His First Love

MAELIS

I paused at his announcement, a shiver running down my spine. My gaze traveled to Theron whose eyes held a mix of disbelief and happiness.

I opened my mouth to tell him why I was here but was soon shoved to the side by Theron who was already eagerly walking out.

Before my brain could process anything, I rose to my feet and soon found myself walking behind Theron down the corridor, my bag still on my shoulder with the result pressed deep inside it.

I heard her before I saw her.

Her soft broken sobs filled the entrance hall. I had grown up with Nerine Hawthorne and I knew what her real crying sounded like.

This wasn’t it.

My steps slowed down as I reached the entrance of the hall and as I made my way into the hall, my heart dipped and beads of sweat coated my forehead.

Standing in the middle of the hall was Theron with Nerine in his arms with tears running down her cheeks.

“I went through so much Tee. I suffered a lot without you with me,” she wailed out loud. “I never meant to stay away from you, the rogues… they captured me and wouldn’t let me go.”

Theron pressed her closer, his hand stroking her hair softly. “Shhh… It’s okay baby. All that matters now is that you are here.”

“I still love you Tee, I really do. I only left because I felt so hurt and ridiculed by the decision the council took. I tried to come back but the rogues just wouldn’t let me no matter how many times I tried to escape.”

She pressed her lips against his neck, softly kissing him, trying to reassure him of her love.

I stood at the edge of the hall, unable to move. It felt like my whole world had stopped, like I had forgotten how to breathe.

Then she glanced over Theron’s shoulder and her eyes found mine.

Her tears didn’t stop, nor did the trembling but for one split second, a flash of satisfaction moved through her eyes.

Then she smiled, winking slightly as she lowered her gaze.

“Sister,” she began, her voice low and teasing. “Have you been well?”

I swallowed hard, trying hard to contain the bile that was rising in my throat.

For five years, five years she had been gone, and just when I had thought I could finally have the man whom I had been yearning for, she shows up and puts up this show?

I stared at her, thinking of the right words to use.

“I… I don’t understand. How… How are you here?” I managed to stutter.

She dabbed her tears with her finger and shivered slightly. “I—“ she began but was soon cut short by the sound of the door being opened.

Evelyn, my adoptive mother’s voice filled the space. “Nerine—“ she called out, rushing towards her with Alistair, my adoptive father hot on her trail.

Evelyn and Alistair pulled her into a hug and for a few seconds, they remained that way. As they pulled apart, a small voice suddenly filled the space.

"Mommy."

Everyone stilled, eyes turning toward the tiny voice.

A little boy stood near the entrance, his small hands gripping the hem of Nerine’s dress, his wide eyes scanning the unfamiliar room. He couldn't have been more than four years old, his dark hair was slightly disheveled and his eyes held confusion.

My brows furrowed in confusion.

Who was that child? Did he just call Nerine mommy?

Nerine reached down immediately, smiling sweetly as she lifted the boy onto her hips, kissing him softly.

“It’s okay baby. Mommy’s here.”

Evelyn’s eyes went wide, her hands flying to her mouth. "Nerine… is he… is he…"

Nerine nodded with a wide smile. “Yes, he’s my child. His name is Caden," She said softly.

Gasps erupted in the hall.

I staggered backward, my hands instinctively flying to my stomach. I watched Theron’s face, dread filling me. His expression held disbelief which quickly changed into confusion, then something more raw and unguarded took its place.

His eyes dropped to the little boy.

Caden stared back at him with curious gaze.

“He’s… he’s mine?” Theron asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nerine nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I tried to come back so many times Tee. I wanted you to know. I didn't want to do it alone but I had no choice."

My throat choked with emotions at her words. A child. Something I couldn’t give him for the five years I have been with him until recently, she had walked through the door with his son.

It didn’t matter anymore that I was pregnant or that I had run this pack quietly for five years. Now, everything that I had held onto has been burned.

Blood rushed to my head and I blinked rapidly as I tried to control my emotions.

Theron reached out for the child, his hand slowly caressing the boy’s cheek.

The child didn’t flinch, instead, he stared at Theron , his wide eyes filled with curiosity as he said,

“Are you my daddy?”

A soft smile appeared on Theron lip as he nodded slowly.

“They’ll stay here,” he ordered. “Both of them.”

“Here? In the mansion?” I croaked out but got silence in return.

Evelyn sobbed quietly, pulling Nerine and Caden into her arms. Alistair stood beside her, his face filled with love.

I watched the scene before me with an emotion I couldn’t quite describe. Just as I decided to leave, Nerine’s gaze met mine, and a sad smile that I knew was fake coated her lips.

“But what about my sister?” She asked, her voice filled with guilt. “She’s still the Luna.”

Theron’s jaw tightened. "Her position has always been temporary. When the contract ends, everything goes back to how it was."

Evelyn wet eyes met mine and her gaze turned cold.

“Why are you still here?” She hissed. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have missed the early years of my grandchild.”

Silence ensued in the hall.

“If you hadn’t greedily taken what rightfully belongs to her, she never would have left, she never would have been in pain,” She continued coldly.

