Crack.

Elara heard the distinct sound of something shattering in her chest.

It was the crumbling foundation of her seven years with Damian.

Now, it was nothing but dust.

She dug her nails deep into her palms, trying to suppress the storm of emotions raging inside her, and managed to speak calmly.

"Alpha Blackwood certainly dotes on Ms. Summers."

Damian's face darkened, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly.

Elara paid him no mind and continued.

"In that case, give me seventy thousand dollars for my medical bills. I won't press charges."

Chloe looked at her suspiciously.

"Only seventy thousand?"

Elara nodded firmly.

"Yes. Just seventy thousand."

Seventy thousand. A price to buy out the seven years they had spent together, from falling in love to their mating.

It was the final period on this chapter of her life.

Without asking any more questions, Damian transferred the money and led Chloe out of the room.

The hospital room was quiet once more.

Elara turned over and pulled the blanket over her head.

Perhaps the movement aggravated her wounds, because a damp spot slowly spread across the pillow.

She stayed in the hospital for nearly ten days.

Damian visited her once, alone.

But she had no desire to see him. Each time, she pretended to be asleep, avoiding him completely.

After being discharged, she met up with her few close friends and told them about her plans to move abroad.

They were all thrilled to hear she was returning to acting.

The last few days before her departure, Elara counted down the hours.

On the final day, she was at the Pack Elders' Hall the moment the doors opened.

The one-month cooling-off period was over. She smoothly received her official certificate of mate bond dissolution.

Just as she walked out of the hall, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Chloe, asking to meet at a private club.

Her eyes fell on the cold, official document in her hand. Elara decided to go.

When Elara arrived at the private room, Chloe was already there.

She took a small sip of milk, then smiled at Elara.

"Elara, I didn't ask you here for any other reason than to thank you for letting me and Damian be together."

"I was going to thank you after your bond-severing ceremony, but Damian has been so clingy this past month. He won't even let me be away from him for three hours. He has to be by my side constantly, even on set. He's even willing to act as my personal assistant. It was a real struggle to get away today."

Elara's hand tightened around her water glass.

When they were first in love, Damian had been that clingy with her, too.

But now, he couldn't care less about her.

Chloe noticed the subtle change in Elara's expression, and the smile in her eyes deepened.

"It seems you're still not over Damian. Too bad you two are done."

"When Damian was pursuing me, I told him I would never be a mistress. So, for me, he immediately rejected you. It looks like I'm more important to him. You, my dear, are in the past."

Elara could see that Chloe was a smart and ambitious woman.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept Damian obsessed for three months, let alone convince him to reject his fated mate.

She spoke calmly.

"You didn't call me here just to gloat, did you?"

Chloe chuckled.

"You really are sharp."

She pulled a piece of paper from her bag and handed it to Elara.

Elara frowned, unsure of what game she was playing.

She took the paper, and an ultrasound photo came into view.

Her mind went blank. A chilling coldness enveloped her heart, freezing it solid.

Chloe... was pregnant?

Chloe was very pleased with Elara's reaction. She lifted her chin proudly, one hand resting on her lower abdomen, her voice dripping with unconcealed triumph.

"You know, Damian and I have only been together for a month, and I'm already carrying his child. You two were mated for three years and couldn't even produce a pup. How pathetic."

Elara's grip tightened on the ultrasound photo, wrinkling the paper.

She and Damian had a child once.

In the second year of their mating, she had just found out she was one month pregnant.

She was about to share the happy news with Damian when she discovered the scent of another she-wolf on him. That was the first time he had betrayed her.

That night, Elara cried until dawn. The next day, overwhelmed by grief and the instability of their mate bond, she lost the baby.

Damian had knelt by her hospital bed, swearing he would never cheat again.

But afterward, he had taken one lover after another.

However, he never let any of them get pregnant. The Alpha's bloodline could only be carried on by his fated Luna. It was an ancient pack tradition.

The child they lost became a forbidden topic between them.

Damian had clearly forgotten.

But it didn't matter anymore. They were no longer connected.

Who he was with, who he got pregnant—none of it concerned her now.

Elara suppressed the turmoil in her heart and handed the ultrasound photo back to Chloe.

"Congratulations. It seems you two will be celebrating soon."

Chloe's triumphant expression faltered. She hadn't expected Elara to accept the news so calmly.

She stood up, grabbed Elara's wrist, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"You say congratulations, but I bet you hate my guts, don't you?"

"Well, too bad for you, because I don't like having an ex-mate like you hanging around Damian either. I'm going to make you disappear from his life for good!"

Before Elara could process what she meant, Chloe let go of her wrist and fell backward dramatically.

Blood trickled down her thighs, and her face went pale as she clutched her stomach.

A sense of alarm shot through Elara, and she instinctively pulled out her phone to dial 911.

BANG!

"Chloe!"