Chapter two: Two months later

Luna sat on the cold bathroom floor, staring at the small pregnancy test in her trembling hands. Her heart pounded in her chest, drowning out every other sound. The two pink lines glared back at her, undeniable and unrelenting. She was pregnant.“No… no, no,” she whispered to herself, tears welling in her eyes.She tossed the test onto the floor and buried her face in her hands, letting the sobs break free. This couldn’t be happening. It was supposed to be one night—a mistake she could forget, like a bad dream. But now, that one night had changed everything.Her phone buzzed beside her, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Kira.Kira: Girl, you’ve been MIA for days. Are you okay?Luna stared at the screen for a long moment, debating whether to reply. Kira was her best friend—her only friend—but how could she explain this? How could she say, “Hey, I’m pregnant, and I don’t even know how to find the father because I don’t know his last name”?Kira’s follow-up text came before Luna could decide.Kira: If you don’t text me back, I’m coming over.Luna sighed and wiped her face. She couldn’t hide forever. She picked up her phone and typed:Me: I’m fine. Just tired. Don’t come over.It was a lie, but Kira didn’t need to know that yet. Luna couldn’t bear the thought of explaining herself—not now.She pulled herself up from the floor, her legs shaky as she walked into the tiny kitchen of her apartment. It wasn’t much—just a small space with peeling paint and a leaky faucet—but it was hers. She’d worked hard for this place, juggling waitressing shifts and tutoring kids in the evenings just to make ends meet. And now…She touched her stomach gently, a fresh wave of tears threatening to fall.“What am I supposed to do?” she whispered to no one.The truth was, she had no answers. She didn’t know where Dante was, or even who he really was. She’d tried searching for him in the weeks after that night—asking around about a man with golden eyes and a penthouse suite—but she’d found nothing. It was like he didn’t exist.And maybe that was for the best. A man like him—a man who exuded power and danger—had no place in her life. She couldn’t drag a baby into whatever world he belonged to.Still, the uncertainty ate at her. Could she do this alone? Could she raise a child on her own when she could barely take care of herself?Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Luna frowned and peeked through the peephole.“Kira,” she muttered.Sure enough, Kira stood outside, arms crossed and a determined look on her face. Luna sighed and opened the door.“I told you not to come over,” Luna said weakly.Kira pushed past her and stepped into the apartment, her eyes scanning the room. “You’ve been ignoring me for days. I knew something was up.”Luna closed the door and turned to face her friend, trying to fake a smile. “I’m fine, Kira. Really.”Kira raised an eyebrow and planted her hands on her hips. “Oh, please. You look like you’ve been crying for hours. What’s going on?”Luna hesitated, her throat tightening. She wanted to tell Kira—she needed to tell someone—but saying the words out loud would make it real.Kira softened at Luna’s silence. “Luna… whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m here for you.”Tears slipped down Luna’s cheeks before she could stop them. “I’m pregnant, Kira.”The room went silent. Kira’s eyes widened as she stared at Luna in shock. “You’re… what?”“I’m pregnant,” Luna repeated, her voice breaking.Kira sank onto the couch, her mouth still open. “Oh my God.” She looked up at Luna. “Who—who’s the father? Is it someone I know?”Luna shook her head, sitting down beside her. “No. You don’t know him. I barely know him.”Kira frowned. “What do you mean?”“It was just one night,” Luna admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “We met at that club a couple of months ago. He… he was different, Kira. I can’t explain it, but I felt something with him—something I’ve never felt before.”Kira stared at her, stunned. “And now you’re pregnant with his baby? Do you even know how to find him?”“No,” Luna said, fresh tears falling. “I don’t know anything about him except his first name. Dante.”Kira ran a hand through her hair, letting out a long breath. “Okay… okay. This is a lot, but we’ll figure it out. You’re not alone, Luna. I promise.”Luna looked at her friend, gratitude swelling in her chest. “Thank you, Kira.”Kira nodded firmly. “So what’s your plan? Are you going to keep the baby?”Luna hesitated for only a moment before answering. “Yes. I have to. It’s not the baby’s fault this happened, and I can’t…” She trailed off, her voice shaking. “I can’t get rid of it.”Kira smiled faintly and took Luna’s hand. “You’re strong, Luna. You’ll be a great mom. And I’ll be here every step of the way.”Luna squeezed Kira’s hand, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe she could do this.But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over.Something about Dante—his golden eyes, his presence—lingered in her mind like a shadow. She didn’t know what it was, but she had a sinking feeling that he was far more dangerous than she’d realized.And somehow, fate wasn’t done with them yet.