---- From that moment, the chance of having pups was taken from me. Alan once kissed my lower abdomen with tears streaming down his face, promising he never wanted pups in this life. All he ever wanted was for me to be safe and happy. But now... Everything had changed. As I lingered in that painful memory, the pups in my arms suddenly started coughing violently, blood streaming from their mouths. "What's wrong with the pups?" a voice cried out in panic. Leah came running over, her words slicing through the chaos. "Anna, hate me if you must, but don't punish my innocent pups!" Out of nowhere, Darian's hand whipped across my face with brutal force. ---- I stumbled and fell to the ground, a fiery pain spreading across my cheek as blood dripped from the corner of my mouth. Alan immediately came to my side, sliding his hand under my back to lift me. But just then, the pups suddenly coughed up another spurt of blood. "Alan!" Leah cried, forcing her way forward and clutching his hand tightly. "Please, save the pups! They're slipping away!" This was the same trick as before, but I could feel Alan's hand shaking. His gaze flickered between me and the pups, caught in a painful struggle. Finally, he turned and gathered the pups into his arms. Meanwhile, Leah gave me a wide, smug smile. ---- The corridor outside the treatment room was bitterly cold. I sank against the wall, feeling like a lost and shattered soul. The mate bond dissolution papers slipped from my fingers, drifting down like fragile snowflakes. Each page seemed to mock the vows Alan and I once made. Thalia snatched up the papers and slammed them against my chest. Her calm mask shattered, replaced by fierce anger. "The pack has given you their highest honor all these years. Alan even stood up to the elders for you. How could you hurt those innocent pups? "Tf you're so set on breaking the mate bond, then stop being a problem here. Leave right now!" I silently gathered the scattered papers, my heart twisting with pain.