Blood Claims and Broken Vows

I got pregnant at the same time as Sabine, my blood-mate Draven’s first love.

But her child wasn't his. It was a werewolf mongrel—the spawn of our clan's sworn enemy.

To protect her, Draven claimed the mongrel as his own. He named it the heir to our clan.

And my child, a true pureblood, was branded a bastard. By his own father.

"Isolde," he gripped my hand, his golden eyes pleading. "Sabine is alone. The Elders will execute her. This is temporary. Trust me!"

I was a fool. I believed him.

While he was gone, escorting her to safety, his parents dragged me to the ritual chamber. They forced the cruel "Blood Purification" on me.

By the time he returned, I was gone. And our child was dead.

第一章

I was deep in meditation, focusing on my unborn child, when I felt a ripple of my blood-mate's power. I smiled. He was blessing our baby.

I walked to the study, a happy smile on my face, only to find him—my blood-mate, Draven. I found him in the study. His hand was pressed against another woman's belly—his first love, Sabine. A golden glow flowed from his palm into her.

"Draven, do you feel that?" Sabine's voice was a breathless whisper. "Your power... it's soothing our child."

Draven pressed his hand firmer against her belly, a gentle smile on his lips.

Then he looked up. His golden eyes met mine.

"Isolde?!" His voice was a strangled whisper. He was in front of me in a flash, his icy hand gripping my arm.

"Draven, let me go." My voice cracked, threatening to shatter.

"Isolde, listen to me! It's not what you think."

I threw his hand off, cold tears finally breaking free. "Not what I think? I heard her, Draven. She said your child. I saw your power flowing into her!"

He was about to pull me into his arms, but Sabine glided to his side. She pressed herself against him, her face a mask of feigned innocence. "Draven, you promised to keep our secret... You promised to protect our child."

Her words pierced through my last shred of hope.

Draven saw the broken look on my face, and a flash of panic crossed his.

He turned to Sabine, his voice stern for the first time. "Isolde is my blood-mate. She has a right to know the truth!"

"The truth?" Sabine laughed. "Then let's tell her everything. Let her know that to keep the three of us safe—mostly you and me—the baby in your belly is, from now on, nothing but a nameless bastard."

"What?!" Confusion and rage replaced my sorrow.

"What does she mean by that?" I demanded of Draven.

"I'm sorry, Isolde..." Draven stammered. "Sabine is all alone. If the Elders find out she's carrying a werewolf's child, they'll execute her! I have to protect her! She was attacked, Isolde. A rogue werewolf forced himself on her!"

"Then what about our child!" I screamed. "So you'll abandon our child to play daddy to hers?"

"Isolde, calm down, listen to me!" Draven held me tight, his body cold as ice. "The Elders value blood purity above all else. She'll die."

"Then let her and her werewolf mongrel leave!" I struggled against his embrace.

"How can you say that! And you think she could escape if this gets out?" Draven's face was a mask of pain. "Isolde, have I not always treated you well? Can't you do this one thing for me? For us? I swear, once I become Lord, I'll use my power to fully activate your family ring! Our child won't carry this stain forever."

I shook my head and laughed, a bitter sound.

If he truly loved me, how could he ask me to sacrifice my honor?

It was true, Draven had broken up with Sabine when he discovered I was his blood-mate.

But even after two years together, he still hadn't completed the final bonding ritual.

I should have known. It was always Sabine he loved.

Our argument drew the prying eyes of servants in the hallway.

"I'll take you back to your room," Draven said, guiding me out by my shoulder.

Sabine followed, staying possessively close to him.

I noticed a new obsidian bracelet on her wrist, carved with ancient runes that could mask a specific scent.

Sabine casually lifted her wrist to brush back her hair, smiling at me. "Isn't this beautiful? Draven was worried the werewolf scent from my baby might leak out and cause trouble. He found it for me in the family vault. He said we can't afford any mistakes."

"Sabine!" Draven hissed.

"Oh, don't be mad at me," Sabine pouted, placing a hand on her stomach. "Our baby is very sensitive. He can feel your anger."

Draven's expression softened instantly.

He reflexively reached out to touch her stomach but stopped mid-air.

He looked at me, his eyes a war of guilt and conflict, before finally softening his voice.

