Chapter 8

The icy rain trickled down from my hair into my collar like a thousand cold little snakes.

I looked at my mud-caked hands and remembered the first time I went back to Aiden's family home with him years ago.

Aiden's mother had taken my hand, slipped the family heirloom onto my wrist, and sworn, "Elara, Black Moon will only ever recognize you as its Luna."

His relatives and friends had sworn on their lives, promising me, "Don't worry, Elara. If the Alpha ever dares to mistreat you, we'll be the first to stand against him."

It was all a lie.

Moments ago, the same woman who had called me her daughter, the one who swore to only recognize me as Luna, had personally handed a shard of the family's power, the moonstone, to that whore.

Those same "brothers" who had sworn to protect me were now fawning over the mistress carrying an illegitimate child.

It turned out that in this drama called "true love," I was the only fool.

They had all known about Cassia long before I did.

The pain hit me like a tsunami, shattering me completely. The agony of my wolf's spirit collapsing became unbearable.

My vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in the master bedroom's large bed.

Aiden was roaring at the pack healers in a low voice.

"She's been unconscious for three days! What good are any of you to me?"

"Alpha, Miss Elara's condition is due to damage to her wolf spirit caused by heartbreak. Medicine won't work..."

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

With the sound of shattering glass, the room fell silent.

Aiden's heavy breathing drew closer.

A pair of scorching hands took hold of my cold ones, and a continuous stream of Alpha energy tried to force its way into my body.

"Elara, please... don't scare me."

His voice trembled with an almost pathological panic. "Get better soon. If you get better, I'll give you anything you want."

You want to save me, but you are the poison.

Your energy is saturated with her scent. Forcing it into me will only make me sicker.

I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want to see his hypocritical, devoted face.

Late at night, I finally regained some strength, but my body felt as if it had been dismantled, and I still couldn't move.

A commotion suddenly erupted outside the door.

"Get out of my way! Don't block the path."

It was Cassia's voice.

Aiden's suppressed growl followed. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from the master bedroom while I'm taking care of Elara?"

"But Aiden..."

Cassia's voice instantly softened, laced with a seductive hook. "The baby misses its daddy. And... I brought you a little 'late-night snack.' Don't you want a taste?"

Then, all I could hear from outside was the rustle of clothes and heavy breathing.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

Cassia let out a soft, breathy laugh that could make one's legs go weak.

"You don't like it?"

"It's so cold outside, the rain is so heavy... Aiden, let me in to warm up, please?"

I gripped the bedsheets beneath me.

Don't come in.

Aiden, this is our marital bed. Please, if you have even a shred of humanity left...

Creeeak.

But the door was pushed open anyway.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel that nauseating, damp presence flood the room.

I didn't dare move, only peeked through a narrow slit in my eyelids at the floor-to-ceiling glass window.

Lightning outside ripped through the night sky, illuminating the reflection in the glass.

Two entangled figures, right on the long-haired sofa at the foot of my bed, tumbled together impatiently.

"Gently... don't wake your Luna..." Cassia deliberately lowered her voice, but it only made it clearer as it drilled into my ears.

"Shut up... you siren..."

Aiden had completely lost control.

The rain grew heavier, pattering against the glass. A chilling draft seeped in through the window's poor seal, piercing my bones and making my heart grow colder still.

The next morning.

I was awake. Alive, but my soul was dead.

Wrapped in a thick cashmere blanket, I was curled up on the balcony chaise, staring blankly at the rain-washed garden below.

In stark contrast to my calm, Aiden's eyes were filled with worry and panic.

Since I had woken up, I had eaten almost nothing. No matter how he coaxed me, I remained indifferent.

Bowls of nutrient broth were replaced one after another, but I stayed in the same position, not even glancing at him.

Aiden was frantic. The Luna ceremony was tomorrow, and I was still so listless.

Panic seized his heart. He fought to suppress the unease, knelt before me, and pleaded.

"Elara, please eat something. I know you have no appetite because you're sick, but your health is important."

"The coronation is tomorrow. All the pack leaders have arrived. How can you attend like this?"

"If something goes wrong, if this final step is ruined... my soul as an Alpha will shatter!"

I slowly turned my head to look at him.

Look at him.

This was the Alpha I had loved for ten years.

I was about to die, and all he was worried about was his pride and his Alpha soul.

"Aiden."

I finally spoke, my voice a raw whisper. "I want to go to Moon Goddess Falls."

That was the place where we professed our love.

And it was the most fitting place to bury it all.