For a moment, I couldn’t move. I stared at my phone screen as if it had turned into a knife in my hand. And there they were—Jonathan and Janine, impeccably dressed, glowing like the world was theirs to command. They stood inches apart, smiling in that infuriatingly familiar way that spoke of years of history and far too much affection.
Jonathan had said he was going to a summit with other Alphas, supposedly a serious and essential meeting. The auction clearly wasn’t any kind of political gathering, and Janine—well, she wasn’t even part of any Alpha council.
I scrolled down, my fingers trembling. The article went on to describe them in sickening detail—their natural chemistry, the “timeless connection” between them. Every sentence slashed deeper into my chest like sharpened claws.
I let my phone slide from my hand onto the sofa, my chest aching as tightness wrapped around my ribs. I couldn’t draw a full breath.
But then, slowly, I rested my palm on my abdomen and inhaled deeply, eyes closing. The life growing within me deserved peace—not pain, not betrayal. My baby was a miracle in the chaos, a flicker of light I was determined to protect and love no matter what happened.
I made my way to the healer's clinic. As she glided a glowing stone gently across my belly, the soft, steady beat of my baby’s heart filled the quiet room.
“You’re carrying a strong Alpha pup,” she said with a gentle smile.
Alpha. My child might rise to lead one day—or maybe they'd simply live a life of freedom, without titles. But what I knew for sure was I didn’t want them growing up in a world full of lies and wounds like mine.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt something that wasn’t pain: hope. My tears came, but they came from joy this time. Relief wrapped itself around me like a long-lost friend.
As I left the clinic, one thing became very clear—I had unfinished business. I made my way to the estate that used to feel like home, the Alpha’s residence. But as I stood in front of its grand oak doors, I felt more like a stranger than ever.
The guards stiffened when they saw me. “Is Alpha Harper in his office?” I asked.
“Yes, Luna. But you aren’t allowed in at the moment,” one of them replied, clearly nervous.
I tilted my head, my voice cool. “Why not? I am still your Luna, am I not?”
He avoided my gaze. “I apologize, Luna. I’m not permitted to say.”