Chapter 1 Lost the Pup

"We tried our best, Luna, but unfortunately, you lost the pup—"

The rest of the healer's words faded into loud ringing in Celeste's ears. All she registered was that her pup was gone.

It was like an invisible hand had reached into her chest and was trying to tear it apart.

Even the wolf inside her seemed to whimper at the loss. The unbearable pain left her unable to remain still, Celeste straightened and yanked the drip out of her wrist.

The healer moved on autopilot, panic flashing across his face. "Luna, you can't—"

Celeste barely heard his voice. Her chest still ached with the loss. She picked up her phone and her eyes remained fixed on the screen, watching the call dial before ending unanswered.

She bit down hard on her lip. This was the fifteenth time she had called Alpha Alaric, and her mate still had not answered.

Celeste knew exactly what Alaric was doing.

After Alaric's brother died, Alaric had devoted almost all of his time to his sister-in-law, Teresa. For the past six months, Teresa had constantly relied on Alaric, using the loss of her husband and the vulnerability of her pregnancy as reasons to seek his attention.

Whenever she called, Alaric would drop everything and leave—whether he and Celeste were having dinner, on a date, or even being intimate. Teresa would always come first. And now, the price she had paid for always coming second was losing her pup...

Celeste had cried enough. No amount of tears could bring her pup back. A strange calm began to take its place, clearing the fog in her mind.

She needed to leave—this pack, her mate, Alaric. 

Even with her lower belly throbbing as if it had been split open, she still found her way home.

As soon as she stepped into the Alpha's mansion, a wave of bubbly chatter washed over her.

Alaric, her sister-in-law Teresa, and her mother-in-law Gowen.

They sat together in perfect harmony, laughing and talking over two pups nestled in a crib in front of them.

Her grip on the dress tightened until her knuckles ached. While she was losing her pup, they sat here celebrating.

Gowen's gaze landed on her, and the warmth instantly disappeared from her face.

She looked her up and down, her lips curling with disdain. "I still don't understand why you act as though you belong in this family. You should be grateful Alaric even chose you."

Celeste's brows drew together.

"You came from nowhere," Gowen continued. "No family, no proper background, nothing to your name. And yet you have the nerve to demand the same respect as my son and Teresa?"

They all believed she was an orphan. They knew nothing about where she came from.

"Oh, you're here?" Alpha Alaric said, sparing her a fleeting glance before picking up one of the pups from the cradle.

Her jaw clenched as he smiled at the pup, cooing him.

"What are you doing standing there?" he asked, walking toward her.

He held the pup out to her, wearing a smile that had once charmed her. Now, she wanted nothing but to carve it clean off his face with a blunt knife.

"Isn't Nelson the cutest..."

Alaric trailed off when he caught the look on Celeste's face. His expression shifted.

"Why do you...you look pale, Celeste. What's wrong?" He reached for her, but she stepped back before his hand could land.

His hand hovered in the air like he had always been to her, useless. Celeste parted her lips to answer, but Gowen beat her to it.

"She's just pale with jealousy, as usual. I heard she didn't come home last night?" Gowen spat venomously, her eyes narrowing.

Celeste's brows furrowed in disbelief and then her gaze slid to Teresa. Teresa did not even bother to hide her satisfied smirk.

"You don't need to be angry at her, Mom. You know how Celeste can get. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come to live here at all. Since I lost my mate, I suppose I don't deserve to stay under the Alpha's roof...it's shameful, really," Teresa said, dabbing away tears that never quite reached her eyes.

"This is exactly the problem with you, Celeste. This is supposed to be a joyful day for us. Don't ruin it with your jealousy. Not today...please."

His words landed like a slap across her face.

She pressed a finger to her own chest. "You call this jealousy?" she asked, blinking rapidly to hold back tears.

"Did she tell you what happened between us last night? Did you even bother to ask where your mate was?" Her voice cracked from anger as her mind traveled back to how she had even landed in this mess in the first place.

"Teresa, hold on to me, let me help you down the—"

Celeste never finished the sentence before Teresa shoved her hard with strength a pregnant woman should not have.

Celeste's eyes widened as she tumbled down the stairs, landing heavily on her stomach.

Pain seized her entire being, freezing her body against the floor. She let out a bloodcurdling scream, and still, her mate and mother-in-law looked on as though she were invisible.

Teresa smirked as she rested her hand on Alaric's shoulder, wailing about her own belly and letting him lead her out of the house.

"Celeste, meet us at the hospital," Alaric called back as they disappeared out of the house without her.

When she finally tried to rise, she saw the blood pooling beneath her thighs.

Celeste had never even gotten to tell Alaric that she was pregnant, saving it up for their anniversary the following week, and her pup was gone. 

"This is exactly why I told you not to keep this barren woman around. She brings nothing to this family. Just noise, jealousy, and drama," Gowen said, fixing Celeste with a withering glare.

Celeste had always kept her head down around these people, so she could really be a happy family with them.

If they knew where she truly came from, not one of them, even Alaric who was an Alpha, would behave the way they did around her.

"You didn't know my bro..." Celeste was interrupted.

"You want to be with papa?"Teresa's voice made Celeste freeze.

The pup had reached for Alaric, his tiny fingers curling towards Alaric.

Alaric looked visibly flustered. He hadn't expected to become the father of his sister-in-law's pups.

Gowen quickly nudged him on the shoulder and said, "Come on! These poor pups don't have a father. You can be their father. Teresa gave birth to your brother's pups. Perhaps we should give her the honorary position of Luna…"

Celeste's hands clenched into fists at his words.

Alaric even glanced at Celeste, but he eventually nodded.

That was the final spark that ignited all the anger Celeste had been suppressing for so long. She had just lost her pup... and the man she had spent years loving was standing there, willingly taking on the role of father to Teresa's pups as though Celeste meant nothing. Something inside her finally died.

"Alaric, you've already crossed the line with Teresa. The care and attention you give her have long surpassed what you give me as your mate."

"What exactly is this supposed to be? Is this cheating?!"

"You disrespectful brat! How dare you speak to your Apha that way?!" Gowen's words caught in her throat as her hand shot up, ready to hit her.

At the last second, Celeste caught Gowen's wrist mid-air.

"Enough!" Alaric's voice rose sharply. He turned back to Celeste, his eyes going cold. "Are you really this selfish? Teresa just gave birth, and all you can do is throw a tantrum?"

"Apologize to my mother and Teresa. If you can't show them consideration, don't expect any from me."

All the rage settled into something cold, and it was like a burst of clarity filled her head. She would never be worth anything to him. And she was done trying to be. Celeste lifted her emotionless face towards him, her voice soft.

"Alaric. Let's break our mate-bond."

She turned away.

"We're over. I will send you our divorce documents myself."