AVELINE
TWO YEARS LATER…
With each passing moment in the serene environment of the hospital, the world seems to fade around me. I walked back and forth, my heart pounding in my chest with an intensity that threatened to rip it open.
Kane had been here for more than two months, and to prevent him from finally slipping into a vegetative state, the doctors suggested that the surgery take place today.
Alpha Kane's health was worse than I had expected; he was not only a cripple, but his nervous system was also dysfunctional.
The Wolfknight pack was truly made up of warriors and guards, but the financial situation of the pack was much more terrible.
I have spent these years of marriage tending to him as a nurse and enduring his overly spoilt behaviour and erratic manners.
We should not have been together, his fated mate rejected him because of his disability. His parents, who were desperate to find him a wife, came to my father and offered him a generous amount of money in exchange for one of his daughters.
At that very moment, as the clock ticked between life and death, I was vividly reminded of the day my father told me to pack my bags and sojourn to a faraway land.
I did not get married in an honourable way, and Jilian made sure no one in the land knew that they had given their daughter away to a cripple. No one had heard from me since then, and I did not hear from any of them.
The adjective for my relationship with Alpha Kane was strained—he barely spoke three words to me in a day. And the only physical interaction we had was whenever he needed his blankets changed or if he needed his medicines administered to him.
But as loveless as my marriage to Kane was, I still wished for him to recover from the nervous breakdown and be healthy again. I understood the apathy he had for life and everything in it, a part of me even concluded that he might treat me better once he was healthy.
I forgot the hatred I harboured for the moon goddess and started praying for Kane's recovery. I prayed for his speech, his congealing blood and strength in his weak bones.
I became constant in the moon temple, said numerous prayers and burned incense. It was said that desperate people find faith, and mine was strong enough to move a mountain.
“Doctor!” I screamed as the door of the ward was thrown open. Without further thought, I ran towards the bald man, grinding into a halt as I nearly crashed into him.
“Doctor,” I called out again, my heart pitter-pattering in my chest. “Is there any success? Is my husband alright now? Will he be fine? What about his system?”
The old man waited for me to finish my tirade of questions, but instead of the warm professional look he would usually have on his face, there was an expression I could not read.
There was an indescribable heaviness on his face, a sharp contrast to the steady and reassuring one I had gotten used to.
His eyes were clouded with something I could not quite place—a mix of sorrow, hesitation, and an unspoken truth. He took a deep breath, glanced away momentarily, and then looked back at me, his lips pressing into a tight, sympathetic line.
"I’m… very sorry," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "We did everything we could, but Alpha Kane's body… it just couldn't endure the strain. His nervous system had deteriorated beyond repair." His words hung in the air, heavy as lead, each one striking a fresh wound in my chest.
The room seemed to spin as I tried to comprehend what he was saying. Gone. My mind refused to accept it, to let the reality sink in.
I stared at the doctor, searching his face for any sign that this was a mistake, a horrible misunderstanding. But there was nothing but sincerity in his gaze.
"No… no, you’re wrong," I whispered, shaking my head as if that could somehow change the truth. "You must have missed something—some other way to save him. He can’t… he can’t just be gone."
The doctor reached out a comforting hand, but I pulled back, stumbling away from him as my legs gave way under me, and the room suddenly turned into a cage. Closing in around me.
Memories of Kane flashed before my eyes—his harsh stares, his bitter words, his silence. The life we had shared, as punctured and flawed as it was, was now gone.
A strange emptiness filled my heart, a hole I didn’t know was there until now.
I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth, choking back a sob, even though my throat felt like it would explode. I would never see Kane anymore; this was the end. I didn't want him to die,No— I didn't want it to be this way!
I prayed or didn't I? Did the moon goddess deafen her ears to me? What did I ever do wrong?
This marriage had been anything but easy, yet, deep down, I had always hoped for something more—for a future where Kane would recover, where he might finally see me, not just as his caregiver, but as someone who could love him.
But that hope was gone, snatched away in a moment, leaving me alone in a life I no longer recognized. What would happen to me now? What would I do with my life? I didn't realize how much my life and my purpose revolved around Kane.
Tears burned in my eyes, blurring my vision. The doctor’s voice brought me back into my reality, gentle and apologetic.
"I’m so sorry for your loss. I am sorry for your loss Lunar Aveline. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask."
I barely managed a nod before he turned away, leaving me standing there, frozen, alone and broken.
~~~~~~
My days were longer, my mornings, clouded. A part of me died along with him, my head becoming so heavy that I only heard my heartbeat.
I knew how hard it was being a widow in a world like this. Everyone already saw me as a weak thing. A THING!
Condolences poured from all sides, the pack suddenly becoming crowded with women who had come to console me— Because they knew how ‘weak’ I was.
The days continued to blur until the day of the funeral finally came.
The air was thick with the scent of rain as I stood beside Kane’s coffin. The dark wood was draped in the colours of the Wolfknight pack. I felt the eyes of the pack on me, silent and respectful, yet distant—just like Kane had always been.
The officiant's words faded into the background, a hum of loss and reverence, but all I could do was stare at the coffin, hollow and numb.
“From dust to dust, ashes to…”
I left the grave site hours after the procession, driving home on my home. But I wasn't prepared for the surprise which greeted me.
I was just emerging at the gate when I spotted an unusual sight. There were two men dressed in black suits at the entrance of the pack mansion. I looked to my side and saw that they came with their car, a black convertible.
“Who are these people?” I asked my driver, removing my glasses to get a clearer glimpse of the sight.
“I'm not sure who they are,” he answered. “And I don't think I have seen them before.”
I was going to conclude that they were mourners but the atmosphere around them was somewhat unusual.
“Stop the car,” I ordered. “Find a place to park.”
Just as the driver was pulling to a stop, I peered out of the car, and I was able to see what they men were doing at the gate. They had a padlock in their hand, and they were locking the gate with it.
“What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, jumping out of the car before he could even find a place to park.
“Who are you people?” I shouted, running toward the entrance. “What do you think you're doing?”
I lunged to snatch the padlock from one of the men, but the other grabbed my hand, yanking it back. Pain shot through my wrist, and I stared at them in shock, not just from the sting but from their cold indifference.
“Orders from the royal family,” one of the men said gruffly. “Alpha Kane’s properties are being confiscated to settle his debts.”
“Debts?”
“Yes,” he responded gruffly again, before taking his time to continue.
“Alpha Kane owes four packs as well as the royal family the sum of money which exceeds 3 million dollars. We understand these loans were taken to settle the expenses which comes with his failing health, but this measures have to be taken.”
Every word that rolled out seemed to leave me more shaken than the last.
Was I in some type of bad luck monopoly game?
“Listen, this house has to be confiscated being the only valuable property he had. In other words, we are not sure we can get our money back. So this house have to be sold to offset the debts. Thank you for considering us. Do have a great day.”
All what he said had somehow just translated to me becoming a homeless young widow.