Three:

Rhyder's POV.

"She told me that she's pregnant."

Silence filled the room as my mother stared at me in disbelief with a gaping mouth.

A second later, she regained her composure and closed her mouth, reclaiming her role as the stoic Luna of our pack.

"Is she sure?"

She asked cautiously while flattening an imaginary crease from her dress.

"She says that she took a few tests."

My voice remained flat, void of any real emotion.

"And you believe her?"

I stared at my mother for a few seconds, searching my mind for any possible reason that Alexis would have lied to me about something like that.

I came up empty.

"Why would she lie to me, mother?"

Another beat of tense silence fell as she also searched for a possible reason. A moment later, she sighed heavily, her delicate shoulders slumping slightly. A sombre shadow fell across her face.

"I'm not saying that she is, Rhyder. I just want to make sure that she's not - many have done far worse to get what they want."

I caught the hint of distrust in her voice. But it gave me little comfort.

For almost a month now, I've been wracking my brain for some sort of explanation - a reason. Anything that could help me make sense of the situation I landed myself in.

But sadly, I've had to accept that there was no rational explanation - no way that this entire thing was just one big misunderstanding. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was the only one to blame for what happened that night.

I did what I did.

I broke Grace's heart.

And I'm the reason that she left her pack, her family, and everything else that she knew.

"Believe me, mother," I finally said, "no one hates this more than I do, but there's nothing I can do to change any of it now. I've searched everywhere for Grace, but it's like she's vanished into thin air. And now... Alexis is pregnant with my pup."

My breath hitched as I choked out the last few words.

I couldn't bare to look at the disappointment in my mother's eyes any longer, so I turned my back to her and dragged my hands through my hair, exhaling a stammering breath of hopelesness.

My mother rose to her feet, crossed the room to where I was standing, and genlty lay one of her hands on my shoulder.

"I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you, Rhyder. Your father and I both know how much you love Grace and what she meant to you - we love her like she's our own..."

She hesitated for a second, taking a deep breath as if she was fighting back an ache in her chest.

"But perhaps the time has come to face the harsh reality of the situation."

"I just wish I could remember what happened that night - anything, the smallest detail that could help me understand all of this. But no matter how I try, all I can remember is saying goodbye to Grace and then I woke up next to Alexis... it just doesn't make any sense. I don't even remember having that much to drink."

"I know Rhyder. I know that you would never intentionally do anything to hurt Grace - your entire pack knows that. And we know how much Alexis cares about her as well. What happened was awful... but it was a mistake."

"A mistake that cost me everything. I never should have let her walk away that day. I should have gone after her. I should have made her stay. I should have fought for her - for us. And now I can't find her anywhere."

Another heavy sigh from my mother before she spoke again.

"Perhaps it's time to stop looking then."

I rounded on my mother. It was my turn to gape at her in disbelief.

"You can't be serious, mother?"

She turned her eyes to the floor. A tear slipped down her cheek.

"I want Grace back here almost as much as you do. But we can't always have what we want. You have other responsibilities as well, Rhyder - to this pack and to Alexis and your unborn pup."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. The fact that they were true didn't make them any easier to hear.

She went on without missing a beat.

"Your Alpha training starts in a week - you'll be the leader of this pack soon enough. And you have to do the right thing by Alexis. No matter how difficult it might be - no matter how much it might hurt you. But that's what a good Alpha would do. That's what a good man would do..."

She rested her hand gently on the curve of my jaw, a look of compasion in her eyes.

"And I know that you are both those things, Rhyder."

I nodded my head and leaned into her touch slightly. After, she turned and left me to be alone with my thoughts.

It felt like an iron fist was closing around my heart. I hated every minute of what was happening.

I hated myself for allowing it to happen in the first place.

But my mother was right.

I would give anything to have Grace back - to have the chance to tell her how sorry I am for breaking her heart and her trust. I want nothing more than to make things right with her.

But the sad reality is that I don't deserve that. And maybe Grace deserves better than me.

The only thing that I can do now is to focus on becoming the best Alpha this pack has ever had. And to be there for Alexis and our pup.

My pack deserves the best version of me.

So does Alexis and our unborn pup.

I might not be able to change the past, no matter how much I wish that I could. But I am in control of my future.