Chapter 2

Selena’s POV

The man simply licked his lips and grabbed my waist roughly, pulling me to him. “Come on, baby.”

“No!” I screamed, pushing him away so hard that he stumbled backwards.

Quickly, I picked up my clothes and hastily put on my coat, irritated at the way I felt like curling up in a ball and crying. Never could I have imagined such a thing happening to me today, especially when I had expected to see Rowan.

Did Rowan know about this? That some strange man had come into our most sacred place and put his hands on my body?

I didn't want to believe that he could have done such a thing, but I couldn't make sense of the whole situation at all.

Without sparing another glance at the strange naked man, I rushed out of the secret garden I had once found safe.

——

Much to my displeasure, Rowan didn't pick up his calls. I needed to talk to him about what I had faced earlier, but with the way things were, the only way I might have been able to do that was driving over to the pack office myself and confronting him about the whole thing.

It was dark by the time I returned home. I met Raven busy cooking something. She turned to me, and immediately noticed the dejected look on my face.

She dropped the spoon she held into the nearby sink and walked over to me. “What's wrong? What happened?”

I just shook my head, unable to even get the right words to express myself. I just felt so violated and disgusted with everything that had happened. 

A pounding headache began in my temples, and everything started to spin. 

“Are you okay? You don't look good at all,” said Raven's distorted voice.

A lump rose in my throat, crawling higher and higher until I discovered what it was almost too late. I rushed to the kitchen sink and vomited violently.

Every heave pushed painfully against my chest, leaving me in a gasping, moaning mess by the time it all ended. 

I washed my face and rinsed my mouth, before sitting down on the floor and pressing my knees against my chest. Raven came to stay by my side, rubbing my back. She didn't say anything, and I was glad, because I didn't want to answer any questions at all.

The entire day had been ruined, but somehow inside of me, I could just tell that that wasn't the reason for my vomiting. What I suspected gave me hope, and dissolved a little bit of my worries.

Since my marriage to Rowan, his family, the Pack Elders, and even the general populace of the Veritas Pack decided that I was not fit to even be called a Luna. Instead, they had tagged me as a Wolfless Queen, a title that might have seemed harmless to some, but was clearly an insult where I was concerned. Even to acknowledge me as Rowan's wife was a problem, and they liked to pretend that I was simply a woman that just happened to live in his house and show up at events with him. 

But if my suspicions were right, and I was indeed pregnant, it would not only bring me joy, but also shut up most of the naysayers.

After a few minutes of sitting down, I got up and rushed to my room without saying anything else to Raven. 

I rummaged through my drawer, trying to find the last pregnancy home kit I had, which I had been saving up for a time such as this. 

I took off my clothes and went into the bathroom to test it out, and nearly bit off my nail while waiting for the results.

A gasp emerged from my lips when it turned out positive. I wanted to scream and rush downstairs to tell Raven, but I held back. I would share the good news later, during the event that I had been looking forward to for a while now.

Despite everyone trying to pull us apart, Rowan decided that no one would dictate our lives anymore, and would go ahead with officially making me his Luna on the day of our wedding anniversary, since most of the pack didn't want to acknowledge our marriage. 

I would wait till then to tell Rowan about my newfound discovery.

—-

At long last, the big day arrived. I kept all my questions and excitement locked inside me, waiting for the right moment to finally tell Rowan.

Apparently oblivious to the fact that I had gotten harassed by some random man, and that he would soon be a father, Rowan had gotten ready for the event, and left before me, bringing up a strange excuse as to why he wouldn’t be the one to take me to an event meant for the both of us.

I didn’t argue, and got ready for the event alone, trying not to take his dismissal to heart. This was meant to be a day of joy, so I didn’t want to dwell on anything otherwise.

I made my way to the event hall all by myself. Even Raven hadn’t been home while I was getting ready. I had expected her to at least ask me to come with her, but maybe she had other things on her mind. After all, the way I had walked out on her the day before was enough for her to give me some distance.

The hall was packed by the time I got there. The Pack Elders were seated at the front, watching all proceedings with haughty looks on their faces. When they saw me come in, one of them raised his head and pointedly scowled in my direction. 

It didn’t matter anymore. After today, if they even dared to speak to me without respect, the Alpha King had the right to punish them.

I found Raven in the vast sea of faces, and I walked over to take a seat with her, but once I got close enough, I saw that she was sitting by her parents. My whole body froze.

She looked up and saw me before I could quietly turn around. “Hey! Over here. Come and sit with us,” she said, all smiles and patting the seat beside her.

Now that she had seen me, I couldn’t reject the offer, so I went over and plopped into the seat reserved for me. I could feel the stares of Rowan’s parents burning into me, but I had gotten used to their hate, so I simply focused on Raven’s kind and reassuring smile.

A hush fell upon the hall as Rowan stepped onto the stage, looking like an absolute heartbreaker. I could never fully get used to seeing him in all his glory. I hoped our baby would look more like him, because then I would be reminded each day about the man I loved.

Rowan looked across the audience, eyes hard and face stiff. The smile that he wore looked stiff, and nothing like the one he used to give me.

“I’m thankful for you all for coming to celebrate this moment. We have come so far as a pack. A hundred years is no joke, and I am honored to serve as the Alpha of such a prestigious pack.

“Today, as we are gathered here to celebrate our 100 years in existence as a pack, I would also like to use this opportunity to solidify and strengthen the bond I share with a very special woman.” His eyes fell on me, but instead of a smile, his eyebrows furrowed and his mouth pressed into a thin line.

I got ready to stand up, patting down the body of my gown.

“Please welcome the Luna of Veritas Pack!” Rowan said, lifting his hand and gesturing to the side.

The hall erupted in applause, as I got to my feet, but no one was looking at me. They were all focused on the petite woman walking up to the stage. 

All sorts of emotions pounded through my chest. I didn’t want to believe what I was seeing, because I couldn’t make sense of it at all. Who was she? And why was she the one on that stage with my mate?

The woman placed her hand in Rowan’s, and he lifted it to his lips . . . and kissed it.