The night before the full moon, I knelt by the window, tears tracing paths down my cheeks. I rested a hand on my belly, feeling the faint pulse of life growing inside—Thorne’s child. Alpha Thorne Ravencroft, leader of the powerful Wolfshade Pack. My mate.
It had been only two moons since I first sensed the baby, and though my love for this child was undeniable, doubt gnawed at my soul. Thorne had become colder and distant. The thought of raising our child in a world where he barely acknowledged our bond terrified me.
“It’ll be okay...” I whispered, trying to believe it.
Suddenly, Thorne’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Freya, stop acting like you can’t handle yourself. I’ll be with the pack. You stay here.”
“I can fight, Thorne. I’ve fought beside you before. I want to come with you.”
He turned, eyes narrowing with irritation. “This isn’t the time for stubbornness, Freya.”
I swallowed, fighting to keep my voice steady.
“We’ve been mates for over a year, and not once have you let me join you. What’s the point of being the Alpha’s mate if I’m always stuck here, waiting?”
“Look, we’re stretched thin as it is. It’s safer for you to stay. End of discussion.”
Always safer for me, like I was something fragile. I blinked back tears, wondering if our bond still meant anything.
The next day, I went to the healer. I needed answers about my pregnancy, guidance—anything to steady my spinning thoughts. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
The healer’s eyes were full of sorrow, her hands trembling as she reached for mine. “Freya... I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but I can’t keep this from you any longer.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “It happened a month ago. The Alpha... Thorne. He told us not to say anything, thinking you’d... misunderstand.”
“W-what are you talking about?” My voice cracked.
“The Alpha... he bonded with Selene.” I stood frozen, struggling to comprehend.
“Selene?” I choked out, barely able to say her name. “His moonfriend from Crimson Pack?” My throat burned with each word. “That Selene?”
The healer gave a small, heartbreaking nod.
Questions filled my mind. How come?
I felt my knees weakened. Thorne, my Thorne, had bonded with someone else—without telling me.
My mate... the one who was supposed to be mine, always.
“And,” she continued, her voice growing even softer, “I heard from an Omega last night... Selene’s pregnant.”
The final blow. Everything I had built with Thorne shattered with those words.
My heart raced as I pushed into the common den, the pack’s celebration alive with energy. Selene’s laugh sliced through the noise.
“Freya,” she purred, locking eyes with me, mischief glittering in her gaze.
“Is it true?” My voice trembled, but the anger was evident.
She tilted her head, a mock-innocent smile playing on her lips. “What are you going on about?”
I felt the eyes of the pack shift to us, but I didn’t care. I stepped closer.
“Don’t play dumb with me! You manipulated Thorne into bonding with you, knowing he already had a mate!”
Selene let out a soft, dismissive laugh.
“Oh, that. I didn’t have to do much, sweetheart. Thorne was more than willing... He agreed to it without hesitation.”
My wolf surged beneath my skin, a growl building in my chest. “You’re shameless.”
“Shameless?” She scoffed, stepping closer. “And you think you’re worthy of Alpha Thorne? You’re weak, Freya. He deserves better.”
I clenched my fists. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Spare me your self-righteous crap. You’ve been holding him back, and you know it.”
Before I could stop myself, my hand shot up, ready to strike. But Thorne’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Freya!” He stormed in, his presence sending ripples through the crowd.
“What the hell is going on?”
I froze, my hand still raised, my heart sinking.
“Thorne, I—”
“Enough!” His voice was sharp. He turned his glare on me, and the betrayal in his eyes shattered something inside. “Why are you provoking her?”
“I wasn’t—” I started, but his expression silenced me.
The hurt hit me like a punch. How could he blame me?
Wolves whispered. The pack, once my home, now felt like a cage, denying me my place by Thorne’s side.
I couldn’t breathe. I stumbled outside, my heart heavy, and found myself at the healer’s door.
“Please... take this baby away from this misery.”
Chapter 2I woke with a weight pressing down on my chest, suffocating. Needing air, I stepped outside, the cool breeze doing little to lift the heaviness in my heart.
