Chapter 001

SELENE

I stand before the mirror, adjusting the elegant silver gown that drapes gracefully over my slender frame. The delicate fabric shimmers under the soft light, mirroring the moon's glow outside my window.

Tonight is special, a celebration of love and unity. One year ago, I became Luna, leading my pack with strength and grace. But more importantly, tonight marks the first anniversary of my marriage to Damon, my Beta, and the love of my life.

I smile at my reflection, my heart swelling with the secret I carry. I discovered my pregnancy only a week ago and have been waiting for the perfect moment to share the joyous news with Damon. Tonight, at our anniversary dinner, I will tell him. The thought fills me with warmth and anticipation.

I leave our room and make my way through the grand hallways of the packhouse. The walls are adorned with photographs of past leaders, a testament to the rich history and tradition that I am now a part of. The air is thick with the scent of pine and earth, grounding me as I approach the dining hall where I have planned the surprise.

The pack members are gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, their voices a comforting hum in the background. My eyes scan the room for Damon, but he is nowhere to be seen. I approach one of the younger wolves, Alex, who is busy setting up decorations.

"Have you seen my husband?" I ask, my voice light and casual.

Alex looks up, his eyes widening slightly. "I think I saw him heading toward the guest wing a while ago, Luna."

"Thank you," I reply, a small frown creasing my forehead. It is unusual for Damon to be away when we have plans. I shrug off the unease and make my way toward the guest wing.

As I walk through the dimly lit corridor, I hear muffled voices coming from one of the rooms. Curiosity piqued, and I approached the door, my heart beginning to pound. I recognize one of the voices—it is Lyra, my best friend since childhood. The other voice, deep and familiar, makes my blood run cold. 

It is Damon.

"It's been a year already. How much longer do I need to continue this pretense?" Lyra mutters.

"Not long enough," Damon replies. "She has signed over the paperwork in my name. Tonight, I will make the announcement."

"Really? You will divorce her today?" Lyra chuckles.

My heart stops, and my breath catches in my throat. I press myself closer to the wall, the weight of their words crashing down on me. I feel a wave of nausea as the truth sinks in. Damon, my husband, my Beta, the man I trusted with my life, is planning to leave me.

Worse, it seems he has been using me all along.

My hand trembles as I push the door open, my breath catching in my throat at the sight before me. Damon is lying on the bed, his body entwined with Lyra's. They are so engrossed in each other that they don't notice me standing in the doorway.

"Damon??" I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Both Damon and Lyra jolt up, their eyes wide with shock and guilt. Damon scrambles to cover himself, his face pale as he looks at me.

"Selene, I—" he starts, but words fail him.

I feel numb, my body moving on autopilot. My mind is a storm of emotions. I can't believe what I have seen and heard.

"Damon, how could you?" I cry, my voice breaking. "How could you do this to me with my best friend?"

Damon's face hardens, and he stands up, pulling on his clothes. "Explaining the situation won't make a difference. You might as well just see it as us getting a divorce."

"A divorce? I thought you loved me. You said you loved me, but you have been using me all this while. How could you?"

"Love you? There is no point in pretending, I never loved you Selene," he says coldly. "You never meant anything to me."

My heart shatters at his words. Tears stream down my face, and I struggle to breathe. "How can you say that?" I sob. "We shared everything. We built a life together. I gave you everything, and now... I'm.. I'm...carrying your child."

Damon's eyes widen in surprise, but before he can respond, Lyra scoffs. "A child?" she sneers. "Stop the lies. How desperate can you be that you will even go as far as to lie about having a child."

I feel a fresh wave of pain and anger. "Just shut it Lyra, I trusted you," I say, my voice trembling. "But I should have known you were up to no good when you kept insisting on how Damon was the perfect match for me."

Lyra rolls her eyes. "Spare us the drama, Selene. Just accept it and move on."

My tears continue to fall, but I stand my ground. "I won't let you destroy everything we've worked for, that I have worked for," I say, my voice stronger now. "This pack deserves better than you."

Damon takes a step toward me, his expression menacing. "And how do you intend to do that, Selene? Or have you forgotten that you have given me the rights and signed the paperwork? You have made me your Alpha."

My tears fall harder as I remember all the sacrifices I made to make Damon an Alpha. My father's warning echoes in my mind. "Selene, be careful. Power can change people," he had said before he died. I had ignored his advice, believing in Damon and our love.

"All the trouble I went through," I cry, my voice cracking. "Convincing the council, rallying the pack, standing up against those who doubted you. I did it all because I believed in you. I believed we could lead together."

Damon's face remains cold, indifferent. "You were naive, Selene. I needed your support to rise, and you gave it to me. But now, your part in this is over."

My heart feels like it is breaking all over again. "I gave up everything for you," I whisper, my voice full of pain. "My father warned me, but I didn't listen. I trusted you."

"And that was your mistake," Damon says harshly. "You should have listened to him. You were always too trusting, too weak."

My tears flow freely, my body shaking with sobs. "How can you be so cruel? We were supposed to be a family. This pack was supposed to be our legacy."

Lyra snorts, rolling her eyes. "Enough of this. Your sob story isn't going to change anything. Damon is the Alpha now, and you're just an obstacle in our way."

My grief turns to anger. "I won't let you ruin this pack," I say fiercely. "I may have made you Alpha, Damon, but that doesn't mean I'll sit back and let you destroy everything we've built."

Damon takes a threatening step closer. He grabs me by the arm tightly until I wince from the pain. "And who said I had plans to watch you sit back?" Damon asks.

Before I can react, I feel a sharp object piercing through my stomach. I look down and see that Lyra has stabbed me.

I gasp, pain radiating from my abdomen. I stumble back, my vision blurring. Blood pours from the wound, staining my silver gown.

Damon releases me, a satisfied smirk on his face. My legs give way, and I collapse to the floor, clutching my stomach. The room spins around me, but I force myself to focus. I can't let them win. I can't let them take everything I have worked for.

"Goodbye, bitch," Lyra chuckles. She turns to Damon and pulls him in for a kiss.

My vision blurs as I lay on the floor, my strength fading. Through the haze, I see Lyra pull Damon into a passionate kiss. The sight twists my heart with betrayal and pain.

As darkness closes in around me, I fight to stay conscious, to make sense of the chaos around me. I want to scream, to lash out at them, but my body is failing me. I feel a deep sadness for what could have been, for the love and loyalty I had believed in.

Just before I lose consciousness, I whisper a prayer, "Moon goddess, please, for the sake of my child and....."