"Don't get agitated. The child is fragile."

I watched the sickening display, my face a cold mask. Then I turned and gently closed the door on them.

Shutting them out. Shutting out my foolish love.

On the way, Draven kept trying to explain.

"Isolde, Sabine's family is our vassal. They are incredibly strict with her. If I don't claim the child, her own family will kill her to cleanse their name! Sabine wants to save herself and this child. We have to help!"

"Then let her face the Elders' judgment! Why should my mate be the father to her child?" I said with a sneer, staring out at the castle's spires.

"You..." Sabine burst into tears.

Draven rushed to comfort her. "No, Sabine. Don't be sad. I promised I'd protect you and the baby, and I will."

Then Draven looked at me in the mirror's reflection, his voice laced with blame.

"Isolde, how can you be so cold? I broke her heart for you two years ago. I can't just stand by and watch this happen."

第二章

Cold? I never thought Draven would see me that way.

I hastily wiped the tears from my face and took a deep, chilling breath.

"Then end it. End my pregnancy."

"No." Draven stopped dead, whirling around. His golden eyes burned with fury as he stared at me. "Are you insane? How could you even think that? I won't give up on your child or Sabine's. That's final."

The next day, clan guards appeared outside our room. Draven had locked me in.

He cut off all my communications.

One morning, I was woken by noise from downstairs.

I went down to see Sabine and her mother at the door, directing servants to bring luggage inside.

The moment her mother saw me, she sneered, "Some women have no shame. Clinging to a man when she's carrying another's bastard."

Then she wrapped an arm around Sabine's shoulder. "You foolish girl, suffering so much for Draven! And he still hasn't gotten rid of that bitch!"

"Mother, stop. This was my choice!" Sabine said, lowering her head in a show of false pity.

As her mother hauled luggage upstairs, Sabine shot me a mocking smile.

"So what if you're Draven's blood-mate? So what if my child isn't his? The mate's mark that belongs on his back? It's still bare."

I glared at her for a moment, then used my telekinesis to shatter the blood bag in her hand.

Sabine clutched her blood-splattered cheek, squeezing out a few tears as she looked into the distance.

"Isolde, why are you doing this to me? I don't want to take Draven from you," she cried theatrically.

"Isolde!" Draven's voice boomed from behind. "What did you do to Sabine?!"

I turned to see Draven seething with rage.

So that's what this was. A show for him.

Sabine's cries grew louder, catching her mother's attention. Her mother glared at me, her eyes full of venom.

"This bitch betrayed you! Why is the blood-bond not broken?" she demanded of Draven. "Draven, my Sabine will never be safe as long as she's here! If you don't throw her out, I'm taking Sabine home!"

Sabine threw herself into Draven's arms, sobbing, and shot me a triumphant little smile over his shoulder.

Draven was silent for a long time. Sabine’s smile faltered. Draven gently pushed her away. Then he walked to my side.

"You can take Sabine home if you wish. But I will not have my mate leave."

Sabine stared at us in shock, then stormed off.

"Draven, you have wounded my daughter," her mother hissed. "This isn't over. She's carrying your child. She needs to be cared for. Now, I demand you at least give her the best room as compensation."

Draven looked at me. I knew he was asking me to make another sacrifice.

I was moved to the abandoned sunroom on the first floor.

It was the sunniest room in the manor. Glass walls, glass ceiling. From sunrise to sunset, the sun streamed in, unobstructed.

Draven said it was for Sabine’s child. “It’s only for a few months.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, barely looking at me as he moved my things. “There are thick blackout curtains. Just keep them closed. The sun isn’t as dangerous for us anymore. It won’t be a problem.”

I said nothing.

That room was a death trap of sunlight. My heart went cold.

Even with the curtains closed, I could feel the heat seeping through. For me, weak with pregnancy, it was a slow poison.

Draven. He simply didn’t care if our child lived or died.

From that day on, I stopped crying. I stopped fighting.

I became the perfect prisoner, complying with his every arrangement.

I once tried to test Sabine, hoping to use her desire to get rid of me to my advantage. I asked for her help to escape.

But she just laughed with contempt.

