1

At the Mating Ceremony, my mate Alexander rejected our mate bond and then turned around and marked Sarah instead.

While I endured the pack's vicious gossip, Alexander's brother Ethan marked me in front of the whole pack.

Five years into our marriage, I had miscarried five times, and had finally managed to conceive again.

Ethan held me carefully, spinning me around with joy. I thought I had found true love until I overheard that Ethan had asked the therapist to give me abortion pills five times before.

It turns out that Sarah is his true love. He was afraid that I would threaten Sarah's future Luna status after giving birth to an Alpha heir.

Alexander and Ethan were the children of our pack's Alpha and Alpha Female. The Alpha had declared that whoever produced an heir first would become the next Alpha of the pack.

The pack healer asked. "What you're doing not only means giving up your chance to become the next Alpha, but you've also lost five children with your wife."

"You've had me falsify Alexander's medical reports all this time. He still doesn't know about his infertility. When the child is born, they won't even call you father. Is it really worth it?"

Ethan's expression was both loving and melancholic:

"So what? Since I couldn't marry Sarah back then, I'll protect her happiness for the rest of her life. No one can destroy that—not even a child between me and Aria."

The healer hesitated:

"But your wife has already miscarried five times. If it happens again, I fear she may never be able to conceive again."

Ethan pressed his lips together, and after a long pause said:

"It doesn't matter. I'll take care of her for the rest of our lives anyway."

The veins on the back of my hand bulged as I gripped the doorknob, trembling uncontrollably.

Before Ethan could discover me, I ran back to our bedroom in a daze and slid to the floor.

I always thought it was my fertility issues that caused me to miscarry five times in five years.

Because of these repeated miscarriages in such a short time, my body had weakened considerably. Despite this, I never complained. I even felt guilty, believing I was the reason Ethan couldn't have children.

All those passionate vows and promises were nothing but lies.

To prevent my suspicion, he refused to use any protection, allowing my health to deteriorate with each pregnancy.

In his eyes, my body and my dead unborn children were merely obstacles on Sarah's path to happiness.

"Aria, why are you sitting on the floor?"

Ethan walked into our bedroom and quickly helped me up, his face full of concern.

"It's nothing, just a bit of morning sickness," I lied.

He rubbed my back sympathetically, trying to help me breathe more comfortably.

"Sweetheart, you're so strong. Next time you feel sick, call for me. Don't suffer alone—it breaks my heart to see you in pain."

"Here, drink this herbal tonic. The pack healer says it will ease your pregnancy symptoms."

Looking at the bowl of medicine he claimed had cost him 100,000 dollars from a powerful witch specifically for my condition, a sharp pain twisted in my chest. Would there even be a next time?

Before each of my previous miscarriages, he had done the same thing—either thoughtfully preparing special tonics or personally hunting and cooking venison, my favorite meal.

I had thought these were expressions of his love. Now I realized they were just the disguise of an executioner.

I made one last attempt: "Ethan, I don't like the smell of milk in this. Can I skip it today?"

Ethan smiled sympathetically, but his tone left no room for refusal.

"Aria, don't be difficult. The healer explained that whatever you dislike most is exactly what your body needs."

"If you don't rest well, our pup won't rest well either. Isn't the baby what you want most? Come on, for our little one. Let me help you drink it."

Half-coaxing and half-forcing, he pressed the cup to my lips, giving me no chance to refuse.

Ethan, are you really so afraid that my child would stand in Sarah's way?

Or is it that in your heart, you only want her to bear your children?