Jaselyn's POVThe two pink lines on the pregnancy test in my hand confirmed the doctor's words. Except I wasn't sure how to react to this.I mean I'm not exactly surprised given the amount of sex Zane and I have had recently but it's just that the timing isn't very good.It feels a little difficult to reconcile my feelings of grief with the fact that I'm going to be a mother.On the other hand, this is what Zane has wanted for a long time so he'll be absolutely ecstatic after hearing the news.“This is wonderful news. At least try to be a little excited, we're going to have a baby.” Nila spurred.“It's not that I'm not happy. I'm just a little shocked, that's all. A baby is the last thing I expected considering Ziarre's funeral is in three days and the state of the Pack right now, especially since Zane and Isla's divorce will be decided just two days after that. It's a lot to process.” I explained with a sigh.“You've right but have a little faith and be optimistic. Everything will wo
Jaselyn's POVI arrived at Zane's office and knocked on the door once before going in. I closed the door and turned around to a sight I did not expect.Isla was sitting across from Zane and chatting with him, she had a smile on her face and for some reason, it made my stomach twist with anxiety. What could they be talking about?“Oh Jaselyn, it's you.” Isla called with a smile as she turned to me and honestly, it gave me the ick. I'm so used to her glaring at me that her smile feels more like a threat.“Um…. Hi.” I greeted awkwardly and she stood up.“I have an appointment so I'll take my leave now. We can continue this discussion some other time.” She said and walked right past me, throwing me a smile before leaving the room.“Jaselyn, I'm so glad you're here. I trust everything went well with Jinu at the hospital. You've been able to get him settled in, right?” He asked as I walked over to his desk and took a seat.“What were you talking about with Isla?” I asked with a straight fac
Jaselyn's POVI decided to keep my concerns to myself, not wanting to spoil the mood with my irrational fear. Isla wouldn't dare hurt me or my child, I won't let her. I'm pretty sure I made it clear that day.It took some persuasion before Zane finally let me go. I couldn't let him abandon his work just for leisure. The rest of the day was spent assisting with the funeral preparations. At night, Zane was uncharacteristically gentle, well, as gentle as he could manage because he didn't want to hurt the baby. He kept planting soft kisses on my belly, caressing my thighs as he plunged into me gently, easy and slow. Though I enjoyed the times when he was rough, this felt different. It was gratifying, I felt desired, loved as he worshiped my body.By the time we were done, he laid my head against his chest as he ran his fingers over my stomach, drawing lines on the delicate skin. It made me hum and smile as I let myself fall into the gentle lull of his embrace.I woke up later than usual
Jaselyn's POV It has been an absolutely hectic two days. Jinu died but the doctors were able to bring him back but he slipped into a coma.The doctor isn't sure if he'll ever wake up. It's the last thing I expected to hear but there's nothing we can do about it. The stress has taken a toll on me and I haven't been feeling very well lately.Today's Ziarre's funeral and Nae is currently dressing me up for the occasion. She fits me into the black gown and ties my hair into a low bun before pinning on a black net fascinator.I wear no makeup except for a chapstick. For some reason, I've been having dry lips lately. Perhaps it's an effect of the pregnancy.“Do you want me to go call the Alpha?” She asks but I shake my head.“It's fine, I'll go to him instead.” I say and attempt to stand up but Nae stops me with her hands on my shoulders.She instead takes my hands in hers and slowly helps me stand up.Ever since Nae found out about my pregnancy, she's been acting this way. She acts like
Jaselyn's POVIt wasn't a dream, neither was it an imagination. Rion really resigned from his position as Beta and left the Pack, just like that.Even Zane couldn't stop him. I couldn't bear to see him go so I didn’t join the people that saw him off.With Rion's departure, Zane had to call an urgent Pack meeting regarding the newly vacant Beta position. Three candidates were nominated. Zane would test their abilities the following day and the winner would become the new Beta of the Black Moon Pack. The process would be simple and easy.If only it was actually that easy to replace Rion. But he's gone now and we have to move on.Before the meeting ends, Zane finally announces my pregnancy to the entire Pack and the atmosphere instantly changes.What could have been considered as solemnity quickly converted to joy and celebration as everyone was excited to hear the news and a lot of people even congratulated me.Among them was….. Isla.Yes, you heard me right. Isla congratulated me on my
Jaselyn's POV “You got me a phone?” I ask incredulously because I really can't believe my eyes.“Yeah, it was long overdue. I only kept you locked up in the palace with no communication to the outside world in order to control you because I was scared you would find a way to escape from me but I'm not that person anymore.To this day, I'm deeply ashamed of myself and I truly regret all the things that I did to you. No amount of apologies can ever change what I did and I know there's no excuse that can justify my actions. I was acting out of my own insecurity and it made me hurt you so deeply.I never want to repeat that mistake again. Instead I want to change, Jaselyn. I want to become a better person, for you and for our child. I want to become the best father and a far greater mate to you. That's truly all I desire from life.I'm going to try to unlearn all my bad habits starting now. I'll do my best to make up for all the bad things I did to you, for betraying your trust and tramp
