Chapter 3: A Mother’s Strength  

Selena’s eyelids fluttered open, her surroundings was a sterile blur of white and blue. 

The antiseptic scent hit her first, followed by the soft hum of hospital equipments. 

Disoriented, she struggled to sit up, she felt a dull ache spreading through her body.  

Her hand instinctively moved to her abdomen. “My baby…” she murmured, panic lacing her voice.  

“Relax, Luna Selena,” a familiar voice said softly. 

Dr. Shanice appeared beside her, her expression calm but tinged with concern. “You’re okay, and so is your baby.”  

Selena exhaled a shaky breath, her heart pounding. “What happened? How did I get here?”

"You fainted," Shanice explained, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "Caspian brought you here. He found you just in time." 

Caspian was Shanice mate and the Beta of Snow Mountain Pack. He was also best friend to Alpha Nelson.

The mention of Caspian was enough to cause Selena's chest to tighten. 

She remembered what happened right before she blacked out, the nausea, the cold indifference in Nelson's eyes, and the smug look on Sarah's face. 

Just the memory itself made her stomach turn.

Shanice leaned forward, her hand gently squeezing Selena's. "I've been monitoring you since you came in. You and the baby are both stable, but you need to rest. Your body is under so much stress." 

Tears welled over in Selena's eyes as the weight of all she had endured finally came crashing down. 

"Shanice," she whispered, breaking. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

Shanice's face softened. "You don't have to go through this alone, Luna Selena. I'm here for you." 

Selena wavered and took another deep breath. "Nelson doesn't love me. He never did. He... he's going to marry Sarah. And he told me to leave the Snow Mountain Pack after I rejected him."

Shanice's eyes widened, and her hold on Selena's hand tightened. 

"That bastard," she said, her voice barely audible. "How could he treat you like this after everything that you've given him?"

She gave a hard, bitter laugh, wiping at her tears. "I don't know, Shanice. I thought... I thought the mate bond would mean something to him. But I was wrong. It meant nothing. And now I have to leave."

Shanice leaned forward, her eyes ablaze. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out together. You and your baby deserve a fresh start, away from that heartless man. I'll help you, Selena, anything you need."

She looked into her friend's face, a grateful sheen in her now tear-brimmed eyes. 

"Thank you, Shanice," she said in a low voice. "And please... don't mention a thing to Nelson about the baby. He is not worth knowing about it." 

Shanice nodded without hesitation. "I promise, girl. It stays between us."

The moment was interrupted by the sound of heels clicking against the hospital floor. 

Both women turned to see Sarah striding into the room, her smirk sharp as a blade.  

"Well, well," Sarah drawled, crossing her arms. "Look who's still clinging to life. I have to admit, Selena, you're more stubborn than I gave you credit for."

Selena sat up straight in the bed, her jaw tightening. "What do you want, Sarah?" 

Vanessa's smirk grew. "Just wanted to see for myself how the mighty Luna has fallen. Or should I say, ex-Luna? After all, you're no longer part of this pack. Or this family." 

Shanice jumped up from her feet, eyes fumed with rage. "That's enough, Sarah. You have no right to be here."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow about as unimpressed as one could be. "Oh, please, I have every right. Nelson is my mate now, and soon I will be the Luna of this Pack, with his child inside me, leading this pack. So mind the way you address me, bitch!"

Selena's heart clenched, but she refused to let Sarah see her pain. "You can have him," she said evenly, trying to keep the turmoil inside her from spilling into her voice. "I want nothing to do with Nelson or this pack anymore."

The earlier smirk on Sarah's lips flickered into annoyance. "Is that so? Well, don't for a second think that leaving will make you free, Selena. You'd always be that woman who wasn't good enough for him."

Shanice moved a step closer to her, fisting her hands. "Get out," she yelled. "Now! Before I make you regret having come here."

Sarah scoffed but took a step back. "Fine. Enjoy your little pity party while it lasts." 

She turned on her heel and strutted out, her heels loudly clicking against the floor. 

Shanice let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "That woman… she's shameless." 

Selena managed a small smile. "Thank you, Shanice. For standing up for me."

"Always," Shanice concluded. "Now, let's get you out of here." 

Later that day, Selena returned to the pack house, a heavy feeling in her heart from knowing this would be the last time she called it home. 

Her maid stood beside her, her face nervous, red-eyed from having cried all the time. "Luna—"

"Selena, or Ms. Hayden," Selena softly corrected. "I'm not your Luna anymore."

Tears welled over, spilling onto her cheeks. "I want to go with you. Still, to do so would brand me a traitor."

Selena extended a hand to draw Emilia into an embrace. "You have been more than a maid, Emilia. You have been a friend, and for that, I will never forget you."

As Emilia packed the last of her belongings, Shawn, Selena's driver, came in. He wore a grim face as he began to load Selena's bags in the car. 

"I wish things were different," Shawn said in a very low tone. "But I will do my best to help you, my Luna."

“Thank you, Shawn,” Selena said, her voice thick with emotion.  

Emilia stood beside Shanice as they watched Shawn drive away with Selena. 

Tears streamed down Emilia’s face, but she didn’t move. 

Shanice placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, her gaze following the car until it disappeared over the horizon.  

As they crossed the border, Selena felt a strange sensation wash over her.

The pack bond, the invisible thread that had tied her to the Snow Mountain Pack, dissolved into nothing. 

She closed her eyes, the finality of it hitting her like a blow.  

Opening her eyes, she looked up at the sky, her voice barely above a whisper. “Now it’s over between us, Nelson.”