Chapter 1: Not Yet a Luna

“Selina, you’re pregnant.” Lucius Harlow, the doctor from Nightclaw Pack, said it with a seriousness that made her heart skip a beat.

Selina froze, almost at a loss for words. The world seemed to stop for a second, her breath caught in her throat. A wave of dizziness hit, but underneath it all was a happiness she could barely contain. A little life was growing inside her, and her heart leapt thinking about how Alaric would react when he found out he was going to be a father.

“Planning to tell him?” Raven, Alaric’s cousin and the Alpha of Bloodhowl Pack, asked sharply. Even though they came from different packs, family ties always kept them standing together.

Selina frowned.

Before she could answer, Raven went on. “Alaric ordered everyone in the pack not to call you Luna in front of Lyra when she wakes up. Five years have passed and he still hasn’t officially announced you as his Luna. That jerk keeps avoiding it like you’re some shame he needs to hide.”

Raven’s words popped her little bubble of joy. She stopped walking away from the soft exam table.

He was right. Even the one person who had always been there to comfort her was Raven. Meanwhile, her mate spent his time wrapped up with his latest unconscious ex.

At twenty-three, Selina had been acting as Luna of Nightclaw Pack for years without the official title. All at Alaric’s request, because the pack needed a Luna and she was practically the only hope for survival.

She’d worked hard to earn recognition as Luna, but Alaric never really claimed her. Everyone thought he loved her, but Selina wasn’t sure he truly wanted a future with her.

Disappointment had set in after years of high hopes.

“Once Lyra wakes up, I’ll announce that you’re my Luna.” That’s what Alaric always said whenever they talked about the Luna ceremony and recognition that should’ve happened from the start.

Lyra was his ex and the daughter of a former beta.

That day would be unforgettable for Selina.

Blood splattered everywhere, shards of glass cutting into skin, and in the middle of it all, Alaric dropped to his knees, crying and begging Selina to save Lyra.

Alaric knew Selina’s blood had extraordinary powers. Not just to heal physical wounds, but mental ones too.

Watching her mate cry and plead for someone else’s sake shattered her heart. She had no choice but to comply because Lyra was the daughter of the man who had once saved her and taken her in after her parents died.

He had been good to her, and she’d always felt indebted to him. Without his kindness, she might be living on the streets, hungry, with nowhere to call home.

Selina shook her head, trying to clear it and step away from the memory.

“You’re severely anemic, and your baby is too weak. If you don’t take care of yourself from now on, you could lose the baby,” the doctor said seriously.

“How did it get like this? Wasn’t he taking care of you?” Raven asked sharply, emphasizing his words.

Selina didn’t know if it was reality or just a feeling, but Raven’s anger was clear. She couldn’t understand why.

Her brows furrowed as her eyes fell to the floor. She couldn’t keep giving blood to Lyra without risking her baby. This time, she had to put her child first. She had to be selfish.

She lifted her sleeve slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, steadying herself before facing the next reality.

Feeling Raven’s gaze on her, Selina raised her head and noticed him staring at the scar on her arm from the daily bloodletting. She quickly covered it and gave a small, thankful smile.

“He… he’s good to me,” she said softly, her voice trembling, trying to convince both Raven and herself.

The truth was, Alaric hardly ever cared for her, especially compared to how much attention he lavished on Lyra. Ironically, even though she was his mate, Selina felt like a shadow, never truly acknowledged. His words of love felt empty when his eyes never reflected the affection he claimed to have.

Selina’s heart pounded.

What would happen when she told Alaric she wouldn’t give blood to Lyra anymore? Would he force her, or would he step back for the sake of their child? She had no idea.

Unlike other packs in Thalnora, abortion was allowed in Nightclaw Pack.

“As for my pregnancy, can you keep it a secret for now? I… want to surprise him myself,” Selina said to Raven.

Raven studied her for a long moment. She couldn’t read his eyes, but somehow, she felt the anger simmering beneath the surface. Just as she was about to say more, he nodded. Selina exhaled in relief, at least for now.

As she got off the table to leave, Raven stopped her.

“Selina,” his voice was deep, heavy with meaning, making her heart race. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”

She looked at the tall, muscular man. Without his calm blue eyes radiating kindness, Selina might have felt intimidated by the dominant aura he carried, the kind that demanded respect. She never understood why Raven willingly shared territory and allowed Alaric to lead part of the pack when everyone knew Raven could command a much larger one. Every movement screamed Alpha.

“Okay, thanks,” Selina said, appreciating the gesture. But there was a faint sadness in his eyes, different from his usual cold demeanor.

She said nothing more. After saying goodbye, she walked away, hoping the evening air would calm the chaos in her mind.

The sun was sliding down when Selina finally stepped inside the pack house. She had been wandering for hours, lost in thought, trying to figure out how to tell Alaric she was pregnant and could no longer be Lyra’s daily donor.

“Luna, finally you’re here,” Logan, the pack’s beta, greeted her, urgency in his tone.

“What’s going on?” Selina asked, her heart hammering and a sense of dread creeping in.

“Lyra’s been awake for a few hours,” Logan said quickly.

Selina’s breath caught. The hope she had held onto for so long started to rise to the surface, but at the same time, fear crept in. She had no idea if this would be the start of her happiness… or the end of everything.