"Help you? Isolde, don't you get it? Draven needs you. You're the villain in his story. It makes him look like a tragic, noble hero for 'protecting' me. Why would I ruin his perfect little play?"

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

My being here was part of her plan, too.

Every day after Draven came home, he would go to soothe Sabine first.

It was usually late by the time he came to my room.

So, I pretended to be asleep.

The room I lived in was practically a cell.

Sabine took over all the best rooms in the main castle.

One for her child, one for her meditation, and the rest to store her things.

Eventually, Draven started sleeping in her room to look after her, but one night, he stood by my bed and shook my shoulder.

"Are you asleep?" he asked softly.

I didn't respond. "I know you're not," he continued.

I turned to my right, my back to him. "What do you want?"

"Isolde, do you really hate me this much now? Do you really not believe in my love for you?" His voice was full of pain.

I felt a pang of pity for him, but I quickly shook it off. He didn't deserve any sympathy.

After everything he had done to me, how could he expect me to trust him?

I shed a few silent tears, making sure he couldn't see.

"Don't worry, I'll still have our child. But you should know, locking me in here isn't good for the baby. Let me get some fresh air. Lift the communication block. Let me talk to my brother. With all this drama in the family, I need to give him an explanation."

I mentioned my brother on purpose.

I knew they had never been able to trace my true origins. They would just assume I was talking about a normal family member.

Draven was silent for a moment, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps my compliance had lowered his guard.

He slid in behind me, his cold body pulling me into an embrace. His lips brushed my ear, his voice hoarse.

"Okay, Isolde… As long as you're good, I'll give you anything you want."

His kiss was desperate, possessive, as if trying to prove something.

And I, enduring the nauseating scent of Sabine's herbs on him, lay there like a doll.

第三章

I never told Draven about my true family. I wanted a love that was pure, untouched by power.

I used to be a blood-healer, but I ran away from home after my brother's second-in-command broke the rules and fed on a human.

Besides my brother, I have no other family.

And I cut off all contact when I left.

When Draven discovered I was his blood-mate, his parents looked down on my background.

But Draven chose me anyway, making me believe our bond could overcome anything.

I felt a love I had never known before, but that spark faded with time.

That night, Draven stayed with me. I didn't refuse him, even though the lingering scent of Sabine's herbs on him, the ones used to suppress the werewolf scent, made me sick.

The next morning, he was in a good mood. He kissed my forehead when he woke up.

"The two most important women in my life, finally at peace. I'm so grateful, Isolde. I promise I'll make it up to you in the future!"

After breakfast, he even lifted my communication block and allowed me to take walks outside the manor, escorted by clan guards.

The first thing I did was contact my brother's most trusted lieutenant.

Draven had no idea that my brother controlled the lifeblood of the entire vampire world.

We were not alone. With his help, I would be out of this place soon.

Over the next few months, I tried to live in peace with Sabine.

She had Draven find all sorts of ancient artifacts to suppress the werewolf bloodline. I had nothing, but I wasn't even provoked when she flaunted them.

But even with so many experts tending to her, by her eighth month of pregnancy, the half-breed fetus inside Sabine had a violent power surge.

The clan's physicians said she had to go to the neutral territory of "Moonshadow Isle" to seek protection from ancient mages, or she could be in danger.

Draven immediately packed his bags to take Sabine away.

I was curled up in a corner of my bedroom, hands on my swollen belly, feeling a weakness I had never felt before.

My own ancient bloodline screamed a warning inside me. Our bond is shattering. If he leaves, we will not survive.

"No, we will survive! We have to get through this alone."

Before he left, Draven glanced at me. His face was etched with exhaustion, but also a flicker of warm concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I refused to show any weakness. I didn't answer.

"Isolde, I'll be back before our child is born. Sabine's situation is urgent. When I return, I'll stay by your side 24/7."

I wanted to stand up and tell him that I needed him too, that my child and I needed care. But my pride won. I forced a smile and nodded.

Draven stared at me, a little surprised. He probably didn't expect me to let him go so easily.

He didn't move until Sabine called for him. Then he slowly pulled his gaze away from me.

Just as he was about to step out the door, he suddenly dissolved into a black mist and rushed back, grabbing me from behind in a death grip, his arms squeezing the air from my lungs.

