Riya's Rebirth

Pain. 

That was all I felt as I staggered backward, my vision blurred by the sight of two familiar figures tangled in each other’s arms.

Lucian. My mate. My love. My Alpha.

And Stella.

My sister.

His lips were on her neck, his hands gripping her waist as she moaned into his touch. The scent of their betrayal filled the air, mixing with the sharp sting of my own disbelief.

This can't be! I must be seeing things. 

My stomach twisted as the truth hit , nausea rising in my throat as I tried to digest the image in front of me.

Lucian lifted his head, his golden eyes locking onto mine. But there was no guilt. No remorse. Just cold, unfeeling indifference.

“You weren’t supposed to see this,” he said, his voice laced with irritation. And something else. 

Something I never thought I'd see

No! Something I tried to deny. 

Hatred! His eyes didn't hide them. 

He didn't even try. 

I pressed a trembling hand against my swollen belly, the child inside me kicking, as if sensing my despair.

I closed my eyes for a second. 

Two seconds.. 

Three seconds. 

But nothing changed after opening my eyes

Stella smirked, her fingers tracing Lucian’s jaw. “Don’t look so shocked, dear sister. Did you really think he wanted you?”

My pulse pounded. “Lucian… how could you?” 

I yelled, wrapping my hands around my belly tightly. 

Lucian has been acting weirdly but I thought it was stress from the attacks from the rogues, even though deep down I know it's more than that. 

I choose to bury the truth somewhere far within me, hoping it'll change the situation. 

I had my suspicion of him cheating but never in a thousand years will I think of him with my sister. 

Lucian sighed, stepping toward me. “You were never my choice, Riya.” His gaze dropped to my belly, his expression darkening. “I needed an heir, not a weak Luna who can't even fight.”

The words struck like a blade to my chest.

I backed away, my breath coming in short gasps. “You’re lying. You said you loved me.”

Stella let out a soft laugh. “He loved the idea of you. But it was always me, Riya.” She leaned against him, her smile taunting. “I should thank you, really. You carried his heir. You served your purpose.”

A strangled sob escaped my lips. I turned, desperate to leave, but a sharp pain shot through my stomach.

A contraction.

No. Not now.

I forced myself to move but my legs were glued, they were weak. 

I stumbled, gripping the doorframe as my vision swam. “Lucian… the baby—”

“Take her to the infirmary,” Lucian ordered his guards. “Make sure the child survives.”

He didn’t even look at me.

As darkness swallowed me whole, one thought burned in my mind.

They would never get my child.

Hours Later

Searing agony tore through me as I clutched the sheets, my body drenched in sweat.

“Push!” the doctor commanded.

A scream ripped from my throat as I obeyed, my body convulsing with the effort.

Then, a cry.

A small, fragile cry that pierced through the haze of pain.

“My baby,” I gasped, reaching out weakly.

But no one handed him to me.

Instead, I saw Lucian standing by the bassinet, his back turned to me.

“You did well, Riya,” he said without emotion. “The child will be raised as my heir.”

I blinked through my exhaustion. “Give… give him to me.”

Lucian finally turned, his expression unreadable. “You won’t be needing him where you’re going.”

The doctor didn’t see my eyes as I felt a cold pressure on my neck.

Poison.

Stella’s smiling face blurred as my body grew weaker.

They were killing me.

My vision darkened, my child’s cries fading into silence.

And the last thing I saw before death took me…

Was Lucian and Stella, standing together, watching me die. With a smile