Chapter 6

After three full days of fever, I finally recovered.

The day I walked out of my room happened to be Tyra's official pack recognition ceremony: the Moonlight Ritual. The ceremony was held at the pack's sacred ground, a moonlit grove surrounded by ancient oak trees.

A bonfire blazed bright while the scent of roasted venison filled the air, and the werewolves drank honey mead as the atmosphere grew festive.

Lucian and several Elders beamed with joy as they held the swaddled Tyra while she received blessings from the pack members. Exquisite jewelry and precious toys were piled high like a small mountain.

"Kieran, this is for Cecelia." Lucian smiled as he handed over a wooden box. Inside was a ring set with an enormous milky-white gem that seemed to pulse with moonlight.

It was the Tear of the Moon Goddess.

He said, "She has given the Wolfe family a healthy bloodline."

Kieran slipped the ring onto Cecelia's finger and whispered gently, "You've done so well."

Cecelia blushed and leaned into his arms, and the family of three looked blissfully happy.

The guests circled Tyra, praising her endlessly.

"Tyra's cry is so strong. She'll definitely be a powerful warrior!"

Another said, "Her eyes are like Cecelia's, with the color of moonlight!"

"What a union of powerful bloodlines. Long live the Alpha Kieran and Ms. Donati!"

I stood in the corner watching it all. My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain.

Cecelia suddenly walked toward me with a wine glass, her smile sweet. "Ms. George, let's take a photo together under the moonlight?"

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

"Don't be shy." Cecelia grabbed my hand without waiting for an answer, forcibly dragging me in front of the camera.

Then, she lowered her voice and taunted me, saying, "Look how good Kieran is to me now. Every night he stays with me, wrapping me in his Alpha aura until I sleep."

I closed my eyes wearily, not wanting to listen or argue, just wishing it to end quickly.

The moment the shutter clicked and the camera captured the image, the massive totem pole behind us, a symbol of the pack's history, gave a sharp crack.

"Watch out!"

As the totem pole collapsed, Kieran rushed over and grabbed me. The huge wooden column crashed to the ground, scraping past my back and raising a cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, Cecelia was struck by splintered wood and the impact force of the collapse. She screamed as she fell, with a shocking pool of bright red blood spreading beneath her.

"Cecelia!" Kieran released me and rushed to her like a madman.

...

Outside the operating room, Kieran paced anxiously. Watching his restless state, I remembered how he had kept watch by my bedside all night when I was injured while gathering herbs in the mountains.

"Alpha Kieran!" The healer suddenly burst through the curtain. "Ms. Donati is hemorrhaging badly! The blood bank doesn't have her blood type. We need an immediate donation!"

"Take mine!" Kieran immediately said.

The healer exclaimed urgently, "That won't work! You're Type A, and Ms. George is Type O. Given her weakened state after the injury, she might not be able to handle the violent energy in an alpha's blood. It has to be human blood."

After hearing this, Kieran's gaze snapped to me. At that moment, I felt like I had been struck by lightning.

I stepped back abruptly, my voice trembling. "I won't do it."

My blood, the one thing they saw as special in this body they deemed a lowly human's, was now supposed to be used as a tool to save his heir?

"Elise!" Kieran grabbed my wrist, his eyes sharp. "This isn't the time for your tantrum! She's carrying the pack's heir! If something happens, we'll never be able to leave. Do you understand?"

My heart clenched painfully. I wondered if he was afraid we could not leave or that something would happen to their pup.

"What if I refuse?" I asked softly.

Kieran's face darkened. "I saved you, and that was what caused Cecelia's injury. You owe her this. Is giving a little blood really so hard?"

He looked at me with disappointment. "Elise, how did you end up like this?"

My heart stabbed with pain.

Had I changed?

He was the one who had pursued me relentlessly, saying I was his only possible mate.

He was the one who promised to recognize only me for life, who stood in the rain begging me to trust that he could handle everything.

Now he was saying I had changed?

My voice shook as I replied, "So, you regret saving me? If you could do it over, you'd save Cecelia and your pup first, wouldn't you?"

Kieran froze. "What are you talking about?!"

"Something's wrong! Ms. Donati is in critical condition!" the healer urged anxiously. "Any more delay and we'll lose both mother and pup! Alpha, make a decision quickly!"

Kieran's eyes hardened. Without further hesitation, he ordered the guards at the door, "Take her to the donor room!"

I was forced into the chair as a specialized needle pierced my vein, and my blood flowed out, drop by drop.

Throughout it all, Kieran never once looked back at me.

When they had drawn 400cc, the healer hesitated. "Alpha, Ms. George is too weak. If we draw more, I'm afraid..."

"Continue," Kieran said without turning around.

When they reached 600cc, my vision started going black. In my delirium, I seemed to see Kieran from when we first met, standing outside the herb shop, smiling at me.

"I'm Kieran Wolfe, and I'll be back tomorrow."

In the final moment, I completely lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, Kieran was sitting by the hospital bed. I thought he would coax me gently like before, begging for my forgiveness. Yet, when I opened my eyes, I met his cold gaze instead.

"Did you ruin the totem pole?"