Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Talia POV "Stop! No! What are you doing?!" Two men shoved me into a dark room and tied me up. Suddenly, a blinding spotlight flashed, shining directly on me. It was then I realized I was trapped inside a glass enclosure, spinning like a rotating music box. Seated around me was a group of men. I couldn't tell if they were werewolves or ordinary humans—perhaps both. But regardless of their race, they were all looking at me with lewd, predatory gazes. I stared at them in terror, understanding all too well what was about to happen. Despair spread through my heart. "Pregnant women really do have a unique allure. Look at her chest, it's huge," One of the men said, his voice dripping with vulgarity as he ogled at me, resting his chin on his hand. I glanced down at me. My thin white dress barely covered my voluptuous breasts. I wanted to cover myself, but my bound hands left me defenseless. "Shameless. That belly is huge, and she's still out here selling herself. How desperate must she be?""I can smell her from between her legs already.""Her face is beautiful, but she's just a fragile human. Probably won’t last long being played with." ... I never imagined that, at four months pregnant, I would become an item to be auctioned off. Tears stung my eyes, humiliation and helplessness overwhelming me. But the men continued their vulgar remarks, unaffected by my fear and tears. That woman, Kelly, had assured me this was just a maternity photoshoot. So, how did I end up in this mess? The rotating table under me spun slowly, making me dizzy and my vision blur. But before I could zone out completely, a familiar scent—a mix of musk and smoke—hit my senses. And through the haze, I saw a striking, cold face. "Damon?" I whispered, my voice trembling. I must be dreaming again. There was no way he could be here. As I mocked myself, the table stopped spinning, and Damon’s icy voice cut through the room. "Whose bastard is it?""Damon, is that really you?" I reached for him like a drowning person, grasping for a lifeline, only to be yanked back by the chain around my neck. "I'll ask you one more time. Whose bastard are you carrying?" He roared. "How could you say that? This is your child, Damon!" I cried through my choked neck. "Mine?" Damon's eyes turned red—a sign of an impending werewolf frenzy. He held up a paternity test in front of me. It showed that the baby I was carrying was not his but that of Carson. Carson was my college classmate who had once pursued me. But by then, I was already Damon’s mate. "No, that can’t be true.” I stammered. “This must be a mistake! This is your child! Carson and I are just friends. ,. Before Damon could respond, a man beside him spoke, "Alpha Damon, the auction is about to start. If you have anything to say, you can do so after the auction." Auction? Kelly had clearly told me this was just a photoshoot. "Where’s Kelly? I want to see her. I was tricked!" I struggled desperately, the ropes biting into my wrists until they bled. "Talia, you’re already selling yourself. Why bother pretending?" Damon sneered. "What are you talking about?!" I shouted. "Hmph. You signed the contract yourself. Deny it all you want! But Abby was right. You’re nothing but a lowly gold digger." "I never signed any contract!" I protested loudly. Abby, Damon’s Beta, stood by his side, looking at me with disdain. She was one of the rare female werewolf warriors and his most trusted confidante. "Alpha Damon..." The auctioneer intervened again. Damon nodded and walked to the VIP seat opposite me. "Starting bid: 200,000. Each increase by at least 100,000. Begin." The auctioneer’s announcement ignited the crowd. "200,000..." "300,000..." "1 million..." ... "3 million..." The bid climbed quickly, each increasing number cutting deeper into my soul. As the auctioneer called out, "3 million once, 3 million twice...a bald man with a round belly and greasy face raised his hand. "5 million..." Nausea surged in me, and I dry-heaved. The room fell silent, but just then, Damon’s voice suddenly echoed. I looked at him with a glimmer of hope. We had once been mates. Surely, he couldn’t bear to hurt me. But his next words plunged me back into despair. "6 million. I’ll buy her... and let everyone here have their turn."