Kieran was gone for three days straight. During those three days, Cecelia sent me taunting videos every single day.

In the clips, Kieran was gently coaxing Tyra with toys while Cecelia leaned intimately against his shoulder, smiling sweetly as she watched the father-daughter interaction.

I endured the heartache and watched every video she sent. There were clips of him keeping watch by Cecelia's hospital bed deep into the night, feeding her soup, and holding Tyra with nothing but adoration in his eyes.

Each video felt like a needle piercing my heart.

The pain kept coming until suddenly, I realized I could not feel it anymore. Perhaps my heart had already died the moment I was locked in that freezer.

I was about to block Cecelia's number when my phone buzzed again. It was a photo of my mom's crystal bracelet being toyed with in Cecelia's hands.

[Want your mother's keepsake? Then come get it.]

I shot to my feet so fast that my vision went black from the lingering blood loss. Yet, I did not care.

I grabbed my coat and rushed out.

In the hospital room, Cecelia was holding Tyra and humming a lullaby softly. "Daddy loves you the most, doesn't he? Daddy's Alpha power will be passed down to you someday..."

She looked up when she saw me, her smile deepening. She said, "You came? Did you know that during my stay here, Kieran hasn't even gone on his territory patrols? He's been right here, using his pheromones to comfort me and our future heir."

She deliberately emphasized the word heir.

My nails dug deep into my palms as I asked coldly, "Where's the bracelet?"

Cecelia leisurely picked up the antique crystal bracelet from the bedside table and dangled it from her fingertips. "You mean this?"

She flashed a cruel smile and said, "Here's the deal. With your human body, bow to me, Kieran's future Luna, and I'll consider giving it back."

I trembled with rage. "Don't go too far."

Cecelia's eyes were full of disdain, her arrogance on full display. "So what if I do? Elise, you're nothing but a fragile, short-lived human, while I possess the purest Alpha bloodline! What right do you have to compete with me for Kieran's affection? Bowing to me is an honor!"

She pretended to loosen her grip. "I'll count to three... If you don't get on your knees, I'll drop it. One, two..."

I bit my lip so hard I nearly drew blood. My knees felt like they were filled with lead, but they finally crashed heavily onto the cold floor as I bowed down with my forehead touching the ground.

Cecelia burst out laughing. "Look at you! You really do look like a pathetic dog."

She raised her hand, and I reached out to catch it. However, she released her fingers just half a step away from me.

The crystal bracelet shattered on the floor, breaking into several pieces.

Cecelia covered her grin with a look of mock surprise. "Oh, my! How careless of you! You couldn't even catch it."

I trembled and had just lunged forward to gather the pieces when Cecelia suddenly screamed and fell backward against the wall.

At that moment, the door was violently pushed open. Kieran and Lucian stood in the doorway with grim expressions, followed by several other elders.

"What are you doing?!" Lucian demanded sternly, his voice carrying Alpha authority that made me feel suffocated.

Cecelia threw herself into Kieran's arms, crying. "Kieran! My stomach hurts so much... Oh, and check Tyra quickly! I just saw Elise pinching and hitting her..."

Kieran frantically picked up the pup to examine her, lifting her clothes to reveal tender skin covered in purple bruises from pinching.

I stared in disbelief. "I didn't! I never even touched her!"

I shook my head desperately as Lucian glared at me with venom in his eyes. Suddenly, a blow heavy with werewolf strength struck me across the face. My vision went black, my ears rang, and blood dripped from the corner of my mouth.

"You vile woman!" Lucian's voice sounded like an echo. "You dare harm a pregnant she-wolf and an innocent pup!"

Another Elder said coldly, "The last punishment was too lenient. Guards, drag her to the punishment chamber and give her 20 lashes!"

Kieran clenched his fists tightly and stepped forward. "Elders!"

"You still want to protect her?!" Lucian interrupted harshly. "She harmed your own bloodline! Even if you plan to run away with her, it doesn't change that this pup carries your blood!"

I trembled, instinctively looking toward Kieran.

He still stood there with his knuckles white from clenching. He looked at me with such struggle, such pain in his eyes. Yet, under Lucian's unyielding stare, it slowly shifted into hopeless calm.

Kieran slowly turned his face away, silently accepting the punishment. I stared blankly at his averted face, feeling my heart being torn apart.

Then, unexpectedly, the corners of my mouth slowly curved upward as I began to laugh.

I laughed at myself for being so foolish as to actually believe he would take me away.

I laughed at my stupidity for thinking those vows could outweigh a pureblooded heir.

I laughed at my naivety for still hoping he would choose me at the crucial moment.

...

In the punishment chamber, wolf guards pinned me down, forcing me to kneel on the stone slab in the center.

