*Cali POV*
I am starting to think that being a nameless slave was preparing me for this. I am the most powerful queen with no dignity when it comes to my mate. I watch Leroy run out to his mate with a ripping pain inside. I feel like my heart is being torn apart. I guess he has made his choice. I can feel Gold breaking before shutting down. Unlike me, all she knows is being royalty. This hurts her more than it does me. 
I head to the shower and wash Leroy off before putting on a flowery summer dress. Maybe it will light up my gloomy mood. 
There is a lot of commotion around the second floor. Betty puts me up to speed about Zenith sleeping with Caleb. I am not surprised when someone calls for help to stop Leroy from killing Caleb. I know how possessive Sky can get. This is something that would drive him crazy. 
I don’t bother going to investigate, but head to my favorite spot in the garden instead. I hum a tune in my head and focus on planning my future without a mate. 
“It is not his fault,” Betty says, startling me. I did not even see her approaching. 
I flash her a smile and take Cale from her. She is good and loyal friend, but is too fond of Leroy to see what is glaring at her. 
“He loves you,” she continues when I don’t respond. There was a time I believed in the power of love, not anymore.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I tell her and walk away with Cale in my arms. I don’t really know what the implications of Leroy claiming his mate will be on me having Cale. It won’t be now while he still needs my milk, but six months from now, he will start eating. Leroy might want his son back with his pack and I can’t really refuse. 
I look down at the cutey gazing at me. 
“We shall enjoy every moment until then, right, Sweety?” I say and stroke his cute chubby cheeks. I can’t help but smile when he turns his head, taking my finger in his mouth and sucking. 
“Cute or not, you can never replace your mate,” stupid Alloy says behind me. I did not see him approach either. Nor did I see Betty leaving. 
“Any reason you are here?” I snap. 
“Leroy needs you,” he says with his usual calm baritone voice. 
“No, he does not,” I refute his words before Gold stirs inside and starts whining. I frown when the hairs at the back of my head rise and my heart starts racing. What the hell?
“He is dying,” Alloy says and turns around to leave. He might not be as bad as the Lycans, but he also has no social skills. 
“What?” I ask, a cold chill engulfing me. Alloy is not the type to joke about something like this. 
I have decided to live my life without Leroy, but I cannot imagine him dead. So many questions play in my head. He has met his second chance mate, why on earth would he be dying?
“You need to come with me,” Alloy does not explain, but rushes towards the castle. 
“You can’t just say that and walk away. What’s wrong with you!” I yell at Alloy who is now running back. I have no choice but tighten my arms around Cale and run behind him. 
The ground floor is deserted with not a single person in sight. I don’t have to wonder long where everyone is. I follow Alloy to my chambers and find it packed. My eyes land on Leroy, who is lying unconscious on my bed. 
“What happened to him?” I ask the epsilon. He must have sensed his Alpha in trouble and appeared out of nowhere as usual. 
“He fought his wolf until he couldn’t. He is letting himself go,” he says with a melancholic tone. Him not using his usual riddles tells me how serious this is.
“What do you mean he is letting himself go?” I enquire with a sinking heart. This is not the first time I am hearing that word. That is what my father supposedly did when my mother was murdered. 
“He would rather die than mark another mate. It is taking everything for him to suppress his wolf,” he explains, and I feel so guilty for losing hope on him. I sink on the bed next to him, hold Cale with one hand and run my hands through Leroy’s hair with the other. 
“You cannot let yourself go, Leroy. I forbid it,” I mutter, my heart breaking. 
“He would rather die than be with me?” a shaky voice asks before a teary Zenith comes to my view. 
“It’s not about you,” Alloy responds to her. “He loves her and has vowed to be faithful to her till death. Leroy is a man of his word,” he adds, while my head starts spinning. 
Leroy is a man of his word. He vowed to fight for me when we were not certain what I was. He defied the lycans the day I shifted because he had promised to die first before anyone touched me. I can’t believe that I doubted him. I can’t hold back my tears as I try to connect with him and fail. Cale must sense that something is wrong because he starts crying. 
 I pull down my gown and start feeding him while I try once more to connect with Leroy to no avail. It is only when I see my guests’ widened expressions that I realize that not everyone has gotten used to this.
“The rumors are true. You are nursing Luna Phoebe’s son,” Zenith cries. “That means even if he claimed me, I was going to die and he will be with you,” she mumbles with her whole body shaking. 
I let out a sigh. I have no response for her. She only refused to accept Leroy’s rejection because she has loved him all her life. Ultimately, she is not responsible for any of this. 
 “I would not even nurse my own child. What fucked up life is that?” she yells out in frustration. She sounds and looks unstable, but I fully understand her. This is all messed up and unfair to all of us.
“I, Zenith, accept your rejection!” she shouts and storms out. Caleb runs out behind her. He must really care about her.