Chapter Two

2. Broken

Leticia

The mate bond snapped through my chest like something tearing apart inside me. A sharp cry escaped my lips as my knees gave out beneath me. I hit the floor hard and pain shot through my stomach immediately. My hands wrapped around my belly at once as panic flooded me.

My baby.

The entire ballroom erupted into whispers. “She’s bleeding?”

“Is she going into labor?”

“Rejected mates are unstable during pregnancy…”

“Move!”

Mora pushed through the crowd quickly and crouched beside me. “Is she having forced labor?” she asked urgently, looking between me and Arnold.

I barely heard her. My eyes remained on Arnold.

Even from the floor, I could still see the regret hidden underneath his cold face. The hesitation in his eyes. It hurt because if he regretted it, why did he still do it? Why didn’t he just take it back?

“Arnold…” My voice cracked badly. “Why would you do this to us?” Tears rolled uncontrollably down my face as I held my stomach tighter. “To our child? To everything we had?”

His jaw tightened, “A simple rejection shouldn't affect you, just stop overreacting ok” He said coldly.

Margaret stepped forward slowly, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. “Don’t use emotional blackmail,” she said calmly. “You’re pregnant, not dying. Stop acting dramatic.” “Maybe you're like this because you're already weak” she said and covered her mouth like she didn't mean it. The whole pack erupted into laughter.

I stared at her in disbelief.

How could another woman look at a rejected pregnant mate and still speak so casually?

“Call the doctor,” Arnold ordered suddenly. Beta James nodded immediately and left.

That was it? That was all Arnold had to say.

No explanation. No apology. Nothing.

A broken laugh escaped me through my tears. “That’s all?” I whispered shakily. “At least tell me what I did wrong. Tell me and I’ll fix it. I’ll change. I’ll do better.”

For the first time since the rejection, Arnold looked directly at me. His eyes darkened painfully. “There's nothing you can do about it. I have made up my mind and that's final. I think someone else will make a better Luna” Someone else, Margaret?

Then he looked away. That hurt more than the rejection itself. The pain in my chest became unbearable. Everything around me started spinning. The whispers sounded distant. My breathing turned uneven.

Then darkness swallowed me whole.

*****

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark except for the lamp glowing beside the bed.

For one peaceful second, I forgot everything. Then it all crashed back at once, making my head spin violently. My chest tightened painfully. I blinked slowly and realized Ethan was asleep beside me, one arm wrapped tightly around my waist. Mora was curled up awkwardly on the sofa nearby.

At least someone stayed.

I shifted slightly and suddenly noticed movement near the door. I think I saw a tall figure stood there silently. My heart jumped instantly.

“Arnold?” I called softly.

The figure disappeared immediately. I stared at the door for a few seconds before laughing bitterly under my breath. What was I expecting? That he would suddenly regret everything? Arnold Reid is too proud for that.

My voice must have woken Mora because she sat up quickly. “You’re awake?”

Ethan stirred beside me too before blinking sleepily. “Letty?”

I forced a smile despite the pain in my chest. “I’m okay.”

Mora walked toward the bed and checked my forehead before sighing softly. “The doctor said the stress almost triggered forced labor.”

Fear gripped me immediately and my hand moved protectively to my stomach.

Ethan frowned sleepily beside me. “You didn’t sing for me before sleeping.”

Despite everything, I almost smiled.

“Sorry.”

“You always sing,” he complained quietly before resting his head against my arm again.

The door opened before I could answer.

A maid stepped inside nervously. “Mora, Alpha Arnold asked me to tell you dinner is downstairs.”

Mora glanced at me briefly before nodding. “I’ll bring food for her instead.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat.”

Before I could argue, she had already left the room.

Silence settled again.

Ethan had already fallen asleep when the door opened once more.

Margaret walked in.

My entire body stiffened immediately. She closed the door behind her slowly before turning toward me. “You really know how to make yourself look pitiful.”

I said nothing.

Margaret walked closer until she stood beside the bed staring down at me. Her eyes slowly moved across my face before she scoffed softly.

“I honestly don’t understand what Arnold saw in you.”

Then my eyes landed on the ring in her hand.

My breath caught instantly.

The Luna ring, Arnold’s mother’s ring. The ring he once told me no woman touches unless she becomes Luna.

Margaret noticed my expression and smiled slowly.

“He finally gave it to me tonight.”

Something twisted violently inside my chest.

“No…”

“Oh yes.” She lifted her hand slightly, letting the ring catch the light. “Arnold proposed properly this time.”

Tears burned my eyes immediately. Why I was here fighting for my life and that of our child he was busy crowning another woman, Luna.

Margaret leaned closer. “He also said once you give birth, I’ll raise the child.”

My body froze completely.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“No.” I shook my head quickly. “Arnold would never—”

“He already rejected you publicly,” she cut in smoothly. “What exactly makes you think he still wants his child around you?”

My chest tightened painfully.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Margaret tilted her head mockingly. “You’re nothing but a mistake he regrets sleeping with.”

Something inside me snapped.

“Give me the ring.”

Margaret blinked slightly.

“That ring belongs to the Luna of Nightshade Pack,” I whispered shakily. “Not you.”

Her eyes darkened instantly.

“And who exactly is Luna?”

I looked directly at her. “I am.”

Her slap landed before I could react. My head snapped sideways from the force. “You really are shameless,” Margaret hissed.

Before I could respond, the door suddenly opened again and Arnold walked in. The moment his eyes landed on us, Margaret immediately stepped back. “Arnold,” she said softly. “I was trying to retrieve the ring from her.”

I froze.

Margaret lifted the ring slightly. “She said she wouldn’t give it back because she’s still Luna.”

Arnold’s expression darkened immediately.

His gaze shifted toward me.

And somehow that hurt more than the slap.

Because he believed her instantly.

“I can explain—”

“I already saw the ring with you earlier,” he interrupted coldly.

I stared at him in disbelief. “She brought it here herself!”

“You still refused to let it go.”

“No!”

Arnold’s jaw tightened. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be, Leticia. You already schemed your way into having my child, well congratulations but you will never be my Luna. You're just a bargaining chip used by your father to secure an ally. Nothing more” He spat venomously

Tears gathered in my eyes again. Was it because the slap still stung? Why does it hurt so much? He rejected me publicly, humiliated me in front of the entire pack. And somehow I was still the problem?

“I didn’t steal anything,” I whispered.

Arnold looked exhausted suddenly. “Tears won’t change reality.”

The words hit me hard.

“I carried your child,” I whispered shakily. “I loved you.”

For one painful second, guilt flickered across his face then it disappeared as soon as it had reflected.

“You need to stop clinging to things that were never yours to begin with.” I stared at him like he had just stabbed me.

That word shattered me completely.

Margaret walked closer to him slowly before placing her hand lightly on his arm. “Don’t stress yourself because of her,” she said softly.

Her voice sounded sweet and gentle now. Like she hadn’t slapped me minutes ago. Arnold closed his fingers around the ring before finally looking back at me.

“You couldn’t even handle rejection calmly,” he said coldly. “And you still expect this pack to see strength in you?”

My throat tightened painfully. Then he delivered the final blow.

“No matter what you do, Leticia…”