In a fit of rage, I slapped Barnett. He, too, was shocked by Carol's words. "Carol! How dare you slander Fera in front of everyone?"

Carol responded shakily, “I’m sorry, Barnett. I didn’t realize she was your mate.”

Then, she turned to me with a hint of regret in her voice. “Barnett already announced to all of Northaria that I was carrying his child to protect my reputation. I apologize, Fera.

“But don’t worry. I won’t let them mistreat your child! I will raise him as my own, but... they will never call you 'Mom'.”

I was furious. I was just about to demand answers from Barnett —how could he be so heartless, prioritizing Carol's reputation over our child—when he turned to me, his eyes glistened with tears.

Apologetically, he said, “I’m sorry, Fera. I promised Carol’s brother to take care of her and his parents.

“Carol has always been a gentle and quiet girl. Everyone in the pack would point fingers at her if they found out she was pregnant before she found a mate. What if she can't bear the shame and takes her own life because of the gossip?!”

That was it! Carol was the sister of Barnett's former comrade. To honor his vow, Barnett was ready to expose our pup to scrutiny and rumors in a pack where lineage held great importance.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come clean about our son’s identity soon.”

“Once Carol turns 18 and is assigned a mate, I’ll tell our packmates of our relationship and clarify our son’s birthright.”

I looked at this selfish man I called my mate, and for the first time, regretted compromising.

When I returned to Barnett’s castle, people were carrying an unending stream of pregnancy and newborn necessities.

There were ivory wind chimes and a brocade-covered cradle with the words “Carol's Son” written on it.

Carol boasted, “I apologize, Fera. I didn't know you were expecting too, so I put my name on all of them.

“I can give you one or two pieces for free if you want, though. Barnett had them specially made from various packs. They’re very expensive.“

As tears welled up in my eyes, Barnett scolded her, but Carol playfully stuck her tongue out. “Fine! I'm sorry. Who knew she couldn't take a joke?”

Barnett was about to console me when a middle-aged couple barged in and reprimanded Carol. “The entire pack is talking about your pregnancy, Carol! Explain yourself!

“You don’t even have a mate yet! You've brought shame upon our family!”

They were none other than Carol’s parents. They were quite traditional, which was why Carol made sure to keep up her facade of the good daughter despite how she very much was not.

Unable to accept her daughter’s premarital pregnancy, Carol’s mother started to cough blood.

Barnett quickly stepped forward and explained that Carol’s pup was his. Even though the Moon Goddess had not assigned a mate for him, he would still accept Carol as his mate and make her Thorn pack’s Luna.

Only then did Carol’s parents leave.

After sending them off, Barnett turned to me. “You saw it yourself, Fera. Carol’s parents are very traditional. I had no choice but to claim her pup.

“You understand, don’t you, Fera? You always have.” He looked at me pleadingly.

Before I could accept what was happening, Carol’s family had forcefully moved themselves into the palace as if they owned it.

As the future Luna, Carol replaced the curtains, artworks, and decorations that I had carefully chosen, and changed them to her preferred styles.

I was ready to intervene, but Barnett restrained me.

“Carol’s parents are still here. They can’t know that you decorated the palace. Don’t worry, I'll make sure everything is restored once they depart.”

Carol then settled into the grandest and most luminous guest room available.

Barnett, being a cowardly and self-centered man, would always choose to stand on Carol’s side whenever any arguments arose between us.

He devoted most of his attention to Carol, leaving me with little of his time. Fearing I might leave, he had a witch cast a spell on me, binding me to the castle until after the birth of my child.

I reached out to the unseen barrier outside the castle walls and felt trapped. I needed to get out of this place.

Growing up without my parents, I understood the weight of living under constant judgment, and I refused to subject my child to the same scrutiny.

Desperate to leave, I turned to Carol for assistance, believing she would help me escape the palace as it was in her best interest. Yet, to my dismay, she promptly divulged my intentions to Barnett.

“How could a good girl like me go against Barnett’s wishes?” she said mischievously.

Barnett, in turn, reinforced the spell and commended Carol for her apparent empathy.

“Why can't you show more compassion? Take a leaf out of Carol's book.”

