My claws threatened to break through my fingernails as I gripped my communication stone, pressing my lips together in silence.
"Selene, are you feeling okay? Your scent is off—something's wrong."
The pack carriage rolled to a stop before the healer-den entrance. I reached out and grasped Kael's sleeve.
"Can we go to a different healer-den? I don't want the examination done here."
Kael shot me a suspicious look, his amber eyes narrowing. "Selene, we've done all your pup expectation monitoring here since we registered with the Blood-Scribes. Why would you want to switch now?"
"You chose Healer Frostvein yourself. It's too late to change healers."
He took my hand, his palm warm against mine, the mate bond humming faintly between us.
"Have you been too anxious lately? That's my fault—I've been working so hard, trying to secure a larger territory allocation from the Pack Council, to give you and the pup a better life."
Before, I would have melted at his dedication.
But now, that pack-net mark-thread was a thorn buried deep in my heart.
"Selene, every other healer-den in the territory is fully claimed. Let's just do the examination today, okay?"
The cold sensing crystal pressed against my swollen belly. I couldn't stop trembling.
Kael held my hand tightly, his thumb smoothing the furrow between my brows.
"The patient needs to rest lying down. Bloodline results will be ready in forty-eight hours."
Maybe the tension had exhausted me—I actually fell asleep.
When I woke, Kael was gone.
The main corridor was crowded with wolves of all ranks. I braced one hand against my belly and took the back passage down.
At the landing between floors, I caught his scent before I saw him.
Kael had his arms around a she-wolf younger than me, her Omega scent cloying and sweet.
"What are you doing at the healer-den? There are so many sicknesses spreading through the lower dens."
He pulled out a scent-mask, his face creased with concern, and fitted it over her delicate features.
"I was worried about the pup. When do the bloodline results come out?"
She pressed her body against his chest, her fingers curling into his tunic.
"Don't worry. I've got everything arranged—the results will show what we need. You'll get to be a mother, just like you wanted."
"Now you—it's freezing. Go back to your den before you make me worry."
The she-wolf stamped her foot, pouting. "No, no, I want to stay with you. She's asleep anyway."
"I'm hungry. Will you take me to hunt?"
Kael looked at her with helpless affection, brushing the loose dark hair from her forehead.
"Whatever you want. Anything you want. What are you craving?"
The tenderness in his eyes—I had never seen it once in five years of our mating bond.
She whispered something against his ear, her breath warm on his neck. He scooped her up by the waist.
They headed down the passage together.
A sharp pain tore through my abdomen. I clutched my belly, slid down the stone wall, and crumpled to the floor.
I activated the bond-link to reach Kael. Heavy breathing filled the connection.
"Selene, you're awake? Something came up with pack business at the central den. Rest at the healer-den—I'll come for you when you're done."
"Kael, my belly hurts. Can you skip the den and stay with me? Please?"
"Don't be difficult, Selene. It's almost the Midwinter Council gathering. I can't let anything affect my standing with the Elders. Be good."
The she-wolf's voice, low and urgent: "Hurry up, hurry up. My paws are cold. End the link."
The connection went dead.
The pain ebbed.
I pulled myself upright and walked to the healer's receiving chamber.
I requested another audience with Healer Frostvein.
"Selene, you want a termination?"
Healer Elena Frostvein stared at me, disbelief etched across her weathered face.
"Do you understand what you're saying? You're seven moons along. Your womb's condition is fragile—after a termination, you may never carry another pup again."
I met her worried gaze and nodded.
"I've made up my mind. I want the termination. Please schedule the ritual for tomorrow."
She opened her mouth to argue. I pulled up the mark-thread I'd seen that morning and handed her my communication stone.
Her jaw dropped. She stared at the glowing runes, speechless.
"That's impossible. Absolutely impossible. This mark-thread has to be lies. Selene—this is a life. A pup of your blood."
Healer Frostvein was my pack-sister Lyra's den-neighbor. I trusted her completely.
