Everyone thought Zed would end up with Amber. So did River — until Amber left, and fate forced her to take her sister’s place. River stepped in as his mate, his Luna, and the one who held his world together. While Zed loathed her, River ruled beside him… until one night changed everything. Three years of cold marriage vanished in one mistake — and one missed period later, River had something to tell him. But when she went to tell him, Amber was back. And this time, she didn’t just want Zed. She wanted River gone — with one deadly lie that could take everything. Even her life.
view more(River's POV)
My heart throbbed as I looked nervously at the two lines on my pregnancy test.
“Congratulations, Luna River. You're pregnant. It's good news for the pack.”
I pulled up a faint smile and nodded, tears blurring my eyes.
I never expected that this day was coming. I've imagined multiple times that Zed was going to turn over and look at me. But with time, this imagination became just my wishful thinking.
My hands instinctively went to my stomach as I rubbed it gently. He was going to be happy about the baby, right?
I bit my lips anxiously as I tried to hold back my tears.
“Thank you, doctor,” I said, smiling. “But can you please keep this a secret? I want to give you a surprise.”
The doctor nodded, agreeing with me. “It's better to keep it hidden as the first few months of the pregnancy is always dangerous. Luna River, you'll have to follow all the safety measures. This is the heir to our pack.”
I smiled faintly as she kept lecturing me about the safety measures and gave me multiple medicines for the baby’s nourishment.
As I exited the hospital, I sighed, putting a hand on my tummy.
But did Zed really want the baby?
I closed my eyes and recalled the day it happened.
Zed was wasted, fully wasted after the elite party. I had only wanted to take him back to his room and leave him there.
But things took a different turn when he wrapped his arms around me and bit my earlobes.
My heart thumped with excitement at my mate’s touch but I pushed him away. I knew that he'd regret it.
But instead, he whispered to me that he loved me, that he'd never regret it.
I let out a deep frown as I remembered his cold eyes the next day. It was full of disdain, and anger. It was as if I betrayed him.
I shut my eyes as I recalled his exact words. “How dare you, River? Do you really think you've become my Luna? How dare you scheme against me? Tsk, even if we've slept together, you're nothing to me, and you're just a substitute. So, remember your position. Amber is the only one in my heart.”
I couldn't utter a single word. At that time, I understood his sweet whispers weren't meant for me but for Amber, my twin sister.
Tears dropped down my cheeks as I nervously looked at the test report. Was he going to be happy that I was having his child?
I shivered at the thought of meeting his cold eyes again. What if he wanted me to abort the baby?
My lips trembled. I wanted the baby. I didn't want to abort it. It was my child with my mate, Zed.
Even if our marriage is loveless, he still wouldn't bear to kill his child, right?
A million thoughts wandered in my mind. I was excited for the baby, but I also felt nervous and afraid while thinking about Zed.
We had been married for three years. But in these three years, he had never touched me, never even looked at me.
In his eyes, there was only Amber, who left him right before their wedding.
To save both of the family’s reputations, I was married to my mate, Zed.
Everyone was surprised, and Zed hated the idea. He just wanted to chase Amber back, but he was stuck with me.
At first, he was always on guard and hated me. It took me years to change that by being by his side and always helping him. But it changed just in a night. The day he became wasted, and mistook me for Amber. Again, he turned cold, and disgusted, even to meet my eyes.
I sighed and clenched my teeth.
No matter what, I had to let Zed know about my pregnancy. If he wanted the baby, maybe we would finally become closer. And, if he didn't… I would be my baby’s only parent.
I was never an important person to someone. My parents? They preferred Amber over me. My mate? He was always in love with my twin. My classmates and teachers? Either they turned their eyes on me or would always compare me with Amber.
I never understood why I had to face it. We were both the Beta’s daughters, both of us looked the same, but I got better marks than her.
However, every time I did better than her, my parents would be angry and Amber would still overshadow me somehow.
I like Amber too, but sometimes, I can't help but hate her.
Others even joked that I became the Luna because of Amber’s kind heart of not taking her sister's mate. And… I couldn't even refute it because Zed is still in love with Amber.
Tears blurred my vision as I took a deep sigh.
Honestly, I didn't want Amber to come back. I have no idea what would happen if she came back. My life had just gone a little better after she was gone, and I helped in restoring the pack’s glory. But if she were to come back, my life would be a mess again.
It was selfish but Amber was the first one to give up on Zed because his position wasn't secured.
At that time, Zed’s uncle came back with his armies to have the Crescent Moon Pack. And, everyone was uncertain about what was going to happen.
In the end, I helped Zed with turning the tides with his uncle and even helped him secure his position over the years. That's how he came to accept my presence, even if he didn't love me.
It took me all to gain Zed’s trust but only a little time to lose it all.
I gritted my teeth before calming myself. But I was now glad that this happened. I was going to become a mom.
I was finally going to have something of my own, and I was already sure that I'd do everything for my baby. He was going to become my first friend…
I smiled faintly and then sighed, looking at the door in front of me.
I was already back at the mansion.
