Chapter 1

After I got pregnant, my mate, Alpha Ryan, always had an excuse to miss my appointments at the Pack Healer's. But today, I saw him there anyway. He was with his pregnant childhood friend, vowing to protect her child forever.

Just three hours ago, I had begged him again.

"Ryan, wait."

I reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

His body went rigid.

"What is it?" he asked, his gaze darting to the clock on the wall.

"I have a check-up today," I said, gently touching my stomach. I looked at him, full of hope. "You said you'd come with me."

He was silent for a few seconds.

"Monica, I…" He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Pack emergency. It's urgent."

"What is it?"

"You don't need to know." He snatched his jacket. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Ryan!" I followed him to the door. "You're always like this now! It's been a month. You barely touch me. You barely even speak to me!"

He stopped, his back to me.

"I'm dealing with pack business. It's important."

"What about our child? Your heir!" My voice trembled. "Isn't he important?"

I saw his shoulders flinch.

"Of course he is," he said, his voice low. "But now is not the time."

The door clicked shut.

I stood alone in the empty room. A dull ache pulsed from the mate bond in my chest.

I went to the Moonstone Clinic alone.

The healers and nurses in the hallway gave me strange looks.

They avoided my eyes, their whispers dying on their lips.

I ignored it. I just assumed they were surprised to see their Luna at a check-up without her Alpha.

I clutched the results and walked toward the VIP lounge to call him.

As I reached the familiar door, I heard voices from inside.

One of them I knew down to my bones.

"…Don't be scared, Bonnie. I'll protect you." It was Ryan's voice, low and gentle. "I'll take responsibility for this child… He'll be safe, I promise."

My blood ran cold.

The check-up results slipped from my fingers, but I didn't notice.

My hand moved on its own, pushing the door open.

And then I saw him.

Ryan was kneeling by the sofa, carefully holding a glass of water for a pregnant she-wolf.

His gentleness was a knife twisting in my gut.

That was how he used to look at me, and only me.

The woman had long, auburn hair. Her skin was pale, her expression pitiful and fragile.

Her belly was bigger than mine.

My world stopped.

"Ryan?"

He spun around. Panic, then guilt, flashed in his golden eyes.

"Monica… How did you—"

"What is this?" My voice shook, my hand crushing the results in my fist.

The woman looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears.

She looked so weak, so in need of protection.

Ryan scrambled to his feet, instinctively shielding her behind him. "Bonnie… she's in trouble. She was attacked by rogues. I'm doing my duty as Alpha. I'm protecting her and the... pup."

"‘Duty'?" I stared at them. "So you abandon your own pure-blooded heir for some other pup?"

"Monica, it's complicated…"

"Complicated?" I laughed, but it was a bitter sound. "Then why lie? Why hide it from me?"

Just then, Bonnie lifted a hand to her neck.

And I saw it. A faint, new mark. A temporary bond.

She looked at Ryan, her eyes wet with tears. Her whisper was a physical blow.

"But Ryan, you promised. You would be this pup's father. For the pack… we've bonded."