The sky broke apart without warning, and heavy rain poured down across the pack territory.
Within moments, Tharina was drenched. Her clothes clung to her skin, cold as winter water. Still, she stood straight under the storm, her eyes fixed on Malven through the tall windows of the pack house. There was no pleading in her gaze. Not even a trace.
For a brief second, something stirred inside Malven’s chest. A sharp, uneasy feeling.
A thought crossed his mind.
Did she truly want to leave him?
He pushed it away at once. That was impossible. She had always loved him too deeply.
His expression hardened.
"Tharina, do you think this is your place to act however you wish? Do not try to use my mother to threaten me."
He wrapped an arm around Elodie and turned away, leading her upstairs without another glance, leaving Tharina alone beneath the rain.
The storm grew stronger. Each drop struck her like a blow.
The guards stepped forward, ready to force her down. Tharina lifted her head and looked at them, her gaze sharp enough to cut.
"You know what Mrs. Ashbourne can do. If I kneel today, do you believe you will still be alive tomorrow?"
Their faces turned pale. They looked at each other, fear clear in their eyes. In the end, they stepped back and released her.
Tharina walked back inside, her steps unsteady. A deep pain pulled at her lower abdomen with every movement.
She reached the upper floor. Malven’s door was not fully closed. Through the small opening, she saw something that made her world tilt.
Malven was close to Elodie on the bed. Their bodies pressed together, their movements leaving no doubt about what was happening.
Elodie lifted her head. Through the narrow gap, her eyes met Tharina’s.
A slow smile appeared on her lips, filled with pride and mockery. Then she wrapped her arms around Malven and let out a soft, exaggerated sound.
Tharina felt something rise in her throat. A sharp, bitter taste filled her mouth. She covered her lips quickly, barely holding it back.
She could not stay. She turned and ran to her own room.
The moment the door closed, blood spilled into her hand. Bright red against her pale skin.
Her strength gave out. She slid down to the floor, still soaked from the rain. Cold spread through her body while pain tightened around her stomach. Her vision slowly blurred.
Time passed without shape. The cold sank deeper.
With trembling hands, she reached for her crystal communicator and called Malven. Once. Twice. Again and again.
No answer.
She forced herself to crawl out of the room. From behind his door, the sounds continued, rising and falling without pause.
When she opened her eyes again, she was lying in a healer’s bed. A healer stood beside her, his face serious.
"Luna, your fever reached a dangerous level. The rain and your emotional state have made your condition unstable. Your pregnancy is at risk. You must avoid any further distress, or we may not be able to protect the pup."
Tharina stared upward and gave a faint nod.
Soon after, noise filled the hallway. Healers rushed past her room in a hurry.
Their voices carried through the air.
"Lady Wildmoor has been brought in. Something happened in the Alpha’s chamber. He called every healer to attend to her."
"And look at the Luna of Ashbourne Pack. She is here alone, burning with fever, carrying a pup, yet no one stays with her. Alpha’s memory loss seems very selective."
"In the end, the one without love is the outsider. Lady Wildmoor is the one the Alpha truly cares for now."
Each word struck clearly, leaving no room to escape.
Tharina turned her head toward the window. The rain outside had already stopped. Her eyes held nothing.
In the days that followed, Malven remained by Elodie’s side, caring for her without rest.
He never once knew that his own mate had been lying in the healer’s hall as well.