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Talia POV "Damon...What the hell is wrong with you?!" I shouted at him, fury surging through me. He had always been cold, but I never imagined he could be this cruel. The auctioneer hit the gavel with finality and declared me as sold. The glass enclosure opened, and Damon’s Beta, Abby, approached me. She wore her signature high ponytail. Her sharp cheekbones and icy blue eyes gave her a fierce appearance. When Damon and I were together, she wasn't exactly kind to me, but she wasn’t outright cruel either. She leaned closer, whispering in a mocking tone. "Talia, Damon asked me to give you a special gift." Before I could react, she swiftly forced a bitter pill into my mouth. I tried to spit it, but she clamped her hand over my mouth. I had no option but to swallow, and a wave of heat surged through my body. "What... what was that pill for?” I stammered. "Just helping you enjoy the party!" she sneered and winked at me. My jaws clenched, bitterness filling my chest. Damon ordered to drug me. The man who once held me close can hate me and stoop to this level. Just four months ago, he told me I was the most precious thing in his world, and today, he handed me to other men. How could he? Soon, the men in the audience began approaching me, and Damon, standing in the distance, watched the scene unfolding. At that moment, whatever love I had for him dissolved into utter hatred. Suddenly, an unbearable pain rippled through my abdomen, and my consciousness began to fade. Strangely, I felt a sliver of relief. Perhaps dying would be a better option at this moment. I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. I blinked to find myself in the hospital, and my hands instinctively moved to my stomach. Oh, thank god, my baby is safe. I breathed a sigh of relief. Muffled voices reached me through the blue curtain surrounding my bed. "Stay here and watch her. When she wakes up, bring her over." "Yes, Alpha Damon." I froze. Damon and Abby are here. They have no plan to spare me. Moments later, I heard Damon’s footsteps fading, and Abby slid the curtain aside. I quickly shut my eyes, feigning sleep. "When you wake up, I’ll send you back to that place. You think playing dead will help you escape?" Abby leaned down and patted my face mockingly. That place? My heart sank. Damon wanted to send me back to the auction. So he still wanted to punish me. He didn’t save me out of love or pity. Damon, how can you be this heartless? I forced back my tears, determined not to let Abby notice anything. "Nurse, didn’t you say she’d wake up soon? It’s been over an hour, and she’s still unconscious. What’s going on?" Abby demanded. "Her vitals are normal. We already checked, but it’s probably because of her pregnancy. Don’t worry, she’ll wake up soon. " Abby sighed in frustration as the nurse adjusted my IV and left. "Humans are so fragile," Abby muttered before her phone chimed. She answered it and walked out of the room. The second she left, I ripped the needle out of my palm and slipped out of the bed barefoot. Peeking out, I saw Abby still engaged in a call, her back facing me. This is my only chance. I couldn’t let them send me back! I have to save myself and my child. I gathered my courage and bolted for the elevator. Each step felt like walking on blades and my heartbeats thudding in my chest, but I succeeded. I ducked into a narrow alley as soon as I got out of the hospital. Werewolves have a hundred times stronger sense of smell than mine. s I had to get as far as I could before they tracked me down. A taxi approached, and I stumbled into the street, flagging it down. "Take me out of the city!" The driver alternated his eyes between my hospital gown and swollen belly, "Are you okay?" I removed the pink crystal necklace from my neck and handed it to him. "Please, do as I say!” I begged. This necklace was Damon’s birthday gift to me six months ago. I continued to wear it even after I rejected him, but now it meant nothing.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Talia POV "Miss, we’ve now left Turin. Where exactly do you want to go?" The driver asked after driving for more than an hour. "Please help me find a nearby motel," I replied. “Sure.” He replied positively, and a few minutes later, he pulled up to a decent motel. "Here we are.""Could you... lend me $1,000?" I asked the driver hesitantly."This necklace is worth at least $30,000." He looked back at me with furrowed eyes. "We had an agreement, right?!I drive you out of the city, and you give me the necklace. How can you go back on your word? Besides, just because you say it's worth $30,000 doesn’t mean it really is. Now, get out!" His words hurt me, but I had no