Chapter 1

My words were a bomb.

Declan kicked the chair beside him. He gritted his teeth.

“You think this is a funny joke to make right now?”

My mother was staring, horrified. I just poured myself a cup of tea and sat down.

I looked at his furious face. I felt nothing.

“I’m not joking. I’m really pregnant. And it’s really not yours.”

I gave an apologetic smile.

“I just found out a few days ago. I didn't get a chance to tell you. Sorry, Luna. You’ll have to find someone else.”

I stirred my tea and looked at my mom.

“Can you please pick up some fresh, premium steak today? The pack healer said the pup needs it. My energy is completely drained.”

The atmosphere was arctic. My mother’s eyes turned red. She couldn’t speak.

The Luna, sensing the tension, laughed awkwardly and dragged Declan away.

As he left, his gaze was dark and unreadable. He threw one last comment over his shoulder.

“Even if it’s true, I’ll never claim that mutt.”

The second they were gone, my mother slammed her hands on the table.

“I know you’ve loved Declan for ten years! I know you’re upset he’s mating someone else, but you can’t joke about your reputation like this! You’ve never even had a mate, where would a baby come from…”

I pulled the clinic’s report from my pocket. The ultrasound stamped with [12 WEEKS PREGNANT] shut her up.

She closed her eyes in defeat. Then, she remembered something. She grabbed my wrist.

“I heard what he said. ‘Even if it’s true, he won’t claim it.’ Did something happen between you two? Is this pup his?”

I sipped my tea. “Mom, how many times do I have to say it? The baby is not Declan’s.”

Her hands trembled with anger.

“Then who is the father! I’m not against you finding a mate on your own. You haven't found your fated mate yet. I introduced you to top-tier Beta warriors, but you refused! I thought you were dead-set on Declan! But you…”

She looked around, then lowered her voice.

“You go and get yourself pregnant with a fatherless pup! Your inner wolf is already weak. Without the pup's father to soothe your wolf, the pregnancy rejection could kill you!”

A wave of nausea hit me. I got up and poured out my tea.

She was still rambling. I sighed.

“I’ll tell you when things are more stable. He knows I’m pregnant. He said he’d take responsibility.”

My mother followed me, her face a mask of frustration.

“Responsibility? How? He says that now, but he’ll run the second you give birth!”

My mind drifted. I remembered his face when he found out.

A small smile touched my lips.

He’ll take responsibility.

The moment he knew, he set up a massive trust fund in my name. He had top-of-the-line baby supplies and a pregnancy comfort blanket with his scent flown in from overseas.

He was a better man than Declan could ever be.

“Mom, don’t worry. Your daughter isn’t stupid. I’m heading to the Pack Corporation.”

I grabbed my bag and went to the garage.

When I got to my car, I saw it. Declan’s massive, armored SUV was blocking my way.

My first instinct was to move it for him.

I dug through my bag. Then I remembered. He took the keys back the day we had our fight.

I pulled out my phone, hesitating. I scrolled to his name.

[Can you move your car? I need to get to work.]

The dreaded 'Not Delivered' error popped up. He had blocked me.

I tapped his profile. His usual lone wolf picture was gone. Replaced by a photo of two hands, intertwined. A Mating announcement.

I smiled bitterly and put my phone away.

Right. He took the keys. Of course he blocked me.

As I turned to leave, I tripped on something.

My heart jumped. I grabbed the side-view mirror to steady myself.

The ground was littered with things. My things. Things I’d left in his car.

The cashmere scarf I’d stayed up all night knitting, so he wouldn’t be cold on missions.

The silver-warding charm I’d risked crossing dangerous territory to get for him.

The first-aid kit I’d meticulously prepared, just in case he got hurt.

…and other little things. Spare hair ties. Emergency bandages.

I meant nothing to him. So my things were just trash.

I glanced through the passenger window. The seat was decorated.

A pink seatbelt cover. A cute wolf pup plushie tied to it. A custom vanity mirror.

He used to throw out any little charm I put in his car.

“This is too cute. It ruins an Alpha’s image, understand?”

My eyes stung. So this was it. The kind of special treatment you get when you’re actually wanted.

I bent down, gathered everything up, and threw it in the trash. I called a cab.

The second I sat down, my best friend Maya called, frantic.

“Maeve! That bastard Declan officially announced he’s getting mated!”