Chapter one

1. Pregnant and rejected

Leticia

This was my first time entering my mate’s room.

And I never imagined it would be the night he destroyed me.

His tall figure stood by the window, one hand inside his pocket as the city lights spilled across the room. His dark hair was combed stylishly backward, exposing the sharp lines of his face. Even standing still, he carried the kind of presence that made people lower their voices around him.

My eyes betrayed me immediately, traveling over him before I could stop myself. Arnold caught me staring and one corner of his lips lifted slightly.

The sight almost shocked me. He smirked? Since the day I married him, I had never seen him smile. Not once.

Even though he was always cold and distant I tried to understand him. Arnold Reid became Alpha too young. Responsibility hardened him early. While men his age were still learning freedom, Arnold was already leading a pack, attending funerals, fighting enemies, and protecting younger siblings.

People feared him, worshiped him but I was mated to him.

“Arnold,” I called softly.

His gold eyes settled on me immediately. They lingered for a second before he motioned me closer. I walked toward him slowly, trying to ignore how nervous and excited he made me. Whenever I am near him my feelings are always conflicting.

“The maid said you refused the dress I bought for tonight.”

“I didn’t refuse it.”

“Then why didn’t you wear it?”

I looked down at my oversized sweater. “It looked expensive.”

His brows pulled together slightly.

“That’s because it was.”

I swallowed quietly. ‘Wrong answer’.

Arnold walked toward me until only a breath separated us. The closer he got, the stronger his scent became, his familiar cedarwood scent wafted through the air and settled in my nostrils. All I could see, sense and smell was him.

“You’re avoiding my gifts again,” he muttered as he hooked his fingers under my chin to make me look up at him.

“I just don’t want the pack wasting money on me.”

Something dark flickered across his face.

“You are carrying my child, Leticia. Nobody is wasting anything on you.”

My heart stumbled.

No matter how cold Arnold acted outside, moments like this always weakened me. In public, he barely looked at me. But in private, he made sure I ate properly. Bought things I never asked for. Checked if I slept enough.

Sometimes I caught him watching my stomach when he thought I wasn’t looking. As if he was trying to feel attached to us without allowing himself to admit it.

His fingers suddenly tilted my chin upward again. I tried looking away, but his grip tightened slightly.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you.”

My breath caught. His eyes moved across my face slowly, almost like he was memorizing me.

Then his hand dropped. “There’s a gathering tonight,” he said. “Wear the dress.”

I nodded quickly. He stared at me for another second before speaking again.

“You look tired.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re lying.”

Before I could respond, Arnold moved past me toward the door.

“Rest here for a while,” he said casually. “I’ll send someone to help you dress later.”

And just like that, he left the room. I stood there for a moment staring at the door after him. Then slowly, I sat on the edge of his bed. The room smelled like him. I hated how much comfort that gave me.

A knock came nearly an hour later.

Two maids entered carrying boxes, the moment they opened them, my eyes widened slightly. He had changed the dress to a more beautiful one. Silver fabric spilled like water beneath the light, soft and elegant. One of the maids carefully helped me into it while the other fixed my hair.

“You look beautiful, Luna,” one whispered.

I almost corrected her. The pack hardly saw me as their Luna. But I didn't correct her I love the sound of it, I can't wait to be bonded to my mate.

But before I could speak, the door opened again. Ethan Reid, Arnold youngest sibling walked in lazily. Unlike Arnold, Ethan carried warmth naturally. His calm eyes moved over me before he grinned.

“Well,” he drawled. “My brother is officially blind.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

“You look beautiful, Leticia.”

“Thank you.”

Ethan offered me his arm dramatically. “Come before Arnold scares all the guests away with his face.”

I laughed softly despite myself.

But the moment we stepped into the hallway, another voice interrupted.

“You’re late.”

Mira Reid stood there with folded arms. Arnold’s younger twin sister looked exactly like trouble wrapped in expensive clothes. Her sharp eyes traveled over me slowly before she scoffed.

“You can’t even arrive on time and they expect you to become Luna?”

