Chapter 17 The crystal slipped from Adrian's hand, landing on the divan. He stared at the wall, his mind racing. Selene had been there at that feast? To think that Selene had heard everything he said that day made Adrian's mind spin. He reached for the mead bottle to soothe the pain in his heart, yet Selene's crying image flashed before his eyes. Panicking, he quickly grabbed his crystal and reached for Selene through the link. It was eerily quiet when Selene answered. "Adrian... please listen." Selene paused. "What do you want, Adrian?" "I just got a call from the steward of Star Lodges. How did you manage to buy that for my name-day when I never even gave you a penny? And... I had everything then, why did you buy it for me?" Upon mentioning the topic, it sent a pang through Adrian's chest like his heart was on fire. "Didn't you say three years ago on our mating day that the lodge by Star Manors was your dream?" "Selene, baby," Adrian's voice cracked. "That was years ago and you still remembered that?" "Why did you think I used to work day and night like a slave and still follow your orders to eat just a single meal every day? I used to be blind in your love, Adrian... I wanted you to have everything, fulfill all your desires... everything you said was imprinted on my mind. I cannot believe how foolish I was." "No!" "I'm sorry for everything. I was a fool! I will get on my knees to beg for forgiveness, Selene, I will do whatever you say and live the rest of my life loving you... I will spend the rest of my life begging for your love please!" "Does a monster like you even know what love is?" Selene let out a bitter laugh; her tone filled with mockery. "You made your choices, Adrian. Now learn to live with them." "Selene baby, we used to be so in love, please listen to me for old times' sake," he pleaded. "Your adopted sister, that shameless slut Cassandra, I will send her far away, no I will kill her for you!" Selene's eyes widened when she heard Adrian discard the woman he once claimed to love so easily. "I don't care if you send your mistress away, Adrian, and I will never be involved in your heinous deeds." "Baby, I was drunk on my own ego, my own selfishness, but now that I know the truth of everything I will try to change. I want you back, Selene. I'll do anything to make it right!" "You want me back after everything you've done?" "Yes! Even if... even if we can't have pups," he stammered. "We can raise Cassandra's child together. I'll make it work. I'll... I'll take revenge on your brothers for what they did to you. Anything, Selene. Just give me another chance." Before I left him I was pregnant with bla 9:41 pm P "Cassandra's child?" "You want me to raise your mistress's cub? Are you even listening to yourself, Adrian?" "That child will never know any other mother apart from you." "No!" Selene's heart felt incredulous as she realized that earlier Adrian was not talking about just killing Cassandra in rage; he must have thought thoroughly to first let Cassandra deliver the cub and then kill her so that he could give that child to Selene for raising. Goosebumps rose on Selene's skin as she shuddered. Still on the link, she felt nauseous when the door rune chimed but had no energy to get up. Damien, who had been unable to reach her for the past hour, had rushed back to her place. "Selene, baby just come back, I will not let you be wronged anymore-" "Selene!" the manly voice froze Adrian. Damien took the crystal from Selene when he saw her absolutely pale face. "Who is that bastard beside you, Selene?!" "It's Damien. Stop bothering Selene or I will rip you to shreds, Adrian!" Adrian stared at his crystal, his eyes red with rage. The bottle of mead that sat within his reach crashed against the wall as he severed the link. The shard pulsed later that evening, pulling Adrian from his stupor. The healer called asking him to collect the records for his partner. Adrian approached the city healing hall, preoccupied with the thought of getting the tonics Cassandra needed. "Healer," Adrian greeted. "Lord Blackthorn, please sit." "Lord Adrian, your grandsire must be over the moon to hear the news," Healer Jonathan said with a warm smile as he presented the scroll. Adrian frowned; Healer Jonathan was the family healer and close to his grandsire-under no circumstances would his grandsire have asked him to tend Cassandra. "The last moon-cycle is the most crucial, so please make sure your partner eats nourishing food and takes proper herbs." "Last cycle? What are you even talking about? Cassandra is only three moons pregnant." The healer's expression shifted; his smile faltered. "It seems we have a misunderstanding here. I don't know any Cassandra... I was talking about your mate, Selene. She was severely malnourished last time she came, almost making me think you did not let her eat." Adrian, ridden with guilt, could only listen with a shocked face. "I called you here to give her moon-scry reports because nobody came to pick them up after she was here for the check-up last time." Adrian's face went pale; his voice tinged with panic. "What the hell are you talking about?! Why would Selene need a scry?" Healer Sullivan's brow furrowed; his tone grew almost unkind. "Lord Blackthorn, if this is a joke, you are taking it too far-or is it that you really didn't know?" "Selene came in for her checkup a moon ago. She's carrying twins... your mate is pregnant with Chapter 17 9:41 pm P & your pups, Lord Blackthorn." The words hit Adrian like tons of bricks as he stumbled, losing the feeling in his knees and falling down in the chair behind him. Scrambling like a madman he ripped the sealed envelope before going through the slips. The moon-ink image showed two heart-shadows, making Adrian freeze in shock as he read the date on it-his name-day. The realization sent his mind reeling; the way he had pushed Selene away and her bizarre response clutching her stomach replayed in his head, making a tear trail down his face. "This can't be right," Adrian muttered, his voice barely audible. "It's... on my name-day." "Selene told me that she took some home tests before coming here to get the report. She said it was to surprise you." He was silent, shame suffocating him. "I should never have..." He trailed off, the words catching in his throat. He had lost not only Selene but his two pups, truly and irrevocably. For the first time, he understood the depth of what he had destroyed. His perfect family was burned by his own two hands. "I must bring Selene back... I will bring her back." 9:41 pm PSD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!