Chapter 3

The rhythmic beeping of machines woke me up. My head throbbed with waves of pain, and I felt completely disoriented.

"Luna Aria? You're awake."

Healer Elena stood beside me, her face full of pity and concern. She held my wrist, checking my pulse.

"What happened?" I whispered.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to my abdomen.

"You... you had severe bleeding, Luna. We did everything we could, but... you lost the baby."

The words hit me like a physical blow, stealing what little air remained in my lungs. My baby. Kane's baby.

"No..." I whispered, tears streaming down my temples.

"I'm so sorry, Luna," she said softly. "You were... about two months along. But the bleeding... it was too much."

I had dismissed the fatigue and nausea as just exhaustion. A life had been growing inside me all this time, and now it was gone. Shattered like everything else.

"Did you... did you call Kane?" I choked out, a desperate and foolish hope flickering.

Healer Elena's expression hardened, anger flashing in her eyes.

"We tried, Luna. Several times. Alpha Kane's private assistant told us you were 'putting on an act for attention' and that you were just 'being dramatic.' He said he 'might come by tomorrow if he has time.'"

Putting on an act. Being dramatic. His cruel, dismissive words cut deep. He hadn't just ignored me - he had condemned both me and our child. The last traces of love, hope, and attachment I felt for him vanished.

"Get me the discharge papers," I said, my voice steady despite my trembling hands. "Now."

Healer Elena looked surprised.

"But Luna, you're not stable yet. You need rest."

"I have to leave," I corrected, struggling to sit up despite my body's protests.

"I won't stay here another second. Arrange a car. I'm going home."

She nodded slowly, seeing the determination in my eyes, then left the room.

When the taxi pulled up, the packhouse was alive with laughter and music. I walked through the front door, blood still staining my dress. Every eye turned to me. Whispers immediately filled the room, but I ignored them, my gaze fixed on Kane by the fireplace. He was laughing, one hand possessively resting on Athena's back while she looked up at him with pure delight.

"Luna Aria, you look... unwell," Athena purred, stepping away from Kane and gliding toward me. Her narrowed eyes held practiced concern as they swept over my disheveled appearance. "I heard you had a little... incident. I was so worried."

"Unlike some people, I don't stage my misfortunes for attention," I shot back, my voice shaking.

Her smile froze, but quickly returned as a mask of fake sympathy. "Aria, still so pale? You really should take better care of yourself."

That's when Kane approached, his eyes cold and uncaring. "What are you doing here, Aria? And in that... condition?"

"I came home, Kane. You seem to have forgotten the way back," I replied.

Athena, ever the instigator, feigned a gasp.

"Oh dear, did you hear that, Alpha Kane? Luna Aria sounds upset. I hope she won't cause a scene."

Kane's gaze sharpened on me.

"What is she talking about, Aria?"

"Ask your dear Athena," I said, pointing at her defiantly. "She seems to be the expert at stirring up trouble."

Athena's eyes narrowed, the malice dropping from her face.

"How dare you, Aria! At the last pack gathering, you tried to push me into the pool in a fit of rage. I was only trying to calm you down!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. All eyes were on us, sensing the escalating tension.

"You're lying!" I snapped. "I wasn't even near you that night."

Kane's expression darkened.

"Aria, enough! Apologize to Athena. Now!"

At his command, my jaw clenched. Apologize? To her? After everything?

"I won't," I said firmly. "I have nothing to apologize for."

A dangerous glint flashed in Kane's eyes. He stepped forward, towering over me.

"Since you insist on making a scene, maybe you need to cool off."

The next second, I was airborne. A violent shove sent me backward, stumbling across the slick marble, past gasping pack members, and into the icy depths of the pool. The shock of cold water stole my breath, and the impact sent fresh waves of pain through my still-recovering body. I gasped as I surfaced, the pool lights illuminating my humiliated face. Laughter started low, then erupted. Athena's delighted laughter rose above all the rest.

Kane stood at the pool's edge, looking down at me with cold satisfaction.

"Maybe this will teach you some manners, Luna Aria."

I climbed out, standing soaked beside the pristine pool, ignoring the stares and whispers around me. The wolf inside me howled with rage - a primal scream I fought to control. I rushed toward the packhouse before I lost myself and let the wolf take over.