Chapter 25: An Emotionless Mate

CONNOR

Elaine’s pain trickled through our bond, so slow it was agonizing. Khan, the beast within me, clawed at my insides, desperate to shift. He howled in pain as I staggered, thrown off balance by the sudden intrusion.

I didn’t understand what was happening, but I could feel something was terribly wrong with Elaine. It was enough to send chills down my spine.

I paced the hallway of the pack hospital, restless and anxious. The doctors had taken Elaine away and left me with no answers.

The way they all looked at Elaine told me she was seriously injured. I should have been relieved, considering I wanted to be free from this bond, but all I felt was worry and guilt.

I clenched my hands behind my back, closing my eyes and trying to keep my emotions in check. But it was useless. I was desperate for answers.

Didn’t I want Elaine dead?

I glanced down at the shackle around my wrist. Oddly, it wasn’t causing me pain as it usually did. I’d noticed this before.

It wasn’t the first time the shackles didn’t hurt. In fact, I’d come to understand how they worked.

I sighed, rubbing my face, just as the doors opened and a pack doctor walked out. A few of my warriors stood to the side, waiting for news about their queen.

“My king,” the doctor greeted, bowing his head.

When he looked up, he met my eyes. I frowned. Why was he looking at me with such sadness?

“I’m sorry to inform you, but the queen has lost the pup,” the doctor said.

“What?” I blinked.

“The pup.” The doctor frowned. “The queen was carrying your heir.”

I felt a chill run through me as I swayed to the side. In shock, I stared at the white marble floor. I reached for the wall behind me, steadying myself until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“You didn’t know?” the doctor asked, his face showing surprise. “It seems you both were not aware.”

Aware? I blinked, feeling my strength drain away. I felt a firm grip on my other shoulder and turned to see Elaine’s brother, Regulus, standing there with a somber expression.

“I’m sorry, my king.” The doctor cleared his throat. “The hit the queen suffered caused her to lose the pup. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do,” he added before excusing himself.

I stood there, confused.

“What have I done?” I mumbled, but no one answered. The air around me felt heavy with sorrow, and Khan fell silent in my head.

***

I knocked on the door, waiting for the nurse to let me in. It was the second day since the incident, and I hadn’t been able to visit Elaine. I was too busy wrestling with my guilt.

Last night, as I wallowed in self-pity, the doctor had updated me on Elaine’s condition. He explained that her wounds had healed, but the pain from losing the baby remained.

Despite his reassurances, the doctor seemed worried. I didn’t press him for more information. I needed time to process my mistake. Guilt was eating me alive.

As I stood there with a book in hand, the door opened. The nurse greeted me, but instead of letting me in, she ushered me out. I frowned at her.

“It’s not the best time,” she explained.

“Why?” I asked. Since last night, I hadn’t been able to feel Elaine’s emotions. She had completely shut me out.

“It’s hard to explain, my alpha. But I advise you to give her highness some time,” the nurse clarified. I nodded obediently and left, my eyes lingering on the closed doors.

I gave Elaine the space she needed. I had no idea how she was feeling, whether she was crying or if she hated me more than ever.

I ate alone at the enormous dining table. No one from the pack, nor the warriors who usually accompanied me, joined me.

It felt like they were avoiding me after what happened. I couldn’t blame them. I understood. But I wished someone would come and talk to me, help me navigate this mess.

Across the dining table, I noticed Elaine’s brother walk in. His tense demeanor told me he was stressed.

“Sorry, didn’t know someone was here,” Regulus said, taking a seat far from me.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Clearing my throat, I forced myself to ask the question that had been nagging at me.

“How is Elaine?”

Regulus stopped eating, lowering his fork.

I watched his face. It was so unreadable that it frustrated me. Even the mood around the pack felt off.

“~Fine~,” Regulus answered, his voice terse and clipped.

I heard a sigh and looked up.

“I won’t ask what happened. But there’s one thing I will say about all this. I ~despise~ you,” Regulus choked out. “Elaine…” His voice mixed with his wolf.

I knew that all of Elaine’s family had lycan blood in them. But I’d never seen them shift before, never seen their true forms.

But from the way he was struggling to contain his anger, I could tell he had a lycan within him too.

“I hope Elaine never forgives you,” Regulus grumbled, standing up abruptly.

His words stung as the clatter of his fork hitting the plate echoed in the room. He was right. I knew that after this, things wouldn’t be the same.

Elaine would never let me get close to her again.

With a sigh of defeat, I downed my drink, bracing myself for the inevitable. It was time to visit her.

As I walked down the quiet hallways, I saw the pack doctor turning a corner.

“Doctor,” I called, and he looked over his shoulder.

“Alpha. Is something the matter?” he asked.

“Is anyone with my queen?” I asked, glancing around for any prying eyes. But the hallways were empty, it was already late.

The doctor shook his head. He spoke hesitantly, advising me that I could visit her but I should not upset her. I didn’t know how to act, since they all knew I was partly to blame.

I muttered a quick thanks and hurried down the corridor until I reached the last door. I stood there, staring at it like a fool. Why was it so hard to just knock?

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage, and rapped on the door twice. No response. I knocked again. Still nothing.

Growing impatient, I pushed the door open. The first thing I noticed was the empty bed. A wave of worry washed over me as I stepped inside and looked around.

I wandered the room until I spotted a figure sitting on a bench on the small balcony. My hands shook as I tapped on the glass door, but she didn’t react.

“Elaine?” I whispered, but she remained still. “Elaine, can we talk?”

She was ignoring me; I was certain of it.

I dropped my gaze to my wrist, staring at the glowing light. Thankfully, the distance hadn’t caused any problems, and although it was odd, it wasn’t my main concern right now.

“Elaine,” I said, standing behind her. “Please, look at me.”

“What do you want, Connor?” Elaine asked. Her voice was calm, as if nothing had happened. A sick feeling settled in my stomach.

“We need to talk,” I replied, moving closer to her. “~Please~.”

“About what?” Elaine pressed. I shifted, but she stood up suddenly, causing me to step back, afraid of crossing a boundary she’d set.

She stared at me, hard and long. I looked away.

Swallowing my shame, I met her gaze. The moment our eyes locked, a sharp pain pierced my chest, splitting me in two.

“I—”

“There’s nothing we need to talk about, Connor,” Elaine said, her voice indifferent. “If you’re here about what happened, you’re wasting your time.”

She brushed past me, heading back into her room. I ran a hand through my hair, then turned to face her.

“Our baby,” I blurted out, stopping Elaine in her tracks.

“Baby?” Elaine laughed. “What baby?”

“Ours,” I managed, my voice choked with emotion.

“No,” Elaine spat, her back to me. She turned to face me, a smile on her face. “There is no ~ours~, nor mine, nor yours.”

I stared at her, stunned.

“Let me make something clear. I’m glad that baby is dead,” Elaine smirked, her eyes devoid of any emotion as she spoke. “~I wouldn’t want to have such a~ ~thing from you.~”

Her words cut me to the core, making my eyes sting.

“So yes, there is no pup, no baby,” Elaine laughed, turning away.

“Elaine,” I murmured as a gust of wind swept over me. I was at a loss for words, heartbroken, and with a lycan who didn’t react.

I looked down, squeezing my eyes shut to hold back the tears. Now I knew I had lost everything we’d ever had.