Chapter 3

On the night before their mating ceremony, Ethan transferred part of the Lawson inheritance rights into Sophia’s name.

At the time, the entire territory talked about it for months.

Among werewolves, inheritance was not measured only in wealth. Territory rights, moonstone reserves, ancestral estates, and voting authority within pack councils all passed through blood and recognition. Even among mated Alphas and Lunas, few people divided such things so freely. Yet Ethan had done it before the ceremony had even taken place.

Sophia still remembered that night clearly.

Moonlight poured through the windows of the western tower while servants quietly withdrew and left the two of them alone. Ethan stood beside her with the transfer scroll open between them and smiled when she stared at it in disbelief.

He reached over and pinched her cheek lightly.

“Sophie,” he said, sounding almost amused by her reaction, “my princess should only have the rarest and best things.”

Back then she had thought he meant that she was precious.

Now, remembering it years later, she suddenly wondered whether Ethan had always been better at giving things than giving himself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by familiar voices drifting through the stone corridor outside the healer’s hall.

Sophia had no intention of listening, but once she recognized Ethan’s voice she found herself unable to walk away.

She heard him speaking in a low, patient tone.

“Rosewood Manor is ready.”

Sophia’s steps slowed.

Rosewood Manor had belonged to Ethan’s parents. Years ago, Ethan once held her hand while walking through its gardens and told her that one day she would live there and raise their children beneath the old cedar trees.

She remembered laughing and asking how many children he wanted.

Ethan had answered that however many they had, they would all look like her.

Now she heard him continue quietly—

“You’ll stay there after the pup is born.”

His tone softened further.

“And the moon emerald from Monroe has already been recut into a ring.”

Sophia’s fingers stiffened.

She knew that stone.

Years ago, she had once told Ethan an old legend she heard as a child. According to the stories, moon emeralds only appeared once every few generations and symbolized a bond that could never be replaced. She remembered teasing him then and saying that if she ever wore another ceremonial ring, she wanted one made from moon emerald.

Ethan had laughed and promised he would remember.

She had forgotten that conversation.

He had not.

Only she had never imagined the promise would belong to someone else.

Vanessa’s voice sounded next.

“Did Lady Carter like the gifts?”

She sounded hesitant and careful, almost guilty.

Ethan answered naturally.

“She’ll like them.”

There was a brief pause before he added, “You spent hours choosing them.”

Sophia lowered her eyes.

Vanessa spoke again after a moment.

“Lady Carter wants a child so much.”

Her voice became quieter.

“If she’s willing… I’ll try my best.”

Sophia frowned faintly, not understanding.

Then Vanessa finished softly—

“I’ll try to become someone she can accept.”

There was silence.

When Ethan spoke again, there was warmth in his voice that Sophia had once believed belonged only to her.

“Thank you.”

He sounded sincere.

“You’re willing to let Sophie raise our child.”

Sophia stood motionless.

Ethan continued quietly, as though discussing something ordinary.

“With Sophie as the mother in name, the child will inherit everything smoothly.”

His voice became softer.

“Everything I’ve done is for the future heir.”

Sophia looked down at her own hands.

For a long time she had believed Ethan betrayed her because he wanted a child.

But now she understood.

He had never planned to leave her.

He had planned to keep her.

To let her remain in the Lawson estate, continue being loved, continue being cherished, continue believing she was the center of his world while another woman gave him the family he truly wanted.

The realization made her feel strangely calm.

She turned and continued walking toward the inner chambers of the healer’s hall.

The attendants prepared the severing room quietly. Moonstones embedded in the walls glowed softly while bowls of medicinal herbs released a faint scent into the air. Sophia changed into ceremonial white robes and tied the final sash around her waist.

Just then, the moon crystal at her wrist lit up.

Ethan.

She looked at the connection for a long moment before accepting.

His voice entered her mind immediately.

“Sophie.”

He sounded relaxed.

“Are you still upset?”

She remained silent.

He continued as though nothing had changed.

“I prepared ninety-nine moon roses for you. They should arrive at the estate soon, along with breakfast from Wellington Hall.”

His voice softened.

“You still want a pup, don’t you?”

Sophia lowered her gaze.

Ethan sighed lightly.

“If you really want to be a mother, we can choose an orphan from one of the outer territories. You can raise them yourself.”

Then, in the same affectionate voice she had once trusted completely, he added—

“I’ll make sure you have everything you want.”

Sophia placed her hand over her abdomen.

After a while she answered quietly.

“I don’t want a child anymore.”

There was silence on the other side.

Then Ethan laughed softly in relief.

“That’s my Sophie.”

His tone warmed.

“Our seventh mating anniversary is in three days.”

He sounded almost excited.

“I prepared a surprise.”

Sophia closed the connection.

She had prepared one too.

Inside the severing chamber, Adrian entered wearing healer robes and sat beside her.

His expression became serious after reading the examination records.

“With your condition,” he said carefully, “if we perform the severing rite now, you may never conceive again.”

He looked at her quietly.

“Do you want more time?”

Sophia stared upward for a long time before smiling faintly.

“No.”

Her voice remained calm.

“I already decided.”

This child had survived despite everything.

But Ethan would never know.

The ritual began.

Moonlight flowed through the engraved stone circles and gathered around her body. The pain came slowly at first and then deepened until it felt as though something invisible was being separated from her bone by bone.

Sophia did not cry.

She only closed her eyes and waited.

When it ended, she placed her hand over her abdomen and realized there was only silence.

The last thing connecting her to Ethan was gone.

When she woke, an anonymous location crystal had been left beside her bed.

She followed it.

It led to a bridal hall.

Sophia remained inside her carriage after arriving.

Then she saw Ethan step out.

He turned and extended his hand.

Vanessa placed hers into his.

He pulled her close and smiled.

“You’re already my wife.”

Sophia forgot to breathe.

Ethan continued quietly.

“I couldn’t give you a public ceremony.”

His eyes softened.

“But at least once, I want to see you wear wedding robes.”

Vanessa lowered her head and smiled helplessly.

Ethan reached out and touched her face.

“I can’t give you recognition.”

His voice became gentler.

“But I can still make you happy.”

Sophia watched silently.

Then she remembered.

He had said the same things to her.

Done the same things.

Touched her with the same tenderness.

And suddenly she realized that perhaps she had never lost anything unique at all.

Outside, Ethan’s friends arrived and began talking casually.

Someone laughed and said Ethan was finally giving his wife a proper surprise.

Another asked whether he was afraid Sophia would find out.

Someone answered dismissively that she never would.

Then another voice added carelessly that it hardly mattered anymore because she could not bear children and had never been recognized anyway.

Someone else immediately told them to stop talking nonsense and reminded everyone that Ethan treasured Sophia.

Sophia sat quietly in the carriage.

For the first time, she understood that being treasured and being chosen were never the same thing.