Ch.1 ~Jodie

Jodie

Today, I, the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, am divorcing my fated mate—the man the Moon Goddess chose for me. The bond still burns under my skin, but he’s made his choice. And it isn’t me. It’s my sister.

I look up, the woman in the mirror stares back at me, her eyes wet and hollow…her skin pale and wrinkled even though she's so young. She looks nothing like the me I remember. But yeah, I have to pick up what's left of me and patch it up however I can. It's better than staying in a place you're not loved. I dab my face with the handkerchief in my hand one last time.

“It's not the time to cry, Jodie,” I mutter to myself.

I feel a faint throb in my head as my body sways slightly to the side. My wolf stirs, restless. I press my hand against the sink to steady myself. Again… over the years of this marriage, my body has grown weaker. My phone rings out loud from my bed, the sound echoing through the room. I manage to drag my legs to it. Evelyn, my best friend’s name, flashes across the screen. I slide my thumb on the green icon, and the call counter pops up—

“Jodie?” Evelyn’s voice hurries through from the other end. “You need to come to the hospital immediately.”

I blink. “Hey, what's wrong? I was about to step out when your call came in.”

“It's your test result,” she says. “It came in this morning. I need you here ASAP.”

I don't say a word, my chest tightens…but it isn't really from fear as it should be. I breathe out. Finally, something can explain the aches and dizziness I have been feeling for the past weeks. I had thought it was hypoglycemia because of the blood transfusion, but there were other symptoms too—I couldn’t eat properly every day, and nausea constantly lingered.

Even the scent of coffee, which I used to love, made my stomach twist. Sometimes my vision blurred when I stood up too fast, I kept brushing it off, telling myself it was just stress or weakness from giving blood again, but deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

“What could it be?” I murmur. Cancer? Tumor? Goddess, wouldn't that be poetic—finding out I'm dying on the day I'm getting a divorce? I chuckle lightly.

“Jodie!” Evelyn snaps. “Just come, alright?”

I smile weakly, three of my fingers rubbing my forehead hard as if the motion will reduce the pain. “Hah! If that's the case, I don't think I'd mind,” I whisper. “Nothing could be worse than spending five years with the man who never loved me.”

I wonder, if I really did die, would Calden even flinch? Would he show up at my funeral out of guilt or respect? Would Enid, my dear sister whom he loves so much, be tangled up with him and throw a celebration after?

“Girl, are you listening?” Evelyn's voice cracks through my thoughts.

“Oh yeah, I'll come later. I need to deal with something first.”

“Right, you make sure to bring Alpha Calden with you,” she urges, and I almost laugh out loud.

Alpha Calden Ballard? I'm the last person he wants to be seen walking around with. “Nah, he won't show up even if I begged…soon he won't be my problem anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll see you soon after I'm done, I promise,” I say quickly, glancing at the time.

I haven't told Evelyn I'll be getting a divorce. Even though Calden and I are fated mates, nobody favors our marriage because they consider it a stolen marriage. I am not even respected in the pack as the Luna.

She stutters, and I exhale slowly before she can push further. “Evelyn, just give me a few minutes…” I haven't ended the call when another comes in. “Goodbye, Evelyn. I’ll see you soon,” I say and click to connect to Calden’s call immediately.

“Where the fuck are you?” Calden's deep voice snaps. I flinch. “You were supposed to get to the pack house by noon to sign the papers.”

“It's 11:50, Calden.” I swallow hard, trying to push back the cruel heat bubbling up in my chest, realizing he's in such a hurry to go through with this divorce to be finally free and be able to be with Enid.

“You initiated the damn thing. Now it's time to finalize it…you're dragging your feet,” he growls out calmly, but I can hear the irritation behind his tone. It never changes; it's the same tone from the very first day till now. I had thought my love was enough for both of us, but every day shows just how wrong I was.

Maybe to him, the divorce is just another one of my so-called childish outbursts, nothing serious enough to rattle him in any way. Fine. As he wishes.

