Nicole POV

The moment Jake stepped into the shower, his phone rang. A chill of anxiety swept through me. As the phone kept ringing, I struggled to get up despite my delicate pregnancy. I picked it up, my heart pounding in my chest. To my surprise, it was locked with a password. I tried entering our wedding date, my birthday, even his birthday—but nothing worked. Finally, I tried the date of his mistress’s ultrasound. Taking a deep breath, my fingers trembling with fear, I keyed it in.

To my horror, it unlocked.

I was stunned, like my soul had floated away from my body in shock. My rage simmered, but I had to keep calm—for the sake of the baby inside me. As I scrolled through his messages, my heart shattered into pieces.

“Babe, I miss you so much. When can I see you again?”

He’d never called me “babe” or “love” in that way. I clenched my jaw, feeling betrayed. My Alpha, the one who was supposed to protect and cherish me, was calling another woman by sweet names he never used with me.

I quickly took screenshots of all their chats—evidence I’d need to break things off with Jake. Once I had everything saved, I switched over to his shopping app. What I found there shook me even more. Orders for pregnancy supplements, beauty products, and luxury items, all under the name of Charise Swist.

It broke my heart. He could buy everything his mistress wanted, yet he never bothered to get anything for me or our unborn child. We lived in a grand mansion, and he held a high position in his father’s company. Yet, when it came to buying even the simplest things for our baby, he always claimed it was too much. I couldn’t help but wonder: Did my Alpha Jake truly love me? Or even care for me as his Luna?

After gathering all the evidence I needed, I deleted everything and placed the phone back where I found it. As he was getting dressed, the phone rang again. I glanced at the screen—Charise was calling. Jake quickly grabbed his phone and rushed out to the balcony to take the call.

I stood up, creeping closer to the door, straining to hear their conversation. I heard his voice, full of excitement and joy, as he spoke to her. My heart clenched. The same joy he used to have with me was now reserved for another woman. I returned to my seat, confirming what I already knew.

As I sat there, broken, I asked myself: What did I lack? Why was I so easy to replace? Was I not enough for him as Luna? Or was it just that I never truly mattered? It became clear—he never loved me or our child. We were nothing more than a burden to him.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my little angel kicked inside me, as if to remind me I wasn’t alone. I tried to calm myself down. I couldn’t let my traitorous Alpha see me break. I had to stay strong, for the sake of my unborn child.

After his whispered conversation with his mistress, Jake walked back in, wearing that same gentle smile.

“Nicole, my Luna! I need to go. It’s an emergency. I hope you understand—it’s really important. I can’t afford to lose this,” he said, looking at me with those lying eyes.

The pain was unbearable, like being stabbed over and over. I was exhausted, drained from everything I’d just discovered. But I had to stay strong, pretend like I was a behave dog, but still in the dark about his lies and betrayals. As his Luna, I had to act like nothing had changed.

"But Alpha Jake, you said you were tired! Can’t you stay with me, just this once? I really need you... and I'm craving my favorite food. Can you please buy it for me? I’m starving."

“Nicole! I don’t have time for that right now, and you know how far that place is. I’ll let Beta Dylan bought it for you. And please, Nicole, try to understand,” he replied coldly.

The pain cut deeper. It was like I meant nothing to him anymore. He’d rather choose Charise over me and his unborn child. And just like that, he left. But I wasn’t going to let it end there. I quickly booked a taxi and told the driver to follow his car while he was on the phone with his mistress.

“Please, follow that black car, but don’t make it obvious,” I whispered to the driver. My hands were trembling, my heart racing. I didn’t even know how to react—part of me still hoped that everything I’d heard and seen was somehow wrong.

The car stopped in front of a large house.

“This is far enough. Thank you for bringing me here! Here’s the fare, and thank you again,” I said, handing over the cash.

“Wait a moment, ma’am!.. Be careful, alright? Sometimes it’s best to let go of things you can’t control. Think of your child—they need you more than anyone,” the driver advised with genuine concern.

“Yes... thank you.”

As soon as I stepped out, tears streamed down my face, pouring like relentless rain. But before I could drown in my own sorrow, I remembered the driver's words. He was right. My child needed me more than anything. If it meant giving up my title as Luna to protect them, then I was ready.

From a distance, I saw my traitorous husband, arms wrapped around the woman who was tearing my family apart. I took out my phone, snapping pictures to gather more evidence. But just as I was capturing the moment, my phone suddenly rang.

My heart skipped a beat, and I froze when I saw the caller’s name flash on the screen.

Nicole’s POV

I never imagined I'd find my Alpha here, in this kind of place, witnessing a side of him he never showed me. Standing not too far away, hidden from their view, the pain hit me even harder as I watched him drown in lies just to protect his mistress. They were at the hospital, getting a prenatal check-up. The way he cared for her... he never showed that kind of affection to me. I felt like a stone on the side, an unwanted obstacle in their romance.

