(Selene's POV)
He walked to the dining table, eyes on the untouched dishes I had spent hours preparing.
“Where’s Amara? You both haven’t eaten?” he asked, feigning concern.
I didn’t answer. My trembling hands lifted a plate, then let it slip. The crash of rice against the floor made him freeze.
“Selene, stop this,” he barked. “You’re Luna—you can’t waste food and throw an attitude. It’s just an anniversary I missed.”
I almost laughed. He thought I was blind. Elara’s scent still clung to him.
Jaw tight, he muttered, “I need to check the patrol…I can’t deal with you.”
“The patrol you remembered after smelling of her?” I whispered.
He stiffened. I smiled sweetly, covering—“After smelling the rogues.”
He hesitated, then forced, “I’ll make it up to you,” before leaving.
I wasn’t waiting for promises. Not anymore.
I hastily went to our bedroom, and pulled out the bags. I folded Amara’s little dresses, my own clothes, careful not to think, just moving everything I could touch.
The pendant he forced on me dangled from my neck—mocking me. I yanked it off, skin stinging where it had bruised me, and tossed it away.
I wasn't going to wait two weeks knowing that the man that killed my pup was going to have sex with me soon. Or worse, find out I knew the truth before I avenged Lok’s death.
“Too risky…” I muttered.
I dragged the luggage, on my way to wake Amara up when I heard a loud thud from her bedroom.
“Amara!” fear gripped me. I threw away the luggage and dashed to her room.
“Amara!” My voice cracked as I burst into her room.
She was on the floor, her small body trembling, lips pale, eyes rolled back. The disease had returned and my world collapsed at that moment.
“No, no, not again,” I sobbed, falling to my knees. I gathered her tiny frame into my arms, rocking her as if I could shield her from it. Her skin burned, her breath now shallow.
“Stay with me, baby, please!” I screamed, tears blinding me.
Without thinking, I ran, clutching her to my chest, my legs following the familiar path to the healer den.
“Help please.” I screamed, shivering.
“Lay her here, quickly!” the healer commanded.
“Her fever is burning through the herbs,” one apprentice whispered.
They kept trying their best with each passing hour.
The healer’s face tightened. “Selene… it’s worse this time. The only thing strong enough now….” She hesitated, meeting my eyes. “She will need her father’s blood.”
My throat closed. “No…”
“No time on our side….hurry.” She urged.
My wolf surged forward before I could think. The healer’s words echoed in my skull—her father’s blood or she dies. I ran through the forest, fear and anger pushing me faster.
In a few minutes, I was standing in front of the Alpha’s headquarters catching Damian's scent.
“Damian!” I ran up to him, clutching his arm.
“It’s Amara….she needs blood now, or we’ll lose her….the disease suddenly came and I….”
I trailed off when I caught a glimpse of Elara and the pup that looked just like his mini version.
“You can see I am busy….” He simply said, carrying Elara’s pup up.
He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.
“Our pup is dying…” My voice broke as I begged, the fear choking me.
“She’s dying! Amara is dying!!!!!” I was at the verge of insanity.
I wasn’t going to lose Amara too! I lunged at him and he immediately shoved me backwards.
“I said enough.” His hand ripped free from mine, but I grabbed him again, clinging like my life depended on it, because Amara's did.
“We can’t lose her! Damian, please!” My knees buckled as I held on. “You promised me you would do anything for Amara…”
“She's as good as dead! Amara can't survive next winter!”
His face twisted with irritation and almost immediately he grabbed my neck, choking me till I couldn’t breathe before pushing me to the ground.
My knees scraped against the dirt and the pain was unbearable but nothing hurt more than realising Amara also meant nothing to him.
I forced myself to get up again, my body covered with bruises.
“Damian….please..”
In my frantic pleading, my hand brushed against the boy’s arm and he stumbled a little.
Then the world suddenly paused.
Damian gripped me by my hair, slapping me twice and kicking me till I couldn’t breathe. I managed to wriggle out of his hold, barely alive.
“Damian…Damian!” Elara suddenly screamed.
I followed her voice to see the pup on the floor and I could see through the pretense, Elara was making him cough and wriggle.
“Save my baby!!!” Elara broke down in tears and that was it, nothing else mattered to Damian.
He scooped him up, barking orders to every wolf in sight to meet him at the healer’s den.
“Tell me nothing is going to happen to him….promise me you will do anything to save him.” Elara cried, running alongside him.
I wasn't thinking straight either, I started running behind them, hoping he would save Amara too.