I did what I had to. I embraced myself, brushing my hand against both of my arms.
I closed my eyes, the memory of last night flooding back.
"Are you sure about this, Lady Freya?" The healer had asked, her eyes soft with sympathy.
I bit my lip to keep from breaking. "I’ve thought it through. My decision is final."
She nodded and took my hand, her warmth only making my tears spill. I looked up at the full moon, its cold light illuminating my sorrow.
I’m sorry, my son, I thought, I can’t bring you into a world where your father won’t care. Where this pack will reject us both.
"If that’s your decision, I respect it," the healer whispered.
"Thank you," I barely managed to say, my voice was raw.
"Take a deep breath. I’ll call my apprentice. We’ll start when the clock strikes midnight."
I nodded, watching her retreat into the den. The moon stared down, indifferent, as I braced for what was to come.
There was no turning back.
Word spread quickly before I could stop it—I, Freya, the Alpha’s mate, had aborted the next heir of Wolfshade.
The pack reacted instantly.
I couldn’t blame them for their shock. They had just learned I was pregnant this morning, only to find out moments later that I had terminated it.
Whispers grew into low growls, judgment filling every corner of Wolfshade. The Omegas and a few Elders gave me looks of quiet sympathy, understanding what Thorne had done—how he had left me alone, trapped with a burden I never asked for.
But the warriors? The higher ranks? Their anger was unmistakable, radiating like heat.
"She killed the next Alpha," one muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.
I stopped, my fists clenching. My heart pounded, but I didn’t turn. They had no idea. They didn’t understand.
“She did what she had to,” an Omega whispered, her voice shaky, unsure if she should defend me.
"Had to?" a warrior scoffed, disgust dripping from his words. "She destroyed the future of this pack. That’s no 'had to.' That’s betrayal."
I gritted my teeth, anger swelling. They didn’t know what it was like—carrying a child in a world where the father no longer cared, where I was disappearing day by day to the man who was supposed to love me.
I spun around, facing them. “You think it was easy? You think I wanted this?”
The warrior’s sneer faltered, but he held firm. “You should’ve thought about the pack. We’re all paying for your choice.”
My voice turned cold. “I did think about the pack. I thought about bringing a child into a world where its own father wouldn’t look at him. Don’t talk to me about suffering.”
Without another word, I turned and walked away. Let them think what they wanted. They weren’t the ones carrying the weight of it all. I was.
I was about to close my room's door when I felt a sudden energy about to come near me. In just a second, Thorne burst through the door, fury etched across his face. The moment I saw him, I knew he had learned about termination. I braced myself.
“Freya!” His voice roared. “What have you done?”
“Thorne, I—”
“Don’t you dare try to justify this,” he snapped. He began to pace, the muscles in his jaw tightening with each step. “You acted like a child! How could you make such a monumental decision without even discussing it with me? I didn't even know you're having my child!"
My heart sank. “I was protecting my son."
“Protecting your son?” His disbelief was palpable. “Our son, Freya! You didn’t think about me at all, did you? You're being unreasonable!"
But how could I? He had been so wrapped up in his responsibilities, so caught up with Selene, that I felt invisible. I couldn’t bring a child into a world where their father was more interested in another woman than in his own mate.
“Thorne, you were never there for me,” I said, my voice trembling. “You’ve been distant, and I couldn’t bear the thought of raising a son who would never know his father’s love. I did what I thought was best.”
His expression hardened. “So, you thought ending it was the answer? You thought making that choice alone was best for us?”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I held them back, unwilling to show him my pain. “You were busy with Selene, Thorne! You’ve betrayed me in ways I can’t even express. I felt like I was losing you, and I couldn’t bring a child into that kind of mess!”
“You’ve shattered our bond, Freya. This isn’t just about you. It’s about us, our pack, our legacy---"
"Really? I...shattered our bond? It was you, Thorne! You betrayed me first! I did this fearing I would be raising a child in a broken home. I didn’t want to put my child through that!"
