Valea woke to the sound of a healer speaking beside her bed.
"... yes, that is what I heard. Alpha Renwick has been in the healer hall since morning, yet he doesn’t know his Luna is here. He’s staying in a high chamber with a woman. I heard he came because his nephew was injured after a fall. The Alpha even summoned the best healers of the territory just for a pup with a small scratch."
"I feel sorry for Luna Valea. While her mate cared for another woman’s pup, she was waiting for approval for her ritual, yet the Alpha didn’t answer her calls. In the end, the pup in her womb could not be saved."
"So the love between the Alpha and his Luna was only a tale. I saw the Alpha treat a woman named Lady Davinia as if she were the most precious thing in his world."
"Quiet. We should leave. No one must know about the Luna’s ritual."
"Yes, we must go before she wakes."
Their voices faded. They didn’t notice Valea’s hand clenched tightly beneath the blanket.
She opened her eyes, empty and still, then rose from the bed and pulled the needle from her wrist.
Her face remained pale. Without shoes, she walked out of the chamber.
She stopped before the door of a high rank chamber. Laughter and warm voices came from inside.
"Father, I am sleepy. Tell me a story."
Through the small gap in the door, Valea saw Renwick sitting against the bed, Arion resting on his lap. Davinia sat beside them, slicing fruit.
Renwick wore simple clothes, showing he had no plans to return to his Alpha duties.
Valea remembered how, when she was ill, Renwick only sent a healer to check on her and still left for his duties.
Yet when Davinia had a fever, he rushed to her dwelling and stayed the entire night, his crystal silent.
The difference in his heart was clear.
Valea had endured enough. She would vanish from his life.
She stepped back and turned to leave, but collided with a healer carrying food, causing a loud sound.
"I am sorry, I am sorry..."
Renwick came out of the chamber and froze when he saw Valea sitting on the ground.
Valea quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile.
"Valea?" He frowned and knelt to help her up. "Why are you here? Why are you dressed in a patient robe?"
"I am receiving treatment here."
"Are you badly hurt?" His face turned tense when he saw blood on her wrist where she had pulled out the needle. "Why you didn’t tell me? You’re bleeding."
Valea looked at her wrist. Only a small drop of blood had formed, yet it was enough to make Renwick lose his calm.
He was a man who never feared death, who stood firm even when surrounded by enemies. Yet now, a single drop of her blood made him uneasy.
But it meant nothing.
Valea’s heart was already exhausted.
"I am sorry. I was focused on Arion and forgot about you."
"It’s alright. Arion is more important. He’s the heir of the Valloren bloodline." Valea smiled gently, though her heart mourned the pup she had lost.
Renwick studied her smile, sensing something had changed and it unsettled him.
"I am sorry..." That was all he said. Then he noticed her bare feet. "Why are you not wearing shoes? Who has been caring for you here?"
"There was a gardener. I sent him away."
Without another word, Renwick lifted her into his arms.
"Renwick..." Davinia stepped out and froze at the sight of him holding Valea.
"Arion is looking for you. His wound hurts again. He scratched it until it bled. Please calm him."
"I am sorry, Davinia. I must take Valea back first."
For the first time, he refused her and walked away.
Valea saw Davinia’s expression darken behind his back.
Renwick placed Valea on the bed and called for a healer.
Valea had already told them to keep her loss a secret.
"Luna Valea fell and she’s also severely undernourished and weak," the healer said, glancing at Renwick with confusion. "How could the Luna be in such a state?"
A trace of shame crossed Renwick’s face. "She has been limiting her food. I have told her many times to stop."
Valea looked at him without emotion, seeing through his lie.
The healer nodded and left.
Renwick held her hand softly. "Valea, I am sorry. I acted without thought. If you had simply apologized to Davinia, none of this would have happened."
He still placed the blame on her.
"Let it pass. Davinia has forgiven you. As long as you treat her well, she will forget this matter."
"Then thank her for me," Valea replied with a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Since she would soon leave, she saw no reason to argue.
Renwick smiled and touched her cheek. "As long as you behave, everything will return to how it was. You will always be my Luna."
He pulled the blanket over her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Valea turned her face away.
"Val..." Before he could speak further, his crystal rang.
It was Davinia.
"I must check on Arion," he said and left.
He didn’t stay.
Valea lay still, closing her eyes. Tears slipped down her face. She cried until her eyes swelled and her voice grew hoarse.
To make up for his actions, Renwick changed his behavior. He treated her kindly again, sending gifts and having her favorite meals brought to her chamber each day until she recovered.
A few days later, while waiting for him to bring her home, Valea walked through the healer hall. She watched a pregnant woman being guided gently by her mate for a check.
A quiet envy rose in her chest.
She touched her stomach and pain struck again. Her pup was gone. She still remembered the pain of losing it.
Taking a breath, she turned to leave but bumped into someone stepping out of the birthing chamber.
"Ah."
Valea froze when she saw who it was.
"What a coincidence, Valea," Davinia said with a smile. "Why are you here?"
Valea glanced around for Renwick, but he was not there.
"I should ask you the same. Why are you here alone, coming out of that chamber..." Valea’s voice slowed as she looked toward the birthing room.
Davinia followed her gaze and smiled proudly. "As you see, I came to check my pregnancy."
She picked up the papers that had fallen.
"Look. These are my moon scan results. I am three months with pup." She pointed at the image and touched her stomach. "This is my pup with Renwick. Beautiful, is it? He has always wished for a daughter. He hopes this pup is a girl."
Valea’s eyes fixed on the image. Pain pierced her heart.
Davinia carried the blood of the Valloren brothers within her womb. Disgust rose in Valea’s chest.
Davinia watched her, waiting for her to break. But Valea remained calm.
"Oh."
"Oh?" Davinia stared at her in disbelief. "You should be wise and leave Renwick."
"Why not ask him to let me go?" Valea said calmly. "If it’s his pup, he will take responsibility."
She walked past her.
Davinia followed quickly.
"Valea, don’t be proud just because others praise the Alpha’s love for you. It’s all an act to keep the alliance between Frosthall and Valloren. They had no choice but to keep a barren Luna like you."
She smiled with victory.
"Did you know that Arion is Renwick’s true son?"
Valea didn’t stop walking. Her words were nothing but noise.
It was not that she had never doubted it, but she had been afraid to seek the truth. Now, it no longer mattered.
In two days, she would leave everything behind and disappear from Renwick Valloren’s life.
"Don’t you believe me? I will prove it at the Valloren gathering tomorrow night. Oh, I almost forgot. Zaleen didn’t invite you."
After saying that, Davinia brushed past her with her head held high.
Valea watched her back with cold eyes.
