Chapter 15
Celeste POV:
I glanced at Julian gratefully. He met my eyes with a reassuring nod and immediately turned to handle the admission paperwork for me.
The nurse patiently explained the chemotherapy procedure. “Miss Parker, you’ll undergo treatment for quite a while. The chemotherapy medications will be administered via injection into your veins, causing repeated stress and possible damage. Sometimes drugs can even leak, causing severe complications. Most chemotherapy medications are corrosive and harsh on the veins. To prevent these issues, we strongly recommend surgically implanting a catheter in your arm first.”
She continued gently, “This way, medication can safely and smoothly enter your bloodstream, reaching all vital organs without needing to repeatedly search for veins each session. It’s safer and more convenient, though the downside is you’ll have to avoid heavy lifting with this arm in the future.”
I didn’t hesitate and agreed to her suggestion. Before beginning chemotherapy, I underwent a minor surgical
procedure to have an infusion port implanted in my arm.
Unfortunately, my body had developed a strong resistance to anesthesia over the years, making injections ineffective. As the scalpel cut through my fragile skin, I felt a sharp sting. Yet I only furrowed my brows, determined not to let out any sound.
The surgeon commented in surprise, “Very few young women can endure this kind of pain without complaint.”
I smiled bitterly, murmuring softly, “No one cares whether I’m hurting, so why should I show my pain?”
Memories flooded me as I lay there. A year ago, when I had fallen into the icy water, causing premature labor, even with anesthesia, the surgeon’s knife slicing into my abdomen had been excruciatingly clear. I’d passed out from the pain on the operating table, waking later in unbearable agony.
Yet Dominic had remained stubbornly stationed outside Marina’s delivery room the whole time. No matter how
loudly I’d cried out, he hadn’t spared me a single glance.
Since then, my once strong and powerful werewolf body has gradually been tortured and lost its former strength to
the point where it is weak today.
And it was because of that day that I learned to endure all the pain in silence.
The day following chemotherapy, all sorts of side effects overwhelmed me. Julian completed my discharge procedures personally.
Even the short walk from my ward down to the hospital parking lot left me stopping countless time Every slight movement caused severe nausea and dizziness, leaving me weak and breathless.
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Seeing my struggle, Julian sighed softly, then squatted down decisively to lift me into his arms. My face instantly flushed with panic, and I protested weakly, “Julian, please don’t..”
This time, he ignored my protests and spoke firmly. “You’re in extremely poor condition right now. If you refuse my help again, I’ll have no choice but to call your family. The only family you have who can come right now is Dominic,
isn’t it?”
I bitterly realized the cruel irony of my situation. Until our link is completely broken and the dust has settled, he is still my legal mate, the only “family member” available.
“Please,” I begged Julian, voice trembling. “Don’t tell him.”
I was already in such a pathetic state. If Dominic discovered my illness, he’d probably celebrate. I refused to give him the satisfaction of mocking me.
Julian took me carefully back to my apartment. Before leaving, he gave me strict instructions, “Celeste, you must find someone to care for you. In your current condition, you can’t even manage cooking or basic daily tasks alone.”
“I understand,” I reassured him quietly. “My friend will return from overseas soon and can stay with me. Julian, please return to your work–I’ve troubled you enough.”
Julian checked his watch, obviously pressed for time, as he had an important surgery today. After making sure I was settled, he reluctantly left.
Lying alone in bed, I couldn’t even begin to describe the agony gripping me. Pain radiated from every inch of my body, mingling with severe dizziness. My stomach churned violently, while the surgical wound in my arm throbbed incessantly.
Though I still lived in the normal world, every passing second felt like hell.
In these darkest moments, I realized that my weakened heart traitorously missed Dominic the most. My mind
drifted back to the night I had acute appendicitis.
That snowy night, as an Alpha, he couldn’t even wait to drive, just transformed into his wolf form, put me on top of his back, and sped through the snow without stopping to take me to the hospital.
Back then, I’d been delicate and afraid. When they’d wheeled me into surgery, I’d cried uncontrollably.
And Dominic was not moving an inch from the door of the operating room, holding my hand tightly before I was wheeled in, comforting me with the simplest, strongest words, “Don’t be afraid, I’m right here.”
After the surgery, I’d been bedridden for an entire month, and he had cared for me meticulously.
Now, though, he belonged to another woman, devoted to her and their child.
I repeated to myself, again and again, to forget him–his tenderness, his betrayal, and all our bit
veet memories.
Painfully, I forced myself from the bed, biting my lip hard to endure the agony. I stood stubbornly at the kitchen
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Chapter 15
island counter, struggling to load the cooked pasta onto a plate.
Tears filled my eyes at some point and silently slid down my chin, landing on my sleeve.
The most unbearable torment wasn’t the chemotherapy drugs saturating my veins; it was the overwhelming pain in my heart–my lingering love for Dominic. Each memory of him felt like a blade, mercilessly cutting me, leaving me breathless and shattered.
For three endless days, pain held me captive. By the morning of the fourth day, my physical agony finally began to ease slightly.
There was a knock on the door and I slowly got up from the bed. I assumed it was Lila returning, but when I pulled the door open, Julian stood in the doorway.
It was his day off, so uncharacteristically he didn’t visit after work in the evening. As usual, he brought fresh groceries and even my favorite grilled hot dogs.
He hurried into my apartment, black wool coat still covered in mist, black hair slightly damp. As he leaned down, examining my pale complexion, I noticed a tiny snowflake still clinging stubbornly to his thick eyelashes.
“Is it snowing?” I asked weakly, my voice hoarse.
He nodded gently. “Yes, it’s been snowing all night. Once you’re feeling better, I’ll take you outside to see it.”
I smiled faintly. “That would be nice. It doesn’t hurt as much today.”
I wrapped the thick blanket around my body and slowly made my way to the living room. As I passed the bedroom, I glanced absently at the pillows on the bed, my feet and heartbeat lurched–there was a large clump of fallen hair on
the pillow.
I’d known chemotherapy would cause hair loss. I’d cut my hair short in anticipation. Yet seeing such a stark reality frightened me deeply. I was still a young woman–losing my hair shook me more than I wanted to admit.
Panicked and embarrassed, I murmured quickly, “I’ll go wash up first.”
Julian had treated countless cancer patients; he understood our hidden fears–often it wasn’t death itself, but facing our deteriorating appearance and waning dignity.-
“Take it slowly,” he said gently.
Inside the bathroom, facing the mirror, I saw a pale, weak stranger staring back at me. My heart clenched painfully.
I had to finalize the divorce quickly. I couldn’t bear the thought of Dominic seeing me bald, stripped of any last dignity.
Summoning the little strength I had, I grabbed my phone. Ignoring the numerous unread mes Dominic’s number.
es, I dialed
I was completely unaware that for the past four days and nights, he’d been desperately searching everywhere for
Luna’s Ascent: When I Walked Away, Alpha Wept
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- me.
The call connected immediately. His angry, tense voice thundered from the speaker, “Celeste, where the hell have you been?”
He’d actually searched for me these past days?
I didn’t explain, merely responded with a steely determination in my voice. “Dominic, in exactly one hour, I’ll wait for you at the Werewolf Civil Hall. I don’t want to drag this out anymore. Let’s get divorced and break the bond.”
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