Julian’s question—"Where is Kael, Bella?"—hit me not like a wave of pain, but like a shard of ice splintering in my heart.

He spoke the name of the son he abandoned, the son he sentenced to death, with casual ownership, as though Kael were a mislaid set of keys.

The tears that had betrayed my resolve immediately dried on my cheeks. The anguish in my voice was replaced by a chilling calm.

"You want to know where Kael is?" I asked, my voice dangerously low. I took a deliberate step back, ensuring the space between us was vast and absolute.

Julian, looked genuinely confused by my lack of emotion. "Yes, Bella. Take me to him. I want to apologize for last night."

His words only fueled the cold, terrifying clarity in my mind. He was still centered on his own narrative.

Did he really think his apology was enough to resolve the damage he had already done?

His apology... Would it bring our son back?

I suppressed the infuriating rage within me as I replied, "It's too late now. Kael doesn't need your apology anymore."

He frowned. Taking a hesitant step towards me, he continued, his hands reaching out to cup my shoulders. "I know you are upset, Bella. But, trust me, I never meant to abandon you. I had sent my warriors to escort you. But, you were gone."

"I'm Kael's father, Bella. I'm equally worried for him."

"Equally worried?" I laughed—a sharp, mirthless sound that made Julian flinch. "He was dying, Julian. The silver poison was spreading. But you knew that. You just didn't care."

I straightened my spine. The Alpha, the powerful leader, the man I had loved, now looked small and pathetic in the sickly light of the infirmary, clinging to the bedside of his former lover’s child.

"I asked you for the White Tulip Water," I continued, each word a hammer blow. "The only thing that could be bargained for Kael's life. And you said no."

Julian’s eyes narrowed, a flash of the Alpha’s defensive rage taking over. "That water is the Pack's most sacred treasure! It's for the future, not for one... one fleeting skirmish! And I told you, Liam needs it for his backbone surgery!"

"You chose his backbone surgery over Kael’s life," I stated simply, letting the monstrous truth hang in the air. "You didn't see him as your son, Julian. You saw him as less important than Liam’s future comfort."

Before Julian could launch into another self-justifying excuse, I cut him off, raising my voice. "You want to know where Kael is?"

My gaze swept over Julian, lingering just long enough to see the guilt finally start to register in his eyes. He took a nervous breath, sensing the change in the atmosphere.

But, before the words could escape through my lips, the female healer previously attending me, rushed to my side and said, her voice urgent, "Miss Bella, you haven't signed on the death certificate of your son."

"I know the process is devastating. But, it's a procedure you must undergo."

"No..." Julian's face instantly turned pale. "It can't be possible! My son, Kael... He-"

"Bella," he whispered my name, his face seemed somewhat in guilt and denial. "What is she talking about? Kael... is dead?"

I did not reply. I stayed still at my place, wanted to see what his reaction would be knowing his son died because he was too busy caring about someone else's child.

Perhaps, he will be guilty. Perhaps, this will be the moment of realisation and perhaps, he will come back to us, his real family.

And, perhaps, I'll forgive him one last time.

'This is your last chance, Julian.' I said in my mind.

Julian staggered backward, his eyes fixed on the death certificate as I signed it before his eyes.

"Bella..." He whispered before pulling me in his embrace, saying gently, "It's okay. Liam is your child as well. We will adopt him and love him like we loved Kael."

My knuckles were tightened on his words. I was enraged on his audacity of talking about adopting the person who was mainly responsible for my tragedy, but I remained calm and said nothing.

He had lost his only chance.

He broke our hug after listening to Elara's voice. Elara walked out of Liam's ward and said, "Liam is not taking his medicine again. He... only wants you to feed him."

"What? The medicine is essential for his recovery. He must not skip them." He blurted out, the curves of worry appeared on his forehead, something that could not be visible on his face when our son was bleeding to death.

He immediately walked away with Elara, sparing no glance at me. Then as if suddenly remembered something, he paused at the door. He looked at me with a pair of eyes, showing guilt and concern at the same time.

He seemed to want to say something, perhaps whispering some encouraging words to coax me. But then, he prioritized Liam over me and walked inside his ward without speaking a single word to me.

But, I did not care. The woman who once loved him, the mother who begged him for help, the wife who awaited his attention, was now dead along with the son whose death I had just confirmed with my signature.

I turned back, my whole body stiffened in cold and vengeance. The last thing I did before walking out of the Pack's infirmary was connecting with the same person through my mind link I had connected last night.