I struggled to feign kindness, my tolerance for Barnett wearing thin.

“Why do you keep thinking about leaving me?” Barnett stealthily entered my room through the window in the dead of night.

“Fera, I promise I won’t prolong your suffering. Just a few more months, please. You know I love you, Fera.” His expression was tender, but I only felt repulsion.

I reluctantly nodded. “But you must remove the hex. I can't remain confined in the castle constantly. I need to bask in the sunlight.”

Elated, he agreed to my request and pulled me into his arms.

I suppressed the urge to push him away and began to plot my escape. Before I could execute my plans, chaos had arrived at my door.

“Look at this scarf, Fera! Barnett was worried I would feel cold, so he had the dressmakers stitch it for me. It’s even got his clan emblem on it!” Carol flaunted.

I ignored the scarf in her hands, but my eyes were drawn to the pearl necklace on her neck.

I could not believe my eyes. “Where did you get that necklace from?”

“You recognize it, don’t you? It’s yours! I forgot to bring accessories when I moved to the palace, so I asked Barnett for some and he gave this to me without hesitation,” she said proudly.

I stepped forward to grab it. “Give it back! It’s mine!”

I swear I had not even touched her, yet she stumbled backward, clutching her stomach with a pained expression on her face.

“Fera, What are you doing?!" Barnett rushed forward to help Carol to her feet. “She’s pregnant! Why would you push her?!”

“I didn’t push her! But you, how could you give her my necklace?! You know that’s all I have left of my parents!”

“It’s just a necklace! How could you push Carol over something so trivial? When did you become so heartless?” Barnett raised his voice at me.

He had his guards summon the pack physician and then gently consoled her, while Carol hid a mischievous grin in his embrace.

Barnett locked me in my room and insisted that I repent for my mistakes. He forbade anyone from bringing me food until I had sufficiently made amends.

That night, Barnett came into my room exhausted. “Do you know what you’ve done, Fera?! The physician says that Carol’s pup might not survive!

“Because of your mistake, I have to go and look for birthing herbs in other packs now. I hope you’ve realized your mistakes by the time I’ve returned.”

Barnett’s attempt at guilt-tripping me was laughable, but after a whole day of starvation, I did not have the energy to argue.

The next day, Barnett’s subordinates rushed into my room once he had left the pack.

“Miss Fera, our pack values respect and tradition over many else. We wolves mate for life.

“Your shamelessness has led you to bear the pup of an unknown man. Yet you continue to linger by Mr. Barnett’s side. We will not allow you to tarnish his reputation.

“This concoction will get rid of the fatherless pup in your stomach. Drink it and leave.”

They grabbed my body and forced me to swallow the concoction. My pup was the only family I had in this world, I refused to let them hurt it.

I struggled with all my might, but it was to no avail. A starving woman was no match against Barnett’s strong subordinates. After forcing it down my throat, they threw me out of the castle.

I felt blood trickle down my legs. As my unborn pup slipped through my fingers, I felt the hex lift.

I could not leave yet. My necklace was still with Carol.

Weakly, I crawled until a pair of clean boots appeared before me. I looked up to see the woman I had been looking for.

“How pitiful you are, Fera. Tsk. Get your filthy hands away from me!” She stomped on my hand with disgust.

“Give my necklace back to me…” I struggled to stand and snatch what was mine.

“As if I would want something so cheap.” As if out of the kindness of her heart, Carol took off the necklace and threw it far away.

“Go pick it up and scram, Fera. You’ll never win against me.” She mocked and left with a contemptuous smile.

It took all my strength to pick up the necklace from where she threw it before I fell unconscious by the bushes.

Suddenly, warm hands wrapped around me and an elderly woman brushed my hair away from my neck. After a careful examination, she exclaimed shakily, “Her birthmark! The necklace! It's Fera! We've found her!”

A week later, Barnett returned to the castle and headed straight to where Carol was.

He spent a long while asking how she felt, before recalling my existence.

“Where’s Fera?” Barnett asked, “I brought her a gift.”

His guards’ hesitance had uneasiness creeping into his chest.

It was too late. The elderly couple had already taken me away, and a new chapter of my life had just begun.