Chapter 3
My tears fell like rain on the pristine hospital sheets, both grief and rage pulsing through my body with each heartbeat. Every whimper that escaped my throat carried the raw anguish of a mother who had lost her pup. Would our little one have felt pain? Would their tiny spirit understand that their Alpha father had rejected them, that I had failed to protect them from our own pack?
Thorne woke to my sobs. His large hand gently pulled mine away from my face, his thumb brushing away tears with a tenderness that made my wolf whimper in confusion.
“My Luna, please don’t cry. Both our wolves can’t bear it,” he whispered, cradling me close, humming an ancient pack lullaby meant to soothe distressed pups.
Through broken sobs, I accused: “You sacrificed our pup for an outsider’s bloodline!”
His lips pressed against my temple, his wolf’s scent wrapping around me: “We’ll have more pups, I swear by the moon. This won’t happen again.”
“Don’t touch me!” I snarled, my wolf rising in rage. “Your hands are stained with our pup’s blood!” I thrashed against him, reopening the silver–treated wounds. The burning pain made both woman and wolf cry out in agony.
“It hurts… the silver burns…” Sweat beaded on my forehead as the healing wounds seared my flesh.
Thorne’s eyes flashed with panic, his Alpha authority faltering at my pain. He backed away, calling, for the pack healer.
I stared at the sterile ceiling, imagining our pup’s tiny wolf spirit ascending to join the Moon Goddess. My tears flowed freely. Forgive me, little one. Your mother’s wolf was too weak to protect you.
The pack healer rushed in with Thorne. I recognized him – he’d guided us through years of fertility rituals, watched us desperately try to strengthen my damaged wolf spirit. He administered a calming herb infusion laced with wolfsbane to quiet both my human and wolf consciousness.
I closed my eyes, feigning sleep as the healer spoke: “She just lost her pup – her wolf is in agony. Did you forget how the mate–bond amplifies such trauma? After all these moons of trying…”
He left with a heavy sigh, his disapproval thick in the air.
Thorne brought warm water, gently washing the fever from my skin – a mate’s duty I once would have treasured. After a long silence, he pressed my hand to his lips, his voice breaking.
Chapter 3
My Luna, why can’t you understand?” His whisper carried the weight of both man and wolf’s pain. You used to know my heart better than anyone.”
