Chapter 2

Her voice wasn't loud, but it hit me like thunder.

I jerked my head up and shoved him away hard.

I glared at Rowan, wanting to burn a hole through his face. The pain in my chest was tearing me apart.

But Rowan looked down. He was too guilty to meet my eyes.

I pointed at Tessa with red eyes and demanded an answer.

"Is she telling the truth?"

"Rowan, you made a blood oath like that? Where does that leave your mate?"

"You're giving our pup's birthright to a rogue's bastard?!"

The moment I said that, Tessa started wailing hysterically.

"My pup is not a bastard! He has a father!"

Rowan panicked instantly.

He frowned. To stop the approaching Elder guards, he instinctively released a crushing wave of Alpha command.

Bam.

The sheer pressure slammed into my chest, making me stumble backward.

My body was already drained by the pregnancy. I couldn't handle it. A metallic taste filled my throat.

He looked at me coldly, his eyes completely detached.

"Gwen, I thought you were always reasonable! You can't just say things like that!"

"Do you know that one sentence could send her and the pup to the execution block!"

I didn't know how much damage it could cause. I only knew the man in front of me had changed.

I wiped the blood from my mouth. It tasted like rust.

Whenever it involved Tessa's life, he just lost all control.

I asked him in a desperate voice.

"Then what do you want me to say?"

"My Alpha mate doesn't want me and our pup anymore. He's going to be a father to someone else's pup. And you want me to calmly clap for you?"

My voice went from dead quiet to a sharp scream.

Rowan froze. A flash of pity, tenderness, and guilt crossed his eyes. He stepped forward to grab my hand, but I dodged him.

Finally, with red eyes, he suppressed his emotions and said,

"Tessa is different from you. I'm the only childhood friend she has left. The rogue scandal will get her burned alive!"

"Gwen, just wait a little longer. You are my mate. Even if I give her the title, me and my wolf belong to you. Once I deal with the Elders, I'll come back to you."

With that, he pulled me into a tight hug, as if giving me a promise.

"Trust me, Gwen. When this blows over, I'll give you and our pup the grandest blessing ceremony!"

I said nothing.

Behind him, Tessa interrupted, clearly unhappy.

"Rowan, my stomach hurts so much! The guards are coming!"

His body stiffened, but he didn't hesitate at all.

He let go of me, patted the top of my head, and abandoned me at the clinic.

Watching them walk away, I finally realized something.

When he wanted to play favorites, he could be so cruelly obvious.

I went home from the clinic.

The huge Pack House felt completely empty and cold.

I curled up on the bed. The pain of the baby eating my life force made my wolf incredibly restless.

Just as I was shaking in agony, I felt a sharp pull through the mate bond.

The next second, the bedroom door burst open.

Rowan rushed in, bringing the cold night wind with him. He obviously felt my loss of control through the bond.

He strode to the bed and pulled my shaking body into his broad, warm chest. Hot, desperate kisses fell on my forehead, my eyes, and finally settled on my mating mark.

He frantically released his Alpha scent, trying to soothe my agitated wolf.

"Gwen, relax... I'm back. Don't let your wolf be so sad. You won't be able to handle it."

He cupped my face. His golden eyes were full of genuine love and heartbreak.

"What I said at the hospital today was the truth. I only love you. You're my one and only mate."

Rowan gently kissed away my tears. He coaxed me in a soft voice, thinking he sounded loving and reasonable.

"I know you care about the blood oath. But it's just to keep Tessa alive. Even if her pup officially takes the title, so what?"

"The Moon Goddess will bless our pup. I'll still give them all my love. Titles don't matter."

His words were like a rusty, dull knife twisting hard in my heart.

He was an Alpha. How could he not know?

In a ruthless wolf pack, an Alpha pup without the birthright would forever be looked down upon.

To help another woman, he personally stripped away our child's dignity. And he actually thought a few sweet words would make me grateful.

I looked at him coldly. I couldn't help but ask,

"What if I demand you stop this ridiculous decision right now?"

The man who just looked so heartbroken instantly darkened his face.

"Gwen, I'm informing you of my decision, not asking for your permission! A life is at stake. I can't just watch her die!"

He paused. Looking a bit apologetic, he softened his voice again.

"You know Tessa is all alone now. I'm the only one she can rely on."

Right then, an emergency mind-link rang in his head.

Before leaving, he dropped one last sentence.

"Rogues sneaked into Tessa's area. I have to go deal with it. Mind-link me if you need anything."

It wasn't until Rowan grabbed his gear and rushed into the night that I realized my face was covered in tears.

So this was his logic.

It wasn't that he couldn't feel my pain, or that he didn't love me.

He just thought my pain could be fixed with a quick kiss. And to help Tessa, me and our baby suffering was just "the right thing to do."