Chapter 2

I didn’t make it out of the territory.

Just before I could reach the guards sent to retrieve me, Viggo’s men dragged me like captured prey to the dark, underground ritual chamber.

The cold stone altar, the ancient runes, the chilling ceremonial tools.

They bound me tightly to the altar. Silver chains, cold as ice, shackled my wrists and ankles.

Every time I struggled, the silver seared angry red marks into my skin.

“Let me go! Viggo!”

The door opened.

Viggo strode in, followed by the pack’s Healer.

The white-haired old man trembled as he examined my wounds, then turned to Viggo.

“Alpha, the pup in Odette’s womb is very unstable from the energy blast,” the Healer said, his voice filled with worry. “It needs to be nourished with life force, and the Luna… she is the only option.”

“Then begin,” Viggo said, his face a blank mask.

“But…” the Healer said cautiously, “this kind of forced life-draining ritual is extremely harmful to the giver. It could permanently damage the Luna’s wolf.”

My blood ran cold.

Permanently damage my wolf?

I knew exactly what that meant.

It meant I would be stripped of my wolf. I would become a shell. Powerless. Lower than an Omega.

“You said it could. That means it’s not a certainty,” Viggo said coldly. “She was protected by the Moonheart stone for years. She’ll be fine. Prepare the ritual.”

“No… Viggo, you can’t…”

My wolf thrashed inside me, howling in despair.

I couldn’t believe it. The man who once swore to protect me with his life was now about to destroy everything I was.

Seeing the shock on my face, Viggo walked to the altar.

He reached out and stroked my cold cheek. His rough thumb trembled, just for a second. His voice was almost gentle.

“Just bear it for a little while. It’ll be over soon.”

The words of a butcher coaxing a lamb to the slaughter.

The ritual began. Ancient runes around me lit up, their blood-red glow stinging my eyes.

I felt my life force being siphoned away, thread by painful thread, feeding the woman in the next room.

My wolf fought violently. The mate bond screamed with a pain that tore me apart.

“Ahhh…” I couldn’t stop a groan of agony.

“Endure it,” Viggo said coldly. “For my heir.”

I desperately told myself to accept it. This was the final price for our ten-year bond.

And then, I sent a silent, frantic prayer to the Moon Goddess.

My hands flew to my flat stomach, shielding it.

My twins. My pups. They could not be harmed.

Halfway through the ritual, my body started to go cold and convulse.

I could barely breathe.

I felt the drain of my life force slowing, and I thought the cruel ritual was finally ending.

But just then, a weak moan came from the next room.

“Viggo… am I going to die…? It hurts… our pup…”

Viggo’s movement to embrace me stopped.

His hand froze in mid-air. He turned and ordered the Healer.

“Continue the ritual. Strengthen the transfer.”

The Healer’s eyes went wide with shock. “Alpha, any more will kill her!”

“She is carrying my heir,” Viggo’s voice was a blade of ice. “She is the priority.”

My voice came out as a raw whisper. “Do… do as he says.”

As long as this could all be over. As long as he would let me go.

“After this… let me go…”

Viggo’s face changed. The guilt and connection in his eyes vanished, replaced by a hard coldness. The insecurity hidden beneath his arrogance erupted.

“Enough,” he snarled. “Stop threatening to leave me. You know you can't live without me. Your life, your wolf—it all belongs to me! Behave, and I'll make it up to you.”

Before my weak body could respond, Odette’s call came again.

“Viggo, I’m scared…”

He turned and left without a second thought, going to his Omega’s side, leaving me to endure this lethal pain alone.

In my agony, I remembered that inspection tour at the mines a few years ago.

I was gravely injured by an energy blast, on the brink of death.

When Viggo heard the news, he immediately abandoned an important alliance meeting and rushed back.

He never left my side, watching over me for three days and three nights without sleep.

When I finally woke up, healed, he was so thrilled he rewarded every healer who had helped me and announced the good news to the entire pack.

Late that night, when it was just the two of us, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He pressed me into the bed, kissing me over and over.

“Promise me you’ll never leave, okay?”

He stroked the mating mark on my neck and entered me, his love so deep it threatened to consume me.

Back then, I thought that love would last forever.

But everything changed when he found the agreement.

The agreement my pack had signed with his father.

Me. The Luna empowered by the Moonheart stone. Traded. For ten vital mining territories that saved my pack.

He was furious. He believed all my past affection for him had been a lie.

It didn't matter how many times I explained I knew nothing about it.

It didn't matter that I told him both I and my wolf truly loved him.

All that was left in his eyes was suspicion and indifference. All the love vanished in an instant.

And now, as my life force drained away faster and faster, I sank into darkness and passed out.

Finally… am I paying you back for everything? I’m so tired…

…

Two days later.

I woke up in the medical center. I could feel my wolf was now just a faint whisper inside me. I couldn’t stop coughing, even just sitting up.

Tears streamed down my face, beyond my control.

I could never be a warrior again. My Beta strength was gone.

Then, in the next second, I felt it… a faint flutter of life from deep within my belly.

Relief washed over me.

My pups are still here.

Thank the Goddess. You’re still protecting your mama.

“You’re awake.” Viggo walked in with a bowl of warm broth. “Drink this. Get your strength back. Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?”

But I had no energy left to respond to his half-hearted concern.

I fought back the wave of nausea that came with the pregnancy and stared at him, my eyes blank. Like he was a complete stranger.

“Hand me my phone,” my voice was polite and distant.

He hesitated for a second, then did as I asked.

The screen showed dozens of unread messages, all from the same unknown, encrypted channel.

Maybe my attitude was starting to make him panic. For the first time in ages, he actually showed interest in my affairs.

“Who is this?” Viggo asked with a frown.

“Someone you don’t know,” I said flatly.

“Nyxia!” he snarled, grabbing my chin. “How long will you keep up this cold act? I'm feeding you myself. What more could you possibly want?”

A dull ache started in my chest, but I looked away.

This rage of his was so familiar.

Before, whenever he got angry, I would frantically try to soothe him.

But now, my weakened wolf left me exhausted and in pain.

I didn’t have any energy left to care about his feelings.

Just then, through our still-solid mate bond, I felt Odette calling for him.

I closed my eyes and spoke softly. “Your Omega is looking for you, Alpha.”

Viggo froze. The fire in his eyes vanished, replaced by a flash of stung embarrassment.

Then, he got up and left the room to answer the mind link.

I watched him go and picked up my phone.

The voice on the other end was frantic. “Nyxia, you promised you were coming back! Our people were waiting, but you never showed. Don’t you want to return to the pack? I’ve prepared everything for you. Please, just come back for a short visit, is that okay…?”

Listening to his anxious concern, my voice became warmer than it had been in years.

“There was a little accident. Don’t worry. Give me a few more days. I’ll be there soon.”