(Soraya’s POV)
When I opened my eyes,I was lying in a room at the Healer's Hall.
A healer stood beside me,his expression serious and concerned.
“Lady Soraya,you're carrying a pup.You collapsed because of severe emotional strain.You must take better care of yourself from now on.”
“We tried contacting your mate,but we couldn't reach him.He should be paying more attention to you.”
I forced a small smile and replied quietly,“He's busy with pack matters.”
The door closed behind him.
I rested a hand over my stomach and whispered softly,“Little one,this isn't the best time.But I'm taking you with me.”
I picked up the payment slip from the table and headed toward the front desk.
As I walked through the corridor,I overheard two healers talking and stopped.
“Did you see that earlier?The famous pack attorney in this city,Jareth Wolfhart,rushed in carrying his mate.”
“Of course I saw it.The whole hall was in chaos.He even summoned all the senior healers to examine her.That's what true love looks like.”
“I know,right?I heard they grew up together.Childhood sweethearts who became mates.How lucky.”
I clenched the payment slip until it wrinkled in my hand.Bitterness filled my chest.
When I was eighteen and suffering from a terrible fever,Jareth had treated me the same way.He had carried me through heavy rain all the way to the Healer's Hall.
But later,when I became so sick I could barely stay awake,all I received was a single message.
[If you're sick,go see a healer.I'm busy with pack work too.]
I once thought he had changed.
The truth was that he had not.His love had simply gone to someone else.
A few steps later,I ran into them.
Merryn looked me over from head to toe and laughed coldly.
“Sora,did you come here to see whether I was dead yet?Sorry to disappoint you.”
I could not care less.
“Move.”
Before Merryn could answer,Jareth stepped in front of her.
“Sora,Merryn has a heart condition.She can't handle stress.Stop provoking her.There is a limit to how unreasonable you can be.”
I looked into his cold eyes.I wanted to ask him what exactly I had done to provoke her.
If I were truly as unreasonable as he claimed,I would have torn her apart long ago for everything she had done to me.
“Jareth,do you love her that much?Fine.I'll move aside so the two of you can be together.”
A cold laugh escaped my lips.
His face darkened and his brows pulled together tightly.
“Sora,what nonsense are you saying?I only care for her as a sister.I've never crossed any boundaries.”
Right.
Never crossed any boundaries,he said.
But he forgot our moon anniversary only to take her across the northern kingdoms to watch the Moon Lights dance across the sky.
He also ignored my moon-born day to travel with her to the eastern territories and watch the first winter snowfall.
He did everything a mate would do.
Then he told me he had never crossed any boundaries?
Meanwhile,all I ever received was:“Too troublesome.Maybe next time.”
Merryn wrapped her arm around his casually.
“Seriously,you're so sensitive,Sora.Jareth and I grew up together.We've always been close.Do you really need to make a problem out of every little thing?”
My communication crystal suddenly lit up.
It was the pack law firm.
I had no time to waste on either of them.
“Attorney Clawson,please get back here immediately.The Chief Pack Attorney is furious!”
I turned and walked away without another word,but Jareth grabbed my wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“To die.Is that good enough for you,Jareth?”
He immediately released me.Looking embarrassed,he said nothing.
When I returned to the law firm,reporters had completely surrounded the entrance.
I could barely get through the crowd.
“Pack Attorney Soraya Clawson,as Blackmoor City's second ranked legal advocate,you've rejected many clients before.Why are you defending an accused killer now?”
“Were you responsible for leaking the case files?Or is this some scheme for attention?Would you care to answer?”
The crowd pushed closer and closer.
I could hardly breathe.
Suddenly,someone stepped in front of me.His voice was sharp and commanding.
“Unless you have proof,I suggest you stop spreading lies.Otherwise,I will personally file a lawsuit against every one of you for defamation.”
I looked up.
It was Jareth.
For a brief moment,something stirred inside the heart I thought had already gone cold.The feeling disappeared just as quickly.
He leaned close and whispered into my ear.
“Don't say anything bad about Merryn.These reporters are ruthless.She won't be able to handle them.”
That was how it always felt when someone did not love you.They hurt you without even realizing it.
Ding!
A message appeared on my communication crystal.
My heart instantly tightened.
Making sure Jareth could not see,I opened it.
[Lady Soraya Clawson,your entry request to the Ironcrest Kingdom has been denied.Your mating bond status was recorded incorrectly.]
[We conducted a verification on your behalf.Official records show that you have never completed a registered mating bond.]
[As for Jareth Wolfhart,his legally registered mate is Lady Merryn Wildbriar.]
A wave of grief crashed into me.
I felt as though I were drowning.I could not breathe.
The man standing beside me…the man who protected another she wolf again and again…
Now I finally understood why.They were the true mated pair all along.
I was the fool.
A complete fool.
The mating ceremony never happened and the bond registration was fake.How much of what we shared had ever been real?
I swallowed the pain,turned away from him,and typed a single message.
[Restart the application process.Transfer to the Ravenvale Moon Kingdom.As quickly as possible.]
