Valea gave no reply and slowly shut her eyes.

"So you choose silence? Fine. Then stay silent forever," Renwick said with anger. He rose from the side of her bed and strode out of the chamber.

Outside, he spoke to a servant. "From this day on, Luna Valea is not allowed to step beyond this manor. She will be given only dry bread and water each day. Let her learn how the low ranks survive. No other food is to be given."

In the days that followed, she lived on nothing but bread and water. Her body grew weaker, her frame thinner with each passing day.

This gave Davinia more control within the pack house. She used it to torment Valea, ordering the servants to bring her hard and stale bread.

Valea endured it by reminding herself that her bond would be severed in five days. She spent most of her time inside her glass greenhouse, surrounded by quiet and plants.

One day, she heard the maids whispering outside, believing she could not hear them.

"Oh my... I have never seen Alpha Renwick so wild under the moon. He has never been like that with Luna Valea."

They giggled.

"I pity the Luna. She has no idea that while she’s locked away, her mate is sharing a bed with another woman just beyond her door."

"Lower your voice. You know Luna Valea is as cold as winter ice. She must be dull as a mate. No wonder the Alpha lost interest. Besides, everyone knows that five winters ago, his true love was Davinia. The death of the second young master must be tied to him, so he could claim his brother’s mate. Arion must be his true blood son. Why else would the Alpha name him heir of the Valloren Pack?"

"Of coure. Ever since Lady Davinia came into this pack, the Alpha smiles more. He treats her like a queen. They travel across distant territories together, just the three of them, the Alpha, Arion and Lady Davinia. They’re the real family."

Valea’s hand tightened around the watering can as the maids walked away.

She stepped out of the greenhouse and collided with Arion, who was running through the hall. He almost fell.

Valea caught his hand before he hit the ground.

"Arion, I have told you many times not to run like this. You will get hurt," she said softly.

Though Arion was Davinia’s son, Valea had raised him since he was a newborn. Her heart still held affection for him.

"Stop acting like you care. You’re not my mother. I hate you," Arion snapped, shoving her away.

"Arion," Valea said with a heavy gaze, "even if I didn’t give birth to you, you shouldn’t speak to me like this. I have raised you and cared for you all these winters."

Arion let out a mocking laugh.

"You only act kind because you fear my father will cast you out. You’re a barren she wolf who envies my real mother. If you beg me nicely, maybe I will ask Father to let you stay, you useless she wolf!"

Valea stared at him, her chest aching, her voice trembling. "Arion, who taught you such cruel words?"

"Isn’t it the truth? You cannot bear a pup. My father only loves my mother. You forced her to leave the pack and stole me from her. If not for you, we would have lived happily long ago."

Arion pushed her with force.

Valea fell hard onto the stone floor. A sharp pain struck her abdomen at once. Her face lost all color.

"Arion, don’t act so roughly."

Renwick appeared suddenly with Davinia at his side. He scolded Arion and pushed him aside without thinking, then turned to Valea with a hint of concern.

"Are you alright?"

"My stomach..."

Before she could finish, Arion burst into loud cries.

"Father doesn’t love me anymore. Mother, it hurts."

Renwick’s focus shifted at once. Arion was in Davinia’s arms, crying. His small hands were scraped, blood staining his palms.

"Renwick, I am sorry for Arion’s behavior. Please don’t treat him so harshly. He’s still a pup. How could he possibly push someone as grown as Valea to the ground?" Davinia said, her voice trembling. Tears streamed down her beautiful eyes as if her heart was breaking for her son.

Guilt flashed across Renwick’s face. He quickly pulled Arion into his arms and soothed him. "I am sorry. Father was wrong. Don’t cry anymore."

"Father, it hurts. My hands are bleeding..."

"I will take you to the healer hall at once." Renwick stood, his voice filled with urgency.

"Renwick, my stomach hurts..." Valea called weakly, her voice fading from the pain.

Renwick turned away without even looking at her and walked off.

Davinia cast Valea a victorious smile before following after him.

Valea lowered her gaze to the cold floor. Her shoulders slumped, as though all strength had left her. She covered her face and let out a hollow laugh. For a brief moment, she had thought Renwick cared. That fragile hope shattered in an instant.

Her laughter soon turned into cries.

