Chapter 1: The Raven Ball

Rose

I’m pregnant.

A smile tugs at my lips. 

I twist in front of the wall mirror, checking if I will notice a bump, even though I just found out today.

I was so sure I would never experience being a mother because of how weak my wolf is. But miracles really do exist.

During the Lycan and Werewolf war four years ago, I lost my father and got terribly injured. The pack healers confirmed my wolf was damaged—

A knock sounds on my door, and I jolt, removing my hand from my stomach just as my personal maid enters. 

“Luna Rose!” Aneesa lowers her head. “Alpha Jacob is here.”

Before she can even blink, I bunch up the skirt of my long gown and rush out of my room.

So help me, goddess. Because I’m running in four-inch heels. But I can’t give a damn about falling face flat now. My pulse races. Fierce excitement burns through me, threatening to burst out. 

When I get to the ballroom, pack wolves are milling about the entrance part respectfully.

I touch the shoulders of those I can while they surround me, offering them blessings from the moon, which only Lunas carry.

But I can’t wait to get in. 

“Luna Rose,” my chief guard and best friend, Rhiannon, bows, stepping aside to lead me into the grand ball. 

It’s a Raven Pack tradition. Every year, the Alpha hosts a grand ball to help pack wolves find their fated mates. 

When I enter, the crowd pauses their partying to stare like I am some celestial being they don’t see every day.

Chandeliers cover the ballroom’s massive ceiling, and the walls and tables glitter with silver. 

“You’ll fracture your neck if you keep looking around like that,” Rhi whispers after I settle on my throne. 

My back immediately straightens. “Am I that obvious?” I ask, blushing.

“Yes, Rose, like a neon sign in a dark alley.” She playfully shudders. “I can’t believe my break from seeing you and Alpha Jacob be all over each other is over.”

“Are you admitting to being ridiculous, Rhiannon?”

“I’m admitting to my suffering. As your shadow, I have to always stay close to you, even when you and the Alpha do it around the house—which is like every day—”

“That’s so not true,” I whisper, eyes widening with a playful warning.

“Really? Rose, are you denying that you prefer straddling him during court meetings?”

Rhi bites back a laugh, her eyes twinkling as I swat her arm. Straddling my husband in his throne room only happened once. Jacob and I had been around each other all day, and we got carried away. We were caught by his court… doing the deed.

That was four years ago, and looking back now, he and I have come a long way.

My father was the pack’s most powerful Gamma, and he died during the war with Lycans. Out of love, I had also jumped in front of Alpha Jacob, getting hit with four silver bullets to save him.

The silvers damaged my wolf permanently, and the Raven pack felt sorry for me.

They awarded me for my bravery with a mate. And even though he was not my fated mate, Alpha Jacob and I created a bond just as strong.

The new pack Gamma approaches the high table, where our thrones are. He bows, gem-lined clothes sparkling.

“I expected to see my husband coming with you, Jarvis. How was the Ice Festival?” I tap my fingers impatiently on the armrest when the mindlink with Jacob doesn’t connect. 

“Luna Rose, it was splendid. All the Alphas from packs far and wide came.”

“Good. If the goddess wills it, I should attend next year.” I touch my stomach absentmindedly, remembering how I had opted to stay behind because I wasn’t feeling my best. 

“Ah. The Alpha requested I show you this as soon as we arrived.”

I frown. “Is something wrong?” I ask, turning to look at the projection that immediately steals the attention of everyone in the room. 

My hand covers my mouth when I realize what this is. I’m watching clips of my recovery and how Jacob stayed by my side through the pain. An image of our first kiss on the rooftop flickers by, followed by moments from each year we’ve spent together.

I realize that I never laughed in my entire laugh as much as I’ve done in the past four years by his side. 

Jacob makes me... happy. 

His voice floods the room. I hear him clear his throat in the projection, and I hold my breath, my eyes watering. 

“To my Rose, I could never have asked for a better other half. I adore how sweet, kind, and peaceful you are. You make me a better man, and I’m blessed to be doing life with you. Even though you are not my fated mate, no matter what anyone says, I know I won. Happy anniversary.”

Tears stream down my face. I didn’t think he would remember because of the Ice Festival, which he had to attend, but he did. 

Oh, Jacob. I place a hand over my heart, sniffling. 

“Rose, after you watch this, meet me at our spot, and you’d better clean those tears.” 

I laugh at that, nodding my head like he’s in the room to even see me. Rhiannon hands me a napkin, and the crowd cheers louder as I come down from the high table.

She winks at me when I step on the aisle alone, knowing she won’t have to be my shadow tonight. “To all the wolves who will find their mates tonight. The way to true happiness is by letting love lead. Good luck.” I smile at the cheering crowd, taking my leave.

I walk down a familiar path leading to the silvery lake that gathers at the end of our property.

There’s a large tree on the left side of the lake, surrounded by shrubs. I increase my pace when I’m close, smiling giddily.

We haven’t seen each other in three whole days. That’s the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing my husband or touching him, and I realized I don’t function well when he’s not near me.

Suddenly, I can smell him. It shouldn’t be possible because of my weak wolf, but maybe the pregnancy made it so now. 

“Jacob—” I’m slammed to a stop by what’s in front of me.

I fall back a step, cold fear stopping my heart. 

My favorite meals and flowers cover the picnic mat on the ground. There’s also a lot of books in a basket; he knows I love reading. 

“Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” the woman he’s fucking against our favorite tree says. “I’m so close; I need more of you.”

Jacob doesn’t stop thrusting into her, but his eyes are pinned on me, black with remorse and... desire. Like he doesn’t have the power to end what’s happening now. 

I shake my head when her moans get louder, but I’m just frozen at a spot, hands trembling. 

He growls, nipping her big breast as he cums. They pant, not separating while I’m still standing there like a fool. 

If those silver bullets in the past couldn’t kill me, I have no doubt that this will. It’s like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. The pain is blinding. I can’t even hold myself up. 

Jacob finally pulls out of her and fixes himself back into his pants. The redhead I’ve never seen before bends to pick up her ripped top as he reaches for me. 

“No!” I shove his hand away angrily. 

“Rose—”

“You told me I was enough.” Tears fell down my face. “That my love was enough.”

“It is.” He blinks back tears of his own, running a shaky hand over his face. “I found my fated mate, and—and I tried to fight it, I swear.”

“But I couldn’t resist the bond.” His voice cracks. “Please understand.”