Chapter 1: HORMONES & HEARTBREAK

LYRA'S POV

Every inch of me is frozen as I’m unable to digest everything playing out before me. First I woke up this morning and my royal bath was unattended. And now the maids are telling me there’s a new Luna?

"The Alpha instructed us to prepare the bath for the new Luna. He says her needs should be prioritized." Is what Arabella told me when I asked why my bath hasn’t been attended.

A new Luna! When I'm not dead?

"What— what are you on about?" I finally finds my voice but it still wobbles a bit. "You mean, the Alpha is home?"

"Yes, Luna. You slept a bit too early to see the Alpha bring the new Luna in. They are both in the chambers now."

My stomach constricts as I struggle to process the words. Duncan is in his chamber— our matrimonial chamber with another woman?

I can’t even imagine Duncan doing that. This isn’t the first time Duncan had been away for some official Assignments but each time he returns, my chamber is the first place he comes to. As he would plant wet kisses all over me telling me how much he had missed me.

So how come he’s back and I don’t know?

Duncan sure has this beastly Appetite for sex but he’s like the only Alpha I know who doesn’t accommodate other women. He would always wait till he’s back and unleash it into me. He almost can’t always wait to see me again. That’s how much Duncan loves me so as I’m walking towards his chambers, I don’t let the maids words affect me much.

Even though Duncan came in with a woman, it could be a new royal maid.

Maybe the maids just misunderstood him.

But the moment I slam the door open, my thought walks right out the door replacing with an unexplainable shock! There is a woman lying on Duncan’s bed - half covered.

Every inch of her describes a woman who just had rounds of hardcore sex. Her boobs is swollen and revealing through her night gown. Her hair is messy, sweat gluing some to her face and the whole place is smelling of cums!

But what is making my blood freeze in my veins is the face of the woman.

Sophia! The woman who tormented me endlessly back when I was in the Blood Moon pack.

Oh moon goddess, help me! After everything she has done to hurt me in the past, she's here again?

“Lyra!” She’s first to break the thick silence. She drags my name mockingly as Devilish grin is plastered on her face.

Is she by chance the "new Luna" the maids were referring to?

"What are you doing here, Sophia?" I ask, hurt evident in my voice.

"I bet you don't want to know what I'm doing here."

My jaw tightens. "I said what the hell are you doing in my matrimonial chamber?"

She snickers derisively. "Just as always, you're still dumb. Did you really think Duncan was going to keep you for long when your barren ass couldn't give him an heir?"

Her words sting so badly, making my blood boil over and churn through my veins wildly. Controls snap and I don't even realize what I'm doing until I've smacked her on the face— hot and hard.

A horrified gasp tears out of her throat as her hands fly to her hurting cheeks. Before she can react, a voice cuts across the room.

"How dare you lay your hands on her?"

It's Duncan and he's just walking out of the bathroom. I can't help the way my body goes stiff with fear when his cold gaze locks with mine.

Duncan has never looked at me with cold, mean gaze before!

As if that isn’t enough, Duncan’s next words plummets through my chest like a physical stab.

“Apologize to her immediately!" He snares, his green eyes glistening like fire.

For a fleeting moment, I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. I just saw another woman in my matrimonial chambers and the only sensible thing my own husband can say is that I apologise to her?

Tears burn the back of my eyes, threatening to fall but I fight them back. I can't show weakness in front of Sophia.

"Apologize?" My voice betrays the toughness I’m trying to pull. "Apologize that another woman is right on our matrimony bed? How about you explain why you allowed her in after everything—"

A scream of pain from Sophia interrupts me. Immediately Duncan glances at her, she stumbles backwards and Duncan rushes forward, just in time to catch her.

"Are you hurt?" He asks, concern dripping in his voice.

I flinch hard as he wraps his arms around her, gazing at her so softly like she is the one made specially for him— as if I'm completely invisible to him.

"Duncan, if anything happens to our baby, I don't know what I will do. I don't—" Sophia chokes.

Panic grips me hard. Our baby? She is pregnant for Duncan? No! No way! This has to be some crazy prank.

I exhale sharply. "Our baby? What— what the hell is she talking about, Duncan?"

"What exactly don't you understand?" Duncan retorts, to my shock.

"Didn't I do you enough favour by saving you from your pack? From slavery? I made you my Luna and treated you nicely. The least you could do was get pregnant like every other normal woman!"

His words hit me like a punch to the gut but he's not done yet.

"This is entirely your fault because you left me with no other option. I found Sophia and she did what you couldn't do for three years! She gave me an heir! And it didn't take her more than three months!'

I can't stop the hot tears that roll down my face now. Did Duncan just admit to cheating on me for three good months?

All those days he didn't stay home, he spent them with Sophia.

I know Duncan has a lot for me, but this is still wrong.

Three years ago, I was only just an orphan at the Blood Moon pack, maltreated by the entire pack and almost sold into slavery, courtesy of Sophia.

But Duncan came, just a knight in shining armour. He bought me during an auction, brought me into the Nightshade Lycan pack and crowned me his Luna.

Although he was known as the cruel Lycan king throughout the pack and outside, he treated me differently, showering me with love and affection.

"How could you do this to me, Duncan? How could you cheat on me with the one person who tormented—?"

"Stop being ridiculous, Lyra!" He snaps. "Stop trying to paint a good person as bad. I won't tolerate you acting hostile towards the mother of the future alpha of Nightshade pack!"

A whimper escapes my lips, but my mouth feels too heavy to speak.

"Just so you know, Sophia will be staying here in the mansion, so you'll have to move out of your room for her. The maids will prepare the guest room for you."

I want to believe I misheard. He wants me, his wife— his Luna to leave my chambers for an outsider?

No! I can't take this!

"I refuse to stay under the same roof with this devil!" I point at Sophia.

A muscle twitch at the corner of Duncan's face, evidence that his control is on the end of a straining leash.

“listen, Lyra, it's either you do as I say or leave the pack!"

An incredulous scoff slips past my lips and I open my mouth to speak, but just then, a sudden wave of nausea slams into my gut. I quickly turn on my heels and bolt out of the room.

"What’s wrong ?" Duncan asks rashly after me, his voice fading as I near the bathroom.

Some minutes later, I'm rinsing my mouth in the bathroom when I feel a light touch on my back.

My body goes stiff as I spin on my heels, holding my breath—

"Luna, are you okay?"

It's my personal maid, Alexa.

I want to hit myself for being stupid enough to consider even for a minute that it was Duncan.

I shrug. "It's nothing much."

"Luna, I'd advise you to see the pack's doctor. You might be pregnant." Alexa says with concern.

I can't help but snort a bitter laugh. "Pregnant? Don’t be ridiculous. I've had several cases of vomiting but never tested positive for pregnancy. Besides, I drank last night."

"I strongly believe that you are pregnant, Luna. I know a pregnant woman when I see one. See, you’ve added weight. You should be positive and happy.”

I bite my lips hard to suppress the hurtful emotions that are coursing through me.

"Happy?" My voice is hoarse. "Fine let’s say I’m pregnant, what does it matter? Duncan already brought in another woman who is conceiving his seed."

"Luna, that's more reason you should hope you are pregnant this time. The Alpha loves you and he would definitely choose your pup over some outsider's pup!"