choice. I got out and stood in front of the motel, having no clue what to do without money. Just then, a group of men on motorcycles pulled up at the motel entrance. "Well, well, look what a pretty little thing we have here,” A red-bearded man said with a smirk. “ Did some guy knock you up and dump you?” Seeing the danger, I walked away, to which he got off the bike and followed me. Oh god, princess, look at your swollen feet. Why don’t you be my woman? I’ll take good care of you." He let out a sharp whistle, prompting laughter from his companions. I quickly turned and tried to run into the motel, but they blocked my way. Before I could scream for help, a strong voice echoed. "Let go of her!" I turned toward the voice and froze. Carson! He stepped between me and a bearded man, his posture confident. "I’ll give you $10,000 if you let her go. Otherwise, I’m calling the police," Carson said, his voice firm. The red-bearded man gave Carson a once-over. "You her husband?" Carson didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out his wallet and handed over all the cash he had. "She’s just a pregnant woman. Let her go," Carson said politely, and the man ordered his group to leave. Once freed, Carson turned to me. “Are you okay? “Mmm…But how did you find me?” I asked curiously. "There’s no time to explain. Get in the car. Damon’s on his way," he said, ushering me into the car. Before I could even buckle my seatbelt, I caught sight of a black Lamborghini in the rearview mirror. “Damon is alreay here, Carson!” Fear gripped my heart. Carson sped off. but Damon’s car closed in even faster, and with a loud crash, his car rammed into ours. I clung tightly to the door handle, my body drenched in cold sweat by the time Carson’s car came to a stop. Before I could balance myself, Damon opened the door and yanked me out. "Damon, how can you be such a bastard?! Talia is carrying your child!" Carson shouted, jumping out of the car and grabbing Damon by the collar. But his strength couldn’t match Damon. He was just a human like me. Damon sneered and pushed Carson to the ground with a single punch. "My child? This is probably just your excuse to protect your own.""Alpha Damon," Abby cut in, approaching Damon with a small bag of white powder. "This was found in their car. It’s the same wolfbane that’s been used against our pack’s werewolves." Damon sniffed the powder, his expression instantly darkening. "I loved you so much, and yet you keep betraying me! You even conspired with your lover to harm my pack! Maybe I should’ve never trusted you malicious humans in the first place!" Damon shouted, his hand closing around my neck. I wanted to defend myself, but I could barely breathe. "Damon, have you lost your mind? We didn’t do anything!" Carson said, struggling to his feet and prying Damon’s hand away from my throat. "The evidence was found in your car, and you still dare to deny it?" Damon snapped. "Abby, take them both to jail. I don’t want to see them again." Abby nodded. "Damon! I didn’t do anything! You have to believe me—I was framed!" I coughed and called after him as he walked away. "Damon!" He didn’t look back. "This is your doing, isn’t it?!” Carson turned to Abby, his face reddened with rage. “You’re the one who framed us! You planted that wolfbane in my car.” Abby instantly shifted into her wolf form and slashed Carson’s chest with her claws. And before we could do anything, a police car pulled up and stopped right in front of us.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Talia POV "Talia, you are accused of poisoning the Nightstar Pack, violating the Inter-Species Peace Act. According to criminal law, you are sentenced to three years of imprisonment. If you are dissatisfied with this ruling, you have the right to appeal..." As I listened to the judge read my verdict, my mind went blank. I turned my gaze to the plaintiff's seat, where Damon sat. His eyes were as cold as ice. A bitter smile crept onto my face. "Damon, if I told you I truly did nothing, would you believe me?""No." He answered without a moment of hesitation. I looked at Abby, sitting next to him, and my mind cast back to Carson’s words– Talia!! Abby set us up. She was the one who told me to come save you, but Damon showed up right after. I took a deep breath and faced Damon again. "Damon, it’s Abby! She is the one framing Carson and me!""Motive?" Damon sneered coldly, his eyes full of mockery. "Abby has countless scars on her body from protecting me and the Nightstar Pack. She would