Chapter 2

Amelia’s POV

Ronan’s eyes landed on me. He looked surprised.

“Amelia?” He furrowed his brows. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” My voice was high and tight. I couldn’t stop staring at Sarah’s swollen belly. “I’m injured,” I told Ronan. “There was an attack on our borders. Rogues. Beta Harvey and I led the warriors to fight them off.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ronan snapped.

“Harvey said you were busy. One of the rogues bit me. I tried to mind link you, but the link was blocked.”

Guilt flashed through Ronan’s eyes.

“Looks like Harvey was right. You were busy. With Sarah. Your pack was being attacked and you were doing what? Hanging out?” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice. “We fought them off,” I added. “Just in case you were wondering. The pack is safe. You’re welcome.”

Ronan looked at the bandage on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” Ronan started. But Sarah cut him off.

“It’s my fault,” she said. She inched in closer to Ronan. He still had his arm around her. “I kept him. I wasn’t feeling well. I thought maybe something was wrong with the baby. Don’t blame Ronan.” She smiled brightly at me. I ignored her and locked eyes with Ronan.

“Is that your baby?” Ronan balked at my bluntness. I glared at him, my gaze steady.

“Yes.” His voice was calm. “Sarah is three months pregnant. The baby is mine. Sarah is carrying the future heir to the pack.”

Nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt when I heard those words. My heart cracked right down the center. The wind was knocked out of me. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My hands trembled.

‘Take a deep breath, love,’ my wolf advised. I did.

Tears pricked my eyes. I blinked them back. “You have betrayed me, Ronan. The Moon Goddess chose me to be the Luna of this pack. How dare you do this? You’ve broken our vows.”

Ronan’s expression was indignant. His voice was cold. “The Moon Goddess made a mistake. We’ve been trying to conceive for three years now. Clearly you’re barren. What good are you to the pack if you can’t produce an heir? What good are you to me?”

“I have been a faithful and loyal Luna.” My throat felt tight. “I have served this pack well. I have…”

“It’s all meaningless,” Ronan cut me off. “If you can’t get pregnant, none of that matters. The pack needs an heir, Amelia. Deep down, you know that.”

Swallowing hard, I bit back my tears. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. I’d given up everything to be with Ronan. I’d truly believed that we would be together forever.

Three years ago, I came to the Moonvale Pack under the guise of an Omega. It was a lie. I wasn’t an Omega. I was the daughter of the Alpha King. My father would not accept Ronan though. He felt that Ronan didn’t deserve me. So I betrayed my family and lied about who I was. 

I gave up my identity as a princess just to be with Ronan. No one in the pack knew who I really was. It was a secret I’d kept for three long years. And now…it was all for nothing?

“Is that really what you think?” My voice was small. “That I’m…I’m worthless? Because we haven’t conceived.”

“No no no,” Sarah jumped in. She took my hand. Her eyes were kind. “That’s not what he means at all. You’re still Luna, Amelia. I’m not trying to take that from you. I’m just…filling in. I’m providing what you can’t. For the pack.” She brought a hand to her stomach. “This is all for the pack.”

I was speechless. Sarah was trying to comfort me. Was she actually suggesting that I should just accept this?

“We can be a family,” she said. “All three of us. We can raise the baby together. Ronan and I grew up together. We’re practically family already. Wouldn’t that be nice? The three of us? You can be Luna. And I’ll be the heir’s mother.”

“I…w…what?” I stammered. It sounded like they had it all planned out.

“I know you’re upset,” Ronan said, stepping towards me to stand beside Sarah. “But it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Once you’ve calmed down a bit, I’m sure you’ll see that this arrangement benefits everyone.”

“You can’t be serious.” My voice was a whisper. 

Not only had Ronan betrayed me. But he was asking me to accept his betrayal? To just…what? Welcome Sarah into our home with open arms? I was incredulous.

We were all silent. The tension in the air was thick. Sarah had a big smile plastered on her face. It looked fake and awkward. Ronan’s eyes were averted to the floor. A nurse rushed by us. We shuffled out of the way. Down the hall, a machine beeped loudly.

It was Sarah who finally broke the silence. She tried to change the subject.  

“I know what we should do,” Sarah said suddenly. Her eyes sparkling under the hallway lights. Her tight blonde ringlets bounced as she spoke. “Let’s have dinner together. Tonight. You heard the doctor. I’m a bit anemic. I need lots of nutrition.” She patted her stomach, grinning. “This little guy is always hungry. So how about you make your famous soup for us?”

They turned their eyes to me.

“My…what?”

“Your soup,” Sarah exclaimed brightly. “Ronan is always raving about your special broth. Apparently it’s packed with nutrients. It’s just what I need. I’d love to try it. And I think a family dinner would be nice. Don’t you?”

“Sure. I guess. Yeah.” Ronan shrugged awkwardly. “Let’s have soup. It will be good for the baby.”

My shock wore off at that moment. Anger bristled in my blood. 

They just dropped a bomb on me. Sarah was pregnant with Ronan’s baby. They wanted us to be a ‘family’. Ronan had betrayed me. 

And now Sarah had the audacity to ask me to make her soup? For the baby? For Ronan and Sarah’s baby?

“Sorry,” I said, flashing Ronan a wry look. “I’ve been busy with pack duties. You know, fighting off rogues. Protecting the pack from infiltration. Defending our borders with your Beta.” My voice oozed with sarcasm. “All the things you should have been doing. But I see now that you’ve been too busy with…other things.” I waved my hand dismissively at Sarah.

Ronan narrowed his eyes. My insults landed right where I wanted them to, right at his pride. He didn’t respond. What could he say? I was right and he knew it.

Sarah stood in stunned silence. The smile fell from her face.

“So yeah. I’ve been very busy.” I flashed them both a sardonic smile. My tone was ice cold. “So please excuse me if I haven’t had time to make soup.”