I had told myself on the drive here that I would not break. That I would swallow whatever came and keep standing. And I did, I kept my face still and my breathing even and I did not look away from Evelyn Hawthorne.

“You should apologize to your sister,” Alistair chimed in.

My eyes travelled toward Theron who stared at me expectantly, as if waiting to hear me apologize.

I don't know what I expected. I had been living in this pack for five years. I knew who this family would always choose. But some foolish part of me had still been waiting for him to say one word, to choose me.

But he didn't.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips and without a word, I turned to leave.

“Maelis,” Theron’s voice filled the air but I didn’t stop. I had had enough and wanted to be far away from all of them.

“Arrange a room for Nerine and my child on the alpha floor. Make sure it’s comfortable. They are royalty and should be treated as such from henceforth,” he declared loudly.

His request stopped me in my tracks. I turned to stare at him, hoping I had heard wrong but his expression was expectant, and impatient, the face of a man who saw nothing unreasonable in what he had just asked. The face of a man who had never once considered what it would cost the person he was asking.

My gaze swept through the room, taking in the expectant look on everyone’s face. I wanted to argue with him, to let him know I would never tend to his side piece but I swallowed it. It wasn’t worth it, he wasn’t worth fighting for.

A low scoff escaped my lips. “Get your maids to do it,” I said, my voice cold.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room before my nerves would fail me.

I walked until I got into my room, shut the door hard, and leaned against the frame with my gaze on the ceiling.

I thought about the night it happened, the night Theron and I had sex for the first time.

It was eight weeks ago on the night of the pack celebration. Silvercrest had successfully defended its eastern borders after weeks of tension against a rival pack. The whole pack had celebrated and even Theron had allowed himself to drink, which was a rare sight.

I don’t know how exactly it happened but I remembered he had complimented my dress on our way back home but somehow we had ended up in his room and in each other’s arms.

And for one night, one single night in five years, the distance between us collapsed. I had lain in his arms after sex, telling myself how this was a turning point but as soon as he pulled me closer and snuggled into my neck, his next words caused tears to gather at the corner of my eyes.

“Nerine…” he had called out, his voice low, almost unconscious, and filled with passion.

I had lain there for a long time in the dark, telling myself people said things in sleep that had nothing to do with truth. Telling myself it meant nothing.

A deep sigh escaped my lips and I made my way towards the bed, plopping down at the edge. Outside, I could hear the pack members celebrating Nerine’s return and the heir nobody knew existed.

I reached under the mattress and pulled out the contract.

Five years ago, I had signed the contract with steady hands, believing I could turn the hands of fate in my favour. I unfolded it and read through it again until my eyes found the clause at the bottom.

‘In the event of a pregnancy during the contract period, full custody of the child shall remain with the Alpha upon contract termination.’

I read it twice.

Five years ago, I did not care about that clause because pregnancy had been the last thing on my mind.

But now, there was a child, my child.

If I tell him about the baby and if he refuses to mark me, I wouldn’t just be losing him, I would be losing my baby too. And if the baby survives, he would keep the baby and send me away and there wouldn’t be anything I’d be able to do about it because I had signed my name on that contract.

My hands moved to my mouth and tears filled my eyes.

I no longer had one month to figure things out, maybe I had just a few hours to figure out my next step.

A soft knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts.

I glanced at the door to see Nerine walking into the room with a smug smile on her face, her child was nowhere in sight.

The scared little girl's act she had put on earlier was completely gone. It was replaced with something I recognized better, the particular look she had worn since my adoptive parents found the biological daughter they had been searching for for years.

She gazed around the room slowly, her eyes taking in everything, then she turned to me.

“Still in this small room,” she said. “Even after five years as Luna.”

She stepped further into the room, her finger trailing the dresser, like she was deciding what to do with the space.

"You know what I always found fascinating about you, Mae?" She turned to face me. "You actually believed it. The title, the duties, the whole performance. Did you really think that because the Moon Goddess appointed you, Theron would ever actually choose you?"

I stood up, anger bubbling within me.

"Did you think five years of playing Luna would make him forget me easily?" She laughed softly. "He searched for me every single day while you were warming his house and slaving away for the pack members."

“Get out of my room,” I said, unable to contain my anger anymore.

Her smile widened and she took a step toward me. "Make the most of next few months, sister. Because when that contract ends…”

Not wanting to hear any more of her words, I grabbed her arm, trying to push her out of my room but she took hold of my hand and placed it hard against her neck, her fingers crushing mine against her neck.

My eyes widened as I realized what she was aiming for. I had seen this play over and over again when we were kids.

I pulled hard, trying to release my arm but her grip was firm and she held on firmly.

She locked eyes with me and a sly grin spread across her lips. Before I could tell what was happening, her loud scream filled the space.

And in seconds, Theron was in the room. His expression cold and furious as his eyes landed on my hand at Nerine’s throat.

In three fast strides, he closed the distance between us, grabbed my arm, and pulled backward hard, twisting my arm in the process.

He pulled Nerine to himself, holding her tight against his chest.

I looked up at him.

The same cold face from the entrance hall stared back at me.

But this time, it was filled with hatred, directed entirely at me.