Chapter 16

Matriarch Isolde's face was grim as she poured a glass of water and handed it over. "Don't get worked up. You're carrying our Blackmoon Pack's heir. Damien may not be thinking clearly right now, but that doesn't mean we don't acknowledge the pup."

Former Alpha Alaric asked sternly, "Are you sure the pup is his?"

Clarissa nodded through her tears, handing over an ultrasound report and preliminary DNA test results. "It's true. It's his."

Matriarch Isolde frowned, pondering. "Then you should stay here for now. We'll handle this."

But Former Alpha Alaric turned to his Beta Marcus beside him and said coldly, "Go get Alpha Damien back here! If he doesn't explain himself today, he shouldn't bother coming through this door again!"

An hour later, Alpha Damien stood at the entrance of the pack house, his face hard as iron.

"Father, Mother, I don't want to mark her."

Former Alpha Alaric pointed at his nose and scolded, "So you want our whole pack to be embarrassed because of you?"

"There's a pup but no mate bond. What will the other packs think of the Blackmoon Pack?!"

Matriarch Isolde tried to mediate. "Damien, we're not forcing you. It's just... Clarissa is also unfortunate, and she's carrying our pack's flesh and blood..."

"I don't acknowledge this pup." Alpha Damien's voice was cold as ice. "From the moment she schemed to get pregnant, I decided I didn't want it."

"You bastard!" Former Alpha Alaric was furious and hurled a ceramic mug at him. "You refused to mark Seraphina back then. Now that she's gone, you're playing the devoted mate. After all this time, have you seen her show up even once?!"

Alpha Damien didn't dodge. Blood immediately streaked down his forehead. He just gritted his teeth and said quietly, "If you want this pup, then you raise it. I won't mark her."

"You think you still have the right to be picky?" Former Alpha Alaric roared. "She's pregnant with your pup, and you think you can just say no? Do you think the Blackmoon Pack is some kind of breeding ground?"

Alpha Damien finally looked up, his gaze filled with sharp hatred. "You want an heir, not a son, is that it?"

Matriarch Isolde's face stiffened.

Alpha Damien turned and left without looking back.

That night, he stood on the rooftop balcony and dialed a number that had long been blocked.

"Cannot connect."

He took out Marcus's phone and dialed again.

This time, I answered.

"Who is this?"

"It's me." Alpha Damien's voice was hoarse like smoke and ash. "Seraphina... it's me."

I was silent for a second, then said coldly, "What do you want?"

He breathed softly. "I... I miss you so much."

I laughed once, mercilessly. "Alpha Damien, I thought you were calling to cash out my shares. Why are you suddenly saying such ridiculous things?"

With Alpha King Kaelen around, I naturally knew about Alpha Damien's situation easily, and I already knew about Clarissa's pregnancy.

I found it utterly ironic. Back then, Alpha Damien was with me because she didn't want to have pups.

Now Clarissa was willing to have pups, but he didn't want them anymore.

"I don't want that pup." His voice suddenly choked, his throat tight. "I don't want any connection with her at all... She schemed against me. I understand now. I only have you."

"Where were you before?" My tone was ice-cold. "We've already severed our bond. It has nothing to do with me anymore."

He panicked, pleading in a low voice. "I was wrong, really wrong... I can change, I can make it up to you... I want to mark you, I want to start over..."

"Get lost." I said just one word.

He was stunned.

I repeated, "Alpha Damien, I don't love you anymore. Even if you cried yourself to death in front of me, it wouldn't make me soften. You disgust me, understand?"

He almost sobbed quietly. "You're in all my dreams. Every time I close my eyes, I see you lying on the ground helplessly calling for me. I really regret it, I'm going crazy with regret..."

I sneered. "Then go crazy. That would be fair."

I hung up.

Alpha Damien stood in the night wind, his face pale as paper, pain churning in his eyes.