Chapter one

One

Lyla’s POV:

Tonight is the night!

“I have an announcement.” I began and all eyes turned to me, some filled with curiosity, others like Marielle was tinged with thinly veiled disdain.

“Lucian and I are expecting a baby.” My heart raced as I glanced around the table. Giving mother a nervous look, my fingers brushing the gentle swell of my stomach. I have been waiting for weeks to share this news. Excitedly, I stood up, my heart blooming with hope as mother's lips broke into a smile.

She opened her mouth and seemed about to speak when Marielle beat her to it.

“A baby?” Marielle asked incredulously, her shock wearing off as she sighed softly. “Well, congratulations, I suppose.” The words were as hollow as her feigned smile.

My stomach dropped, my eyes flitting to Mother, whose own smile had frozen.

But Marielle wasn’t done.

Her eyes darted to our mother, "Lyla's having a baby,"

"I I know, It's a good thing, yeah?" Mother stammered, her voice happy but concerned as Marielle began to sniffle.

“You know.” Marielle began, her voice soft and trembling, as if she were holding back tears. “This… this should have been my life.”

No. My grip on the dining chair tightened as I swallowed and tried to stay calm. Not this again.

"Marielle, stop it," I turned to Mother helplessly. Mother was happy for me right? She had to be.

T... This would be her first grandkid.

“But it's true," She truly seemed on the verge of tears now. Sniffling as her entire face turned red.

“Marielle.” My mother chided gently, but the damage was done. Marielle’s tears were a weapon, one she wielded with precision.

I knew Marielle’s feelings toward me were complicated. She’d never forgiven me for marrying Lucian—a man she had secretly loved but pushed away. She wanted nothing to do with him at first. He wasn’t good enough for her, a “Commoner.” as she put it, unworthy of her sophisticated tastes.

“How can I, Marielle Rivera. The beloved daughter of Alpha Donovan of the SilverFang Pack, get married to a commoner?” She had said.

Father then demanded that I marry Lucian instead; he made it clear that he believed he was doing me a favor. Because no sensible man would want to marry a wolf-less Omega.

My father, Alpha Donovan never failed to remind me that the only reason I was still in the SilverFang Pack was because he was the Alpha.

But over time, we discovered that Lucian was actually the Ruthless Lycan King. A man whose charm and unwavering devotion to me must have eaten away at Marielle's pride. Now, she sat there, stewing in resentment as my happiness grew.

“Marielle.” My mother interjected, noticing the tension. “Surely, you can be happy for your sister?”

Marielle turned to her with watery eyes, her expression suddenly crumpling into one of heartbreak. “It’s just so hard, Mother. You know how much I… cared for Lucian. Seeing them together is already painful, and now there’s a child involved.”

My mother’s face softened immediately, while my heart broke.

Once again, she had chosen Marielle. Even over the happy news of her grandchild.

Marielle knew exactly how to play the victim.

“Marielle, enough.” I butted in helplessly, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice. “You’re the one who didn’t want him. You practically threw him at me.”

“And I regret it every day.” She shot back, her eyes glistening. “I made a mistake, and now I’m the one who has to live with it.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“You don’t understand.” Marielle said, her voice breaking. “I… I gave Lucian up for you! I couldn’t be with him because of his background. You know how our family is. But I loved him first, Lyla. And you… you just swooped in and took him.”

“You *demanded* that I marry him.” I cried back, looking to mother for even an inkling of support but she reached for Marielle's hand instead. Comforting her perfect child.

I took in a deep breath to steady myself. “You made it clear that you didn’t want anything to do with him. Don’t rewrite history now because it suits you.”

Marielle’s face crumpled, and she turned to our mother, her greatest ally. “Mom, you have to do something. Lyla doesn’t deserve him. She doesn’t even love him the way I do.”

“Girls.” My father interrupted. “Enough!.”

Marielle sniffled, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin. I could feel my mother’s gaze boring into me, pleading silently for me to let it go. I did—for the moment.

The dinner resumed, though the mood was far from celebratory. Halfway through the meal, Marielle suddenly rose from her seat and pressed a hand to her chest.

“I don’t feel well.” She said faintly. “I think I need some air.”

My mother immediately stood, her chair scraping against the floor. “Oh, darling, are you all right?”

“I’ll be fine.” Marielle replied. “It’s just all a bit much.”

I let out a shaky breath, staring wordlessly at my food. This was classic Marielle—always turning the spotlight back onto herself.

But what came next was something I didn’t expect.

After dinner, my mother pulled me aside in the kitchen. “Lyla, I need to ask you something.” She began, hesitating.

“What is it?” I asked, already dreading her response.

“Lyla, maybe there’s a way to make this easier for everyone. Marielle is… struggling. Perhaps Lucian could help.” She explained.

“Help?” I asked. “How?” I blinked confused

“Maybe she could… work with him.” My mother said hesitantly. “As an assistant in his Law Firm. It would give her purpose, help her move on.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “You want me to let Marielle be Lucian’s personal assistant?  And you're not joking?”

“Lyla!” Mother hissed. “You’re pregnant! You’ll need rest. Lucian will need someone to support him, and Marielle…”

“Marielle will try to seduce him.” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Do you think I’m stupid? You know how she feels about him, and you’re asking me to just hand her the opportunity on a silver platter?”

“Don’t be so greedy.” Mother snapped. “You can’t expect to have everything. You’re carrying his child. Isn’t that enough? Share him with your sister.”

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me.

Share him?

Share my husband?

The audacity, the cruelty of it, took my breath away. “I’m done here.” I whispered, all joy of my pregnancy news stolen from me.

“Lyla, wait.” My mother called after me, as I walked out the door but my chest tight with hurt and betrayal.

Without another word, I stormed out of the house, ignoring my mother’s calls for me to come back.

My chest heaved with anger on the ride home, my thoughts spinning.

How could my own mother suggest something so outrageous? Was it too much to hope she'd be happy at my news?

When I arrived home, the house was quiet. Too quiet.

“Lucian?” I called out, but there was no answer. One of the housekeepers appeared, her expression apologetic.

“Mr. Rivera had to stay late at the office,” She explained. “He said he wouldn’t be home early.”

As the hours ticked by and Lucian still hadn’t returned, I decided to check on him at his office. I was losing my mind, maybe seeing him would help me return to my senses..

When I arrived at his building, the receptionist greeted me warmly. “Mrs. Rivera, good afternoon! Mr. Rivera is in his office.”

I smiled tightly, thanking her before making my way upstairs. The door to his office was slightly ajar, and as I approached, I heard voices inside.

One of them was unmistakably Marielle’s.

Frowning, I pushed the door open—and froze. Lucian sat in his chair, Marielle straddled him, her hands were wrung over his neck. She wasn't putting on any top and I could see her laps from where I stood.

“What is going on here?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

“Lyla?” Lucian’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise. He pushed Marielle off him, but the damage was done.

“So this is why you didn’t come home?” I asked, my voice trembling with rage. “This is what you were ‘working’ on?”

“What are you doing here?” Marielle asked.

“I could ask you the same thing.” I said, my gaze flicking to Marielle, who had the audacity to look smug.

“Oh, Lyla.” She said sweetly. “Don’t misunderstand. We were just… catching up.” She said, as she reached out for the bra and the top on the table.

I glared at her, my chest heaving. “Get out.”

“Lyla, let me explain,” Lucian began, standing up. But I held up a hand to stop him. “It’s not what it looks like.” He said, standing up and taking a step toward me.

“It’s exactly what it looks like.” I snapped, tears streaming down my face. “Don’t insult my intelligence, Lucian.”