Chapter 4

Ronan's Alpha command slammed into me, a wall of force that sent me flying backward. I crashed hard against a stone pillar in the restaurant.

A wave of agony shot up my spine. The force of his command wounded my wolf, and it let out a pained howl.

Worse, a fine powder wafted up from the floor, stinging my nose.

Wolfsbane.

The poison was made to incapacitate werewolves. Even a tiny amount sent a wolf into excruciating pain.

The poison and my agitated wolf mixed, suppressing my healing ability. The pain was so bad I could barely breathe.

"Cressida!"

I heard someone shout my name, but the voice was distant, like it was coming from underwater.

I lay on the cold floor, my vision blurring, my chest feeling like it was being torn apart.

And Ronan... he didn't even glance at me. His world had shrunk to Vesper on the ground.

"Vesper! Oh my god, are you okay?"

He rushed to her, gathering her up in his arms with pure panic on his face.

I saw him take a deep breath, scenting her.

"The pup is still there," he said, relieved. "We're going to the medical center. Now."

What? Pup?

Through the haze of pain, I barely registered his words.

Vesper was actually pregnant?

"Ronan..." Vesper whimpered, curling into his chest. "It hurts so much. Is the baby okay?"

"It will be. I promise," he said, stroking her hair gently. "Our child will be perfectly fine."

Our child. The words stabbed through my heart.

As Ronan cradled Vesper, he shot me a single, panicked glance. "She's hurt. It's an emergency... I'll explain later..."

Then he bolted out the door with her, leaving me alone on the restaurant floor.

The crowd of onlookers whispered among themselves, but no one dared to come near me.

The wolfsbane ravaged my system. I felt like I was dying.

My consciousness faded in and out until a gentle voice cut through the darkness.

"Make way. I'm a healer."

A strange, middle-aged man knelt beside me, his hands glowing with a soft white light.

"Wolfsbane poisoning and internal injuries," he muttered with a frown. "Who would do this to an unranked female?"

Healing energy flowed into me, slowly dulling the pain.

"Thank you," I whispered weakly.

"Don't thank me," he said, shaking his head. "But you need to be careful. Someone is trying to harm you. That powder wasn't an accident. It was deliberate."

I managed to sit up and look around.

Ronan was long gone. Not even a trace of his scent remained.

I struggled to my feet and stumbled home.

The huge penthouse was still empty. Just me.

I collapsed onto the sofa and checked my phone. No messages from Ronan.

No concern. No apology. As if what just happened had nothing to do with him.

Night fell. My phone finally rang.

It wasn't Ronan. It was Vesper.

"Cressida, thanks for your 'concern'~"

She sent a photo from the hospital. She was lying in a VIP room while Ronan sat by her bed, holding her hand.

"The doctor said the baby is perfectly healthy. Ronan is overjoyed."

Another photo showed Ronan kissing Vesper's forehead, his face full of tenderness.

"He said after the ceremony, he's taking me to his private island to rest. Just the three of us. What a happy family. You should probably just run away now. Save yourself the humiliation at the ceremony."

I stared at the photos. I felt no more pain. Just a hollow emptiness.

I replied with only two words: "As you wish."

For the next five days, Ronan was busy placating Vesper and preparing for the ceremony.

He only saw me twice. Both times, he was in a rush, just spouting a few pleasantries before leaving.

"Cressida, you've been so quiet lately. I'm pleased," he said during our second meeting. "You're finally learning to see the bigger picture."

The bigger picture? I almost laughed out loud.

Would he still say that if he knew what I was planning?

"Yes," I replied calmly. "I understand what's most important now."

He nodded, satisfied. "The ceremony is tomorrow. Are you ready?"

"Of course."

He had no idea that for the past five days, I had been in constant contact with The Hidden Path, confirming every detail of my escape.

"New ID, bank accounts, the house in Alaska—it's all ready," my contact said. "And the most important part—the body double."

"What did you use?" I asked.

"A golem forged by dark magic," he said in a low voice. "It's infused with your blood. No one will be able to tell the difference. But remember, the body will only last for three days in the seawater."

"That's long enough."

"Remember to take the potion an hour before the ceremony. It will completely change your wolf's signature."

I nodded, clutching the small vial in my hand.

On the eve of the ceremony, I stood before a full-length mirror.

Wearing the white gown made of moon-thread, I looked like the perfect Luna. Elegant, noble, full of hope.

But only I knew that this was the last time the woman named Cressida would appear in any mirror.

Tomorrow, she would fall into the sea and disappear forever.

And this sham of a Mating Ceremony would finally be over.