Chapter 1

It was the fifth year of my mate bond with Alpha Alexander Hayes.

Our pack was under attack. As an enemy's claws ripped across my abdomen, my mate, Alpha Alexander, was shielding another pregnant wolf.

It was Vivian Wells, his former fated mate, who took Elder Eleanor's money and abandoned him to move abroad.

He didn't know that moments ago, I had lost our child, and that I had already submitted an application to Elder Eleanor to leave this pack forever.

A year later, on the day I finally awakened my ancient bloodline and became Luna Queen Amelia Clarke, Alexander appeared with our rings, begging me to look back at him.

But I would never look back again.

Amelia POV

I was a wolf who couldn't shift.

I was also Alexander Hayes' mate, bound to him in a forced alliance.

I once yearned for us to have a happy life.

But by the fifth year of our marriage, I no longer wished for children with Alexander, letting the nursery remain piled with clutter.

I no longer waited for him for dinner, no longer dragged him to pack gatherings, and even on our anniversary this year, I just left the pack.

When I was attacked and my abdomen was torn open, it wasn't as painful as I'd imagined.

It was only when the healer told me my injuries were too severe and suggested a hysterectomy. A bitter smile crossed my lips.

"Amelia, don't you want to be a mother?"

I looked at the man's reddened eyes, suppressing the turmoil within me. My face remained calm, like a still pond.

Alexander seemed to be fighting some emotion. He turned to the healer and strictly instructed, "I will mobilize all resources. You must save her uterus."

As I was moved into the healer's special treatment room, I vaguely recalled the last time I was here. It was for a miscarriage.

Where was Alexander then?

He was with his former fated mate, Vivian Wells, the wolf Alexander's mother had ordered to leave.

The treatment lasted nearly six hours. When I awoke, I faintly heard the healer's assistants discussing outside the door.

"Alpha Alexander is downstairs with his mate for a prenatal check-up. Even a tiny kick makes him so nervous he almost calls all the healers. That's top-tier devotion!"

These healers, who belonged to the Wolf Council, didn't know us personally.

So they easily identified who Alexander truly cared about.

The door opened, and Alexander walked in, bringing with him a chill.

He had clearly heard the discussion too. He opened his mouth to explain, but subconsciously glanced at me, lying on the bed.

I just stared out the window, pretending I heard nothing.

Alexander frowned, looking somewhat annoyed. He spoke in a cold voice to the healer's assistant, "This is my mate, the Luna of Ironclaw Pack. The one downstairs... is a friend's mate."

As he spoke, he kept observing my reaction.

I simply kept my eyes lowered, my face showing no joy, nor any jealousy.

In the past, I would always argue with him over Vivian, demanding he cut ties with her.

Now, hearing his clarification, I no longer felt like showing happiness.

He reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my ear, but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him.

It was Vivian, her belly noticeably round.

Her breathing was slightly rapid, and her eyes were filled with concern. "Alexander said Amelia was here too. I was worried, so I came to check."

Before I could react, Alexander quickly strode over, scooped Vivian up in his arms, and gently carried her to the sofa.

"You're in your third trimester, don't run around so much."

The worry in his tone twisted like a silver needle, piercing deep into my heart.

Alexander seemed to realize something and turned, attempting to explain, "Amelia, don't misunderstand, Vivian, she..."

But his words were cut off by my forced smile. "Vivian, carrying a child is tough. Michael is busy with work, so as a friend, it's only right for you to be attentive."

Michael, my adoptive brother.

He was also the current Alpha of my birth pack, Frostbane Pack.

We used to be very close, but now I'd called Michael by his name, my tone polite yet distant.

Alexander's eyes darkened.

At noon, Alexander's order from the top-tier hotel across the street was delivered to the room precisely on time.

Vivian also joined us for the meal.

The table was laden with French seafood bisque, pan-seared sea bass, and garlic butter shrimp...

Alexander first put a piece of fish on my plate, then another on Vivian's.

"These are all high in protein, good for your health."

I stared at the fish on my plate, my eyes blank.

I'm severely allergic to seafood. Not just fish, but even touching seafood broth could send me into anaphylactic shock.

Five years of living together, and he had never remembered.

Vivian noticed I hadn't touched my fork, so she stopped eating too, a look of grievance on her face. "I'm here, Amelia must be uncomfortable."

Her perfectly timed retreat made me look like the unreasonable one.

She stood up, preparing to leave, but Alexander grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

He put his arm around Vivian and frowned at me. "Amelia, don't throw a fit."

But the moment he spoke, I had already dipped my spoon into the soup and took a small sip of the deadly liquid.

Alexander smiled, satisfied, and explained softly, "This bisque simmered for over ten hours. This restaurant is very famous."

The next second, Vivian's phone rang.

After a few responses, she stood up and said, "My maternity photos are ready. The photographer asked me to pick them up."

Alexander rose with her, taking her hand. "I'll drive you..."

Halfway through his sentence, he turned to look at me, seemingly uneasy about leaving me alone.

I could already feel my throat tightening, my breathing becoming difficult, my whole body felt like it was roasting over a fire.

I wanted to tell Alexander I was allergic, that I might die.

But as my gaze fell on his hand, tightly clasping Vivian's, I finally shook my head, struggling to force out a few words: "I'm fine."

Alexander moved as if a switch had been flipped, walking swiftly to help Vivian out of the room.

I heard the healer's assistant exclaim, "Patient 26 is showing symptoms of shock! Prepare for emergency resuscitation immediately!"

That was my bed number.

Through the elevator doors, just before they closed, I thought I saw Alexander glance back.

But the last image before my eyes closed was of him wrapping Vivian's hand in his palm, carefully cautioning her, "It's cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill."