ALaric.

“It should have been Cara!”

After propose, my wolf’s voice was cold and firm in my head.

“I told you, Grey,”

I sighed, speaking with my wolf internally, “This is my choice, not yours.”

“And it was also your choice to have sex with Cara just last month! She was good enough for you then!” Grey insisted.

“You know good and well the mate bond is hard to resist. But having sex with her doesn’t mean I love her. And it certainly doesn’t mean she’s fit to be the pack’s true Luna,”

We’d been over this so many times since I had decided to propose to Lilia that it was grating my nerves.

He growled at me, clearly upset. But he would just have to get over it.

“Alpha King! Congratulations! And such a fine and beautiful she-wolf to be the pack’s Luna!”

The pack elders were patting me on the back, beside themselves with pride that I had selected a noble-born from a neighboring pack to join Pack DarkWood’s Alpha family.

“Thank you for such kind words. I’m sure my brother, the Alpha King of Pack BloodyMoon, will be excited to hear that we intend to try for pups right away,”

Lilia’s voice was demure and sweet as she stroked her belly lovingly.

“What excellent news! An heir right away!” The elders were overjoyed.

They’d been plaguing me with questions about when I’d produce an heir. Every pack meeting for three years had ended with a reminder from the elders that time was ticking to settle down, marry, and establish the new Alpha family. It was for the stability of the pack, they had insisted.

I used to think that it’d be Cara at my side. Smart, strong, incredibly sexy… Cara is everything I wanted in a Luna.

I never cared that she was low-born, she was an incredible worker and always put the pack above herself. Or so I thought.

I’ll never forget the day that changed it all. The day I learned what she REALLY cares about.

I remember Cara’s plea to my father the day before I took over as Alpha King.

*

“But that’s not enough,”

I honestly didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but my father’s office door was wide open, and as Alpha King-to-be, I figured I probably had a right to listen.

“The deal is done, Cara. You’ll take the Agent Luna position temporarily for the time being,” my father had said to her.

“But the money! Please, just need more money…” she replied.

*

I stormed off at that point, unable to bear any more of her pathetic attempts to weasel my family, and the pack, out of more money.

When I pulled up the pack’s financial records and saw the frequent, large transfers into Cara’s bank account, anger coursed through my veins.

She had said in her own words that even those substantial sums were not enough. It was all about money for her!

I know she didn’t have the best upbringing being raised as a pack adoptee, but where was her sense of loyalty to the pack? To me?

The betrayal cut me so deep that I vowed then and there that I would never propose to Cara. Fate Mates be damned.

I never expected that my Fate Mate would be a gold digger. And every time pay day comes, she’s all too happy to receive a check. It’s like salt in the wounds all over again.

But damn if she didn’t make it hard to resist. I’ll admit, I haven’t been a perfect angel. Sometimes when I’m around Cara her scent envelopes me, and my instincts, my wolf, just take over.

The sex has been amazing. Better than amazing.

She fits me perfectly, exactly as I’d expect for a Fate Mate.

“We need her! ” my wolf, Grey, growls in my head.

But I can’t let anyone, not even my Fate Mate, take advantage of Pack DarkWood.

It’s my responsibility as Alpha King to protect the pack above all else. Especially from those who would pretend to care about me, and the pack, only to sell us out when it suits her wallet.

Lilia is exactly what I need, what the pack needs, no matter what my wolf wants. Lilia understands what it’s like to run a pack, having grown up in an Alpha family. She’d make a wonderful Luna.

Lilia is gorgeous and noble. She’s sweet and caring. And she’s got that unmistakable dark red hair…Darker than Cara's red hair.

She was even kind enough to offer to deal with Cara, and I knew her gentleness would stave off any awkwardness between the two she-wolves. Obviously, it wouldn’t be the most comfortable interaction, but Lilia offered to handle it anyway.

What other she-wolf would be so kind?

When I didn’t see Lilia after a while, I went searching. I found Cara, crying alone. The sight of her tears did something odd to me inside, like my heart was aching.

I did my best to comfort her, but she threw the bank cards at me and ran off. I’ve never seen her like this before. In fact, she’s usually the most steady and reliable she-wolf I know.

Something had to have made her so upset…

“Cara! Fate Mate!” My wolf’s voice was insistent in my mind.

Wait a minute… maybe Grey wasn’t the only one upset about Lilia.

Was that what this was all about? Did I get it all wrong?

Could Cara actually love me……?

Cara.

As I rushed through the hotel eager to leave, I passed several rooms of waitstaff cleaning up. I couldn’t help but overhear some of their conversations as I tried to navigate the maze of hallways, searching for a way out.

“I mean she was doing the whole ‘Agent Luna’ thing for YEARS now. I just assumed he’d propose to Cara and make it official.”

