Chapter 01

Chapter 01.

“Congratulations, Luna. You are pregnant.”

The doctor's words from the previous day were the first thing to ring through my mind the moment I opened my eyes, and they really did a good job in boosting up my mood first thing in the morning.

With an excited smile, I swung my legs out of the bed, and walked straight to the bathroom.

Zayne would be home this morning. He had informed me last night. It has almost been torture having to wait a full day for him to come back before telling him but i did not want to share this news over the phone.

Not like this.

I am going to make him his favourite dishes. We are going to have a nice romantic morning and I will tell him the news.

We are finally pregnant. After five long years of trying - five long years of praying to the goddess and hoping, we are finally going to be parents.

Oh, Zayne is going to be so delighted.

He had wanted this more than me. From the moment we got married, Zayne had talked about what it would be like to have a child - son or daughter.

Not just because he was an Alpha and needed a Heir but also because he loves children almost more than anything in the world. I have seen how he relates with the kids in the pack. All the more reason I know he would be so delighted.

I took my time to shower and also washed my hair in the process, then prepared and went downstairs to the kitchen.

“Good morning, Luna.” Anna, our chef, greeted with a smile, “Is there anything you would love me to help you with?”

“No Anna. You can take the morning off, I will handle breakfast.”

Her eyes widened, “But luna….”

“Anna, do not argue,” I laughed, grabbing her arm, “do not worry either. Go - it is an order.”

She hesitated for a moment before taking off her Apron and leaving.

Once she left, I started cooking - making some of Zayne's favourite dishes while I danced to the music that was blasting out of my phone speakers.

Anyone who saw me right now would not need a soothsayer to tell them just how happy I was.

Why wouldmt i be?

I am fucking pregnant!

After long minutes of cooking I went to the dinning to set the table.

8:45Am.

Zayne would be here any moment from now, so I had to make sure everything was fine and perfect.

And just as I predicted, five minutes later I heard the front door swing open and the familiar scent of my mate hit my nose before I rushed to the sitting room to welcome him.

“Zayne!” I greeted running into his arms and hugging him. But his hug was not as warm as they usually were - and there was something strange in his expression.

However I dismissed it as him just being exhausted. He had been in a meeting for hours.

“How was your trip?”

“It was fine - I have something important to tell you, Marisa.”

I grinned, “Of course. I also have news for you. Come on, let's go in. I already made breakfast.”

I grabbed his arm and led him inside but he stopped me.

“No, Marisa, listen to me.” When I turned again his frown had deepened and he dropped his arm from my hold as if he was burnt.

“Okay. What is going on?”

Instead of responding, he turned towards the door, “You can come in now.”

I raised a brow, but my mild surprise turned to chilling horror when I saw the lady who stepped into the door.

Diana.

She was Zayne’s ex - his first love before he found out we were mates and she was once my friend.

What was she doing here?

I swallowed the question when another person - a child, walked in with her. It was a little girl who seemed like she was no older than five years old.

Five years old….

And she had Zayne’s green eyes and blonde hair.

My heart dropped and I froze , unable to speak, or scared to ask questions because I did not want to know what this meant.

A small part of me knew - but I did not want to have it confirmed.

“Hello Marisa,” Diana greeted with a warm smile, “It is nice to see you again.”

The polite thing to do would have been to respond, but I could not.

I turned to Zayne instead, looking at him with pleading eyes.

“Diana came back one week ago - this is Ruby, her daughter.” Zayne explained, “Marisa….Ruby is also my daughter.”

I staggered back as the words hit me like a hammer on my chest.

Yup. It had been confirmed.

My happiness had been shattered.

“What?” I gasped out, unable to form any other word and Zayne nodded.

“I know this comes as a shock to you, but I just felt it was only fair to let you know.”

Only fair to let me know?

“How long have you known about this?” I asked.

“I found out one week ago.”

And he is just letting me know now?

I had no idea what to feel.

