After Bellamy left, Carson still stared at her retreating figure, lost in his own thoughts.

It took a long time before the chill in my chest from the cold wind finally settled.

Only then did Carson close the door and slowly walk back into the room.

"Bellamy’s always been delicate. I shouldn’t have asked her to come see you. It must have been hard for her."

Anyone with a sense of smell could tell that Bellamy’s scent was vibrant, filled with the freshness of her recent successes.

Meanwhile, I—his mate—had just fallen into the icy river, was still recovering from the cold, and was now carrying our child. My scent was weak, my aura dull.

But he chose to ignore it.

No, it wasn’t that he couldn’t sense it. It was that his attention was only drawn to Bellamy. There was no room for anyone else.

"Alpha," I began, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest, "we’ve been mated for seven years. This is my first pregnancy. Does your mother know?"

Carson fidgeted with the bracelet on my wrist, his gaze avoiding mine.

"Mother’s getting older. We can tell her when you’re feeling better. It’s not urgent."

Of course. He was so certain this child wouldn’t survive that he didn’t even think it necessary to inform his own mother.

But all these years, the shame and judgment I’ve endured for not bearing a child—did he truly not sense any of it?

Carson’s scent shifted, uneasy, as if he was trying to figure out how to convince me.

I forced a smile, though bitterness swelled inside me.

"Then I’ll leave it to you, Alpha."

His scent brightened instantly, oblivious to the pain hidden beneath my calm expression.

"Rest well, Jaliyah. I’ll be in my study."

As I watched his retreating figure, I repeated to myself like a mantra:

If I don’t care, it won’t hurt.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

The pain was already there, etched into my soul, and no amount of pretending could make it disappear.

The next morning, Layne came to me early with the news.

Carson had left quietly, alone.

I counted the hours, then, with Layne by my side, made my way to the pack's meeting hall, where Bellamy had arranged a private room for me. Inside, there were fruits and refreshments thoughtfully laid out.

Soon, the door to the neighboring room opened.

A familiar voice reached my ears.

"Brother Caiden, are you certain this remedy will only terminate Jaliyah’s pregnancy and not harm her body?"

"Brother Carson, you have my word. This remedy was sourced from the Northern packs and is completely safe."

"That’s a relief. Jaliyah has been by my side for seven years. I don’t want her to suffer."

"I appreciate your help with this. Bellamy is her half-sister. If Jaliyah were to have a pup first, Bellamy’s position would be compromised."

These two voices were unmistakable.

One was my former mate, the other my current one.

Carson was truly generous.

For Bellamy’s sake, he had conspired with his rival to eliminate his own pup.

Tears fell silently, and I nearly lost my balance.

I waited until the neighboring room fell silent again.

Staggering, I collapsed into Layne’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Why? Why must the Luna and Miss Jaliyah suffer such injustice?"

Layne choked back tears, her voice trembling with indignation on my behalf.

I bit my lip hard, the suffocating pain wrapping around me like a vise.

Heartbreak had never felt so tangible.