Third Person’s POV


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    “This way, the past can just be left in the past,” Cynthia thought, “Bringing it up again would only hurt Gloria.”


    Christine was genuinely reluctant to stay and deal with the mess at Bloodmoon.


    She wanted absolutely no part in the toxic family rtionships or the old grudges.


    However, since Cynthia had asked her and the Bloodmoon Pack trulycked a capable Luna to manage things, staying for a few days was the least she could do as a gesture from Ironw.


    She refused to live there, though, insisting she wouldmute daily between the two packs.


    Her scent belonged to the Ironw territory, and she couldn’t risk leaving it immersed in another pack’s scent for too long, which could cause unnecessary misunderstandings.


    After Cynthia left, Christine stood watch in the delivery room, observing Gloria as she finally slipped into a fitful sleep. Her face was pale, her eyshes damp, and her wolf scent wasing in such faint, shallow waves that it was barely there. Seeing her daughter so fragile finally softened Christine’s resolve.


    “Fine,” she thought. “A few more days won’t hurt.”


    Ulrik was also standing by the bed, his Alpha aura still unchecked. He stared at the exhausted, sleeping Gloria, a dull, aching pity rising in his heart.


    Ultimately, his mother was to me. She had thrown the cup, caused the fall, and killed their cub.


    His pheromones were unstable, filled with guilt and distress. His wolf was whimpering softly.


    But the doctor’s words kept echoing in his mind, like a fine needle pricking his nerves.


    He hesitated for a long time, then finally asked in a low, confessional tone, “Did she and Eugene… ever have a child? Why did she lose that baby?”


    Christine’s eyes hardened, a fleeting sharpness shing in her gaze. She quickly suppressed it. “We will talk about thatter.”


    “Okay.” Ulrik looked again at the sleeping Gloria and nodded. “We shouldn’t let her hear anything that might upset her again.”


    26


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    He knew that for a she–wolf who had just lost a cub and was still reeling from the pain, hearing the word “miscarriage” could tear open the mating bond anew.


    The doctor and midwife needed to stay to monitor Gloria’s recovery, check her uterine contractions, and measure blood loss to prevent secondaryplications.


    Christine, always thorough, called them outside, away from the fragile atmosphere of the room. She personally handed the doctor a prepared brown envelope containing a thick stack of dors.


    She lowered her voice and instructed him, “You can share whatever necessary information, but nothing inappropriate should be leaked. Not a single word about her past miscarriage or the child from her first engagement should be mentioned to anyone.”


    The doctor, who had been surprised by Ulrik’s shocked reaction when he mentioned the “history of miscarriage,” suddenly remembered she was on her second mating.


    Ulrik’s shock clearly indicated he had been unaware.


    <i>The </i>lost child, then, was likely conceived during her first mating and had nothing to do with Bloodmoon.


    He was a professional wolf doctor; even without the money, he wouldn’t gossip or vite patient confidentiality.


    But if he refused the money, Christine would suspect him of having ulterior motives.


    He silently epted the envelope and said, “Thank you.”


    The midwife did the same.


    They both knew better than to talk.


    Ulrik walked out and told Christine, “Please, take care of Gloria here. I need to go see my mother.”


    Christine looked at the churning resentment in Ulrik’s eyes and nodded, her voice icy. “Go. Tell her her grandson is gone.”


    Christine had absolutely no love for the Bloodmoon Pack, especially Rosemary–she was nothing but trouble.


    It wasn’t enough that she was partially responsible for the death of one son’s mate; now she had driven away her grandson, too.


    …


    :.


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    After Ulrik left, Christine called Gloria’s omega outside and asked, “Has Luna Gloria done anything extremetely? Also, did she argue with Tamara right before the suicide?”


    Logically, since Gloria had suffered a near–fatal delivery and lost the child, Christine should be defending her. But given Gloria’s past behavior, she feltpelled to find out the truth first.


    The omega choked up as she answered. “It was Rosemary’s illness. She was running out of the Danzel Supply and demanded Luna Gloria mimic Tamara–go to Digby Medical Center and kneel for the medicine. Luna Gloria got angry and shouted at her. Rosemary cursed her for being undutiful and threw a medicine cup at her. Honestly, since Tamara died, Luna Gloria has been managing all the pack affairs, even while pregnant. She was alreadypletely exhausted.”


    “And… and did she argue with Tamara before the suicide?” The omega stammered, unable to give a clear answer.


    Tamara was dead. Even if Gloria hadn’t openly admitted it, she surely felt guilty. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been working herself sick managing the pack affairs after taking over.


    Sara Lili


    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.