Chapter 1: Shattering Revelation

“Congratulations, Luna Selena,” Shanice Loman said, her voice warm and tinged with excitement. 

She slightly leaned forward. “You’re pregnant.”  

The words hung in the air, surreal and heavy. 

Selena Hayden froze, her breath catching as if the world had suddenly stopped spinning. 

Her fingers gripped the edge of the examination table. "I... I'm what?"

"You're pregnant, My Luna," Shanice softly reiterated, the corners of her warm brown eyes crinkling as her smile broadened. "After all your treatments, all your dedication, it finally happened."

A wave of emotion crashed over Selena: joy, disbelief, relief, and a hint of fear all swirling in one chaotic storm. 

Tears pricked her eyes as she whispered, "After all these years of trying. I'd almost given up on hope."

"I know how much this means to you," Shanice said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 

"Your patience and resilience has finally paid off. You are finally going to be a mother, Luna Selena."

Shanice was the pack's senior doctor and best friend to Selena. Over the years, she had been the one prescribing and conducting test after test and administering medical advice to Selena.

Selena laughed shakily, her tears now flowing freely as she pressed her hands against her still-flat stomach. "I never thought I'd hear those words. Thank you, Shanice. Thank you for everything, for always been there for me."

Shanice smiled warmly and squeezed her shoulder. "This is your miracle, my Luna. Treasure every moment of it."

But Selena wasn't entirely happy. "Do you think this will bring Nelson to love m again?" She asked, her voice a mix of fear and joy.

"Of course," Shanice agreed without hesitation. "This is what he has always wanted. He will love you more than ever upon getting to know that you're carrying his child."

Selena sighed heavily. "I hope so, Shanice."

The moment Selena left the clinic with the ultrasound photo in her trembling hands, a million thoughts tumbled over each other in her mind. 

The early morning sun stretched shadows across the parking lot as she stopped to study the grainy black and white image.

She should have been thrilled, and part of her was, but under that euphoria lay an edge of fear that she couldn't ignore.

Nelson Brainfield had over five years, been steadily ignoring her, especially for the past couple of months. 

Those once quiet dinners together had devolved to a no more than empty chairs and cold meals from the microwave.

What were once conversations full of dreams slowly dwindled to short conversations centered on the most mundane things such as grocery lists and utility bills.

What would he think of this news? Would it bring them closer, bridge the growing chasm between them, or would it tear them further apart? 

The questions plagued her during the entire drive home, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.

But somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was going to change everything; Nelson was going to love her more than ever. 

He had scream of joy that he was going to be a father. 

Selena smiled, the fear in her dissipating.

By the time she reached their home, Selena's heart was pounding.

She had rehearsed the words over and over while she waited for him, the ultrasound photo facing on the coffee table like some unspoken question. 

She expected to meet him at home, but he was no where in the house.

Selena dialed his number. It rang thrice, but no one responded. It was weekend, she knew Nelson wouldn't go to the office today. 

So, where was he? Why wasn't he picking up her call? 

Selena was worried.

She dialed the number again, she sighed as the he picked up on second ring.

"Hey babe, where are you?" Selena asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"What is it, woman?" Nelson asked. His voice thick and cruel.

Nelson had frequently been absent in the house, sometimes spent two weeks off the house and whenever he returned, he claimed he left for business trip.

Selena had become used to his unfriendly words and cruel treatments, knowing that he wasn't like that when they got married.

And with this good news, she knew things were going to change.

"I have something I want to share with you," Selena said. "Could you please come home, I'm also making dinner for..."

"I also have something I want to share with you. I'll be home soon. Bye!" He cut her off.

The evening oozed toward night, lengthening shadows across the tiled floors. 

When Nelson finally walked in, his expression was detached, just like always.

He didn't even look at her as he shrugged off his jacket and flung it onto a chair, just as he had been dismissing her presence for months.

"Nelson," Selena said, trying to keep the shake from her voice. 

She stood from the couch, running her hands down her jeans.

"What?" he asked, making no effort to cloak the irritation in his tone. 

The bond between them, which had once brightened with emotion, had dulled and muted.

Selena swallowed hard, making herself stand tall. "We need to talk."

"About what?" he asked, glancing at her briefly before finding something far more interesting - the floor, the wall, other than her face.

Selena reached for the ultrasound photo and held it out to him, her hand trembling. 

But then she remembered he mentioned earlier that he too had something he wanted to tell.

Curiously, and expecting a rather good news, she looked up at him with smile. "You go first. You said you have something you want to share with me too."

Nelson let out a long sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. "Yes, Selena, it is very important I tell you this."

Her stomach twisted at the ominous tone in his voice. "What is it?"

He briefly hesitated before dropping the bomb. "Vanessa is pregnant. With my child."

Selena's world shifted on its axis. 

Her hands clamped onto the edges of the couch as she struggled to make meaning of those words. 

"Vanessa?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your ex-fiancée?"

"Yes," Nelson said with ice in his tone, unaffectedly.

"How?" Selena demanded, her voice rising with anguish. "How could you do this to me? After everything we've been through?"

Nelson's jaw tightened. "Selena, let's not pretend this relationship has been perfect. You knew I didn't love you when we got together. The mate bond was all that tied us."

Tears streamed down Selena's face, his words tearing into her like a knife. 

"And now?" her voice quivered. "You want me just take that? "

"You can stay," Nelson suggested, his voice calm. "You will still be my mate, but I'm marrying Vanessa. That's not open to negotiation."

The cruel words registered, and Selena's breath caught. 

The blatant audacity, the cruelty of it all, was almost too much to bear. 

All these years, she had tried to build a bridge, to make him see she was more than some duty. And in one second, he was tossing all that back at her.

Now, he was throwing away everything they'd shared in the past, and the promise of their joyful fresh beginning -- the little child growing in her womb - his child.

All for what? 

For his ex girlfriend; the same woman who left him for another man, and now she was back to the pack and Nelson forgot the love he shared with Selena to run after Vanessa.

"No," she said firmly, her voice breaking slightly but filled with resolve.

Nelson arched a brow. "No? No what?"

"I, Selena Hayden of the Shadow Vale Pack, reject you, Nelson Brainfield of the Snow Mountain Pack," she said, her voice growing stronger with every word. "I sever our mate bond."

His eyes narrowed, for a moment, he was shocked as if regretting his actions, but it was quickly replaced by a cruel look. If anything, he seemed almost relieved.

"Fine," he said coldly. "I, Nelson Brainfield accept your rejection. Now pack your things and get the fuck out!"