Chapter 2 He doesn't want her baby.

The next day.

"Get up! How dare you sleep in! Have you forgotten Emma’s demands?"

A sharp voice pierced through Alyssa’s dreams.

She scrambled to sit up, and as she recognized who it was, a wave of pain washed over her.

Hera, Ezekiel’s mother, despised her even more than Ezekiel did.

Noticing her state, Hera frowned. "Why are you crying?" she said with disgust. "Ezekiel is your husband, your mate, your alpha. You must accept everything he does to you without complaint because it’s your duty."

Alyssa silently dressed, unable to argue.

She rarely overslept, and she knew this was an early symptom of pregnancy—fatigue.

Today was the first birthday banquet for Ezekiel’s sister Emma’s son. Emma’s mate, the alpha of another pack, was away on business, so she had requested Ezekiel to host the celebration at the Moon Stone Keepers pack.

Despite there being plenty of servants to help, Alyssa had been ordered to assist as a servant. She knew Emma wouldn’t miss any opportunity to humiliate her. She wanted to refuse, but Ezekiel’s sharp gaze had silenced her.

She knew she had to endure if she wanted Ezekiel to allow her to stay by his side. She had nowhere else to go, and ironically, she still held onto a sliver of hope for Ezekiel.

As his plaything, she clung to it like a lifeline.

Her silence angered Hera even more.

"Enough! My son is so unlucky that the Moon Goddess chose you as his mate! Now… hurry up and get dressed! You have work to do! If my precious grandson’s birthday is ruined because of your laziness, I’ll make sure Ezekiel punishes you," she commanded, giving Alyssa one last disdainful look before leaving the room.

Ezekiel’s punishment? Alyssa immediately stood up in fear. She hadn’t forgotten the last time she broke a plate—she had nearly starved to death in the dark room.

For her child, she had to be strong.

She wobbled as she got out of bed, her legs still weak from last night’s intimacy.

She struggled into the closet and quickly changed into a pair of pants and a T-shirt. She didn’t have time to wash up because she didn’t want Hera to come looking for her a second time. She knew what would happen if she delayed any longer.

As soon as she joined the other servants, she heard whispers and noticed their disdainful glances.

"Look who’s finally back in her place."

"Look at what she’s wearing." A chuckle followed.

"I don’t know what the alpha sees in her to keep her as his bedmate," someone muttered, a sad smile on her face. Given how Ezekiel, his lover, and his family openly treated her, even the servants didn’t fear her position as Luna.

"Sharing the alpha’s bed will never earn you a higher status. I mean, look at her… she’s just a weak whore, lower than us servants," another whispered, and the others laughed.

Alyssa silently lowered her head, trying to suppress her pain and anger. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Tears would only satisfy her tormentors.

Besides, how could she win when she couldn’t even speak to defend herself? She could only ignore them and continue wiping the dust off the floor.

Suddenly, she was pushed from behind by a servant. She immediately caught herself with her hands, then knelt to protect her belly.

She groaned in pain and looked up to see one of the omega servants smirking at her.

Instead of apologizing, the servant mocked her, "Oh, look, the mute doesn’t even cry out when she’s hurt," her words drawing cruel laughter from the others. "What’s wrong, Luna? Cat got your tongue?"

Realizing the maid had done it on purpose, Alyssa was furious. She could endure their daily insults and humiliation, but putting her child in danger? Never!

She stood up and stepped toward the servant. The servant, startled by her furious gaze, didn’t react in time before Alyssa grabbed her shoulders, turned her around, and slapped her with all her pent-up anger!

The sharp smack sent the woman staggering back.

The maid clutched her stinging cheek, wide-eyed, not expecting Alyssa to fight back. She screamed, "How dare you hit me!" and raised her hand to retaliate, but it stopped mid-air.

Alyssa noticed the fear in her eyes.

"Alpha Ezekiel…" she immediately bowed her head respectfully.

"Leave!" Ezekiel commanded, and she fled.

Alyssa turned, surprised to see Ezekiel, wondering why he had sent the servant away instead of watching her humiliation as usual.

She met his eyes, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of concern. Could he finally be the man she had hoped for?

"You!!" He suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward him. She couldn’t even let out a groan, though she felt she might collapse under his violence.

He was an alpha, ten times stronger than an omega like her without a wolf.

"Don’t get any ideas. Today is my nephew’s birthday, and I want everything to be perfect."

"I expect you to stay out of sight, as usual, and avoid drawing attention to yourself. Have I made myself clear?" he said, his grip tightening on her shoulders.

Pain immediately shot through her. Alyssa realized she had been naive again.

She stiffly nodded, tears welling in her eyes. But he didn’t care.

"Enough! Alyssa! You have no right to feel pain. No one suffers more than I do!" He sneered and quickly released her, as if touching her had become repulsive. Alyssa watched him walk away, his broad shoulders growing smaller with each step.

Her gaze fell to her flat stomach. The memory of losing her first child was still fresh. What about this time?

☆☆☆☆☆

The banquet began. Alyssa stood in a distant corner, silently watching the family gather.

Emma, Ezekiel’s sister, had a lower-ranked mate and a terrible personality, but she always managed to gather powerful allies wherever she went.

At the dining table, Emma sat beside Hera, cradling her child, while everyone admired the day’s star. Alyssa’s eyes filled with envy. Across from them sat Ezekiel.

Emma had everything Alyssa dreamed of: a loving husband and a caring family.

As she lost herself in thought, she suddenly heard her name. Emma was waving her over to bring a drink. This brought Alyssa into the guests’ line of sight.

She saw Ezekiel’s disapproving gaze from across the room, but she couldn’t embarrass Emma, or her situation would worsen.

As she set down the drink, she tried to flee, but Emma grabbed her.

"Alyssa, you must be so jealous right now," Emma said smugly.

Alyssa remembered Ezekiel’s warning—he didn’t like her causing trouble. She wanted to leave, but Emma continued.

"I bet you’ll never have such a beautiful moment. Have you forgotten? Everyone was happy when you had your miscarriage."

Alyssa clenched her hands, unable to stop the trembling of anger. How could Emma be so cruel as to curse her pup?

Her miscarriage had been caused by overwork—she was always assigned more chores, and Ezekiel never gave her access to his accounts. To survive, she had taken a job at a café.

But that didn’t mean she had forgotten the pain of losing her pup.

The pain made her forget to resist, but Emma continued to trample on her feelings. "No one wants a mute pup as an heir! Cindy is more suited to be my brother’s Luna than you! Just give up and let my brother go."

She couldn’t be weak anymore. She pushed Emma away and signed angrily, "If you care so much about your brother’s happiness, why don’t you ask him directly instead of threatening me?"

Seeing her desperate gestures, Emma smirked. "Fine," she spat, "I’ll make sure you understand how unwelcome you are."

She turned to Ezekiel, her voice suddenly sweet as poisoned honey.

"Brother, when are you going to divorce her and marry Cindy? Our pack needs a proper Luna and a strong heir. Not a mute one."

Emma’s words were like a sharp knife, reopening Alyssa’s wounds in front of everyone.

When she noticed Ezekiel’s sharp, torch-like gaze, she felt the floor collapsing beneath her.

Her humiliation, her pain, was about to be put on display again.

Everyone was waiting for Ezekiel’s answer, their mocking eyes turning into countless needles piercing her heart.

She clutched her chest, feeling like she might faint—