Chapter 7

Raelor’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

I realized he hadn’t heard what I said earlier, so I made up a reason on the spot. "Lyndra will be leaving the pack soon to travel."

Raelor nodded and did not ask further questions. It was clear he did not care about the answer. In his mind, my social circle, especially my friends, had never mattered.

Four days before the ceremony, a human photographer sent Raelor the edited travel footage of him and Seraphine.

On the sofa, the two of them leaned against each other like intimate mates.

"Raelor, does this shot look good? The lighting feels like the Moon Goddess’s blessing," Seraphine said softly.

"Mhm. The photographer handled the light well. It looks sacred. It suits you," Raelor replied in a low voice indulgently.

Just then, I returned from outside.

When Raelor saw me, he hurriedly pushed Seraphine away. His movements were slightly flustered. A trace of awkwardness flickered through his eyes before he quickly regained composure.

"Freya, you’re back just in time. Take a look at the video we filmed." Seraphine blinked at me with wide, innocent eyes.

I glanced at the floating projection.

In the footage, Raelor was wearing the ceremonial robe meant only for a Marking Ceremony. He looked handsome and imposing, while the she-wolf beside him nestled into his arms with a radiant smile.

I forced a faint smile. "It does look good."

That photographer and tailor were the very ones I had worked hard to secure. Now they were dressing someone else as the bride.

Raelor froze. He had not expected me to show no jealousy at all, much less praise Seraphine so generously.

Seraphine continued chattering.

Raelor, however, fell silent. His gaze remained fixed on me because he suddenly realized that I had not taken the initiative to speak to him for a long time.

During the week he and Seraphine stayed in Spring Valley, I had not sent a single message. I had not even used the Mind Link.

I had been too quiet. Unnaturally quiet.

Seraphine was still talking excitedly on the projection, but Raelor’s attention was entirely on me. An inexplicable unease rose in his chest.

Two days before the ceremony, I went to the Healing Sanctum to collect some spare moonlight herb.

I did not expect to run into Raelor and Seraphine in the rest chamber. She had just finished a pup examination.

Raelor stepped out to speak with Chief Healer Halven Gray. Only Seraphine and I remained inside.

Seraphine looked at the cup in my hand. It held Moon Spring water supplied exclusively to the pack.

"Freya, I heard Moon Spring water is good for the pup. May I have a sip?" she asked gently.

I did not wish to create trouble, so I handed the cup to her. She took it and turned her back to me to drink.

I had not even had time to leave when suddenly she clutched her abdomen. The cup fell from her hand and shattered against the floor.

"Ah! It hurts! My stomach!"

Her shrill scream drew Raelor in immediately.

He rushed inside and saw Seraphine collapsed on the floor while I stood nearby.

Seraphine was drenched in cold sweat. She pointed weakly at the spilled water. "Raelor… the water Freya gave me… it smells like wolfsbane… save our pup…"

Chief Healer Halven followed closely behind. He dipped a finger into the water on the ground. His fingertip instantly blistered and decayed.

"It is wolfsbane! How could wolfsbane appear inside the pack?!"

Every gaze in the room locked onto me.

Seraphine pointed at me, her expression full of pain and accusation.

Before I could defend myself—

Smack.

A loud slap struck my face.

Raelor’s palm stung from the force.

I staggered backward several steps. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. My cheek burned.

In the twenty years we had known each other, this was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me, and for another she-wolf.

Raelor’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted at me, "Freya! How can you be so vicious?! I knew something was wrong with you these past few days. So this is what you were waiting for!

"I’m warning you now. If anything happens to Seraphine or the pup, I will make you pay with your life!"

He lifted the unconscious Seraphine and rushed toward the emergency chamber like a mad wolf.

Before leaving, he turned back to look at me. There was nothing in his eyes but disgust and hatred, not a trace of the affection that once existed.

I covered my swollen cheek and stood there with reddened eyes, and then, unexpectedly, I laughed.

Good.

Very good.

That slap severed the very last thread tying my heart to him.