Chapter 1

Freya’s POV

Barren. 

That was the exact word the doctor used. My heart cracked in half. 

“Are you sure?” I asked, wringing my hands. My paper nightgown crinkled.  

“Yes, Luna Freya. I am very sorry.” His eyes were sympathetic. “But you are unable to have children.”

His words hit my stomach like a fist. 

Barren? But how? No no no. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. 

I sat completely still, frozen in shock, as the floor fell out from under me. 

I only went to the doctor because my mate, Alpha Ethan suggested it. Well, technically, it was Mira’s idea. She’d been worried about the rumors spreading through the pack. I’d heard them. They were vicious and derisive.

‘Freya is an unfit Luna. She can’t produce an heir. There’s something medically wrong with her!’ 

It stung, hearing the pack talk about me like that. But I swallowed it down and tried to ignore it. There was nothing wrong with me. These things take time. I can get pregnant. 

That’s what I told myself. 

I was wrong. 

“I really am very sorry, Luna Freya.” 

I nodded absently at the doctor as I stepped down from the examination table. My knees felt like jelly. How was I going to tell Ethan? And today of all days! It was our third anniversary.

I left the hospital in a daze. 

“What am I going to do?” I whispered as I wandered through the pack streets. The sun shone brightly. Birds sang. Children’s laughter echoed through the air. 

It felt wrong. My world was falling apart and it was a beautiful day. 

‘Tell him the truth,’ my wolf urged me. Her voice was calm and gentle. ‘Tell him that you’re the daughter of the Alpha King.’

I shook my head and bit my lip. How could I possibly do that? I’d been lying to Ethan for three years about my true identity. And now that I was barren, it would be even harder to tell him. My hand instinctively went to my barren stomach as tears pricked my eyes. 

I’d come to Moonvalley Pack under false pretenses. Everyone in the pack thought I was an Omega. But I was actually the Alpha King’s daughter. 

When I secretly found out that Ethan Whitmore was my mate three years ago at a party, I begged my father to let me marry him. My father refused. 

“He’s beneath you and not a trustworthy man,” my father concluded. “He’ll just use you for your title and a political alliance.”

But I’d begged him until I was blue in the face. Eventually, he relented.

“Fine,” he sighed. His stern eyes locked on mine. “You can marry Ethan. On one condition. He cannot know your true identity. You will pretend to be an Omega. A nobody. That way, we will know his intentions are noble and not attached to your title. If, after three years, he still loved you and respected you, then I will accept him.”

So I married Ethan while he believed I was nothing more than a lowly Omega. Yet he honored our mate bond and made me his Luna. He loved and respected me just as he always had, even though Mira constantly found excuses to pull him away from me.

Today, those three years were finally over.

Ethan had proven his loyalty. My father would accept him now. Everything should have been perfect.

Except that…

…Ethan yearned for an heir. 

And I couldn’t give him one. 

‘He’ll understand and help us to find a way,’ my wolf soothed. ‘He loves you. Just tell him the truth.’

Her words echoed in my mind. She was right. Ethan did love me.

We could get through this. Together.

The sun was warm on my face as I headed towards the packhouse. My steps became a little lighter. There was still hope. But as I got closer to the central square, I noticed a crowd had gathered. 

“What’s this all about?” I asked, joining the back of the crowd. 

“Alpha Ethan has an announcement,” a woman whispered to me, her eyes sparkling with anticipatory excitement. 

An announcement? That was strange. Ethan hadn’t mentioned anything to me about an announcement. 

I peeked through the throngs of people and saw Ethan standing on the stage. He was grinning from ear to ear, in a dark shirt rolled up at the cuffs. 

“I have gathered you all here today because I have a very important announcement.” A hush fell over the crowd. All eyes locked on Ethan. “It is with great pride that I announce,” his voice brimmed with excitement. 

His next words almost knocked me over.  

“The Moonvalley Pack finally has an heir!” 

The crowd erupted in applause. My stomach dropped. 

An heir? 

My eyes scanned the stage in utter disbelief. And that’s when I saw her. 

Mira Kane. The illustrious daughter of Chief Warrior Darius Kane. Darius was a formidable force and well-respected. As such, so was Mira. 

My mind reeled. This wasn’t making sense. 

But as Mira stepped onto the stage, dignified and graceful, I slowly understood. Ethan pulled her into his arms. Her thick auburn curls cascaded down her back. She was glowing. 

Positively glowing. 

I felt like I couldn’t swallow. My heart hammered in my chest. The entire pack was cheering. For them. For her. 

“We only just found out today,” Ethan said. The crowd quieted down. My eyes landed on Mira’s hand, clamped in his. “But Mira is already four months along. Our heir is well on its way!” He leaned over and kissed Mira on the cheek. 

Cheers erupted again. Mira tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled at the crowd. My cheeks burned crimson. I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t move. All I could do was watch this nightmare play out right before my eyes. 

“To true mates!” someone bellowed from the crowd. “To Mira and Ethan!”

True mates? 

My stomach clenched. All around me, everyone was whispering. A woman side-eyed me. I knew what they were saying. 

‘Thank the Moon Goddess Ethan finally came to his senses. We never understood what he saw in that lowly Omega. She was never fit to be Luna. She couldn’t even produce an heir!’ 

The crowd scorned me. They gushed over Mira. The humiliation was so visceral I could hardly breathe. Unable to withstand the mocking stares a moment longer, I made my way through the crowd. 

“Ethan?” I stood on the ground, looking up at the stage. My voice trembled. “Is it true?”

He looked down at me, his expression stoic. Beside him, Mira smiled smugly and gripped his hand. 

“Yes,” he confirmed. 

“How could you?” I whispered. My tongue felt thick. My throat was tight. “How could you betray me like this?!”

He brought his eyes back to mine. Our gaze held for a beat. Behind me, the crowd snickered. I searched his face for an apology, or guilt, or regret. But all I found was indignation. 

“These things happen, Freya,” he said softly. “I trust you will take good care of Mira and our unborn child, right?”