“Stop!” the Elder surged toward the altar, his voice ragged with panic. “Shelly, you’ll kill the pup!” 

My hands trembled, hovering over my belly as the golden light flickered at my fingertips. 

The images kept replaying in my head. 

Ford, kissing Kyra, telling her she was the one he truly wanted. 

But the mate bond, a stubborn thorn in my soul, still throbbed with a phantom ache for him. 

A treacherous part of me still loved the man he was supposed to be. 

Dammit, I still loved the liar. 

“I’ll give him one last chance,” I said, pulling my hands back. 

The Elder sighed in relief and stepped back. 

My heart pounded as I reached out to Ford through our mind-link. 

It took him a long time to answer. 

“Shelly?” His voice was tight with impatience, the tinny sound of a TV buzzing in the background. 

“Starlight,” I said, my voice hoarse. 

It was our private code, our promise. 

It meant I need you, come now. 

He was silent for a few seconds. 

“Shelly, I’m a little busy right now—” 

“Ford,” I cut him off, tears finally falling. “Starlight.” 

I repeated our code, my voice a desperate plea. 

“Look, Shelly,” his tone became dismissive. “I know you’re upset, but Aiden is—” 

A woman’s voice, a sultry purr, slid through the link. “Baby, who’s that?” 

It was Kyra. 

“No one important,” Ford replied. 

No one important. 

I heard the rustle of clothes, followed by Kyra’s triumphant purr. 

“Is that your little Luna whining again? Tell her the Alpha is far too busy for her tonight.” 

The mind-link snapped shut. 

I stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. 

Our starlight code. 

It was the symbol of our love, his most sacred promise to me. 

And now, to him, it was nothing. 

“Shelly—” the Elder said, his voice full of concern. 

I wiped my tears and pressed my hands back onto my stomach. 

“Don’t try to stop me,” my voice was terrifyingly calm. “He chose betrayal. I won’t let my child bear that shame.” 

The golden light flared again, stronger this time. 

“You’ll kill him!” the Elder shouted, lunging forward. 

“No,” I shook my head. “I’m not killing him,” I said, my voice hollow. “I’m simply putting him to sleep. Hiding him away until his father is worthy of him.” 

The Life Weaver’s power flowed out of me in a torrent, wrapping around the small life inside. 

I could feel his strong life force, a warm, burning flame. 

But now, I had to dim that flame. 

The ritual lasted for an hour. 

My face grew paler and my forehead was slick with sweat, but my hands remained steady. 

I held them there until the warm connection to his life suddenly went still. 

I pulled my hands back and staggered, nearly collapsing. “It’s done,” I gasped. “He’s safe now. Just sleeping.” 

The Elder checked me over, his expression grim. “Shelly, you’ve used too much of your life force. You need to rest.” 

I nodded and turned to leave the altar. 

Just then, footsteps echoed behind me. 

“Such touching motherly love.” 

Kyra sashayed onto the altar, a triumphant smirk plastered on her face. 

“That little thing in your belly… has he gone quiet?” 

Her eyes glinted with malice. “You never thought he’d actually choose me, did you? That he’d give up his mate and his heir for me?”