can never admit it. She refuses defeat. You have that same fire in you.” Her words were gentle, warm, but I still felt the tremor of fear deep in my bones.

I glanced at Elizabeth, my heart pounding, but she only blinked at me, giving me a look of reassurance.

The dam inside me cracked. Tears welled in my eyes again. My lips trembled as I whispered, “My mate… he betrayed me.” The words sliced me open, the pain raw.

The healer’s touch was steady, her hand rubbing my back soothingly.

“He accused me of an affair,” I whispered brokenly. “Said the baby wasn’t his.” My breath shook violently as tears streamed down my face. “And after that… he locked me in a coffin and threw me into the river. Like I was nothing. Like I wasn’t even human.”

The sobs came hard, tearing out of me uncontrollably. The healer’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, stroking my hair like a mother comforting a child.

“It’s fine,” she whispered. “He doubted you. He hurt you. He will pay for what he has done. The fault is his, not yours.”

Her words should have soothed me, but the ache inside my chest only grew heavier.

Elizabeth’s voice wavered, shocked. “Ma’am… how did you survive?”

I pulled away from the healer’s embrace just enough to speak. “His brother saved me. Lycan Damien.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly, a trace of surprise lighting her face. “I always knew Lycan Damien had a little kindness in him. Even though he and his brother don’t get along, he still chose to save you. And he came at the perfect time… it’s almost as if he knew your mate was going to betray you.”

Her words struck me like a blade. It’s like he knew.

Why would Damien save me if he despised his brother? Why come at that exact moment?

My head pounded, my palms slick with sweat. Something was wrong. Something didn’t add up.

I swallowed hard. “Does your pack have a witch seer?” I asked quietly, my voice tight with unease.

Elizabeth tilted her head, confused by the sudden question. “Yes… we do.”

“How old is she?” My tone was sharper, urgent.

Elizabeth hesitated, brows furrowing. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her up close. But rumors say she’s very old. Ancient, even. And she walks among the pack sometimes, gathering herbs.”

Her words made my stomach twist violently. The image of the old woman in the garden flashed through my mind, her cryptic words, the excitement in her eyes. My breath hitched as realization clawed at me.

If the rumors were true… then the woman I met might not have been a random stranger. She might have been the witch seer herself. And if that was the case… then her words about Damien’s heir weren’t just idle lies.

They might have been a prophecy.