Chapter 6: Too Late to Believe

"Harper is dead."

Morwen's trembling voice echoed through the phone.

Silence followed.

Then Ryker laughed coldly.

"Tell her to stop pretending."

"She's done this before whenever she wanted attention."

"I don't have time for childish games."

Morwen stared at my lifeless body in disbelief.

"I'm serious, Alpha. Her wolf spirit has completely disappeared. There's no heartbeat."

Before she could finish, the call disconnected.

She tried calling again.

This time my mother answered.

"Mrs. Blackwood, your daughter really has—"

"Enough!" my mother interrupted impatiently.

"Harper has always exaggerated everything. Stop helping her create drama."

"Just finish the ritual."

The line went dead again.

Morwen stood frozen for several seconds before slowly lowering the phone.

"What kind of family ignores news like this?" she muttered.

Having no one willing to claim my body, she covered me with a worn gray cloth and locked the cellar.

Days passed.

My soul remained trapped beside my body.

I watched helplessly as time slowly claimed what little remained of me.

Meanwhile, Blackmoon Pack was celebrating.

Believing the ritual had succeeded, my parents organized a grand feast for Ivy.

"Soon our precious daughter will have the strongest wolf in the north," my father proudly announced.

Pack members raised their glasses in celebration.

Ryker stood beside Ivy all evening.

Although he smiled, something about him felt... different.

Without realizing it, he repeatedly touched the place over his heart.

The broken mate bond left an ache he couldn't explain.

"Are you alright?" Ivy asked sweetly.

Ryker forced a smile.

"Just tired."

That night he returned to the Alpha Manor.

For the first time in years, Harper's room remained completely dark.

He frowned.

"She's still angry," he murmured.

He reached for his phone and dialed my number.

The call failed immediately.

Blocked.

He sighed before typing a message anyway.

"Stop being stubborn. Come home after the ritual ends."

"I already told you I'd make everything up to you."

The message was never delivered.

Hours later, Ryker dreamed of me.

In the dream, I stood beneath the full moon wearing the white dress from our bonding ceremony.

I smiled peacefully before turning away.

No matter how loudly he called my name...

I never looked back.

Ryker jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

An unfamiliar panic settled deep inside his chest.

For the first time since we became mates...

He feared he might actually lose me forever.