The first lash came down, and my vision went black.

In a daze, I remembered when I had broken up with Kieran on the day he decided to rebel against his family to be with me. That night it poured rain, and he stood outside my window, letting the storm drench him until he burned with a high fever.

When I went to see him, he was delirious with fever. Yet, he still grabbed my hand and said, "Elise, remember... Even if it means fighting the whole world, I want only you as my mate."

The second lash fell, and I bit through my lip, the metallic taste spreading through my mouth. I remembered how he had flown halfway across the country overnight just because I had accidentally transmitted a hint of fear through our mind-link in the middle of the night.

The third and fourth lashes quickly came after. Each strike felt like it was tearing my soul apart, hurting more than the wounds splitting open on my back.

At the 15th lash, I seemed to hear his gentle voice from years ago when I was injured. "How did you get hurt again? Let me lick it... It won't hurt for much longer..."

By the 19th lash, my consciousness was fading, and my ears were buzzing. I thought I heard someone calling my name, but I could not tell if it was real or a hallucination.

Finally, the last lash struck, and I could not hold on anymore. My vision went black as I completely passed out.

Just before losing consciousness, I saw Kieran anxiously pulling me into his arms.

When I woke up again, I was lying face down on a bed. Even the slightest movement sent searing pain across my back.

"Elise!" Kieran immediately rushed over, his eyes bloodshot with exhaustion. "You're awake? Does it still hurt?"

I looked at his anxious expression and felt suddenly disoriented. In the past, when I had a common cold, he would stay by my bedside like this, never leaving my side. He would wrap me in his warm fur and lick my forehead with his slightly rough tongue to comfort me.

However, this time, it was not a fever.

I had been whipped by his pack with his silent consent, and he had watched coldly from beginning to end.

I silently pulled my hand away, unwilling to look at him.

Kieran stiffened for a moment before speaking again to explain. "Elise, it's not that I didn't want to stop them, but in that situation, the more I resisted, the harsher the Elders' punishment would have been. Elder Lucian even considered executing you! I had to protect your life first."

"So," I said with a hoarse voice, "you also believe I hurt your pup?"

Kieran's Adam's apple bobbed once. Ultimately, he chose silence.

This moment of silence was like a dull blade, brutally cutting through my last shred of hope.

With reddened eyes, I slowly said, "I'll ask you just one question: Kieran Wolfe, in the name of the moon and our mate bond, do you believe me?"

Kieran frowned, anger creeping into his voice. "Elise, there are bruises on Tyra, and Cecelia named you herself. There's a witness and evidence. How do you expect me to believe you?

"Didn't I tell you that everything would be fine once this was all over? Why did you have to provoke Cecelia?"

My tears suddenly started falling. I thought I would not feel pain anymore, but my chest still felt like it was being viciously torn apart. I hurriedly turned my head away, not wanting him to see me looking so pathetic and weak.

"Go," I whispered so quietly it was barely audible.

"Just wait a little longer, okay?" His voice softened as he tried to approach me again. "Soon, once Cecelia gives birth to this pup, we'll definitely be able to leave. I swear I'll take you to see the southern seas that never freeze."

We would go back to how things were?

I closed my eyes, my throat tightening. I knew well that we could never go back. After all, he had Cecelia now and two pups. For their sake, he had hurt me again and again, choosing others over me time after time.

I slowly turned over to face away from him, not wanting to say another word.

Kieran looked at me, his face twisted with pain. In the end, he only reached out to brush my hair, whispering, "Sleep. I'll stay here with you..."

Before he even finished, the door was violently pushed open, and a beta stood there frantically. "Alpha! Ms. Donati has been crying and calling for you! The healer says emotional fluctuations may hurt the pup..."

Kieran frowned. He glanced at my turned back and hesitated for a moment. Then, he stood up. "Elise, I..."

I let out a self-mocking laugh and murmured, "Go."

"Wait for me. I'll go check on them, then come right back to take care of you."

Watching his retreating figure, I smiled bitterly. 'You're a liar, Kieran. You won't be coming back.'

Sure enough, he never returned that night.

I was discharged the next day, and it was pouring rain outside. I packed my belongings and stood at the hospital entrance, watching Kieran's car slowly approach.

As soon as I opened the car door, I saw Cecelia holding Tyra in the passenger seat.

"Kieran..." Cecelia saw me and immediately shrank closer to him. "I...I haven't recovered from the shock yet..."

She covered her lower abdomen, her voice trembling. "She can hurt me if she wants, but she can't hurt Tyra. Can you...give me a little more time? Please don't make me ride in the same car with her for now."

I froze as I stared at the seat that used to belong to me.

Kieran was silent for a long time, then finally pushed his door open and handed me a large umbrella. "Elise, wait here for a while. I'll take Cecelia home first and come right back to pick you up."

