Chapter 1

Selene's POV

I stared impatiently at the clock as it ticked past 10 pm, anxiety gripping my heart. With each passing minute, my worry deepened. I couldn't remember how many times I had glanced at the door hoping that Alpha Orion would come in.

He left the house early today to check on the border walls that were rumored to have been the enemy's camp out. Nightfall pack our rival pack were rumored to have camped close to our border, waiting for the perfect time to ambush us and immediately Orion got the news, he had left home without even eating breakfast.

    

The night stretched long and still, there was no sight of him. I paced around the room repeatedly when suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I thought it was nothing but the normal contractions I had during pregnancy and besides I wasn't due till after a month.

I took another step and I felt something warm and wet trickling down my thighs. The pain intensified and I was forced to let out a cry. The door was flung open as my handmaiden rushed in.

    

"Ma'am!" She called out in shock glancing at the floor and taking in the sight in front of her. "Your water has broken. I will bring in the midwife immediately," she assured me before rushing out. I placed a shaky hand on my baby bump, trying my best to steady my breath.

    

"Quick, place the sheets on the bed and make her lay on it," one of the midwives ordered as soon as they rushed in.

    

"The baby is... is coming!" I stammered, feeling breathless.

    

"Hold on ma'am. Please try to steady your breaths, we're here for you." She assured me. They held both of my hands and led me slowly to the bed. My handmaiden Kira knelt beside me, clutching my hands.

"Raise your legs ma'am." The midwife said, I did as I was instructed.

I couldn't believe I was about to give birth without Orion's presence. I thought he was going to be right by my side holding my hand while I delivered our bundle of joy. He had promised to announce me as his Luna after our child's birth and I was eagerly looking forward to it. The thought of being with Orion forever, making our family complete, filled my heart with so much joy.

I cried when the pain intensified, "It's painful, please get the baby out fast."

"You're doing great ma'am. I can see the baby's head, a little more push and the pain will be over." She assured me as my laboured breath filled the room.

Kira nodded as she clutched my hand tighter. "You're strong, ma'am. Just a little more push." I let out a loud cry raising my head from the bed and pushing with all my might. 

Gosh, I never knew labour was this painful and breath consuming. It felt like I was being split into two. One of the midwives held onto my legs tightly to stop them from slamming shut while the other massaged my sides, comforting me.

"I don't think I can do this anymore!" I screamed, totally exhausted as the pain intensified.

"You're doing well. Take in deep breaths. Kira, please get more towels and warm water." The midwife ordered and Kira scurried to go get the items. 

"I want you to do something for me. When you feel the next contraction, please push with all your might. Okay?" She told me calmly.

I nodded, forcing myself to speak without screaming, "okay!" Kira wiped my forehead with a warm towel and removed the strands of hair from my face.

She gave me a reassuring smile, "you can do this ma'am."

"On the count of 3. I, 2, 3 push!" She ordered. I screamed at the top of my voice when the next contraction came. I pushed as hard as I could. Minutes felt like hours but then amidst the struggle, a shrill cry pierced the air. I smiled weakly collapsing into the bed.

"Congratulations ma'am. The baby is almost out, just a little more push." The midwife encouraged me. But then Orion walked in and my attention shifted towards him.

    

"Alpha," the midwives and Kira acknowledged him.

I beamed happily, glad that he came at the right time but my smile faded when I caught sight of the woman beside him. Those familiar deep green eyes stared at me with so much hatred and detest. 

She was his ex-girlfriend and they had been together before I came into the picture but their relationship ended when she fled with someone else. My eyes dashed between them, what was she doing here? But something else was wrong. The anger that flamed Orion's eyes.

Orion had always anticipated the arrival of our baby and I thought he would rush in with excitement.

"I can't believe you would betray me Selene!" He roared angrily. 

I had never seen him this enraged. Betrayal? What was this about? Pain shot through me as I tried to get up. 

