CHAPTER 5- Dilemma

As Morgan sat at the dining table, his father's deep voice cut through the soft clatter of dishes.

"Morgan, it's time for you to settle down. You need to have the Luna of this pack that will help you carry out your responsibilities," Lucas, the former Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, spoke with authority, though there was a gentleness in his tone that Morgan had come to expect from his father. His father’s gaze was firm but expectant, as if this was something that had been discussed many times before and Morgan’s refusal could no longer be tolerated.

Morgan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, pushing the food around on his plate without really eating. He had heard this conversation too many times, and every time it came up, the pressure mounted. But this time, it felt heavier, more urgent.

"You’re not getting any younger, son," his father continued, his voice laced with the weight of the pack’s expectations. "The pack needs stability, and that means choosing a Luna who can help you lead. It’s not just about you—it’s about all of us."

Morgan glanced up at his father, but before he could respond, his mother, Teresa, interjected. Her voice was sharp, precise, and dripping with disapproval.

"Your father is right, Morgan," Teresa said, leaning forward slightly. Her eyes bore into him, and her perfectly manicured hands rested delicately on the table. "But of course, we won’t allow you to get married to Lilian. Even if she is your mate, you can't marry her because of her cursed bloodline."

The mention of Lilian’s name made Morgan’s chest tighten, a pang of guilt flickering through him. His mother’s words stung, but they weren’t new. He had heard the whispers his entire life. Lilian, whom the Moon Goddess had chosen as his mate, was the daughter of a cursed Omega. And in their world, lineage meant everything.

Teresa's voice grew colder as she spoke, her eyes narrowing. "What will happen to the pack if she becomes your Luna? The curse already runs in her blood, and it will spread to anyone connected to her—especially you, our Alpha. We don't want that to happen." She let the words hang in the air, her expression unyielding. "The pack doesn't want that."

Morgan swallowed hard, his mind racing. He knew all too well about the curse that had plagued Lilian’s family for generations. The tales of bad luck, misfortune, and death followed her like a shadow. His parents weren’t alone in their beliefs—many in the pack feared what would happen if someone from her bloodline became Luna. But Lilian was his mate, his destined partner, the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for him.

The bond was undeniable, and yet… his pride, his fear of losing everything he had worked for, kept him silent.

"You better marry Samantha," his mother continued, her tone softening slightly, but her words still carried the weight of a command. "She is the daughter of Beta Maximo, the second-highest-ranking official in the Diamond Pack. With her as your Luna, our pack will strengthen its ties with the Diamond Pack, our most powerful ally. It’s a perfect match, Morgan."

Her words were more persuasive now, as if she believed this decision was for the greater good—not just for Morgan, but for the entire pack. Samantha was everything the pack wanted in a Luna—beautiful, powerful, and from a strong lineage. The political advantages were clear.

Morgan could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had known this was coming, but now it felt like the walls were closing in on him. The idea of marrying Samantha—someone who was strong-willed and ambitious but not his mate—made his stomach churn. He had been with her, yes, but it had never felt like it did with Lilian. Samantha was a logical choice, a strategic alliance, but she wasn’t the one who made his heart race. She wasn’t the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for him.

But how could he defy his parents, the pack, and the expectations that came with being an Alpha?

"Mother... Father..." Morgan finally spoke, his voice low and conflicted, "I understand the importance of the pack, but Lilian is my mate. You both know what that means. The bond can’t just be ignored. The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes."

His father’s face softened for a moment, but it was Teresa who responded sharply.

"Yes, the mate bond is important," she said, her tone clipped, "but the future of the pack is more important. If you choose her, you risk everything. Do you think the pack will follow a Luna they fear? Do you think they’ll stand by a leader who brings a curse upon them?"

Her words hit him hard. His mother was a calculating woman, always thinking of the greater picture, and as much as Morgan wanted to argue, he couldn’t deny the truth in her statement. The pack had been through too much. They needed stability, not risk.

"You’ll have to make a choice, Morgan," his father added, his voice calm but firm. "The pack or your feelings. You can’t have both."

Morgan clenched his fists under the table, the weight of his position, his lineage, and his heart all crashing down on him. Could he really choose the pack over the woman the Moon Goddess had fated to be his? Could he marry Samantha and live a life void of the connection he truly craved?

His thoughts drifted back to Lilian—her soft smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy, the hurt he saw in them when he had pushed her away. He hated himself for causing her pain, but the weight of the curse, the pressure from his family, and the responsibility to his pack were all chains that bound him.

Morgan sat in silence, unable to answer, knowing that whatever decision he made, someone would end up broken.

Lilian had always been strong, despite the whispers and judgment that surrounded her since childhood. Even after Morgan’s cruel rejection of their mate bond, she held on to a sliver of hope. She believed, perhaps naively, that deep down, Morgan would realize his mistake, see the love they were destined to share, and take back his rejection. After all, the mate bond wasn’t just a fleeting connection—it was the will of the Moon Goddess. How could anyone ignore such a powerful force?

Each day, Lilian carried this fragile hope like a delicate flame. Even when she saw Morgan with Samantha, her heart ached but did not fully break. She told herself that maybe it was a phase, a distraction, that the Alpha would soon understand the true nature of their bond. She still felt the pull every time she was near him, an undeniable force linking her to him. But as time passed, that flame flickered, growing weaker with every dismissive glance from Morgan and every sharp word from his mother, Teresa.

Then, one day, the last ember of that hope was extinguished completely.

Lilian was walking through the courtyard, heading toward her usual tasks, when she heard the click of high heels approaching her from behind. She turned, only to see Samantha striding confidently toward her, a smug smile plastered on her face. Lilian’s stomach churned at the sight of the Beta, knowing that every time she was near, nothing good ever followed.

Samantha’s steps were slow and deliberate, each one radiating superiority. Her perfectly manicured fingers casually brushed her hair behind her shoulders as she approached Lilian, who stood frozen, trying to brace herself for whatever was coming. Samantha stopped just inches away, her smile widening like a predator who had cornered its prey.

"You can stop hoping now, Lilian," Samantha said, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Morgan is never going to choose you."

Lilian’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t respond. She clenched her fists at her sides, fighting to maintain composure as she met Samantha’s gaze. There was something in her eyes—something cruel and triumphant.

"He already rejected you because you're unworthy," Samantha continued, her words like venom. "A pathetic Omega like you? Did you really think you could become the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack? Someone with your cursed bloodline?" She scoffed, shaking her head as if the very idea amused her. "Please, Lilian. You were never meant for this life."

Lilian felt the weight of the words crash down on her, the truth she had been trying to avoid. It wasn’t just Morgan who rejected her—it was everything she was, everything she represented. In the eyes of the pack, and especially in the eyes of those like Samantha, Lilian was nothing but an outcast.

But Samantha wasn’t finished. Her smile became even more wicked, as if she were saving the final blow for last.

"Oh, and one more thing," Samantha said, stepping even closer. Her voice dropped, making the next words even more intimate, more painful. "I’m carrying Morgan’s child—the heir to the Blue Moon Pack."

Lilian’s breath hitched, and her heart shattered into pieces. The world around her seemed to blur as the full weight of Samantha’s words hit her. The woman before her—the one who had been her rival in every possible way—was now carrying the one thing that tied her to Morgan forever. The heir.