4

Aurora and I remained in the pack hospital for three weeks.

During this entire time, we didn't receive a single message from either of the brothers.

Not one person asked about our wellbeing, our whereabouts, or why we hadn't returned to the pack house.

My already shattered heart sank even deeper at their callous indifference.

As we were finalizing our discharge papers, we spotted Ethan walking down the corridor.

He didn't notice us.

We followed him discreetly until he entered the maternity ward.

That's when we discovered the truth.

Victoria was lying in a hospital bed, clutching Alexander's hand and crying about her fear of the delivery room, while Ethan, who had just arrived, tenderly brushed her hair from her forehead.

The three of them together created a picture of perfect harmony.

Aurora and I instinctively touched our stomachs, our eyes filled with despair.

In comparison, even Victoria's current fears seemed like blessings.

Watching their intimate scene, I forced myself to remain calm, pulling Aurora away from the hospital.

We had more important matters to attend to.

"Meeting with the Alpha Council the day after tomorrow! Bring Ethan."

"Seriously, if you don't show up, we'll have no choice but to let the Council enforce the bond severance."

Alexander immediately called me, but I rejected the call.

Messages began flooding my phone, which I ignored completely before turning it off.

Aurora accompanied me to report the rogue wolf attack to the Alpha Council's enforcement division.

This had been a deliberate revenge attack, and the victims were the mates of the pack's Alphas.

We recounted the entire incident in detail. The Head Enforcer's brow furrowed with concern:

"Such a serious matter, and you're only reporting it now? What if these rogues target you again?"

I gave a bitter smile.

That wouldn't happen. Even the rogues knew I held no place in Alexander's heart. Hurting me posed no threat to him.

I could only ask the enforcer to carefully review the border patrol records.

When he heard how Aurora and I had lost a pup and the ability to shift because of the attack, and how we'd been stranded during a mudslide with no help, his expression softened with sympathy.

"Don't worry, Miss Aria. We'll do everything we can to investigate this thoroughly."

Leaving the enforcement office, I received another video from Victoria.

"6 pounds 3 ounces. An angel who floated on clouds carefully choosing her mother has finally come to me~"

In the video, Alexander and Ethan hovered around her, both vying to be the pup's father, promising to raise it as their own.

I couldn't help but wonder how they would react if they knew their own pup was gone.

Too exhausted to dwell on it further, Aurora and I were completely drained after the day's ordeal.

We temporarily returned to the small cabin I had lived in before mating with Alexander.

When I turned my phone back on, I was greeted by a flood of missed calls from Alexander.

I called back, feeling his rage explode through the connection:

"Drama, drama, drama! That's all you know how to create! I told you to stay home and rest, and you turned the place into a complete disaster! If I hadn't gone back to get a gift for Victoria's pup, I wouldn't have known what a mess you've made!"

"And Aurora too—why are you dragging her into your schemes? Ethan can't even reach her now. Are you poisoning her mind against him? How can you be so vindictive? You've nearly destroyed Ethan and Aurora's relationship. Are you satisfied now?"

Aurora stood beside me, looking like she wanted to reach through the phone and slap him.

I held her back, saying, "Don't hurt yourself over someone who isn't worth it."

"Alexander," I emphasized, "I'll say this once more: mate bond severance. I don't want to hear your useless words."

"As for Aurora, you should ask your dear brother what he's done."

Aurora grabbed the phone and shouted: "Mating into your family has been the worst mistake of our lives! Let me make this clear, Alexander—no one is influencing anyone. We want to sever our bonds simply because you and Ethan are complete idiots! Understand?"

She immediately hung up and proceeded to block him on every possible communication channel.

The next morning, just as we were about to leave for the Alpha Council chambers, we found Victoria at our doorstep.

She was cradling her newborn pup, her eyes red-rimmed, looking pathetically fragile as if a breeze might topple her.

The moment she saw us, she dropped to her knees, feigning distress:

"Sister Aria, Sister Aurora, I'm so sorry. I've come to apologize on behalf of the brothers. This is all because of me, causing this misunderstanding between you. Please don't blame Alex and Ethan—they were just concerned about me being a single mother."

"That day at the hospital, I was just too frightened, so I asked Alex and Ethan to stay with me. I thought they had informed you beforehand. I had no idea they hadn't sent you any messages, leading to this misunderstanding. I specifically reminded them!"

Even now, she was playing the victim while flaunting her relationship with the twins.

We, the legitimate mates, were treated like outsiders in her words.

Seeing Aurora about to lose control of her temper, I stepped in first, looking down at Victoria with disdain: "Is that so? Then by that logic, my desire to sever our mate bond requires Miss Victoria's approval?"

"Don't waste your time playing the victim here. That trick doesn't work on us!"

Out of consideration for the newborn pup in her arms, I was about to help her up.

But when she heard the elevator doors open, something flashed in her eyes, and she deliberately collapsed as if I had pushed her.

I was startled, and then Alexander came running over, shoving me violently:

"Aria, how can you be so vicious! Get away from her!"

I lost my balance and fell to the floor. Aurora quickly helped me up.

"Vicky, are you alright?" Alexander fretted.

After confirming Victoria was unharmed, Alexander turned back, ready to unleash his fury on me.

But then his eyes fell on my flat stomach, and panic flashed across his face.

He spoke in disbelief: "Where's the pup?"

"Aria, I'm asking you, where is our pup!"