Chapter 1

ANNA’S POV

If it were 12 months ago, before my son was even conceived, I would have let this darkness swallow me. But now that I have found a reason to live, a reason to walk the earth without shame, I want to fight the things that pull me into the embrace of death.

The faint sound of the medical equipment came in gaps. I would have succumbed to the darkness that enveloped me but right now, I want to live for my pup. He should not live a life without his mother and his father beside him.

Memories came rushing through my mind, was this what they meant when they said ‘Your life flashes before your eyes?’

“You are pregnant, Mrs. Luther. You’re three months along,” the doctor’s voice echoed in my memory.

“That is impossible, Doctor Sara. You are aware of my infertility. So how could it have happened?” I jolted up from my seat, bending across to her, my whole body trembling.

“I should say miracles happen, Mrs. Luther,” she responded with a shrug.

I should be happy. After three years of marriage with Landen—a marriage that failed because of my infertility—I had lost my place as the Luna of Moonlight Pack because I couldn’t produce an heir. Now, I was pregnant three months after my divorce, and I was finally carrying a child. Tears ran down my face; it should have been good news, but it wasn’t because I couldn’t have the child.

“Mrs. Luther, this is a very difficult situation. As much as I would love for you to have this baby, I can’t advise that.” The doctor’s calm tone pierced deeply like a sharp dagger.

“The brain tumor is already at a stage where we have to get it removed or risk losing you if we waste any more time. It means, for your health's sake, I’m afraid you can’t have this child.” The cold words froze me, and the sincerity of them shattered me.

What?! The one thing I have been praying to the moon goddess for since I got married finally came to me, but I have to choose between my life and my child’s life. How cruel can life treat me? I mumbled as my lips quivered, my tears flowing like a fountain.

Even though Doctor Sara held me in an embrace to comfort me, there was nothing comforting around me at all.

“I understand your pain, my lady, but your life comes first. This miracle can happen again if you give yourself a chance to live,” she whispered into my ear as she hugged me tightly.

Again? I barely grasped this one, and she said this miracle could happen again. I was a divorced and dethroned Luna. I love Landen so much no matter how painful and how much I have suffered in the late days of our marriage. I don’t think I’d give another man a chance to touch me. Never.

This child was the only proof of the love between Landen and me, and she says I can throw it away to save my already pathetic life. I looked up at her, my tears still pouring down, but I was determined right now.

“How long do I have left, Doctor?” I asked, wiping the tears off my face.

She turned to sit on her seat, checking her computer. “With the level of growth and the position it’s in approximately twelve months. But—”

“That’s enough time,” I cut her off. I wasn’t ready to hear anything that would make me change my mind. I will have this child. I’ll give birth to him even if it costs me my own life.

She tried to argue but didn’t say anything, sensing the seriousness on my face.

“Fine, Mrs. Luther. I will prescribe medications that can help you for the next six months. You are a strong woman. You can pull this off,” she smiled at me. Her words soothed me calmly. I was sure that’s what everyone in my position would do.

I left her office, and my driver ushered me inside the car. Driving through the town, it seemed all the darkness that loomed around me since my divorce had disappeared. The streets were brilliant in my eyes for the first time in a long time.

I replayed the very day I saw Hannah come down from Landen’s car, holding his arm. The sight surprised me. Why would my best friend walk hand in hand with my husband? I came out to understand what the heck was going on.

“What’s the meaning of this, both of you?” I questioned, my eyes wide open to indicate how much I needed them to make me understand what was happening.

“Oh, Anna, Landen, and I just got married,” Hannah said with a smug smile on her face.

My eyes went from Hannah to Landen, who looked sure, convinced, and determined.

“Look, Anna, the elders decided I take in a second wife to bear an heir. It was necessary; even you can agree to that,” my husband said with no shame at all.

