Chapter 3

There is a saying senior and aging wolves tell the younger generations. ‘An alder is always right. They only want the best for the coming generations and would never want anything bad to happen to them. They are the oldest and wisest for a reason.’

Maddox sat gracefully on his throne with Aylin by his side. Her typical proud, calm demeanor had crumbled. Now, she looked like the little kid she had always been. Scared and fearful, always ready to hide under people’s eyes. 

Words had spread fast. 

“The Alpha slept with Connie.”

“Connie is pregnant for the Alpha.”

“We have a new heir now.”

“Good, the useless Luna is gone.” 

“What had she even done for the pack?”

“I heard she didn’t even mark the alpha.” 

“Does that mean he is markless?”

“Our dear Alpha… I hope Connie really is pregnant with the alpha’s child.” 

“Connie is really strong too. A strong alpha with a strong Luna.”

“The pack's morale will increase.”

“Connie for Luna”

Words and more words. This weighed heavily on her chest. Her confidence broke and scattered. What was Maddox thinking? Did he believe their words? Was he going to abide by their prayers and hopes? She gripped her skirt tightly.

Aylin had lost hope completely.

"Speak, Elder Silas.”

Aylin lifted her head, her eyes void of light as she stared at the congress that surrounded them. Connie sat between elders, and the healer was there too. But behind the healer was… Paige? Why was she here?

A few tears slid from her eyes. She was here to support her as a good best friend would. She held herself; at least someone would stand beside her. 

Even with the elders rambling in front of them, Maddox still tried to push himself into their mating bond, but she let it stay locked.

“And you have proof? You say?”

“Yes… Alpha.” Connie answered as she stood up. Not once since she made the announcement had she looked at Aylin. Not once, almost as if she didn’t even acknowledge her presence.

She unzipped her dress from the side and unbuttoned the four buttons at the front. The sundress easily slipped from her skin, and before everyone’s eyes was a mating mark.

A mating mark was different depending on whom it was on. But one common factor was an alpha's mating mark was like a full-torso tattoo.

Aylin would know that because she also had a full torso tattoo. But that wasn’t what made her heart sink; it was the fact that the tattoo on Connie looked exactly like the one she had.

That would mean one thing. 

“This was what you gave me the last two weeks, when we went to the Crimsonridge Pack for their anniversary. 

Aylin remembered she had personally asked Connie to go with them as she felt terribly sick and down. Even Maddox was very reluctant to leave her that way for a party.

‘So that was when he cheated on me?’ She murmured, looking down at her shaking palms.

"Alpha, with this you can’t—”

“I gave you that mark?” Maddox interrupted Elder Silas. 

“Yes, Alpha. And also the healer can attest to it.” She placed her hand over her belly. 

“Proof it.”

Connie frowned at the way Maddox stared down at her. The mediocre one was the woman beside him. Why was he staring at her like she was scum on the earth?

Jane, the pack healer, walked forward holding an orb and a knife. Kneeling in front of Connie, she nodded at her.

“Please excuse me.” With that, she slit her lower belly, the location of her womb. She let the blood flow onto the orb before it healed up.

The healer turned to the alpha with the blood-soaked orb while Connie got dressed. In the presence, the blood stirred within the orb. With the blood, it began to expand and expand until she couldn’t hold it in her hands again and had to place it on the nearest table.

It soon became a large sphere with the blood leaking from it. 

It was over.

No one could deny it. Connie was truly carrying an alpha’s child.

Everyone waited for the alpha’s next move. But all he did was stare. Just stared down at everyone. Connie shrieked back a bit as she couldn’t take the heat of his glares; it felt like something was picking down at her back. 

Fear.

She was filled with it. She clutched her belly, hoping he would make his verdict and pronounce her his luna.

But instead, his muscles bulged, and his ears elongated to his head. It twitched as he picked up the slow panic from his members. Hair like fur began growing on his exposed skin, and his claws and fangs grew out. 

Rather than say anything to them, he stood up from his throne, his body half-morphed to his lycan form, and turned to his luna.

In his eyes, he could see the pain, hurt, and sadness he had caused unto her. 

“Alpha, please make your verdict. As we all have laid the truth and proof before you.” Elder Silas said, which earned him rounds of approved murmurs from everyone by his luna. She shivered, knowing her position could be taken with just a word from his lips.

Instead, he stepped to her front, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulders.

Aylin’s heart jumped. 

‘Was he going to throw me out?’ She panicked. "It's late; at least wait till tomorrow."

She began kicking and trashing around.

“No!! My love, please!!! Please not tonight. Tomorrow! Please, I will be out of your sight by morning. I will go far. I won't do anything. Please, please, please, Maddox, don’t throw me out tonight. Please.”

Her vision blurred as she muffled her cries with her palm. Pushing the door to their room open, he locked it behind and walked over to the bed. She finally opened her eyes when she smelled her surroundings. The sweet smell of her male.

“Let me in, sweetheart.” 

Her arms covered her eyes as she nodded.

She let him in, and immediately she let out a gasp as she felt the intense feeling of his desire, his worry, and his uncertainty.

“Bane?” She called out to his lycan, cupping the side of his face that had his lycan’s eye color. Aylin felt his hard-on between the heat of her legs. “It won’t work.” 

Her murmured words were clear as day. It mirrored her worries, her fear, her hesitation. The acrid taste of her paranoia lingered in his taste buds.

“We can still try.” 

Try? It was a pipe dream. They have been mates for over four years—since she was sixteen—and she had never carried a pup for him.

What difference would it make if they had sex—made love—this night?

Miracles don't work that way.

Feeling her doubt, he leaned down and kissed her. 

It was only her who didn’t feel it like he did. He wanted to try hard and desperately for them, but she felt as though it was all going to fail, yet again.

Desperation filling her senses. She clutched his back, breathing desperately with him. Mixing her breath with him, his saliva with him. Mixing her hope with his.

“One last time, sweetheart.”

Looking at his mixed-colored eyes, she agreed. 

One last hope.

One last faith.