The heartbreak and bitterness I felt quickly turned into anger and pity for myself. How could I have been so blind to everything happening right under my nose? I wasted so much time and hope on someone like Jake. As he rushed around, paying bills and doting on his mistress like the perfect husband, it finally sank in: there was no place for me—or our child—in his life. If he had truly loved me as his Luna, and cherished the family we could’ve had together, he would’ve never chosen someone else. But instead, he was having a child with her.

I could hear every word Jake said to Charise, reminding her of the doctor’s advice: “The doctor said you need to cut down on eating too much and focus on healthy food. And don’t forget your vitamins so the baby comes out healthy.”

Charise responded with a teasing smile, “But it’s your fault for always spoiling me, bringing all those delicious foods, especially my favorites. You never miss a day.”

“Is that so? I’m to blame, huh?” Jake laughed, looking at her with a tenderness that tore me apart inside.

As the rain began to pour down hard, I couldn’t bear to watch any longer. I stepped outside the hospital, letting the rain drench me. Somehow, it made me feel a bit lighter, washing away some of the hurt. But just as I turned to leave, I saw Jake lovingly wrap his jacket around Charise—a jacket I had gifted him for our wedding anniversary. He did it so naturally, ensuring she wouldn’t get wet, while I stood there like a soaked, shivering mess, watching my so-called mate pamper his mistress.

He held her close, guiding her to the front passenger seat of his car, like she was the most precious thing in his world. Charise noticed me staring at them. She tugged Jake closer and kissed him—right there, right in front of me. Instead of pulling away, Jake returned the kiss with equal passion, clearly enjoying it. My stomach twisted, but I didn’t waste a second. I whipped out my phone and snapped photos of my traitorous Alpha.

Jake turned and finally saw me. His eyes widened in shock. “Nicole!? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here!”

“Aww, really? I’m the one who shouldn’t be here?” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I saw the panic in his eyes. He knew he’d screwed up, not just with me but with our entire pack. An Alpha’s duty is to protect his family, to honor his Luna, but instead, he betrayed us.

“Nicole, please... my Luna... let me explain,” he pleaded, desperation in his voice.

The pain slowly turned into numbness. I couldn't even tell if I still had any pity left for someone like him who was full of lies. I no longer recognized the Jake I had once loved and given my life to. Now, all I saw was a dark nightmare I desperately wanted to escape.

“Jake, let's go! The rain’s getting worse, and I'm starving!” Charise’s voice was sharp and impatient.

“Please, Charise! I need to fix this,” Jake pleaded.

“No need, Jake! Don’t worry. She’s all yours now!” I shot back, my voice cold.

I turned my back on him, clutching the evidence I had gathered. I knew exactly where I was going to send it—to the higher-ups. Everything I did was for my child; I had to make sure whatever was rightfully ours wouldn’t be stolen away.

My phone rang again, and this time, I had no choice but to answer. I was sure my mother was worried sick. She’s the only one who’s ever truly loved me.

“Finally, you picked up! Nicole? My child, you had me so worried! Where are you? I called earlier, but you didn’t answer. I’m here at the mansion, but you’re not around. Where are you? I brought your favorite food.”

I took a deep breath. I couldn’t let my mother worry. If she found out where I was and what was happening, it would break her heart.

“Yes, Ma. I hear you... I’m sorry I missed your call earlier. Jake and I are just... at a new restaurant we wanted to try. Don’t worry, Ma, I’m fine. And Jake’s with me.”

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue, but I had to keep it up. I couldn't bear to see my mother in the same sorrow she had felt when my father left us when I was just a child. She raised me alone, with so much love, without a single complaint. And though I longed to give my own child the complete family I never had, it was becoming painfully clear that it might never happen.

“Alright, as long as Jake’s with you, I feel at ease. But, sweetheart, your pregnancy is delicate. It’s already late, and the weather’s turning bad—it looks like a storm. Make sure you head home soon, okay?”

“Yes, Ma... Please just leave the food at the mansion. Thank you so much,” I replied, I tried to calm myself, forcing steady breaths, but I could tell my mother sensed something was off. It hurt so much, but I had to be strong—especially now. In just a few weeks, I would finally hold my baby, the one light in my dark world.

“There’s something off with your voice, my child. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, Ma, really. Maybe it’s just the bad signal... Don’t worry, Jake’s here with me.”

“Alright then, just call me when you get home. I’ll be heading out too. Take care, and be safe. I miss you, my dear.”

“You too, Ma. Please take care, and I miss you so much...”

As I waited for her to hang up, tears began to stream down my face uncontrollably. Her loving words made the pain of Jake’s betrayal feel so fresh, like a wound torn open again. I broke down, sobbing with my hands cradling my swollen belly. The agony was suffocating, and the rain outside seemed to weep along with me, pounding against the pavement like the shattered pieces of my heart.

I decided to shift into my wolf form to get home faster, but I underestimated how hard it would be. I was weak, and my pregnancy made it so much harder. The downpour only grew worse, and I searched for shelter. I tried booking a taxi, but nothing was available in the storm.

As I stood there, drenched and desperate, I heard someone calling my name. At first, I couldn’t make out who it was through the sheets of rain. But as he came closer, his face became clear.

“Nicole!”