Chapter 37
“It was just a drink. Why make a scene over it? This is humiliating–especially over some Beta assistant…”
Ethan’s thoughts tangled in knots. Was she faking it? Or had he truly pushed her too far this time? His wolf prowled beneath his skin, restless, uneasy.
Before he could react, Maven let out a sharp, pitiful cry.
“Ethan… it hurts! I can’t even stand!”
He turned, eyes flickering between her and me–between her dramatic whimpers and my unmoving body.
His jaw clenched. Instinct told him to focus
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on me. Logic told him to handle Maven first.
Without hesitation, he bent down and swept Maven into his arms.
“I’ll take you to the healer. It’s on the way!”
Then, he barked an order, and two warriors grabbed me, dragging my limp body to the pack’s SUV.
My skin was ice. My wolf was silent. The ache in my chest spread like a wound I couldn’t see.
Maven hadn’t even bothered to glance my way. The Pack Gathering ended abruptly, cut short by her display.
On the way, Maven’s voice filled the space, syrupy sweet, her words curling like vines around Ethan’s ears.
“You always take care of me, Alpha. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re the only one I can rely on.“”
I had no energy to respond.
I reached for my phone and typed out a message, my fingers shaking but my decision firm.
“Send the severance papers to the healer’s ward. Now.”
I couldn’t stay bound to him for another second.
From the driver’s seat, Ethan’s eyes flicked up to the mirror, scanning my face. His wolf nudged against mine, searching, trying to find a reaction.
“You always take care of me, Alpha. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re the only one I can rely on.”
I had no energy to respond.
I reached for my phone and typed out a message, my fingers shaking but my decision firm.
“Send the severance papers to the healer’s ward. Now”
I couldn’t stay bound to him for another second.
From the driver’s seat, Ethan’s eyes flicked up to the mirror, scanning my face. His wolf nudged against mine, searching, trying to find a reaction.
“Lilah, are you okay?”
I ignored him.
When we arrived at the Pack’s Healing Hall, Maven eased the car door open and hesitated, her lips parted slightly–waiting.
Waiting for Ethan to lift her like she was the most fragile thing in the world.
Instead, without so much as a glance, Ethan turned and swept me into his arms instead.
He moved fast, taking long strides into the healer’s ward.
Maven’s mouth snapped shut. The pain she had whined about moments ago seemed to vanish entirely.
The scent of blood thickened. My blood.
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Ethan’s arms tightened around me.
Dario, the Pack’s healer and Ethan’s longtime friend, was waiting.
His nostrils flared the moment he saw me, his steps faltering mid–stride.
Wordlessly, he handed Ethan the medical report.
Ethan’s eyes scanned the paper.
Then, he went still.
“Pregnant?”
His voice was hoarse, raw.
“What–how–why didn’t I know?”
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His golden eyes snapped to Dario.
“You’re her healer! How did you hide this from me?”
Dario’s patience finally broke.
“I didn’t hide anything, Alpha. You just never bothered to see what was right in front of you.””
Ethan’s wolf bristled, but Dario didn’t flinch.
“I warned you. Over and over. Lies always unravel, no matter how tightly you weave them.”
Dario exhaled sharply, his voice dropping into something almost bitter.
“You made her drink, Ethan. You put her through hell. And now, this pup? It won’t
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survive.”
Ethan recoiled.
“She’s already lost too many. Her body hasn’t healed. This operation might make sure she never carries again.”
Ethan’s chest rose and fell, his breaths
uneven.
“Damn it, Ethan!” Dario snapped. “Whem this surgery is over, you’d better figure out how you’re going to explain yourself to your Luna.”
With that, Dario shoved the report into Ethan’s hands and disappeared into the operating room.
Ethan remained in the hallway, frozen.
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His wolf paced within him, restless, angry. Not at anyone else. Not even at Maven.
At him. At himself. At the truth.
The surgery lasted three hours.
Maven bombarded Ethan with texts.
“Where are you?”
“Come get me, I’m scared.”
“Ethan, I need you!”
He ignored them.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw
- me. Saw my face as I collapsed. Saw the moment I stopped fighting.
And that one word wouldn’t leave his mind.
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Severance.
Final. Absolute.
For the first time, he felt what it would be like if I was truly gone.
The moment the operating room doors swung open, Ethan caught my scent first.
It was faint, barely there.
His wolf lunged forward.
Still here. Still breathing.
They wheeled me into a private room.
Ethan followed, his steps hurried, his wolf clawing for control.
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Then, the door opened again.
A lawyer stepped inside.
He held a folder.
Severance papers.
Ethan’s hands shook as he took them.
“She wants to leave me?”
His voice cracked.
His grip tightened on the documents.
“She has no right to leave me!”
His chest rose and fell, rapid, uneven.
“This isn’t real. It’s not happening. She won’t go. She can’t go!”
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A tear slipped from his eye before he even realized it.
I opened my eyes slowly.
The ceiling above me was white, unfamiliar. The sterile scent of antiseptic mixed with something else–something familiar.
Pine and rain.
Him.
I turned my head slightly, my throat dry.
“Ethan.”
He leaned closer, his expression unreadable.
“Let’s sever the bond.”
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His breath hitched.
“Let me go. And let yourself go.”
His wolf snarled, clawing at his control, unwilling to accept the words.
I didn’t waver.
“I know you love Maven. So I’m giving you what you want.”
His jaw locked.
“But everything that belongs to me? I’m taking it with me.”
I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes for a brief moment.
“The papers are ready. The assets, the land, even the jewelry you gave her–all of it is
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listed.”
I met his gaze.
“If you don’t believe me, take it to the Elders. Challenge me.”
His wolf snapped inside him, raging.
Before he could respond, the door slammed
open.
Dario strode inside, grabbed Ethan by the collar, and yanked him toward the hall.
“What the hell are you doing, Alpha?” Dario’s voice was sharp, unwavering. “Did you not hear her? She’s severing the bond.”
Ethan bared his teeth.
“And what do you expect me to do?” he
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growled.
Dario scoffed.
“Deny it? Pretend you didn’t betray her? Act like you haven’t changed? Or maybe spin another lie about how those three miscarriages weren’t your fault?”
Ethan swayed slightly, his own body betraying him.
He fumbled for a cigarette, but his hands trembled too much to light it.
Dario sighed.
“I’ve said my piece, Ethan. You’ve ruined her enough.”
His voice lowered.
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“She just wants what’s rightfully hers. What reason do you have to stop her?”
Dario turned to leave but paused at the door.
“Without Lilah, you wouldn’t be where you
are.”
“Every alliance. Every negotiation. Every sacrifice. It was her work, not yours.”
“She was the reason the Pack thrived.”
Dario tossed a folder onto the nearby table.
“Read it.”
Ethan did.
And his stomach dropped.
Medical reports.
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Records.
The truth he had refused to see.
Dario left him there. Alone with the reality he had created.
Ethan’s fingers shook as he scrolled through my old messages.
“Are you coming back to the den tonight? Don’t drink too much.”
A message from weeks ago.
Unanswered.
Ignored.
Like me.
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And for the first time in years-
Ethan was afraid.
Afraid of what he had lost.
Afraid of what he could never undo.
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