Chapter 18
Thorne rushed him to the hospital. He couldn’t take it anymore and finally dialed that number.
Two hours later, a large group entered the hospital. At the front was Matthias, the former Alpha of the Stormwatch Pack-
Dante’s grandfather.
He strode into the hospital room, his face hardening when he saw the hollow shell of his once–proud grandson lying on
the bed.
A nurse was trying to insert an IV into Dante’s hand.
As she was preparing the drip, Dante yanked the needle out.
She sighed, tried again, only for Dante to pull it out once more.
This time, the needle tore through his vein, leaving a vivid streak of blood.
Matthias couldn’t take it anymore. He snatched up his cane and brought it down hard on Dante’s back with a sickening
crack.
“Get up!” he shouted.
Dante looked up at him, as if grasping at a final thread of salvation.
But the words that came out held no will to live.
“Grandpa… I want to be with Evelyn. Please, let me go to her.”
“I want to be buried with her. Can you talk to her parents for me?”
Matthias‘ face turned ashen, his usually stern features twisted into something terrifying.
He grabbed Dante by the collar and dumped a bucket of ice water over his face.
“Look at what you’ve become! Out of all the Alpha bloodlines, you are by far the most pathetic!”
Dante slowly lifted his head and caught a glimpse of himself reflected in the window.
The man staring back had sunken cheeks and lifeless eyes, like a walking corpse, radiating pure despair.
He had truly become a shell of a man since losing Evelyn.
They’d promised each other five years ago–grow old together, never betray the mate bond.
But somewhere along the way, he had changed.
He’d grown bored of their quiet, steady life and sought out excitement.
Seeing his friends surrounded by women, always chasing the thrill… it stirred something reckless inside him.
He thought he was getting away with it, but that just made him double down on playing both sides.
The realization hit him hard. He punched the wall, blood streaming from his knuckles.
It was all his fault. He’d destroyed their mate bond, ruined everything they had.
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If he hadn’t driven Evelyn away to Crisantia, she never would’ve died in that car accident.
Matthias looked at his grandson, whose face was now filled with regret, and sighed deeply.
Dante had once been a commanding Alpha–his pride and joy.
Now he was a man ready to throw his life away for love.
Matthias’s expression darkened as he instructed Thorne to clean him up–wash his face, shave the beard.
Half an hour later, Dante sat before him, looking like his old self again, though hollow.
“Grandpa…”
Matthias placed a stack of documents in front of him.
On top were photos from Dante and Natalia’s wedding shoot.
He cleared his throat, his voice gravelly but firm.
“Dante, you cheated first–I can’t even face Evelyn’s parents now. Everything under your name–your assets, your money-
has been transferred to them. As per the agreement, you’re no longer Alpha of the Stormwatch Pack. I’m taking over
again. Think of it as punishment for what you’ve done.”
Because of you, the pack has lost its faith in you. They no longer believe you can protect them.
Matthias looked straight at Dante and added with finality, “I’ll issue a public notice. For the next five years, you are banned
from taking part in any pack affairs.”
“This is the consequence of your recent misconduct. You didn’t cherish the fated mate blessed by the Moon Goddess.
You were the one who broke the mate bond.”
Dante lowered his gaze, the light in his eyes fading.
Grandfather sentenced him to a five–year ban from interfering with the Stormwatch Pack. With so many grandsons in the family, who knows how many brothers will surpass him, or even crush him, to become the Pack’s next Alpha in those five
years.
He had probably lost his right to inherit the pack forever.
But what did it matter now that Evelyn was gone?
“…I understand, Grandpa.”
Matthias shook his head in disappointment and left.
That evening, Natalia found out about Matthias’s punishment–Dante was forbidden from touching pack affairs for five
years.
She sat alone in the living room, mind in chaos.
She had called Rowan the other day, saying she’d spend time with him once he returned.
Rowan had promised to fly back immediately. But not long after, he called again.
He said his grandfather, Alpha Aldric, had summoned him back to the pack.
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After that call, Natalia never heard from him again.
Now that Dante was out of the picture, she had to hurry and make things right with Rowan.
She tried calling him again, but still couldn’t get through.
After a moment’s hesitation, she called one of Rowan’s packmates to ask where he was.
There was a long pause.
“You don’t know?” the voice said. “Rowan’s dead.”
“What? He’s dead?”
