Alaric paused. His face twisted like he was conflicted. But then Ravenna grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
Alaric's heart melted instantly. When he turned back to me, his voice was full of irritation. "That's enough! You're carrying a pup too. How can you have zero empathy?"
"You pushed Ravenna. I'm just trying to take care of her. If you don't want her here, then maybe you should leave."
His words hit like a slap.
I stared at him, the blood draining from my face. My whole body trembled. Inside me, my wolf went completely still, as if something had broken so cleanly it didn't even make a sound.
And then I said, as clearly as I could, "As you wish."
Tonight would be my last night in this den. After this, I'd be gone, and Alaric Blackthorn would be a closed chapter in my life.
With my decision made, I grabbed the bag in my hand and marched out the door.
Ravenna's voice followed behind me, laced with mock pity.
"Don't fight because of me, Alaric. Look, she's so angry she even took down your mating portrait."
Alaric's voice rumbled low with frustration. "She's just being dramatic. Once she realizes I'm not playing her game, she'll come crawling back."
A tear slid down my cheek. I walked into the cold night and threw the bag away along with the very last shred of love I had left for him. The moon hung overhead, distant and pale, and said nothing at all.
The second I opened the door, I heard a noise coming from the nursery, and my anger flared white-hot. Alaric had renovated that room the moment he found out I was carrying. He'd filled it with only the best. Every piece of furniture, every stuffed animal, every blanket woven with moonthread and spelled for warmth. He picked them all out himself. For our pup.
And now he wanted to give that to Ravenna?
Fury surged through me, my wolf snarling so hard beneath my ribs I could feel her claws scraping at the underside of my skin. I stormed down the hallway and swung the door open, only to find Ravenna lying in the crib.
I yanked her up without thinking, rage burning in my chest. But before I could get a word out, Alaric grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from her. The scent of cedar and cold iron rolled off him in a wall of dominance that pressed against my shoulders, but I was too furious to submit.