Episode 8

Sasi waited anxiously, unwilling to believe he would be so cruel, but he didn't return all that time until that fateful night. Sasi felt an immense pain in her mark, initially worried that something had happened to him, but then she realized it wasn't the issue. He had marked another she-wolf, betraying her. She could hardly breathe from the anguish she felt, not to mention that she had lost the right to be Luna. It was a dishonor for her lineage, and the bond between the Alpha and his child had been broken. Thus, the pain had transferred to her womb, putting their unborn child in jeopardy. Sasi panicked, struggling to leave the cabin and seek the witch she had seen the other day. However, the excruciating pain prevented her from taking a single step. Tearfully, she gazed at the moon, gifted by the night sky after several cloudy days.

"Oh, Moon Goddess, do not let me lose my baby. I will do whatever you desire, but please spare me from suffering this way. I will accept any condition," Sasi knelt on the cold snow. The unbearable pain continued to escalate as she felt her pup desperately fighting for survival within her, while she cried out in sobs. She was losing him, until her consciousness succumbed to the intense pain that surpassed any torture a pain-tolerant she-wolf could endure.

Sasi opened her eyes and found herself inside the cabin, resting in bed with a warm blanket and a lit fireplace. As she looked to the side, Helen, the witch she had seen, approached her with a bowl.

"I'm glad you are awake. It was difficult to stabilize you, but here you are," the witch smiled warmly.

"What happened? How did you get here? My baby?" Sasi began, but before she could continue, the witch's demeanor turned serious as she explained the dire situation.

"Stay calm and let me explain. The goddess Selene asked me to help you and save your baby, but it comes at a price. If I save your child, you will never have a mate again. You will remain mate-less, but…" She paused to emphasize this point.

"But what? I will do anything, whatever is necessary," Sasi cried, drowning in her pain, betrayal, and broken heart.

"Only the father of the child can claim to be your mate in the future. In other words, someday you will have to forgive him, and you only have 10 years for that to happen; otherwise, your child will fall ill and inevitably perish," the witch looked at her sadly, knowing the damage that wolf had inflicted, having broken her heart. Yet, she would only save her baby if Sasi reunited with him someday.

Sasi opened her eyes, surprised, but then anger and resentment flooded in. "How could I ever forgive that man who hurt me so much? What was goddess Selene thinking when she proposed something like this?" Sasi thought quickly. Time was running out, and she had to make a decision now. After contemplating, she accepted; she agreed to this pact. "Do I have 10 years to break this promise?" Sasi wondered in her mind. There had to be a solution.

The witch nodded and handed her the bowl with the concoction she had prepared while Sasi slept. With her magic, she managed to stabilize the baby in her womb, but it wouldn't last long, just a few more hours at most.

Sasi observed the contents and took a deep breath before quickly drinking it. When she finished, she felt a tingling sensation in the inflamed area where her mark had been removed by the betrayal, and a beautiful mark emerged, resembling a painting on her skin—the symbol of the Great Black Wolf.

The witch held up a mirror for Sasi to see, and the young she-wolf's surprise turned into contentment as she smiled at her beautiful mark. This brought her peace; she felt her baby gently kicking and knew everything was all right, that they had stabilized.

Sasi sighed and looked at the witch with gratitude, her smile genuine. Helen recognized the importance of this she-wolf and knew she had to be taken care of.