Chapter 3

I held my breath, staring at the screen, wondering what new trick this venomous she-wolf had up her sleeve.

"An ancient Bloodline Protection Ritual," Chole said, her voice soft, but the words sent a chill down my spine.

"It's a lost art, taught to me by a pack elder. It's used to protect a precious Alpha bloodline."

Martha immediately moved closer to the screen, her eyes gleaming with a fanatical light.

I used all my strength to try and stop them, but I could only manage weak, muffled groans.

The wolfsbane had all but paralyzed me, leaving me to watch helplessly as this wicked plot unfolded.

"You'll need to find a Binding Stone. It's a sacred object gifted by the Moon Goddess."

"Place the stone on Elara's abdomen and chant the ancient words. It will delay her labor until Kael can get back."

She deliberately drew out her words, her voice laced with malice. "You could even perform a blood sacrifice. Use whatever dark arts are necessary to keep her and the pup alive until the Alpha returns."

Every rational thought in my head screamed in alarm. I managed to roar, "Martha, that's not a protection ritual!"

"That's black magic! It's a curse!"

Martha froze, her face turning pale.

As the pack housekeeper, she knew the terrible consequences of black magic. It took her a long moment to force out a trembling reply.

"Miss Chole, the Luna says it's black magic..."

Chole let out a small laugh, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt. "Poor Elara. The pain is making her delirious. She'll say anything right now."

"This is a sacred ritual to protect the Alpha's precious bloodline. Kael's heir has the strongest life force."

Seeing Martha hesitate, her tone grew more threatening. "Martha, Kael told me about this ritual himself. He wants to teach the Luna a lesson in obedience."

"Besides, let me remind you, your ultimate duty is to ensure I deliver my child safely. Are you going to defy him now?"

Ignoring the gushing blood and the tearing contractions, I fought desperately against the pack members restraining me.

"No! Kael would never order a black magic curse to be used on me! You're lying!"

"Martha!" My voice was almost a plea. "I am your Luna! I command you not to listen to her!"

"It's dark arts! It will kill me and my child!"

But Martha was already nodding respectfully at the screen. "I understand, Miss Chole."

"Wait," Chole's voice suddenly turned even sweeter. "There's one more thing. Kael has already decided. After this birth is over, he will petition the Moon Goddess to sever his mate bond with Elara."

"Then he will officially mark me and make me the true Luna of the Black Stone Pack."

My heart felt like it was being ripped in two. I could no longer tell if the pain was from our mate bond or from the death of my love.

"She's lying!" I shrieked. "Martha, she's deceiving you!"

"Kael wouldn't do that! We have a mate bond, he can't just break it!"

On the screen, Chole caressed her own stomach, her smile growing more triumphant.

"Elara, you're still so naive. It's true a mate bond can't be broken lightly. But if the Luna commits a grave crime, like... being unfaithful to the Alpha... well, that's a different story."

"Kael already questions whether the pup in your womb is his. He's having it investigated."

"No! I was never unfaithful! You're framing me!"

I struggled wildly but was held down firmly by several maids.

Then, the screen went black.

After a dead silence, Martha gave a trembling order to the other pack members.

"Let the Luna go."

Hope surged in my chest. I thought her conscience had finally won.

I weakly reached a hand toward her.

"Martha, quickly, take me to the pack hospital. I can feel the pup's life force fading..."

But she jerked her face away, avoiding my desperate gaze, and gave a cold command to the others.

"Go to the cellar and retrieve the Binding Stone."

That stone radiated a cold, malevolent energy that seemed to drop the temperature in the entire room.

Rough ropes bit into my skin as they were tied around my limbs, raising angry, red welts.

Every struggle felt like being torn apart by silver claws.

"Luna, this is the Alpha's will, and it is for the protection of the bloodline. Please endure it."

"I promise, when the Alpha returns, everything will be all right."

"Protect the bloodline?" I stared at her, my tears as hot as blood.

"Then don't be fooled by Chole's lies! No matter how much Kael hates me, he would never use forbidden magic to curse his own bloodline!"

"He swore a blood oath to the Moon Goddess that he would never harm me with black magic!"

But my words were useless. The dark, malevolent altar was carried into the room.

They grabbed my arms and dragged me toward it like a sacrificial lamb.

A stark trail of blood smeared across the floor behind me.

My pup, sensing the threat of death through our bond, began to kick frantically, as if pleading for its life with its last ounce of strength.