never do anything to betray the pack. But you? Your parents were killed by werewolves. I saved you out of kindness, but it turns out you got close to me just to seek revenge on werewolves!""No, that’s not true. I truly loved you! I can never dream of hurting you.” "Love?! You rejected me—is that love? You slept with another man and even got pregnant—is that love? You poisoned my pack—does that count as love, too?" Damon’s expression grew grimmer, and his voice sharpened. "You’re not worthy of love, and you don’t deserve mine!" Each accusation struck me like a dagger, and my knees buckled. I realized that anything I said wouldn’t matter. "Your Honor, I’m pregnant. I request a suspension of my sentence," I said, placing my hand on my abdomen. "You can give birth in prison.” Damon interrupted before the judge could respond. “Did you think being pregnant would shield you from the consequences of poisoning my pack? No way." "Do you really hate me this much, Damon? I asked, tears streaking my face. “Do you want me dead this desperately.?" Memories of our tender moments flooded my mind—his kisses, his caresses, his sweet words—all of it now felt like a cruel joke. At that moment, I almost wished the child in my womb wasn’t his. "I’m not as cruel as you! I only want you to face the punishment you deserve." Damon’s voice broke my reverie. "Damon, I didn’t do it, believe me!” I screamed at Damon with all my might as two police officers escorted me away. “I didn’t do anything! One day, you’ll regret this—I hate you!" He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even once look back. *** Perhaps because I was pregnant, I was assigned a solitary room. I received some special treatment with my meals. Even the doctor visited regularly for checkups. However, the room was damp and cold, without windows or sunlight. I could feel the weight of the environment affecting not just me, but also the little ones in my belly. “I’m sorry. It’s Mommy who’s making you all suffer,” I whispered to my unborn children as I gently caressed my stomach while curled up on the small bed. “Talia, someone’s here to see you,” a prison guard announced, knocking on my door. I froze for a moment. Could it be Damon? I hurried to the visitation room only to find Carson, not Damon. “Carson?! You here? How did you manage to come here?” I asked, surprised. “Weren’t you imprisoned like me?”“No, my father paid for my bail,” he explained. I should have guessed. Carson came from a wealthy family. They owned a vast medical conglomerate. “Carson, you and me both know nothing has ever happened between us, then why did the paternity test claim you as the father of my children? Did you do it on purpose?” Carson gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “Talia, I admit I’ve been selfish and arrogant before, and I might have caused you trouble. But I can’t do something this despicable, especially to you. I’m damn sure, Abby is behind all this. What I don’t understand is why she’s targetting us? ”“I’m sorry, Carson.” I reached out and held his hand. “I didn’t mean to doubt you.”“Yeah, that’s fine.” He gave an assuring smile. “Can I ask you for a favor? Can you deliver the real paternity test for my baby—and yours—to Damon? Even though I no longer held any affection for Damon, I had to think about the three babies growing inside me. I didn’t want them to come into the world as orphans.” Carson shook his head, regret etched on his face. “Coming here was already done behind my parents’ backs. My father won’t even let me leave the house anymore. Besides, Damon already sees me as a criminal. There’s no way I can get close to him.” I sighed in disappointment. “No, problem.” I smiled at him.“Thank you for everything you did for me. I know it was you who made sure I was treated here gently.”“What do you mean, me?” Carson looked puzzled. “I mean the guards. They’ve treated me kindly—Giving me good food, no hard labor. Of course, it must be you.”“No, It wasn’t me.” Carson confessed. “Oh…if it is not you, who can be? Carson, I’m so worried. I just want my babies to be safe. They are my only family now.”“ I promise I will do everything to ensure your children are born safely,” Carson said in an assuring tone. “It’s my fault you were falsely accused by Damon. If I hadn’t pursued you, maybe Damon wouldn’t have rejected his own children. I owe you that much.” After Carson left, an uneasy feeling crept into my heart. I couldn’t stop thinking about the doctor’s warning during my last prenatal checkup. I feared something might go wrong during childbirth. The doctor had told me I was carrying triplets, and my uterine wall was stretched dangerously thin. The risk of severe bleeding during labor was high. If something were to happen to me, who would take care of my children? With this thought, I picked up the pen and wrote a letter to Damon. “Damon, I want to see you—just one last time.”

