Chapter 3

The final thread of our mate bond dissolved into nothingness, taking with it every fragment of what once was.

Callahan Ford, Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, ripped the blood donation consent form to shreds and hurled it at me with a force that mirrored his anger. His imposing figure, sculpted for dominance and power, loomed over me like a brewing storm, ready to unleash its wrath.

'Luna Genevieve,' he sneered, his voice laced with venom, 'you're nailing the role of the pitiful victim. Keep it up, since you enjoy the act so much!'

Without a second glance, he scooped up Celeste, the rogue who had somehow embedded herself into his life, and strode out. His rejection was a crushing weight, suffocating the remnants of my spirit.

As I drifted into unconsciousness, the pack healers rushed me into the medical chamber. The cold, sterile tools felt alien against my skin, and I could feel the life within me—the pup I had prayed for with every fiber of my being—fading away. The sacred altar where I had once knelt, begging the Moon Goddess for this miracle, now felt like a cruel taunt.

Even after the procedure, Callahan remained silent. To him, my existence—alive or dead—was inconsequential, let alone the pup I had carried.

When the anesthesia faded, I fumbled for my phone, intending to call Judson, my Beta, to draft the dissolution papers. By chance, I stumbled upon a news clip: Callahan had bought out an entire chain of maternity stores for Celeste. In the video, he knelt before her, his face pressed lovingly against her swollen belly, his eyes brimming with devotion.

The memories hit me like a tidal wave.

Five years ago, during a pack skirmish in the mountains, Callahan had been buried under an avalanche. I was eight months pregnant at the time. My mother, Adelaide, and I trekked through the night to reach him. We dug him out with our bare hands—my fingers raw and bleeding—but the strain cost me the pup. When debris rained down again, Mom shoved him to safety, but a blow to her head left her in a vegetative state.

I barely had time to grieve before being rushed to the healers, where I fought for my life for three days. When I woke, I learned my uterus was damaged, making future pregnancies unlikely. Back then, Callahan had knelt before me, vowing to stand by me forever, even without a pup.

Now, I had nothing left, and he had become a knife twisting in my heart.

My resilience shattered. Through tears, I called Judson, urging him to prepare the dissolution papers immediately.

Before leaving the healers' den, I visited Mom's room, collapsing to my knees beside her bed.

'Mom,' I whispered, my voice cracking, 'I’m sorry. I’m not living the happy life you hoped for. The pup is gone, and I can’t hold on anymore. I don’t want Callahan or this pack. Please don’t blame me.'

Mom lay motionless, her eyes closed, but the tears trailing down her cheeks spoke louder than words.

Returning to the packhouse in a haze, I found Callahan kneeling beside Celeste, gently massaging her feet. His tenderness toward her was palpable, a stark contrast to how he had treated me during my pregnancies. No matter how severe my cramps, he had never stooped to massage my feet, claiming such acts were beneath his Alpha status.

Only now did I understand the difference between love and apathy.

As I entered, Callahan shot me a dismissive sneer.

'You dare show your face, Luna? Playing the victim so well, anyone would think you’re the one pregnant!'

I closed my eyes briefly, then walked silently toward my room.

Celeste, however, intercepted me with her two pups. Her face was a mix of guilt and desperation.

'Luna Genevieve,' she stammered, 'it’s my fault for not leaving entirely. Punish me however you see fit! You have every right to strike me, but once the pup is born, I’ll go. Just please, acknowledge mine and Callahan’s pups!'

She tried to kneel, but Callahan pulled her into his arms.

He laughed coldly, his piercing gaze cutting through me.

'You don’t owe her anything, Celeste. I’m the one who lost control. You’ve done nothing wrong.'

His words were sharper than any blade. I turned away, my heart heavy with the weight of his betrayal.