“Yeah, and she did such a great job, too. She’s got to be the best Beta the pack’s ever had. But… it’s got to be because she’s low-born.”

“That’s true. Everyone knows the elders want a purely noble-born heir.”

Great, even the hotel waitstaff know I’m not a suitable match for Alaric. Everyone knew it but me, apparently.

“But you ARE a match for him! You’re his FATE MATE!” Lucy nearly screamed into my head.

“Well, clearly HE doesn’t care, does he?!” I internally yelled back at her.

I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I walked. I needed to move. Needed to clear my head and this anxious energy.

I needed to be away from everyone.

It's already dark outside the hotel, and it's now late ate night.

I walked and walked until my feet couldn’t carry me any further. I leaned against a lamppost, not quite sure exactly where I was. I looked at my feet, overwhelmed with the sense of defeat.

I cried. I cried and cried and cried so hard that my heart hurt, my eyes hurt, everything hurt. I cried harder than I had in my entire life.

Even after being orphaned as a pup, I’ve never cried like this.

I’ve never hurt quite like this.

I retch, the exhaustion and dizziness from earlier in the day all hitting me at once. My hand raises to wipe a tear, and I look down at the mess I’ve made on the street.

Wait… vomiting, fatigue, dizziness… I never get sick like this…

Is it…Could it be?

When was my last period?

Counting the days since then, and since the last time I had sex with Alaric, a bone-chilling realization hits me.

Could I… be pregnant?!

Cara.

THE SECOND DAY.

The two lines of the pregnancy test stare up at me, confirming that I am, in fact, pregnant.

Well, this certainly complicates things.

……Shit.

If I wasn’t such an emotional nervous wreck right now, I’d almost want to laugh at the irony. The entirety of Pack DarkWood wants nothing more than for the infamously single Alpha King Alaric to produce an heir.

And now he has one.

But, this baby isn’t exactly an heir. I’m carrying the King’s bastard! Just like me when I was a pup, this baby is destined to be unwanted.

My hand absentmindedly catches my belly with a soft stroke as my eyes find the old photograph of my grandmother on the table.

My grandmother and me didn’t share any blood, but she was the closest thing to family I’ve ever known. She was the cook at the pack house where I lived as an orphan, and she cared for me as if I was her own.

I can hear her soft, raspy voice in my memory.

*

“Oh, Cara, borrowing money from the King again? I told you, I’m old. Don’t you spend your money on doctors trying to fix my condition. You worry about yourself now, you hear?”

I remember trying to hold back my tears as I looked upon her soft and wrinkly face, “Grandma, don’t say things like that. You’re my family. I’m going to pay him back, I just need to work extra hard and pick up extra shifts…”

Her warmth surrounded me as she pulled me into a big hug. This was my favorite spot in the world, being in her arms. She shushed me and patted my vibrant red hair.

“No more tears, child. One day you’ll have a much bigger family, and they’re gonna need you…”

*

I’d give anything to have Grandmother with me now. Nothing makes sense anymore.

But Grandmother was right about one thing. I do have a family now.

This little baby growing inside me needs me.

But I know firsthand what it’s like to grow up as an outsider. A part of the pack in some ways, but never really accepted. Always hearing whispers from elders and nobles who know you’re not really one of them, that you’ll never be one of them.

I can’t do that to my baby.

I have to leave Pack DarkWood.

That means leaving my job, leaving Alaric… forever.

“Maybe he’ll change his mind once he knows about the baby?” Lucy offers, quieter than normal. She must know I’m fragile right now.

“A bastard? I doubt it. He’s not really known for giving up on something once he’s started it…”

I trail off, feeling fresh hurt in my heart. Alaric’s fierce determination and decisiveness are two of the reasons I fell in love with him.

“But your Fate Mate hasn’t rejected you,” Lucy counters.

“He must formally reject the mate bond before he can marry another.”

Over the years, I’ve heard stories about the pain of a severed mate bond. A pain that cuts deep, emotionally, spiritually, even physically.

What if it hurts the baby?

...Only one person can discuss these with me. Even though he hurt me, there's no doubt he's a fair and just Alpha king.

I need to speak with Alaric.

***

On the outside, I’m the picture of a calm, cool, and professional Beta as I pull up to Alaric’s office. On the inside… well, I can’t think about that right now.

I walk into the Alpha King’s office to see Lilia sitting on the sofa at the side of the room.

Her fashionable outfit and sleek hairstyle are a symbol of her high-born status. If it was anyone else, I’d have to admit that the two of them make a very handsome couple.

But I have urgent business to discuss. I approach the Alpha King who sits behind his large wooden desk and open my mouth to speak.

“Cara, glad you’ve made it.” He interrupts me with his deep and gruff voice. “Lilia needs someone to show her around and help get acquainted. Take care of that then wait for my instructions.”

