Chapter 4: The Choice He Made

After leaving the hospital, Elena walked slowly through the snow, back to the pack house.

As she reached the entrance, she saw Atlas standing there, waiting.

His brow was knitted into a tight frown. “Where did you go? Are you actually hurt?”

He was still angry, but her face was ashen, and the jasmine scent that always clung to her had grown faint with pain.

Elena’s voice was flat. “You knocked me down with your own hands. Don’t you remember?”

Only then did Atlas seem to recall the scene in the corridor.

“I’m sorry. I was just so anxious. Are you hurt?”

Elena ignored his question. “How is Mara’s son?”

“He’s fine, thank God. If the examination had been any later, there might have been permanent damage.”

Atlas took a deep breath, lowering his voice.

“Don’t be so impulsive again. He’s just a baby. How could you bring yourself to hurt him?”

Elena looked at the man before her and felt as if she were seeing a stranger.

“In your mind, am I really someone who would deliberately harm a child?”

She paused.

“If I told you that Mara held the baby up in front of me and then let go on purpose, would you believe me?”

“Elena.” Atlas’s expression turned to ice. “Stop slandering Mara. It’s been three years. Why are you still like this?”

Just as she’d expected. He didn’t believe her.

Elena remembered the first time Mara had moved into the pack house three years ago. Mara had deliberately poured scalding coffee on her own arm and blamed Elena.

Later, outside the pack store, she’d fallen down a flight of stairs and said Elena had pushed her.

Another time, she’d scratched herself with her own claws and claimed Elena was trying to kill her.

After every single accusation, Atlas had sided with Mara.

Elena had thought their reunion would change everything. The truth was, she had only repeated the same mistake.

She was so tired.

“You said you’d agree to dissolve our bond. Does that offer still stand?”

At her words, Atlas’s tone softened instantly.

“You’re eight months pregnant. Why are you talking about leaving? I was angry. The Registry won’t get my consent, and I have no intention of removing your status as Luna.”

“What about Mara’s son? Aren’t you afraid he’ll never have a legal place in the inheritance records?”

Atlas froze.

“I just don’t want to lose you. You’re the only one I love. ”

“For Mara, I only feel a sense of duty. Rowan was my Beta. He entrusted her to me before he died. ”

“She keeps saying her inner wolf has been out of control since he passed. ”

“If I don’t stay with her, she’ll force a shift and die from the transformation.”

Elena laughed softly. “So you had to sleep with her? Get her pregnant? Atlas, does your so-called responsibility have no boundaries?”

Of course she knew about Mara’s claim.

It was the exact reason they had separated the first time, three years ago.

After Rowan died in battle, Atlas brought Mara into the pack house and let her stay in the guest room next to their suite on the top floor.

Mara wouldn’t allow Atlas and Elena any physical contact.

No holding hands. No hugs. No kisses. He couldn’t even return to their bedroom at night.

Whenever Atlas refused to stay with her, Mara would hurt herself with her claws or threaten to force a shift, letting the violent rearrangement of her bones tear her weakened body apart.

Eventually, Atlas grew closer and closer to her, often staying in her room all night.

Elena would get angry. She would demand that he stop. But he always said the same thing: “Rowan died for me and for this pack. ”

“Mara was the person he wanted to protect most. I can’t let her die. You’re the Luna. Can’t you understand?”

She had endured it, until the day she walked in on them having sex in the bed she shared with Atlas.

That was the day she formally applied to the Registry to dissolve their mate bond.

And now, three years later, he was using the very same excuse to justify his betrayal.

“The pup is born. I won’t touch Mara again,” Atlas said.

“If you don’t want to see him, I can have him registered under the Quinn family name and keep him out of the Vale line of succession...”

Before he could finish, a sob cut through the air.

“Is that true? You don’t want me or our son anymore?”

Mara stood nearby, wearing only a thin coat. Her face was fragile, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“I understand. I’ll take the baby and leave Blackwood territory. I’ll never show my face here again.”

She turned and ran into the snow.

Atlas frowned and immediately started after her.

Elena grabbed his arm. It was a final, desperate plea.

“Atlas, don’t go.”

He hesitated for a single, shattering instant, then pulled his hand free.

“I’m sorry. I can’t let anything happen to her.”

He chased after her.

Elena stared at her empty palm. The wolf inside her, the one that always stirred when he was near, finally fell silent.

Fine, Atlas. If you can’t bear to let her go, then go protect her.

She would just take her own child and leave.