Chapter 5

"Lucia, I know you're angry," Andrew said, sitting by my bed, his face a mask of remorse. "I'm so sorry. I was dealing with a difficult situation and had to cut the link. I didn't know..."

He reached out to touch my face. The cloying scent of sweat, cheap perfume, and sex rolled off him, and I had to fight the urge to gag.

I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved his hand away. "Don't touch me!"

My reaction stunned him. He stared at his rejected hand, then back at me, his eyes filled with confusion and hurt.

"Lucia, what's gotten into you? I'm your mate. Why won't you let me touch you?"

I took a deep breath, fighting down the rage and disgust.

It wasn't time for a confrontation yet. I had to keep up the act.

"I'm sorry," I softened my tone. "I'm just not feeling well. It's not you."

"Then tell me," he pressed, "why is your wolf's spirit so weak?"

"It's probably a side effect from the last full moon," I said, feigning nonchalance. "I used too much of my power to soothe you, and I never fully recovered."

It was a partial truth.

During last month's full moon, Andrew's wolf had been unusually feral, and I had indeed exhausted myself calming him.

Hearing my explanation, a complex expression flickered across Andrew's face before he nodded. "I see."

He reached out and stroked my hair, his touch as gentle as if he were handling a priceless piece of art. "It's my fault. I've put too much of a burden on you."

"It's not your fault," I said, the lie tasting like ash in my mouth. "It's my duty as Luna."

Andrew was quiet for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Maybe for the next full moon, you won't have to use so much of your power."

I knew what that meant. He had already found my "replacement."

He was already planning to let Crystal anchor him during the next full moon.

"Oh? That's good," I forced myself to smile.

Seeing me smile, Andrew seemed to relax.

He leaned in, about to hug me.

But just then, his phone rang.

The sound was jarring in the quiet hospital room.

Andrew glanced at the caller ID, and his expression shifted slightly.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the name "Crystal" on the screen.

"I have to take this outside," he said, standing up hastily. "It's an urgent pack matter."

Pack matters.

His all-purpose excuse. He’d used it a thousand times.

A few minutes later, Andrew returned, an apologetic look on his face.

"Lucia, I'm so sorry. There's an emergency with the pack. I have to go deal with it right now." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You get some rest. I'll be back as soon as I'm done."

"Go on," I said, nodding obediently. "The pack is more important."

But just as I expected, Andrew didn't keep his promise. He never came back.

Instead, I got another message from Crystal.

It was an ultrasound photo, with a triumphant caption underneath:

【Dear Luna, I'm pregnant. Andrew was so happy, he's rushing over to be with me for my appointment.】