"I want to end our mate bond," I repeated, my voice steadier than I expected.

Drake's face darkened, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitch.


"We'll discuss this later," he growled, his voice barely controlled.

"There's nothing to discuss," I said, still holding the wine-soaked scarf. "Five years is enough."

Drake grabbed my arm, his grip tight but not painful. "I said, later." Something flickered in his eyes that I couldn't read—anger, certainly, but something else too.


The party ended abruptly after that. Guests made hasty excuses to leave, no one wanting to witness the Alpha's domestic troubles. I stood alone by the window, watching rain begin to fall outside, matching my mood perfectly.

When the last guest departed, Drake's driver pulled the car around to the front entrance. The rain had intensified, drumming against the windows and roof.


The driver nodded at me. "Luna, the car is ready."

I stepped toward the door, but froze at the sight before me. Drake was already in the backseat, Lilith pressed close to him. Seeing me approach, she immediately put on a frightened expression.

"Drake," she said with a trembling voice, "I... I should get out. Luna should sit here, I don't deserve..." She made a show of reaching for the door.

Drake caught her hand, pulling her back into the seat. "Shh, don't be like that," he soothed her gently, "It's okay." His eyes gazed at her softly, showing her the tenderness I hadn't seen from him in months. "With me here, you don't need to fear anyone."

My heart broke at those words. Once, he had said the same to me.

Drake looked up, seeing me standing in the rain. His expression instantly cooled, his jaw tightening.

"How dare you—" his voice was low and dangerous, his Alpha pressure expanding with his anger, "On my birthday, in front of everyone, ask to end our mate bond?" His fist clenched, knuckles white. "Maybe some rain will clear your head, help you realize what stupid things you just said."

"But Luna should—" the driver began.

"She's not coming with us," Drake cut him off. "She needs time to think."

The car door closed with finality. I stood there, rain soaking through my dress, watching as the car pulled away, taking with it the man I still loved despite everything.

I took a step forward, suddenly feeling dizzy. My foot slipped, and I fell hard. Pain exploded through me, and darkness took over.

When I opened my eyes, the hospital's bright lights made me squint. A warm hand held mine, and Drake looked down at me, his face pale, his suit jacket crumpled on the chair back.

For a moment, his concerned expression made me feel like I was back in the past, as if the cold, distant man from the party wasn't there, but my Drake, the one who once looked at me with love.

"You're awake," he said, his brow furrowed, concern in his voice mixed with anger. "Is this your solution? Making everyone worry about you like this?"

Before I could respond, a nurse pushed open the door and entered the room.

"Mrs. Stone, you're finally awake. We were worried about your fall, especially in your condition."

"My condition?" I asked, confused.

The nurse looked surprised, glancing between Drake and me. "You didn't know? You're pregnant, about six weeks along."

The room seemed to spin. Pregnant. With Drake's child. After years of trying, it happened now—when I had just asked to end our bond.

Drake's face paled, his hand tightening around mine. "Pregnant?" he whispered, shock in his voice.

I turned away, unable to bear the conflict in his eyes. Our child would be heir to his territory, something he had wanted desperately. But now, with Lilith in the picture, with all the broken trust between us—what would this mean?

"I need to run more tests," the nurse said, sensing the tension. "I'll give you two a moment."

When she left, silence fell between us. Drake still held my hand, but his eyes were distant, lost in complex thoughts.

"Our child..." he finally said, his voice mixing shock with something I couldn't identify. "You know what this means."

I watched his expression change from surprise to the possessiveness and sense of responsibility typical of an Alpha. This wasn't about me, but about his heir.

"This doesn't change anything," I said, pulling my hand away. "A child isn't glue to fix a broken relationship."

He stood up, a flash of coldness in his eyes. "You can't make decisions alone, Aria. This child is my blood, heir to my territory."

"Like you decided alone to believe Lilith instead of me?" I asked calmly, my words sharp. "You've already made your choice."

As he walked to the door, he paused. "I never wanted things to be this way."

"Neither did I," I answered, placing a protective hand over my stomach. "But here we are."

After he left, I stared at the ceiling, tears silently sliding down my face. A child. Our child. The one thing that might have saved us a year ago, now just another complication in our broken relationship.

Outside my room, I heard Drake's phone ring. His voice drifted through the partially open door: "Yes, Lilith, I'm coming. Don't worry."