1: BETRAYAL

North Colorado.

Eve gritted her teeth, her body contorting in agony as another contraction ripped through her. She screamed, her body shuddering as she pushed with all her strength. “Ahhh!”

Sweat dripped from her brow, soaking the pillow beneath her, and she felt like she was being torn inside out. The pain was excruciating, and she dangled between life and death.

“Push, Eve. You're doing a good job,” the midwife, Serena encouraged, her voice gentle, and soothing. She was a middle-aged woman, who had taken care of Eve throughout her entire pregnancy. As an orphan, Serena was the closest thing Eve had to a motherly figure in her life.

“You can do it,” Serena said, egging her on.

Eve bore down, her muscles straining as she pushed with all her might, shouting at the top of her voice. The pain was overwhelming, and her skin felt like it was on fire. She took slow breath, gritting her teeth as she screamed even louder, pushing with all her might and will.

Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, Eve felt a hand on her back and looked beside her to see Alpha Kai standing next to her, covered in sweat, his brow creased with anxiety. He flashed her a smile, his fingers stroking her skin. “We have got this,” he assured, reaching out his hand to her.

Eve's heart swelled with joy. There was nothing more amazing than having him by her side at this very crucial moment that their child was to be born. Especially given the fact that he wasn't supposed to be here. Men weren't allowed in during delivery, but there he was as always loving her beyond rules.

Eve took his hand, his grip warm and tight around hers. With renewed strength, she pushed again, the baby's head crowning.

The midwife shouted, “I can see the baby's head, You're doing well, Eve. It's coming. Just keep pushing,” she urged.

Eve kept her gaze on Kai, he was the source of her strength, and she was really glad that he was there with her. She summoned every last ounce of energy, and with a final, mighty push, the baby slid out of her vagina.

“It's a boy,” Serena declared, holding him up, and Eve caught a glimpse of the tiny, scrunched-up face of the child. “It's a boy,” Serena repeated, grinning as she brought him closer, handing the fragile thing to the father.

“He's beautiful, Eve,” Kai muttered, holding him in his arms, and Eve flashed him a tired smile. Her vision had begun to blur due to the exhaustion, and she could feel herself drifting away. She tried to shake off the exhaustion, wanting more than anything to be awake in this beautiful moment.

“Can I hold him?” she asked in a whisper, her voice barely audible.

Kai placed the baby in her arms, and she gazed at the little thing, her heart overflowing with love as she held him a moment. Her eyelids grew heavier, and she felt herself slipping away into the darkness.

“Eve,” she heard Kai calling as the baby was taken from her arms so she wouldn't drop him. “Eve,” he called again, his voice growing more and more distant until she couldn't hear anything anymore.

*****

Alpha Kai and Eve weren't mates, but she loved him beyond the chance of fate. They should have been mates, perhaps if she had an active wolf they would have been, but she was almost human, ordinary or at least that was what it meant to be eighteen and still had never heard your wolf, not once. Eve was a weak wolf-less orphan, and her fate was sealed that she would never find a mate.

The future that awaited her was a bleak one until Kai. One encounter, one moment of sight, and she was convinced that he was the one. It was probably how wolves felt when they found their mate. Only this wasn't fated, it was love at first sight, real love, Eve called it. There was no greater bond than that which traversed even fate.

Eve had gone to the palace to apply for the position of a maid, and that was the first time she saw him—Prince Malakai of Mooncrest pack, and the most beautiful man she had ever seen. After she got the job she was assigned to HIM as his personal maid. What were the chances? Okay, maybe there was a little bit of fate at play—Just maybe it wasn't all a coincidence.

Eve would like to believe it was a coincidence. Fate had never been kind to her—never, which is why she refused to believe that this great thing could be the work of fate.

Kai always said that he was certain that when her wolf finally woke one day, (a day Eve feared would probably never come) that they would be mates. He always believed that her wolf would one day be active even though she didn’t. He believed in her that she was worth more. Kai, like her, had no mate too, and they fell so hard for each other, and were so happy together.

But everything changed when he found his mate—Juliana, and although his love for Eve was stronger than their mate bond, they weren't stronger than his father, the King’s wishes.

His father wanted him to marry his mate and follow the normal custom. Kai refused him and told him that he loved Eve—a mere maid. You can imagine the King’s repulsion at the revelation. He demanded that she be removed from the palace at once that evening and banished forever.

The only thing that saved Eve from that fate was that she fainted during the whole thing and then it was revealed by the doctor that she was with child. She was carrying the prince's heir. It was a game changer, and it was the only reason she was allowed to stay in the palace by the King, who died a few months after that.

Kai took his place, and their future was set in stone. Eve believed that they would never be apart ever. She believed that everything had worked out perfectly.

