Jocelyn’s POV
“It’s unfortunate how some people can spend years with the alpha and still be without a pup and how some can spend just one night with and have a rounded belly only a month after, don't you think?” Gabriella Walter’s sickly voice met my voice making my anger boil in my veins.
Gabriella, my mate’s ex, didn't even bother to get a response from me before she left my room, cackling.
The first thing I did was to mind-link my mate, Alpha Dante Alessandro.
“I never knew that sleeping around with the women in the pack was one of your honorable duties as well, Alpha,” my voice echoed through our mind link in the most sarcastic tone ever and I knew that this was no way to talk to your fated mate, but Dante had crossed the line.
“Stop overreacting! Gabriella needed help and I helped her out like any other alpha should!”
Dante’s words did nothing to calm the brewing storm in my heart and so I temporarily blocked the mind path we shared, not willing to hear any more condescending words.
My hands fell on the top of my belly, and I wasn't able to hold back the tears. Soon, I began a crying mess as I began to wonder how exactly I ended up in this situation in the first place.
I was already a few weeks pregnant and planned to share the good news with Dante soon, but now, it didn't even seem like it would be necessary.
For the rest of the day, my mind kept dancing around previous conversations with Dante and the number of times when he would tell me that he wasn't ready for a pup.
Werewolves were creatures that craved physical intimacy, especially with their mates, yet Dante hardly ever touched me. One of his excuses was that he wasn't ready for pups yet. I guess that the rule only applied to me.
I felt stupid thinking that he was starting to consider a family with me when he suddenly started talking about pups and started getting closer to me.
Night fell, and it was only then that I got to see Dante.
He was quick to approach me and hug me from behind before peppering hot kisses against my neck.
This wasn't Dante I knew.
“What is it?” I asked in a harsh voice ready to get as far away from him as possible.
With that one question of mine, he stopped. “I’m so sorry Jocelyn. The thing with Gabriella is not what you think. Her mate is dying and one of his last wishes is to see Gabriella with a pup and as Alpha, I only thought it would be right if I helped. The pup won’t be connected to me in any way, shape, or form.”
None of what Dante said made any sense to me.
I took a step away from him, unfurling his hands away from my waist, before turning to face him. “And did you have to do it? Why didn't your Beta do it? Or any other man who just didn't happen to be mated? Am I just supposed to believe that you having a pup with your ex is purely innocent?”
I was sure that the shakiness in my voice didn't go unnoticed and I tried my very best I could not shed any tears in front of him. He didn't deserve to see me in such a state.
“Jocelyn, I don't need any of this right now! I'm trying to be the best mate for you by being honest with you every step of the way and if you can't appreciate that, then fine!” Dante yelled before leaving our room and going to only goddess knew where.
That night, I didn't sleep.
A million thoughts ran through my head, but the most pronounced of them all was the one that screamed that I couldn't have Dante’s pup. I couldn't let the pup have such a terrible father.
The next morning, I made a trio go to the clinic after setting up a meeting with one of the best healers that the pack had to offer.
“Are you sure about this?” The healer asked, his eyes darting around the room as though I had just asked him to do something taboo and in some ways it was.
I nodded. “Yes, I am. This pup wasn't meant to see this world and I'm only saving it from inevitable pain.”
The healer swallowed. “Fine. I will get everything ready for the abortion ritual then.”
Chapter 2Jocelyn’s POV
Getting rid of my unborn pup only took an hour and even though I knew that it was for the best, I couldn't help but feel a knot tight in my heart and I couldn't stop my wolf from constantly howling in my head.
As if the day couldn't get any more eventful, immediately I stepped out of the clinic, I saw Dante and Gabriella at the clinic together, laughing and chatting away.
“So you're stalking me now, Jocelyn. A Luna should know not to lower her standards to such shady levels,” Dante commented, folding his arms.
“No, I'm sure that Luna Jocelyn was here to get a checkup done or to visit someone, weren't you?” Gabriella interjected, trying to sound as nice as she could, but I was not buying it.
Not willing to waste any time with either of them, I reached into my bag and took out my positive pregnancy result as well as the abortion certificate I had just gotten.
“Here, this is what I came here to do,” I announced, throwing the papers in their faces.
Dante reacted fast, catching the papers in mid-air.
