After three full days of fever, I finally recovered.

The day I walked out of my room happened to be Tyra's official pack recognition ceremony: the Moonlight Ritual. The ceremony was held at the pack's sacred ground, a moonlit grove surrounded by ancient oak trees.

A bonfire blazed bright while the scent of roasted venison filled the air, and the werewolves drank honey mead as the atmosphere grew festive.

Lucian and several Elders beamed with joy as they held the swaddled Tyra while she received blessings from the pack members. Exquisite jewelry and precious toys were piled high like a small mountain.

"Kieran, this is for Cecelia." Lucian smiled as he handed over a wooden box. Inside was a ring set with an enormous milky-white gem that seemed to pulse with moonlight.

It was the Tear of the Moon Goddess.

He said, "She has given the Wolfe family a healthy bloodline."

Kieran slipped the ring onto Cecelia's finger and whispered gently, "You've done so well."

Cecelia blushed and leaned into his arms, and the family of three looked blissfully happy.

The guests circled Tyra, praising her endlessly.

"Tyra's cry is so strong. She'll definitely be a powerful warrior!"

Another said, "Her eyes are like Cecelia's, with the color of moonlight!"

"What a union of powerful bloodlines. Long live the Alpha Kieran and Ms. Donati!"

I stood in the corner watching it all. My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain.

Cecelia suddenly walked toward me with a wine glass, her smile sweet. "Ms. George, let's take a photo together under the moonlight?"

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

"Don't be shy." Cecelia grabbed my hand without waiting for an answer, forcibly dragging me in front of the camera.

Then, she lowered her voice and taunted me, saying, "Look how good Kieran is to me now. Every night he stays with me, wrapping me in his Alpha aura until I sleep."

I closed my eyes wearily, not wanting to listen or argue, just wishing it to end quickly.

The moment the shutter clicked and the camera captured the image, the massive totem pole behind us, a symbol of the pack's history, gave a sharp crack.

"Watch out!"

As the totem pole collapsed, Kieran rushed over and grabbed me. The huge wooden column crashed to the ground, scraping past my back and raising a cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, Cecelia was struck by splintered wood and the impact force of the collapse. She screamed as she fell, with a shocking pool of bright red blood spreading beneath her.

"Cecelia!" Kieran released me and rushed to her like a madman.

...

Outside the operating room, Kieran paced anxiously. Watching his restless state, I remembered how he had kept watch by my bedside all night when I was injured while gathering herbs in the mountains.

"Alpha Kieran!" The healer suddenly burst through the curtain. "Ms. Donati is hemorrhaging badly! The blood bank doesn't have her blood type. We need an immediate donation!"

"Take mine!" Kieran immediately said.

The healer exclaimed urgently, "That won't work! You're Type A, and Ms. George is Type O. Given her weakened state after the injury, she might not be able to handle the violent energy in an alpha's blood. It has to be human blood."

After hearing this, Kieran's gaze snapped to me. At that moment, I felt like I had been struck by lightning.

I stepped back abruptly, my voice trembling. "I won't do it."

My blood, the one thing they saw as special in this body they deemed a lowly human's, was now supposed to be used as a tool to save his heir?

"Elise!" Kieran grabbed my wrist, his eyes sharp. "This isn't the time for your tantrum! She's carrying the pack's heir! If something happens, we'll never be able to leave. Do you understand?"

My heart clenched painfully. I wondered if he was afraid we could not leave or that something would happen to their pup.

"What if I refuse?" I asked softly.

Kieran's face darkened. "I saved you, and that was what caused Cecelia's injury. You owe her this. Is giving a little blood really so hard?"

He looked at me with disappointment. "Elise, how did you end up like this?"

My heart stabbed with pain.

Had I changed?

He was the one who had pursued me relentlessly, saying I was his only possible mate.

He was the one who promised to recognize only me for life, who stood in the rain begging me to trust that he could handle everything.

Now he was saying I had changed?

My voice shook as I replied, "So, you regret saving me? If you could do it over, you'd save Cecelia and your pup first, wouldn't you?"

Kieran froze. "What are you talking about?!"

"Something's wrong! Ms. Donati is in critical condition!" the healer urged anxiously. "Any more delay and we'll lose both mother and pup! Alpha, make a decision quickly!"

Kieran's eyes hardened. Without further hesitation, he ordered the guards at the door, "Take her to the donor room!"

I was forced into the chair as a specialized needle pierced my vein, and my blood flowed out, drop by drop.

Throughout it all, Kieran never once looked back at me.

When they had drawn 400cc, the healer hesitated. "Alpha, Ms. George is too weak. If we draw more, I'm afraid..."

"Continue," Kieran said without turning around.

When they reached 600cc, my vision started going black. In my delirium, I seemed to see Kieran from when we first met, standing outside the herb shop, smiling at me.

"I'm Kieran Wolfe, and I'll be back tomorrow."