Jaselyn’s POV “Jas, Alpha Ezra and his entourage have arrived!” Nae alerts me and I stand up from my seat. “Where are they now?” “The Alpha has just received them, I think he’s taking them to the meeting room.” Nae informs me.“I wasn’t expecting them to arrive so early. I’ll change right away.” I speak as I drop my phone on the table. I had previously been playing a game on it. Today’s the day, it’s finally here…..And it makes my stomach tighten with anxiety.“Relax, it’s going to be alright. Zane will keep to his promise and everything will work out.” Nila attempts to invigorate me.“Except it’s not Zane I’m worried about. I just have this uneasy feeling, I’m afraid that Isla will do something.” “Considering the situation, it’s OK to be nervous but worrying yourself to death won’t help anyone. Don’t forget that you’re carrying our pup so you need to take it easy on yourself. Let’s get ready and go out there to support Zane!” Nila emboldened and I released a deep breath, strengt
Jaselyn’s POV“How generous of you but don’t get all cocky and forget I’m the daughter of an Alpha of a Pack much bigger than Black Moon. There’s no type of material wealth you could grant me that I don’t already have.In light of that, I do have one request. I’ll agree to the divorce and the severing of our bond under one condition.” Isla poses out.“What is it?” Zane persists and I can feel my heartbeat pick up.What could she possibly want?“I’ve lived in this Pack for so long now that I’ve come to see it as my home. Even though our relationship is about to end, I’ve made a lot of memories in this place, ones that are very close to my heart and as a result, I can’t bear to part with this place so suddenly. So I’m asking— No, demanding that you let me stay in this Palace for one year even after our divorce is finalized. I just need time to come to terms with everything that has happened and try to enjoy the time here I have left. I’ll have to part with everything I know and love an
Celio's POV The wooden floor creaked under my knees as I scrubbed away at the dirt, pushing the rag back and forth with all the strength my small, 8 year old body could muster. The chill of the mountain wind seeped through the cracks in the old walls, biting at my skin. My hands were raw and red, the rough texture of the rag scraping against my knuckles. I didn’t mind. I didn’t mind the pain, the hunger gnawing at my stomach, or the loneliness that pressed on me like an iron weight. I was used to it.I glanced out the cracked window at the gray sky that mirrored my feelings. The little shack we lived in sat at the base of the mountain, far away from any Pack. Isla had always told me that it was better this way—away from the people who would look at me and know that I wasn’t wanted, that I was abandoned by the very woman who should have loved me most.“Your mother didn’t want you, Celio,” Isla would say, her voice sharp and filled with disdain. “She threw you away like you were nothing
Luka's POV The day started out like any other. Mika, Sawyer, and I were playing in the woods behind the palace, chasing each other through the trees, our laughter echoing in the air. At seven years old, we were pretending to be fierce wolves on a hunt, leaping over fallen logs and dodging branches. It was perfect, like it always was when we were together.But then everything changed in an instant.I heard the thud first—a sound so sharp and heavy that it made my heart skip a beat. I stopped and turned around, the world seeming to move in slow motion as I saw Mika crumple to the ground, his face twisted in pain.“Mika!” I shouted, racing back to him. The sight that met me made my stomach lurch. His leg was twisted at an odd angle, and there was blood—so much blood—pouring out of a long, deep gash along his shin. It covered the grass, bright and red, and kept coming. I couldn’t breathe.Sawyer came running up, her eyes huge and frightened as she saw the blood. “Luka, what happened?” sh
Jaselyn's POV I took his hand, and he pulled me close, holding me from behind as we swayed gently to the music. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You’re beautiful, you know that? Even after everything, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m the luckiest man alive to have you.”Tears pricked my eyes, but they weren’t tears of sadness this time. They were tears of happiness, of gratitude. “Rion… you don’t know how much that means to me.”He kissed my neck softly. “You mean everything to me, Jas.”Suddenly, the music stopped, and a projector flickered on. I turned to see a slideshow of pictures—our memories together. Photos of us when we first arrived at the Pack, a few of the whole family, some from the day of our mating ceremony, which also doubled with the coronation, pictures of us as Alpha and Luna at a few events, including one of us at the Peace Ball. Pictures of me with the twins when they were born and finally, pictures of us with Luka and Mika. I