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Talia POV One day passed, then two days, then three days, and by the fourth day, Damon finally arrived. I should hate him- hate him so much that his thought itself made my teeth gnash. But for the sake of the child, I still invited him over. "Speak. Why did you want to see me?" He stood strong and powerful in front of me as his cold eyes bore down on me. "Damon, I know no matter how much I explain, you won’t believe me. But I’ve something to ask from you.” I started, my voice shaky. Damon, I was your mate, and you have loved me once, right? So, If I die, can you please set up a trust fund for my child? Just give them enough to survive and get an education. That is all I want now., please.” I begged, sincere and humble. Damon’s lips curled up. "Talia, it seems I have spoiled you so much in the past. You actually want me to take care of your and another man's bastard child! Why don’t you ask Carson?" "The child isn’t Carson’s!" "Are you still trying to say that the child is mine?" Damon sneered coldly. I helplessly shook my head, my heart bleeding. "I don’t want to prove anything, Damon! All I want is to secure my child’s future and for that I can do anything you ask for.” "Oh is it?! Then please me," Damon said, grabbing my neck and leaning in close to whisper in my ear. Then, he grabbed my hand and placed it over him. Through a layer of fabric, I could clearly feel his arousal. Even though there was nothing left between us but hatred, my cheeks too flushed. Also, the scent and warmth from his body seemed to soothe the long-standing emptiness and loneliness inside me. "If I please you, will you agree to take care of my child?" I asked, meeting his eyes. "Yes," Damon whispered, biting my neck at the same spot where he had once marked me. Old memories flooded my mind. He had once carried me up a cliff. In that secluded, far-away place, I had given myself completely to him. He marked me, and the sharp pain, along with strange warmth, had rippled through me. I couldn’t see the bond, but I knew that from that moment on, our fates were intertwined. But why? Why did we end up like this? I slowly unbuttoned his shirt and gently caressed his chiseled muscles. And as I was about to kiss his lips, he pulled away. I snapped myself out of the old memories. No, Talia, this is just a transaction. We are no longer the same as before. I, at once, got down on my knees and unbuckled his belt, taking his hard out. "Damon, you can't back out," I said, looking up at him. "Say it, you're mine," Damon suddenly yanked my hair harshly and pulled me to his manhood. "Damon, I’m yours.""Say you're a slut.""I... I am a slut." Tears slid down my cheeks. "Talia, you used to pretend so well! Only now can I see clearly, you're nothing but a bitch." I didn’t reply and put my mouth on the job. As he released, Damon left without a word. I had never seen this side of Damon before; it was more beastly than a wild animal. In the past, because I was an ordinary human, Damon used to be very gentle and caring with me. Every time we made love, he would gently ask me, "Does this hurt? Is it comfortable?" But today, he treated me as nothing more than an outlet for his release. The only thing I liked about him was he didn’t harm my children. And I also believe that he will keep his promise. After all, during the year we were together, he never broke his word not just to me, but to everyone in his pack as well. The days after I met Damon, things changed in prison, too. The food got better and better. The guards even brought me some baby care books. I curiously read it and followed the methods and exercises mentioned in it. Time flew by quickly, and before I realized it, five months had passed. The movements of the babies grew stronger. My belly had gotten so big that I could hardly lie down to sleep anymore. I was carrying triplets, so from the start, my belly was much larger than that of a normal pregnant woman. The gynecologists in the prison also increased in number. I didn’t know if that was too arranged by Damon. I haven’t heard from him since that day.