Eloide
The next day, I was checked up on over and over again. Dad stayed by my side the whole time, making sure I’d recover fast. He even pressured Dr. Calder to give me the best medication available.
"Can she go back to the pack house now, Dr. Calder?" Dad asked, his voice tight with urgency.
"I need to monitor her progress," Dr. Calder replied, flipping through my chart. "If there are no complications after half a day, I’ll give the green light for her to go home."
"Make it quick, Dr. Calder," Dad said firmly. "She needs to be by Gavin’s side once she's better."
"Understood, Gamma Holden," the doctor responded with a respectful nod.
By late afternoon, the doctor finally said I was healthy enough for a short trip. Dad insisted on taking me home himself.
That night, he posted a guard outside my bedroom door. He didn’t want me stepping out even for a second. It’s like he already knew Mom was planning to have Luna Livia come pick me up.
Mom came to see me right after Dad was called in by Alpha Malcolm to prep for their holiday plans. She used the excuse of bringing me a glass of milk, but she had something much riskier—and way more interesting—in mind.
“Luna Livia just sent word,” she said, her voice low. “One of her Elite Guardians is coming to pick you up with a ski sleigh. The amulet…” Her eyes dropped to the necklace around my neck. “That’s their beacon. It’s how they’ll find you.”
My fingers instinctively brushed the cool surface of the amulet. “How do I use it?” I asked, barely above a whisper.
“It’ll react when you’re in danger,” she said. “You just need to bait someone into hurting you. Once that happens, grab it tight. Don’t let go.”
I nodded slowly, her plan finally starting to make some sense. It was risky. Wild, even. But for the first time in days, I saw a sliver of hope.
Still, when Dad came back to check on me at the start of his night watch, the weight on my chest didn’t lift. He acted like everything was normal—like I wasn’t falling apart inside.
He only cared about his status. Never about how I felt. What kind of father treats his daughter like this?
"Gavin is a good brother, don’t think negatively.”
"You’re always so emotional. Gavin would never do something like that."
"Just focus on your position—and the pup. That’s our insurance, Eloide."
I stopped telling Dad about Gavin’s betrayals after that. Only Mom truly understood. She was the only one who supported me through this arranged bond.
When I first saw Callum’s photo, he looked... distant. A brooding soul. A hockey athlete on a break. Luna Livia thought my skills as a therapist might help him.
“He needs a mate who can warm his soul. You're the right one, Eloide”.
My heart was torn. I knew this wasn’t about love, and I had accepted that ever since Mom brought up the idea after Gavin’s 90th betrayal.
Still, the Moon Goddess must have a plan. I couldn't keep hurting myself holding on to a mate that never loved me back.
**
Dad forced me to join the group trip to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Alpha Malcolm had the whole place “cleared” for Gavin’s privacy.
I moved like a ghost the entire way there. My body was on autopilot. I didn’t know if this trip was about healing or just another stage in whatever game my father was playing.
I saw Gavin again at breakfast. He looked tired, somber.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “When we lost the baby…”
I didn’t answer. His voice sounded rehearsed. Like he was reading lines off a script.
Gavin led me to a nearby bench. We sat together, and he started explaining why he hadn’t shown up yesterday.
I almost laughed to myself as he tried to convince me he was just being a responsible big brother to his “fragile little sister.”
He said Catherine didn’t want to be left alone and had refused medical treatment, so he took her back to the pack house. Did he seriously think I was dumb enough to believe that?
Catherine’s performance was award-worthy—like, truly epic.
“We can try again, Eloide. I’m sure the Moon Goddess hasn’t abandoned us.”
What a joke. He wanted a future with me while planting his seed in that other woman’s belly. I didn’t care anymore. I was leaving him soon anyway.
Later, he turned to me. “Want to ride the ski lift? Maybe the fresh air will help clear your head.”
I nodded slightly. Anything to feel something. But as we headed toward the lift, Catherine appeared out of nowhere, all fake sweetness and sugary smiles.
“Gavin, I’m scared to go alone. Can I ride with you?” she cooed.
He hesitated, looking between us. His father stood nearby, watching. Gavin gave in with a tense nod.
“No, Catherine,” he said. “Dad wants me to ride with him.”
“Then I’ll ride with Eloide,” she said quickly, grabbing my arm.
[Don’t make a scene, Eloide. Just go along with it.] Dad’s voice echoed in my head through our mind link.
Just as I predicted. Catherine made her move—closing in, weaving her manipulation the moment we were alone.
I ended up taking the next lift with her, exactly as planned.
I pretended to admire the snowy mountain peaks, acting like I was caught up in the view while she smugly ran her hand over her baby bump, like it was some kind of twisted trophy.
My job? Just piss her off enough to get hurt. That’s all it would take.
“You’re not even listening to me, are you, Eloide? I’m talking to you.”
“Oh, sorry,” I said, keeping my tone light. “The view’s just... breathtaking. I can’t wait to fly down that slope.”
“Well, then let it be your last wish, you stupid bitch. Go ahead and die!”
Then it happened.
Catherine reached for my safety strap.
“What are you—”
“You’ve always been in the way,” she hissed, her voice low and venomous. “You should’ve died with that little brat of yours.”
She unlatched the belt with a sharp click.