Pain spread through her body. She curled into herself as warmth flowed down her thigh. Her face turned pale when she saw blood staining her leg and pooling beneath her.

"Ah, Luna." A passing gardener saw her and rushed over in panic. "I will call the Alpha."

Valea grabbed his hand at once. "No. Call a carriage. Take me to the healer hall. And tell them to keep my identity hidden."

They arrived at the healer hall. As she had asked, the healers kept her presence a secret.

"Where is the Alpha? We have called him, but he doesn’t answer," a healer said anxiously. "We need his mark on the consent scroll."

"Luna, what should we do? I have called many times using your crystal, but he doesn’t respond," the gardener said, worry clear in his voice.

The head healer spoke with gravity. "We cannot wait any longer. Her condition is dangerous. The pup cannot be saved due to the delay and her body is severely weakened from lack of nourishment."

Valea turned her head and took the scroll. "Begin the procedure. This pup... I don’t want it anymore."

She had waited fifteen winters for this pup. She learned of its existence today and lost it on the same day.

Renwick had always longed for this pup. Yet when the moment came, he was nowhere to be found.

Valea removed her mating ring and threw it into the waste bin.

"Understood. We will begin at once, Luna."

Valea lay on the stone table, staring at the ceiling. Her face was pale, her lips drained of color and marked from where she had bitten them.

The healers moved around her, preparing their tools.

"Luna, we will begin. We will give you sleeping herbs so you won’t feel pain."

"No. Don’t give me anything."

She needed to remember. She needed to feel the moment her pup was taken and remember that Renwick was not there.

"Very well. Begin."

"Yes, Master Healer."

Valea felt something being drawn from her body. The pain grew sharper, cutting deep. She tried to stay silent, but tears flowed freely from her eyes.

"It’s done, Luna. The pup has been removed."

Her body went limp. Darkness swallowed her vision.

Tears slipped quietly from the corners of her eyes.

Valea woke to the sound of a healer speaking beside her bed.

"... yes, that is what I heard. Alpha Renwick has been in the healer hall since morning, yet he doesn’t know his Luna is here. He’s staying in a high chamber with a woman. I heard he came because his nephew was injured after a fall. The Alpha even summoned the best healers of the territory just for a pup with a small scratch."

"I feel sorry for Luna Valea. While her mate cared for another woman’s pup, she was waiting for approval for her ritual, yet the Alpha didn’t answer her calls. In the end, the pup in her womb could not be saved."

"So the love between the Alpha and his Luna was only a tale. I saw the Alpha treat a woman named Lady Davinia as if she were the most precious thing in his world."

"Quiet. We should leave. No one must know about the Luna’s ritual."

"Yes, we must go before she wakes."

Their voices faded. They didn’t notice Valea’s hand clenched tightly beneath the blanket.

She opened her eyes, empty and still, then rose from the bed and pulled the needle from her wrist.

Her face remained pale. Without shoes, she walked out of the chamber.

She stopped before the door of a high rank chamber. Laughter and warm voices came from inside.

"Father, I am sleepy. Tell me a story."

Through the small gap in the door, Valea saw Renwick sitting against the bed, Arion resting on his lap. Davinia sat beside them, slicing fruit.

Renwick wore simple clothes, showing he had no plans to return to his Alpha duties.

Valea remembered how, when she was ill, Renwick only sent a healer to check on her and still left for his duties.

Yet when Davinia had a fever, he rushed to her dwelling and stayed the entire night, his crystal silent.

The difference in his heart was clear.

Valea had endured enough. She would vanish from his life.

She stepped back and turned to leave, but collided with a healer carrying food, causing a loud sound.

"I am sorry, I am sorry..."

Renwick came out of the chamber and froze when he saw Valea sitting on the ground.

Valea quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile.

"Valea?" He frowned and knelt to help her up. "Why are you here? Why are you dressed in a patient robe?"

"I am receiving treatment here."

"Are you badly hurt?" His face turned tense when he saw blood on her wrist where she had pulled out the needle. "Why you didn’t tell me? You’re bleeding."

Valea looked at her wrist. Only a small drop of blood had formed, yet it was enough to make Renwick lose his calm.

He was a man who never feared death, who stood firm even when surrounded by enemies. Yet now, a single drop of her blood made him uneasy.

But it meant nothing.

Valea’s heart was already exhausted.

