The recording was of the pack's Blessing Ritual for the pups. I recognized the location. It was the Holy Temple of our pack.

Riley's pup was standing next to the Moonlight Spring. His tender voice echoed in the temple.

"Dear Moon Goddess, please let Alpha Rowan become my Father of the Pack."

Father of the Pack.

That was one of the most sacred titles of the pack. It represented the link between father and son. Only an Alpha could become a pup's Father of the Pack as every Alpha could only accept one heir.

Rowan was gently tousling the pup's head in the recording.

"Yes, I accept your request."

My hands started trembling.

Before the recording ended, Riley spoke to me using the mind-link.

"Did you see that, Luna? He has an heir now. How can you fight with me when all you have is just an empty title?"

I turned off the message violently. My communicator almost dropped to the ground.

Heir…

Rowan had actually agreed to become Riley's pup's Father of the Pack. He could not be unaware of what that implied.

"Stella?" My best friend, Chloe, was heard from outside the door. "Can I come in?"

"Come in." I tried my best to sound normal.

Chloe pushed the door open and entered. She frowned right away when she saw the look on my face. "What happened?"

I passed my communicator to her, and her face turned pale after watching the recording.

"That b*tch!" she yelled furiously. "She's declaring war!"

"No." I shook my head. "She's declaring victory."

I stood up to walk toward the window.

Moonlight splashed on the grassy field of the villa. Everything looked so peaceful. However, my heart was like a raging storm.

"Stella." Chloe came to me. "Are you alright?"

"I have something to tell you." I turned to look at her. "I'm pregnant."

Chloe's eyes widened. "What?"

"It's been two months." I caressed my flat belly. "It's the Alpha's heir of the purest bloodline."

"That's wonderful!" Chloe was emotional. "That way, Rowan would—"

"No." I interrupted her. "An Alpha who has agreed to become another pup's Father of the Pack doesn't deserve to be my pup's father."

Chloe looked at me in shock. "Are you planning to…"

"I want to visit the holy land," I said. "I want the elders to annul my mate bond with Rowan right after I give birth to my pup."

"Calm down, Stella…"

"I am calm." My voice was soft, but determined. "I've never been calmer."

…

Early the next morning, I left for the holy land.

The holy land was deep inside the snowy mountains in the north. The pack's most ancient healing spring was there.

As my car drove on the winding mountain road, I looked at the snowy scenery outside. I was unexpectedly calm. It was probably because I had finally made my decision.

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. The car jerked violently, and I was dizzy from the hard impact.

"Luna!" my driver shouted in fear. "It's the enemy pack!"

I could see several unfamiliar werewolves through the window. They were coming toward us. Their eyes were flashing red, a sign of them being in battle mode. I quickly launched the distress signal as I pushed the door open.

As the Luna, I could not hide in the car and wait for death.

The battle unfolded quickly.

My guards fought back valiantly, but there were too many of them. Just as I thought I could not hold on any longer, I heard a familiar howl. Rowan was here. He arrived with backup and quickly defeated the enemy.

That was when I heard a pup crying.

Riley's pup had appeared for some reason. He was hiding behind a giant rock. His arm was scratched by sharp stones, and he was bleeding.

The pup cried and shouted, "Mommy! It hurts!"

Rowan looked at me and then at the crying pup. He made his decision. He went straight for Riley's pup and started to treat his wound.

I was still in the middle of the battlefield and bleeding from my wounds.

"Rowan, I need help," I called out weakly to him. I was hoping he would choose to help me.

He did not even look back as he ran in another direction. I was in emotional turmoil as I fell into despair.

That was when a crazed werewolf from the enemy's pack lunged at me from behind.

Chloe arrived just in time and shouted, "Stella, look out!"

I wanted to turn and dodge the attack, but I did not manage it completely as I wanted to protect Chloe, who was rushing over to me. The werewolf hit me hard in the abdomen. I felt a sharp pain, like something precious was leaving me.

"No…" I screamed in desperation.

"Stella!"

Chloe's voice rang in my ears. It felt like she was calling me from somewhere far away.

I was lying on the icy stone ground while feeling the life inside me ebbing away. It was not pain I felt in my chest but an emptiness. All I felt was intense fear.

"Rowan!" I called out weakly. "Please come quickly!"

He was holding Riley's pup and checking his wound not far away. The pup only had a minor scratch on his arm from sharp rocks, but he was crying hysterically.

"Mommy! It hurts!" The pup's crying echoed in the night.

Rowan comforted him softly, "It's fine. I'm here."

I called out once more, "Rowan!" My voice was even weaker now.

He finally heard me and turned to look. I saw the hesitation in his eyes, but he turned back to look at the crying pup in his arms. After some more hesitation, he made his decision. He picked up Riley's pup and quickly walked toward the car parked at a distance.

"I'll take the pup to the hospital first," he told Riley.

Riley looked at him gratefully. "You're such a kind person, Alpha."

The moment they closed the car doors, Rowan used the mind-link to talk to me. His voice was cold.

"You're a Luna who can't even protect herself. You need to reflect on that!"

He started the car, and I watched the red taillights move farther and farther away from me. I was left lying in a pool of blood.

Chloe crouched next to me, her eyes filled with tears. "Hold on, Stella!"

She took her communicator out to call for a doctor, but I knew it was too late. I could feel the life weakening inside of me.

An hour later, Rowan had settled down Riley and her pup in the hospital's VIP ward.

"I'm so grateful to you, Alpha." Riley grabbed his hands with tears in her eyes.

"It's what I should do," Rowan replied tiredly.

That was when Beta Damon hurried over.

"Alpha, I heard that you and the Luna were attacked by the enemy's pack. Are you alright?" Damon asked anxiously.

"We're fine. Riley's pup is hurt, so I brought them to the hospital," Rowan answered nonchalantly.

Damon was taken aback. "Where's the Luna? Is she alright?"

"She's fine. Chloe is taking care of her."

"Really?" Damon sounded doubtful. "I heard the doctors discussing something."

Rowan frowned. "What is it?"

"A woman was attacked and suffered a miscarriage. She's bleeding profusely," Damon continued talking about what he had heard. "Massive amounts of Holy Energy are leaking. The entire holy land can feel it. I wonder who that could be."

Miscarriage…

The word struck Rowan like lightning. He started to panic as a wave of fear overcame him.

"Impossible." His voice was trembling. "It can't be Stella."

He dashed out of the hospital as he sped crazily toward the holy land.