001: The Shattered Moon

Kiera's POV

"You look beautiful tonight, Luna."

The words from Thomas, one of Darius's enforcers, made my chest swell with pride as I pushed through the heavy doors of the Ironfang clubhouse. The leather jacket hugged my curves perfectly, and I could feel the weight of Darius's mark on my neck, a silver crescent moon that branded me as his chosen mate.

Tonight was special. We were to announce our mating ceremony date to the pack.

I'd spent hours getting ready, choosing the perfect shade of red lipstick, making sure my dark hair fell in waves down my back. I wanted to look like the Luna I was destined to become. Powerful. Untouchable. His equal.

The main room buzzed with conversation and the clink of beer bottles. Smoke hung in the air like a gray curtain, and the jukebox played some old rock song that vibrated through the floorboards. Pack members lounged on worn leather couches, their patches catching the dim light. This was my world, family and future.

"Where's the Alpha?" I asked Thomas, scanning the room for Darius's familiar broad shoulders and commanding presence.

Thomas's eyes flickered away from mine for just a second, so quick I almost missed it. "Back room, Luna. He's... handling some business."

Something cold twisted in my stomach, but I pushed it down. Darius was always handling business. That's what alphas did. That's what made him worthy of leading the pack.

I made my way through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces, accepting their respectful greetings. My wolf preened under their attention, rolling in the certainty of our place in the pack hierarchy. We belonged here. We were chosen.

The hallway to the back rooms seemed longer than usual, my heels clicking against the concrete floor. I could hear voices coming from behind the heavy oak door, Darius's deep rumble and a Feminine voice.

My hand froze on the door handle.

"She's perfect, Alpha. The doctor says everything is progressing beautifully."

A woman's voice. Soft. Grateful. Intimate.

"Good. I want regular updates. The pup needs to be healthy."

Darius. My Darius. Talking about a pup that wasn't mine.

My wolf started pacing in my chest, agitated, sensing something wrong before my human mind could process it. I pushed the door open without knocking.

The scene that greeted me shattered my world like glass hitting concrete.

A blonde woman sat on the leather couch, her hand resting protectively over her swollen belly. Six months pregnant, maybe seven. Her face glowed with that serene happiness that came with carrying life. And standing beside her, his large hand gentle on her shoulder, was Darius.

My mate… My alpha… My future…

The room went dead silent.

Darius's dark eyes met mine, and I saw no surprise there, nor guilt. Just a cold acceptance, like he'd been waiting for this moment.

"Kiera." His voice was steady and controlled. The same tone he used when discussing pack business.

I couldn't breathe. My wolf was howling, a sound so broken it made my ribs ache. The mark on my neck burned like acid.

"What is this?" The words scraped out of my throat like broken glass.

The blonde woman looked between us, confusion flickering across her features. She didn't know. This woman carrying his child didn't even know about me.

"This is Sarah," Darius said, his tone matter-of-fact. "She's carrying my heir."

Heir… His heir.

The room tilted, and I had to grip the doorframe to stay upright. Behind Darius, I could see other pack members watching through the window. Their faces held no shock and surprise. They'd all known.

"You said I was your mate," I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded.

Darius's jaw tightened. "You are. But I need an heir, Kiera. The pack needs a strong bloodline to continue."

"And I'm not good enough to give you that?" The words came out sharper now, anger bleeding through the shock.

"You haven't gotten pregnant." His words hit me like a physical blow. "It's been two years."

But I had. God help me, I had.

The secret I'd been carrying for three weeks, the positive pregnancy test hidden in my dresser drawer, the appointment I'd made to surprise him, suddenly felt like a lead weight in my chest.

I'd wanted to tell him tonight, after our announcement and to see his face light up with joy.

Now, staring at the woman carrying what he thought was his only child, I realized how naive I'd been.

"Kiera." Darius stepped toward me, but I backed away like he was poison. "This doesn't change anything between us. You're still my Luna."

"Your Luna." I laughed, and it sounded broken even to my ears. "But not the mother of your children."

"Sarah is just a surrogate. A means to an end. You and I…"

"We what?" I cut him off, my wolf snarling beneath my skin. "We pretend this is normal? We raise her child while she disappears?"

Darius's eyes hardened. "You'll do what's best for the pack. As Luna, that's your duty."

Duty. Like that's all I was to him. A title and a position to fill.

I looked at Sarah again, at the way her hand curved protectively over her belly, at the confusion and dawning fear in her eyes as she realized she was caught in something bigger than herself. She was just a girl. Maybe twenty-two or twenty-three. Young enough to believe in fairy tales and alpha wolves who promised her the world.

Like I had.

"I can't." The words fell from my lips like stones. "I won't."

I turned and walked away, each step feeling like I was leaving pieces of myself behind. Darius didn't follow, call my name or chase after me like the hero in some romantic story.

He let me go.

The clubhouse felt different as I walked back through it. The conversations seemed muted, the glances more pointed. Everyone knew. They'd all been waiting for me to find out, like it was some sick entertainment.

My hands shook as I dug through my purse for my keys, but then I stopped. My car was parked out back, but sitting right in front of the clubhouse, gleaming under the neon lights, was Darius's pride and joy.

The Blackfang. A custom-built Harley that he'd spent months perfecting. Midnight black with silver detailing, it was as beautiful and dangerous as its owner.

Was.

My wolf whispered in my head, urgent and desperate: “Run. Take it and run.”

For once, I listened.

I swung my leg over the bike, feeling the familiar weight settle between my thighs. The engine roared to life with a sound like thunder, drawing attention from inside the clubhouse. Through the window, I could see faces turned toward the sound.

Let them look.

I gunned the engine and tore out of the parking lot, gravel spraying behind me. The wind whipped through my hair, tearing away the careful styling, the perfect appearance I'd crafted for a man who'd never deserved it.

The highway stretched before me like a black ribbon under the full moon, and I followed it without knowing where it led. My wolf was finally quiet, no longer pacing and snarling. She'd found her answer.

We were running. And we weren't stopping.

Behind me, the lights of the Ironfang territory grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely. Ahead of me lay the unknown, dangerous and full of possibility.

My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, to the secret growing there. Darius's child, but more importantly, mine. My pup would never know the humiliation I'd felt tonight. Would never be second choice to anyone.

The moon followed me as I rode into the darkness, but for the first time in my life, I didn't howl for it.

I was done howling.

I was done begging.

Now, I was going to disappear forever.