Chapter 1

Mireya's POV

"Congratulations Luna Mireya! You are three weeks pregnant!"

The beating of my heart stopped. My vision started to blur as tears pooled in my eyes. I wanted to speak but words failed to come out.

My gaze remained glued on Aurelia, the Royal Obstetrician.

Am I really pregnant?

"You're not lying right?" I asked, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Am I really pregnant, Aurelia?"

“I’ve been serving the Royal family for decades, Luna Mireya. My diagnoses are never wrong,” she said with a smile. “You’re pregnant.”

I already had a feeling. My period was delayed and I am having morning sickness but I don't want to get my hopes up. I don't want Caius to hope for something that hasn't been confirmed yet so I decided to consult Aurelia. And it turns out my suspicion was right. I am indeed carrying Caius' child.

“This is great timing don’t you think? Tonight, Alpha Caius will be declared as the new Alpha King. Announcing to the whole Kingdom that you are with his heir will strengthen his rule—“

“New Alpha King? Tonight?” I asked completely lost.

Aurelia looked confused too. “Yeah,” she nodded, slowly. “You…didn’t know?”

Caius didn’t tell me anything. We shared breakfast this morning but he never mentioned that tonight would be his coronation.

“Maybe he got busy,” I reasoned out. “Or maybe he plans to surprise me,”

Aurelia smiled. “Yeah. That must be,”

I don’t want to overthink it. Maybe he was planning to surprise me or maybe he was too overwhelmed and it slipped from his mind.

What matters is that he will get the throne that he has been wanting to claim.

“You should be happy, Mireya,” I reminded myself. “Caius achieved his dream and you are carrying his heir. There’s nothing to worry about,”

I pushed away all my negative thoughts as I navigated the Sovereign Wing. I was a few steps away from reaching my chamber when the royal guards stopped me in my tracks.

“You are summoned to the Grand Council Hall, Luna Mireya.” one guard spoke.

“By who?” I asked, confused.

They didn't give me an answer, instead, they turned around and led the way towards the Grand Council Hall.

Maybe this is about the Coronation happening tonight. There are only a few hours left before the Blood Moon rises. I should have been notified days ago. As Caius’ Luna, I should have helped with the preparations.

Instead of getting angry, I force a smile and politely bow my head the moment I step into the Grand Council Hall.

Alpha King Victor Sterling, Caius’s father, sat at the head of the table—silent and composed. To his right sat my husband, Caius, along with the Royal Council. Across from them was my stepfather, Edward Harrington, the Alpha of the Nightfall Pack, and beside him were my mother and members of his pack.

It feels like déjà vu. These are the very same faces that stood before me when I was marked as Caius’s Luna.

I was about to speak but the words got caught in my throat when the loud clacking of heels filled the hall.

“Mireya?”

That voice.

Five years have passed since I last heard that voice but I can still recognize it. How could I even forget the voice of the woman who made me Caius’ Luna?

I didn't move but she found a way to see me. She stood in front of me, her bold red lips stretched in a wide smile.

“Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten me, Mireya.” She joked and pulled me into a quick hug.

I couldn't smile. I couldn't match the happiness she possesses.

I am happy knowing she’s alive. We have been searching for her but now that she was standing in front of me I couldn’t help but feel scared.

Blaire Harrington, my step-sister, was Caius' runaway, Luna.

The woman he was supposed to mark.

The woman I replaced.

"Aren’t you happy to see me, my dear step-sister?"

My lips trembled as I forced a smile. “I-I’m glad y-you’re back, Blaire,”

Five years ago, on Lunar Rite, the night of Blaire's first shift, her engagement with Caius was announced. Blaire hates being controlled and on that very night, she ran away, leaving Caius in humiliation.

They forced me to take Blaire's place which Caius firmly opposed. I was the weakest in Nightfall Pack. I was treated like an outcast despite being considered by Alpha Edward as his step-daughter. Their indifference grew when I failed to meet my wolf during the Lunar Rite.

I understood Caius’s refusal, yet I still chose to become his substitute Luna. I love him so much and I am willing to be Blaire's replacement just to save him from humiliation.

Caius was cold and distant at first but as time passed I felt him opening up to me. He was slowly tearing down the wall that separates us. Our relationship starts to become real and I feel like I was not just a mere substitute but when I thought everything was going well, fate had its way of bursting my bubbles.

Blaire showed up and handed me a paper that will end my marriage.

"Your time is up. I am taking back what's mine," she smiled at me.

My stomach churned as I read the words boldly written on the paper.

Divorce Agreement.

"You are no longer needed, Mireya," Blaire added.

I didn't look at her. My eyes passed through every judging gaze and went straight to Caius.

He didn't agree to this right? He wouldn't throw me out just because Blaire came back...right?

I brought my gaze back to Blaire. She's always been a bitch. She wanted everything to go her way but my marriage was not in her hands. It was not for her to decide.

She wasted her chance five years ago. She can't just throw me out now that she feels like being a Luna...being a wife.

I snatched the paper from her hand and tore it in front of everyone.

I heard my mother gasp. Alpha Edward looked at me darkly. King Victor was quiet but his dangerous stare was enough to tell me that what I did didn't please him.

And Caius?

He was quiet but his jaw was clenched tightly. I wonder if he hates the bold move I made? I wonder if he hates the fact that I am messing with his runaway Luna.

"You are not part of our marriage, Blaire," I said, locking eyes with her. “You don’t have the right to hand me that piece of paper and demand that I sign it—"

"I filed for it," a cold baritone voice cut me off.

I slowly turned my head to Caius' direction. His expression remains the same. Cold. Ruthless. Distant. Like he wasn't the man I shared breakfast with this morning.

“You have been called here to be stripped of your title. You are no longer my wife. You are no longer my Luna, Mireya.”