Chapter 7

Marina stuffed the broken pieces into her pocket and tried to run away, but Adrian yanked her back by the collar.

His voice was low and annoyed, with a trace of fear he didn't notice. "Are you sick?"

Marina pulled her neck in and shook her head immediately. "No."

Adrian's face grew darker. He let go of Lucy's hand and rudely grabbed Marina by the arm. "Come on, I'm taking you to the healer."

Before Marina could resist, Lucy clung to Adrian's arm and whispered, "Adrian, don't touch Marina. Look how much she is hurting. We don't know what's wrong with her."

Adrian frowned when he saw Marina's face twisted in pain.

"Isn't that bruise the kind one gets from a disease called genital warts or something?" Lucy said.

Hearing that, Adrian let go of Marina, his face full of disgust. "You're so gross, Marina. Besides Edex, how many other wolves have you hooked up with?"

He'd been gripping her tightly, but when he suddenly let go, Marina stumbled backward, her head slamming hard against the wall.

A ringing echoed in her ears, and her heart hurt so bad it went numb.

For the past three years, Adrian had kept her imprisoned in that villa. She wasn't allowed to meet anyone from the outside, and he wouldn't let another wolf come near her.

There was no way Marina could've been with another wolf. His suspicion was more unbearable than death.

Adrian gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead as he leaned in close to Marina's ear and said viciously, "Get yourself checked. I want that report by tomorrow morning. Understand?"

After he stood up, Lucy handed him a wet wipe. "Adrian, you'd better clean your hands. What if you catch something from her?"

Adrian wiped his hands and then threw the wet wipe at Marina's face.

"Marina, I have always respected you. I didn't expect you to be such a filthy slut." Lucy's words made it sound like Marina had some sexually transmitted disease.

Marina clenched her fists and then suddenly swung her hand and slapped Lucy hard across the face, putting every bit of strength she had into it. "This is for stabbing me in the back and spreading lies."

Lucy covered her face in disbelief, tears spilling down her cheeks from hurt. "Marina, what did I say wrong to make you hit me?"

Hardly had the words left her mouth when Adrian slapped Marina. "Marina, have you lost your mind? You're sick for hooking up with random guys, and you take it out on Lucy for calling you out?"

With no one to steady her, Marina crashed full-force to the floor. A metallic-sweet taste rose in her chest. She parted her lips and coughed up a mouthful of blood in front of everyone.

Adrian's eyes flashed with tension as he bent down to pull Marina up, but suddenly, Lucy clutched her belly. "I-It hurts so much."

Adrian looked down at Lucy and saw her eyes squeezed shut, and she was already unconscious in his arms.

Without a glance at Marina, Adrian swept Lucy up and strode out.

Marina didn't have the strength to get up. She watched his retreating figure with a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

Before she blacked out, her heart turned ice-cold. She knew Adrian really had fallen for Lucy.

*****

When Marina woke up, she was in the hospital.

The healer told her she was in critical condition. "You're in terrible shape. Where is your family? I need to talk to your next of kin."

Marina gave a wry smile and shook her head. "I have no one."

Pity crept over the healer's grave face. "You've got less than twenty-four hours left. Do whatever you want to do soon."

Marina carefully tucked the test results and the critical condition notice into her bag and then staggered to her feet.

As she passed by the maternity department, she caught sight of Adrian and Lucy, both glowing with happiness.

"Adrian, do you want a female or male wolf pup?" Lucy asked.

"I'll love whichever one you give birth to," Adrian replied.

For a split second, Marina froze mid-step.

Adrian had always adored pups.

Back when they were head over heels for each other, Adrian used to talk about how he wanted to have two pups with her: a she-wolf and a he-wolf.

The boy would take over as the next Alpha, and the girl would be spoiled like his little princess.

Memories of those old days almost pulled a soft smile from Marina, but a rush of blood welled up in her throat, which she forced down.

"Lucy, I'll make it official for you. Tomorrow, I'm severing the bond with Marina," Adrian solemnly promised while holding Lucy in his arms.

It felt like years ago, when he stood before the Moon Goddess statue and vowed he'd love Marina forever and she'd be his only Luna for life.

Marina couldn't bear to listen any longer and stumbled out of the hospital.

Adrian wouldn't have to go through the hassle of filing for severing the bond.

Tomorrow, he'd get the news that Marina was dead, and then there'd be nothing standing in his way of taking Lucy as his mate.