Chapter 3After the fight with Thorne, I hardly saw him. Guilt gnawed at me, knowing there’d be consequences for what I’d done.
Today was pup training. The little ones were being prepped, and soon they'd be taken under the warriors' wings. Parents stood proud, watching their pups join the ranks. The air was filled with excited howls.
It hit me hard, thinking about my unborn child. He would've been one of the strongest pups here.
“But my son doesn’t deserve an ungrateful pack,” I muttered under my breath.
I turned to leave, feeling the weight of it all—then I saw Thorne, watching me. His eyes were burning with something I couldn't quite place.
“If you didn’t kill him, our son would be here with me,” he said as I walked past, his voice cold.
I froze, taking a deep breath, trying to keep my rage in check. The nerve of him! I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth. “You’re the one who made me do it.”
Thorne scoffed. “Selene wouldn’t have done the same—”
“I don’t give a damn about Selene!” I snapped, spinning to face him. “Do you honestly think our son deserved a father like you? You’re selfish, Thorne.”
His jaw tightened. “Oh, you’re bringing that up again? It wasn’t a betrayal, Freya. How many times do I have to tell you? It was to help her, to help the future of our ally and the pack.”
“That’s bullshit! Do you hear yourself?” My voice was rising, and I could feel the heat on my face. Around us, people were murmuring, their attention shifting away from the ceremony. The proud parents, the pups—forgotten. Thorne had a way of doing that, making everything about him.
I shook my head, trying to steady myself. “I don’t want to argue, Thorne. There’s a ceremony happening. Show some respect.”
“You’re backing away,” he said, stepping closer.
“I’m not, I just—”
“That’s exactly how you are. Always running when things get hard.”
I didn’t want to hear it. This conversation was pointless. He wasn’t going to listen. He never did.
“Come on, tell me, Freya.” His voice was low, mocking. “Did I really hurt you so badly that it made you kill our son?”
Tears stung my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall. The audacity of him—to call my son his!
“Shut up,” I hissed.
“What?”
“I said, shut up!” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care anymore. “I don’t want to be your mate, Thorne.” The words came out before I could stop them, and I didn’t take them back. They hung in the air, silencing everyone around us.
Thorne’s eyes flared with rage. “You don’t get to decide that,” he growled. “You killed our son, Freya! You took him from me!”
My heart clenched, but I held my ground. “I did it because of you. I don’t care what you say.” My voice was firm. “You betrayed me, Thorne. You betrayed us.”
Loud roars filled the air as the tension finally snapped, rippling through the pack. Wolves began to shift, their anger feeding off our fight. The ceremony was forgotten, swallowed by chaos.
Council members scrambled, trying to regain control, but emotions ran high. More wolves transformed, unable to contain the beast within.
“Freya, you’re making a scene again!” Selene’s voice appeared, dripping with annoyance.
I turned, a smirk curling on my lips. “Oh, look who decided to show up. The whore herself.”
Her eyes narrowed, teeth grinding. “Watch your mouth,” she spat.
“Awfully proud of yourself, aren’t you, Selene?” I taunted. “Does your mate know what you’ve been up to behind his back, hmm?”
She flinched, fury flashing in her eyes. The tension between us crackled like electricity, drawing the crowd’s attention.
Suddenly, a sharp pulse of energy could be felt, coming from the sentinel station. A signal. An approaching pack. The atmosphere shifted in an instant—wolves on high alert.
Selene’s smirk faded as a chill ran down her spine. She turned just as a tall figure emerged from the shadows—Lucian, her mate. His piercing eyes locked onto hers.
“It’s been a while, Selene,” he said, his voice dark and steady.
Chapter 4The Crimson and Wolfshade Packs had always shared a deep bond—years of alliance, built on trust and strength. But that bond was crumbling before my eyes. Selene's betrayal sparked a fury in Lucian Silverfang, Alpha of the Crimson Pack, unlike anything I had ever seen.
