Chapter 1

Aria

As I sit in the small, sterile room, waiting for the doctor to arrive, I start feeling a knot of anxiety in the pit of my stomach. I've been feeling sick lately – morning sickness, nausea, exhaustion – and I don't know what's causing it.

The door opens, and the doctor enters, a kind smile on her face. "Aria," she says, "let's see what's going on with you."

I nod, taking a deep breath as she begins to examine me, checking my vitals and asking questions about my symptoms. When she's done, she sits back, her expression thoughtful.

"Well, Aria," she says, her eyes meeting mine, "I have some news for you. You're pregnant."

For a moment, I can't breathe, my mind reeling from the unexpected revelation. But then, as the shock fades, a feeling of pure joy washes over me. I'm going to be a mother… Callum’s a father. He’ll be over the moon.

"I'm... I'm pregnant?" I stammer, a smile spreading across my face. "Oh, my goodness, I can't believe it!"

The doctor smiles back, her eyes warm. "Congratulations, Aria. It's very early in the pregnancy, but everything seems to be going well."

As I leave the doctor's office, my heart feels lighter than it has in days, the sickness and exhaustion forgotten in the face of this incredible news. I can't wait to tell Callum, to share with him the joy of our growing family.

The full moon hangs heavy in the night sky, casting its silver glow over the dense forest. I take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, earthy scent of the woodland. It's been a long day, and I can feel the exhaustion settling in my bones. But the thought of seeing Callum, my alpha mate, my fated partner, and telling him everything, sends a warm shiver down my spine, momentarily banishing my weariness.

As I approach the heart of our pack's territory, I spot him standing near the edge of the clearing. The moonlight seems to dance on his broad frame, making him appear even more powerful and regal. My heart swells with love and pride as I watch him, unable to resist the magnetic pull that draws me toward him.

My heart pounds in my chest as I gaze at Callum standing alone. I’m so in love with this man. A strange mix of emotions floods through me – happiness, excitement, and a lingering sense of restlessness that I can't quite shake off. Taking a deep breath, I call out to him, but he doesn't respond. He's too far away, lost in his thoughts.

Before I can decide whether to approach him or not, Tamara appears from the trees, her eyes locked on Callum. She walks up to him with purpose, and I watch as she wraps her arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. Confusion and jealousy flare up inside me, and I wonder what's going on between them. Why is he meeting Tamara out here?

Determined to find out, I tread carefully, keeping to the shadows as I move closer to where they stand. My heart races with every step, my curiosity driving me forward despite my better judgment.

As I draw near, I strain my ears, attempting to make out their whispered conversation. I can barely hear them, but I manage to catch Tamara's voice as she asks, "Have you told your mate yet?" Tell me what? What’s going on?

My heart skips a beat, and a million questions race through my mind. What does she mean? What is it that Callum needs to tell me? And why does it involve Tamara?

I hold my breath, waiting for Callum's answer, but the wind picks up, rustling the leaves and obscuring their voices. I try to move closer, but I know that I'm risking being caught, and the last thing I want is to confront them without knowing the full story. Tamara kisses his cheek and leaves. Callum stays put, gazing out in the distance. I need to understand what just happened. Why was he with her? Why did she kiss his cheek?

"Callum," I call out softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I step out of the shadows and make my way toward him.

He turns to face me, his piercing blue eyes meeting my amber gaze. But instead of the warmth and affection I expect to see, his eyes are cold and distant. A knot forms in the pit of my stomach, and I can't help but feel a sense of unease.

I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around his strong, muscular frame. I lean in to kiss him, craving the reassurance of his touch. But he remains stiff and unyielding, offering me no comfort or solace. My heart clenches painfully in my chest, my worst fears beginning to take shape.

"Callum, what's wrong?" I ask, my voice barely concealing the tremor of fear that threatens to break through.

He takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "Aria, I can't do this anymore," he says, his voice heavy with an emotion I can't quite place.

My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I'm left speechless. "What do you mean?" I manage to choke out, my heart pounding in my ears.

"I can't pretend anymore, Aria," he explains, his voice cracking with the weight of his confession. "I'm involved with someone else." What? This can’t be true. Tamara?

The world around me seems to shatter at his words, the ground beneath my feet giving way. I struggle to comprehend what he's saying, my mind racing with questions and confusion. "Who?" I demand, my voice barely a whisper.

"Tamara, the daughter of my father’s beta," Callum admits, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and anguish. "You know she was my girlfriend before I found out you were my fated mate."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over as the reality of his betrayal sinks in. I had given him my heart, my trust, and in return, he had shattered it into a million pieces. The pain is almost too much to bear, and for the first time, I question whether the bond between us, the bond that was meant to be unbreakable, can ever truly be mended.

As the darkness of the night closes in around me, I'm left to face the cold, bitter truth. The man I loved with all my heart, the man who was meant to be my soulmate, has betrayed me. And in that moment, I know that nothing will ever be the same again.

“I fucking hate you, Callum Blackthorne,” I growl at him, hitting his chest with my fists.