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Talia POV One afternoon, I was reading a parenting book when a sharp pain suddenly spread throughout my body. I gasped for air, tightly gripping the thin fabric of my jumpsuit. This wasn’t the usual discomfort — I instinctively knew. It was time. "Guard!" I shouted. The metal door opened, and a guard rushed in, clumsily fumbling with the intercom. "We need medical assistance — now!" Another guard brought over a wheelchair, and they helped me sit in it. My body was squirming every few seconds with stronger and more frequent contractions. I was quickly rushed to the hospital, where the doctor did various checks and decided to perform a C-section. It was the best option to deliver a triplet that too of a half werewolf. Sweat covered my face, and I felt like I was going to die. I never imagined childbirth could be so painful. I was wheeled into the operating room and lay on the delivery table. "Doctor, you must save my child." I said, extremely worried. "Don’t worry. Your condition is stable now. You and the baby will be fine.""My condition is stable?" I paused in confusion. Why is this doctor saying something different from the one who had examined me earlier? Which one is right? "Yes, it’s stable. You can relax." The doctor assured me. I let out a long sigh of relief when an anesthesiologist entered the room. I looked up to find none but Abby. "Abby, what are you doing here? Did Damon send you? Does he know the child I’m carrying is his?" Abby smirked. "You’re still delusional? How amusing! You sold yourself at an auction. Do you really think Damon will acknowledge your child?" Her cruel words made my heart sink. I thought the guards were treating me with special care, possibly because Damon was helping arrange things. But now, I wasn’t so sure. A more terrifying thought suddenly crossed my mind: "Was he just waiting for this moment, letting me believe I could have the child, and only when I’m about to give birth, he can kill me and my babies?” I clutched my belly, enduring the pain. "Just give birth to your child,” Abby said, giving me a smug smile. ," She then turned to the doctor. "Start the procedure, local anesthesia." "Local anesthesia? Why local anesthesia? Isn’t a C-section done with general anesthesia?" I asked. Before anyone could respond, Abby’s phone ring diverted the topic. "Alpha Damon." She respectfully answered the call with a smile, her voice honeyed. I had to admit, her smile was beautiful. Afraid I might overhear them, she turned and walked out of the operating room. Not long after, Abby returned to the operating table. The anesthesiologist had already administered the anesthesia. Since it was local anesthesia, my brain was still awake. I glanced over Abby’s shoulder. Damon’s wasn’t there. I knew he didn’t care about my life, yet for some reason, I felt a sense of loss. From the moment my children were born, they would never see their father. A sharp pain struck my chest, and I felt the babies inside me thrashing violently. Abby ignored me and turned to the lead surgeon instead. "Don’t worry about the depth of the incision, cut open immediately, and get the babies out within ten minutes." She said, her voice firm and clear. "Understood." The doctor obliged. I felt the scalpel scratching really down. My face went pale, and my heart sank. "What… what are you planning to do with me? " Local anesthesia, direct incision, and extracting the babies within ten minutes — Abby wanted me to die. And what she said the next panicked me completely. "Damon wants the babies, and he wants the healthiest ones. As for you, you don’t need to leave this operating table." She said sternly, and I tried to squirm, trying to stop them, but my numbed body didn’t support my will. Why? Why Damon wants the babies? Why does he still want them if he doesn’t acknowledge them as his children? Is it because of the promise he made to me? My head was ringing. I wanted to say something, but the words didn’t roll out. I could only sense my babies being taken out one by one and then something rapidly leaving my body. "Not good, not good! The patient is hemorrhaging!" The doctor cried in panic. The lead surgeon had cut a major blood vessel.