Chapter 2

Ariana’s POV

I sat by the window, my hand resting on my growing belly. The night was calm, the forest outside bathed in the light of a silver moon.

 I should have felt at peace but all I felt was the weight of my discontent. I rubbed my belly, feeling the faint movement of our unborn child.

 I had everything, everything that was supposed to make me happy—a strong pack, a mate, and the life of a Luna, yet all I could think about was how trapped I felt in my own life.

Jared, my mate and the Alpha of our pack had been gone for days now. Again. It was always pack duty, always some threat, some meeting, it was alway something, something that required his attention. 

I understood, of course. I knew the responsibilities that came with leading a pack. I knew that being alpha came with making hard choices. But lately, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the pack mattered more to him than I did than we did.

I looked down at my belly and smiled sadly. Our child was growing inside me, a reminder that there was a future, a bond that Jared and I shared. But even that didn’t ease the heaviness in my heart. I wanted more. I wanted a husband who would be here with me, not just a mate who only came home to rest before leaving again.

I heard the door open behind me. My body tensed, even though I knew it was Jared. His familiar scent filled the room before his voice broke the silence.

“Ari,” he called softly. “I’m home.”

I didn’t turn to face him right away. “Welcome back,” I said, my voice without any of the warmth I once used to greet him with.

There was a pause, and I felt him hesitate. “How are you both feeling?” he asked, stepping closer. 

I pressed my lips together, not wanting to snap at him but also not able to summon the energy to lie.

 “We’re fine.”

He came to stand beside me, his hand reaching out to touch my belly. His touch was gentle, but it irritated me, like everything else between us lately. I stared out at the forest, avoiding his eyes.

“I know I’ve been gone a lot,” Jared began, his voice low. “But the pack—”

“The pack always needs you,” I interrupted, finally turning to look at him. My eyes met his, and I saw the tiredness there, the stress of being Alpha. But I was tired too. Tired of being alone, tired of playing second to his duty. 

“When will we matter, Jared? When will I matter?”

“We need you too.”

He frowned, his hand dropping to his side. 

“You know you matter, Ari. You’re my mate, my Luna. I do all of this for you, for our child.”

 I stood up, frustration bubbling inside me.

 “No, Jared. You do it for the pack. You always do it for the pack.” 

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the truth I’d been trying to ignore for so long.

 “When was the last time we were together? Together? When was the last time you sat with me and just... talked?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. 

“You’re never here, Jared. Even when you’re physically here, your mind is somewhere else. It’s like I don’t exist unless I’m part of your duties. You don’t see me anymore.”

Jared’s expression hardened, and his jaw tightened. 

“That’s not fair, Ariana. I’m doing everything I can to keep this pack safe. I have to be the Alpha they need.”

“And what about what I need?” I responded, my voice rising. 

“What about us? This baby? Do we not deserve more of you?”

“You don’t…love me any…more” I said finally looking into the forest.

For a moment, he said nothing, his silence louder than any argument. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.

 “I’m trying, Ari. You know how much responsibility I carry. I can’t just abandon the pack. Not now, especially not with tensions rising with the neighboring territories. You’re Luna, you know we have a responsibility to the pack. You’ve always understood that.”

I looked at him, feeling a hollow ache in my chest. Jared stepped forward, his hands reaching for mine, but I pulled away. I couldn’t let him soothe me with empty gestures this time. I couldn’t let him think that everything would be okay with just a few words.

“Ari...” His voice was softer now, pleading. “I love you. You know that. I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. This—everything I’m doing—is for our future, for the pack’s future.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling my resolve harden. “I  doubt that you love me, Jared. But even if you do, love isn’t enough if I’m always second to everything else.”

His eyes searched mine as if he was trying to find the right thing to say. But the truth was, there wasn’t anything he could say that would fix this. I had been holding on for too long, hoping that things would change, that Jared would change. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to.

“I’m tired,” I said quietly, turning away from him. “I think I’m going to bed.”

Jared didn’t follow me, and I didn’t expect him to. He was probably already thinking about the next pack issue he had to handle, the next threat he needed to address.

 As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, my mind raced. I placed a hand on my belly, feeling the gentle movement of our baby inside. A part of me ached at the thought of leaving, but another part of me felt a sense of clarity that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I couldn’t stay here. Not like this.

I stared at the moonlight filtering through the window, my heart heavy but made up. Jared was a good Alpha. But I couldn’t be his Luna anymore.

And soon, I wouldn’t be.

I knew what I had to do ...