Chapter 64 Chapter Sixty-four
A calm certainty settled over me as I watched the letter burn, its edges curling into ash. With it, my fear and anxiety vanished. No one would ever know the truth hidden in those words. It was over. My secret was safe, sealed away from the light of day.
I blew out the candle in the basement and returned to my chamber. A long, warm soak in the tub followed before I finally slipped into bed. The day had been draining and relentless, and all I wanted was the comfort of quiet rest.
But sleep refused to come. I tossed and turned, my mind drifting back to what I had seen earlier. The dead girl’s face flashed before me—blood streaming from her eyes.
“You killed me,” her voice echoed.
Blood poured from her ears, trickling down her neck, over her shoulders, along her arms, and dripping from her fingers to the floor.
Dum. Dum. Dum.
That was the sound it made.
“This isn’t real,” I whispered, forcing myself back to the present.
I jerked upright, pressing my back against the headboard. My breaths came fast and shallow as my trembling hand reached for the lamp. I switched it on, flooding the room with light.
What was that? Why was I seeing her now—this dead girl, so vivid, so sudden? Why was all of this happening to me? Everything felt as though it were slipping beyond my control, and I was utterly lost.
First, the strange letters that kept appearing. Now this—these terrifying visions rising from within me.
“Why me?” I sobbed. Tears broke free as I buried my face in my palms and cried until my chest ached.
“Luna, are you okay?” Nora’s voice called from outside the door.
I sniffed back my tears before answering, “Yes… I’m fine.”
“If you don’t mind, can I come in and see for myself?”
“Oh, Nora, there’s no need. I’m about to sleep.”
“Alright, if you say so,” she replied, and I listened as her footsteps faded away.
I pulled the duvet over my head, cocooning my small body as I curled into myself like a foetus. All I wanted was to cry myself to sleep—maybe tears were the only way to chase these heavy feelings away. My hand drifted to my stomach, and I felt the faint curve of my baby bump. I stroked it gently, a soft smile breaking through despite everything.
“My baby, I promise I’ll fix things before you arrive. Mama will always love you,” I whispered.
Something brushed against my skin. My eyes flew open, instantly drawn to the wall clock—9:45 p.m. I’d been asleep for almost an hour. Then I felt it: warm breath against my neck, arms slipping around me and pulling me closer. I turned sharply. Claus was beside me, leaning in to kiss my neck, but I jerked away at once.
Shock flashed across his face. “Ellie, what’s wrong?” he asked, moving closer again. I scooted back, putting space between us.
“Don’t come any closer. Don’t touch me, Claus,” I warned, my voice hard with resolve.
He exhaled deeply. “What did I do this time?”
The way he looked at me—as if I were the problem—only fueled my anger. That was always Claus’s flaw: he saw everyone else as the issue, never himself.
“Oh, spare me,” I snapped. “Are you seriously pretending everything is fine between us? Just moments ago, you believed I was pregnant by another mate, and now you’re trying to crawl into bed with me. Where is your shame, Claus?” I shouted, my eyes burning with fury.
“Goodness, Ellie.” He ran a hand through his hair and got off the bed. “You’re still thinking about that? You know I was angry. I didn’t mean any of it.”
“You didn’t mean it?” I shot back. “Then why did you wave the test in my face and question me?” I demanded.
“Y-you know I… I was just angry at the moment,” he stammered.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed myself off the bed and stormed out of the room.
“Ellie, wait—” Claus called after me.
I prayed he wouldn’t follow. I couldn’t bear to see his face, heavy with excuses.
Clutching my stomach, I ran. I forced myself to stay strong—I didn’t want the maids to witness my breakdown. I blinked hard, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. I had no idea where I was going; I just kept running until I reached an open field and finally stopped.
A scream tore from my chest, raw and unrestrained, echoing into the night. I couldn’t believe that after all these years of marriage, I was bound to a man who could question my character so easily. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free. I dropped into a squat, the damp grass soaking the hem of my gown, but I didn’t care. I buried my face in my knees and cried until my chest ached.
After a while, I forced myself upright and wiped my tears away. Only then did I realize where I was—standing in front of the royal stables. I hadn’t even noticed how far I’d run.
I stepped inside. Lanterns glowed softly at every corner, bathing the space in warmth. I hadn’t realized how cold the night was until the stable wrapped around me like a shield. There was no keeper in sight, only the quiet presence of horses resting in their pens.
I moved closer and gently stroked one of them. As my fingers slid through its coat, a sense of calm seeped into my heart. A faint smile tugged at my lips, and my racing heartbeat slowly settled.
“Would you like to go for a ride?”
The voice cut through the silence. I spun toward the entrance.
Sylvia stood there, framed by the doorway.
I inhaled deeply, drowning in his scent. My wolf reacted instantly—howling, leaping with joy as she drank him in, just as shaken as I was.