CHAPTER 1

AURORA

When I woke, the sterile scent of disinfectant filled my lungs. The world was bright white and painfully quiet. I blinked until the blur sharpened into shapes — a hospital room.

Dr. Marlene entered, clipboard in hand, her expression strangely gentle. “Luna,” she said softly, “congratulations.”

I blinked at her, confused. “For what?”

Her smile deepened. “You’re pregnant.”

My breath caught.

Pregnant?!

I only remember that while I was grinding herbs at home today, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I never would have guessed that it was caused by the pregnancy.

I stared at the doctor, my mind blank. “No… you must be wrong.”

Dr. Marlene only smiled, gentle and sure. “We ran the tests twice, Luna. You’re pregnant. The pack will have an heir — blessed be the Moon Goddess.”

This was my third year of marriage to Alpha Rowan Blackwell the heir of the Moonstone Pack. As Beta William’s daughter, I should have been treated with respect. But this marriage was never blessed by anyone, and even my husband married me under the pressure of our families. The woman he truly loved was someone else. Someone died three years ago. Thinking of this, a bitter feeling welled up inside me.

All these years, the pack had belittled and abused me for failing to give the pack a successor. Despite the humiliation, my stinging cheeks and the damned tears that kept betraying me I forced myself to endure.

But now, I am finally going to give him an heir. Although that night was an accident, I still feel immense joy about it.

“Luna,” Dr. Marlene’s voice drew me back. Her tone had changed, “There’s something unusual about the fetus.”

My heart clenched, I knew it, I knew nothing good ever happened to me without a negative following and tainting it.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quietly. My voice barely sounded like mine.

“It isn’t fatal,” she said, and I exhaled shakily. “But the child shows signs of congenital weakness. Unless you receive the Wolf Mother’s Bone within the next month, the baby may not survive.”

The Wolf Mother’s Bone.

It was very rare relic, even the witch who saved me didn’t have it.

The wolf mother made sacrifices for her pack, it was said that she was the one who gave up her twin pups to end the war between the werewolves and the vampires. Her bones, like those of her ancestors, carried the stories of resilience and primal strength.

Many believed she had magical powers and was the direct descendant of the Moon Goddess herself! She died many years ago though and no one knew where she was buried. People had been searching for her grave for many years but had not found it.

My breath caught, my face paling. The words pierced me like a blade. I knew the Mood Goddess had something against me. Just when I thought she had finally remembered me, I find out that my baby may not survive. How could she put such obstacles in my way all the time?

Sensing my despair, Dr. Marlene tried to comfort me. “Do not lose hope, Luna. I’ve heard… Alpha Rowan acquired that relic today. Surely, he’ll use it to protect his heir.”

Her words pierced through the fog in my head.

Rowan had the bone.

I remembered that recently he had indeed been leaving early and coming home late, as if he was busy searching for something. I never expected it to be this treasure!

For the first time in a long while, my heart stirred with a fragile hope.

If Rowan gave the bone to me, if he could choose to protect our child… then perhaps I could stay here, build a home with him together, a real home, with our pup.

I no longer cared whether he loved me or not. I just wanted to be with our child and stay by his side, that would be enough for me.

I cooked dinner quietly, more out of habit than joy. I wanted to tell him at the right time, calmly. When Rowan came home, I greeted him softly.

“Dinner’s ready.”

He didn’t respond but came to the table and sat down. I served the food, and we started eating in silence. I was nervous and anxious. But I also held joy in my heart, my hand would go to my tummy every minute, touching and caressing, not believing I was pregnant.

I was also wondering what Rowan’s reaction would be like when he heard the news. I lifted my head and looked at him. he was focused on his meal. “Rowan.” I called to him.

He lifted his head to look at me. “I... I am pregnant.”

The knife in his hand paused mid-cut. His reaction was cold , making my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. I didn’t expect him to jump for joy, but I didn’t expect him to be that cold either.

 “Pregnant? ” he scoffed going back to his meal. “Aurora, are you certain?”

I hurried to explain, “It’s true—"

He exhaled slowly, setting down his utensils.

“I don’t doubt you believe it,” he said carefully. “But the healers told me years ago your body might not… that it would be difficult.”

He was right—I’ve never been in good health. Years ago, when I was wandering, I was poisoned by something I can’t recall, and every year I have to take medication on schedule just to keep my body functioning normally.

But to maintain Luna’s healthy image, I’ve never told anyone about my condition.

“I know,” I whispered. “But this time—”

He shook his head slightly, a practiced mask of control slipping over his face. “Let’s wait for the next test before we… assume anything.” There was no joy in his tone. 

It shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.

Still, I pushed on, because my child’s life depended on him. “The doctor said the baby is weak,” I said softly. “They need the Wolf Mother’s Bone to survive. I heard you found it today.”

His eyes snapped up, sharp and guarded.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Marlene mentioned it. I only need a small piece, Rowan. Just enough to—”

He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. The noise made me flinch.

Rowan’s face twisted with fury, nostrils flaring and eyes cold as ice as he glared at me.

“Aurora,” he said, his voice low, strained. “You don’t understand what that relic means. I’ve been searching for it for years. It’s the key to—”

“For what?” I asked, frowning.

He stopped himself, jaw tightening.

“To bringing Vivian back,” he said, completing the sentence.

I froze in place, feeling as if someone had punched me in the chest. He’s been searching for the Sacred Bone all this time for Vivian?

“But she’s already dead—” I hadn’t finished.

He spat his next words like venom,

“Do you think I will miss the chance of bringing Vivian back to give you that treasure, who the hell do you think you are to even ask me for it?” my insides twisted painfully into knots. My stomach twisted as well.

“Try all the tricks in the book but you will never stop me from bring her back!”

I sat there frozen in the chair, my hands trembling and tears spilling silently down my cheeks. I only wanted a piece of it, not all.