Chapter 1 The Alpha's First Love Returns

Valerie's POV

The dim room was thick with heat and lingering desire. When Aaron Garth's member withdrew from my body, a shiver of tingling numbness rippled through me, drawing a breathy, uncontrollable gasp from my lips.

Before I could even cover my face in embarrassment, he leaned in again, cupped my flushed cheeks with firm hands, and kissed me deeply.

By the time he finally left for the shower, I had only just begun to recover my strength. My hand drifted to my tender abdomen, and a soft laugh escaped me.

"Your daddy is so cheeky," I whispered under my breath.

I was pregnant—pregnant with Aaron's pup. The thought alone filled my heart with a rush of sweetness.

Because of that accident years ago, my body had become weak—too fragile, the doctor said, to ever carry a pup. But through three years of being with Aaron, I never gave up hope.

And today, on our third mating ceremony anniversary, I finally carried the life that belonged to both of us.

I rose from the bed and took out the gift box I had prepared that morning. Inside was my pregnancy report—proof of the miracle I wanted to share with him.

Once he came out of the shower, I'd tell him the good news. He'd be surprised, surely—happy, even.

Not long after, the sound of the bathroom door opening reached my ears. My heart lifted as I turned toward the noise.

Aaron stepped out, half-naked, droplets sliding down his damp black hair, tracing the firm lines of his chest and following the ridges of his abdomen before disappearing beneath the edge of his towel.

He strode to the wardrobe, his tall, muscled frame cutting through the soft light. As he turned his back to me, I caught sight of several faint red scratches trailing down his broad shoulders—marks I'd left there in the heat of passion.

My pulse quickened. Warmth crept back into my cheeks.

While I was still lost in the flutter of embarrassment, Aaron was already buttoning up a crisp suit.

I blinked in confusion. It was so late—where could he possibly be going? But before I could ask, my instinct was to bring out the gift box I'd hidden behind me.

"Valerie."

He called my name.

My heart gave a violent jolt, and I froze mid-motion.

"Hm? What is it?"

He rarely said my name so seriously. Of course, our three years of union had never been the picture of romance I once dreamed of.

"I have something for you," he said.

I watched as he opened a drawer in the wardrobe and pulled out a folder. He strode toward me and handed it over.

I frowned slightly. When had he even placed something in our room without me noticing? Still, I took it from him, the weight of it heavy in my hands.

He turned on the bedside lamp.

And the moment I saw the words printed on the page, the world tilted violently around me. My ears rang with a dull, endless buzz.

It was an agreement to sever our mate bond.

And even through the haze of disbelief, I could still hear his voice—cold, detached, and merciless.

"Lily's back. You should've heard by now."

My mind went blank. It took me a few seconds to even find my voice.

"No… I just found out."

I didn't know what expression I should wear, what emotion I was supposed to feel.

He sneered faintly. "Figures. You've been too busy thinking about other things to notice anything that doesn't concern you."

His tone carried something I couldn't quite grasp. Then he tossed a pen onto the bed.

"Sign it. We made this deal three years ago that when Lily came back, it would be over between us."

His words dripped with mockery, but I had no defense.

Everyone in the Black Shadow Pack knew—Lily Ward was his first love.

He'd loved her deeply. Even though I was his fated mate, he'd never truly looked at me.

Three years ago, if Lily hadn't disappeared without a word… if the Alpha of the pack weren't bound by tradition to marry his destined mate… I never would have become Mrs. Garth.

But Aaron never loved me. I had to face that cruel truth.

Still, foolishly, I thought we'd go on like this—quietly, peacefully. Even if he never acknowledged we were mates in public, I'd convinced myself that his presence was enough.

"What are you waiting for?" His gaze was sharp and assessing. "Don't tell me… you don't want to sever our mate bond?"

To hide the sting in my chest, I forced a smile. "No, you misunderstand. Of course I agree."

I looked away before he could see the tears threatening to rise. Distracted, I reached for the pen to sign, only to accidentally knock against the hidden gift box behind me.

My heart lurched to my throat as I watched it roll off the edge of the bed and crash to the floor.