In the final moment, I completely lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, Kieran was sitting by the hospital bed. I thought he would coax me gently like before, begging for my forgiveness. Yet, when I opened my eyes, I met his cold gaze instead.

"Did you ruin the totem pole?"

My mind went completely blank. "What are you talking about?"

Kieran's eyes were sharp. "The Elders' Council investigated and found that someone had sawed halfway through the totem pole's base. If it wasn't you, who else would be scheming so hard to harm Cecelia?"

A chill spread through me. "I'll say it again, it wasn't me! Not this time, not the last time, not the time before that! Do you believe me, Kieran? Swear on your wolf soul and tell me if you sense through our bond that I'm lying!"

My voice rose into a scream with the last words.

"You're still denying it!" Kieran's eyes turned cold. "You always ask me to believe you, but what have you done? Cecelia ends up hurt, while the pups are in danger. I told you: I only treat her well because of the heir. Why do you insist on making a scene? If she loses the pup, what good does that do for us?"

My chest heaved violently as countless grievances and anger clogged my throat. I wanted to question him, to argue back, to scream at the top of my lungs that I had never hurt anyone.

I wanted to ask if he had forgotten his promise to always believe me unconditionally and never doubt me.

In the end, I just looked at him wearily, my voice trembling as I said, "Fine. Since you don't trust me, let's end this. You can break the mate bond between us. I'll step aside so you can live happily as a family of four!"

Kieran froze instantly, his golden pupils contracting sharply. "What did you say?!"

An uncontrolled werewolf growl spilled from his throat.

I glared at him with bloodshot eyes. "Wasn't I clear enough? I renounce the bond between us. I'm willingly stepping aside for you and Cecelia!"

Kieran punched the nearby table, shattering it as wood splinters flew everywhere. He grabbed my wrist, fury rolling in his eyes.

"Elise! What are you saying?! I've always loved you! Yet you want me to be with another woman?!"

I stared back at him stubbornly with teary eyes, saying nothing.

After a long standoff, Kieran took a deep breath. He forcibly suppressed his anger and pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight it felt like he wanted to merge me into his bones.

He whispered, "This matter ends here. Cecelia has already...forgiven you, and I won't hold it against you either."

"But remember this." He tightened his arms, his voice hoarse as he said, "Don't ever mention breaking the bond or leaving again! Never! Everything I'm doing is for our future!"

I did not tell him that to hell with the future. I had already decided to leave.

"She forgave me that easily? No conditions?" I asked softly, my voice numb.

Kieran's body stiffened, and he was silent for a moment before releasing me. He said slowly, "She...wants to hold a Moonlight Vow ceremony. Cecelia says she wants the pups to know their parents once loved each other and are blessed by the Moon Goddess to give them a legitimate background."

After a pause, he turned to look at me. "But this vow is fake. I'm just going through the motions to give the pack and pups an explanation. Don't overthink it."

My lips trembled, but I could not say a word. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an icy hand, each beat bringing tearing pain and absurdity.

I thought, 'Kieran, oh Kieran. You already have children with her, and now you're even having the pack's most sacred Moonlight Vow ceremony. What part of this is fake? What am I supposed to be to you?'

Kieran kept talking, his voice fading in and out as he explained the necessity of the ceremony and promised we would leave together afterward.

I watched his moving lips and suddenly felt utterly exhausted. I slowly closed my eyes, letting those words turn to dust and settle on my already dead heart.

I never spoke another word.

...

Kieran stayed with me at the hospital for three full days, caring for me meticulously. When feeding me medicine, he would always blow on it gently first, then carefully bring it to my lips.

At night, if I made the slightest movement, he would wake up startled and frantically grab my hand until he was sure I was okay.

When the doctor gave me anti-inflammatory shots, he would hold me in his arms, his fingers gently covering my eyes while he whispered soothingly, "Don't look. It'll be over soon."

However, after taking me home from the hospital, he immediately began preparing for the vow ceremony. To prevent me from causing trouble, he even confiscated my phone and posted guards at the door to watch me 24/7.

In the huge mansion, only one housekeeper was left to look after me. I did not resist and quietly packed my luggage.

On the day of the vow ceremony, my phone was returned to me, filled with photos Cecelia had sent.

Kieran, in a suit, tenderly placing a ring on Cecelia's finger; both of them kissing passionately amid everyone's blessings; their little family happily cutting a cake together.

Every picture was a blade carving deeper into my already broken heart.

Just as I was about to turn the phone off, the door suddenly opened.

Lucian stood in the doorway and said, "Everything's been arranged."

He handed me a plane ticket and said, "I guarantee that once you leave, he'll never find you."

I silently took the ticket and picked up my packed suitcase.

As I walked out of the mansion, the sun was shining. I did not look back, walking toward the car waiting by the roadside.

I did not say goodbye to Kieran.

For the rest of my life, as long as the mountains rise and the rivers run, we would never meet again.