4

Diana's pov

The first thing I felt when consciousness dragged me back was pain- dull and throbbing, stretching from my temples down to my stomach. My eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them. I forced them open anyway, blinking against the blur and the sting of the bright lights.

I was in my room, in the comfort of my bed.

For a fleeting second, I thought maybe everything had been some twisted nightmare, but memories flooded my mind, the sting unbearable.

It felt like reliving the pain all over again. His disheveled clothes, the pain in his eyes, her scent thick on him, making me sick.

A sharp sob escaped me before I could swallow it.

"Diana! Oh thank Goddess, you're alright." Louisiana was at my side immediately as I slowly forced myself to sit up, my stomach lurching.

I looked around, taking note of the pack doctor at the side of my bed, checking through some papers. Two Omegas were dutifully wiping something off the floor with sheets, and my heart dropped to the pit in my stomach recognizing blood, the smell of it thick in the air.

Turning to Louisiana, I noticed her eyes are swollen, rimmed red like she had been crying for hours.

A sickening feeling enveloped me and my pulse spiked in panic.

"What's - what's wrong, Louisiana?" My voice was hoarse, cracked.

"Diana- " her lip trembled. Without warning, she threw herself into my arms, burying her face against my shoulder as she sobbed. It shattered me.

Dread filled me as I glared in the direction of the pack doctor.

"You have less than a second to tell me what's going on. Now."

His expression paled.

"My Luna," he began slowly, voice heavy and he shut the booklet in his hands. "You- were pregnant."

I stopped breathing.

Pregnant?

But- but that's impossible.

My hands slipped down to my abdomen as though something fragile was still there, and that was when the comprehension of his words hit me. "I- I was?"

He nodded, his expression grave. "Only a few weeks. You could not have known yet."

Louisiana's sob tore through the air again.

"I don't understand what you're saying Doctor. Are you telling me I'm not pregnant anymore?"

That was when my eyes dropped to the sheets the Omegas were gathering, avoiding my gaze. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

"The trauma due to the mate bond severing when your mate..." he continued hesitantly. "was with another woman- caused a violent disruption. The pain was too severe. Your womb could not withstand the shock. You- you lost-"

"No!" I screamed, feeling something inside me break.

"I'm sorry, my Luna." He bowed, his posture sombre.

Louisiana's arms tightened around me as she sobbed hard. The Omegas stilled in the background, their head bowed.

I screamed again- it was almost unrecognizable, like it came from the depths of the soul of my wolf.

I crumpled forward, folding in on myself, clutching my stomach, although I could no longer feel anything. My wolf howled, thrashing inside me, the sound of a mother morning her pup. This grief was a different kind of pain- it felt like my heart was torn from my chest and shredded before me into a million pieces.

My baby. No. No. No.

As the emptiness settled in and my senses dulled, it all came dawning on me.

Five years of trying. Five years of trying to drown out the whispers and rumors that I was cursed with barrenness from the Moon goddess for taking another's mate. Five years of being ridiculed by the Elder Council as they persuaded him to go in search of his true mate.

Zaden had comforted me by brushing their words off, pretending it didn't matter and we would have a child at our own time- but deep down I knew he wanted an heir more than anything.

And now. I was finally pregnant.

In a much better situation, this would have been the news of the century. He'd have been the happiest man in the world.

And I lost it.

Because of him.

Suddenly I forced myself upright. As I wiped my tears aggressively, I beckoned to the Omegas.

"Everyone listen to me and listen attentively," my voice was wavering with shakiness, but I sniffed, maintaining a strong composure. "No one will ever speak a word of this. Not to anyone. Not to my father. Not to the elders. Not to the Alpha. Not to another soul. Do you understand me?"

They nodded instantly, fear and sympathy in their eyes. I dismissed them and one by one, they bowed and slipped out till only I and Louisiana remained.

"Where is he?" I asked after a moment of silence had passed between us. It was obvious it was dawn, a new day.

She stared at me, jaw clenched as she squeezed my hand in hers. "He hasn't- returned yet. I don't know if I should tell you this."

A bitter smile crowded my lips. "I don't think anything could be worse than losing a life- a life growing inside of me. It hurts Louisiana."

She pulled me into a hug. "I hate him as much as you do right now. I really wish you didn't have to know this."

"Tell me." I exhaled as I waited.

As we pulled back, from the look in her eyes I knew it couldn't be good "Word came from your father, Gamma Ezra last night. But you were still unconscious," she got out a scroll and handed it to me but I didn't move or take it. My eyes were unfocused in the distance.

"What does it say," With red rimmed eyes, I turn to her, avoiding looking at the scroll.

Tears welled in her eyes, but with a defiant expression, she said, "Alpha Zaden had been summoned last night by your father and the Elder council. And before them, he was accompanied by Andrea. Your father claimed that Alpha Zaden had ruined her reputation - "

A bitter chuckle left my lips. "And not mine?" Father had always doted on Andrea. It was no surprise my feelings were not put into consideration.

Lousina shook her somberly. "He refused to receive her, said Alpha Zaden would have to take her in. Everyone at the soiree already knew what happened which is bound to spread across all the packs. The elders are insisting he takes responsibility. As she's his true mate and might possibly be pregnant after - " her voice trailed.

Pregnant.

A fresh stab of agony sliced through me.

"Diana I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this."

"Oh, but I do Lousina," I smiled, my heart tightening in my chest. "And what choice do I even have," my voice cracked. "I loved him so much. And if I leave now after everything people say about how I stole him- who would have me? I would be cast aside and forgotten." I laughed bitterly.

She strokes my hair. "You just lost a child. At least let me stay with you."

I shook my head. "You've already done so much for me. Please Go home."

After much hesitation, she reluctantly obeyed, giving me one last devastated hug before leaving.

All day I couldn't sleep nor get out of bed, my mind kept replaying everything. My stomach still cramped a bit and each time I bled a little it felt like my life was slipping out of me.

By noon, I heard wheels crunching outside accompanied by horses' neighing alongside their matching hooves.

He was back. I forced myself up and peered through the window.

I watched as he got down before reaching out, taking the hand of a woman and gently guiding her down. They both locked eyes, sharing a smile.

Andrea.

Watching them, arm in arm as they headed for the pack house, I could feel my blood boil so fast it felt like fire.

Before I realized it, I was already running - storming down the stairs, my heart beat pounding in my skull, my wolf snarling viciously.

Both froze upon seeing me.

He immediately left her side and approached me. "Diana, I need to- "

I slapped him.

Hard enough that his head snapped to the side

The guards, the Omegas, even Andrea. Everyone froze in shock while I just stood here, chest rising and falling, my throat clogged.

"I, Diana Blackthorne of Black widow's pack, reject you, Alpha Zaden as my mate!"