My mouth is still open, this time more in shock.

Lilia smiles at me triumphantly, a glint of something like mischief in her eye. By the time Alaric looks back to her it’s gone, and she looks perfectly friendly.

I almost want to refuse the order, but I know better than to push my luck after disobeying him after the proposal. I’ll just have to make time to speak with him privately later.

I can do this.

For my baby, I can do this.

I lead Lilia through the offices, trying not to look at her to keep myself calm. She yawns obnoxiously and seems thoroughly uninterested in most of the tour.

“And this is my office,” I gesture to the room where I’ve spent most of the last three years in my time as Agent Luna, conducting the business that would normally be assigned to the pack’s Luna.

“For now.”

She giggles, a light and airy sound that conflicts with the sourness of her words, “I’m sure we’ll find you a nice broom closet to use as an office once you’re back to being a regular Beta.”

Lucy growls, but I internally hush her because one of the office assistants is coming over to say hi.

The older she-wolf smiles politely at Lilia and shakes her hand before turning to me in a whisper, “We all thought it was going to be you, you know. He should’ve picked you. You past work as Luna was perfect!”

I blush and gently gesture for the older she-wolf not to say more as I catch Lilia’s eye. She’s pissed. She looks like she’s ready to unleash her claws.

Turns out whispers don’t work so well for werewolves, superhuman hearing and all.

Unfortunately, it’s more of the same as Lilia and I encounter more office staff. Almost everyone tries to offer me a kind word of consolation as we pass by. Lilia looks like she’s about to explode.

One of the secretaries finds us in a conference room and says under her breath to me, “You were such a good Luna candidate.”

That’s the last straw.

“She’s NOT a Luna! She has never been a Luna, AND she will NEVER be a Luna! So SHUT UP, YOU BITCH!”

Lilia’s gone mad with rage, her shrill voice bouncing off the walls in a most unsettling way.

Lucy snarls, gearing up for a fight. I’m willing my brain to come up with a way out of this that doesn’t include potential harm to my baby.

Suddenly, Alaric rushes through the door, demanding to know what all the noise was about.

In an instant, Lilia’s face transforms from terrible anger to a pathetic sob.

She points a long and pointed finger at me, “She… She yelled at me! She’s been telling all of the servants that SHE should be Luna! She called me a bitch and told me to shut up!”

Her eyes redden with tears.

Lilia runs into Alaric’s chest and he possessively embraces her. As if he’s protecting her. From me.

As if I, his Beta, his Agent Luna no less, would play childish games like that. As if I’d risk destabilizing the reputation of the Alpha family within the pack. As if I’d ever disrespect my Alpha King like that, no matter how much of a pigheaded ass he’s been these last few days.

I take a deep breath, trying to remain in control of my emotions. The Alpha King knows me better than that. He’ll see through her manipulations.

He trusts me.

He should trust me. There's no way I could have done such a thing like this…!

“Cara,”

Alaric’s voice is so forceful that I jump, the sound of my own name hitting me like an electric current.

He says coldful, “…What have you done to her?!”

Cara.

“BITCH! I will RIP her, I will TEAR her!!”

Lucy’s vicious thoughts pass through my own mind, doing nothing to help me remain calm.

Alaric doesn’t believe me. Alaric doesn’t love me.

Alaric has never loved me.

He loves Lilia. She’s his.

And...he's also hers.

“Treacherous SCUM! Vile, hateful TRASH!!” Lucy’s insults are relentless.

I push the complete and utter despair deep down, way down, just to get through the next few moments without making things worse.

I can do this.

For my baby, I can do this.

Lilia’s still in the Alpha King’s arms, crying about how cruel I’ve been to her. Alaric ordered the secretary away from the room, so it’s just the three of us in the conference room now.

It’s Lilia’s word against mine:“I was doing exactly as you asked, showing her around. I can’t help that others may have made certain comments about the surprise of the choice in the pack’s Luna…”

This is my professional integrity on the line now, and he needs to understand that I’m the same level-headed she-wolf he’s always known.

A fresh sob erupts from Lilia and Alaric holds up a hand.

“Enough!” he orders.

As if on cue, Lilia whimpers pathetically and makes a show of stroking the Alpha King’s thick and muscled shoulder. She bares her neck to him, the ultimate show of submission.

He takes a breath, collecting himself, and continues in a softer tone, “That’s enough now. Once the pack has more time with her, they’ll see as I have already seen that Lilia is a kind, gentle, and loving she-wolf.”

Lilia smiles up at him, her teeth gleaming in the fluorescent light of the conference room.

Before I can help it, my eyes narrow at her, unable to mask my growing disdain.

“Cara,” Alaric speaks again. “Since the reign of my father, your professionalism has been your greatest attribute as a Beta. Or have you forgotten how much he cared for you? Mentored you?”