“Marisa,” Diana called, taking a few steps towards me, “I am sorry about this. I respect your relationship and that is why I never talk about Ruby but she is at that age where she is asking questions and - well she deserves to know her father.”

I looked at the young girl again and bit my lip. This was just too much to process but she was right.

Obviously the pregnancy happened before we became mates so technically it is not an issue.

Right?

“I do not mean to cause problems, I promise. I just want Ruby to be more involved with her father…. That is all. It does not affect your marriage in any way. You are still his only wife, you are still his Luna.”

“No!” Zayne snapped and I turned to him shocked.

What did he mean no? What was he saying no to?

“This is a shock, Zayne,” I said, forcing out a smile, “It is hard to process but I will still try to understand. Ruby is your daughter - I will not stop you from being with your daughter.”

I touched his arm but he shoved it away, glaring at me “It was your fault. You were the reason I had to miss five years of my daughter’s life. That i had to stay years wishing for a child that you even failed to give me - not knowing that i already had one. It is because of you!”

His words were like knives being stabbed into my chest over and over but I kept my smile in place.

“I am sorry, Zayne but…”

“Keep your apology to yourself. I had to be pressured into marrying you because of some stupid mate bond - and… and I cast away the woman I truly loved and my own child. Yet you could not produce an heir for me.”

He came closer until he was right in my face,

“Tell me! What was the point of choosing you and making you my Luna? I missed…I missed five years!”

Pain filled me but I still tried to maintain control.

I could not believe his words but I had to understand that he was just hurt.

“Zayne, come on…” Diana cut in, holding his arm, “you cannot blame Marisa for this. She is innocent. I chose to walk away even when I knew I was pregnant. Marisa did nothing wrong.”

“She did so many things wrong. She knew I was in love with you - yet she and her father had to pressure me into a marriage, which made you leave. And the marriage turned out to be pointless because she has proven that she is unable to have a child - an heir for me!”

Dear goddess.

I could not say anything. I just stared at him, trying to keep my expression as neutral as possible even though I felt like I was being torn apart and stabbed.

It hurt. His words.

“But Ruby is here now and you can make up for lost years.”

“That is not enough,” Zayne said, shaking his head and turning to glare at me, “It is not enough. I have to make things right this time myself. Besides, you could be pregnant right now.”

What?

“Zayne!” Diana whispered, glancing at me.

“What?We have not been using protection for the past few days Diana.” Zayne answered with a nonchalant shrug.

I gasped as his words hit me with a fresh wave of shock mixed with pain.

“Wait…what?? Zayne? What are you talking about?”

It was Diana that answered.

“I am sorry it came out like this, Marisa. Zayne and i…well after we met for the first time in five years, we realized how much we missed each other and well…one thing led to another.”

It baffles me how she was saying it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

How she was casually just letting me know that she had been sleeping with my husband .

Zayne on his end, looked unbothered, unconcerned. As if he had not just admitted to cheating on me.

There was no remorse in his face, talk more of an apology.

“How could you do this to me, Zayne?” I whispered, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall.

I was too numb to feel upset. All I felt was a searing pain in my heart.

“I do not owe you an explanation Marisa. Especially as you have cost me a lot. Besides, I am the Alpha. I can have as many women in my life as I want, especially since the one I married - could not perform her duties.”

I shook my head. Where were all these coming from? Where did this Zayne come from?

“Zayne, please calm down.” Diana said, holding his arms and I glared at her.

“How about you leave my husband and I to talk, you whore?”

The last word was barely out of my mouth before a sharp stinging pain hit my cheek and I gasped holding my face.

Zayne had slapped me.

For the first time since we met, he slapped me.

I met his angry gaze, but my vision was blurred with hot unshed tears.

“You need to watch your mouth because you are in no place to talk!”

“I am your wife, Zayne. I'm your Luna. No matter what, you should at least respect me, especially in front of your mistress.”

“And that, among the many things I am going to make right.”

He grabbed Diana by her arm, “I am going to marry Diana.”