Jaselyn’s POVExhausted didn’t even begin to cover how I felt. I was beyond it. No, it was more like EXHAUSTED in capital letters, underlined and bold. It had been a few days since Luka and Mika were born, and though I’d prepared myself for the sleepless nights and constant feeding, nothing could have readied me for the complete overwhelm of being a new mother to two newborns at the same time. Rion helped as much as he could. He was always there, doing everything in his power to make things easier for me. But there was only so much even he could do. There were things I had to handle myself—breastfeeding, comforting them when they both decided to cry at the same time, managing the constant pain in my body that hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma of childbirth.Luka was a good feeder. He latched on almost immediately, eager to nurse, but Mika wasn’t doing as well. He struggled with breastfeeding, and that meant more time spent trying to get him to eat, more time stressing about whet
Jaselyn's POVFive years have passed since the birth of our twin boys.And in those years, Luka and Mika had grown into mischievous, spirited children who constantly kept me on my toes. They were inseparable, their bond unbreakable, and they moved through life with a shared sense of curiosity and adventure.Completely identical, they inherited the dominant Solstice genes with their ebony black hair, deep green eyes, and strikingly beautiful features. They were so similar in appearance that even their grandmother couldn’t tell them apart.Only Rion and I could tell which was Luka and which was Mika, and the boys often used this to their advantage, tricking everyone around them. But when they weren’t up to mischief, they were the sweetest children imaginable—kind, considerate, and always eager to bring a smile to my face.They were the best of friends, always looking out for each other. If one fell ill,
Rion's POV“That’s it, Luna,” the midwife encouraged. “The hardest part is over. Just one more push, and we’ll have him out.”Jaselyn nodded weakly, her face pale and slick with sweat. She gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling as she summoned the last of her strength. With a final, desperate scream, she pushed again, her body arching off the bed as she bore down with everything she had left.The baby slipped free with a gush of fluid and blood, his tiny body wriggling and slick in the midwife’s hands. “It’s a boy!” she announced, holding him up for us to see, his loud, piercing cries filling the room.My heart swelled with emotion as I gazed at our son, his tiny face scrunched up in a wail, his fists clenched and shaking. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at Jaselyn. “He’s beautiful,” I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. “Jas, you did it. You gave us a
Rion's POVI slammed my fist against the desk, sending papers flying. The frustration had been building for months, and now it was boiling over. "Dammit!" I cursed, pacing the room in a futile attempt to calm myself. We had conquered the Rain Forest Pack with ease, but it had been a hollow victory. Hadrian, that fool, had chosen to die rather than betray his cousin, Isla. He'd poisoned himself before we could get any information out of him. Another dead end.The Fishers were a twisted bunch. Part of me relished the thought of wiping them out for good, to rid the world of their poison. Isla had slipped through our fingers, and I was beginning to fear we’d never find her. If I could only get my hands on her, I would make her pay for taking Celio. She would wish she had never been born.Blade had been another disappointment, another dead end in our search for Celio. We had pushed him to his absolute limits, hoping that the pain and pressure would force
Jaselyn's POV“Maybe we could…shower together?” I suggested hesitantly. “It might help me relax.”Rion smiled softly, his eyes filled with understanding. “That sounds like a great idea. Come on, let’s get cleaned up.”We both undressed completely, and I followed him into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, adjusting the water temperature until it was just right, then we stepped under the warm spray together.The water cascaded over us, washing away the tension and the grime from the day. Rion wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me close as the water streamed down our bodies. I leaned back against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my back. His touch was gentle, his hands moving over my skin with care, never lingering too long in one place.He washed my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp in slow, soothing circles. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax under
Jaselyn's POVI agreed to see Nae, but only because I needed to know if she could give me any information about where Isla might have taken Celio. It was my only lead, and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers, no matter how much I despised Nae.Before heading to see her, I turned to Rion. His clothes were torn and stained with dirt and blood from the battle. He looked tired, and I could see the weariness in his eyes despite his usual confident stance. He needed rest, and he needed to be taken care of. After everything he had done for me, it was the least I could do for him.“Come with me,” I said softly, taking his hand. I led him back to our bedroom, feeling a mixture of nerves and determination. “Rion, I want our lives to go back to normal,” I began, my voice wavering slightly. “I want to feel close to you again.”He looked at me with a mix of surprise and concern. “Jas, you don’t h