When the Alpha’s Scent Fades

Wesley Silvermoon's hand tightened around my neck. The violent frenzy raging in his eyes was almost spilling over.

I was so suffocated that I started to see black.

I didn't resist. I shut my eyes, resigned to my fate. Dying like this wasn't a bad choice either.

Just when I was about to lose my consciousness forever, Brett the pup's shrilly scream pierced through our minds.

Wesley shuddered. The mania in his eyes was instantly replaced by panic. He immediately let go of me as if he just touched something scalding hot.

Then, he forcefully snapped the wrist that was choking me before.

"Maggie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it." Wesley apologized in a hoarse voice. His eyes reddened. He wanted to reach out to touch me, but he didn't dare.

I slumped to the ground, violently coughing and catching my breath.

Tears and snot ran down my face. I must have looked utterly wretched.

"Go and check on him," I said with difficulty.

Wesley turned around to coax the crying Brett, moving with practiced ease as he mixed formula and fed him.

Ever since I was diagnosed with post-partum depression, Wesley canceled all of his social activities.

Other than dealing with the pack, his entire day revolved around me.

Slowly, I became what the pack called a burden.

"The Alpha could've led us to conquer more territory if it were not for her! She held us back!"

"All she-wolves become mothers. She's the only one so fragile that she falls apart just because she can't smell her mate's scent."

"If Rowena hadn't returned to help out with the pack, our pack would have been in a mess!"

Rowena Sawthorne. Wesley's first love.

The door suddenly opened.

Rowena stood by the door. When she saw Wesley's exhausted face, her eyes instantly reddened.

"My Luna, Maggie Nyx, I beg you! Please let Wesley go! Look at what you've done to him! You're almost crushing him!"

My heart clenched violently. The suffocating pressure was overwhelming me once more, so that I could barely breathe.

Wesley subconsciously walked over to me. Just when he was about to pull me into his arms, Rowena blocked his path.

She gently held his hand, the one that he broke because he hurt me.

Alphas had strong healing abilities. His bones fully recovered. All that was left was a little red and swollen wrist.

"Wesley, does your hand hurt?" Rowena asked gently.

Wesley shook his head.

She turned to me and said through gritted teeth, "Maggie, can you stop being so capricious? You might not feel sorry for Wesley, but I do!"

Brett was frightened by her sudden rise in volume. He started bawling.

They both looked alarmed.

Rowena instantly went up to pick Brett up to check on him, while Wesley took his phone out to contact a clinic.

The way they huddled together and talked quietly was as if they were a real family. It hurt my eyes.

I pushed myself up and headed over, but Wesley stopped me.

"Don't worry about Brett. Just look after yourself first," he said in a low voice.

Then, he left with Rowena and Brett in a hurry.

He was right. I couldn't even look after myself. How could I possibly look after my pup?

I wasn't a qualified mother, nor a qualified mate.

I chuckled self-deprecatingly.

With a loud slam, the door was shut. I suddenly remembered that Wesley confiscated some Wolfsbane from a traitor in the pack. Apparently, there was no antidote for it.

I walked over to the safe and retrieved the Wolfsbane, adding them to a glass of water.

Then, I drank it all in one go.

My body started to burn.

I knew my life had begun its countdown.