Chapter 1

Lyra's POV

The halls of the pack house were filled with pack members who had come for the memorial of the royal loss.

As the Luna of the Blood Nest pack and the one whose son had been snatched by death, I was surrounded by the female werewolves of the pack in my chambers. The beta's wife and the gamma's wife were present. They sat by my side and they consoled me. My eyes were wet with tears and for the umpteenth time, I wondered if there was no way the moon goddess could restore my precious son back to me.

“This is not how I had imagined my life as Luna,” I said to no one in particular, tears welling up in my eyes once again.

The gamma's wife, Sterling, patted my back.

“It's already a year since your son joined the moon goddess. You can't change what has been. Perhaps you should stop mourning him.”

I shook my head vehemently, refusing her comfort.

“How can I have my first and only child snatched from me by death? I'll always remember. He was the heir to the Blood Nest! How can I forget?”

“The moon goddess will give you many more babies. Your womb will be blessed with many more sons for the Alpha.”

The door opened in that instant and Eloisa, my best friend, walked in. I felt instant relief upon seeing her pretty face. Perhaps, she would be the only person to be able to truly comfort me in this time of grief.

“People cry on death anniversaries. Allow Luna to pour out her heart if it will make her feel better,” she said.

She was still standing by the door as she spoke. I looked up at her through blurry eyes.

She was dressed elegantly with a new diamond necklace on her neck. I shook my head, refusing to pay attention to what wasn't necessary.

“Eloisa…” I called, my voice faint. She walked to me where I was seated and with one nod of the head, the other women were gone.

She sat next to me and her hand rested on my shoulder.

“I know this is hard for you.  As long as the death anniversary of Rickon will come every year, you'll continually remember him. Don't let it bother you this much because it will always feel this way.” She said.

I knew she meant well for me. I nodded, wiping my eyes with the back of my hands.

Sterling spoke at this point.

“Luna, I'll get your outfit. The Alpha will be addressing the members of the pack soon and you'll be stepping out with him too.”

I nodded as she walked out.

This was to be a solemn event, but it was still difficult for me to make sense of the fact that my best friend, Eloisa, was elegantly dressed.

Once again, I tried to ignore it.

Eloisa was the daughter of the former beta of the pack and we'd grown up together as friends. As the daughter of the alpha of another pack, I'd come frequently to the Blood Nest pack as Damian's betrothed to spend time with the royal family and I'd become friends with Eloisa and have stayed so until Damian and I got married.

“I have tried to get pregnant again, Eloisa. It's not happening. Rickon was the heir. He was…”

“Whatever he was is in the past now.” Eloisa cut me off.

“You'll have to look forward to better days coming. You'll have to try and get another baby. Take your mind away from all of these.”

I  nodded. She was right. But I didn't tell her that Damian had hardly been touching me. Sometimes he didn't share the same bed with me. As the days went on, he became even more distant. I didn't know if it was the death of our son one year ago that had made him become very withdrawn. This was something I was yet to discuss with Eloisa who would definitely understand the situation and advise me.

Soon, Sterling returned with the outfit I was to wear and the other women had to leave, save for her and the Beta's wife, Sandra. And of course, Eloisa.

“The alpha sent words, he said to tell lady Eloisa that he requires her presence,” Sterling said.

Eloisa got on her feet, patted my hand and then walked to the door.

“I'll go see why the alpha needs me now.” She said as she held the doorknob.

I nodded.

Soon, I was dressed to show up at the reception hall.

As I approached the reception hall, what I saw made me halt for a while.

I was supposed to be seated on the podium with Damian, the alpha, as his Luna. But he was sitting with Eloisa.

She was sitting in my seat.

I turned to Sterling, confusion clearly written on my face.

“What's happening? Why's the alpha sitting with Eloisa next to him?”

I asked.

She shrugged.

“I think the Alpha is about to make his speech.”

“Without me by his side?”

I asked. But she didn't respond.

As I made my way past the crowd of pack members who stepped aside to give me room, I noticed that Damian had risen to his feet.

Without regard for me, he started to speak.

My eyes went to Eloisa's eyes and she smiled.

What was going on?

“...It is indeed a great pleasure to announce that I have taken Eloisa Niklaus, daughter of the former Beta of the Blood Nest pack as my new partner. With her, I shall bear son and….”

The confusion drowned out the words as he spoke. Damian was my fated mate.

We had not been forced to get married. We'd been given the choice to either break off the betrothal or stick with each other and we'd chosen to be married.

I could feel my hands trembling. Tears welled in my eyes.

Eloisa, my best friend?

How long had they been having an affair before he chose to make it official?

And no other day but on the day of our son's death anniversary while I mourned the son we'd lost?

Damian looked in my direction and our eyes met.