My Mate Sent Me To Prison I Return As His Nightmare novel Chapter 4

It ignited something in him. Before Sylvia could pull away, he gripped her waist and deepened the kiss, hungry and desperate.

"Grayson, stop." Sylvia whispered against his mouth, her voice a theatrical blend of desire and concern. "Adira's right in the next room."

"Don't worry about her," he murmured, trailing kisses down her neck. "I made sure the healer laced her herbs with enough wolfsbane. Let's go somewhere more comfortable."

He swept Sylvia into his arms, carrying her like his fated mate.

Shaking with a mixture of pain and rage, I forced myself out of bed.

My abdomen screamed in protest with every movement, but I dragged myself across the cold hardwood floor on silent, bare feet.

Through the crack, I saw their bodies intertwined, mating in the dim light.

Their moans and whispers became my nightmare's soundtrack, echoing in my ears until dawn broke.

Grayson didn't show his face for two days. When he finally appeared at my bedside, his eyes were carefully arranged into an expression of remorse.

"Adira, I'm so sorry I haven't been around. The pack's been in absolute chaos."

I stared vacantly past him, refusing to acknowledge his presence.

He dropped to one knee beside the bed, taking my limp hand in his.

"My Luna, look at me," he pleaded. "I know you're hurting. But ending the pregnancy was for your own good. All I want in this world is for you to be healthy and whole."

He paused, his voice softening. "Hey, it's the full moon tonight. I brought someone who's been missing you like crazy."

He stood and stepped aside, revealing my mother standing in the doorway.

"Mom..." The word came out as a broken whisper as tears flooded my eyes.

She looked better than I'd seen her in years. No howling, no vacant stares, no violent shifts—just my mother, almost herself again.

Seeing my tears, she rushed forward and gathered me in her arms, stroking my hair the way she used to before our world imploded.

Grayson discreetly wiped at his eyes. "I'll let you two have some time together. Got some pack matters waiting in my office."

After he left, I decided to take my mother for a walk around the house.

"No pack. A complete embarrassment to your father's legacy. Nothing but a insane mother to show for your pathetic life. How do you even get out of bed in the morning?"

My mother went rigid beside me. "INSANE" was the trigger word—the one that sent her spiraling back into darkness.

Before I could intervene, my mother lunged forward, shoving me aside and wrapping her hands around Sylvia's throat.

"I'M NOT INSANE!" she screamed, her face contorted with rage.

I rushed toward them, but Sylvia was faster.

She grabbed a heavy crystal moon-stone from the hallway table and brought it down on my mother's head with sickening force.

The stone exploded into a thousand glittering shards across the marble floor.

Blood began pouring from the gash in my mother's skull. Her eyes went wide with shock, then glassy, as her body crumpled backward down the stairs.

"MOM!" My scream tore through the house as I dove to catch her, cradling her bleeding head in my lap.

Grayson came running, but before he could ask what happened, Sylvia collapsed into his arms, sobbing hysterically.