When The Alpha's Mark Fades

At my bonding ceremony, my Alpha mate-to-be, Jacob, and his childhood friend, Caelia, collapsed at the same time.

He chose to save the unconscious Caelia, leaving me to bleed out alone, my blood blackened by silver poison.

I begged him for help through our mind-link, but he used his Alpha command to snarl, "Stop this vicious act!"

He said he would make me pay for my "jealousy."

After he left, carrying Caelia in his arms, my pup and I died together.

The bond between us began to fray.

————————

1

My spirit lingered.

I saw my Alpha mate-to-be, Jacob Stonefield, in the Pack’s infirmary.

He was channeling his precious Alpha energy into the body of his childhood friend, Caelia Thorne.

When the healing was complete, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Pack's healer walked in and quietly reported my death.

But Jacob cut him off coldly, "She is no mate of mine. I want to hear nothing about her."

An icy chill washed over my spirit.

But I wasn't surprised. After all, he despised me, so how could he ever acknowledge our bond?

He had no idea that I had died in the room right next door.

I remembered the ceremony, how I lay in a pool of my own blood, blackened by silver poison, desperately pleading with him through our mind-link.

"Save me... I'm dying... Don't abandon me..."

Any werewolf who saw blood that black would have shuddered in fear.

But my beloved mate merely looked down on me, his voice laced with his Alpha authority. "For once, Elara, can't you stop being so cruel? Didn't you see Caelia faint?!"

"You attacked her with dark magic, and now you want to stop me from saving her? Do you want her dead that badly?!"

"I never thought you were so vicious!"

Hearing those words, I let go of the hand that was clutching his hem.

I reached into my pocket, trying to pull out the scroll from the High Priest, my proof of pregnancy.

I wanted him to know I was carrying our pup.

I hoped that for the sake of our child, he would save me.

But I never got the chance.

He refused to look at me again, roaring, "I will make you pay for this!"

Then, he lifted the unconscious Caelia into his arms and left.

By the time I finally managed to pull out the scroll, they were already gone.

My tears mixed with the black blood, staining the parchment.

My gaze fell to the parchment, my thoughts on the pure Alpha bloodline just beginning to form inside me.

*I’m sorry, my baby. Your father doesn't love me, so he won't save me, and he won't save you.*