Chapter 3: While I Died, He Took Her to an Amusement Park

Stella POV

The hospital room was finally quiet.

For the first time since the accident, I was alone.

No Kaelen.

No Selene.

No accusations.

No lies.

Only the ticking countdown of my approaching death.

"Fifty-nine hours and thirty-four minutes remaining," the System reported.

I stared at the laptop screen resting on my blanket.

Lines of code scrolled endlessly across the display.

The System was already infiltrating servers throughout Blood Moon Pack territory.

Financial records.

Private communications.

Security archives.

Medical databases.

Nothing remained hidden from an entity that existed beyond dimensions.

"Data collection progress: twenty-three percent complete."

"Continue," I ordered.

"Affirmative."

A fresh wave of agony erupted through my chest.

Even with eighty percent pain suppression, the damage was becoming impossible to ignore.

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

My hands trembled.

My vision occasionally blurred.

The Lycan blood was winning.

Slowly.

Relentlessly.

Exactly as the System predicted.

The door burst open.

The Head Healer entered, carrying several reports.

His face was pale.

"Luna."

"What is it?"

He hesitated.

"Your organs are failing much faster than expected."

I wasn't surprised.

"How long?"

"Without intervention?"

He swallowed.

"Perhaps two days."

The System immediately responded.

"Prediction confirmed."

I nodded.

"Do not tell the Alpha."

The Healer stared at me.

"Luna, if Alpha Kaelen learns what happened, he can order an emergency blood extraction procedure. There is still a chance—"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

My voice remained calm.

Steady.

Certain.

"The Alpha made his choice."

The Healer looked devastated.

"You are his Mate."

A bitter smile touched my lips.

"That has never mattered to him."

The room fell silent.

Neither of us could deny the truth.

The Healer eventually lowered his gaze.

"As you wish, Luna."

He turned and left.

The moment the door closed, the System projected a holographic screen into my vision.

"Priority alert."

Images appeared.

Live surveillance.

My eyes narrowed.

"What am I looking at?"

"Alpha Kaelen Blackthorne."

The image sharpened.

My heart didn't break.

It didn't even ache.

It simply grew colder.

Kaelen stood beneath colorful lights.

A massive amusement park stretched behind him.

Roller coasters.

Fireworks.

Music.

Crowds.

Celebration.

And standing beside him—

Selene.

Laughing.

Perfectly healthy.

Perfectly happy.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Current location: Moonlight Kingdom Amusement Park. Entire facility rented by Alpha Kaelen Blackthorne."

I stared silently.

"Reason for event," the System continued.

"Celebration of Selene Blackthorne's safe return following the Rogue territory incident."

The irony was almost beautiful.

I was dying in a hospital bed.

And my husband was hosting a private festival.

For her.

A waiter approached Kaelen carrying champagne.

Selene accepted a glass.

Kaelen smiled.

Actually smiled.

I could not remember the last time he smiled at me like that.

Maybe he never had.

"Host emotional response detected."

"Response?"

"Disappointment level: zero."

I laughed softly.

"Looks like I've finally learned."

The System remained silent.

The screen continued displaying the celebration.

Fireworks exploded overhead.

Golden sparks illuminated Selene's delighted face.

Kaelen draped his jacket over her shoulders.

Protected her from the evening chill.

Watched her with concern.

The kind of concern he had never once shown me.

"Incoming hospital emergency calls," the System announced suddenly.

"Origin?"

"Critical care department."

"Reason?"

"Your condition."

Several communication windows appeared.

One after another.

The Healers were trying to contact Kaelen.

Emergency authorization required.

Mate notification required.

Alpha presence requested.

A red warning flashed.

"Emergency frequency blocked."

I blinked.

"Blocked?"

"Confirmed."

"By whom?"

The answer appeared instantly.

"Alpha Kaelen Blackthorne."

For several seconds, I simply stared.

The Healers were trying to save my life.

And Kaelen had blocked every emergency communication channel.

So nobody could interrupt Selene's celebration.

A strange feeling settled inside me.

Not sadness.

Not anger.

Acceptance.

Pure acceptance.

This was who Kaelen truly was.

Not the man I loved.

The man who actually existed.

"Data collection progress: forty-one percent."

"Good," I said quietly.

"Continue."

Hours passed.

The amusement park celebration continued.

Meanwhile, my condition worsened.

Twice I coughed blood.

Three times my heart stopped briefly.

Four times the Healers attempted to reach Kaelen.

Four times they failed.

Near midnight, the hospital doors opened again.

The Head Healer rushed into my room.

His expression was grim.

"Luna."

"What happened?"

"We finally reached Beta Marcus."

Kaelen's Beta assistant.

"And?"

"The Alpha refused to return."

Silence.

"His exact words?" I asked.

The Healer hesitated.

"Alpha Kaelen stated that Luna Stella has exaggerated minor injuries before."

"He believes this is another attempt to gain his attention."

The room felt colder.

The Healer looked ashamed just repeating it.

"Anything else?"

"He ordered the hospital to stop bothering him."

I closed my eyes.

Then I smiled.

A genuine smile.

The Healer looked alarmed.

"Luna?"

"Don't worry."

"But—"

"Actually," I interrupted softly, "this helps."

"Helps?"

"The more he does, the less guilt I feel."

The Healer had no response.

Because there wasn't one.

"Countdown update," the System announced.

"Forty-eight hours remaining."

Halfway.

Only two days left.

Two days until I went home.

Two days until Kaelen lost everything.

Two days until the dead-man's switch activated.

I looked toward the city lights beyond the hospital window.

For seven years, I had believed Kaelen Blackthorne was my destiny.

Now I finally understood.

He was never my destiny.

He was merely the price of my freedom.

And very soon, that debt would be paid in full.