Chapter 2

Six days before my “death.”

Alpha Wilson sat beside me, looking somewhat apologetic.

“Lily, Vivian wants to move into our home because the Elders want us to get pregnant with a puppy as soon as possible.”

He took my hand, his voice gentle.

“Could you stay at the Voss estate for a few days? Once she gives birth to the puppy, I’ll bring you back.”

I looked at him and did not ask why Vivian could not live somewhere else, why she had to move into our marital home.

Anyway, in six days I would no longer be here.

“All right.”

Wilson seemed not to have expected me to agree so readily. He paused, then pulled me into his arms.

“I’m sorry you’ve been wronged during this time.”

He drove me back to the Voss estate himself.

As soon as the car left our home, my stomach churned.

The early pregnancy symptoms were growing more severe. I covered my mouth, forcing down the urge to vomit.

Wilson immediately pulled over, took motion-sickness medicine, sour lemon candies, and a bottle of soda water from the glove compartment—things he always prepared carefully because of my severe carsickness.

He unscrewed the bottle and held it to my lips.

“Still want to throw up?”

“Much better. Thank you.”

I took the water, avoiding his hand.

Wilson did not mind. He peeled a lemon candy and offered it to me.

“Daring, your reaction is so strong this time… I almost thought it was morning sickness from pregnancy…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

The car fell silent.

Pregnancy had always been the topic we carefully avoided.

Humans rarely conceived a werewolf’s child.

When the Elders opposed our mate bond, apart from the bloodline issue, the greatest reason was that I might never be able to give Wilson an heir.

Back then he had held me and sworn that even if we never had children, he would never regret choosing me.

Now Vivian had returned.

The Elders needed a legitimate puppy heir, and he had personally placed the fake-death potion in my palm.

I lowered my head, sucked on the lemon candy, and forced down the sourness in my throat.

I was indeed pregnant.

Only this news he would never know.

“Just carsickness. You know that,” I replied lightly.

We did not speak again for the rest of the journey.

When the car stopped at the gates of the Voss estate, Xavier and Victor were already waiting.

“Lily!”

Xavier strode forward and pulled me into his arms.

“I can’t bear to let you go.”

His voice was a little hoarse.

I did not respond.

At thirteen I had been adopted by the Voss family.

Xavier and Victor had once protected me, driven away the werewolves who bullied me. They had accompanied me through the hardest days and told me that no matter what happened, the Voss family would always be my home.

Now they were the ones sending me away as well.

Victor took my luggage and said quietly, “Come inside first. The lawyer sent by the Elders has already arrived.”

In the study the family lawyer, the public-relations consultant, and the head of security were already seated.

On the table lay a prepared announcement.

Lily Sterling, Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, would die suddenly of an accident at the banquet six days later.

The time of death, funeral arrangements, location of the grave, even the exact time the public statement would be released—all were listed clearly.

Beside it lay a memorial photograph.

It had been taken last spring.

Wilson and I had gone to see the flowers. He noticed my hair ornament was crooked, carefully fixed it for me, then suddenly called the photographer over and insisted on taking a solo shot of me.

“Lily, smile.”

The look in his eyes then had been so tender it seemed I was the only person in the world.

“You’re so beautiful today.”

Then he kissed me.

Now that photograph had become my memorial portrait.

So he had long ago left behind the image most suitable for death.

Xavier picked up the documents and explained, “This is only to make the Elders believe you are dead. Once the storm passes, we will find a way to bring you back.”

“Will I still be able to contact you?”

Victor shook his head.

“No. You and Wilson have a mate bond. Any mental link could expose your location. Your phone and accounts must all be deactivated.”

“What if I get sick?”

“We’ll send a doctor.”

“What if I want to come home?”

Both men fell silent at the same time.

After a long while Xavier sighed.

“Lily, don’t make things difficult for your brothers. You know a pack cannot be without an heir.”

I looked at him and quietly touched my abdomen.

“So sacrificing me is acceptable?”

“That’s not what we mean!” Victor hurried to explain. “You’re only leaving temporarily. Once Vivian gives birth to the heir, everything will return to normal.”

I asked nothing more.

Even their words of comfort were identical to Wilson’s.

Before leaving, Xavier handed me a private travel permit.

“After your ‘death,’ you must leave immediately. This permit will get you through the northern border checkpoints.”

Victor handed me a small box.

Inside was the moonstone necklace Xavier had given me when I was thirteen.

“Take it,” he said quietly. “When you miss home in the new place, you can look at it.”

I gripped the box tightly and suddenly asked,

“If you had to choose between me and Vivian, you would still choose her, wouldn’t you?”

Neither of them answered.

I finally understood.

Some questions never needed answers.

After they left, I took out my phone and sent another message to my human friend.

【Carry out the plan strictly in six days. Also, please arrange a private plane for me.】

The place they had prepared for me was in the north. After my fake death, I would go south instead.

The reply came quickly: Received.

Six more days, and I could leave.