"I am sorry. I was focused on Arion and forgot about you."

"It’s alright. Arion is more important. He’s the heir of the Valloren bloodline." Valea smiled gently, though her heart mourned the pup she had lost.

Renwick studied her smile, sensing something had changed and it unsettled him.

"I am sorry..." That was all he said. Then he noticed her bare feet. "Why are you not wearing shoes? Who has been caring for you here?"

"There was a gardener. I sent him away."

Without another word, Renwick lifted her into his arms.

"Renwick..." Davinia stepped out and froze at the sight of him holding Valea.

"Arion is looking for you. His wound hurts again. He scratched it until it bled. Please calm him."

"I am sorry, Davinia. I must take Valea back first."

For the first time, he refused her and walked away.

Valea saw Davinia’s expression darken behind his back.

Renwick placed Valea on the bed and called for a healer.

Valea had already told them to keep her loss a secret.

"Luna Valea fell and she’s also severely undernourished and weak," the healer said, glancing at Renwick with confusion. "How could the Luna be in such a state?"

A trace of shame crossed Renwick’s face. "She has been limiting her food. I have told her many times to stop."

Valea looked at him without emotion, seeing through his lie.

The healer nodded and left.

Renwick held her hand softly. "Valea, I am sorry. I acted without thought. If you had simply apologized to Davinia, none of this would have happened."

He still placed the blame on her.

"Let it pass. Davinia has forgiven you. As long as you treat her well, she will forget this matter."

"Then thank her for me," Valea replied with a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Since she would soon leave, she saw no reason to argue.

Renwick smiled and touched her cheek. "As long as you behave, everything will return to how it was. You will always be my Luna."

He pulled the blanket over her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Valea turned her face away.

"Val..." Before he could speak further, his crystal rang.

It was Davinia.

"I must check on Arion," he said and left.

He didn’t stay.

Valea lay still, closing her eyes. Tears slipped down her face. She cried until her eyes swelled and her voice grew hoarse.

To make up for his actions, Renwick changed his behavior. He treated her kindly again, sending gifts and having her favorite meals brought to her chamber each day until she recovered.

A few days later, while waiting for him to bring her home, Valea walked through the healer hall. She watched a pregnant woman being guided gently by her mate for a check.

A quiet envy rose in her chest.

She touched her stomach and pain struck again. Her pup was gone. She still remembered the pain of losing it.

Taking a breath, she turned to leave but bumped into someone stepping out of the birthing chamber.

"Ah."

Valea froze when she saw who it was.

"What a coincidence, Valea," Davinia said with a smile. "Why are you here?"

Valea glanced around for Renwick, but he was not there.

"I should ask you the same. Why are you here alone, coming out of that chamber..." Valea’s voice slowed as she looked toward the birthing room.

Davinia followed her gaze and smiled proudly. "As you see, I came to check my pregnancy."

She picked up the papers that had fallen.

"Look. These are my moon scan results. I am three months with pup." She pointed at the image and touched her stomach. "This is my pup with Renwick. Beautiful, is it? He has always wished for a daughter. He hopes this pup is a girl."

Valea’s eyes fixed on the image. Pain pierced her heart.

Davinia carried the blood of the Valloren brothers within her womb. Disgust rose in Valea’s chest.

Davinia watched her, waiting for her to break. But Valea remained calm.

"Oh."

"Oh?" Davinia stared at her in disbelief. "You should be wise and leave Renwick."

"Why not ask him to let me go?" Valea said calmly. "If it’s his pup, he will take responsibility."

She walked past her.

Davinia followed quickly.

"Valea, don’t be proud just because others praise the Alpha’s love for you. It’s all an act to keep the alliance between Frosthall and Valloren. They had no choice but to keep a barren Luna like you."

She smiled with victory.

"Did you know that Arion is Renwick’s true son?"

Valea didn’t stop walking. Her words were nothing but noise.

It was not that she had never doubted it, but she had been afraid to seek the truth. Now, it no longer mattered.

In two days, she would leave everything behind and disappear from Renwick Valloren’s life.

"Don’t you believe me? I will prove it at the Valloren gathering tomorrow night. Oh, I almost forgot. Zaleen didn’t invite you."

After saying that, Davinia brushed past her with her head held high.

Valea watched her back with cold eyes.

