No Longer Yours, My Alpha

The Northern Pack had one unbreakable rule: the Alpha heir could never bond with a human girl. Despite that, Alpha Kieran Wolfe still formed a mate bond with me. To be with me, he openly defied the Elders' Council. He endured 99 lashes and was forced to kneel at the altar for three days and nights. Even as blood soaked through his shirt, he smiled at me and said, "Elise, don't be afraid. I only want you." Eventually, the Elders' Council finally relented and agreed to let Kieran leave with me. However, there was one condition: he had to leave a pure-blood heir behind for the Pack. From that moment on, the phrase I heard most from Kieran was "wait". The first time, Kieran asked me to wait while he got another she-wolf to carry his pup. He slept with Cecelia Donati 33 times until she was carrying his pup. The second time, he told me to wait again because the first pup was a female, and the Elders wanted a male. So, Kieran slept with Cecelia 99 more times until she was carrying his pup again. Just when I thought our ordeal was finally over, their daughter, Tyra Wolfe, accidentally ate wolfsbane at her Meet the Pup Party. Everyone was convinced I had poisoned her. When they threw me into the freezing cold storage room, Kieran stood at the doorway with bloodshot eyes. "I told you to wait..." His gaze was ice-cold and cutting. "You know what wolfsbane means to our kind. Why would you hurt my pup?" The words "my pup" hit me like a knife to the heart. My fingernails dug deep into my palms as the pain tore through me. When the storage room door opened again, I loosened my bloodied hands. This time, I was not going to wait anymore. Chapter 1 I dialed the Elders' Council's number. Forcing myself to keep my voice steady, I said, "I'm willing to leave Kieran Wolfe. But I have one condition: I want you to send me somewhere he'll never find me." On the other end, Elder Lucian Pearce let out a satisfied laugh. "If only you had been this sensible sooner. Spending one night in the cold storage truly showed you your place. A human like you was never worthy of our noble Alpha bloodline." His voice dripped with contempt as he said, "On the night of the full moon in ten days, we'll arrange everything to send you away. And when that time comes, you'd better never show your face in front of Kieran again." The call ended abruptly, and I leaned against the mansion's cold wall. In the main hall, Kieran had shifted into his massive wolf form and was gently letting his daughter, Tyra Wolfe, tug at his thick fur. Cecelia was curled against his warm belly, smiling with tender satisfaction. The perfect family of three looked so blissfully happy together. The sight hit me like a bullet to the chest. "Ms. George, you're back?" Cecelia Donati noticed me first and immediately sat up with alert eyes. She instinctively pulled Tyra behind her protectively. Kieran almost reflexively shifted back to human form and handed Tyra to a servant to take upstairs. Their wary looks cut into me like knives. The man who once said, "I'll only acknowledge pups that come from your belly," now watched me like I was a murderer. After Tyra was taken away, Kieran approached and reached out to check my frostbitten body. He asked, "You're back. Did you get hurt in the cold storage?" As I looked at this man who had once taken 99 lashes for me, my heart ached with bitterness as I turned away from his touch. He frowned slightly. "Elise George, given last night's situation, the more I defended you, the harsher the Elders' punishment would have been. With your human body, they might have even executed you… "We're leaving soon anyway, and I don't want any more complications. Also, Tyra is innocent. Why would you..." "I told you, it wasn't me," I growled, my eyes burning with tears. "Wolfsbane is a deadly poison. How could I possibly use something like that to hurt anyone?" Kieran seemed startled by my intense reaction and paused before softening his tone. "Alright, fine. It doesn't matter now. Tyra is fine now." His dismissive words felt like ice picks stabbing into my heart. He still did not believe me. Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Cecelia approached while rubbing her slightly rounded belly. "Ms. George, I owe you an apology, too. I was too panicked at the time. You're not a wolf, so you probably don't understand a mother's instinct to protect her pup." She raised her hand to brush her hair back, and the delicate crystal bracelet on her wrist glowed with a soft luster. My eyes widened as I grabbed her wrist. "Where did you get this bracelet?!" "I gave it to her. Cecelia likes antique pieces," Kieran said matter-of-factly as he pulled my hand away. He said, "Consider it your apology gift to her. Besides, it's just a bracelet." My voice trembled with rage. "This is the only thing my mother left me! How could you give it away? You know how much it means to me!" I reached to snatch the bracelet back, but Cecelia suddenly staggered backward and clutched her stomach in apparent pain. She moaned weakly, "My belly..." Kieran immediately shoved me away roughly, his eyes turning frighteningly cold. "Elise! She's carrying my pup! Haven't you caused enough trouble?!" He was so strong that I crashed hard into the bookshelf behind me. My head struck against it heavily, and warm blood immediately began trickling down my neck. Yet, Kieran did not even look back as he swept Cecelia into his arms and rushed out. "Kieran..." Cecelia sobbed weakly against his chest. "Will our pup...be okay?" "Don't be afraid. I'm here," he replied, his voice tenderly reassuring, each word piercing my ears. "You'll be fine, and so will the pup." Chapter 2 When Kieran carried Cecelia out of the mansion, I was still slumped on the floor with blood trickling down my neck from the back of my head. I watched his retreating figure, so urgent and panicked. Yet, he never looked back once. Suddenly, I remembered how he used to be just as anxious about me. Back then, I had just arrived in the Northern Pack territory and was working as an apprentice at an herbal medicine shop, studying plant remedies while earning