Chapter 3

A familiar frustration welled up inside me. But I had followed him faithfully for ten years.

I was the daughter of a Beta. My inner wolf was incredibly weak. To be with him, I gave up a scholarship to a human university. I entered the Shifter Academy as a low-ranking wolf, just to stay by his side.

Then came the academy’s “First Shift” ceremony.

Under the full moon, all the other wolves my age transformed into powerful beasts. My wolf form was pitifully small. I could barely stand.

A few young wolves from other packs circled me, laughing. They tripped me with their paws.

Just as I was about to collapse in shame, Declan appeared.

His massive black wolf form stood in front of me. He let out a deafening growl. His pure Alpha aura sent them all scrambling.

I only found out later that he didn't do it for me. He just did it because they were being too loud.

But for a weak wolf who had always been on the fringes, that one moment of protection was enough. I fell for him, completely and hopelessly.

But he didn’t like me.

At the academy, my weak wolf meant I couldn't be a warrior.

So I threw myself into studying corporate strategy and territory management. I became his shadow, his go-to person for everything. After graduation, I naturally joined the Pack Corporation, handling all his administrative and logistical needs.

I thought if I was smart enough, if I was indispensable enough, he would eventually see me.

I tried everything. Truth-or-dare confessions. Drunken, rambling admissions. Every hint I could think of.

All I got was his scorn and his friends' cruel jokes.

The last time was three months ago. The Full Moon Celebration.

I was bringing him his Heat suppressants. I heard them through the door, his friends teasing him.

“Declan, you think Maeve’s going to try her luck again tonight? That’s got to be the 9,999th time, right?”

A small smile played on Declan's lips.

“No matter how many times she hints, I’ll just play dumb. Besides, she’s useful for everything… except being a Luna.”

My hand froze in mid-air. I couldn't bring myself to open the door.

That was the first time I didn’t make a clumsy move on him.

After the party, he pulled me aside, acting awkward. He asked if I had anything to say.

I shook my head. So he dragged me to his room, angry, demanding to know what was wrong.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up to him dressing, his face a mask of disgust. Then, silence.

The screech of brakes pulled me back to the present. We were in the garage.

I thought about it. I had to tell him the truth about that night.

“Declan, that night, we didn't actually…”

Before I could finish, he threw open his door and walked away without a backward glance.

“Victoria, don’t be scared. I’m on my way. Wait for me.”

He left without a second thought. I was locked inside the car, pounding on the window, helpless.

The name finally registered. Victoria.

The only high-ranking, pure-blood she-wolf at the academy who ever rejected him.

I waited. And waited. Until the early hours of the morning. I knew he wasn't coming back.

He finally had his dream girl. He wasn't going to let me ruin it.

I wanted to call Maya, but I was afraid Declan would think I was overreacting. That it would make his precious Victoria upset.

I told myself I could just wait it out. But without the engine running, the sealed car quickly became stuffy.

Worse, the Alpha aura he’d released in his agitation was still thick in the small space.

It was aggressive. A high-ranking aura. For a female carrying another male’s pup, it was a territorial invasion. A threat.

My already weak inner wolf went into overdrive, trying to protect the pup.

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my abdomen. Cold sweat soaked my back.

I slammed my fists on the window, screaming for help. But the private Alpha parking area was completely empty.

The physical rejection, combined with the extreme drain of my pregnancy, wiped me out.

My vision went black. I passed out.

…

I woke up to white walls and the smell of disinfectant.

The room was noisy. The Luna was screaming at Declan.

“Do you have a heart? You knew Maeve was pregnant, and you left her locked in a car all night? If anything had happened to that pup, I swear I’d kill you myself!”

My mother, though still angry, was trying to mediate.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. She’s fine. The pup is still young.”

I coughed, and they all stopped.

My mom rushed to my side, her eyes full of pain.

“Maeve, are you okay? The healer said your inner wolf went into a panic. They barely saved the baby. You can’t be around danger like this anymore, you understand?”

Her words were all aimed at Declan.

The Luna looked embarrassed, but she forced a smile.

“That’s right. Maeve, you need to rest. I won’t let this stupid boy bother you anymore.”

It sounded like she was implying I was the one chasing her son.

I turned my head away, exhausted. Declan cut his mother off.

“I was the one looking for Maeve. Stop with the passive-aggressive crap.”

He awkwardly came over to my bed. He held a bowl of bone broth to my lips.

I kept my distance. I wouldn't drink it.

He got angry. He slammed the bowl down, his aura flaring. “If you don’t drink this, and something happens to the pup, don’t blame me!”

I almost laughed. He kept insisting the baby wasn’t his problem.

What was this now?

The Luna’s face changed behind him. Her eyes held a new layer of displeasure as she looked at me.

I spoke softly.

“My pup has a father. I don’t need you to worry about us.”