ログインKoen's POV“Sh-she’s pregnant.” Artavius blinked, his entire expression going still as the revelation struck him.Doctor Ania fell silent. Her gaze moved from Alpha Elias to Luna Lynette, then finally back to Artavius. The anger drained from her face as she realized what she had done. The words had escaped before she could stop them.For a moment, she said nothing. Then she lowered her head.“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly. “She’s pregnant.”A stunned silence swept across the ceremonial grounds.Luna Lynette shot to her feet, her eyes wide with disbelief.I looked down at Rhea. She felt frighteningly cold against my skin, her body limp and unbearably light in my arms.I had no idea she was carrying a child. Judging from the shock written across every face around me, neither had anyone else.My jaw tightened. How lonely must she have felt, carrying a secret like that alone?She had spent her entire life surrounded by people, yet there had not been a single person among them she trusted
Alpha Koen’s POVThe moment Rhea was called to the front, I knew something was wrong.I simply hadn’t expected it to be this cruel.She had once told me that she wanted to leave Valcrest, but she had never explained why. I hadn’t asked—not because I didn’t care, but because we had only just met, and I had no right to force my way into the parts of her life she kept guarded.Whatever had driven her to abandon the only Pack she had ever known was deeply personal. I had hoped that, when she felt safe enough—when she trusted me enough—she would tell me herself.Now, after watching everything unfold before my own eyes, I finally understood why she had kept that part of her life from me. My hands curled into fists as my wolf paced restlessly inside my mind, furious and demanding to be unleashed, but I forced myself to remain seated. This was not my territory. The rceremonial grounds were filled with Alphas, and dignatiries from every Pack. I can't act recklessly, especially when Rhea had
Rhea’s POVThe blessing was only an excuse.The rejection was the real reason I had been called.I felt their piercing gazes follow me as I stepped forward, each stride heavier than the last.By the time I reached the stairs, a faint ringing had begun in my ears, as though I were ascending the platform for my own public execution.When I reached the center of the dais, the silence had become so absolute that the only sound I could hear was the frantic pounding of my own heart.For the first time that night, every eye was on me.I glanced at the people standing before me.Alpha Elias held my gaze with a stern, unspoken warning, as though daring me to make a scene and ruin the future he had so carefully arranged.Artavius stood rigid beside him. His jaw was clenched, his expression carefully controlled, but he could not quite bring himself to look directly at me. His eyes remained fixed somewhere over my shoulder, as if meeting my gaze would make what he was about to do impossible.Then
Rhea's POVThe distant sound of celebration clawed through the open window, each note burrowing deeper into my chest until it felt like something inside me might splinter.Laughter. Music. The steady beat of ceremonial drums.Each sound struck like a tolling bell, counting down the last moments of a life I could no longer hold onto.Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.Just not for me.I stood before the mirror in complete silence, dressed in my ceremonial armor. The metal felt heavier than it ever had, as if it knew what I was about to lose. Tonight was both the mating ceremony and the coronation ceremony. Once, I had believed this night would be mine. I had imagined standing beside my mate, wearing the most beautiful dress, being the star of the night, not wearing polished armor meant only to honor another woman’s place.My gaze lingered on the silver clasp pinned over my shoulder—the insignia of Valcrest Pack’s Vanguard.How many years had I worn it?I reached up and brushed
Rhea's POV“What are you doing?” I snapped, my voice cracking as I tore my hand away from him, the contact burning like it had scorched me.But he did not budge.If anything, his grip only tightened, his fingers digging into my wrist like iron shackles.“What were you two talking about?” he asked.His voice was low, dangerously quiet, laced with something dark and volatile he was barely holding back.“Excuse me?” I snapped, disbelief and fury colliding in my chest.“You heard me.” Every word came out like a blade. “What were you and Alpha Koen discussing out here, alone, in the middle of the night?”“Is that why you dragged me aside?” I glared at him, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. “I thought you had some official business to discuss with me. If you’re only here to interrogate me about my personal life, then leave.”Artavius’s gaze sharpened, something feral flickering beneath the surface.His dark eyes flashed gold, then darkened again, shifting erratically as he strugg
Rhea’s POVI slammed my fist into the first wooden post that caught my eye.It lurched violently beneath my punch, but before it could stop swaying, I had already turned. My elbow crashed into the timber behind me, sending splinters flying through the air.I did not slow down.I pivoted toward the next post, my heel cutting through the air before crushing into the wood.This time, it cracked.The sound tore through the empty training grounds, sharp and satisfying.I twisted with the momentum of my kick and launched myself toward another post. My forearm crashed into the thick timber with a resounding thud, forcing it to bend before it finally snapped in two.Then, using the broken post as leverage, I sprang into the air. My body rotated effortlessly before both feet drove into the final wooden post.Crack!The impact split the timber down the middle. It groaned for a heartbeat before collapsing onto the dirt with a heavy crash.I landed lightly on the ground, my knees bending to absor
Rhea’s POVArtavius is now the official future Alpha of the Valcrest Pack. After years of being gone, he is officially returning home tonight.Yesterday, the pack had just received news that Artavius, our Alpha’s only son had emerged victorious from the Ascension Rite.It is an old werewolf traditi
Rhea’s POVEleven days passed.Only three remained before Artavius and Brielle’s mating ceremony.The entire pack had transformed in preparation for it.Decorations draped the Packhouse halls while warriors doubled patrol rotations around the territory. Noble families from neighboring packs had alr
Rhea’s POVPeople rushed to comfort Brielle while they only spared me judging glances.Not a single person approached me.The people who once praised me for my strength and loyalty, and respected me as Valcrest’s Vanguard didn’t dare to approach me.I suddenly felt completely alone.Alone in the mi
Rhea’s POV“Rhea!” I heard Brielle’s voice call out behind me.I didn’t stop.Instead, I quickened my pace as I stepped outside of the Packhouse.Several heads turned to us immediatelyThe omegas who were tending the garden and the Pack members who were busy minding their business suddenly stopped