His voice was a raw, desperate cry.

"I'm not going!" His voice was a raw cry. "Isolde, I'm staying! I'll send Uncle Lucien with her. I'm staying with you!"

My heart hammered at this sudden show of emotion, but my mind was a block of ice.

I could feel our fragile blood-bond groaning in protest at my heartache.

I used all my strength to keep my voice steady. "You should go. Sabine and 'your child' in her belly need you more right now."

I stressed the words "your child."

What I really wanted to say was: If you don't go, and anything happens to her or the baby, you'll hate me for the rest of your life.

His arms around me went rigid, and his grip slowly loosened.

Just as Draven was about to leave, a maid stopped him.

"Sir, please let Miss Isolde move back to her original room. The sunroom gets terribly stuffy during the day, even with the drapes pulled. I worry it might affect the baby. "

Before Draven could answer, Sabine cut in. "No way! I'll be moving back in soon. How can she take my room?"

"I don't want to move back," I told Draven. Relief washed over his face, followed by a warm smile.

"I'll build you a brand-new blood-healing lab when I get back. I'm sorry you have to suffer for these few days."

With that, he dissolved into a black mist and vanished into the night with Sabine.

第四章

After Draven left, I forced my weak body to move, pushing through the pain to start packing.

I checked the time. Six hours until my brother's people arrived.

I glanced at the blood-ward surrounding the manor and contacted my brother's lieutenant. "It might not be easy for you to get me. There's a clan blood-ward."

"Don't worry, Miss Isolde. We'll handle it," a calm, strong voice replied. "You're safe now. We won't let anyone bully you again!"

Even though I had been away from home for so long, his words gave me a surge of strength.

But just as I hung up, Sabine's mother burst into my room with Draven's parents.

Each of them looked at me with scorn.

"You, with your filthy, inferior bloodline!" Draven's mother hissed. "How dare you deceive my son? He told me he smelled a wolf in your chambers. You're the one carrying the mongrel!"

"If it were me, I'd let everyone know and ruin her name!" Sabine's mother added, which only enraged Draven's mother more.

Draven's mother stormed up to me, her lavish rings nearly grazing my cheek.

"You nameless creature! How dare you trick Draven with your lies! He protected you, didn't even dare to investigate your background, and this is how you repay him! Whose bastard are you carrying?!"

A maid who had witnessed everything quickly stood in front of me like a shield.

"Miss Isolde is very weak right now. Mr. Draven ordered me to take good care of her. You can't hit her!"

Draven’s mother shoved her aside.

A cruel, twisted sneer spread across her face as she pointed at the sunroom, where light still bled through the edges of the drawn curtains.

“You’ve been rotting in a sunroom for months, and that thing inside you still clings to life. Only a tough little werewolf mongrel would be so resilient! A pureblood vampire fetus would have withered to ash by now under this constant solar burn!”

The twisted logic made my blood run cold.

They were using my child's resilience as a weapon against me.

Draven's father, the Lord of the Crimson Moon Clan, stepped forward.

"It was the honor of a lifetime for you to become my son's blood-mate. Yet you show no gratitude, defiling the bloodline of Crimson Moon with a bastard! Guards!" he ordered the clan guards at his side. "Drag her to the ritual chamber. Perform the Blood Purification. When it's done, throw her out. I don't care if she lives or dies."

They grabbed my arms. "No, let me go!" I struggled.

I was terrified for my child's safety.

The maid tried to help me break free again, pleading, "Miss Isolde is seven months pregnant and extremely weak! If you force her through the ritual, she'll die!"

"And the child in my belly is Draven's, not a bastard! Sabine's child is the bastard!" I tried to defend myself.

But my honesty earned me nothing but another slap across the face.

"How dare you keep spouting lies! Draven himself admitted Sabine's child is his! It seems you're not just shameless, but a liar too!" Draven's mother shrieked.

"No, it's not true..." I shook my head desperately. But they sealed my mouth with magic, giving me no chance to explain.

I laughed at myself silently.

Didn't you once think of giving up this child?

Why are you so sad now?

Tears streamed silently down my face as my consciousness began to fade.

Just then, a voice cut through the silence of the room.

"STOP! Who dares lay a hand on the heir of Eternal Blood!"