The icy water swallowed me whole.
The swift current pulled me downstream as I struggled desperately to surface.
“Help!” I screamed with all my might. “Kael!”
Just then, I heard a familiar voice shouting from the riverbank.
“Selene!”
It was Kael, his voice filled with panic and urgency.
I saw him rush out of the club and dive into the river without hesitation.
But he wasn’t swimming toward me.
He was swimming toward where Selene had fallen in.
Before Kael ran out, she had jumped into the river herself.
I watched in horror as he pulled Selene from the water, holding her tightly in his arms.
“Selene, are you okay?” His voice trembled with raw concern.
“Kael… I almost died…” Selene sobbed in his embrace. “Clara’s lost her mind… she tried to drag me down with her…”
“What?” Kael looked toward the river in shock, but by then I had been swept far downstream.
“She said I had to pay for stealing her design, then she grabbed me and jumped into the river…” Selene wept. “Thank goodness you came…”
I tried desperately to shout, to explain, but water filled my mouth.
“Where’s Clara?” Kael asked.
“She… she was washed away…” Selene clung to him. “Kael, I’m so scared…”
Kael glanced downstream, then focused all his attention on the woman in his arms.
“It’s okay, I’m here now,” he soothed her gently. “Let’s get you back inside. You need to change.”
I was swept away by the river.
And my Alpha, my husband, chose to believe another woman’s lies, chose to abandon the search for me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at the white ceiling of a hospital room.
I was in a bed, hooked up to monitors.
My head throbbed; I must have hit a rock in the river.
“You’re awake,” a nurse said, checking my vitals. “You were in the river for a long time before someone found you. You’re lucky they got to you in time, otherwise…”
“My mate?” I asked weakly.
“Alpha Kael?” The nurse looked uncomfortable. “He’s… he’s with another lady. I heard she also fell in the water and was quite shaken up.”
I closed my eyes.
Even when I was on the brink of death, he still chose to be with Selene.
“I’d like to rest.”
“Of course. Press the button if you need anything.” The nurse left.
I was about to drift off when I heard familiar voices outside the door.
It was Kael and his Beta.
“Are Clara’s test results back?” Kael’s voice sounded exhausted.
“They are, Alpha,” the Beta’s voice was strange. “And there’s an unexpected discovery.”
“What is it?”
“Alpha… Luna Clara is pregnant. About six weeks along.”
I froze.
Pregnant?
“Are you sure?” Was that… a hint of joy in Kael’s voice?
“Positive. And according to her bloodwork, the child possesses an incredibly strong Alpha bloodline. It’s likely because Clara was the pure-blooded heir of the Red Fang pack. Even with her wolf suppressed, the power in her blood remains.”
“In that case…” Kael was silent for a moment. “This child… is a valuable asset.”
Valuable. Asset.
“Alpha, what do you mean?”
“Let Clara have the child. A pup with the pure bloodlines of two great packs will undoubtedly become a powerful Alpha,” Kael’s voice became cold and calculating. “Once the pup is born, I can officially dissolve my mate bond with Clara.”
“And Alpha Selene…?”
“There will be no obstacles then. An ex-mate who has borne my child is much easier to deal with than a burden I have to constantly protect.”
I felt my heart tear in two.
In his eyes, my only value was for breeding.
“But Alpha, Clara’s actions tonight…”
“Selene was right. Clara is likely mentally unstable due to her damaged wolf. After the child is born, I’ll have her committed to a private sanatorium,” Kael’s voice was cold and detached. “It will be for the best.”
The footsteps faded away.
I lay in the hospital bed, silent tears streaming down my face.
Half an hour later, Kael came in.
He wore a look of concern, like a good Alpha worried about his mate.
“Clara, how are you feeling?” He sat by my bed, taking my hand. “The doctor said you’re going to be fine. I’m so relieved.”
“How is Selene?” I looked at him.
“She was badly frightened, but she’s physically okay,” Kael’s eyes held a hint of blame. “Clara, can you tell me what happened last night?”
“I…”
“Selene said you were emotional and tried to kill you both.” His tone turned stern. “Is that true?”
I looked at him, this Alpha who had once sworn his undying love to me.
Now, he believed another woman’s lies without a second thought.
“What do you think?”
“I think you need treatment,” his expression turned cold. “Your mental state is unstable, Clara. If this continues, you’ll hurt yourself and others.”
“Like hurting Selene?”
“Yes,” he looked me straight in the eye. “Selene is innocent. She doesn’t deserve to be the target of your resentment.”
I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
“By the way, I have some good news,” Kael’s face suddenly broke into a smile. “You’re pregnant.”
He said it with a calculated gleam in his eyes.
“We’re having a pup, Clara. Isn’t that wonderful?” He kissed my hand. “This child will be strong, with the best bloodlines from both our families.”
“However,” his tone suddenly grew serious, “regardless of the outcome, after the pup is born, I’m sending you to a sanatorium. That is the price you will pay for what you did to Selene.”