“Wake up,” Eve heard a voice from the depth of her subconscious. She recognized the voice at once, it was Serena's. “Wake up, Eve,” she called again with haste, shaking her gently and stirring her from sleep.

Eve's eyes flickered open gently, her vision clearing, her body still pretty sore from the delivery. “You need to get out of here,” Serena said hastily, the look on her face serious.

Eve arched her brow, confusion settling upon her. “What are you talking about?” her eyes scoured the room for Kai and their child. “Where are they?” she questioned, dragging herself up a little, and pain shot through her vagina, her body aching all over.

“Ugh!” She groaned.

“I don't know. The Alpha took him away.”

“Away,” she creased a brow, “To where?”

Serena shrugged, “I don't know, but you need to leave right now,” she emphasized again, the panic returning to her voice as she ran to the entrance looking out, “Like right now.”

Eve watched her in total confusion as she ran from the entrance to her. “The guards are coming. We are running out of time. You need to go—”

“What's going on? What do you mean leave—”

“The guards are coming!” Serena raised her voice, feeling unheard, then hushed looking at the entrance, “They are going to kill you if they catch you, Eve.”

Eve's eyes widened with shock, her heart skipping a beat. More confusion settled upon her. “What are you talking—”

“Juliana,” she cut her off, “I heard her ordering the guards to get rid of you,” she gushed, the fear evident in her eyes, “You need to go, Eve.”

Frozen, Eve shook my head, unable to believe it. Kai wouldn't let that happen. “No,” she said, adamant. “She can't do that, the guards would never listen to her. Kai would never let her hurt me. You must have heard wrong—”

“She gave the order in the name of the King,” Serena interrupted, her eyes growing even more dim.

Eve tilted her head a little, swallowing hard. What does that even mean?

Serena lowered her gaze, sending her shock and disappointment. “I'm sorry, Eve.”

Stunned beyond words Eve stared at her. In the name of the king? No. No! Tears gathered in her eyes, and she shook her head. She couldn’t believe it. Not for a second. She couldn't. How could she? Kai loved her, and she knew it. She was certain of it. He would die before he saw her hurt. There must be some kind of mistake here.

Still shaking her head, Eve mumbled gently, “You must have heard wrong. Kai would never hurt me. I need to see him, talk to him, and you'll see.”

Serena raised her gaze, and if eyes could speak, hers were the loudest Eve had ever seen. “I didn't, Eve, and if you don't leave right now. You are going to die without ever seeing your son again.”

Tears rolled down Serena's face, the air tense. “Please, Eve. I can't let you die,” she begged, glancing at the entrance. Eve could hear it too, footsteps fast approaching.

Serena looked at her, eyes pleading. “Please.”

Eve's heart tightened in her chest, burning with disbelief. Kai would never betray her, she was certain of it, and yet deep in her gut there was a seed of doubt, growing and infesting her thoughts—Serena, she was the doubt. Eve stared at her, struggling with herself, not knowing what to believe. She wanted to believe her King, and trust in their love but—

“HURRY, Eve,” Serena hastened as the footsteps drew even more closer, becoming more alarming and impossible to ignore.

The guards were indeed coming like she said. Everything in Eve didn't want to move, but she did. She swung her legs down the bed, getting to her feet, her weak legs wobbling beneath her weight.

“Here,” Serena offered, helping her over to the corner of the room where she revealed a secret passageway. The entrance looked like the wall, and it opened up when she touched a particular spot.

“Come on,” she assisted Eve inside the passage. “This passageway leads to the woods, and don't worry nobody knows about it so we are safe here,” she informed, closing it behind them immediately.

Eve leaned against the wall, tired, and in pain. “How do you know about it?”

“My mother showed me. She lived her whole life here so she knew all the secret entrances,” Serena explained.

“How many are—”

“Shhhh,” Serena hushed as the sound of the guards footsteps filled the room, and one of the guards roared.

“She's not here!” His tone was bitter, angry, and Eve almost didn't recognize it at first. It was Zane, Kai’s Beta, and best friend.

“She should be here," another guard answered. “Unless…” there was a pause, “Where the hell is that stupid midwife?”

Silence filled the room after the question and Eve could hear her heart pounding in her chest. This was really happening. Did that mean that Kai really betrayed her? Did he really? The questions tormented her, and she could feel the tears stinging her eyes as her mind roamed, but she didn't want to believe it.

Her heart couldn't.

“She must have tipped her off,” the guard replied spitefully, “That bitch!” he cussed aloud.

“Find them!” Zane roared, and even through the wall, the sound of his voice made Eve tremble slightly. “And remember, the Luna must die tonight,” he added just as the footsteps began to fade.

Eve's heart stopped. Serena was right.