CHAPTER 003

CHAPTER 003

Amélie’s Point of View

The two lines on the pregnancy test stare back at me. The lines are bold and undeniable.

I’m pregnant.

I fall to the edge of my bed while my eyes fixate on the tiny stick I hold. My thoughts tangle with each other, preventing me from focusing. 

This situation just became more complicated, I tell myself.

Soft whining echoes from Astrid inside my thoughts while our shared sadness and worries become one.

Shit.

The irony would have made me laugh if I weren't so emotionally shattered. The Pack SombreLowLand has long pressured Alpha King Mattias Jupiter to locate a Luna for marriage and produce an heir. The heir pack that SombreLowLand has desperately wanted is developing inside my body.

This baby doesn't qualify as an heir, does it?

My hand reaches my stomach without thought as it touches the flat surface under my shirt. This baby is a bastard.

This is exactly how I felt.

When my childhood memories surface, a wave of pain washes over me. During my early years I existed as an outsider who received tolerance but never acceptance. I heard whispers wherever I went. Every time I faced the nobility, I remember they ensured I remained conscious of my differences from them.

My eyes scan the room until they settle on Madame Colette's old, faded photograph, which represents the sole person who ever gave me love. She wasn’t my biological mother, but she raised me as if I was her own child.

The sound of her rough voice reverberates through my thoughts while I look at her photograph.

“Amélie,” she would say while shaking her head whenever I told her I borrowed money to pay her medical bills. You should save your money for yourself instead of spending it on this old woman. Take care of yourself first because I need you to understand that.

Her words would always make tears spring to my eyes. “Madame, don’t say that. You’re my family. With more hours, I can return his money.

She would wrap her arms around me while she gently silenced my crying. “No more crying, child. You will eventually build your own family. Your family will need you more than I ever will.

I force my eyes open to stop the tears as the memory disappears. She’s gone now. My heart tells me everything I have in this world centers on bringing her back for a brief moment to wrap around her warmth and hear her comforting words repeat their magic one final time.

One point from her words revealed its truth to me later because

I do have a family now.

The noises inside my body depend on me.

My fingers move across my stomach at a slower pace. A sense of protectiveness blooms in my chest, soft but strong.

The truth about my current circumstances remains overwhelmingly present. I can’t stay here.

My child deserves better than being an outsider with experiences of no full acceptance like mine. My baby will never face the same whispers and judgment that I did.

I need to depart from Pack SombreLowLand.

That means leaving my job. Leaving Mattias. Leaving… everything.

Will Mattias reconsider his stance after he learns that we both want the baby? Astrid’s voice interrupts my thoughts. She speaks with gentle uncertainty in her tone.

My head shakes while my heart tightens. “A bastard? He won’t change his mind. Élise finishes things with Mattias because he will never abandon his start to a project or person.

The words I speak send a new wave of pain through my body. His strong determination and clear decisiveness attracted me to him. The qualities I fell in love with have become the barriers between us.

Astrid insists that he hasn’t rejected you.

I stop breathing as her words fall on me with unbearable heaviness.

He has yet to officially break the mate bond.

All accounts of breaking a bond I have encountered describe the experience as excruciating. The severing extends beyond emotions—it becomes painful throughout both body and spirit because tearing away happens to your soul.

My fingers clamp down on my stomach.

What if it hurts the baby?

The answers to these questions exist with just one person. The sole person who could possibly understand my situation exists even though he has caused me deep pain.

Mattias.

I have to speak with him.

***

I remain seated in my car outside the packhouse while I watch the building tower above me. The person I see in the rearview mirror appears to be calm and professional.

I am anything but inside.

I inhale deeply before exiting the vehicle. With each stride on my trek toward the Alpha King’s office, I hear the pavement echo under my heels while maintaining exact stepping patterns.

As I walk in, I spot Élise enjoying her time lounged on the sofa. She has flawless attire complemented by her dark red hair, which cascades naturally in flawless waves at her shoulders.

Normally I’d see how mesmerizing they are together if only I could muster any emotional energy.

Mattias calls out to me from his desk with the words, “Amélie, glad you’re here.” Mattias continues reading his documents without looking up. She needs you to introduce her to everyone at the office and staff.

I blink, stunned. “But I—”

He ends my response with a definitive tone when he says, “Take care of it.”

Élise shows me a victorious grin, which vanishes when Mattias looks her way, and she adopts a completely agreeable expression.

I briefly think about saying no. The memory of the tense atmosphere following the proposal remains between us. This moment demands caution, so I shouldn't test my fortune.

I suppress my irritation before giving a nod. “Of course, Alpha.”

***

The tour is excruciating.

During our walk through the office building, I show Élise important locations while presenting her to each individual team member. She pretends to listen while performing exaggerated yawns and uttering various rejections as we continue through the office. 

I gesture towards the wooden panel in front of me that reads, "Here you can see my office." I’ve managed Luna duties from this office space for three years while Mattias was away. 

Élise responds with laughter,, saying, “For now.” 

Although her voice is playful, her messages cut deep. 

She finishes with a mocking tone, saying they will find you a suitable broom closet when you return to your regular Beta status. 

Astrid growls, but I silence her. A staff member comes toward me, so I manage to produce a courteous smile. 

The senior she-wolf says hello to Élise for a moment before she faces me. Her voice fades into a whisper. Everyone believed you would be the one. Throughout these past years, your performance surpassed our expectations. 

My face burns with heat as I look toward Élise. Her features drawn tightly while her jaw remains firmly closed. 

The same pattern emerges as we continue through each office space. Each staff member takes turns giving me supportive comments and gentle encouragement. 

Élise snaps with a sharp tone. "She doesn’t match Luna." She never held that identity, and she will never hold it. 

I clamp down on my tongue to maintain my self-control. 

Upon entering the conference room, a secretary approaches me closely to whisper that I was Luna's ideal choice. Everyone thought he’d choose you.” 

That’s the breaking point. 

Élise shouts with a piercing voice full of fury, "She’s NOT a Luna!" She has never been a Luna, and she will never become one! Shut your mouth, you bitch!” 

The room falls silent. 

Astrid growls inside my thoughts as she prepares to fight for me, but I restrain her. My hands automatically shield my stomach while my thoughts speed through my mind. A resolution is required to stop this situation from growing worse. 

The door opens with force before I can utter a word. 

Mattias strides in, his eyes sharp and commanding. 

He demands to know what is happening inside the room. 

Tears begin to crop up in her eyes as Élise turns her body toward us. 

“She keeps telling people she should be Luna!” Élise cries while pointing at me. She shouted at me and called me a bitch! 

Mattias’s gaze shifts to me, his expression hard and unreadable. 

He calls out my name, "Amélie," with a voice that sounds frozen. “What have you done to her?”