The Betrayed Wolf’s Vow

At last, the people around me noticed. Someone rushed over, panic lacing his voice. “Miss, what happened? Are you okay? I’ll call 911!”

The wail of an ambulance howled in my ears. I lay on the stretcher, pain swallowing me whole, but I clung to the Pack Doctor’s sleeve as if it were the only thing keeping me alive.

“Pack Doctor… please… save my pup,” my voice was a thin, broken whisper, “he’s only three months… please…”

The Pack Doctor patted my trembling hand. “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll do everything I can. I’ll call your mate right now—he’ll be here soon to calm you.”

At the mention of Chisel, a flicker of hope flared in my chest. He was my mate. With his touch, with his presence, the pup would be safe.

The line clicked. I held my breath—

But the voice that answered wasn’t his. It was hers. “What do you want?”

The Pack Doctor hesitated, then hurriedly said, “Who is this? Where is Leah’s mate? Please, hand him the phone. Ms. Leah is bleeding badly, we’re on the way to the hospital—he needs to come now!”

Sylvia gave a small, sharp laugh. “Leah, can’t you grow up? You really found someone to help you fake this, just to drag Chisel back?”

“You think waving your pup like a banner will make him come running? Stop dreaming. He already made you his mate—what more do you want?”

My breath came shallow and weak. For the sake of the pup I forced out the words: “Sylvia… I’m not fighting you… I just beg you… let Chisel come to the hospital… my pup… he’s dying…”

“Do you think I’ll believe that childish act?” Her voice crackled through the speaker, every word cutting like a fang. “If you’re so desperate, then I’ll let you hear it yourself—who he really cares about.”

I heard her call out: “Chisel! It’s Leah. She says you need to come back, that something’s wrong with the pup.”

Then came his voice—the same voice that once swore under the Moon Goddess to protect me—now full of irritation. “Don’t listen to her. She’s probably lying again. Your leg is what matters now, don’t be afraid. The Pack Doctor is coming.”

Heat drained out of my body, my heart sinking with it.

The Pack Doctor tried the number again and again. Only the dead tone of “The number you have dialed is no longer in service” filled the air.

He sighed and gripped my hand tightly. “Ms. Leah, don’t be afraid. We’ll do everything we can!”

But I already knew. It was too late.

Inside me, the small flutter grew weaker… then vanished completely. My pup… was gone.

I don’t know how long I drifted before opening my eyes again. My fingers twitched. My whole body felt weak and hollow. My belly was empty.

The pup was gone.

The sharp scent of disinfectant stabbed my nose, my heightened wolf senses making it worse. The Pack Doctor stood beside my bed, his tone soft, almost pitying. “It’s alright, Ms. You’re still young. There will be other pups.”

Instinctively my hand went to my flat belly.

So many times I’d felt that tiny heartbeat, the shared blood of my lineage flowing in him.

Now it was gone. Nothing but silence.

Tears slid down my face unchecked.

Grief gave way to a cold, creeping terror. The Brady bloodline had never liked me. From the moment I entered their house they had pushed me to bear a Brady heir, warning that without a pup I could not remain Luna of the Vance Pack.