He kept reassuring me, over and over again, until I finally chose to trust him.
I told myself he was just being kind. That he hadn't fallen out of love with me.
But now, it was all so clear. Ravenna's pup had always been his.
They'd been sneaking around behind my back for Moon Goddess knows how long and I was nothing more than their cover story.
When Alaric mentioned rejecting our bond, I caught the way Ravenna's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of satisfaction slipping through her carefully composed expression.
"I never meant to take you from Selene," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "It's just... if my intended mate hadn't broken things off, none of this would've happened. I needed to protect my dignity. And thank the Moon Goddess you were there, Alaric. I honestly don't know what I would've done, where I would've gone, after coming back to this territory without you."
Her eyes filled with tears. And Alaric, full of tenderness and concern, gently wrapped her in his arms.
"I told you, I'll take care of you, Ravenna. If it weren't for you back then, I would've…" He trailed off.
"Anyway, it's only right that I look after you," he continued. "Selene is my bonded mate, so she should understand why I'm doing this. And so what if she finds out? I'll still be here for you, no matter what."
Alaric patted Ravenna gently, comforting her.
As the moon-healer came out of the examination chamber, she glanced at them and said with envy, "You're one lucky she-wolf, Luna Blackthorn. Your mate never misses a single check-up and he treats you with such care and affection."
Ravenna blushed, smiling bashfully and Alaric nodded like it was only natural.
I stared at the sickening scene in front of me, nails digging into my palms. Somewhere deep in my chest, my wolf let out a sound I had never heard from her before, low and wounded and quiet, like something curling in on itself to die.
Two more weeks and I would be gone from Alaric's life forever.
Alaric followed the moon-healer into the den chamber to collect the prenatal report. Ravenna, however, murmured something about needing a moment and lingered in the corridor.
Once they were both inside, she finally drawled, her voice lazy and slow, "You can come out now. You've been standing there watching long enough. Haven't had your fill yet?"
I stepped out without a word, my expression blank.