Chapter 3

Freya’s POV

“Yes. That’s my decision, and I expect you to accept it,” Ethan said, as if it were nothing. 

“Fine.” My voice came out empty.

Mira only smiled at me, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

If Ethan wanted Mira to move in while she was pregnant, then I could tolerate it. Besides, there was no point in arguing. Ethan had already made the decision.

Mira was going to live with us.

The next few days were a blur. Mira wasted no time; she completely took over the packhouse. I couldn’t do anything about it. I stood by while she redecorated everything. She complained constantly about the maids. She claimed they were useless and that they needed ‘a firmer hand’.

Her audacity was staggering. She left nothing untouched, not a single curtain, not a single meal, not a single maid’s chore.

I tried to reason with Ethan. But he brushed me off. He indulged her every whim.

“Stop complaining, Freya,” he told me.

“But Ethan, she’s changed everything. She told me that my maid…”

“Enough.” He held up his hand to silence me. “You’re overreacting. Stop being so sensitive. She’s just making herself more comfortable.”

“More comfortable?” I balked. “But this is our home. OUR home.”

“Mira is pregnant, or have you forgotten? She is carrying the heir to our pack. You should be more gracious.”

That wasn’t even the worst of it though. The worst part was how she commandeered all of Ethan’s attention. She found excuses for Ethan to stay in her bedroom. She claimed she wasn’t feeling well. And Ethan indulged her every time.  

Because she was carrying his baby.

I barely saw Ethan at all. Mira had him wrapped around her finger.

And I really missed my mate.

I managed to swallow my pride though. I endured Mira’s constant criticism, her unrelenting complaining, the way she followed Ethan around like a stray dog.

“It’s just until the baby’s born,” I told myself and Nora over and over. “She’ll leave my home once the baby’s born.”

It was wishful thinking, but I clutched it like a life line.

One evening, while I was out for a stroll in the garden, I saw Ethan and Mira cuddling on a bench. She was whispering into his ear. The setting sun behind her framed her curls. He was smiling.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were lovers. Her hand rested on his thigh. I stood frozen, the thick scent of flowers and dusk engulfing me. He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. My throat went dry.

Mira saw me and stood up. She approached me, Ethan in tow.

“Freya,” she said, her tone sweet as honey. She had a big smile on her face. Her tone and her smile were fake. “I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of me.” She reached for my hand and squeezed it. I resisted the urge to recoil from her touch.

“You’re welcome,” I said, my tone dry.

“The house is really lovely now, don’t you think?” She bit her lip and cocked her head to the side. “With all the new renovations? Would you like me to redo the master bedroom? I took a quick peek the other day. You’re so lucky. The room gets so much sunshine.” She placed her hands over her stomach. “The pack doctor said that sunshine’s good for the baby. Sadly, my bedroom gets no sunlight at all.” She sighed heavily and cast her eyes to the ground.

“It doesn’t?” Ethan asked. Mira shook her head.

“No. None at all. It’s a shame, really. Since I want our wolf pup to be as strong as possible.”

The pieces clicked together. Her subtext was not subtle.

“Are you asking for my bedroom?” I blurted out, barely holding back my anger. 

Her eyes grew wide in feigned surprise.

“Oh no,” she said. “I would never ask for your bedroom. That would be overstepping.”

A sigh of relief escaped my lips. It was one thing for her to parade around the packhouse, giving orders to my maids and my chef. But my bedroom? That was off-limits.

So imagine my surprise when Ethan spoke.

“Hm,” he said. “Well, if the master bedroom has more sunlight, then you should have it.”

“What?” I seethed.

“It’s just a room, Freya,” Ethan shrugged. “You heard what Mira said. Sunlight is good for the baby. You’re not pregnant. You don’t need sunlight.”

I opened my mouth to speak but I was dumbfounded.

“Oh look, there’s Nora,” Mira beamed. Nora had appeared, gardening sheers in hand. Mira demanded freshly cut flowers by her bedside every now, so Nora was out to cut flowers.

“Nora,” Ethan called. Nora stopped. “Mira and Freya will be switching bedrooms.”

“We will not,” I gasped. Nora’s eyes flitted between us.

“The master bedroom has more sunlight. The baby needs sunlight,” Ethan said to me. He was raising his voice slightly.

“There’s no need to change rooms, Alpha,” Nora said politely. She was trying to object on my behalf. “I’m sure we can find Miss Mira a room with more light.”

But Ethan cut her off with a good hard slap across the face.

“I won’t tolerate backtalk,” Ethan said curtly. “I’ve given you an order. Begin the preparations immediately.

Nora’s cheek burned red, her eyes widening in shock. She covered her cheek with her hand, unable to hide her disbelief. 

“That’s enough,” I said firmly. I planted myself between Ethan and Nora. She was my maid. She was loyal to me. She didn’t deserve to be slapped for trying to defend me. “I’m not changing rooms, Ethan.”

“Oh dear,” Mira said, pouting. “I’m afraid I’ve overstepped. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“You’re not,” Ethan said. “Freya is.” He turned his gaze toward me. “Honestly, Freya, it’s just a room. Why are you making this so difficult?”

“We designed that room together,” I reminded him. It wasn’t just a room. It was special. It was our room.

“Mira is moving into the master bedroom tonight. That’s final. If you won’t stay in the guest room, then you can leave the pack house.”

He cast me one last warning look before he turned on his heel and walked away.

“I’m so sorry, Luna Freya,” Nora said, tears brimming in her eyes.

The sun had already set. Crickets chirped in the distance, and the evening air grew colder. I stood there, watching my mate walk away with Mira’s arm wrapped around his.

My chest squeezed.

Leave the pack house?

I never, in a million years, thought I’d ever hear Ethan say those harsh words. It was clear to me at that moment. Mira was trying to drive me out.

And Ethan was letting her.