Chapter 1

FREYA

"The woman shall not become pregnant without authorization during the marriage, otherwise it will be regarded as a violation of the agreement.”

I remembered clearly what was in the marital agreement that I just broke. It was only one night that I forgot to take the pill.

A month before my marriage with my husband, Leo was supposed to end, I became pregnant with his child. The pregnancy test shook in my hand, my entire body seeming to tremble.

I turned my fiery gaze on my best friend. “I'm pregnant, Lizzie.”

Despite the two red lines on the pregnancy test, I still couldn't believe I had a child in my belly.

The first conscious impulse I felt was joy. It climbed up along my legs, expanded into my stomach, my heartbeat accelerated as heat burned my eye.

Lizzy wiped away the happy tears from my eyes, and said excitedly. “I am the baby’s godmother.”

Lizzy’s joy was as deep as mine and she hugged me warmly.

When I described my symptoms to her this morning, she suggested that I take a pregnancy test. The two pink marks on the test are the results.

I laughed, cupping my stomach which was still flat. Would Leo accept this baby? The thought of the contract made dread bloom in my stomach.

"I ruined everything, didn't I?" I bit my lip until I almost drew blood.

“Don't talk like that, Freya." Lizzy chided me. She sat down beside me, taking me into her arms. "Who wouldn't love their children?"

"But we only have one month left in our marriage."

“Don't be angry at yourself, Freya! You know that Leo loves you. Remember how he defended you fiercely when the other packs wouldn't recognize our pack because we were poor?”

I stroked my stomach and nodded, choked with emotions. The first night I met Leo, he offered to dance with me, saving me from the embarrassment of being ignored.

It was only when he touched me as he took my hand that we felt the electric sensation of the mate bond.

We were both ecstatic, and when he offered to marry me, I immediately said yes.

Although he proposed that it would only be a three-year marriage contract, maybe with this child Leo might change his mind?

I wiped away the tears from my face and strengthened my determination. I needed to tell Leo I would be having our baby soon.

I stood off my office chair slowly, and walked to the door. “Please handle my meetings, Lizzy. I need to speak to Leo.”

She watched worriedly as I walked away. I got my driver to take me back home. Leo would be in his office in the Blackclaw pack house.

The Blackclaw pack had about two thousand members. It was the second largest pack among the Seven Packs. One king ruled over the Seven packs.

I came from the most remote and impoverished wolf pack among the Seven Packs, but I married the powerful Alpha, Leo, Alpha of Blackclaw Pack.

I was his mate, and the woman who should birth his children. But on the night we discovered we were mates, Leo came to me with a contract. Pregnancy was forbidden during the three years we would stay married.

In exchange, he would protect my small pack. I loved him, and I was willing to do my best to be his Luna. I had worked hard, hoping to eventually win his heart.

Sighing, I pulled myself from my thoughts, and entered the pack house, walking to Leo’s office.

With my chin up, I masked the storm of worry that raged inside me. I was very apprehensive to tell Leo the news.

I heard a woman crying in the room from a distance. It didn't take long to spot Leo. His back was towards me, his hand resting on Caroline's shoulders.

Caroline was sobbing against his shoulder. “Leo! If only you knew all I suffered because of Liam. He abused me all day long. I really hate him!”

My heart was heavy with sympathy for Caroline. It was terrible that she had encountered such a bad fate.

Leo took Caroline into his arms and wiped away her tears gently.

“Shh, don't cry, Caroline. You're safe here. Nothing and no one will ever hurt you again.” He reassured her.

Leo's words were so gentle that I was speechless for a while. Caroline sniffled pitifully, placing her head against Leo’s shoulder as if she couldn't support her own legs.

“Leo? Maybe we should let Caroline go to the bedroom to rest? She looks very distressed.” I suggested, a little angry at the intimacy between them.

Leo and Caroline both pretended as if I hadn't spoken. My stomach tightened.

“Caroline? Should I walk you to your bedroom?” I insisted, noting how weak she looked.

Caroline turned and jolted away from Leo as if she was just seeing me. “Freya? I'm sorry to disturb you. I hope it's not any trouble? Leo was just listening to my silly sob stories.”

I was about to answer when Leo interrupted. “Don’t worry, Caroline. You're safe here.”

Caroline blinked, gazing up at Leo with worried, doe eyes. “Thank you, Leo. I brought you a little gift. I know you're a noble Alpha, and it's only a tie, yet, I wanted to say thank you.”

Leo nodded down at her, and she pulled a tie from her bag, knotting it around his neck.

I watched the act. Inside me, I was cold, but I reasoned that she was Leo’s best friend. They grew up together, she was probably used to behaving with him that way.

Also, what right did I have to feel jealous? Our marriage was only a contract that would be over in a month’s time.

And Leo was only reassuring his friend who had suffered a bad fate in life.

“Caroline, please can you excuse me? I need to speak to Leo.” I turned to the woman, and spoke kindly.

Caroline's lower lip started trembling, and tears stood in her eyes. She sniffled, her shoulders shaking as she walked to the door, sobbing loudly.

I turned on Leo, but I had barely spoken a word when he shook his head angrily. “Did you have to humiliate her that way?”

“Hu… huumiliate her?” I stammered.

My heart ached for my wolf. A week after marrying Leo, my wolf had fallen asleep and refused to wake.

What had I not done to wake my wolf so Leo would feel our mate bond again?”

Despite all my efforts, Leo had never grown to love me the way I so desperately wanted, and Aurelia had never woken up.

I felt her stir each time Leo was close to me, but she never stayed awake for long.

“Don't you think you're being harsh with Caroline? She's already suffered enough with Liam. She should be made to feel comfortable here.” Leo’s voice was low and dark.

“I’ve done my best to make her happy, Leo. All I asked for was a few minutes of your attention.” My voice shook.

I exhaled, fighting to control my emotions. I had allowed myself to be distracted by Caroline, but now, my worry returned with a vengeance.

“What is it that you want?” He asked curtly.

My lips had barely parted to answer before a blood-curdling scream split the air.

“Leo! Please help!” Caroline’s voice rent the air.

Leo’s fingers tightened into a fist. Without even an ‘excuse me’, he stalked to the door and slammed it shut behind him.

I followed Caroline’s screams to the kitchen where I found Leo helping her off the floor. There was a mess around her where she had attempted to cook.

“I'm so sorry. I know it's such a mess. I wanted to make your dinner, but I forgot how delicate I am. You'll forgive me, won't you?” She cried into Leo’s shoulders.

Leo sighed, his shoulders tight. “I’ve warned you not to strain yourself, Caroline. You need to rest.”

As I stared, I felt a pang of distress. I turned and went to my room, totally miserable.

No, Leo had never loved me the way he loved Caroline. And with each passing day, I was more certain that he never would. I had been deceiving myself the last three years.

By midnight, I still couldn't fall asleep. I decided to head downstairs for a bottle of water, and I noticed Caroline and Leo.

His shoulders were very rigid as Caroline spoke. “Leo, I know you still love me. You promised you'd take me back if I returned after three years. I have to let you know that I got divorced for you.”