my keep. The first time Kieran saw me, I was being harassed by some street thugs, and he stepped in to save me. During the fight, his arm was slashed by a silver blade, and the silver poison quickly spread through his bloodstream. Fortunately, I had learned about herbs that could neutralize silver toxicity, so I stayed awake for three days and nights caring for him until the poison was completely purged. After that, Kieran began appearing outside the shop more frequently. I was working late one night when he walked in and handed me a black credit card. He said, "Come with me. You don't need to work this hard anymore." I was stunned for a moment before pushing the card back to him. "No, thank you, sir. I work hard for my living, and I don't find it burdensome." He stared at me quietly for a long time, then handed me a business card instead. "My name is Kieran Wolfe, and I'll be back tomorrow." Sure enough, he returned the next day in a black Maybach. Seeing that I was busy, he waved his hand and bought out our entire stock of herbs just to have dinner with me. Over the next three months, Kieran did many outrageous things to pursue me. When I refused his roses, he had fresh bouquets flown in daily to fill the entire shop. When I refused to ride in his luxury car, he walked with me through the muddy, filthy streets of the poor district to see me home. When I said we were not from the same world, he crouched beside my dirt-covered herb boxes, personally helping me clear dead leaves and debris. He stood in that shop for three whole months. Every time I refused him, he would come back a second time, a third time, a fourth time, and so on. It was not that I never felt my heart flutter, but I was too aware of the gap between us. I could not and did not dare let myself fall for him. However, that changed when he shielded me from acid thrown by a rival business, leaving a horrific scar across his back. Even as he was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, he smiled at me and said, "Elise, now that I'm scarred, you'll have to take responsibility for me." I tenderly touched that wounded flesh as my tears fell onto his burning skin. After I agreed to be with him, he spoiled me beyond reason. When I cut my finger while gathering herbs, he called his private healer in the middle of the night. When I casually mentioned liking a certain cupcake, he bought the entire bakery for me. When I had period cramps, he would stay up all night rubbing my stomach. Once, I tripped and scraped my knee slightly. He was so heartbroken that his eyes turned red as he carried me to the hospital, his hands shaking the entire way. I laughed through my tears, telling him I was a healer myself, so why were we always going to the hospital? However, Kieran argued, saying, "Healers can't heal themselves. It looks like a surface wound, but who knows if there's a bacterial infection or bone damage?" He even insisted on getting a CT scan and having the best healers treat me. I looked down at the pool of blood beneath me and suddenly laughed, and the sound was bleak. Later, I took a cab to the hospital, alone. The healer saw how severe my injury was and immediately began stitching and bandaging the wound. By the time they finished treating me, I had lost so much blood that I was dizzy and could barely stand. I had just stumbled out of the examination room when someone grabbed my wrist roughly. "Elise! Cecelia almost miscarried. Yet you still wouldn't stop? You followed us to the hospital to cause more trouble?" Kieran's voice was tight with rage. His brow was furrowed deeply, and his eyes held a bone-chilling coldness. He still carried Cecelia's suffocating perfume scent on his clothes. "I came to the hospital, but not for her." I pointed to my freshly bandaged forehead. "I was injured too, and I couldn't treat it myself." Kieran's expression froze. He finally noticed the strong scent of blood on me, masked by antiseptic, and the thick gauze still seeping red. "Kieran, you said that once she delivered the pup, you'd take me away," I said, looking at him as my nose began to sting. "But now, do you even see me anymore?" Kieran's frown deepened as he reached out tenderly to touch my wound. "What happened here?" "You pushed me," I said calmly, dodging his touch. "I hit the bookshelf. To you, it was just a casual shove, wasn't it?" Kieran's pupils contracted as he recalled the force he had used in his moment of rage. For a human, it could have been fatal. He pulled me into his arms guiltily. "Elise, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just afraid something would happen to Cecelia. She's carrying the pack's future. If anything went wrong, the Elders' Council would never forgive us, and our departure would be delayed again..." I let him hold me while staring blankly at the sterile white ceiling. I had heard these excuses too many times before. "I understand," I said, pushing him away. "Go take care of her." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist again. "Elise, no matter what, you have to believe that I only love you. Everything I do is to help us escape this prison as quickly as possible." He touched my bandage gently and said, "I'll have Brad drive you home, and don't let the wound get wet." Brad Pennyworth was his butler. Kieran released my hand and, as he walked away, said, "When I get home, I'll bring you your favorite cranberry cupcakes." With that, he headed toward the VIP room at the end of the corridor, where Cecelia was being cared for by the pack's finest healers. I stood there watching him disappear into the distance. Suddenly, I laughed, and tears began streaming down my face. "I don't believe you anymore..." I whispered to the empty air and to my own dying heart. "Kieran, I will never believe any of your promises ever again." Chapter 3 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. Chapter 4 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. Chapter 5 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. Chapter 6 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?" Chapter 7 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.