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Damon POV My first meeting with Talia wasn’t pleasant. Two years ago, during a trip, I sensed the presence of my mate. What disturbed me was the strong scent of blood in the air. When I followed the scent and found my mate, I saw several rogues tearing Talia’s clothes as she struggled to save herself. I defeated one of the rogues and killed another. I stood there, breathing heavily, blood dripping onto the ground. When I turned around, I saw Talia curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, hugging her knees. Her face smeared with tears. She was my mate, but I was surprised to find she was just an ordinary human. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.” I said, trying to approach her, my tone soft. But she shook her head violently, her eyes filled with despair and anger. She raised her head, sobbing, and shouted, "You monsters! Get away!" My legs froze as if nailed to the ground. I looked down at my bloodstained hands and realized that the fear in her eyes wasn’t just for the rogues but for me as well. Then I noticed two bloody bodies lying nearby —one male and one female–It was her parents. I could smell their scent; they were already dead. "I'm sorry..." I mumbled though I wasn’t sure if these words would bring her any comfort. The days after that became an unhealable rift between us. I took her back to the Nightstar pack, cared for her as best as I could, and tried to woo her. Initially, I thought she had accepted me because her smiles and touches seemed so genuine. But a year passed, and she still rejected me. I can’t forget that day. She was standing under the moonlight, her voice was cold and resolute. "Every time I see you, I think of that night’s bloodshed." My heart shattered into a million pieces and my blood froze. I didn’t hate her for rejecting me. I would have let her go if she had fallen in love with someone else. I could even forgive the child she carried. When I saw her picture in the world’s most luxurious underground auction house, I personally took her to the hospital. But when Abby told me that she had discovered Talia had conspired with Carson to poison the Nightstar pack, I couldn’t take it more. At that moment, I made up my mind. I would show no mercy to Talia anymore. Whatever punishment she faced, she deserved it. Werewolves killed her parents, but that was no reason for her to take revenge on all werewolves indiscriminately. What hurt more was that maybe her past kindness and love toward me had all been fake. I was just a pawn in her revenge! But after she wrote me a letter five months ago, I still couldn’t help but visit her in prison. Though she was pregnant and wearing simple clothes, she was as beautiful as I saw her for the first time. I thought she would confess to me, express her longing for me. But there was nothing. She had degraded herself for Carson’s child. She pleased me like a prostitute. I should have felt disgusted, but instead, I longed for her touch, her kiss, everything she did for me. My wolf also felt a long-lost sense of satisfaction. I left the prison with self-loathing. Before leaving, I made a donation to the warden, asking him to take extra care of Talia. I told myself that I no longer loved her. I was just fulfilling my promise. She pleased me with her body, and I promised to ensure she delivered her baby safely. Yes, it was just a transaction! Since that time, when we had guilt-ridden sex in prison, I hadn’t gone to see her again. I buried the wounds in my heart by drowning myself in the work. But today, when I received a call from the warden, I couldn’t sit still. For werewolves, childbirth is simple. Our wounds heal quickly. But I’ve heard that many human women die from complications during labor. "Alpha Damon, are you thinking about Talia?" Abby poured me a cup of coffee and gently massaged my shoulders. "If you’re worried about her, I can go check on her.""I don’t care about that bitch. I just promised her I would make sure she gives birth safely.""I understand. I’ll make sure she gives birth to the child. Don’t worry!" I nodded at Abby, and she left immediately. She was one of the few female werewolf warriors, more reliable and capable than many men. After Abby arrived at the hospital, I called her to inquire about Talia’s condition. She told me Talia was healthy and would be fine. The child would born soon. My worried heart finally settled. I sat at my desk, starting my work for the day. As the end of the workday approached, I hesitated about whether I should visit Talia and her child. But just as I was driving home, my wolf reminded me. "Talia was once our mate. You should visit her. The child is innocent!" I agreed to it and turned around, driving directly to the secluded hospital.