Chapter 2

Freya's POV

I woke up the next day.

Eric hadn't returned all night, which had never happened before. Regardless, all my attention was on the changes that happened to me.

My once frail limbs had grown new muscles, and my blood now coursed with abundant strength.

"Layla, can you feel it?" I called out to her excitedly in my mind.

I had never possessed such unfamiliar and powerful strength before.

Layla yawned. "This is just the beginning. We will keep growing stronger. Now, are you still feeling sad over him?"

I nimbly rolled out of bed. "Not at all."

…

After breakfast, I went to the pack infirmary alone. With my bloodline awakening, I needed to confirm the pup's condition again.

I also needed to get a potion that would erase the temporary mark after drinking it.

After getting the medicine, I went to the consultation room. I had just reached the door and was about to knock when I heard someone say, "Alpha, Ella's pup is already six months old, and it's getting hard to hide. Are you sure about keeping it?"

Upon realizing who was inside, I lowered my hand.

After my bloodline awakened, my five senses had significantly improved, and their voices inside came through clearly.

"Of course, I need an heir with a pure bloodline. Your task is to ensure Ella gives birth safely," Eric said in a deep and firm tone.

"Alright. But if Freya finds out, I'm worried…"

The pack's healer hesitated with a subtle pause, stopping himself from saying more.

Eric lit a cigarette, and I heard the sound of exhalation.

"Freya is very thoughtful. She knows better than anyone the fact that she struggles to conceive and has an ordinary bloodline. When Ella's pup is born, I'll tell her it's a stray pup we found. She's an orphan, kindhearted, and cares deeply for children, so she'll agree to adopt them. That way, we'll have an heir."

I snorted. So that was the plan.

I unconsciously crumpled the report in my hand, turned, and left. Just as I reached the second floor, I ran straight into Ella.

"Watch where you're going!" she screeched. She didn't even see who it was before swinging her hand to deliver a slap.

I raised my hand and grabbed her wrist. Even I was surprised by the speed of my reaction.

It was only then that Ella looked closely at me. A cold smile slowly appeared on her bright yet sharp features.

"If it isn't the delicate Freya Gardner? What, here for another one of your endless checkups? Save it. The whole pack knows you're a useless, barren thing."

She twisted her wrist forcefully to break free. I didn't want to say anything more and simply brushed past her.

However, Ella grabbed my hand and circled around to face me with a grin.

"Don't run away. Look at your bloodshot eyes. You're still not with pup, right? But I am. Guess whose it is?"

I tried harder to shake her off, but my newly awakened body was far less resilient than hers, which she had trained for 20 years. I could only glare at her coldly.

Ella raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You must've guessed it. Why else would you look like that? That's right—it's Eric's. If I were you, I'd be sensible and leave on my own now.

"You're a pathetically weak Omega who can't even conceive. What right do you have to be the Luna? Once this pup is born, I will become the true Luna with my father's support!"

She smugly approached me, lifting her hair to show the real mark on the back of her neck.

"See? No matter how you look at it… You can only be considered a mistress at this moment."

I was so furious that I was almost unable to control the urge to shift.

"Shut up!" Layla screeched wildly in my mind.

Just as my nails began to sharpen, hurried footsteps sounded behind me. It was Eric's scent.

Ella immediately let go of me. A weak and aggrieved expression then appeared on the usually radiant and domineering woman's face.

She suddenly fell to the ground, moaning in pain. One hand covered her stomach, while the other was pointed at me.

"Why did you push me?" she cried out.

"Ella!"

Eric rushed forward to help Ella up, and he looked at me in disbelief.

"Freya, what are you doing here?" he asked.

I pressed my lips tightly together and didn't answer.

Ella leaned weakly against his chest, moaning even louder. "Eric, I ran into Freya by chance and just wanted to check on her. But she told me not to think I was special just because I grew up with you and to stay away from you.

"Then… she pushed me hard. You should know that I'm very fragile right now—"

Unable to bear it any longer, I sharply interrupted her, "Shut up! Just shut up!"

Ella flinched at my shout, then looked tearfully at Eric.

A vein bulged on Eric's temple. When he looked at me again, his eyes were full of disappointment.

"Freya, you weren't like this before," he said.

I froze, as if I was just doused from head to toe with cold water.

"No, she—"

Ella interrupted me, clutching her stomach in pain and saying, "Eric, my stomach hurts so much… That fall might have impacted the pup…"

"We'll go get it checked right now!"

Eric anxiously picked Ella up and rushed upstairs without looking back.

As he passed me, it was clear that he was suppressing his anger when he spoke to me in a lower voice than before.

"Come here."

Layla screamed furiously. I only wiped the cold tears from my face and instead smiled.

While walking behind them, I balled the report in my hand and threw it in the trash. On the paper, it read, "Pregnancy term: 2 months. Healthy twins."

So this was his choice.

I'd like to see just how much more disgusting the werewolf I once loved could be.