Chapter 2

The blood-soaked torture chamber was finally opened just as I was about to lose consciousness.

Elias scooped me up and held me tight, his voice full of remorse:

"Violet, you almost ruined our pack's entire plan. I had to punish you like this to give the pack an explanation."

"You know I love you most. Once my strategy with Fiona succeeds, we can go back to how things were."

And his so-called strategy with Fiona was to get her pregnant with his child again.

He claimed it was the only way to secure Fiona's loyalty, turn her to his side, and have her feed false intelligence to the Dubois pack.

I watched coldly as he performed his touching act of devotion, my heart utterly desolate.

But Elias, we can't go back to how things were. There will be no future for us.

And he would never know—he had another child. A child that was mine and his.

The day he became Grimshade Pack's Alpha, he witnessed his Beta's child being held hostage by Rogues.

The Beta's wife, driven by maternal instinct to protect her child, died tragically under gunfire.

From that day on, he would tell me fearfully:

"Violet, let's not have children in the future. I don't want a child to become your weakness, and I can't bear the cost of losing you."

I agreed.

But whenever I saw him looking at other people's children with eyes full of joy, I wanted to secretly give him a surprise.

That year, Elias went to the pack border to fight off Rogues—a mission lasting one year.

Not long after he left, I discovered I was pregnant with his child.

Afraid he would worry, I never told him from the pregnancy all the way to giving birth.

Later, the baby was born premature and weak, so he stayed at the hospital.

This was when Elias returned—and brought Fiona to me.

I never got to give him my surprise. Instead, Elias gave me a big one first.

Elias said: "I know Fiona is a spy sent by our enemy, the Dubois pack. I'm only keeping her close as part of my next plan of action against them."

But the affection in his eyes when he looked at Fiona couldn't lie.

My phone buzzed. The agency handling my forced divorce sent a message, pulling me from my thoughts:

[Currently finding a witch to forcibly break the mate bond. Divorce paperwork is being expedited. In one week, once everything's complete, we'll get you and your child out.]

I smiled faintly. Good.

In one week, Elias and I would have nothing to do with each other.

After that, Elias began juggling between Fiona and me.

Afraid I'd be upset, truckloads of gifts arrived.

The latest jewelry, limited edition handbags—all things I used to like.

"Violet, trust me. We'll be back to normal soon. I love you."

I'd lost count of how many times he knelt before me, declaring his love and helplessness.

How ridiculous—he spent every night at Fiona's place, yet still feared I'd be hurt.

Four days before the mate bond termination agreement took effect,

Fiona brought me a bouquet of flowers, apologizing for Elias always staying at her place instead of coming home.

There was something in the flowers that triggered a severe allergic reaction. I was rushed to the hospital.

When Elias found out, he harshly scolded Fiona.

"Do that again and get out!"

Fiona apologized with reddened eyes, then ran out covering her face.

That night, Fiona disappeared.

Elias searched all night with his men before finding her.

When they found her, she was covered in injuries.

She kept her eyes down, not daring to look at me, only saying timidly:

"This punishment is what I deserve, since I accidentally hurt Luna Violet."

I looked confused, but Elias gave me a meaningful glance.

It wasn't until I overheard his private conversation with the doctor that I understood.

"Add some wolfsbane to Violet's IV. Wait until tomorrow night before treating her."

"She made Fiona suffer, so she needs to suffer too."

I froze instantly. My heart felt like it had been smashed to the ground and crushed repeatedly. I couldn't breathe from the pain.

Elias was my fated mate. Back then, we fell in love at first sight. I immediately broke up with my first love Soren and threw myself into Elias's arms without hesitation.

When we married, Soren said he would protect me for life and never let me get hurt.

But just a few years later, Elias was personally hurting me for another woman.