CH. 1 PREGNANT AGAIN?

Selena’s POV

The morning sun streamed through my bedroom window, bathing the lavish room in a warm, orange light. My hand instinctively reached across the large surface of the bed, only to be met with cold, empty sheets. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I was once again reminded of my husband's prolonged absences.

For the past two months, Alpha Dominic had been away on what he claimed were endless "business trips." I tried to control the growing anger, reminding myself that he was doing what was necessary to provide for our family. And yet, a part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was more to his frequent departures.

Shaking off the thought, I rose from the bed and made my way towards the door. As I climbed down the grand staircase that led to the living room.

The hushed whispers of the maids caught my attention. Pausing to listen, I felt fear and anger flaring in my chest.

"I heard Alpha Dominic wasn't on a business trip at all," one of the servants murmured. "My man said he saw him at a Moonlight hotel the other day, kissing some woman, but he couldn’t see her face because of the angle."

The other maid fussed sympathetically. "Poor Luna, she works so hard, thinking the Alpha has gone on a business trip, not knowing he was out there having the time of his life with another woman. Alpha males are something else, they just can’t stick to one she-wolf."

Fury flared in my chest, and I turned on the startled servants. "That's enough!" I snapped, my voice echoing through the walls. "How dare you, good for nothing, maids, gossip about your Alpha like that? Do you have any idea what I could do to you?"

The maids trembled, bowing their heads in shame. "W-We are so sorry, Luna," they mumbled. "It won't happen again."

Biting back a mocking reply, I strolled towards the kitchen, my thirst forgotten. But as I walked past my children's room, the sound of high-pitched screaming froze me in my tracks.

Bursting through the door, I found my two youngest daughters, Lily and Rose, entangled in a serious tug-of-war over a doll. The eldest, Anna, was courageously attempting to separate them but to no avail.

"Girls, stop fighting!" I yelled, rushing to intervene. "Rose, you are too old to be fighting over toys with your younger sister. When there are countless toys in this room."

"But this Barbie doll is my favorite out of all of them! I can’t let her have it!" Rose replied through clenched teeth.

But as I stepped forward, my foot caught on a naughty throw pillow, and the world tilted sideways. With a heavy thud, I fell to the hard floor, my daughters' terrified screams the last thing I heard before darkness claimed me.

***

When I opened my eyes, my daughters were gathered anxiously around my bedside, tears streaking their cheeks. The elderly pack doctor stood at the foot of the bed, his expression unreadable.

"What happened?" I rasped, feeling a light headache coming on.

"We are sorry, mom, we won’t fight anymore, I promise. I already gave Lily the doll she wanted, please don’t fall sick." Rose pleaded, gesturing towards the doll in her little sister’s hand.

The doctor stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Um, it’s not your daughters' fault, Luna, there is another reason you fainted." He paused, glancing at the girls. "I think it’s best we speak privately."

Anna tossed me a bright smile and grabbed her sister’s hands, tugging them out of the clinic room, although Lily burst into tears. I braced myself, praying that I didn’t have some terminal illness. But no amount of steeling myself could blunt the impact of his next words.

"Congratulations, Luna. You are 12 weeks pregnant." He beamed, handing me the test results.

I stared at him in utter shock, my fingers clutching the medical report like a lifeline. "P-Pregnant?" I stuttered, unable to register the words. "That can’t be right. My youngest is only two. There must be some mistake, I can’t be pregnant again, please tell me this is a joke."

The doctor shook his head solemnly. "Just to be sure, I ran the test multiple times and double-checked the results. You are with a child, which is a good thing considering how much the Alpha loves children."

My heart pounded louder. I searched his face for any sign that he was joking, but there was none. "But…" I faltered, my voice barely a whisper. "We weren’t supposed to have another... Not now, I was the one who wanted to give the Alpha a male child so badly, but he has made it clear that that doesn’t matter as long as we love each other and have beautiful girls."

My throat tightened as the whispered rumors of the pack members came rushing back—that Dominic was using me as a "baby-making machine" in search of an heir.

I forced myself to meet the doctor's gaze. "I can’t keep this child." My voice trembled, but I steadied myself. "You have to help me... get rid of it, I am asking you as a woman, not as your Luna."

The doctor stepped back, his eyes wide. "Luna, that’s not something I can do. Terminating a pregnancy, especially a royal bloodline, would be a sin against the moon goddess. Your husband would rip off my head and feed it to the wild wolves.” His voice trailed off, and he continued. "It’s not possible, I am sorry."

My anger bounced off the marble with teeth-rattling volume, and I lashed out. "Then get out of my sight!" I hissed, watching as the nervous man gathered his belongings and fled the room.

Alone now, I shoved the blanket off my body and jumped down the bed on shaky legs. My mind was spinning with a million thoughts. Where was my husband? He should be here by now, fussing over my condition, had he not arrived?

Feeling a trace of lightheadedness, I stepped out into the softly lit corridor, my gaze sweeping the area. A group of warriors stood huddled together, their hushed voices hinting at my husband's return. Pushing aside the haunting worries, I made my way towards Dominic's office, my wolf Lena howling with unbridled excitement.

"We get to see our mate after so long!" she yelled, like a child. "We can kiss and cuddle him, how I miss the good old days!"

"I know, I have missed him too," I replied softly, a fond smile tugging at my lips.

But as I approached the office door, the guards stopped me, their expressions serious.

"What do you want, Luna?" one asked gruffly.

I pinned him with a crushing glare. "Who are you to question why I wish to see my own husband?"

Before he could respond, I shoved past him, grasping the ornate doorknob and pushing the door open. There, seated behind his grand reddish-brown desk, sat Dominic, his muscular body draped casually across the chair as he spoke into the phone in his ear.

My breath caught in my throat as I drank in the sight of him—the way the sunlight filtered through the window, setting his golden blonde hair afire, the piercing intensity of his ocean-blue eyes. Even after eight years of marriage, he still had the power to steal my breath away.

But my excitement quickly morphed into anger as I approached the desk, his gaze flickering to meet mine. Ending the call, he offered me an apologetic smile.

"Mrs. Cuddles," he murmured, using the pet name that never failed to make my heart flutter. "I'm sorry I haven't come to check on you. I was trying to solve a problem at the coal factory."

"What could be more important than me?" I shot back, my voice filled with hurt. Steeling my nerves, I stepped forward. "I have something very important to tell you too."

Reaching out, he tugged me into his lap, his warm hands sending tingles down my spine. "What is it, my love?"

I took a steady breath, unsure of how he would react to my news. But before I could speak, a loud thud jolted us both, and we turned to see a young maid collapsed unconscious in the open doorway.

"Maddy!" I cried, leaping from Dominic's hold and rushing to the girl's side. Dominic was close on my heels, his brow furrowed with concern.

Kneeling beside her almost lifeless body, I gently shook her shoulder, my heart pounding. What could have caused her to faint so abruptly? Fear coiled in my stomach as a thousand worst-case scenarios played out in my mind.

Dominic's strong arms encircled me, his voice low and soothing. "Shhh, she will be alright. Let's get her to the infirmary."

Nodding mutely, I allowed him to scoop Madison into his hold, my gaze never leaving her pale, lifeless face.