Dana POV

　　As I sit on the couch, facing Bathel who kneels before me in his chamber, the atmosphere is heavy with tension. His voice, usually commanding, now carries a hint of indifference as he asks, "Do you have infertility?"

　　My heart clenches at his question, and I find myself struggling to form words. "I didn't choose this," I manage to murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know I can't fulfill the role of your Luna if-"

　　"Please, don't say that," he interrupts gently, his voice softening with genuine concern. His eyes, once filled with intensity, now reflect worry and uncertainty.

　　His touch on the side of my face sends shivers down my spine as our foreheads press together.

　　"Please, don't ever do it again," he pleads, his voice filled with desperation, his words echoing in the chamber.

　　"I could never bear to lose you, Dana," he confesses, his voice trembling with emotion. "Having a baby... It's not an issue. We can explore other options, like finding a surrogate," he suggests, tears welling up in my eyes at his unexpected tenderness.

　　"I wish for that too," I whisper, feeling a glimmer of hope ignited within me.

　　He presses a gentle kiss to my cheeks, his touch tender yet laden with sorrow. "I cannot bear the thought of losing you," his voice breaks, a raw emotion seeping through his words. "It pains me to hear you speak of yourself as though you're worthless. What would become of me if you were to leave?" he questions, his words striking a chord deep within my heart.

　　Regret floods over me like a tidal wave as I realize the gravity of my actions.

　　I've made a terrible mistake.

　　That was never the right choice.

　　"I am sorry," I say, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I thought it would be easier for me to be dead than to endure watching Blaire succeed at everything and continue to harm the people I love... What if she tries to harm you?" I whisper, my voice trembling with fear as I voice my worst nightmares.

　　"She cannot harm me," he states firmly, shaking his head. "She's simply a terrible person, and I won't allow her to come between us again. She will face the consequences of her actions," he assures me, his words offering a glimmer of reassurance that Bathel will always stand by my side.

　　"You're not going to leave me, are you?" I ask, my mind plagued with doubts and fears.

　　"Why would I ever leave you?" he asks, his hand gently gripping my cheeks.

　　"Because I can't give you a child..."

　　"I've already told you, that doesn't matter to me. You're the most important thing in my life, Dana," he reassures me. "Will you promise me that you won't hurt yourself again?" he asks, his tone filled with concern.

　　I nod my head. "I live for you," I respond earnestly. "And I will continue to live, even after our wedding."

　　"It's postponed," he informs me gently. "Your health comes first."

　　Despite Bathel's unwavering protection and insistence on my dependence, I, a woman of stubborn resolve and a heart shattered by betrayal, find myself defiantly venturing into the depths of the woods alone.

　　As I tread the winding paths beneath the canopy of trees, I'm driven by an unrelenting fury, a seething anger that consumes me with each step. I don't fully understand the compulsion that draws me to the forest's embrace, but I know that within its secluded confines, I seek refuge from the suffocating weight of my emotions.

　　Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind, fuels my fervent hope that I'll encounter Blaire, the source of my torment. In the depths of my despair, the desire for vengeance burns bright within me, a primal instinct urging me to confront the one who has wrought havoc upon my life.

　　With each determined stride, I envision the confrontation playing out in my mind's eye. I imagine the cathartic release of my pent-up rage, the satisfaction of seeing justice served for the pain she has inflicted. And amidst the tumult of my thoughts, the memory of Ares' face looms large, a haunting reminder of the devastation caused by her treachery.

　　As I walk through the winding paths of the forest, haunted by my thoughts and fueled by a consuming rage, the memory of Ares surfaces like a specter from the depths of my consciousness. Perhaps it was mere delusion, a trick of the mind conjured by my hatred towards him in my final moments. Yet, the conviction remains steadfast within me-he is an ally of Blaire, a pawn in her sinister game to inflict harm upon me and orchestrate my demise. With each passing day, my animosity towards him festers and grows, a poisonous seed planted deep within the recesses of my heart.

　　"You should return to the pack and rest," Xia's murmured words break through the haze of my thoughts, her primal instincts sensing a shift in the air. But her caution falls on deaf ears, drowned out by the relentless drumbeat of my fury.

　　Since enduring the torment of my torture, I've been numb to everything around me. Shattered and irreparably broken, I've resigned myself to the belief that I'm beyond repair.

　　So when Ares suddenly materializes before me, his unexpected appearance causes my heart to race, a sensation foreign to me in my desolate state. Yet, even in the face of his presence, I feel nothing- no fear, no anger, no pain.