เมื่อดอกวสันต์ผลิบานอีกครั้ง

CARA'S POV

I looked down from the small balcony of my room, watching the tarred road that led out of the Pack.

Wolves were returning from the human towns and some from hunting.

But none were him.

My Antonio.

It's been two long, cold months without him, and I ached for his return.

My hands instinctively went to my stomach as I remembered the last night we spent together before he had to leave.

It was the most passionate he's ever been, like he was scared he wouldn't make it back home.

This war had lingered on for too long and I had high hopes that this time, he and his twin, Alpha Damian, would finish off our enemies.

I couldn't wait for him to come back, not just because I missed him but because the moon goddess had finally answered my pleas.

Five years.

Antonio and I had tried for this baby for five long years, and now that our prayers had finally been answered, he wasn't here for me to tell him.

I had taken the test three times before going to the Pack doctor.

Even after he confirmed it, I still found it difficult to believe.

I was pregnant.

The weak, barren omega everyone mocked was carrying Antonio's child.

I couldn't wait to see his face when I told him.

I was about to go back to my book when I heard shouts suddenly coming from the gate.

"The Alpha is back!"

I turned sharply, a gasp escaping my lips.

I rushed out of the room with excitement but slowed down when I reached the stairs.

I had our baby to think about now.

The entire Pack was already gathered outside when I got there. A black jeep drove into the courtyard, followed by several vehicles carrying our warriors.

Antonio stepped out.

Relief filled me so quickly that tears entered my eyes.

He looked exhausted. His clothes were covered in dirt and dried blood, and a healing cut ran across his cheek.

But he was alive and our bond sang with joy.

I pushed forward through the crowd, aching for his touch and to offer him comfort.

But something made me pause.

The warriors brought a covered body out of the second vehicle.

Silence covered us all like a thick blanket and my heart began beating faster; something was really wrong.

Antonio climbed the front steps and turned to face us.

"My brother is dead."

Cries broke out around the courtyard.

My breath caught.

Damian and Antonio had never spent more than a few days apart before the war. They were identical in almost every way, but Damian had been born first and chosen as Alpha.

Now he is gone.

"We won the battle," Antonio continued, "but Damian gave his life for that victory. I will complete what he started and protect everything he left behind."

His eyes moved toward Aliya.

She was standing beside the jeep, one hand beneath her heavily swollen stomach.

"Until Damian's children are born and the Pack is stable, Aliya will remain Luna."

Wait, what?

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Then one of the elders nodded.

"It is the right choice."

Other voices followed.

"She already knows how to lead the Pack."

"She carries the future heir."

"And she's not barren!"

That last one made all my emotions snap inside me.

"Antonio!"

He looked at me, and let out a sigh that didn’t cure the fear that was building in my chest.

He had heard every word, but instead of correcting them, he lifted a hand for everyone to let me pass.

I was already speaking before I reached him, “What do you mean, Antonio? Aliya is not your mate?”

"Cara," he said when I reached him. "Not now."

“What do you mean she will be your Luna? What about me?"

He blew out a long breath of irritation. "Come inside."

"No, answer me. You are becoming Alpha; why doesn’t that extend to me, your bonded mate?”

The wolves around us had gone quiet again.

"Come, Cara," he pulled me roughly towards our room, "you and I have to talk."

I swallowed the anger as I've learnt to do all these years and followed him.

The second we stepped into our room, he let go of my hand, slammed the door hard and turned to me with dark eyes.

"You will not challenge me in front of the Pack again," he snapped.

"And you will not replace me in front of the Pack again!"

He let out an exasperated breath, "Nobody is replacing you, Cara, this decision is temporary."

But I shook my head; this entire thing was leaving a bitter taste in my mouth that I couldn’t swallow.

"The Alpha's mate is his Luna. That’s how it's always been."

"Oh, for crying out loud, enough with this pity party. Everything doesn’t revolve around your status. Aliya was already Luna before Damian died. She is carrying his children and knows the position perfectly. I need her for a good transition."

"You make it sound like there’s something so impossible about this position. I’ve already been helping her with lots of Luna tasks for a long time. If you tell her to put me through, she will. Instead of this!"

“And I said we don't have the time for that!” he hissed. “We just returned from a battle that cost me the life of the closest person to me. There's no time for you to learn anything. Aliya will be Luna for now.”

"And where does that leave me?" I asked, my voice smaller than I intended.

He looked annoyed, as though I were deliberately refusing to understand something simple.

"You are my mate. She is Luna."

"Antonio, the Luna position has never been separated from the mate of the Alpha before –"

"Things have never been like this before."

"You should have spoken to me at least, you just made the decision alone as though we’re not partners,” I said, fighting the tears that have been threatening to fall.

"My brother died in my arms, Cara. Forgive me for not stopping to ask whether my decision would hurt your pride."

The words slapped me harder than his hand could have.

"This isn't about my pride,” I hissed, my voice hard.

"Then stop acting like a spoiled brat. We’re in difficult times, everyone has to adjust and make sacrifices.”

I scoffed, such an odd thing to say to a mate who has dedicated her time and energy to making you happy. 

I thought about the pregnancy report hidden inside the bedside drawer.

If I told him now, would it change anything?

"But what if... what if I'm pregnant too?" I asked before I could talk myself out of it while looking at the blue eyes of the man I'd fallen deeply for.

The smile he gave me was sad.

"We both know your condition, Cara. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We have been through this for five years and I’m fine with never having my own pups. Don't do this to yourself again."

I smiled, it's definitely going to change things. So I turned around to the drawer where I'd kept the test results.

But before I could pull it out to tell him the good news, a loud knock came on our door.

"Damian?"

"Damn," Antonio muttered, heading toward the door, "she's been having these hallucinations and thinking Damian is still alive. The pain of losing him has hit her the most."

"Oh?"

"I'm my brother's replica, I'll have to calm her down until she gets better," he explained further as he opened the door.

Aliya rushed across the room and threw herself into his arms.

“I’ve missed you, my Alpha,” she gushed.

Then she kissed him.

I waited for Antonio to push her away.

One second passed.

Then two.

His hand settled around her waist.

And he kissed her back, tilting my world upside down.