The next morning, Nate accompanied me to the royal healing center for a prenatal check-up.

He stayed by my side the entire time, occasionally asking the healer about the pup's condition.

The experienced she-wolf healer smiled and said warmly, "Alpha Nate is so responsible. It's very rare for someone as busy as he is to take the time to care for his mate like this. You're truly lucky!"

Nate held my hand, his gaze full of tenderness and certainty. "This is the Moon Goddess' blessing we've waited so long for. Of course, I'll protect both mother and child."

As we stepped out of the examination room, we ran into Rose.

She was wrapped in a loose-fitting gold cloak that concealed her figure. Still, she stuck her belly out proudly. When she saw me, there was a flicker of smug satisfaction in her eyes that she couldn't hide.

I stared at her stomach without a word.

No wonder she kept saying things like, "What a coincidence, we conceived around the same time."

She had known about Nate's plan all along.

Rose walked over briskly. Her voice was soft and sweet as she asked, "Did the healer say when we will finally get to meet the little prince?"

As she spoke, she reached her hand toward my belly.

I remained expressionless and abruptly raised my arm to block her.

"Why won't you let me touch you?" she questioned in a darkened tone as her smile faltered. She felt embarrassed by my rejection.

She was about to say more, but I gently lowered my head and placed a hand over my belly. Then, I whined with a trembling voice, "My stomach... It hurts..."

Rose was stunned, and the smugness faded from her expression instantly.

Nate immediately reached out to steady me, his face tense. "Maybe you've been standing too long. Why don't you sit over there for a bit?"

His words were full of concern, but I clearly saw him lock eyes with Rose. He directed a subtle shake of his head at her.

I looked down and replied softly, "I want to use the restroom."

He frowned slightly and reached out to guide me, but I stopped him quickly. "No, don't follow me."

He hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Alright, just take it slow."

As soon as the restroom door shut behind me, I peeked out the window and saw him hurrying off.

I knew exactly where he was going. He was hurrying to catch up with Rose.

I quietly followed and hid behind a clump of tall grass. From there, I could hear him speaking to her in a low, coaxing tone, like he was calming a wolf pup.

Rose frowned and complained like a spoiled pup. "Have you fallen for her? She was about to smack me just now, and you didn't say a word. Was everything you said about loving me just a lie?"

Nate let out a soft sigh, relenting and giving in to her. "I'm just looking out for her because… she's carrying our pup now."

He then pulled a small box from his coat and opened it. Inside was a diamond-studded bracelet. He gently slipped it onto her wrist.

"I got you the bracelet you wanted. It just arrived this morning," Nate said dotingly.

Rose's expression softened a bit. She smiled and leaned into his arm like a spoiled pup. "Remember that gem mine you mentioned? I bought the mining rights. I made a nice profit, too. Keep an eye out for more good opportunities for me, won't you?"

As I stood at a distance, the wind carried their conversation to my ears. Suddenly, it all felt laughably absurd.

Nate was using everything I had given him to win over another she-wolf.

When I got back home, I pulled out my phone and called my former personal healer, David Efrat.

I went straight to the point. "Hey, David. It's been a while. I'd like to schedule a procedure with you tomorrow… An abortion."

"Understood. We'll be ready first thing in the morning tomorrow," he replied from the other end.

Just then, I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

Nate's voice held a hint of suspicion. "Are you going out tomorrow?"

I turned around and met his gaze with a smile. "I signed up for prenatal yoga. Thought I'd get my body moving a bit. I want the pup to come into the world without a hiccup."

His expression faltered slightly. There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

I deliberately raised a brow and teased, "What? Don't feel like joining me?"

He opened his mouth, his eyes avoiding mine. "It's not that… I just don't want you to overdo it. Besides, there's an elders' council meeting tomorrow. Could we go next week instead?"

I chuckled softly, my tone gentle. "That's alright. Your work is more important. I'll be fine on my own."

He visibly relaxed as a faint smile graced his lips. Then, he reached out to ruffle my hair affectionately and say, "You're so sweet. Where else could I find a mate as considerate as you? What would I even do without you?"

The next day, Nate suddenly pulled out a delicate pink diamond pendant strung on a fine platinum thread just before leaving the house. With gentle hands, he clasped it around my neck.

"Happy anniversary," he said in a low and warm voice, which was as intoxicating as always.

I looked down and realized that it was the same pendant that had been included as a free gift with the diamond bracelet he had given Rose.

My fingers trembled as I touched it, and I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

Still, I kept the smile plastered on my face and replied sweetly, "Happy anniversary. I love it."

He kissed my forehead, his voice filled with the same doting affection. "You're so agreeable, Diana. You always give me peace of mind."

Before heading to the private healing center, I decided to make a quick detour home to see my parents.

But just as I reached the doorway, I heard voices from inside.

Rose's tone was honeyed and petulant. She sounded aggrieved as she ranted, "What makes Diana think she's so great? She hit my hand yesterday! And she's supposed to be my sister!"

My mom, Elle Baker, spoke up in a comforting tone. "She won't get to be smug for long. Your father and I are on your side. Didn't we already get her to give up her mate when you wanted him? Nate is yours too."

My dad, Charlie Roth, let out a heavy sigh, exhaustion thick in his voice. "You need to stop making trouble. You're already married to Alex. If his parents find out about this baby, things will blow up. If he wants to break your mate bond, even Alpha Nate can't protect you."

As if the cosmos was playing a sick joke on me, Nate's voice joined in. "Don't worry, Rose. Here are the test results from yesterday. Everything's fine with Diana's pregnancy. We just have to wait for the pup to arrive."

He turned to my parents and added, "Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Roth. I'd do anything for Rose."

I felt my blood run cold. It was followed by an intense burst of pain in my heart that made me feel as if I was being split apart.

My wolf let out a devastated howl and collapsed like she was torn and trampled by countless enemies in our shared mind space. She was too broken even to stand.

So they had all planned this together…

And I was the only one left in the dark. From the beginning, I was just a tool and nothing more than an expendable piece in someone else's game.

Not long after, a maid knocked gently on the door and came in to serve drinks.

Nate opened the door and reached out to take the tray. The next moment, he froze in horror as his eyes caught sight of a glittering thread on the floor.

There, on the ground, lay a snapped platinum necklace. It was the very one he had clasped around my neck that morning!

His face went pale. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He then bolted out the door, eyes scanning in every direction. His wolf was on high alert, and he was clearly panicked.

Frantically, he tried to reach me through our mind-link over and over again.

When it finally went through, his voice shook with urgency. "Diana, where are you? Listen to me…"

I said nothing.

He was almost losing his mind. "Diana! Don't do this, where the hell are you?"

Right then, a she-wolf's clear and calm voice sounded right beside me.

A trainee healer of the private healing center said, "Luna Diana, we're ready for the procedure. Please follow me."

On Nate's end, everything went silent.

His voice faltered and cracked. Then, it broke completely. "Procedure? What procedure? Where are you? What are you doing?"

He was full-on screaming now. I could hear the utter terror and despair in his panicked voice.

I sat quietly, listening to his anguished wails. Then, without a word, I drank the potion I'd bought from the witch to sever the mind-link between us.

From that moment on, neither he nor those heartless, backstabbing family members of mine would ever sense me again.

None of them would ever find me again.