Chapter 1

VALERIA

I never thought a simple doctor's appointment could change my life forever. As I sat in Dr. Maynard's office, I drummed my hands nervously on my lap. The smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. I had come for a routine check-up, but now I was about to receive news that would alter the course of my existence.

Dr. Claire Maynard entered the room with a warm smile, holding a clipboard close to her chest. "Valeria, I have some wonderful news for you," she said, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. "You're four months pregnant."

My heart skipped a beat. "Pregnant?" I repeated. My voice was barely above a whisper as disbelief surged through my mind.

I felt a rush of emotions. Joy, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of hope rushed through me all at the same time. I placed a hand on my abdomen, where I now knew that a new life was growing. Reese and I had tried for so long. This baby could be the answer to all my prayers.

"Yes, you're going to be a mother," Dr. Maynard confirmed. "You're healthy, and the baby seems to be doing great."

I thanked her profusely before practically floating out of the office. I couldn’t wait to share the news with Reese. I imagined his face lighting up with joy as he wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. This was it. This was the moment he would finally see me, love me, and accept me as his mate, as his equal.

As I hurried home, my heart raced with excitement and our pack's mansion loomed ahead. I made my way through the grand hallways, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. Reese's room was just around the corner. I paused outside the door and raised my hand to knock. But before I could, I heard voices inside.

"Yes, Reese," a woman's voice said, breathless and filled with passion.

Wait. I knew that voice. It was Cynthia, Reese's best friend since childhood. My stomach twisted into knots, but I pushed the door open anyway.

The sight that greeted me was like a dagger to the heart. Reese and Cynthia were entangled on the bed, and their clothes were in disarray. The intimacy between them was undeniable.

When I first met Reese, I thought he was everything I had ever dreamed of. His piercing green eyes, breathtakingly handsome face, and rugged charm captivated me. But since our marriage, he had never once acknowledged me as his mate. Instead, I felt like a maid in his house.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at my mate. “Reese, what are you doing?” My voice trembled, betraying the shock and hurt that was currently coursing through me.

Reese didn’t do so much as flinch. He didn’t even look up. Instead, he continued his intimate embrace with Cynthia, moving his lips all over her neck.

Cynthia turned her head slightly, and a wicked smile immediately spread across her face. “Oh, Valeria, I didn’t see you there,” she said. Her tone was filled with venom just before she added, “Shouldn’t you be cleaning or something?”

My hands balled into fists at my sides. “How can you do this to me, Reese? I’m your wife. We are supposed to be mates.”

Reese finally pulled away from Cynthia, and his expression was cold and unfeeling as he looked at me. “Mate? Wife?” he questioned, laughing. It was a harsh, bitter sound. “You’re nothing more than a convenience, Valeria. A way to keep up appearances. You should know your place by now.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give either of them that satisfaction. “This isn’t right. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”

Cynthia stood up, straightening her clothes with a casual grace. “Get your filthy self out of our presence, Valeria,” she sneered. “We don’t need you here.”

Her words were the final straw for me. My hand shook as I grabbed a glass that was filled with cold water. I turned to her as my eyes narrowed, and just before I could stop myself, I threw the water right into her smug face.

Cynthia gasped as the icy water dripped from her hair and clothes. "You little…" she began, but Reese was already in my front, and to say his eyes were blazing with fury was an understatement.

"Valeria!" he roared, his voice echoing through the whole room. He closed the distance between us quickly, grabbing me by the neck and slamming me against the wall. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and I struggled to breathe as his grip tightened.

"Reese, please," I choked out. My vision had already started darkening around the edges, but his face was a mask of rage as his eyes glinted menacingly.

"If you dare say any more words," he growled. His voice was a low, dangerous rumble. "I will reject you right now and let you die of pain!"