Chapter 1: Betrayal 

Gwen's POV

When I envisioned the moment I would break the joyful news to my mate, a secret rendezvous was the last thing on my mind. My thoughts were consumed with how Ryker would react when I told him I was pregnant. But as I neared the door to my room, an unforeseen and horrifying scene unfolded before me. My blood boiled with anger, and the once-excited heartbeat turned into a painful drumbeat in my chest.

“Arhh… Ahh…” The muffled sounds that drifted through the door were foreign and shocking. I blinked repeatedly, struggling to process the sight before me. Was my mind playing tricks, or was this a horrifying reality? My heart pounded with foreboding as if it were trying to warn me of the impending collapse of everything I had once believed in.

Pushing the door open slowly, I was met with an unimaginable sight: my chosen mate, Ryker, and my best friend, Nicole, were entwined in my bed. The bed where Ryker and I had shared countless nights was now tainted by their betrayal. The scene before me was too surreal, too painful to be real. My hands, clutching the precious papers that contained my life-changing news, fell to the floor in slow motion.

The excitement I had felt about my pregnancy evaporated instantly. The words that had once made me feel like the happiest woman on Earth were now overshadowed by the harsh reality of what I was witnessing. “Congratulations, Gwen, sorry, Luna, you’re pregnant.” Those words now clashed painfully with the sight of their betrayal. 

I had suspected Nicole's frequent proximity to Ryker might have meant something more, but I had dismissed those thoughts, hoping it was just my insecurities. Yet, here was the truth: Ryker’s affection for me had always been tainted by the prophecy, not by genuine love. I was merely a vessel for his ambition, and Nicole, who was supposed to be my confidant, was complicit in this charade. 

A tear escaped my eye as I forced a smile, struggling to suppress the snobbish sounds that bubbled from my throat. I was the reincarnation of the moon goddess, a title that had only ever brought me pain. My father had distanced himself from me after my mother’s death, blaming me for her demise. I had been left in the care of my Nana, who had also been taken from me too soon. My father's discovery of my true nature had only fueled his quest for power, further isolating me. 

Ryker’s betrayal felt like a confirmation of everything I had feared. A searing pain spread across my chest, making each breath a torment. I wanted to scream, but the pain was so consuming that I could only hit my chest in a futile attempt to alleviate it.

Blinking away tears, I managed to take a breath despite the crushing weight in my chest. 

“What are you two doing? How long has this been going on?”    

I growled. My fists clenched at my sides, and I could feel the room vibrating with my anger. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of the betrayal I had just witnessed.

“Gwen, I didn’t want you to find out this way,” Ryker said hurriedly, scrambling to dress. His attempt at remorse only fueled my desire to make him understand the depth of his betrayal. Anger surged through me, mingled with confusion and pain. I had wondered why they would betray me, but the answers seemed elusive.

I charged at Nicole, but Ryker’s strong grip yanked me back. “Ouch!” I winced as my back slammed against the wall, but the pain was secondary to the ache in my heart. My best friend had become my worst enemy, and the man I loved was complicit in that betrayal.

Tears welled in my eyes, not just from physical pain but from the deep sense of betrayal. “Ryker, how could you do this to me? And Nicole, how could you?” I was struggling to reconcile the fact that the people I trusted the most had hurt me so deeply.

“Gwen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Ryker said, his words dismissive. “But you need to understand that I’ve fallen out of love with you.” His tone was indifferent as if this revelation was a mere formality.

Nicole, still wrapped around Ryker, added, “Gwen, Ryker, and I are in love. We didn’t mean to hurt you… but Ryker is my mate.” Her confession was like a dagger twisting deeper into my heart.

“Nicole!” Ryker snapped, his frustration apparent. “I’m talking to her!”

“I want to take Nicole as my second mate,” Ryker said reluctantly, his words dripping with insincerity. “You’d still be my Luna, but I love Nicole.” His lack of shame was staggering.

“What are you saying?” I demanded, my voice trembling with disbelief. “You’re telling me you want to make Nicole your mistress?” The words felt absurd and degrading.

“Nicole, we’ve been friends since we were children. How could you betray me like this? Why didn’t you tell me Ryker was your mate?” I wiped my tears away furiously, my voice a mix of anger and hurt.

“Stop playing the victim. We aren’t even officially mates yet, so don’t act like you’re entitled to anything,” Ryker snapped, his cold demeanor unrecognizable.

“Ryker, I need to tell you something,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Can we speak in private?” I needed to share the news of my pregnancy, but Ryker’s dismissal was a blow to my already shattered trust.

He waved my request away. “You should learn to respect her,” he said, and I couldn’t believe this was the same man I had known for three years. 

“I’m carrying your child, Ryker. I can’t announce this in front of Nicole. I can’t trust her, and given your change of heart, I fear you might take my child away and discard me,” I said, my voice breaking.

Ryker’s eyes hardened. “You should leave and think about my offer, or we can part ways,” he said, opening his arms for Nicole, who hugged him with a sense of ownership that burned my eyes.

“You know what? I hate you both!” I shouted, the words feeling inadequate compared to the depth of my pain. Without waiting for a response, I slammed the door behind me.

I expected Ryker to at least show some decency by running after me, but he didn’t. The relationship we once had was irreparably broken. 

My wolf howled in anguish at the betrayal, a reflection of my shattered dreams. I wasn’t meant to have a mate, yet Ryker had chosen me, and now, even though he wasn’t truly ours, we had loved him.

As I left the pack building, my presence went unnoticed, a reflection of the insignificance I felt. The pack’s coldness was a harsh reminder that I was neither a mother nor a powerful figure with control over my fate.

Walking down the empty sidewalk, each step felt heavier than the last. My shoulders slumped, my eyes glazed with unshed tears. I lifted a trembling hand to hail a cab. When the vehicle finally arrived, I climbed in, desperate to escape the reality of my situation.

“Where can I take you, ma’am?” the driver asked, but I shook my head, unsure of where to go. All I wanted was to be alone.

“Anywhere but here,” I said, my voice barely audible. The driver nodded and started the engine.

“Okay, then let’s take you somewhere you’d never return from,” the driver said, his tone oddly detached.

“What?” I asked, confusion clouding my mind. Before I could process his words, I felt a wave of drowsiness wash over me. “What… what is happening…?” My vision blurred, and then everything went dark.