Chapter 1

Fiona

My heart leaped with overwhelming joy as I raced through the Eastern hall of the pack house that led to Lucian’s office. I couldn’t wait to deliver the news to him. After my many failed attempts to conceive his heir, I was finally pregnant. 

When I reached  the door, the two warriors guarding his office stopped me as I tried to enter. Their shoulders touched as they formed a wall of obstruction between me and the door. ‘Was this a joke?’ I thought as I searched their eyes for answers but their eyes avoided mine. 

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked, folding my arms. 

“I apologize, Luna, but the alpha is busy and he doesn’t want to see anyone now.” The redhead warrior answered with his eyes still looking up. 

“What is that supposed to mean? Do I look like anyone to you? He might be busy for many reasons but not for me. I have important news to deliver. Now, step aside!” I ordered, but the two men didn’t move a muscle and their disobedience was starting to piss me off. 

Few days ago he had invited the alpha of the blood moon for an alliance against the upcoming war with the rogues, and their warriors had arrived for joint training. It was most definite that he was having another meeting with the blood moon alpha, however this was important and I had to tell him as soon as possible. 

“I’m sorry Luna but….” The other warrior tried to apologize while offering his neck respectfully but I pushed through their middle without warning. They moved aside in shock as I pushed open the double doors of Lucian’s office. 

My eyes went wide and my wolf, Mera, stood on her haunches, her ears perked up, when I entered the office. The office was partially dark, the only source of light coming from a fireplace at the corner, its flame slowly dancing to its death. 

Lucian wasn’t alone in his office, neither was he with alpha Maddox. He was shirtless and in a deep kiss with a woman. 

From the long red hair to the half unzipped tunic black dress, I knew who it was in an instant. Nadia. The daughter of Alpha Maddox, she had arrived with the blood moon warriors a few days ago and I recognized her dandelion scent that now filled my nostrils. 

They broke contact, Lucian didn’t bother to find his shirt as he sat back in his chair with a frustrated sigh, while Nadia adjusted her dress. The scent of heated romance and betrayal filled my nostrils as I stared in total shock. 

My heart beat rapidly and my chest began to ache. The weight of my heartbreak made it hard for me to breathe and the room suddenly felt like it didn’t have enough air. Mera whimpered in the recess of my mind and I could feel her sadness course through every nerve inside me. 

“Fiona….” Lucian started, his voice calm and full of remorse, and God, I wanted to believe whatever excuse he had but the sight of Nadia pulled me back to the inevitable reality. 

My eyes began to well up. I shook my head no as I grabbed the flares of my gown, staggering a few feet backwards. My vision became blurry as warm tears rolled down my cheeks. For a moment, I wish I had listened to the warriors and didn’t enter this office. I should have waited a little longer to tell him. 

Now I had no idea what to say. Should I tell him that we are excepting his son? Or should I just wait for an explanation because I definitely needed an explanation for this. 

“Tell her!” Nadia’s voice floated through the silence as she regarded me a devilish smirk tugging on her lips. I felt my wolf’s urge to move close and snap her neck but I resisted as I waited for her next words, praying and hoping it would annoy me. 

I could see a glimmer of pleasure in Nadia’s eyes, under the loose strands of her red hair, like she was relishing in my pain.

“Tell me what?” My voice was shaky as I swallowed a lump in my throat while glaring at her, but she avoided my eyes and turned her gaze to Lucian, clearly waiting for him to say something and I also looked to him for an explanation. 

Lucian slid his hands through his silver white hair and grabbed a fistful of hair while his elbows rested on the well polished brown desk. A worried expression crossed his face as he stared into the space between us, a deep exaggerated sigh escaping his lips. 

I shuddered helplessly, my lips trembled as I bit the lower one and my eyes filled up even more that I could barely see the two figures, standing before me. I knew he was going to say something I wasn’t expecting. 

“Lucian?” My voice crackled as I urged him for an answer. 

He took a deep breath before his emerald eyes found mine and in it I saw his submission, like he had given up on a long fought battle. 

“It’s the council elders, Fiona. They……they want me to reject you.” He said with a disappointed laced tone, his eyes avoiding mine as he said the last words. 

His words made my heart sink further into my stomach, but it didn’t surprise me because I had always expected it. The elders never wanted Lucian to be with me, a Luna incapable of transforming ‘a weakling’ was what an elder had called me on my last failed attempt to shift. 

Lucian always fought for me, reminding everyone of their place if they’d dare disrespect me, without him I’d have been banished from the pack. He loved me but now at that moment, I wasn’t so sure. 

“So what are you going to do? You’re going to reject me after everything?” I found myself asking as I held back sobs. 

He stood up and quickly donned his ruffled shirt. 

“Fiona, this isn’t about you anymore. I’m doing this for the sake of the pack. The blood moon alpha won’t agree to an alliance if I don’t marry his daughter and you know what will happen if we don’t join forces with them. The rogues are rapidly closing in on our borders, we only have a matter of time before they attack.” He said, while doing a few buttons on his shirt. 

“And your brother had gone missing in battle. Orion might be my beta but he’s also a dear friend to me, that’s why I need to do this, you of all people should understand.” Lucian continued as he approached me. 

The mention of my brother’s name made me feel numb. Orion had been declared missing a few weeks ago when the pack warriors found his blood tainted cloth in the woods. I really missed him and wish he was here, maybe, just maybe if he was here he’d have talked Lucian out of this. 

Lucian’s soft touch sent jolts of uneasiness around me as he took my hand in his, clutching it tight as he went down on one knee. I burst into fresh uncontrollable tears as the realization hit me, my wolf’s howl filled my mind as she beg me to fight for a battle we had already lost. 

“By the power of the moon goddess, i Lucian—”

“I’m pregnant!” I quickly interrupted him while I clutched my stomach. 

“I’m pregnant with our child, Lucian.” I repeated in a whisper as I watched his eyes go wide and his lips split wide open in surprise.