Gathering my courage, I decided to tell Zed upfront but as I entered inside, my lips parted with surprise.
Zed was hugging another woman tightly…
“Amber…?”
Amber POVI knew deep down he would rather be anywhere but this park right now. Every step he took beside me felt forced, every sigh heavy, like he was dragging invisible chains.But the fact that he agreed to come at all… it gave me hope. Maybe he wasn’t completely gone. Maybe there was still a piece of him I could hold onto.I slipped my hand into his, feeling how cold and stiff it was against mine. My other hand clutched the picnic basket, the straps digging into my palm.We were just about to pick a spot when it hit me.“Shoot, we forgot the mat,” I groaned, stopping in my tracks.He rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “I’m definitely not going back to that car unless it’s to drive home.”I forced a little laugh, trying to keep the mood light. “Just hold this,” I said, shoving the basket at him. “And give me the keys.”He dug them out of his pocket slowly, like every movement was a burden, and handed them to me without a word.“I’ll be back in a second,” I said
Zed POV I stepped into the kitchen and froze.Flour dust hung in the air like a cloud, and Amber was spinning around the counter, humming to herself, hands moving in a frenzy as she mixed something in a big bowl.“What’s going on here?” I asked, my voice flat.She spun around so fast that a puff of flour flew off her apron. “Oh! Baby, you’re back,” she chirped, her eyes lighting up. “I would hug you, but I’m covered in flour.”I didn’t even bother forcing a smile. “What are you doing?” I asked again, slower this time.She sighed, wiping her forehead . “Okay, so I decided that we could go to the park today.”I frowned immediately. “When you say ‘we,’ you mean…?”She dropped the spatula, looking slightly annoyed. “I mean you and I, baby,” she responded, “ Just us. You know, to spend some time together. Like we used to.”My jaw tensed. The last thing I wanted was to go anywhere with her. My mind wasn’t here — hell, my heart hadn’t been here in a long time.“I’m not in the mood, Amber,”
River POVShe lunged forward again, her hand raised. “Talk to your father like that again, and you’ll be holding the other cheek as well,” she seethed. “What has gotten into you, River? Have you lost your mind completely?”I felt my entire body trembling. “You know what? I thought maybe after all these years you’d change. Maybe you’d finally see me for who I really am. But no. You’ll always see me as the problem, the mistake, the worthless daughter who never deserved love.”She snorted. “Finally, you’re saying something true. You never deserved him. You don’t deserve anyone. And now, you think you can fool that new Alpha into loving you? You really are pathetic.”Before I could say another word, another voice sliced through the room, freezing us all in place.“What is hap
River POV I scoffed, an almost humorless laugh escaping my lips. The nerve of this woman.“Did you just say ‘steal’? I’m trying to steal someone who is actually my mate?” I shook my head, disbelief flooding through me. “For the record, I don’t want him. I’m happy with the man I’m with. And I made that very clear to Zed.”I took a shaky breath and added, “If it’s anything, you should be telling Zed to leave me the hell alone.”But instead of listening, she clapped her hands together mockingly. “So you do admit you’ve been seeing your sister’s husband!” she spat, turning to my father. “You see your child? You see the disgrace you call a daughter? Goddess, I can’t believe I gave birth to a whore.”Her words slammed into me like a physical blow. My chest tightened, tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not this time.“I’m not a whore, Mother,” I whispered, my voice barely holding together.She let out a sharp, cruel laugh. “Oh, you are. A whore and a witch. An embarra
River POVI pulled up in front of the house, turning off the engine with a tired sigh. The day had been longer than I expected, and all I wanted was a hot shower and maybe to just crawl into bed.I stepped out of the car, and made my way toward the door. Just as I reached for the handle, the door swung open so fast I almost stumbled backward.“Miss Stellar!” Stella squeaked, clutching her chest dramatically. “You're back!”I laughed, steadying myself. “Goddess, Stella! You scared me half to death,” I said.I smiled. “Is everything okay with you?” “Oh no, no problem at all,” she added quickly.“Okay…” I said slowly, eyeing her curiously. “Are you going somewhere?”“Oh no, I’m not,” she said, shaking her head rapidly. “I saw your car pull up through the kitchen window, so I came out to see you.”Something about her tone made my wolf stir. “Stella, is everything alright?” I pressed again, narrowing my eyes slightly.She nodded, too eagerly. “Yes, yes, Miss Stellar. Everything is good.”
Zed POVShe only shook her head again, softer this time, and a sad smile touched her lips. “Then I met Jay Hearts of the Meadows Pack” she continued, her eyes softening at the mention of his name. “Jay picked up my shattered pieces and helped me feel whole again. He supported me, loved me in ways I didn’t think possible. Even when I tried to push him away, he stayed– was there for me. He showed me what love is supposed to feel like… when I couldn’t even love myself because of you.”Her eyes shone with tears now, and so did mine. My wolf howled inside me, sensing the finality in her words.“That’s why I’m choosing him, Zed,” she said, her voice steady despite the pain.My heart slammed against my ribs. I felt the blood drain from my face. “What… what are you saying?” I rasped.
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