"I had no choice," Selene had said, her voice strained as she faced Lucian. "I needed to secure an heir before the next full moon."
Lucian's expression was cold, his jaw clenched. “An heir?” His voice was low, dangerous. “And you thought betraying me was the way to do that?”
“He's always gone, Freya!” Selene had told me, trying to justify her actions. "He’s been away in the East, securing alliances while leaving our bond to wither!"
But now, in front of Lucian, all her excuses fell apart. His anger was palpable, radiating from him like a storm ready to break. He had all but neglected their bond, but he expected her to wait. And she hadn’t.
Thorne stepped in, trying to reason with him. "Lucian, we’re allies. You know I was only trying to help.”
Lucian’s glare silenced him.
"Help? That's nonsense!" he growled. “You shattered trust between our packs, Thorne. I don’t need that kind of help.”
The growls of warriors echoed through the clearing, the fragile alliance now hanging by a thread. I could feel the tension in the air.
Selene’s eyes burned with fury as they found mine. She felt betrayed, and I knew why.
I couldn't help but feel the satisfaction of her annoyed face.
“You told him, didn’t you?” she hissed, stepping toward me, her fists clenched. “You told Lucian everything!”
I didn’t flinch under her glare. “He deserved to know the truth.”
“The truth?” Selene’s voice rose. “You’ve just doomed us all! Lucian will tear us apart. You’ve made him your weapon.”
I met her gaze, my voice steady.
“You did that to yourself, Selene.”
Lucian’s voice roared through the rising chaos. “This alliance is broken. Wolfshade tainted it. I'm afraid war is the only answer.”
The warriors of both packs bristled, their growls rising to a roar. The weight of Lucian’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. This wasn’t just about Selene anymore—it was about all of us.
The war had begun, and chaos swirled around us like a storm. Selene’s eyes locked on mine, full of fury and malice. I could see it in the way her muscles tensed, the way her lips curled back to bare her fangs. And then she shifted—her werewolf from towering over me as she charged, claws extended and aimed right at me.
I raised my arms instinctively, heart racing, trying to defend myself without striking back. My mind screamed at me not to hurt her—not with the baby growing inside her. I don't want to hurt an innocent unborn child. My chest tightened with fear, not for myself, but for what it would mean if I fought back.
But Selene was cunning. She swerved at the last second, throwing herself against a nearby tree with a sickening thud. She crumpled to the ground, and for a brief moment, I stood there, stunned.
Confused of what she did.
A wail echoed through the forest—Selene’s cry of pain. It was loud, deliberate, and designed to reach him.
Lucian.
I felt his presence shift, his rage flare up through the bond they shared. I could almost see it in the way the forest itself seemed to tremble as he felt his mate's distress. My heart sank.
Then Thorne appeared, his eyes darting between me and Selene, confusion and anger battling in his gaze. He felt it too—the tug of his connection to Selene. Even after everything, that bond still tied him to her.
Selene rose slowly, a look of triumph creeping across her face as she turned to them both. Her voice came out weak and trembling, loud enough for everyone to hear. “She attacked me. Freya... she did this.”
“No!” I shouted, stepping forward, my heart pounding. “That’s not what happened! Selene, you threw yourself—”
But it was too late. Lucian’s eyes darkened, his fury blazing as he stared at me, the bond he shared with her clouding his judgment.
“You did this?” His voice was a low, dangerous growl, each word heavy with accusation.
“Lucian, she’s lying!” My voice trembled, but I held firm. “I didn’t touch her. You know I wouldn’t!”
I glanced at Thorne, silently pleading for him to say something, to back me up. His eyes met mine, conflicted and torn, but he said nothing. Of course, he wouldn’t—not now. Not with Selene twisting everything around.
Selene’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. The kind of smile that only I could see. This bitch.
I clenched my fists, anger rising inside me. I was about to retaliate, when a firm voice roared. The authority in that voice left no room for argument. The crowd of warriors began to disperse, but the tension still hung heavily in the air.
"Everyone, back to your posts! Freya, follow me to the council den."