"How is Kael doing?" I asked,

"He is critical. Can't say anything now." The voice sounded from the other end, cutting deep through my heart.

I had just lost my four months old unborn baby, I didn't know I had until I saw the blood gushing out my private part during the accident.

The death certificate belonged to him, which Julian misinterpreted as Kael's.

Kael was the only child I had now. I did not want to loose him either.

"So, what have you decided now?" The voice asked, deep and magnetic.

"I have decided. I'm breaking my mate bond with Julian Moore. Escort me from his pack house. Tonight."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" The person asked from the other end, "You betrayed your family, went against the whole pack and degraded your own bloodline just to be with Julian."

"My decision is final, Lucian." I replied, my voice never as confident as this.

"Alright. Taking you out under Julian's eyes is not easy. Give me two days. After that, you would have no choice, Bella."

"Even if the blood flows like a river in Scarlett Moon Pack, I'll have you with me."

After throwing out these words, almost a threat, he disconnected our mind link. I stood still at my place for a long time before I finally decided what I needed to do next.

I hired a cab and went home. Julian still stayed at the Pack's infirmary, feeding medicine and keeping entertain to Liam.

He didn't find it necessary to stay with his wife or at least say a few comforting words to her after she lost her child because of his fault. He just didn't care.

However, these things didn't hurt me anymore. I simply didn't care.

The first thing I did after arriving home, was stripping off the photo frames of our wedding pictures from the wall of our bedroom.

Each and every piece of evidence that showed us happy and in love, was thrown into the trash.

The curtains I had chosen for our home to make it lively was changed into the plain old curtain he had put in his home before meeting me.

The furnitures I had bought to fill his empty and cold villa was now burnt to ashes and the decoration I had done for years to make our home look beautiful was all removed.

My legs trembled for a moment as I stepped inside Kael's room. A small but beautiful room I had designed myself because Julian had no time for Kael's needs as he was busy taking care of Elara's crippled son.

There laid the baseball in the corner of the room, Kael had me bought to play with his Dad, but never once did he get the time to play with him.

There was also a collection of music notes he wanted to play for his Dad, to see the appreciation in his eyes for him. But, the only listener and appreciater he had was me, his Mom.

My gaze moved to the bed. It was small, neatly made with a dinosaur-themed comforter.

I pulled back the covers. Nestled on the pillow was a faded, one-eyed teddy bear—his constant companion.

He had once told me, he would not share his teddy bear with anyone but his little brother if I give him one.

He really wanted a little brother and I could not give him.

I lifted it, burying my face in the soft, worn fur. It smelled faintly of child, of sleep, and of a lingering, sweet innocence.

A single, hot tear finally escaped, landing on the bear's matted ear. It was the only tear I allowed myself.

The task had to be completed. Every item—the brightly colored books on the shelf, the small, painted wooden truck, the pair of tiny sneakers near the door—was cataloged not by its worth, but by the weight of the memory attached.

The truck: His first birthday, the one Julian missed for a Pack meeting.

The books: The ones I read to him every night, whispering tales of brave wolves and powerful heroes, that Julian never witnessed.

The sneakers: The last pair he wore, the soles dirty from the final time we played hide-and-seek, just two days before he was bitten.

I wrapped up the memories of my son, playing and laughing in this house on a wooden box.

I picked up the box, the weight of Kael’s small life heavy in my arms, and carried it out. The mechanical voice, 'Kael is still critical. Can't say anything now.' still echoed in my head.

I did not throw the box into the trash heap with Julian's possessions. This box would travel with me. It was the only memory I intended to keep, a silent witness and the physical anchor of my vengeful purpose.

I placed the box near the front door, next to my small backpack containing only the bare essentials—documents, a change of clothes, and a hidden hunting knife. Everything was ready.

Julian's home, the house he had built and that I had briefly made a home, was now utterly purged of my existence and Kael's memory.

It was back to being Julian’s sterile, solitary villa—the perfect setting for the Alpha who prioritized appearance and comfort over love and life.

Just as I finished my business, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I did not need to turn back to know who it was.

Even now his each gesture, every sound he made was imprinted to my mind. It was Julian.

I could feel the utter shock in his eyes as he asked, sweeping his gaze over his empty house, "Bella... What is this? Where is everything gone?"

I finally turned back to look at him. My eyes red with the tears I shed earlier. He frowned and immediately walked to my side. "Bella, are you... okay?"

I felt a pang of hurt and rage at his words. But, I remained neutral.

"I'm okay, Julian." I said, "I just don't want to remember the past."

