Five

Chapter Five

Nia’s POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alpha Kadox standing in front of me, his cold eyes fixed on mine as he asked the question I had been terrified to hear.

Are you carrying my child or not?

His words kept repeating in my head no matter how many times I tried to push them away, and by the time the first light of morning slipped through my curtains, I felt as though I had spent the entire night fighting a battle I had no chance of winning.

I turned onto my side and pulled the blanket closer around myself, but the warmth did nothing to comfort me.

Seven days, that was all the time I had.

Seven days before Alpha Kadox could check the security cameras and discover that Alpha Azrael had never returned to my room that night.

Seven days before the lie I had told the entire pack could come crashing down around me.

I slowly placed my hand over my stomach.

My fingers trembled as I felt the warmth beneath my palm.

There was a child growing inside me, my child.

For three years, I had dreamed of this moment. I had imagined waking up one morning and realizing that the wishes I had whispered into my pillow night after night had finally happened .

I had imagined the pack celebrating because their Luna had finally given their Alpha an heir but none of those dreams had prepared me for this.

I was finally pregnant, yet instead of happiness, fear was eating me alive.

My child belonged to Alpha Kadox, my husband’s stepbrother.

The very man who had returned to the Black Moon Pack and immediately threatened everything Alpha Azrael had built.

I closed my eyes as tears gathered beneath my lashes.

Just then, soft knock came from the door.

I quickly wiped my cheeks and forced myself to sit upright. “Come in.”

The door opened, and a maid walked inside carrying a large tray covered with a white cloth.

I frowned when she placed it on the table. “I didn’t ask for breakfast.”

The maid smiled politely. “The Alpha ordered us to bring it to you.”

I stared at her. “Alpha Azrael?”

“Yes, Luna.”

My eyes moved slowly toward the tray.

The maid lifted the cloth, revealing warm soup, fresh fruit, bread, tea and several other dishes.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.

It was strange how something so simple a tray of food could remind me of everything I had been denied for the past three years.

For three years, I had lived in this mansion as the Luna of the Black Moon Pack, yet there had been countless mornings when I had sat in my room hungry because I didn’t want to bother anyone by asking for food.

Even as Luna, I had become accustomed to requesting things that should never have needed to be requested.

No one had ever thought to ask whether I had eaten.

No one had ever sent food to my room simply because they were worried about me.

No one had ever treated me like someone worth taking care of.

But today, everything was different, because I was pregnant, because Alpha Azrael believed I was carrying his heir.

The maid straightened the tray before speaking again. “Alpha Azrael said you should eat properly and get enough rest. He also instructed us not to let anyone disturb you unless it is important.”

I looked down at the food.

My throat tightened. “Alright. Thank you.”

The maid bowed and left.

The moment the door closed, the room became painfully quiet. I remained seated on the edge of the bed, staring at the breakfast Alpha Azrael had sent me.

A strange ache spread through my chest.

For years, I had wanted this. I had wanted him to notice me.

I had wanted him to care whether I was hungry or tired and now, when he was finally doing everything I had once begged for, I couldn’t even enjoy it because it wasn’t me he suddenly cared about.

It was the heir he believed was growing inside me.

I slowly stood and walked toward the table.

My hand rested against my stomach as I sat down.

I picked up the spoon and looked at the soup, but before I could take the first bite, there was another knock.

My heart immediately tightened. “Come in.”

The door opened.

Hailey walked inside.

My fingers tightened around the spoon.

Her eyes immediately landed on the food. She looked at the tray, then at me, and something unreadable passed across her face. “Who sent that?”

“Alpha Azrael.” Her expression changed.

She walked closer, looking at the food as though she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Really?”

I said nothing.

She looked at me. “You’re pregnant now, and suddenly Alpha Azrael remembers that you’re his wife.”

I lowered my eyes, I didn’t want this conversation, nor today, nor when my mind was already filled with Alpha Kadox and the secret I was struggling to keep alive.

But Hailey wasn’t finished.

She folded her arms and looked at me carefully. “As far as I can remember, Alpha Azrael hasn’t touched you for almost a year.”

My heart stopped.

For one terrifying second, I couldn’t breathe, she knew, nor about Alpha Kadox, but she knew the one fact that could destroy my lie.

Alpha Azrael hadn’t touched me, not for almost a year.

If Hailey began asking questions, I didn’t know how long I could keep lying.

I forced myself to lift my eyes. “So even when you were away,” I said quietly, “you expected him not to touch me?”

Hailey’s eyebrows lifted.

I swallowed the fear rising in my throat. “I am his wife, Hailey.”

The words came out softer than I intended, but there was pain beneath them that I couldn’t hide.

I lowered my gaze again. “I don’t know what you expected while you were away, but Alpha Azrael is my husband.”

Hailey stared at me. I could feel her studying my face, searching for something.

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

Then I forced a small, sad smile.

“Oh, then,” I whispered, “it seems Alpha Azrael only has your time when I am away.” Her expression immediately hardened.

I didn’t look at her again.

I kept my eyes on the untouched food because I was terrified that if I met her gaze, she would see everything I was desperately trying to hide.

For several seconds, there was complete silence.

Then Hailey scoffed. “Enjoy his attention while it lasts.”

I heard her footsteps moving toward the door.m, I didn’t dare turn around.

The door opened, then closed.

I remained completely still, I listened carefully as her footsteps disappeared down the hallway, then did I finally release the breath trapped inside my chest.

My shoulders dropped, and I placed a trembling hand over my heart.

She hadn’t suspected anything, at least, I hoped she hadn’t.

My eyes filled with tears again, I had just lied to Hailey without actually saying the words, I had allowed her to believe that Alpha Azrael could have returned to me while she was away and the worst part was that I had no idea how long that lie would protect me.

I looked at the food in front of me.

Alpha Azrael had sent it because he believed I was carrying his child.

He had probably spent the morning imagining himself as a father.

Perhaps he was already thinking about the future, about the child who would one day inherit the Black Moon Pack.

I closed my eyes.

If he ever discovered the truth, the happiness I had seen on his face yesterday would turn into something else.

Anger, betrayal , hatred and perhaps he would never forgive me.

A tear slipped down my cheek. “I am sorry,” I whispered.

I didn’t know whether I was apologizing to Alpha Azrael, my child or myself.