chapter 4

It was obvious that since Avra was involved, Louis didn't want to pursue the matter.

As expected, by evening, Louis came in looking frustrated. "Catherine, the ski resort's surveillance cameras were broken. They didn't record anything.

"But don't worry. I won't let you suffer in vain. I bought the ski resort, and the person in charge of that slope has been fired."

Catherine listened and felt it was utterly ridiculous.

Louis could come up with any lame excuse to protect Avra.

Perhaps Catherine's mocking expression was too obvious, because a flicker of awkwardness passed through Louis's eyes. He told her he was going to get her some medicine and then left.

The hospital room fell into complete silence.

Suddenly, Avra walked in, looking at Catherine with a teasing, provocative expression.

"Catherine, falling from such a height must have hurt, right?"

"You pushed me," Catherine said firmly and calmly.

"Yes, I did, but who cares?"

Avra's face was full of triumph. "You know how much Louis used to love me. Even now, his love for me hasn't diminished a bit.

"The day I returned to the pack, he even ran away from his wedding for me. Do you know what he did that day? He gave me a bracelet only a Luna can wear, saying that I'm the only one in his heart.

"Even after I treated you like this, he erased the ski slope's surveillance footage to protect me. Catherine, tell me—how much does Louis really love me?"

A wave of bitterness surged through Catherine's chest.

Her body trembled slightly under the covers, but she still spoke coldly, "So what? The one standing by Louis's side now is me.

"No matter what you do in private, you'll never be the Luna of the Stormwind Pack. You'll always just be… the other woman, won't you?"

Catherine's words struck Avra where it hurt. She gasped sharply, a sudden realization flashing through her mind, and a cruel smile curved her lips.

"Catherine, do you know? While you were still unconscious, I just pretended to look helpless, and he couldn't resist pinning me beneath him.

"In the dark, empty stairwell… he did it to me again and again. By the end, my legs couldn't hold me! Has he ever lost control like that with you?"

Avra's words shattered the last bit of Catherine's composure.

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. She could never have imagined Louis would humiliate her like this.

They were fated mates, meant to share the ultimate bond of body and soul, yet he had refused to touch her all these years.

Whenever she longed for intimacy, whenever she wanted to be marked, he would always find an excuse to stay away—either to watch the werewolf army train or to attend to official duties.

It seemed that whenever he was around her, he always had endless tasks to attend to.

Unable to bear it any longer, Catherine raised her hand and slapped Avra hard.

"Ah!"

Avra fell to the ground.

She tried to speak, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure at the door and instantly began to cry softly and helplessly.

"Avra!"

The next second, Louis rushed in, tense, and helped Avra to her feet.

"Louis, why did Catherine hit me… my face hurts so much!

"How did I upset Catherine? If she hates me this much, maybe I should just leave!"

Avra covered her face, sobbing, her Omega softness and damp pheromones clinging to Louis, making her seem fragile, gentle, and utterly defenseless, with no one to turn to.

Louis immediately furrowed his brows.

He instinctively wanted to say something, but when he met Catherine's cold, indifferent gaze, he forced himself to stay silent.

"Avra, Catherine isn't that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding between you two."

After Louis spoke, Avra's face twisted with humiliation. Biting her lip, she ran off in tears, wailing softly.

Louis immediately frowned in worry, staring blankly after her retreating figure.

Catherine said lightly, "Aren't you going to go check on her?"

Louis forced a crooked smile. "No, I'm not. You're still in the hospital, and I need to focus on taking care of you. If seeing Avra bothers you, I won't let her come near you again."

Even saying that, Catherine noticed Louis's mind was elsewhere.

He smoked cigar after cigar, growing increasingly restless, and barely slept the entire night.

The next day, he picked up the communicator…

"Alpha, it's urgent! Avra had a car accident and is losing a lot of blood. The medical center's blood supply isn't enough!"

Catherine saw Louis's face go instantly pale. He shot to his feet, grabbed the communicator, and rushed out, not even putting on his coat, and didn't even say a word to her.

Catherine stared blankly at his retreating figure, feeling a deep emptiness in her chest.

She didn't know how much time had passed before a nurse hurried into the room. "Ms. Erickson, your Alpha fainted after giving too much blood to someone!"