Chapter 1

The day I found out I was pregnant, I excitedly shared the news with Caleb.

But his reaction was strangely cold. He didn't look happy at all. Instead, he frowned, his face dark and brooding.

When I asked him when we were going to have our bonding ceremony, he panicked and quickly changed the subject.

Until today. I went out alone to shop for baby clothes.

That's when I saw Caleb holding a can of pup formula in the aisle.

Standing right beside him was Stella Mercer, holding a delicate white onesie against her slightly swollen belly, a sweet smile on her face.

"Our pup is going to look so cute in this."

Caleb gazed at her with pure adoration. "As long as the pup looks like you, they will look cute in anything."

They looked exactly like a loving expectant couple.

Then Caleb turned and met my eyes.

His face visibly froze.

"Caleb, yesterday you said you were busy handling a pack emergency."

"Is this your emergency?"

I tried my hardest to keep my voice from shaking.

Caleb clearly hadn't expected to see me here. He stammered, unable to form a single word.

I walked over slowly, looking at Stella’s pregnant belly. My face was unnervingly calm, completely devoid of emotion.

"How far along?"

Caleb pressed his lips together, avoiding my gaze.

But Stella simply rested her head on Caleb’s shoulder and looked at me provocatively, her eyes full of triumph.

"Almost three months. This is my and Caleb's pup!"

Hearing that answer, I bit my lower lip hard.

Three months.

My heart violently seized. I was only one month along, and she was three.

It felt like my inner wolf was being ripped apart. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore; they slid down my cheeks.

I looked up at Caleb, my lips bitten white, forcing the words out of my throat.

"Aren't you going to explain?"

Seeing my tears, Caleb immediately panicked. He looked at me with heartache, rushed forward, and pulled me into his arms, coaxing me in a low voice.

"Catalina, it’s not what you think."

"The pup in Stella’s belly... isn't mine."

I froze. "What did you say?"

"Stella got into trouble, and the guy abandoned her," Caleb pleaded. "If the pack finds out she’s pregnant by a rogue, she’ll be banished. We grew up together; I can't just watch her life get ruined. I'm just helping her."

"Helping her?" I laughed out of pure anger, the sound echoing hollowly. "By marrying her? By making her your Luna?"

"It's just temporary, Catalina! Once the pup is born, I will sever the mate bond with her and marry you. But until then, I have to do my duty as an Alpha!" Caleb growled self-righteously.

"But Caleb!" Stella’s eyes suddenly went red, and she shrieked in grievance. "You promised you would be this pup's father! You promised to take care of us forever!"

"We already had our bonding ceremony! You said you would raise our pup as the Alpha heir!"

Hearing those words, my head snapped up. I shoved him away hard.

I tried to meet his gaze, but he looked away.

With bloodshot eyes, I pointed a shaking finger at Stella and confronted him.

"Is she telling the truth?"

"You already had a bonding ceremony with her? Then where does that leave me and our pup? Did you forget I'm your fated mate?"

"Are you throwing away your own flesh and blood to play daddy to a bastard pup who doesn't even know who its father is?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Stella started whimpering and dabbing at her tears. “My baby is not a bastard! My baby has a father!”

Caleb’s face instantly filled with alarm. With a deep frown, he didn’t hesitate for a second and slapped me hard across the face.

"Catalina, enough!" Caleb roared."The way you spoke just now was completely classless.All I see are the bad habits of a wild orphan. You need to take a good look at yourself."