Chapter 1

1.

My Alpha mate, Kayden, promised he would only visit his unstable childhood sweetheart, Clara, ninety-nine times.

But when I had finally placed the ninety-ninth bean in the jar, I saw him holding Clara in a tight embrace.

I stopped crying and begging him not to go to her after that.

I simply asked him for a guardian sigil for a wolf pup, a gift for our coming child.

The mention of our child softened his expression. “Wait for me to get back. I’ll go with you to the pack infirmary for the prenatal check-up.”

I obediently hummed in agreement.

I didn’t tell him that ten days ago, I had already submitted an application to the Pack Elders to sever our mate bond.

According to the laws of the pack, we were no longer mates.

…

Ten days after submitting my application, I ran into Kayden in the hallway of the pack infirmary.

He was carefully supporting Clara, treating her like a rare treasure.

But the moment he saw me, Kayden’s brow furrowed.

“What are you doing here? Are you trying to cause trouble for Clara again?”

He watched me with a guarded look, the chill in his eyes piercing my heart.

Clara clung to Kayden’s arm and looked at me apologetically.

“Ava, don’t misunderstand. Kayden is just worried about me.”

Then, her eyes drifted down to my stomach.

“I heard you were admitted to the infirmary too. Is the baby okay?”

Before I could answer, Kayden rushed to comfort her.

“It’s probably just emotional stress affecting the pregnancy. It’ll be fine.”

“Don’t overthink it. The most important thing is for you to take care of yourself.”

I subconsciously touched my belly, a bitter taste filling my mouth.

Right, how could anything be wrong?

It’s just that our little pup… was already gone.

How could that possibly be more important than Clara’s health?

Otherwise, why wouldn’t Kayden have visited me even once, despite knowing I was in the very same infirmary?

If he had just bothered to look in on my room, even for a moment, he would have known.

Our child, the one destined to inherit the Alpha title, was gone.

I forced a smile and my hand found the glass jar in my pocket, warmed by my body heat.

Ever since Clara returned, Kayden would disappear every few days to be with her.

He said:

“Clara has always been sensitive, and now her mental state is fragile. If I’m not with her, what if she hurts herself?”

“Don’t worry, I just don’t want her to do something stupid. I don’t have any other feelings for her.”

He promised me he would only stay with Clara ninety-nine times.

After the ninety-ninth time, he would return to our family for good, fulfilling his duties as my Alpha mate.

So every time he left, I would place a single bean in a glass jar.

Seven days ago, I finally put in the ninety-ninth bean.

But when I went to find him, full of hope, I saw Kayden holding Clara tightly in his arms.

I was his Luna, his wife.

Yet in that moment, I could only stand on the street corner, a spectator to his tender moment with another woman.

“What are you two doing?”

I walked toward them, my eyes red, my voice trembling with heartbreak.

Kayden released Clara as if he’d been shocked, his eyes filled with panic.

“Ava, don’t misunderstand. It’s not what you think.”

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Clara cut in.

“It’s all my fault. I’m bothering you two, I’m so sorry.”

“Kayden, just leave me alone from now on. Let me just go die somewhere.”

With that, she darted into the street and was clipped by a speeding pickup truck.

Kayden’s face went pale. He violently shoved me aside and rushed to cradle Clara in his arms.

I didn’t have time to react. The force of his push sent me crashing to the ground.

A sharp, dull pain shot through my abdomen. I reached down with a trembling hand and it came back covered in sticky, red blood.

“My baby… my baby… my pup…”

“Kayden, my Alpha!”

I clutched my stomach, desperately calling his name, praying he would just look back at me.

Kayden paused for a second and turned his head, but his eyes were filled with hatred.

“Ava! You know Clara is unstable, so why would you provoke her!”

“If anything happens to Clara, I will never forgive you!”

“Let this be a lesson to you. Stay the hell away from her from now on!”

Then, he lifted Clara into his Ford SUV and sped away.

In the end, it was a kind stranger who couldn’t bear to watch any longer who took me to the hospital.

The doctor told me I had lost the baby.

Lying in that hospital bed, replaying the image of Kayden leaving me, my vision blurred with tears.

Kayden Blackwood, I promise you.

From this day on, I will never go near you again.

You are free.

My thoughts returned to the present.

Kayden seemed oblivious to my pale face, simply reminding me in a flat tone:

“If there’s nothing else, go back to your room. As a member of this pack, be considerate and don’t take up unnecessary medical resources.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

Kayden continued, “I have to stay with Clara for the next few days. Don’t come looking for me unless it’s an emergency.”

I nodded again.

“Okay.”

Perhaps my calm reaction was too much for him, because Kayden actually paused.