Chapter 2 I Wish You True Happiness

Valerie's POV

"What's this?"

Aaron bent down and picked up the box.

Five minutes ago, I'd been eagerly imagining the look on his face when he opened it. Now, that anticipation had turned into pure panic.

He must never find out I'm pregnant.

He loved Lily—loved her deeply. How could an Alpha like him ever allow another she-wolf bear his pup?

The memory of his ruthless methods of punishing traitors flashed through my mind, and my breathing quickened.

I had to protect my pup.

For a heartbeat, time stopped. My scalp prickled tight as I watched his fingers lift the lid.

Just before he could open it, I forced myself to stay calm and snatched the box from his hands. "It's for Cassian," I lied smoothly. "His birthday's coming up. It's a gift I prepared for him."

Aaron's gaze lingered on me. I didn't dare meet his eyes—those deep crimson eyes that could strip away every lie and every layer of defense I had left.

The silence stretched. My heart pounded so loud I could hear it.

Then, at last, he gave a short, humorless laugh. "You really do care about Cassian."

The sudden remark threw me off guard. I blinked, startled.

But he didn't press the matter further, nor did he ask about the gift box again.

I exhaled softly, relief loosening the tension in my chest. "Of course," I replied lightly.

Cassian Rhodes was my best friend Constance Rhodes's older brother.

After that accident, my body had grown too weak to ever train as a warrior again. I was forced to leave the academy, and the ridicule that followed nearly broke me.

Only Constance and her brother stood by me then, offering kindness and care when everyone else turned away. To me, they were more than friends; they were family.

I bit my lip, eyes lowering to the papers to sever our mate bond in my hands.

Luckily, Cassian's birthday really was coming up. Otherwise, with Aaron's suspicious nature, I never could have fooled him.

I couldn't risk Aaron questioning me any further. My pulse was still unsteady as I hid the box behind my back again.

I said softly, "I haven't forgotten what we agreed upon three years ago. Don't worry. I won't make things difficult for you."

I signed my name quickly.

The words that followed scraped against my throat like shards of glass. "I wish you and Lily true happiness. After all these years… you finally got what you wanted."

A tremor ran through me, my throat tightening with the effort to hold back tears. My chest ached, but I forced myself to smile—a graceful, practiced smile—and handed him the signed papers.

I couldn't let him see how much I still loved him. I couldn't let him suspect the truth. Only by appearing composed and detached could I make him lower his guard. Only then would he never imagine that his pup was already growing inside me.

He'd be happy, wouldn't he—hearing me bless him and Lily like that?

That thought had barely formed when I met his gaze head-on.

Aaron's eyes were cold—sharp as a blade. As Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack, his very presence carried the weight of power and command.

I looked away at once, panic creeping up my spine. What had I done wrong?

But after a moment, the frost in his aura seemed to recede.

When I looked up again, his expression had steadied, though his tone remained low and firm. "Keep this matter private. Dad's about to undergo surgery. I won't allow anything to affect him."

"I—"

Before I could speak, he turned on his heel, mate bond severance papers in hand, and walked out of the room without a backward glance.

I watched his silhouette vanish through the doorway. My lips trembled as I whispered, "Got it."

Maybe in this lifetime, I would never see him smile at me again.

I sank back onto the bed, clutching the box to my chest. Tears welled up, spilling silently down my cheeks.

Through the blur of my vision, the gift box shimmered at the edge of sight.

My heart twisted painfully as memories of our three years together surfaced one by one.

Time trickled past in aching stillness. My eyes burned from crying. Only when the light outside the window turned pale did I realize how long I'd been crying.

Dragging myself up, I washed my face, trying to erase the traces of my grief.

Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, the sudden shrill ring of my phone split the silence, sending a chill straight through my chest.