With that, he closed the window, and the black car sped away. I stood there motionless, watching the car carrying the family of three disappear at the end of the road. I closed my eyes, feeling like there was a huge hole in my chest that could never be filled, with cold wind rushing through it.

I waited for a long time, until the rain grew heavier and the sky turned completely dark. Kieran had promised to come back for me, but he never did.

My phone had died, and I called out to him repeatedly through our mind link. Yet, there was only blocked silence on the other end.

Seeing the sky grow darker with no sign of the storm letting up, I had no choice but to open the heavy umbrella and walk home.

The fierce wind nearly snapped the umbrella frame as I stumbled forward. Suddenly, my foot slipped and I fell hard into a muddy puddle. The umbrella cracked with a sharp sound, and rain instantly soaked through my entire body.

By the time I finally made it home in my messy state, it was already deep into the night.

As I stood dripping wet in the entryway, I heard Cecelia's tearful voice coming from the living room.

Her voice was soft and trembling. "Kieran, I know you only have Elise in your heart... But this really is a special situation. M…my milk ducts are blocked, and it hurts so much, and Tyra keeps crying for milk."

She sobbed. "The usual methods don't work, and the healer said...perhaps the pup's father has to...help. Just think of it as for Tyra's sake, please help me. Don't worry. Elise will never know..."

I froze at the doorway, and it felt like all the blood in my body had run cold. In the living room, I could not see his expression, only his tense back.

After a long silence, I watched Kieran's left hand slowly rise, his fingertips parting Cecelia's clothing as his right hand slid over her pale skin. Then, right before my eyes, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against that softness.

I was struck motionless, like lightning had hit me directly.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each second feeling like a knife stabbing into my eyes and carving into my soul. I watched helplessly as Kieran leaned down. I watched as his lips touched Cecelia's chest, and I certainly watched as he sucked gently, over and over again.

Cecelia let out a satisfied moan, threading her fingers through his hair. "This side needs attention, too."

Kieran frowned slightly. "But that side isn't blocked, is it?"

Cecelia did not answer with words. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed his face against her. After a moment of silence, he lowered his head again.

I could not watch anymore and bolted into the rain. The storm poured down on me, but I felt no cold.

My mind was filled with memories of our first time together, how careful Kieran had been, how he had treasured me, and how he had whispered in my ear with that husky voice, "Elise, you're my first, and you'll be my last..."

Now, those same lips were on another woman.

My heart ached, and it hurt worse than the lashes. I bent over and crouched in the rain until my legs went numb, waiting until the mansion's lights finally went out before stumbling back like a lost soul and collapsing in an empty room.

The fever hit hard and fast in the middle of the night.

Half-conscious, I heard Kieran's deep, gentle voice from the master bedroom. He was humming an old werewolf lullaby, one used to soothe their young.

Of course, he was doing prenatal bonding with the pup in Cecelia's belly, using a method reserved only for the closest of kin.

Just like he had once promised me, saying, "When we have our pup, I'll sing our ancestors' songs to help him sleep every night..."

I did not know how long had passed before I heard someone calling me.

"Elise? Elise?"

I struggled to open my eyes and saw Kieran sitting by the bed with a bowl of medicine. "How did you get this sick..."

He touched my forehead with the same gentle care as before. However, when he got close, all I could see was what I had witnessed in that bedroom.

I turned away, refusing his touch.

"Elise, I'll leave the medicine and water here." He paused, his voice strained. "Cecelia is sick and carrying my pup, plus she has Tyra to care for, so she'll be staying in our house for now. The master bedroom will be theirs for the time being...

"You'll stay in this room for the next few days and shouldn't leave, in case they catch something from you. I'll have the door locked from the outside, and Brad will bring you food and medicine."

Without waiting for my response, Kieran practically fled the room to go care for Cecelia and Tyra.

The lock clicked shut, and my tears fell instantly.

How ridiculous.

I had once been the treasure he held in the palm of his hand, but now I had become nothing but a danger that needed to be locked away.

...

Maybe it was Cecelia's doing, but over the next few days, no one brought me water or food on schedule. My fever would not break, leaving me dizzy and lightheaded, while I constantly heard laughter and joy from outside.

Kieran and Cecelia were watching old movies together, the same ones he used to watch with me countless times.

They shared candlelit dinners in the living room, just like the surprises he used to cook for me every month.

They were even discussing names for their future child, just like he used to hold me and whisper gently, "Elise, when we have children, we'll name the boy Logan and the girl Connie, okay?"

Now I heard him saying that if it were a male, they would name him Fenrir; if female, Seraphina.

I curled up on the bed, biting the blanket hard, refusing to let myself cry out loud.