Chapter 5%
Draven’s POV
“Stop messing around with me. I know you’re not dead. I’ll accompany Freya to the doctors for her prenatal checkup at nine o’clock tomorrow moming. Return to the pack immediately, and I’ll take you to the doctors as well for a full physical exam.”
Alpha Draven stared at his cell phone for a long time, waiting for a reply that never came. Frustrated, he hurled it across the room, the phone embedding itself in the wall with a sharp crack.
The following day, inside the private hospital ward of Blackthorn Pack.
“Draven, is the baby okay?” Freya gently rubbed her slightly rounded belly, eyes brimming with tears.
Draven wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “The doctor said everything’s fine.“}
But his voice was rough and distant–his thoughts, as always, were with her.”
Ella.N
“That’s good…” Freya leaned on him with a soft sigh.
“You’ve been so distracted since dawn. I thought something had gone wrong with the pup.“>
Freya’s mother, seated nearby with a scowl on her face, snapped coldly, “I told you Ella was cursed. Ever since that rogue bitch wandered into our lives, nothing good has happened to Freya!“}
Her words landed like claws tearing across Draven’s chest.}
In a daze, his mind drifted back to that day–the earthquake that ruined almost half of the packhouse.}
He could still see the look in Ella’s eyes.
So calm. As if she had already accepted the fate he chose.
He grabbed his phone back and unlocked it again. Still no messages.}
Ella used to respond instantly, whether it was during the day or deep night.}
Since when did she learn to vanish, to go full silent like a lone wolf lost in the wild?
“Alpha Draven?“N
His Beta’s voice snapped him back to the present. “The High Councilor returned early. He’s summoned an emergency meeting with the pack Elders.“}
Draven sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’ll be there soon.“@
The Beta waited, but Draven didn’t end the link right away.
After a pause, his voice came low and quiet.
“Go to the artisan’s shop. Buy the sapphire moon–charm necklace.”
“For Lady Freya?” the Beta asked.
Draven cut him off. “Wrap it. Leave it in the Alpha’s Wing–her room. The sapphire one.“>
It had always been her favorite.
He still believed she’d return soon, head bowed in surrender.}
-0
That night, around eleven…
Draven pushed open the wooden door of the packhouse.
Beneath the dim lantern light, a figure curled on the couch–slender, familiar.
“Ella, I knew you wouldn’t last long. Look at you–back here, tail between your-“}
He stopped cold.
It was Freya.”
She blinked at him, unaware of his faltering presence. “Draven… Ella still hasn’t returned. I even sent her an apology through text messages, but she’s ignoring me. Do you think she’s angry? Should I move to the guest room?“}
He patted her back, barely present, eyes drifting to the sealed door upstairs.
Once, that door opened to warmth… and a she–wolf who always left a lantern burning for him.”
“Don’t think about it too much. You hate being alone. Why would you sleep in the guest room? This is your home now. Rest.”
He guided her away, then walked toward the kitchen, yanking at his collar with a grim scowl.
Bottle after bottle of wolfsbane wine disappeared down his throat.
His phone lit up with a soft warning glow–just one message.
He’ll only send one message.
Tomorrow is my father’s marriage ceremony. Don’t humiliate me and Freya. This is your last chance to redeem yourself. If you return, I won’t hold it against you for running.]
The next day..!
Draven stood tall beside a radiant Freya as they made a grand entrance at the ceremonial grounds of the High Alpha’s mating ritual.
10:47 AM
His father, Elder Alaric Blackthorn, stepped forward, hand in hand with his young new bride. As they approached, Draven let go of Freya’s
arm.
“Where’s your Luna, Ella?” Alaric asked sharply, his eyes narrowed like a hawk’s.
Draven’s throat tightened. He straightened his cuffs.
“She’s not feeling well, Father. I told her to rest. She’ll arrive shortly.”
He lied–still covering for her.
Alaric’s face softened.
“Is she expecting? It’s time you gave me a true heir. A real Blackthorn pup–not one from another bloodline.”
Draven’s hands twitched. He caught Freya’s embarrassed glance… but looked away.
Alaric didn’t know that Ella could never bear a child.
The chair beside Draven remained empty as the ceremony moved into the gift–giving.”
He twisted his wedding ring unconsciously, knuckles white with tension.”
Halfway through the toasts, Ella still hadn’t appeared.
He slipped into the shadows near a stone pillar and pressed open his phone again, scrolled and clicked on the familiar number on his screen…
[The number you have dialed is out of reach…]
The automated voice struck him like a dagger.
He was about to try again when the ceremonial doors creaked open.
A deliveryman walked in, clutching three ornate gift boxes wrapped in crest–stitched silk.”
“Luna Ella Moonfall sent these as ceremonial offerings,” whispered the Beta to Alaric.
All eyes turned to Alaric as he carefully opened the first.
An antique goblet carved from ancient moonstone–an artifact he’d once spoken fondly of months ago.
His face lit up in awe.
Then came the second.
His fingers froze.}
Inside, on a bed of velvet, lay the Verdant Flame Pendant–a sacred relic passed down through the Nlackthorn pack and bloodline for generations.
The very heirloom his late mate had once placed around Ella’s neck.
Alaric’s eyes widened. His lips parted.
Draven lunged forward, tearing away the wrapping from the final box.
His smirk began to rise-
Until he saw what lay within.
And his smile immediately died on his lips.W