Alaric’s father was an excellent King, and it was he who first promoted me to Beta, despite all the elders saying I was unworthy due to being low-born. I’d die before I’d insult his memory.

Alaric continued, “I trust that your work ethic and sensibilities have not been compromised here due to your… personal feelings… as an ex-lover.”

He raises an eyebrow to me, daring me to refute him.

“She thinks she can win you back and get me out of the way! That’s what she wants!” Lilia falls into fresh hysterics.

I’m so far beyond offended that I’m not sure there’s a word for it. He’s insulted my character, challenged my integrity. He’s letting Lilia spin this hateful web of lies and is acting like he doesn’t even know me!

After everything I’ve done for him these last three years!

“Apologize.”

The Alpha King isn’t asking. It’s a direct order.

But I can’t apologize for something I didn’t even do! This is all a set up.

I won’t let myself fall victim to it.

“I can forget your last transgression, and we can all move forward together. But you must apologize for Lilia for how despicably you’ve treated her. To disrespect my Luna is to disrespect the pack.” His voice is like ice, brittle and cold.

His Luna.

Before I can respond, Lilia interrupts again, “She’ll never be happy until SHE is Luna. That’s what she said! It’s so sad how much she CRAVES to be anoble! How she would do ANYTHING to get it!”

Alaric freezes, a deadly stillness taking over his face. “So that’s what this is really about, then? MORE status? I guess money really wasn’t enough for you, was it?”

I feel like I’ve actually been slapped. My eyes are wide and wild, and my arms cross around my own waist, subconsciously hugging the one person I must protect above all else, above even myself. The person who hasn’t even been born yet.

The person I need to tell Alaric about. Our child.

“I’ve never been so ashamed to have such a disgraceful Fate Mate as you.” It’s barely a whisper from his lips.

“FATE MATE?!” Lilia shrieks.

Though he told her about our past intimate encounters, clearly the Alpha King forgot to share that part about our relationship with his fiancée.

I haven’t spoken a word. I can’t trust myself, still reeling from all that’s happened. Lucy is barking and growling up a storm inside my head and it’s all I can do to keep still.

Lilia pulls away from Alaric’s hug, fat heavy teardrops falling from her eyes to a puddle on the floor.

“It’s fine… I didn’t expect such a wise and handsome Alpha King to love me… I just didn’t realize you had a mate bond with someone else…” She sniffles, the sound disgustingly wet.

“I’ll just…” Lilia sobs again, continuing her pity party for herself. “I’ll just return to Pack BloodyMoon, and pray my brother, the Alpha King, doesn’t find out about how I, his only baby sister, was treated here… I’m sure I’ll be fine…” Her whimpers fill the room.

Alaric glances between the two of us for nearly two full minutes. No one speaks. The silence is punctuated by Lilia’s sniveling.

Finally, Alaric nods to himself, a steely resolve firmly set in his blue eyes. He turns to face me head on.

“Cara Wilson, I reject our Fate Mate bond, now and forever.”

Alaric’s voice sounds faraway to my ears, as if I’m watching a movie of this scene unfolding, rather than participating in it. As if this is all one big joke, and someone is just waiting to jump out and yell ‘Surprise!’

Pain, a deep-seated throbbing, a gnashing and tearing and stabbing, ripples through my body. It starts slowly in my toes at first then painfully rising higher and higher. It peaks at my heart, burning fire like it had actually been set aflame.

The mate bond between us isn’t simply severing. This is no clean cut.

It’s ripping, shredding, violently fracturing and shattering into a thousand, a million, pieces. Each piece splintering through my flesh, leaving no part of me untouched.

My hands grip my belly as I fall to the floor, “Please, wait… I need to…” I beg.

Please. Alaric, listen to me. I need to tell you.

But I can’t get the words out.

“Accept the rejection! You know the consequences of rejecting me.” It’s another direct order from the Alpha King.

It feels like fire is rising in my throat, burning and itching every inch inside me. I can’t breathe, and it’s like I’ve been hit by a truck.

The consequences……Punished like those criminals in the past! My baby can't bear that!

Lucy is inconsolable. Her howl is absolutely deafening.

“ACCEPT!”

“I…” My voice is a feeble whisper, “I… accept.”

Alaric claps his hands together, washing this task off of his hands like a stubborn stain.

“Excellent. Then we can return to normal. Cara, you will resume your duties as Beta, provided you swear to remain loyal to Pack DarkWood and its entire Alpha family.”

“Please… I just want…” It takes all the strength I have left to stand back up. I can barely form a sentence.

The Alpha King sighs, “What is it this time? More money? I told you to take the bank cards.”

“Please, just… allow me to leave the pack.” I can’t look at him as I ask it.

“Leave?!”

Alaric’s face is full of shock, and a gleeful grin rests on Lilia’s lips.