Renwick carried Valea out of the healer hall. Valea forced herself not to think about Davinia’s newly revealed pregnancy.

Renwick drove her back to the manor. The journey was silent. No words passed between them. Renwick glanced at her several times, uneasy at her quietness.

"Are you still in pain?"

"No," Valea answered calmly.

"Then why are you so quiet?"

"I was just thinking. It has been a long time since I returned to my family lands," Valea said.

Renwick’s expression softened. "If you wish to see them, I will arrange it. I will go with you."

"You don’t need to come. I can go alone."

"I won’t allow that. I will accompany you."

Valea looked at him without warmth, knowing his words were empty.

"I thought you wouldn’t leave Davinia and Arion behind. You cannot stay away from them even for a single day."

Renwick’s face stiffened.

"Don’t speak like that. I will arrange a journey to the Frosthall territory tomorrow and go with you. It has been long since I visited your family. I miss the Frosthall vineyards."

He gave a faint smile. "Do you remember when we first met? You were hiding from your lessons and secretly eating grapes in the garden. You looked so small then."

Valea closed her eyes as memories rose within her.

They had first met when the Valloren Pack visited the Frosthall territory to arrange their bond.

"You were crying because you wanted the grapes on a high branch, but you couldn’t reach them. You ran to me and asked me to help you," Renwick said with a soft laugh.

From that moment, their fates became tied. They grew together and later became mates.

Valea once believed she was the only one in his heart. Until Davinia appeared and shattered that illusion.

She shut her eyes, pushing the memory away.

At that moment, her crystal device chimed. She looked at it and saw a message from Zorven.

[Luna, the bond severance was approved today. I will send the documents.]

A small smile appeared on her lips. Renwick noticed and leaned closer.

"Did you receive good news?"

Valea quickly dimmed the screen and smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Yes. A friend of mine finally left her mate."

"Your friend left her mate, yet you’re happy?"

"She suffered for a long time. Her mate betrayed her and even had a pup with another woman. Do you think such a male should be kept?" Valea looked at him with meaning.

Renwick gave a cold laugh. "Not only should he be left, he should be ruined. Such men are a disgrace."

Valea sneered inwardly but only smiled outwardly.

Soon, he would realize that the person she spoke of was herself.

Tomorrow, he planned to take her to her homeland. Valea smiled faintly. She would not let that happen.

She sent a voice record to Davinia.

"You’re only a hidden mate. Look. Tomorrowm he will return to my homeland with me to meet my family."

***

The next day, their sky journey was set for the late afternoon.

Before leaving, Valea entered her old chamber. She placed the bond severance papers, the report of her lost pup and all the intimate images and recordings Davinia had sent into Renwick’s hidden safe.

At the sky port, as they waited, Renwick’s crystal rang. Valea saw Davinia’s name appear.

Renwick stepped aside to answer, then returned shortly.

"Valea, I am sorry. I cannot go with you to the Frosthall territory. The elders of the Valloren Pack have called an urgent council. I must attend." His face showed regret.

"It’s fine. I already said I can go alone." Valea smiled calmly.

She knew the truth. Davinia had already told her that the elder matriarch was holding a gathering to acknowledge Arion as Renwick’s true son and the pup in Davinia’s womb.

"Call me when you arrive. I will come later. The guards will escort you safely."

Renwick leaned closer, wanting to kiss her forehead, but Valea turned away with clear rejection.

He paused, frowning, then left in a hurry. Several guards followed him, while a few remained with Valea.

Valea crossed her legs and looked at them.

"You don’t need to follow me. Members of the Frosthall Pack will come for me."

They hesitated, then obeyed and left her alone.

Moments later, her crystal chimed again. It was Davinia.

[You said he would go with you. And now? He left you because of one call from me.

Moonshade Inn. Come. I will prove that Arion is Renwick’s blood and that the entire Valloren Pack will accept me.]

Davinia believed she had won, not knowing she had given Valea exactly what she needed. Only when Renwick was not beside her could she truly disappear.

Valea stared at the message for a moment, then calmly closed it and stood.

She looked around one last time. A soft smile formed on her lips. For the first time, she felt free.

Valea tore the sky journey token Renwick had given her.

"Goodbye, Renwick Valloren. We will never meet again."

She turned and walked away without looking back.

She would never look back. And she would never return to him again.