Alice

I did not sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the message.

I’m glad you’re back, V.

My chest tightened all over again.

Pregnant women were not supposed to stress. That was what every doctor told me. But how was I supposed to calm down when my husband had been at a hotel… and someone had called him the same nickname from those letters?

By dawn, I was still sitting upright in bed, fingers curled around the sheets, staring at nothing.

Val arrived early. She paused the moment she stepped into the sitting room adjoining our bedroom. “Luna… you didn’t sleep.”

I hadn’t realized how obvious it was until she said it. My reflection in the mirror confirmed it with dark circles under pale blue eyes that now looked almost gray.

“I’m fine,” I said.

She stepped closer, her expression softening. “Did Alpha return home?”

The question pierced.

“He came back late,” I replied carefully. 

Her gaze lingered, waiting.

I exhaled slowly. I couldn’t tell her everything. I barely understood everything myself. “I saw something strange on our shared device last night. A message. It suggested he was meeting someone.”

Her brows furrowed. “Meeting someone?”

“At a hotel.”

Val’s hand flew to her mouth in practiced shock. “Oh.”

“It could be nothing,” I added quickly, almost defensively. “He said he had a meeting. Maybe it was just… coincidence.”

“Yes,” she said quickly. “It must be. Alpha Javier doesn’t look like a man who cheats.”

The certainty in her tone was almost convincing.

“He loves you,” she continued gently. “Everyone sees that. Maybe you should brush it off. Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”

Babies.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, forcing myself to breathe.

“Yes,” I whispered. “You’re right.”

I would forget it.

I had to.

********

He came home just before noon.

I heard his footsteps before I saw him and my wolf stirred anxiously. He looked tired. His tie hung loose around his neck, his storm-gray eyes rimmed faintly red.

“Alice,” he breathed, stepping toward me.

For a moment, I almost ran into his arms, almost pretended none of this existed.

Then I saw it.

A small silver wrapper half-peeking from his coat pocket.

My breath caught.

He noticed my gaze and frowned slightly. “What is it?”

I stepped closer, fingers trembling as I reached into his pocket before I could stop myself. The condom packet crinkled in my hand.

Silence.

My eyes lifted slowly to his.

And then I saw the faint smear of lipstick near his collar that were not mine. I hadn’t worn any in days.

“Why were you at a hotel?” I asked quietly.

His entire body went still.

“How do you know that?”

My heart dropped at the evasiveness. “Answer me.”

“Alice…”

“Why were you at a hotel?”

His jaw tightened. “It was work.”

“With condoms?”

His eyes flashed.

“Did you spy on me?” he demanded, anger rising quickly now. “Is that what this is?”

“I saw a message On our linked device. Someone called you V,” I said, my voice cracking. 

Something shifted in his expression.

“You went through my things and tracked my location. You’re accusing me based on nothing?”

“Nothing?” My voice broke. “You have condoms in your pocket and lipstick on your shirt!”

“That doesn’t mean…”

“Were you with her?” The words tore out of me. “With V?”

He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Just answer me!”

Silence stretched.

And then he said it.

“Yes. My first love is back.”

The world stopped.

I felt like the ground beneath me had cracked open.

“I…” My throat closed. “You used that with her?”

He didn’t answer.

He didn’t have to.

“After everything? After four years of ridicule because I couldn’t conceive? After defending you to my family? You…” I began, tears blurring my vision. 

“Don’t twist this,” he snapped. “I have loved you. Through everything. Through the whispers, through the humiliation, through your secrets.”

“My secrets?”

“You lied about who you are!” he roared. “You told me your parents were dead. You never let me meet them. You never trusted me fully.”

“I protected you!”

“From what? Your precious royal bloodline?” His laugh was bitter. “I endured mockery because my Luna couldn’t give me an heir. I stood by you. And this… this is how you repay me? By spying on me?”

“You cheated!”

He looked at me like I had struck him.

“I’m tired,” he said coldly. “We’ll talk later.”

“Today was our antenatal appointment,” I whispered.

He paused.

“And it was the gender reveal,” I added, tears streaming freely now. “You forgot.”

His expression flickered, guilt flashing for half a second before hardening again. “I said I’m tired.”

He walked out.

Just like that.

******

The clinic was bright and sterile as I walked in… alone.

The panic attack had started in the car… tight chest, shaking hands, dizziness. The doctors had rushed me in immediately.

“You’re lucky you came,” the senior physician said gently.

My heart pounded. “Is something wrong?”

She smiled reassuringly. “You’re not just carrying one baby.”

I blinked.

“Twin boys.”

Twin… boys?

“But,” she continued carefully, “you have a slightly short cervix. It increases your risk of premature labor. Stress is dangerous for you right now.”

Of course it was.

“Would you like us to inform your husband?” she asked kindly.

“No,” I said immediately.

I stepped out of the ward in a daze.

Twin boys.

Javier would have been overjoyed.

I turned the corner and froze.

My senses picked him up before my eyes did.

Javier.

He was here.

Hope exploded painfully in my chest

He came.

He changed his mind.

I stepped forward… and saw him.

He was holding a woman.

Close.

His hand rested possessively at the small of her back. His head dipped toward her as he spoke softly.

I couldn’t see her face.

But I heard him.

“V,” he murmured.

The same tone he used with me.

My world shattered. I turned and walked away before he could see me.

********

Val did not come in that evening.

Javier did not return home.

My calls didn’t go through.

So I called Riley and I broke.

I told her everything. The hotel, the condom, the hospital, the nickname.

There was silence.

And then…

“Alice?” Greg’s voice cut in.

My blood ran cold.

“Greg?”

“Come to dinner.”

“I’m not in the mood…”

“I’m not asking.”

**********

Dinner at my brother’s estate was quiet.

Greg didn’t press. He just poured me juice and told a few ridiculous childhood stories until I managed a weak smile.

For a moment, I felt safe, then my phone buzzed.

Javier: Where are you?

I hesitated.

At the hospital, I typed.

A second later, a photo came through.

My stomach dropped.

It was me.

Across the dinner table.

Holding Greg’s hand and his face cut out of the frame.

Rage pulsed through me.

I stood abruptly. “I have to go.”

Greg rose too. “I’m coming with you.”

“No.” Panic flared. “That will make it worse.”

Our packs were not allies and my parents despised Javier. I had chosen him over them the night I told them his name.

I went home alone.

Javier was drunk.

“You lie to me,” he accused the moment I walked in.

“You cheated on me!”

“You were with another man!”

“That’s my brother!”

“You never told me!” he roared. “Just like you never told me who you truly are!”

“I was protecting you!”

“I want a divorce,” he said suddenly.

The words hit harder than anything else had.

“After you give birth.”

My knees nearly gave out, then my phone buzzed with a message.

A photo.

Javier at a hotel… with Val, my maid.

I zoomed in.

Green eyes. Raven hair.

Her.

Instant rage burned through my veins.

He wanted a divorce, yet he had been cheating all along.

The storm outside intensified, rain slamming

against the windows.

I grabbed my keys.

“Alice…”

I ignored him.

I sent Riley a message.

I’m going to the hotel.

My phone rang immediately.

Headlights blinded me as I drove into the storm.

“Alice, don’t…” Riley’s voice screamed through the speaker.

A horn blared.

Bright lights.

Too close.

And then…

Boom.