Chapter 4

In a daze, I saw Finn and Lucas trying to come over.

"Ah! I can't stand the sight of so much blood!" Isabella shouted before rolling her eyes back and fainting.

Lucas looked at me for a few seconds, but still turned to catch Isabella in his arms.

Finn also turned to look at her, his face full of worry.

My heart and body turned cold in waves, and I closed my eyes.

…

When I woke up in the hospital, the only one sitting by my bed was the kind hiring manager.

He hesitated, unsure how to begin. "Ms. Hawthorn, I'm very sorry."

"My pup is gone, isn't it?"

My tone was eerily calm. The weakness in my body seemed to be fading, and my wolf was quietly healing my injuries.

I started to think that this was perhaps a good thing.

After seeing him out, I canceled the abortion surgery and applied to the hospital for medication to temporarily block the mind link, using physical pain as the reason.

Just before taking the medication, I received a message from Lucas through the mind link for the first time in a long while.

He had barely ever used this way to contact me. "Wait for me at the hospital."

After saying that, he cut the link.

As always, he only knew how to give orders.

A few minutes later, he hurried into the ward.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

I didn't respond and instinctively touched my now-flat belly.

He saw what I was doing, and a flicker of pain crossed his face.

"We can always have another pup. What matters is that you're okay."

He sat by the bed, his tone unusually gentle.

I was unable to read him any longer.

"There won't be another one, Lucas," I said.

He frowned in displeasure. "I know you're always trying to get my attention, but dining with another man isn't exactly a dignified way to do it. Don't forget that you're the Luna of the Moonhowl pack."

I laughed coldly, not responding to that. "Shouldn't you be with your fragile Isabella right now?"

At the mention of her name, his eyes flickered. He then reached out and grabbed my hand gently.

"Claire, I know you've always been jealous of everything Isabella has. But the truth is, she's completely innocent. You already took me away from her, so please stop going after poor Isabella."

I stared at him, stunned by the absurdity of his words.

His hand was warm as it stroked the back of mine, but it made me feel utterly cold.

"So, I don't want to hear any accusations against Isabella again, alright?"

He looked into my eyes, a flash of red crossing them.

His Alpha presence made my wolf tremble.

He was threatening me, despite knowing Isabella had pushed me down the stairs. But he chose to protect her. He even came here to threaten me.

I felt as if a knife had stabbed my heart. Biting my lip, I kept my tears from falling.

"As you wish," I forced out through clenched teeth.

His body immediately relaxed, and he even kissed my forehead.

"Tomorrow is the Moonhowl pack's family banquet. You'll come, right? Finn's been thinking about you for days."

He didn't wait for me to answer as he let go of my hand, walking out of the ward.

I sat there on the bed, frozen.

My wolf was still crying in pain.

Then, a notification rang on my phone. It was a call from the hiring manager.

"Ms. Hawthorn, I'm happy to inform you that you've passed our interview. You're welcome to join the school anytime."

"Alright," I replied.

"Considering your condition, would you like me to request a delayed start on your behalf?"

"Thank you, but no. I can't wait even one more day."

After ending the call, I drove back to the hotel and packed my things, leaving for the Stormcrest pack under the cover of night.

Before deactivating my phone number, I sent one last message to Lucas.

"Please take good care of Finn."

From that moment on, the Moonhowl pack had nothing to do with me.