Chapter 6: I Died While He Chose Her Again

Stella POV

"Twenty-four hours remaining."

The words echoed through my mind like the final toll of a funeral bell.

One day.

One final day in this world.

One final day as Luna of the Blood Moon Pack.

One final day as Kaelen Blackthorne's forgotten Mate.

The hospital room was dark.

Outside, rain hammered against the windows.

Lightning flashed across the city skyline.

The storm felt appropriate.

Everything was ending.

"Physical deterioration at ninety-two percent," the System reported.

"Cardiac instability increasing."

"Can I still move?"

"With difficulty."

I slowly pushed myself upright.

Every muscle screamed in protest.

The Lycan blood was destroying me piece by piece.

My lungs burned.

My heart skipped irregular beats.

Even breathing felt like dragging broken glass through my chest.

Yet somehow I felt lighter than I had in years.

Freedom was close.

Very close.

The hospital door opened.

The Head Healer entered once again.

This time his face was completely drained of color.

"Luna."

"It's time, isn't it?"

His eyes widened.

"How did you know?"

"Because everyone keeps looking at me like I'm already dead."

The Healer lowered his head.

"Your heart won't survive another day."

I nodded.

"Has the Alpha been informed?"

"Repeatedly."

"And?"

The silence answered for him.

Of course.

Of course Kaelen hadn't come.

"Where is he?"

"Selene's birthday celebration."

A laugh escaped me.

A real laugh.

The kind born from absolute disbelief.

"You're joking."

"I wish I were."

The Healer looked furious.

"The Pack Council has tried contacting him six times."

"The hospital has tried fourteen times."

"Beta Marcus personally drove to the estate."

"And?"

"The Alpha ordered everyone to stop disturbing the event."

I stared toward the rain-covered window.

The universe truly had a twisted sense of humor.

I was dying.

And Kaelen was throwing another party for Selene.

"Thank you," I said softly.

"For what?"

"For telling me the truth."

The Healer's eyes filled with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Luna."

"Don't be."

"I failed you."

"No."

I shook my head weakly.

"The only person who failed me was Kaelen."

The Healer could not argue.

Because it was true.

After he left, the System activated another holographic screen.

"Would Host like to view current surveillance?"

"Show me."

The image appeared instantly.

Music.

Lights.

Laughter.

A massive private ballroom.

Selene stood in the center wearing an expensive silver gown.

Kaelen stood beside her.

Smiling.

Actually smiling.

Guests applauded as he handed her a diamond necklace.

"Happy birthday, Selene."

The words echoed through the surveillance feed.

"No one deserves happiness more than you."

The room erupted into applause.

Selene wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you, Kaelen."

My heart should have hurt.

Instead I felt nothing.

The emptiness was complete now.

"Mate Bond integrity at twelve percent," the System reported.

"Interesting."

"Bond degradation accelerating due to Host's approaching death."

Good.

Let it die.

Let everything die.

Hours passed.

The storm worsened.

So did my condition.

Twice my heart stopped briefly.

Twice the Healers revived me.

The third time, they almost failed.

"Host biological status critical."

"Time remaining?"

"Approximately three hours."

Three hours.

That was all.

The door suddenly burst open.

Beta Marcus rushed inside.

For the first time since I had known him, he looked terrified.

"Stella."

"Marcus."

"I've been trying to reach Kaelen."

"I know."

"He's not listening."

"I know."

"Damn it!"

He slammed his fist into the wall.

"You're actually dying."

"Yes."

"And he still thinks you're exaggerating."

His voice cracked with anger.

"Yes."

"How can he not see it?"

I looked toward the ceiling.

"Because seeing it would force him to admit he's wrong."

Marcus had no response.

A few minutes later, another Healer rushed into the room.

"Beta Marcus!"

"What?"

"The Luna's heart is failing."

The room instantly erupted into chaos.

Machines beeped.

Doctors shouted.

Footsteps thundered through the ward.

The System's countdown appeared before my eyes.

00:59:58

00:59:57

00:59:56

"Host, final phase initiated."

I smiled.

"It's time."

"Affirmative."

Marcus grabbed my hand.

"Stay with us."

"No."

"Stella—"

"Tell me something."

"What?"

"When the truth comes out... don't blame yourself."

His eyes widened.

"What truth?"

I didn't answer.

Because the answer would arrive soon enough.

"Heart failure imminent," the System announced.

The world began to blur.

The hospital lights faded.

Voices became distant.

Like echoes underwater.

"Emergency authorization required!" a Healer shouted.

"Contact the Alpha!"

"We're trying!"

"His frequency is blocked!"

"Try again!"

"Still blocked!"

I closed my eyes.

Even now.

Even at the very end.

He chose her.

"Host biological death in ten seconds."

Ten.

I remembered arriving in this world.

Young.

Confused.

Hopeful.

Nine.

I remembered falling in love with Kaelen.

Eight.

I remembered waiting for him.

Seven.

Believing in him.

Six.

Forgiving him.

Five.

Loving him.

Four.

Losing myself.

Three.

Losing everything.

Two.

"Dead-man's switch armed."

One.

"Goodbye."

My heart stopped.

The monitor released one long, continuous tone.

Flatline.

"Biological death confirmed."

"Mission complete."

"Contract fulfilled."

"Dimensional transfer beginning."

Darkness swallowed everything.

Then suddenly—

Light.

Warm sunlight touched my face.

Fresh air filled my lungs.

My eyes flew open.

I sat upright instantly.

No pain.

No blood.

No hospital.

No Lycan poison.

I was lying in my own bed.

My real bed.

Inside my original apartment.

Inside my original world.

"Dimensional transfer successful," the System announced.

"Welcome home, Stella."

Tears filled my eyes.

Not from grief.

Not from pain.

From relief.

I was free.

Finally free.

Then the System delivered one final notification.

"Dead-man's switch activated."

"Global release sequence initiated."

Somewhere in another world, every secret Selene had buried was about to be exposed.

Somewhere in another world, Kaelen Blackthorne's perfect life was beginning to collapse.

And for the first time in seven years, none of it was my problem anymore.