Chapter 4

Adrian's face darkened. He grabbed Zoe by the wrist and dragged her out into the back garden.

"Are you insane? I warned you never to show your face at the Alpha's manor! If your sister finds out, you know the consequences!"

I walked to the second-floor window, which gave me a clear view of the garden.

Adrian was furious. He shoved Zoe away, and I could feel the violent surge of his emotions through our bond.

"Are you trying to risk the entire pack for this?!"

"Couldn't this have waited?"

Zoe's voice trembled, tears streaming down her face. "Adrian, I… I need to talk to you."

Terrified, Zoe pulled a lab report from her purse.

"I know I shouldn't have come… but this is about our future!"

"I'm pregnant. The doctor said last night was too rough… it's a nine-week-old pup, and the pregnancy is unstable now."

"Adrian, I know I shouldn't be causing you trouble, but I'm so scared. What if there's something wrong with your bloodline? This is your first heir."

Those words were like a silver dagger to my soul, tearing me to shreds.

My mate's betrayal felt like a wolf's claws had ripped my chest open, leaving it raw and bleeding.

Zoe was… also pregnant with Adrian's pup?

I remembered Adrian had told me that having a pup too soon would dilute the purity of our mate bond, that he only wanted our union to be about that primal, wolfish love.

Back then, I was so captivated by his supposed devotion that I believed his bullshit and had been on contraceptives ever since.

Only now did I realize how casually he'd been spreading his seed elsewhere.

From the very beginning, he simply never wanted to have an Alpha heir with me.

At the word "pregnant," Adrian froze.

He stared intently at Zoe's stomach, his lips trembling, and his tone suddenly softened.

"Nine weeks? You really do need to be extra careful at this stage."

"An Alpha's heir. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong."

"Go wait in the car. I'll arrange for the pack's best healer to give you a full examination immediately."

Zoe's tears turned to a smile, and she stood on her toes to offer him a kiss.

Adrian's wolf eyes darkened like the deep sea for a moment, but he gently turned away.

"This is the Blackwood manor. Behave yourself."

"Besides, you need to think about the Alpha pup in your belly now."

"Don't provoke me."

Zoe giggled. "So the best healer… will that be my sister?"

"Shut up!" Adrian warned sharply. "Don't you ever mention this in front of Camilla!"

"I'm warning you, watch your mouth."

My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

I watched Adrian walk back toward the manor.

I quickly stepped back into the room and sat back down at the dining table.

A nine-week-old Alpha pup. That meant it was conceived the night I first realized he didn't come home.

I touched my own stomach, feeling nothing but sorrow for this unborn child.

I'm so sorry, my little one. Your mommy is useless. I can't give you a whole, happy family.

Soon, Adrian walked in.

"Camilla, the Elder Council has called an emergency meeting."

"I have to go. You be good and wait for me here at the manor for the next couple of days."

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

I smiled gently and nodded obediently. "I'll wait for you."

Seeing that I seemed perfectly normal, he kissed my forehead in relief and then left.

He was always so perfect with his goodbyes, effortlessly switching between his Alpha masks for me and for Zoe.

I stared at his departing back, then glanced at the calendar on the wall.

One more day.

This might be the last time we ever see each other.

That afternoon, my phone vibrated without warning.

On the screen was a healer's diagnostic report.

It was followed by another image: a photo of Adrian, his hand placed gently on Zoe's slightly swollen belly, his expression focused and reverent.

It was the look of a man longing for his bloodline to continue, a man full of hope for a new life.

A look he had never once given me.

Even though the sender was an unknown number, the identity of the person who sent it was obvious.

I suppose carrying the Blackwood pack's Alpha heir in her belly gave my little sister the courage to provoke the true Luna.

But she didn't know that none of it mattered to me anymore.

My heart was already dead, and I was determined to disappear from their world.

A text message slowly appeared beneath the images:

'Sister, the healer says it's a boy. I'm carrying the next Alpha of the Blackwood pack.'

I looked at Zoe's taunting message on my phone screen and calmly replied with a single word: "Congratulations."

Then I switched off my phone and walked to the window.

A black SUV was parked outside the manor gates. I recognized the license plate.

It was the vehicle Elder Slone had sent to pick me up.

I picked up the small suitcase I had already packed, which contained only a few changes of clothes and a family heirloom from my mother.

I was leaving everything else behind, including the lavish gowns befitting a Luna.

Since I was accepting the highest level of the Moon Goddess's Veil, I had to sever all ties with my past life in the werewolf world.

All of that belonged to Camilla Blackwood, and she was about to disappear completely.

The car moved through familiar streets.

Every inch of this city was marked by the Blackwood pack, and every corner held a memory of Adrian and me.

But now, with my connection to the pack-link feeling so faint, none of it had anything to do with me.

While waiting at a red light, fate played a cruel joke on me.

I glanced absentmindedly out the window and suddenly saw a familiar silver sports car.

Adrian was in the driver's seat, and Zoe was beside him.

They were talking, and Zoe's hand was resting on her stomach, a triumphant smile on her face.

Just then, Adrian happened to turn his head, and our eyes met.

All the color drained from his face. His amber eyes filled with shock and confusion.

He seemed to recognize me, frantically rolling down his window to call my name.

But I slowly raised my own window, shutting out his voice.