Chapter 8

After Raelor came out of the emergency chamber, he did not listen to a single word of my explanation. He directly issued a confinement order.

Two high-ranking wolf guards stood at the entrance of the residence, sealing every exit.

"Freya, stay here and reflect on your actions," Raelor said coldly. "Until you realize your mistake and are willing to kneel and apologize to Seraphine."

He confiscated my communicator, cutting off all contact between me and the outside world.

He assumed that as a physically fragile Healer, once deprived of these, I would have no choice but to obey him and let him control me.

However, he forgot something. I sat alone in the empty stone house, listening to the steady footsteps of the guards outside.

Late the next night, Raelor returned. There was a faint herbal scent clinging to him. It was the calming pregnancy incense Seraphine often used.

"Seraphine is out of danger," he said. "But the pup was affected. It has become restless. You should be grateful the pup survived. Otherwise…"

He did not finish the sentence. The meaning was clear.

Seeing that I merely listened in silence, he assumed I had realized my mistake. His tone softened slightly, though it felt more like condescension.

"Attend tomorrow’s ceremony on time. I will tell the pack that your physical discomfort led to the incident. Considering you are about to become my mate—the future Luna—kneeling will not be necessary. But you will apologize to her before the pack and promise to use your healing gift to safeguard the pup.

"Also, Seraphine prefers to have more attendees. All pack members will attend tomorrow."

I looked at him. Words lodged in my throat.

Raelor frowned, clearly displeased by my silence. "This is your only chance to preserve your position as my mate and future Luna. Freya, do not test my patience."

He tossed a cheap ceremonial robe onto the floor and turned to leave. The sharp click of the lock echoed once more.

The next day, the full moon was nearly upon us.

I picked the lock.

Using the potent sedative powder I had hidden beneath my fingernails in advance, I dispersed it through the ventilation slit and quietly rendered the two guards unconscious.

I did not put on the robe that symbolized Luna status. Instead, I changed into fitted black attire suitable for movement.

Then I gave one last look at the place I had lived for five years.

Without looking back, I slipped through the hidden path behind the mountain and disappeared into the morning mist.

Meanwhile, outside the Healing Sanctum, Raelor carefully helped a seemingly- frail Seraphine into the carriage, preparing to head toward the altar.

On the way, he attempted to summon me through the Mind Link, issuing a command.

The connection felt empty. There was no response.

He did not think much of it. He assumed I was still sulking. He sent me a message, impatience evident.

"Have the ceremonial offerings been arranged? When are you arriving? Don't make everyone wait!"

No reply.

He scrolled back through our previous messages. Only then did he notice that for the past month, almost every message was from me.

"When are you returning to the den tomorrow? I made rabbit stew.

"Which beast fangs do you prefer for the ceremony decorations?

"For the altar flowers, I chose moonlight orchids. Is that alright?"

His replies were always the same: "Anything. You decide. Whatever."

The last message I sent had asked whether he would return for dinner. He had not even replied with "whatever".

A sudden, powerful unease clenched around his heart.

The last time he mentioned providing Seraphine with his bloodline, my gaze had been calmer than ever before.

From that day on, I had stopped initiating conversation. I had stopped waiting for him to return.

The unease intensified. He did not even bother changing into ceremonial attire. Leaving Seraphine behind, he shifted into wolf form and sprinted toward the square.

When he arrived at the altar plaza, his friends and his mother, Vaelira Thorne, were waiting near the entrance.

"Why haven’t you changed into ceremonial robes? Didn’t Freya come with you?" Vaelira asked, frowning at his disheveled state.

Raelor paused, forcing down the pounding in his chest. "She should already be at the altar."

However, there was no sign of me anywhere near the altar. Besides my absence, there were no pack members gathered to witness the ceremony. Only a few servants lingered, cleaning.

He grabbed a passing elder named Radley Burbridge. "The ceremony is about to begin. Where is Freya? Where is everyone?"

Elder Radley looked confused.

"Alpha, wasn’t the ceremony canceled half a month ago? Freya personally submitted the request to the Council of Elders. We approved it."

Raelor froze.

The ceremony… had been canceled?