Isabella's POV.

He didn't care one bit! The strange, detached expression on his face made me feel worthless, like I was nothing more than a temporary distraction.

I couldn't allow him to mock our mating bond anymore - I wouldn't stand for it. Damn our mating bond to hell. Damn our so-called love, and damn every single moment I spent with him.

"You look at me like I'm nothing to you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "After everything we've shared, after everything we've been through together, how can you look at me like that?"

I hated Nathan with every fiber of my being in that moment. His complete lack of concern when I told him, "You killed my baby!" made it seem like that had been his intention all along.

It was as if I were nothing more than some kind of breeding experiment to him, like he was waiting to see whether his Luna or I would get pregnant first, and then he'd keep whichever woman suited him better!

"Is that all I was to you?" I demanded, my voice rising with my anger. "Just some backup plan in case your precious Luna couldn't give you an heir? Was any of it real, Nathan? Did you ever actually care about me at all?"

I jumped not to end my life, but to show Nathan that I meant what I said - that I wasn't making empty threats.

I leaped from that window to sever the final thread of love that still connected us.

I wasn't certain if my baby still survived in my womb or not, whether I had lost everything or if there was still hope.

But I needed to ensure that nothing remained to bind us together anymore. "Let this be the end of us," I thought as I felt myself falling through the air. "Let this be the final chapter in our story."

Yes, I know that sounds completely insane. But to hell with him and what he thinks of me.

Revenge has never been something I sought, but I was absolutely certain that someday he would regret everything he'd done.

I've never been the type to harm others or wish them ill; I've always accepted my fate and faced whatever the future held for me.

But I realized it was time to chart a new course for myself, to forge a different path forward.

"I deserve better than this," I told myself as I fell. "I deserve someone who values me, who sees me as more than just a convenience."

And that's exactly what I did. I made the decision to destroy my final hope for a life with Nathan.

I had no expectations whatsoever when my head struck the ground - flying from the third floor was no small thing.

The worst pain came from my leg, which had definitely broken in the fall.

"At least I'm still alive," I thought grimly as agony shot through my body. "At least I still have a chance to rebuild, to start over, to find something better than this."

I closed my eyes against the pain, and when I opened them again, I was surrounded by doctors in an unfamiliar room.

There was no sign of Nathan anywhere, which made me laugh bitterly to myself - I had actually expected him to be there, showing some hint of concern.

"Of course he's not here," I thought. "Why would he be? I'm nothing to him now that I've served my purpose." The realization hurt worse than my physical injuries.

A few hours later, after the doctors assured me I would recover, curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "Am I pregnant?"

I held my breath, not sure which answer I was hoping for. Part of me wanted nothing left to connect me to Nathan, but another part desperately hoped that this one piece of him remained with me, this innocent life that had no part in our mess.

The doctor nodded, his expression softening. "Yes, I believe so. We've managed to save the baby."

His words filled me with a mixture of emotions - relief, fear, joy, and dread all swirling together.

I quickly hushed him when I noticed Nathan entering the room, his face unreadable as he asked, "What's the situation? Is she alright now?"

He looked tired, his eyes shadowed with what might have been concern or merely obligation. I couldn't tell anymore.

I quickly interrupted before the doctor could tell Nathan about the pregnancy, saying only, "Just a broken leg."

It was true enough - my leg was indeed broken, the pain throbbing with every heartbeat.

"Nothing serious," I added, trying to sound casual despite the agony. "Nothing worth your precious time, Alpha."

I couldn't keep the bitterness from my voice, couldn't hide how much his betrayal had wounded me.

And before Nathan could turn and leave the room, I stopped him dead in his tracks with my next words: "And you should treat me as your second Luna!"

I watched his back stiffen, his hand freezing on the doorknob. "You heard me," I continued, my voice gaining strength.

"I won't be hidden away like some dirty secret anymore. Not after everything that's happened."

Nathan slowly turned his head, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

His voice was low, dangerous, as if he couldn't believe I would dare make such a demand.

"Have you lost your mind, Isabella? After what just happened, you think I would-" He stopped himself, taking a deep breath to regain control. "This isn't the time to discuss this."

I laughed hysterically, the sound bordering on maniacal, before switching to a deadly serious tone: "Yes, Alpha. I'm pregnant with your child."

I watched the color drain from his face as my words sank in. "That's right - your baby survived despite everything. Despite your cruelty, despite my fall, despite it all. So what are you going to do about it, Nathan? What kind of man are you going to be?"

That revelation made him stare at the ceiling for what felt like five full minutes, looking completely lost and overwhelmed.

But suddenly, to my absolute shock, he lifted me carefully in his arms and declared, "You know what? Damn everything and damn everyone else. I'm going to make you my official mistress."

His eyes were wild, his decision seemingly made in the heat of the moment without any real thought.

"No one will dare question me. No one will stop me from acknowledging you and our child."

Really! Over my dead body, Nathan! He had clearly lost his mind. Did he honestly believe I would accept such an insulting offer?

That I would stay in his life after everything he'd done? I was only remaining there for my baby's sake and to teach everyone in that castle a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.

But the moment I recovered enough to travel, I planned to disappear forever. And truly, damn him and damn them all to hell.

"You think that's what I want?" I thought as he held me. "You think I'd settle for being your 'official mistress' when I deserve so much more? You'll learn, Nathan. Soon enough, you'll learn exactly what you've thrown away."