Chapter 2

"The doctor called me this morning and said Seraphina didn't show up for her prenatal checkup. What kind of stunt is she trying to pull now to get my attention?"

As Orion spoke, his brow furrowed tightly, a flash of disgust in his eyes.

The old butler's face went pale, and he said in a trembling voice, "Alpha Orion, Luna Seraphina doesn't seem to have been released yet. And she's eight months pregnant—what if something happened?"

Orion waved his hand dismissively. "It's just the Hunt Festival. Besides, I had the witch put a protective spell on her. The werewolves in the hunting grounds can't actually hurt her—they're just scaring her. I'm not really trying to kill her. It's good for her to learn some fear. Maybe next time she won't dare bully Beatrix again."

Hearing this, the old butler didn't dare say more.

But Leo couldn't help interjecting, "But three days ago, at the start, Luna Seraphina was crying her heart out. Then later there was no sound at all. She's still carrying your child—your own flesh and blood. Maybe you should go check on Luna Seraphina..."

Orion's expression instantly changed from understanding to contempt.

"I knew it. Even her screams were fake. How could someone being chased by werewolves make no sound at all? Seraphina is as cunning and scheming as ever. If that's the case, let her stay in the hunting grounds one more day. Tomorrow I'll bring her to Beatrix to kneel and apologize, and then we'll be done with this."

With that, he waved his hand to cut off Leo's next words and walked toward the bedroom.

Orion still thought I was in the hunting grounds.

He didn't know that I was actually already dead. After death, my soul automatically drifted to his side, and I couldn't go anywhere except near him.

At that moment, my soul floated in the air. I saw that in the bedroom, Beatrix was lying half-naked on my marital bed, her body still wrapped in burn bandages from her failed suicide attempt.

Orion walked gently to her side. His Adam's apple bobbed, and the next second he pressed his lips to her swollen ones.

The person on the bed let out a soft moan and opened her eyes. She gently tried to push away the Orion on top of her. "Orion, this is your and Seraphina's marital bed. Seraphina will be heartbroken if she finds out."

"And about what happened before, Orion—I just loved you too much. I thought if I died, Seraphina wouldn't fight with you because of me anymore. I never meant for you to punish her for my sake. Why don't I go apologize to Seraphina?"

Beatrix bit her lower lip, looking sad and guilty.

Sure enough, seeing Beatrix like this, Orion couldn't hold back any longer. He set the porridge aside.

His large hand roughly kneaded Beatrix's chest as he flipped over and pressed her beneath him. "Beatrix, you're just too kind. If it weren't for you all those years ago, I would have died at the hands of those Rogues. When I think about how gentle and kind you are, and how Seraphina drove you to attempt suicide by fire, it breaks my heart. If there's a next time, even if she's carrying my child, I'll make her pay with her life..."

Orion kissed the minor burns Beatrix had from the fire, his eyes full of heartache.

Yes, because Beatrix had saved Orion, Orion fell in love with her. Beatrix was also Orion's first love.

Orion, Beatrix, and I all attended the same werewolf academy. Back then, Orion was still the Alpha heir.

In his school uniform, he was sunny and handsome. I'd had a crush on him from very early on.

When I turned eighteen, I discovered that Orion and I were fated mates. I was so happy. Orion also agreed to date me, but I didn't notice the confusion written all over his eyes at the time.

Looking back now, Orion must have been sad about Beatrix breaking up with him and going abroad.

I thought that after all these years together, and being fated mates, Orion would surely fall in love with me.

But then Beatrix returned to the country, and I overheard Orion coaxing her, "I only married Seraphina because marrying a fated mate would help me become Alpha of the Ashpelt Pack. Deep down, I still love you, of course."

In that moment, I heard the sound of my own heart breaking.