Nerissa’s POV
After a brief healing treatment, they brought me back to the main hall of the manor.
The moment I stepped inside, something felt off.
The iris garden that once filled the courtyard was gone. Every last flower had been torn out and replaced with rows of blooming roses. Their heavy scent filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
Jasper stood there waiting, his expression cold and distant.
“Devora is kind enough to let this matter go,” he said evenly. “As long as you hand over the pearl necklace.”
He paused, then added as if it were nothing important, “She heard pearls carry good fortune. She only wants to keep it until the pup is born. Take it as your chance to make things right.”
A chill crept through me and I almost let out a laugh.
Make things right?
As if I were the one who had done something wrong.
That necklace… he had gathered every single pearl himself from the deep sea beyond the pack’s territory. He once told me it was worth risking his life, as long as those pearls could protect mine.
When I became pregnant, he said he would collect another strand for our pup. He swore he would face death again and again if it meant keeping me safe.
But now, the same man who made those promises had become the one hurting me the most.
My hands tightened slowly, nails pressing into my palms as a dull ache spread through my chest.
I said nothing.
After a moment, Jasper’s patience wore thin. He stepped forward without warning and pulled the necklace from my neck. The movement was rough enough to sting, leaving a faint mark behind, but he didn’t even spare it a glance.
The man who once could not bear to see me shed a single tear now didn’t care if he left me wounded.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to stay still.
Perhaps the Jasper I once knew had already disappeared the day he lost himself in the sea. Maybe the one standing here now was someone else entirely.
With that thought, the last trace of my feelings for him quietly faded.
That night, Devora left the manor.
I knew Jasper had prepared another residence for her, one far grander than before. Still, even after she was gone, this place no longer felt the same. It was as if her presence had settled into the walls, leaving something behind that could not be erased.
Over the next few days, Jasper divided his time between us, moving back and forth like someone living two separate lives.
Yet the very next morning, he seemed to return to his old self. A gentle and attentive person.
Every time I woke up, there was something new waiting for me. Jewelry, rare treasures, gifts beyond reason. Diamond bracelets, gold ornaments, even stretches of ocean territory placed under my name.
It felt like he was trying to cover everything with wealth and care.
For a brief moment, I almost saw the man I used to love.
“My Luna,” he said softly one morning, his voice careful, “I know I went too far. You made mistakes too, but I was not right either. I am sorry. I won’t treat you like that again. You are still the Luna of the Wolfsbane Pack. That will never change.”
Then he placed something before me.
The Luna crown.
It was the third token he had once given me, the symbol of the Wolfsbane matriarch. The gem set at its center held access to the pack’s vault, granting control over half of its wealth and power.
After setting it down, Jasper looked at me with quiet hope, as if expecting me to soften, to forgive him like I always had before.
Back then, I would have. Every time he admitted fault, I forgave him without hesitation.
But not this time.
I stood by the tall window, staring out at the endless field of roses that had replaced my irises. Without a word, I took out my medicine and swallowed it dry.
That was how I had gotten through these past few days.
Numb.
Jasper seemed about to speak again when his communicatior suddenly rang.
“Alpha Wolfsbane,” a voice said urgently, “Lady Devora Frostvein plans to take the pup and form a bond with another male.”
All the color drained from his face.
Without a single word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the manor, heading straight for the residence he had prepared for Devora.
When we arrived, she stood in the center of the hall, dressed in white ceremonial robes. Her belly showed clearly beneath the fabric, her figure fragile and delicate.
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Jasper.
“My father is gravely ill,” she said softly. “His last wish is to see me mated. I know I am not worthy of being your Luna. I came from nothing. But I want him to leave this world in peace.”
Her hand rested gently over her stomach as she let out a quiet sigh.
“I cannot give up this pup. I will find someone kind and raise the pup with him.”
Then she turned and began to walk away, her steps slow, as if she had already accepted her fate.
Jasper reacted instantly.
He stepped forward and caught her wrist, pulling her back.
“You want my pup to call another man father?” His voice dropped, filled with anger. “That will never happen.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, firm and possessive.
They stood there, lost in each other.
I watched in silence, feeling nothing at all.
When Devora finally pulled away, breath uneven, Jasper turned toward me.
“Rissa,” he said, his voice quiet but firm, “we need to break our bond.”
I looked at him, but he said nothing more.
Only after Devora was taken to another room did he finally speak again, letting out a breath.
“I know this is sudden, but you saw it. Her father doesn’t have much time left. His last wish is to see her mated. I cannot let my pup call another man father.”
He studied my expression, then continued.
“It will only be temporary. Just a false separation. We will hold the ceremony, give her father peace. After that, I will explain everything to her.”
