Chapter 4

Seraphina’s Pov

I stood at the top of the staircase, unable to move, my eyes fixed on Cassey's motionless body crumpled against the stone floor below.

For a long moment, the world around me fell silent.

It was Elias's heartbreaking cry that finally shattered the stillness.

"Mother!"

The little boy threw himself beside Cassey, clutching her limp hand as tears streamed down his face.

Alex slowly lifted his head and looked at me.

The tenderness that had once filled those silver eyes was gone.

All that remained was hatred.

"If anything happens to Cassey or my pup," he said, each word colder than winter itself, "you will beg the Moon Goddess for death."

Without waiting for an explanation, he gathered Cassey carefully into his arms. Elias stumbled after him, sobbing as he tried to keep pace with his father.

My mother-in-law glared at me with undisguised disgust.

"You cursed she-wolf," she spat. "May the Moon Goddess punish you for your wickedness."

Then they were gone.

The manor fell into an eerie silence.

I slowly lowered myself onto the top step, too exhausted to stand.

Not one of them had asked what truly happened.

Not one of them questioned whether Cassey had fallen by her own hand.

They had already decided I was guilty.

Exactly as Cassey had intended.

I remained there until several pack warriors entered the manor.

Without a word, they seized my arms and hauled me roughly to my feet.

"What are you doing?" I cried, struggling against them. "Let me go!"

None of them answered.

They dragged me through the courtyard and toward the pack's healing hall, ignoring every plea that left my lips.

The moment we entered one of the private healing chambers, Alex appeared.

Relief surged through me despite everything.

"Alex... please listen to me. I swear I never—"

His hand struck my face before I could finish.

The force of the blow sent me stumbling sideways.

The taste of blood flooded my mouth.

Stars danced before my eyes as I slowly looked back at him.

"I've grown tired of your lies," he said, his voice devoid of all warmth. "You dare harm Cassey and my unborn pup, yet you still pretend to be innocent."

His eyes narrowed.

"You will offer your blood to heal her."

I stared at him through the sting of tears.

"No."

The word came out calm.

"I didn't push her... and she will never receive a single drop of my blood."

For a heartbeat, absolute silence filled the room.

Then Alex crossed the distance between us.

His hand wrapped around my throat.

His fingers tightened.

Air vanished from my lungs.

I clawed desperately at his wrist as darkness blurred the edges of my vision.

"Alpha!"

The healer's horrified voice echoed through the chamber.

"She'll die!"

Only then did Alex release me.

I collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently while desperate gulps of air burned my lungs.

My vision slowly cleared.

Alex looked down at me without the slightest trace of pity.

"This isn't over."

He turned toward the healer.

"Take every drop of blood you can from her."

The old healer paled.

"Alpha... she lost far too much blood yesterday. Her body is still weak. We have preserved healing blood within the Moon Cellar. Lady Cassey can receive that instead."

Alex's expression darkened.

He seized the healer by the throat.

"I did not ask for your opinion."

The healer gasped helplessly as Alex lifted him from the ground.

"You exist to obey me."

With a violent shove, he threw the old wolf aside.

"Do it."

The warriors pinned my arms before I could resist.

The healer looked at me with eyes full of apology before carefully piercing my arm with a hollow silver needle crafted for blood rites.

Warm blood flowed steadily into crystal flasks prepared for healing ceremonies.

One flask.

Then another.

The room slowly spun around me.

My body had barely survived losing my pup.

Now, with every drop of blood they stole, the strength continued leaving me.

The last thing I remembered was the healer whispering an apology beneath his breath before darkness swallowed me whole.

An icy shock jolted me awake.

I gasped as freezing water drenched my body.

My clothes clung heavily to my skin while violent shivers raced through me.

Blinking through blurred vision, I realized I was still bound to the wooden chair.

Alex stood before me, his expression colder than ever.

I tried to rise.

The room tilted.

My legs immediately gave out beneath me.

"So," he said quietly, "are you finished pretending?"

I looked at him weakly.

"What more do you want from me?"

My teeth chattered uncontrollably.

"I'm freezing."

Without warning, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me upright.

Pain exploded across my scalp.

A cry escaped before I could stop it.

"Please..." I whispered. "Have mercy."

I had no strength left.

I only wanted to sleep.

His grip tightened.

"You hired someone to abduct my son."

Confusion clouded my thoughts.

"...What?"

"Elias."

His voice dripped with fury.

"While you sat here pretending to be helpless, you sent rogues to steal him as revenge."

A hollow laugh escaped me.

It sounded foreign even to my own ears.

"So..." I murmured.

"You can stand before me without shame and admit that Elias is your son."

Alex's jaw clenched.

"Cassey isn't just another she-wolf."

His eyes softened for the briefest moment when he spoke her name.

"She is my true love. The mother of my son... and the pup she now carries."

He looked back at me with disgust.

"You already knew that. If you hated us so much, why take your anger out on an innocent child?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Innocent?"

My voice barely rose above a whisper.

"Did innocence ever cross your mind while our son was dying in front of me?"

His expression remained unmoved.

"Enough."

He gestured toward the door.

"I have proof."

Moments later, two warriors dragged a battered rogue into the chamber.

The wolf dropped to his knees immediately, pointing a trembling finger at me.

"Alpha, she's the one!" he cried desperately. "She paid me to steal the child. I never knew the pup belonged to you. Please... spare my life!"

I frowned.

"I have never seen this wolf before."

Alex's temper snapped.

"Must you lie about everything?"

"I'm telling the truth!"

My voice cracked.

"I didn't do this. You know me."

For one impossible second...

...I almost believed the old Alex would return.

Instead, he seized my arm so violently that his claws pierced my skin.

Blood welled beneath his fingers.

"You will confess."

He dragged me toward the exit.

"You will kneel before Cassey and beg forgiveness."

"I won't confess to something I never did."

My refusal only hardened his expression.

The warriors followed as Alex hauled me across the pack grounds toward the highest point of the mountain, where a broad stone platform overlooked an endless abyss.

The wind howled around us beneath the full moon.

Far below, jagged rocks disappeared into darkness.

Alex stopped at the very edge.

His grip never loosened.

"Confess," he ordered.

"Or I'll throw you from Moonstone Cliff."

Every ounce of color drained from my face.

He knew.

He knew heights had terrified me ever since I nearly slipped from these very cliffs as a child.

He was using that fear against me.

"I swear on the Moon Goddess..." I sobbed. "I didn't do it. Please..."

Alex closed his eyes briefly.

"I warned you."

Then...

He shoved me.

The ground disappeared beneath my feet.

My scream was swallowed by the wind as I plunged into the endless darkness below.