Chapter 4

Elder Graystone roared that I should be executed, but Axel refused.

He carried the 'unconscious' Vanessa and strode away, leaving only one cold statement behind.

"She's a serious criminal. Until I decide on the worst possible way for her to die, no one touches her. If she dies, you all die with her."

The cell door slammed shut, and darkness swallowed me whole.

He would not let me die? Was it because he could not bear to lose me, or because he wanted to squeeze every last bit of use out of me? I did not know the answer.

All I felt was the emptiness in my stomach. That tiny life was probably nothing more than a puddle of blood now.

…

I had no idea how much time passed before the cell door opened again. Elder Graystone rushed in with a healer, and Axel followed behind them.

"Alpha," Elder Graystone said urgently, pointing at me. "Vanessa is badly injured! The knife was poisoned, and combined with the shock she suffered, her old wounds have flared up… The healer says we must drain Seraphina's blood immediately to save Vanessa!"

I froze. This was not about taking blood. This was about taking my life. I had just miscarried and been beaten. Draining my blood now would kill me for sure. I struggled to lift my head and looked at Axel.

After a long silence, he asked quietly, "It has to be her blood?"

"Yes!" Elder Graystone's tone was firm. "She and Vanessa are both your mates. Their blood resonates. Vanessa has a special constitution. Right now, only blood with that resonance can save her!"

It was complete nonsense. If I had any strength left, I would have laughed out loud.

Elder Graystone continued, "Besides, she was the one who stabbed Vanessa. Using her blood to save the victim is only right!"

"But Alpha..." The healer beside him hesitated. "Given Seraphina's current condition, draining that much blood might—"

"Might what?" Elder Graystone cut in. "She's a murderer! Is the future Luna's life not worth more than a few vials of this criminal's blood?"

Axel exhaled a cold breath. He finally glanced at me, like he was appraising how much value I had left.

"Do it. Just keep her breathing. Don't let her die. I'm not done interrogating her yet."

The last shred of hope in my heart was crushed completely by those words, and something inside me died with it. This was why I was still alive—to serve as Vanessa's blood supply.

"Get started!" Elder Graystone ordered.

Several guards rushed forward and dragged me toward the medical room.

As I passed Axel, I used the last of my strength to turn my head, wanting to look at him one more time. I wanted to ask him something.

Would he just look at me? Look at my ruined skin, my bleeding stomach, my hands with every nail torn out… Could he really bear to see this happen to me after ten years together? Looking at me like this, did it not hurt him even a little?

Yet he did not look at me. He stood with his body turned away, frowning as he listened intently to Elder Graystone describing Vanessa's "condition".

Those eyes that used to only focus on me were now filled with worry for another she-wolf.

"Bring the medicine to my study."

He was going to personally tend to Vanessa's wounds? Who would care for my injuries, then?

My heart went completely cold. I stared one last time at his indifferent profile, wanting to carve this face that betrayed me into my soul so that I could hate him forever.

Just then, maybe on instinct, Axel suddenly stopped. He turned around reflexively, looking in the direction where they were dragging me away after they had drained my blood.

However, he was too late. I had already exhausted what little strength I had left and closed my eyes. My head fell limply.

We missed each other.

All he saw was a limp, lifeless figure and the trail of blood smeared across the floor. His heart suddenly ached.

This was the last time we would pass by each other in this life. From here on, we would be separated by death itself.