Chapter 2: I'm Pregnant too

Elena's Pov

I stared at him in disbelief. He was angry with me? After what I had just witnessed, he actually expected me to welcome him with open arms?

 He sighed when I didn't answer. His expression changed, and he stepped closer, using the same gentle voice he always used whenever he wanted to calm me down.

"Come on, my love. I'm tired. I have been away for too long, and all I want right now is to spend some time alone with my Luna."

I pushed his hand away when he tried to touch me. "Why?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Why would you do this to me? Why would you get her pregnant?" Tears ran down my cheeks as I looked at the man I had loved for so many years.

 "I am your Luna. I am your mate. How could you betray me like this?"

He let out a tired breath and rubbed his forehead. "It wasn't supposed to happen," he explained. "We were celebrating after the battle, and I drank too much. When I woke up the next morning, she was lying beside me. I didn't know what had happened until the doctor who was traveling with us examined her and confirmed that she was pregnant." He paused, then reached for my hand again.

"Listen to me. I love you. You know that. She means nothing to me, and I have no intention of making her my Luna. You are the only woman I want beside me. There will only ever be one Luna in this pack, and that is you."

I looked at him, trying to understand how he could say those words so easily. He had gotten another woman pregnant, yet he expected me to believe that nothing had changed between us.

 "What about her child?" I asked quietly. He seemed relieved that I had finally asked a question instead of shouting at him.

"Once the pup is born, we will adopt the child. You will raise it as your own, and everyone will be happy. The elders have been complaining about the lack of an heir for years. This will finally put an end to their complaints and give the pack the stability it needs. I am only doing what is best for everyone."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He wanted me to adopt another woman's child. He wanted me to raise the child he had conceived with the same woman he had always told me not to worry about. And he expected me to accept it simply because he had decided it was what the pack needed.

"You don't have to worry about anything," he continued, seemingly unaware of how much his words were hurting me. "I will compensate you for this. If there is anything you want, just tell me. I will give it to you. You know I have never denied you anything."

 I stared at him as his words brought back memories I had tried to forget. This wasn't the first time the elders had made things difficult for me. Whenever they complained about my inability to give the pack an heir or questioned whether I deserved to be Luna, he would take me aside, speak gently to me, and promise to make it up to me. Sometimes he would buy me expensive gifts. Other times, he would promise to take me on a trip or give me anything I wanted.

I had always accepted his comfort because I believed he was on my side. I had told myself that he was doing his best to protect me from the elders.

But now, I was beginning to wonder if those promises had only been his way of keeping me quiet. He had gotten another woman pregnant, brought her before the entire pack, and still expected me to accept his excuses.

He was using the same words and the same promises again, as though he hadn't just broken my heart.

My hand slowly moved toward my stomach. I thought about the little life growing inside me and the pregnancy test waiting in the gift box downstairs. I didn't need to adopt anyone's child. I was pregnant too.

After five long years, I was finally carrying the pup we had both wanted. I looked at my husband, and for the first time since he had entered the room, I felt a little hope.

"I'm pregnant too," I tried to say. "I wanted to tell you that—"

 "Ah!" The Beta's daughter suddenly cried out, clutching her stomach. "My stomach hurts!" My husband immediately turned toward her. His expression changed as he rushed to her side. "What happened? Are you alright?" She shook her head, looking as though she was struggling with the pain.

 He glanced at me, his face hardening. "Can you stop making trouble for once? You have always been the most sensible one. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Before I could say another word, he helped her out of the room. I stood there watching them leave, my lips still parted from the words I hadn't been able to finish.

He hadn't even asked what I was trying to tell him. He hadn't noticed my tears or the way my hand rested over my stomach. He had simply walked away to attend to her.

The door closed behind them, leaving me alone in the bedroom. I slowly lowered my hand and looked toward the door. I had wanted to surprise my husband with the happiest news of our lives.

Instead, he had left without knowing that he was going to be a father for the second time.