Ethan sighed tiredly. “Mira.”

“What?” she snapped. “Am I lying?”

Her gaze dropped briefly to my stomach before she walked past me carelessly, her shoulder knocking against mine hard enough to sting.

“Try not to embarrass my brother tonight.”

Ethan muttered a curse under his breath.

I forced a smile. “It’s okay.”

But it wasn’t. Nothing had truly been okay since entering this pack.

The ballroom was already crowded when we arrived. Music echoed across the massive hall while pack members filled every corner laughing, drinking, and dancing. The moment I stepped inside, conversations shifted and eyes followed me immediately.

I lowered my head slightly and followed Ethan further inside.

Then suddenly, he bumped into a passing waiter.

A glass shattered loudly across the floor.

“Oh shit,” Ethan muttered.

I bent instinctively to help him gather the broken pieces.

That was when I heard heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

The entire ballroom quieted and a woman stopped directly beside me. I looked up slowly and my breath caught.

She was beautiful, the kind of beauty that walked into a room expecting attention and receiving it instantly. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her shoulder, her silver dress was hugging her curves tightly and her lips was painted in dark red.

But it was the way she looked at me that made my stomach tighten. Her eyes swept over me slowly while I remained crouched on the floor picking shattered glass.

Like I was beneath her, she smiled faintly as she walked past me. Whispers immediately erupted around the ballroom.

“Margaret is back…”

“She’s even prettier now…”

“She looks perfect beside Alpha Arnold…”

“She should’ve been Luna from the beginning…”

I froze. Margaret, the former beta’s daughter? The woman the entire pack adored and won't stop taunting me with? The woman they believed Arnold should have chosen instead of me?

My chest tightened painfully as I stood slowly.

Then I saw Arnold standing at the top of the staircase in an all black suit. And beside him… was Margaret. No! That's my space.

Her hand rested lightly on his arm while the pack stared at them like they already belonged together. Something inside me twisted violently.

Ethan cursed under his breath beside me. “Leticia…”

I was already moving. The crowd parted instantly as I walked toward Arnold. My heartbeat pounded harder with every step.

Arnold noticed me immediately, his jaw tightened.

“Can we talk?” I asked quietly.

Margaret’s lips curved faintly before she stepped aside, that fake smile of hers was still plastered to her face.

Arnold didn't flinch, “What’s wrong?” he asked.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“What’s wrong?” My voice came out shakier than intended.

“Who is she and why is she standing so close to you?”

His expression hardened slightly. “You’re overreacting.”

I laughed softly. Overreacting? “The whole pack thinks you’re replacing me.”

“Why do you have to believe whatever they say? Don't you have a mind of your own?.” He yapped angrily.

“But are they wrong?” I said firing back with the same energy but mine wasn't anger, it was pain, hurt and fear.

“Okay fine if you believe others than me then this mate bond or whatever has no use” He said with gritted teeth. The look in his eyes scared me. Fear crawled into my chest. The fear of been unwanted again, the fear of been reduced to nothing again, the fear of losing what's mine to someone else again.

And suddenly I understood why tonight felt strange. Why the pack elders were all present. Why everyone kept staring. Why Margaret looked so confident.

“Arnold…” My voice cracked slightly. “You’re not going to reject me… are you?” My eyes stung will tears that are threatening to gush down my face.

His eyes darkened. For one painful second, he looked away from me.

And that was enough answer already. My throat tightened violently. “Arnold…”

He inhaled once before stepping away from me completely. Then he turned toward the ballroom, toward the entire pack.

The music slowly stopped and every eye shifted toward us. My heart started breaking before he even spoke. Arnold’s voice echoed across the silent hall.

“My pack cannot afford a weak and sentimental Luna.”

I stared at him numbly. “No…” I whispered.

But Arnold continued mercilessly.

“I, Alpha Arnold Reid of the Nightshade Pack…”

My vision blurred.

“…reject you, Leticia Hales of Frostfall Pack…”

The mate bond snapped through my chest like something tearing apart inside me.

“…as my Luna.”