“I’m on my way. I'll be at the pack house—”

“I don't have all day to wait for you, Jodie. I need to get to the hospital. If Enid wakes up and doesn't find me there, she'll cry.”

I close my eyes, smiling bitterly. Always Enid. The fragile little star in his universe, my dear sister who never misses a chance to remind me I will always be a second choice.

Calden Ballard, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack—cold, distant, and untouchable. He is like that with everyone… except Enid.

Not me.

I’ve been his wife for five years, yet the warmth I’ve received from him can barely fill a single breath.

“Then go,” I say. “We’ll meet at the pack house afterward.”

“I don't have time to go there. Bring the papers to the hospital.” And before I can reply, the line goes dead.

I lower the phone, staring at the blank screen. I let out a short breath. “Right,” I whisper. “Straight to the hospital then.”

I grab the brown envelope from the table beside my bed, the divorce papers I signed this morning beside it. I slide it in and throw it in the pen. Maybe when we get to the hospital and he hears whatever the hell is wrong with my health…I slow down on that thought. I know it's my delusion, but will he at least look at me even once?

I shake my head hard to spare myself the impossible thought.

Only Enid ever received his special care.

She has always been the sickly beauty everyone adored. The family treasure. The pack’s delicate flower.

Calden’s world revolves around three places—the company, the pack house, and the hospital. Ever since Enid collapsed two months ago, our home stopped existing for him.

I hate hospitals. The sterile smell. The whispers that always follow me down the hall. And most of all, my family…the Thornwells.

Enid was born without a wolf, a rare genetic defect. Her body is weak, unable to self heal like every werewolf should, resulting in abnormal blood clotting. If I had been the one born like that, they would have thrown me out without a second thought. But since it’s Enid, the world must stop spinning. My family even likes to say I stole her wolf, her health, and her luck.

I don’t know if they actually believe that or if it just makes it easier to hate me.

When I reach Enid’s ward, the door is slightly ajar. Voices float through the crack.

“Calden,” Enid murmurs, her tone coy and breathy, “you always worry too much. I’m fine.”

“You fainted again, Enid,” he replies, full of tenderness and concern. “You should be resting.”

I almost choke on my saliva. I never got used to that voice—the one that used to turn rough when it was directed at me…is now so gentle. My wolf whimpers, right…our mate never even treats us as lovingly as he treats her. I can feel just how broken her heart feels.

“Don’t frown like that,” she whispers. “It makes me feel guilty.”

My nails dig into my palm. Guilty? If only he knew how easily she played him. The innocence she wears is just another mask.

Even an Alpha like him never sees through the mask Enid wears. She's like a beast when we are alone. But to him, Enid was pure light, and I was the villain that ruined everything they had.

Even now, he probably believes he’s divorcing me out of some noble sense of justice.

A soft laugh drifts from inside.

“I just want to get better,” Enid says, voice trembling with sweetness. “So I can be with you, Calden. That’s my only wish.”

Something in me cracks.

Her wish is coming true today. By the time the sun sets, she’ll have him entirely. I wipe at the tear that escapes despite my resolve. Enough. It’s time to get this over with.

I can’t control my heart for falling for him, but I can control my legs enough to walk away from him.

I take a step forward—

“Jodie!”

I jump, spinning around. Evelyn stands at the end of the hallway, slightly breathless, her eyes widen.

“What are you doing just standing there?” she asks, hurrying over.

“Evelyn—”

Before I can finish, she grabs my hand. “If you had been one minute late, I was going to call again.”

A wide smile lining her cheeks now.

“What’s wrong?” I asked slowly. She didn’t look like someone about to break bad news.

Evelyn squeezed my fingers, her eyes shining. “You’re pregnant, Jodie.”

For a heartbeat, the world went still. I feel my heart drop to my stomach, every sound fading away for a moment. Pregnant?

Oh my Moon Goddess…