“Yes, I knew it would come to that, but why didn’t you inform me about this, and why did you choose my best friend, Landen?” I fumed, trying as much as I could to hold back the hot tears already gathered in my eyes and threatening to spill.

“There was no need for you to be worried about such an issue, and Hannah is the only girl who fits the perfect family that we wanted,” he said, looking down at me as if to say I have no right to ask him why he made his decision and I have to live with it.

Ah! That hit me right on the spot, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I let the tears out, and the hotness from them burned my face.

“I’m not taking him away from you, Anna. He’s your mate. I am just here to do what you are not capable of doing,” she snorted. Her motives were clear. I didn’t need a fortune teller to tell me how the days from now would be.

Landen had already walked out ahead of her, breezing past me like I never existed, like we were not bound by a mate bond.

“Since we were little, you’ve always had eyes for Landen, Hannah,” I finally muttered out.

“Oh, you knew that? I thought I hid it well,” she said, running her fingers on her cheek, a smirk drawn on the corner of her lips.

“Yet you stole him from me, and you think all could be well with you? See? He came to where and whom he belonged to,” she said, smiling.

“If he was yours, he would be mated to you, Hannah, but I became his mate. That means we were destined to be together, and there was no way I could control that,” I said, staring directly into Hannah’s eyes, my fist clenched at my side.

“Oh, please get rid of that damn confidence on your face. Well, since you were not a complete woman, I have come to save your sorry ass, Annabeth, so you should be grateful to me,” she said, poking my chest before walking past me.

My legs felt like jelly. I squatted, folding my knees together with my hands wrapped around them, my face buried in between. Even though I was outside, I sobbed so loudly. The betrayal and disappointment pierced and sliced through my heart.

There was no way I could stay in the house watching my husband, my mate, and my best friend living under the same roof as a couple. It was too much to endure.

“Where are you going?” Landen’s voice echoed from behind me.

I turned to see him standing by the door to our room. My bag was ready. I couldn’t breathe the same air as them even for a few seconds more. Without responding to him, I pulled my luggage and walked past him.

“I asked where you are going, Annabeth,” he growled, pulling me by the hand.

“To give you both some peace and quiet, a moment to enjoy your honeymoon and an heir for your pack, of course,” I said, glaring back at him.

“Oh, come on. Just consider her as someone who will save my face out there. If you really love me, you would understand,” he said.

“Well, maybe my love died the instant you walked into this mansion with her in your hand,” I shot back. “My lawyer will send the divorce papers, Landen,” I said as I turned away to leave.

“Oh, is that what you want? Fine then, if you can live without me, your mate, and Alpha,” he sounded as though I’d run back to him soon.

The idea that he didn’t try to stop me broke my heart into a thousand pieces. I sniffed back the sob that almost dropped and took a step.

“I’ll prove you wrong, Landen,” I said with every determination I had in me.

I was going to make him see that I could break our bond. Yes, it will be hell, it will be painful, it will hurt to be separated from your mate, and it will probably be life-threatening, but that can’t tie me down to this ridiculous situation. I was ready to face it no matter what it took.

I walked out of the house I had called my home for three years. All the memories we made in it rushed back like flashes of light.

The days after leaving Landen’s house were some of the darkest in my life. My heart ached with every beat, my mind was a battleground of regrets and sadness, and sleep was a thing of the past. My once-bright spirit had become a shell of its former self as I mindlessly strolled around the streets. My decision weighed heavily on every step I took, and the loneliness that came with it was oppressive.

****

My driver pulled over at my new house. I wasn’t poor, but I wasn’t as wealthy as Landen and Hannah. Luckily, I had bought a place I was going to go with Landen on vacation without his notice, but now that place had become a home for me and my baby.

The house, modest yet charming, stood as a beacon of hope amid the turmoil of my life. The walls, once meant to be filled with laughter and shared moments with Landen, would now embrace the future of my child and me. As I stepped out of the car, a mixture of emotions surged through me—sadness for what could have been and determination for what would be.