"It's all right, Bella." He said, his voice ever so gentle and caring as he pulled me in his embrace, "Do whatever you want if that helps you ease your heart."

I didn't push him this time. Neither did I hug him back. I only let him hug me. It was good that he did not doubt anything, not knowing that he was hugging me for the last time.

It was our final good-bye.

The next day, I stood before my son's grave, giving him the last farewell. I did not want to snatch Julian's right of bidding farewell to his son and had informed him about the funeral's timing, hoping to tell him the truth I hadn't said yet.

He had promised he would reach on time. But, after waiting for hours when I called him to ask where he was, he said, "I'm sorry, Bella. This is too hard for me. I can't watch my son buried before my eyes. Please handle this yourself."

I barely fought the urge of exposing his pathetic act, and tell him I had already watched Elara's latest post where he was cooking Liam's favourite meal.

"It's okay. I can understand." I simply replied before I hang up. Maybe, that was what Goddess wanted, that he remained unaware of the truth.

I knelt before the grave, the cold earth seeping through my trousers. There was no grand headstone, no words of love or legacy. Just a small grave. Because, I wanted it that way.

It was the final, stinging proof that Julian had treated his child's passing as a procedural casualty, not a monumental tragedy.

As I brushed a stray leaf from the stone, my phone vibrated in my pocket—Julian's private line. I answered, my voice deliberately flat.

"Yes, Julian."

"Bella! Good, you picked up." His tone was bright, dismissive of the profound silence he had left behind at the house. The sound of upbeat chatter and music filtered through the line.

"I’m at the infirmary. Liam is finally off the IV drip, and his fever broke! Great news, isn't it?"

My knuckles tightened against the rough stone of my son's grave, but I kept my voice even.

"That's good, Julian."

"Yes! So, I decided to throw a little informal celebration for the Pack healers and Liam to cheer him up. And, I'll officially adopt him as my son. You should come, Bella."

He paused, a hint of patronizing concern entering his voice. "You've been through a lot. A little distraction will do you good. Come, celebrate Liam’s recovery with us."

Celebrate Liam’s recovery. The boy who was the direct cause of my son's death. The boy whose recovery warranted a party, while my son's funeral was treated with utter neglect.

"A celebration," I repeated, the word tasting like rust and venom.

"Exactly. A new start. Come, Bella. From this day on, consider Liam as your own son."

"You are coming, right?" He asked.

The glacial calm returned, harder and sharper this time. He wanted a display? He would get one.

"Yes, Julian," I accepted, rising slowly from the grave. "I'll be there."

Before he could speak one more word, I hang up the call. Then, I blocked his number, broke the sim card from my phone and threw it aside.

Just then, my mind buzzed, and I was connected through a mind link. The same person, the only hope.

"What is it?" I asked, my heart beating faster and my mind preparing myself for the worst possible outcome. But, the voice sounded, soft and gentle.

"Kael is out of danger now. He is continuously asking for you, Bella."

Two drops of tears seeped through my eyes that I had been suppressing for a long time as I finally took a sigh of relief.

"Thank you... Thank you so much Lucian." I stammered. I almost sank to my knees, wanting to kowtow this person who emerged as an Angel and helped me save my child who had no chance of survival.

I might have lost Kael, had Lucian, my old friend, not sent an immediate help, rescuing Kael on time.

But, unfortunately, I could not save my unborn baby whom I had kept in my womb for four months.

The death the female healer was talking about, was about my little angel who could not even get to open his eyes in this cruel world and the grave I was standing in front, belonged to him, unnamed.

This was what I wanted to tell Julian before leaving, who wasn't even aware of my pregnancy.

But, I assume it is good he did not come and still don't know about Kael's existence. He wasn't a good father anyways. Dead or alive, his actions had proven, Kael's existence didn't matter to him at all.

The same way, he doesn't matter to us anymore.

After disconnecting our mind link, I summoned my trusted servant at cemetery.

I hinted at the gift box I had prepared for Julian. Inside laid our wedding ring along with the silver string of our mate bond that I had cut off my wrist when he refused to give away White Tulip Water to save our son.

"Deliver this parcel to Alpha Julian at the celebration banquet. Tell him I can't attend his 'Celebration' because I'm still mourning for our dead son."

"But, I have sent my blessings to Liam and his mother instead. They will surely like the gift."

After handing over the gift box to the servant, I walked out of the Pack's cemetery.

There waited a black SUV with four mascular men in black suits to drive me to the airport... to meet Lucian, my old friend, and Kael, my son.