His eyes widened when he took a good look at the papers. “You never told me that you were pregnant?” he accused, his voice coming off as more of a growl.
I took a step back. “You made it clear that you never wanted pups from day one and you made it extra clear that if you were to have pups with anyone, it would be Gabriella,” I seethed.
Dante squeezed the papers in his hands and I could feel his wolf threatening to surface. “None of that tells me why you would go ahead and get an abortion without at least speaking to me first!”
I was ready to match his rage with mine, but as always, Gabriella just had to interrupt. She placed a hand on his arm and shook her head. “Alpha Dante, can we please not do this now? I can feel the baby moving and I don't feel so good. I-I… think we need… I think I need to see a healer… please,” the home wrecker whimpered.
Like she had hidden a spell beneath her words, Dante’s anger began to simmer.
All of Dante’s attention was now on Gabriella.
“Let’s go see the healer,” he told her before leaving me alone in the hallway.
Having more than enough time to think, I rushed back to the home that Dante and I had created together and began to pack. Once I was done, I had some of our guards take my luggage out to my car, and just when I thought it would finally be time for me to mark a new beginning in my life, Dante came home.
With fists clenched by his sides, he yelled at all the men who were helping me to stop and bridged the gap between us both with two large steps.
“You might have aborted our pup based on whatever messed up choice you cooked up in your head, but one thing I will never allow you to do of your own accord is to leave me and all that we have created together.” His voice came out dangerously low.
Although my heart had begun to beat faster than usual, I scoffed. “Dante, you have absolutely no right over me anymore. You can go play house with your ex and the woman currently carrying your child.”
Dante pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering some curse words under his breath.
I was ready to get over this already and move back in with my parents, so I drew in a deep breath as the realization of what I had to do next began to linger in my heart.
My wolf’s energy began to surge in me and I knew she could sense what I was going to do next.
“We just have to, don't we?” her voice echoed in my head.
“We do,” I agreed.
Without another thought in my head, I began, “I, Jocelyn Beaumont, re-”
“Not another word!” Dante yelled, stopping me before I could free myself from this burdensome bind holding the boyg of us together.
“Let me go!” I yelled back.
“No! You do not get to go because you are my mate and you will be my mate forever!”
I held onto my bags even tighter. “Fine! Then I guess if you do not want me rejecting you and breaking this bond peacefully, I will have to raise a case with the elders and we’ll have to see what they have to say about this!”
For the first time since this argument began, Dante’s lips pulled into a thin line and he took a step back. I took that as my cue and walked past him as fast as I could until I was in my car and driving towards my parent’s house.
On getting to my parent’s house, I was presently surprised to see that they were as supportive as ever.
“You should have left him sooner. Dante might be our Alpha, but he should know how to treat his Luna right. Do you remember when he left you on the day of your mating ceremony just because Gabriella was having issues with her mate?” my mother recalled, shaking her head.
“Or the time he spent your birthday with Gabriella because he heard she was sick,” my father added.
“We’re just so glad you're back to your senses now. You’ve been as loyal as a dog, patiently waiting for him to give you just a fraction of his attention for seven years. Enough is enough, Joceleyn,” my mother commented before wrapping her arms around me in a loving embrace.
It was enough to keep my tears at bay. I had been so stupidly in love with Dante for years, and the more I thought about it, the sadder I felt for myself.
As though Dante could sense what was happening in my parent’s home, he mindlinked me, “Jocelyn, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me and just see me for dinner tonight. I have called everyone including myself and Gabriella to come apologize to you.”
For moments, I kept quiet until a wicked thought clouded my senses.
“Okay, but you only get this one chance.”
That night, I got ready, doing my hair and makeup as best as I could knowing that this night had no choice but to go in my favour.
Walking into the restaurant Dante picked, I was happy to see everyone present, those who supported Gabriella’s and Dante’s relationship including his Beta, Alex, and the stars of the show, Gabriella and Dante themselves.
But one person was missing.
As if the goddess herself could hear my thoughts, she sent the last person walking through the doors at that moment.
The doors swung open and an aura just as strong as Dante’s filled the room as an able-bodied man walked towards us.
Gabriella’s face paled as she stared at him. “W-what are you doing here?” she asked her mate.