"You can't get up ma'am. The child isn't fully born yet. The umbilical cord is still attached to you," I heard the panic in the midwife's voice.

"Orion....I don't...." I tried to say.

"Don't you dare say my name! Save your lies for someone dumb enough to believe them, you pathetic slut!" he screamed.

Kira and the midwives bowed their heads cowering in fear, the woman next to him smirked.

I flinched at his words, "Orion I really don't know what's going on here. How can you call me a slut all of a sudden? And why is she here?" I managed to ask.

He sneered, "So, you thought you would be able to deceive me forever right? Well your time is up and your shameless act has been exposed. Why would you stoop lowly to have an affair with a pack guard?"

My vision felt hazy and my head was pounding. I couldn't comprehend what he was talking about. I have never been intimate with anyone aside from Orion. What pack guard was he talking about? I shook my head furiously as tears clouded my eyes.

"I... I've never betrayed you. I would never do such a thing or even harbour such a thought." I pleaded desperately, despite the pains I was going through.

"I have caught you red-handed and you're still spewing lies?" He asked in disbelief.

"We aren't alone. Are you really going to humiliate me in front of everyone?" I inquired. His ex-girlfriend scoffed, as she clung onto him glue.

"You weren't ashamed when you were playing around with a lowly pack guard. So why should I care now?" He snarled angrily.

I tried to get up again but I fell on the bed helplessly, I knew things were getting out of hand as Orion stared daggers at me, he has never looked at me like that before, "Orion it's not true. Please try to listen to me.... I'm currently in the middle of child birth. Let's talk about this later."

Vivan tugged closer to him smiling sheepishly, "There'll be no need for that. I'm done being fed lies like a dog. It's time for me to act like the man that I am. I won't give you any space in my life to a lowly slut like you. This marriage will not hold!" He declared harshly.

My body suddenly felt numb from the whole pain and especially what Orion had just said, "Our marriage can't be over, Orion! You...you promised to be with me forever and I'm the future Luna of this pack. You can't do this to me, to us. What about our-"

"Shut up and stop playing the victim here! You have been cheating on me and you have the nerves to talk about us? There's no us again Selene." He glared angrily at me.

"I, Orion Thane, the Alpha of Moonrise pack reject Selene Clover as my mate and Luna. I loathe you with my whole being and never you show your face here again." He said, his wolf eyes glaring at me. 

I could feel the aura of his anger oozing and I couldn't help but cry helplessly, "No, no Orion, you can't do this to me. Our child, your promise. All these can't end because of some baseless accusation. I'm innocent, I swear."

I tried to stand up again but this time the midwives held me down, "You- you can't stand up now. You're in the middle of a labour and you're losing too much blood."

"I refuse to accept this rejection, Orion."I begged, my heart aching, "I love you. I have a child for you, a symbol of our love too." 

"I'm not sure this is my child. Someone who could cheat with a lowly servant can do anything." He replied coldly.

"Guards!!" He growled, and they barged in through the doors like they have been waiting for him to call them moment all along.

"Yes my Alpha." They chorused.

"Throw this traitor into the dungeon once she's done giving birth." He ordered as he stormed out of the room with Vivian.

"Orion please... I didn't do anything-" I cried out, ignoring the panic from Kira and the midwives. 

I couldn't comprehend what was going on, why was Orion making up accusations against me? Where did I go wrong? I have done nothing but love and care for him wholeheartedly. And then a wave of dizziness hit me as I slumped helplessly on the bed, everywhere became blurry as I faintly heard the midwives panicking.

"Quick, bring more towels. She's losing a lot of blood." She screamed at Kira crying beside me.

"Orion..." I muttered amidst the headache and dizziness that was drowning me.

"Ma'am, you can't close your eyes, please!" they yelled. "Push! You can do it!" They screamed but I succumbed to the darkness that pulled me in, as I couldn’t fight it anymore.