When Elaine stirred awake , the first thing she noticed was the sterile scent of herbs and antiseptic . The ceiling above her was unfamiliar , pale white , and lined with faint cracks . The air was heavy with quiet , the kind of silence that follows after chaos . She tried to sit up , but her body felt as though it had been drained of all strength . Only fragments of memory returned to her - pain , blinding and merciless , like fire ripping through her veins . She squeezed her eyes shut , trying to piece together what had happened . Her wolf ... she reached inward , desperate for comfort . But her wolf was not there to meet her as usual . Instead , she lay curled deep in the recesses of Elaine's soul , unmoving , drenched in sorrow . All Elaine could feel from her was overwhelming grief , sadness so suffocating it made her chest tighten . What happened ? she thought desperately . Why does it feel like I've lost everything? " Elaine ? " The low , steady voice pulled her from the haze . She turned her head and saw him - Alpha Darius sitting in a chair beside her bed , his imposing form softened only by the concern in his eyes . " What happened ? " Her voice cracked , raw and weak . Darius leaned forward slightly , his expression grave . " Don't you remember ? We were at the ceremony . " And then it came rushing back - the altar , Michael's golden eyes pleading for forgiveness , Kathy tilting her head , the sound of cheers , the searing pain of betrayal . The marking . The bond shattering . And then ... the pup . Her wolf had said it - we're with pup . Elaine's breath hitched . She clutched her stomach in panic . " My pup - what happened to my pup ? Is it okay? " Darius's jaw tightened , the muscles ticking with restrained emotion . His expression darkened , unreadable , but his voice was steady . " I'll call the doctor to speak with you . " Her heart sank . If the news were good , he would have said so already . Confusion and fear gnawed at her . She tried again to reach for her wolf , but found only silence . The emptiness was unbearable . ' Why won't you talk to me ? ' She pleaded inwardly . But her wolf just lay there , drained of all energy , drowning in sorrow . 1/3 < Chapter 29 More Rewards > Darius returned with the doctor moments later . He remained in the corner of the room , arms crossed , his presence heavy , protective - like a wall between Elaine and the world . Elaine's voice trembled , but the words tumbled out . " How is my pup ? Please ... tell me about my pup . " The doctor's expression faltered . He sighed heavily , pity in his eyes , before he spoke . " Elaine ... I am sorry . The pup did not survive . " Her body stilled . " The pain you endured was too much for it . Your wolf was already weakened by the constant stress and heartbreak you've been suffering these past weeks . She did everything she could to protect the little one , but ... it was not enough . " His voice dropped , heavy with sorrow . " I'm truly sorry ." Elaine stared at him , unblinking . Her face was blank , her eyes empty . It was as if the words did not land , as if she couldn't process their meaning . She heard them , but they echoed hollowly inside her head . Her heart had already been shredded at the altar . Now , whatever fragments had remained were ground into dust . They had taken everything - her mate , her family , her dignity , her place in the pack . And now , the final piece of her soul , the life she hadn't even known she carried . Gone . The doctor shifted awkwardly , his pity heavy in the room . " Your family is waiting outside . They wish to see you . In times like these , it is best to be surrounded by loved ones ." Elaine's gaze flicked toward him , dull and lifeless . " I don't want to see them ." Her words were flat , stripped of all emotion . It was not anger . It was nothingness . The doctor hesitated , but Darius stepped forward . His voice was curt , commanding . " Leave us . " The doctor bowed his head quickly and excused himself , leaving the two alone . Darius came closer , his presence filling the space beside her bed . His voice softened , though it carried an edge of urgency . " Elaine , I need to know what happened . Trust me . Let me help you . I am on your side . " Her lips trembled . For a moment , she searched his eyes , weighing his words , gauging the truth in them . " Alpha ... can you really take me away from here ? " 2/3 < Chapter 29 More Rewards > Darius didn't hesitate . " As I told you , I will do anything . You will leave with us tomorrow . " Elaine studied him for a long moment , then let out a shaky breath . Something inside her decided . If there was anyone she could tell , it was him . " My mate ," she began softly , her voice like cracked glass . " My fated mate ... was Michael . " Darius stiffened , his eyes narrowing , but he remained silent , letting her continue . " When I found out , I was so happy . I thought I had everything I ever wanted . We mated that night ... but he didn't mark me . I thought he was waiting for our mating ceremony . But the next morning , I learned the truth . He already had a chosen mate . And that chosen mate ... is my sister , Kathy . " Her voice broke , but she pushed on , numb and detached . " Because she was already pregnant , my parents , the Alpha , the Luna - they all decided . Michael would mark Kathy . They called it ' for the good of the pack . ' They all agreed . And when they turned against me , so did the rest of the pack . I had no one . Nothing . " Her hands clenched the sheets weakly . " And now ... after they took my mate , after they made me watch him mark my sister , they took my pup too . I didn't even know I was with pup until my wolf told me , minutes before I lost it . She saved every last shred of her strength to protect it . But in the end ... even that wasn't enough . " Her voice was soft , stripped of everything . No anger . No tears . Only emptiness . She sounded like a ghost of herself . A girl who had lost the will to live . Darius's rage built with every word . His hands tightened into fists , his jaw hard as stone . His aura rippled with the feral fury of his wolf . To spit on the Goddess's gift - to destroy the sanctity of the mate bond - was unforgivable . To crush Elaine in the process was beyond redemption . His voice , when he spoke , was low and deadly . " I've changed my mind . We are not waiting until tomorrow . We leave today ." He stood , his body taut with controlled fury . " I'll speak to your Alpha briefly . Then I'll return for you . Rest until then . " His eyes lingered on her one last time , softer now , protective , before he turned and strode from the room . Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) > 45 ST Vote 3/3