Nathan gazed at the slumbering form of Ethlyn, reminiscing about her betrayal. Initially, he had been furious at her for what she had done to him, but over the years, he had come to realize that Ethlyn had lost much more than anyone could comprehend. She had lost her Luna position, her pack, her respect, her twin's pups, and eventually, even her wolf. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for her.

Sitting down beside her, he gently called out, "Wake up, Ethlyn."

"What are you doing here?" He heard Reva's angry voice.

"I found out from your father that she's out of her coma. So, I thought I'd come and check on her," Nathan responded, as Reva continued to glare at him. "Stop giving me that look, Reva. It's not as though your sister is in this state because of me."

"If only you hadn't kicked her out of the pack," Reva retorted.

“I had sent the search team for her when I realized that I shouldn’t have done that to her; I mean, at least not in her pregnancy state when she couldn’t shift and could easily become anyone’s victim.”

Reva wanted to argue and accuse him of sending the search team too late, but she held her tongue. She knew that blaming was easy, whereas understanding the complexities of the situation wasn't. That's why even her parents weren't angry with Nathan.

Their families had been close, which led her parents to treat Nathan as their own son. Reva had considered Nathan an older brother until he imprisoned her father and banished her sister. He had tried to rectify his actions once he cooled down, but the damage was done.

Nathan recalled the intensity of his anger that had driven him to run through the forest in his wolf form, the rain soaking him completely.

He ran for an unknown distance in the rain, his wolf's howls echoing his turmoil. Exhausted from running, he stopped, his thick fur protecting him from the cold. It was then that realization struck him – what if she hadn't reached her lover's place?

What if she was still out there in the rain?

In that moment, he mind-linked his Beta, instructing them to search for Ethlyn within a radius of fifteen to twenty kilometers.

The heavy rain had made tracking Ethlyn's scent and footprints a daunting task, but eventually, they sensed that she had fallen from the mountain. It took several days to locate her body, severely injured and barely clinging to life.

*

FLASHBACK

*

"Doctor, how's Ethlyn?" Christian, who had been released from the cell on the same night, inquired anxiously.

"One of the pups is lost. Everyone assumed she was carrying only one, but there was another hidden behind it – a boy who couldn't survive," the pack doctor informed, leaving Christian stunned. Abigail, Ethlyn's mother, brushed aside the news of the pup's death; her primary concern was her daughter's well-being.

"The other pup, a girl, is in critical condition due to premature birth. She can't breathe on her own," the doctor revealed.

"I'm here to know about my daughter's condition, not about the pups whose existence is a curse for her," Abigail snapped, her irritation clear. Christian glared at her.

"Alright. Ethlyn's condition is dire. Her head is severely injured, and the worst part is that her wolf can't heal her, nor can we sense her presence," the doctor explained. "Though I'm not certain, it seems her wolf sacrificed itself to save one of her pups."

"No!" Abigail gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. She shook her head, struggling to accept that her daughter's wolf had given up its life to save a pup that hadn't even come into existence. She couldn't fathom looking at that child's face now.

"At this point, can she recover at a normal pace?" Christian asked, his voice laden with concern.

"Frankly, I don't have an answer. She requires treatment from a neurologist, not a general practitioner like us," the doctor replied. "To be candid, her recovery prospects are uncertain, and she needs specialized care."

Christian nodded in understanding, grappling with the realization that his daughter might never leave her bed again, forced to contend with the aftermath of her decisions.

*

A week had passed since that day, and there had been a change in Ethlyn's health, while her daughter had begun displaying positive signs while being observed at the hospital.

"Did you hear that?" Abigail entered the room while Ethlyn was sleeping soundly.

"What is it, Abby?"

"The doctor just informed me that I can take my granddaughter home in a day or two." Abigail's voice carried a tinge of anger. "I'm telling you, Christ, I'm not taking that cursed child home. She ruined my daughter's happiness, and when she wasn't done, she also ruined her brother."

"What kind of language is that, Abby? How is she responsible for all of this?" Christian asked in disbelief. "Just like you're concerned for your pup as a mother, Ethlyn and her wolf made the choice to prioritize their pup before themselves."

"I don't care whether she's to blame or not. I refuse to keep her. She'll only remind me of my daughter's misery. So, I've found a way to get rid of her."

"Get rid of her?" Christian exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, I've figured out with Nathan who's responsible for our daughter's pregnancy."

"What? Who is it?"

"Alpha Calvin Haysbert of the Blood Moon Pack," Abigail spat with fury. "Nathan might have held back from declaring war against him, but it's our daughter's fault for entering his room. We can't take any action, and from the CCTV footage, it's clear that Ethlyn wasn't in her right mind, and that scoundrel took advantage of her vulnerable state."

"Now, he'll face the consequences of his actions."

"???" Christian.