Chapter 1

KIARA

"Ray... How could you betray me like this?" I stared out to the center of the hall with so much pain and heaviness in my heart, watching Alpha Ray marking Princess Tara before the people as... As his mate! 

The loud applause and cheers echoed in my head, causing my body to tremble at this horrible scene.

"He promised me. He said he'd tell the whole world about us, and now he's in the arms of another woman? This... This..." I could feel my tears welling in my eyes, with flashes of the past flooding my head.

I'm no princess like Tara. I don't come from a wealthy background in Shadow pack or any other pack. I'm just a poor maid struggling to survive. Still, the Goddess found me worthy of Ray's heart and made me his fated mate.

The night we both stared into each other's eyes and learnt who we were to one another, I saw love for me in my Alpha's gaze. They shimmered beautifully, as he gently pulled me into his arms and took my first kiss, changing my world in an instant.

He never left me even when I felt bothered about his mother's reaction if she ever learnt of this. He gave me that assurance that we would be together forever.

And now... He has broken my heart and ruined the bond. He betrayed our love.

"Congratulations!" Queen Nora, Ray's mother, celebrated her son and his new found love. She cupped Princess Tara's face and said before the guest, " You are this family's jewel, my darling. The only one for my son."

That word added to my pain. I carefully wrapped my arms across my chest, feeling the chills all around while watching this betrayal unfolding before me.

The councilmen, respected Alphas, and business partners of Ray's, congratulated the couple by celebrating their union.

Ray smiled joyfully, until his grin faded when he saw me gazing at him.

The look in his eyes. I could no longer tell what buries within his gaze after what I just witnessed. I felt suffocated and unwanted. I could no longer stand this pain anymore. 

But first... "I have to get rid of it," I sniffed, remembering the surprise I left in Ray's room before coming down to the party. 

Quickly, I left the hall and made my way down to his bedroom, nurturing my bleeding heart and questioning the goddess's decision. "If you knew our love wasn't going to last, then why did you bound us as one? Why didn't you mate him to the princess earlier?!"

Furious, I stormed into his room and grabbed an envelope I kept on Ray's bed. But before I could rip it into pieces... "Kiara!" The envelope was snatched out of my hand by Ray!

He came after me!

"Kiara, listen to me."

"No! Just leave me alone and give me back my envelope!" I yelled, struggling to take the paper from him. But he wouldn't budge.

He held my arms tightly and said, stopping me from fighting with him, "Hear me out, please! It's not what you think. I... I didn't agree to this union. It was all my mother's idea."

"Ray, I don't care anymore. Just give it back!" I demanded, trying hard to push him off, but I couldn't. He's way stronger than me.

Noticing how desperate I was to get the envelope, Ray opened it up and stared in shock. He was dumbfounded by what the envelope contained.

"Pregnancy report? Kiara... You're pregnant?" His large eyes fell on me.

This is the reaction I wanted if he had done what was right. But everything has changed. It no longer feels right but hurtful.

"I'm going to be a father? Kiara, I'm going to be a father!" He busted out, rejoicing over the news.

I didn't want to believe his reaction but submitted when he pulled me close and locked his lips with mine, kissing me passionately.

My heart bloomed, as my pain slowly faded into love for my Alpha. Still... "No," I said, pushing him away. "Not anymore. I can't allow you to trap me in this feelings any more. You have chosen your Luna already. This means I'm nothing to you anymore. Just a maid."

"Don't say that, Kiara. You don't know how happy I am, " He said, embracing me tightly. "This is just the news I need to convince my mother about us. She has no choice but to agree to our love."

"Really?" My heart fluttered, wondering if he really meant what he just said.

Fixing my gaze into his, I saw that same sparkle from the first day we kissed. My Ray... He means it.

Ray told me to stay in his room and wait for his return. He wants to speak to the Queen and make things right.

"I love you, Kiara," He professed, pecking me on the forehead.

I accepted his confession wholeheartedly, responding, "I love you too, Ray."

Then, he left.

Two hours later, after the party ended, Ray came back with two glasses of fruit wine to celebrate the good news.

"I spoke with her. She's ready to accept our relationship."

"For real?" I gasped, diving into his arms for a big hug.

"We need to celebrate. I am so happy," He said, handing a glass to me.

I took the drink and made a cheers to our happiness, praying the goddess would keep us and our baby strong.

Then, I drank the wine, lowering the glass in time to see Ray staring at me in a strange way. It felt so beautiful to see his eyes on me. He must be admiring me now that he knows about his little one.

"You're so beautiful, Kiara," He flirted, caressing my cheek with his finger. "Your body is just wonderful."

I felt my body shiver at his touch, as I leaned my head into his hand, feeling his warmth. But I was beginning to feel uncomfortable from the inside. Something... Something was poking me in the stomach.

That's when Ray said, taking his hand away from me, " But it's a shame that you'll have to leave me for good, my sweet Kiara."

"What?" I uttered, groaning out at the sudden sharp pain that stabbed me right in my stomach!

"What's... What's happening to me?!" The glass fell out of my hand. I immediately held my belly in pain, slowly falling on my knees.

Ray... The drink... Did he lace it with something?!

"So what if the Goddess made you my mate? " Ray said, forcing me to lift my eyes at him, just to see him glaring devilishly with satisfaction, shimmering his red wolf eyes at me. "She didn't say I can't choose the woman I want to be with, did she? " He chuckled, pushing me to the ground with his shoe.

The pain became unbearable. I could feel my organs ripping apart from the inside!

He poisoned me. Ray poisoned me!

"There's no way I'm going to allow a slutty maid breed my child. You are a nobody!" He kicked me right in the waist, causing me to scream out.

" I won't allow you to ruin my life with your bastard child. I hope you and that nonsense die."

Just then, the door came opened. I managed to look up and saw Queen Nora walking into the room, staring down at me with disgust.

She looked at her son and said, "I warned you about this kind of thing, but you wouldn't stop! Make sure she and that child is dead before tossing her body away from Shadow pack. My grandchildren will only be bore by a Royal blood, not a whore."

"My... my baby," I muttered, feeling my body go weak. My vision began to blurry, as I slowly passed out before the Queen and her son.

"My baby."