CHAPTER TWO

Kieran's POV

*Two months after the breakup*

Just two months, and I might actually lose my mind.

"Have you seen her yet?" I asked Finn, my Beta, who was sitting opposite me in my office.

He shook his head, and I released a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Then where the hell is she hiding? Where the fuck is she?" I slammed my palm against the desk, the sound echoing through the room.

"Hey, buddy, calm down. Have you forgotten that you were the one who practically chased her out of here?" Finn reminded me, his blue eyes fixed on mine. "Do I need to jog your memory?"

"I know that," I snapped, leaning back in my chair. "But that doesn't mean I shouldn't know where she is. What if something happened to her?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, regret settling heavily in my chest. "You know I receive threats all the time. She could be in danger too, and I wouldn't even know."

That was the worst part

The bond was gone, and so was the connection that had allowed me to know whether she was safe.

"So what now?" Finn asked. "Do you honestly think she'll come back to you if you find her?"

An amused smirk appeared on his face, and I immediately knew he was about to say something I wouldn't like.

"Why did you break the bond if you knew you weren't going to be able to handle being without her?"

"I don't want her to come back to me," I replied, even though the words tasted bitter. "I just want to know that she's safe. If I could watch over her from a distance, I'd be satisfied."

Finn raised an eyebrow, while I ignored him.

I'd never imagined a woman could have this much influence over me. I had spent the past two months telling myself that I had made the right decision, yet I couldn't go a single day without wondering where Nova was or what she was doing.

"Good," Finn finally said. "Because you never treated her properly when she was here."

My jaw tightened. "You know why I did that."

"Then remind me."

"The prophecy," I said, my voice lowering. "If Nova became too attached to me, breaking the bond after I found my real mate would kill her. The witch made that clear. I had to make sure she wouldn't fall too deeply for me."

Finn stared at me for a moment.

"She was supposed to be a stand-in," I continued. "I never intended for things to become this complicated."

The memory of the day I first saw Nova returned to me.

It had been during the selection ceremony.

I still remembered walking into the room and immediately noticing her among the other women. While everyone else seemed eager to catch my attention, Nova stood quietly with her head lowered. 

She was beautiful, but that wasn't what made me choose her.

The prophecy had instructed me to choose a woman who would become my mate until my real mate appeared. Once I found the woman Fate had intended for me, I was supposed to break the temporary bond and choose her instead.

I had believed it would be simple.

The prophecy had never been as simple as choosing a temporary Luna until my real mate appeared. There were consequences attached to it, consequences that made my decision far more complicated than anyone knew.

I got to figure out that later.

I had been given a choice between hurting Nova and risking her life.

So I chose to hurt her.

I began distancing myself from her, making sure she understood that our relationship would never become anything more than what it was supposed to be. 

I thought if I made her believe I didn't care, she wouldn't become too attached to me, and when the time came to break the bond, neither of us would have much to lose.

I'd been wrong.

"Just forget about her," Finn said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You've found your real mate. You should be focusing on building a life with her instead of wasting your time looking for Nova."

He sat up straighter and intertwined his fingers beneath his chin. "I'm your Beta, and I'm telling you that searching for her isn't going to change anything."

"I need to find her first."

Finn rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

"Just fuck off."

He chuckled, but I wasn't in the mood for his amusement.

"What if she's with another man?" he asked casually.

I looked up.

Finn continued before I could stop him. "It's been two months. She could have moved on by now. She's beautiful, and there are plenty of wealthy men who would be interested in her. It wouldn't exactly be difficult for someone to fall for her."

"Stop talking about her like that."

My voice came out harsher than I intended.

Finn's smirk widened.

The thought of another man being with Nova had already planted an ugly image in my mind, one I desperately wanted to push away. I hated how quickly my blood had started boiling at the mere possibility.

"You do realize you're not bonded to her anymore, right?" he asked.

"Just shut up."

Finn laughed, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd managed to get from me.

I glared at him before turning my attention back to the documents on my desk.

After a moment, he changed the subject. "Are you going to the Alpha gathering?"

I looked up.

"You haven't attended in three years," he continued. "I think it's time you showed your face again."

"I'm not sure."

I reached for the glass of whiskey sitting beside me, dropping a few ice cubes into it before taking a sip.

"I'll think about it."

Finn gave me an unimpressed look. "That's exactly what you said the last three years."

He stood from his chair and straightened his clothes. "I'm leaving now. I'll see you later."

I nodded, barely paying attention as he walked out.

---

One week later

I eventually decided to attend the Alpha gathering.

I wasn't sure why I'd agreed to come. Perhaps Finn was right about needing to show my face after staying away for so long, or perhaps I simply needed something to take my mind off Nova.

Whatever the reason, I hoped I wouldn't regret it.

I stepped out of the car alongside Finn and adjusted my suit before looking toward the large building where the gathering was being held.

"I'm glad you're finally here," Finn said as we walked toward the entrance. "Maybe you can resolve some of the conflicts you have with the other packs while you're here. You could also strengthen your relationships with some of the other Alphas and—"

"I don't need to resolve anything," I interrupted. "The pack I inherited was barely standing when my father left it, and I built it into what it is today. We don't need to depend on other packs for support."

Finn sighed. "You didn't have to take it that far."

We entered the hall, and several familiar faces immediately turned in our direction.

I was used to the attention that came with being the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in the region. People watched me wherever I went, some with respect, others with curiosity, and a few with resentment.

"Oh, you definitely aren't going to like this," Finn said from beside me.

I frowned. "What?"

"Look behind you."

I slowly turned around.

My entire body went still. It was Nova. She was standing on the other side of the hall.

Ethan stood beside her.

I had expected him to be at the gathering, but I hadn't expected to see him with her. They were standing close together, their hands intertwined as they spoke to someone across the room.

Why was Nova here? And why was she with Ethan?

A strange emptiness settled inside me as I watched them. My mind immediately filled with questions I didn't want the answers to. How long had they known each other? Had something been going on between them before Nova and I separated? Had she already moved on?

The thought made my stomach twist.

"What the hell is she doing with him?" I muttered.

Finn glanced at me but said nothing, but I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Then Nova turned slightly, and I finally got a proper look at her. She looked different and more confident. She had look way beautiful than I last saw her.

My gaze moved over her dress before stopping at her stomach. Her stomach was slightly rounded beneath the fabric.

I stared at her again, convinced that I had somehow seen it wrong.

"Wait..."

My voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Is she pregnant?"

Finn didn't answer.

Nova was pregnant.