Chapter 1

In the Wolf Council chambers, the First Elder, Adolphe Osouf, had just spoken when an excruciating pain ripped through the depths of my soul.

The bone-deep agony of rejection tore me out of a year-long numbness. It finally struck me that the calming herbal tea Loki Whalen had brewed for me wasn't meant to soothe my mind at all. It was a magic potion meant to dull the tearing of my soul.

I began to shake all over, struggling to accept the truth.

Just then, a familiar telepathic voice sounded in my mind. It was Loki's.

"Serafina, I've returned from the borders and brought you the finest gem from the northern lands. Once I wrap up a small matter, I return to the pack house to be with you."

Still clinging to a thread of hope, I went to the border gates to confront him, but I'd never imagined the confrontation to turn into a harsh blade of truth stabbing through my heart.

In the distance, a wolf stepped onto the pack grounds.

Loki stood tall and imposing with the black armor outlining his powerful frame. He was carefully holding the she-wolf beside him, and his eyes overflowed with gentleness that once only belonged to me.

That she-wolf was Maya Hemmings, his first love. Her belly was visibly swollen.

My heart felt as if it was being crushed, and I was shuddering all over.

We'd met and fallen in love eight years ago, but the eight years of love and happiness turned out to be nothing more than just an act.

After returning to the empty pack house, I took out a pregnancy stone glowing with twin blood-red halos, along with a hospital's report.

The Moon Goddess surely had a cruel sense of humor.

Yesterday, the healer told me that I was expecting twin pups, who'd inherit the power of my bloodline. I'd planned to surprise Loki on our mating anniversary, but who could have guessed he already had a new mate and an heir on the way?

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside before Loki's tall figure appeared in the doorway. I wiped my tears at once and hid the pregnancy stone behind my back.

He strode over with worry written all over his face. "Why didn't you respond, my Luna? I was worried sick."

I lowered my head to avoid his gaze before forcing a smile. "I was with a friend, so I'm a little tired."

He pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on my head. "Don't ever do that again. You know that I get worried when I can't find you. I can't lose you."

My body stiffened in his embrace.

Just then, Loki's phone buzzed in his pocket. After he glanced at the screen, his expression shifted subtly as he quickly said, "I need to step out and take care of something, sweetheart."

With that, he let go and rushed toward the door, eager to leave.

There was a painful twinge in my chest because I'd just seen the name on the screen. It was a message coming from "Munchkin."

A few minutes later, he rushed back and threw on his cloak.

"Something urgent came up with the pack, so I have to go. I'll be back soon."

He planted a quick kiss on my cheek and left without looking back.

Once the wooden door clicked shut, I fed the pregnancy report into the shredder and swept up every scrap. Tears slid down my face as I gently rested a hand on my stomach.

"I'm sorry, my pups. I can't give you a complete family, but I'll give you the best of everything I have.

"Once I finish what needs to be done, I'll take you home to the Snowbound pack, where we belong."