Chapter 4

The moment Troy saw Rue, his brows drew tightly together. "What are you doing here?"

She ignored him, instead walking straight up to me with a triumphant smile. "Luna Estelle, did you enjoy yourself at the tavern last night? The firefly surprise Troy prepared was so romantic…"

She paused, glinting with mischief. "Too bad you left early. There was something even better afterward than the fireflies."

Troy's expression darkened immediately. He grabbed Rue's wrist and almost dragged her out by force. "Estelle, she probably needs me for something urgent. We'll step outside—you should rest!"

The door slammed shut, cutting them off from view. I walked to the window and saw them struggling in the yard below. They were far enough that their voices were muffled.

I whistled softly. My silver nightingale flew up to my shoulder, repeating the exact words Rue and Troy were saying.

He yanked his hand away from her, his whole body radiating anger. "Are you insane? Who told you to come here and start such nonsense? If Estelle finds out anything, I'm never going to forgive you!"

Rue wasn't scared at all. She pulled a piece of paper out of her bag and handed it to him. "I know I shouldn't have come, but this is from the pack's healer. I'm carrying your pup, Alpha.

"The healer said the pup's been unstable lately. I'm terrified. Will our pup be okay?"

I froze for a moment. Rue was carrying Troy's pup, too. Without thinking, I rested my hand on my own belly.

The news of our expecting pup was actually my anniversary surprise for him, but now, before I even got the chance to tell him, Rue beat me to it with her very own surprise.

The shock was evident on his face. They had always been careful with protection. How could this have happened?

Then, after reading the diagnosis, a smile broke through his shock. "Don't panic. Just… take care of yourself for now. I'll take you to the sanctum now and have the head healer check on you. No heir of the pack is going to be harmed."

Rue finally laughed through tears. Troy gently stroked her hair and let go.

As he turned to head back inside, I stepped away from the window and sank back onto the couch. Then, he pushed the door open, wearing just the right amount of apologetic expression.

"My dear, there's an emergency at the pack border. They need my help. I have to go immediately."

I smiled and nodded. Seeing no sign of worry on my face, he leaned in to press a quick kiss to my forehead before rushing off. No sooner had he left than I got several messages from Rue.

"Did you get the gift I sent, Estelle? Like it?"

"I'm already carrying the Alpha's pup. He'll be the next Alpha of the pack. Why are you still trying to claim the Luna's place?"

"If you have any bit of self-respect, you'll back off."

I replied calmly, "Congrats. Looks like your wish is about to come true."

Troy was gone for two full days. During that time, he never stopped checking in, sending messages full of concern, but he never came back.

I replied "Okay" to every single message, keeping my cool, as if I wasn't packing up everything in the house that was mine.

On the third morning, the silver nightingale called three times, signalling that the person coming for me had arrived. I grabbed the suitcase I had packed long ago and took one last look around the house.

Then, I sent a message to Troy. "Two days are up. You can finally look at the anniversary gift I gave you."

He replied almost instantly, "I'll be back soon, babe. We'll open it together."

I smiled bitterly, thinking, "Together? No, Troy, there won't be a 'we' in the future. It'll just be you for the rest of your life."

Later, I forwarded all the taunting messages Rue had sent me to him. With my suitcase in hand, I walked out the door without looking back.