chapter Two

Selene’s POV

“What are you doing here love?” Leo’s voice filled the air, causing my heart to race nervously.

I swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as I thought of a lie. “I… I… ca… came to ask you what you’d like to eat,” I stuttered senselessly, hoping he suspects nothing.

Leo cleared his throat noisily, his gaze fixed on me. “What I’d like to eat? But you shouldn’t be doing that Sel, not now that you are with a child. Let Alice handle everything from now on, okay?” he said softly, slowly patting my hair.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I bobbed my head slowly, avoiding his gaze. Leo grabbed my hand, placed a fluttery kiss on it before handing me my cane.

“Kade, we’ll speak later. I need to attend to my Luna,” he told his beta, while wrapping his hand around my waist.

“Okay your highness,” Kade responded.

Without another word, he spun me around and began to lead me away. Soon we arrived in the bedroom and before I could tell what was happening, Leo brought his lips down on mine and immediately took dominance.

I tried to fight the bond, to resist but it was damn near impossible. My wolf howled with a mixture of pain and pleasure as she relished the touch of our mate.

“Maybe I heard wrong? Maybe he didn’t mean everything he said earlier?” I thought, not wanting to believe that the man whom I had seen as my savior for years, was no different than the monsters I had been trying to get away from.

With heavy breaths, he whispered, “I love you Sel. I really do,” his voice deep with emotions and for a split second, I believed him.

Just as he hoisted me up on his waist, his phone blared out loudly. He struggled to ignore the ring but soon gave in. With one final kiss on my forehead, he placed me on the bed gently and immediately picked up the call.

With how soft and gentle his voice was, I needed no seer to tell me he was speaking to Amelia.

“Why are you crying? What happened?” He asked into the phone, his voice filled with concern.

Silence ensued for a few seconds.

“Okay, I’ll come pick you up myself. I don’t like it when you are hurt,” he whispered again.

My heart raced frantically in my chest as beads of sweat began to form on my forehead. I couldn’t help but wonder how long I had been oblivious to everything.

For years, I had thought Leo was the saviour the moon goddess sent to save me from the people I had once called family, the people who I had thought would love and protect me till eternity.

The Casper clan had adopted me when I was a child. After their real daughter had been kidnapped and allegedly killed by Lucian’s enemies, Lucian and Mara had tried to get pregnant years after recovering from the pain but were unable to. After so many failed IVFs, they decided to adopt a baby girl and returned home with me.

For the first sixteen years of my life, everything was so perfect. I had parents who loved and would do anything for me and I also had two over protective older brother cousins who would rather die than see me hurt but everything changed when news of their real daughter being alive surfaced.

She was found and brought home and my woes began from that day. Nothing I did was enough anymore, everyone began to see me as a burden, a stain that needed to be washed away and I began to endure torment after torment from Amelia until Leonardo came and rescued me immediately after the accident.

I had thought the moon goddess had taken pity on me but boy was I wrong.

Leo’s loud footsteps suddenly filled the air once again and soon he was by my side.

I bit my bottom lip in anticipation of his next words.

“Baby, I have to go. I need to meet up with important council members to sort out some things,” he lied smoothly, gently massaging my arm.

I ran my tongue over my bottom lip slowly, trying to calm my raging emotions. “It’s late already. Let Kade take care of it, I want you here tonight Leo. I want you here with me and the baby tonight.”

A low chuckle escaped his lips as he began walking away from me. “I’m sorry baby but I can’t leave this to Kade. It’s really important but I promise to be back before nightfall.”

And with that, he was out the door before I could even say another word. Grief and anger filled me and I placed my hand on my belly, trying to shield my baby from the pain.

All these years, I had thought Leo was perfect, that my marriage was a blessing from the moon goddess but not only has he fooled me, he also stolen my corneas for his one true love.

The one woman who had tormented my life for years and had promised to take everything away from me.

A low growl emanated from me and the initial pain I was feeling dissipated. I needed to make them pay for every tear I have shed, I wanted to see them crumble before me.

Suddenly, my phone blared and my heart skipped because I knew who was calling from the ringtone.

It was Leo.

Following the sound, I picked it up from the bed and answered the call.

“Hello,” I said, clutching the phone tightly with hope growing in my heart.

“Leo?” I called softly.

A woman’s sinister laughter filled my ears and I needed no soothsayer to tell me who it was.

“Oh, you answered,” Amelia chuckled. “Good!”

My throat tightened. “Where is he?”

“He’s right here,” she replied softly. “Right where he belongs.”

The sound of movement, fabric shifting and a slight creak followed. Then Leo’s voice followed, softer than I had heard in years.

“Amelia?” He murmured in a way that made my stomach churn in disgust. “Why do you look this way? Are you upset?”

Amelia let out a trembling sigh. “Ever since you found out about her pregnancy, you have been too careful with me,” she said, her tone carrying a tinge of hurt. “Do you now love her more because she is carrying your child? Do you now value her more than me?”

A brief silence followed, one that almost swallowed me whole.

“Shhhh, don’t say that,” Leo replied, making my chest burn in anguish. “Stop hurting yourself over nothing. You know where you stand with me.”

“And where does she stand Leo?” Amelia pressed further. “Please tell me.”

Leo exhaled slowly. “She’s carrying my child,” he replied. “That’s all.”

The soft sound of their lips fighting for dominance filled my ears, followed by clothes being pulled off bodies and the loud thud the bed made when it carried their weight.

Just as I was about to pull the phone away from my ears, Amelia’s voice, which was barely above a whisper came on the line.

“Do you hear that Sel? This is what being chosen sounds like.”

And with that, the call ended.