CHAPTER 1

Aria walked out of the pack's pharmacy, a small envelope in her hand. She was smiling, and her eyes looked happy. The sun was shining, and the air was fresh and clean.

The pharmacy was a small, cozy building in the middle of the pack's village. The sign above the door read "Moonlight Apothecary". The village was quiet, except for the sounds of birds singing and people talking.

Aria walked down a dirt path, lined with trees and green bushes. The earth was cool and damp beneath her feet. She passed by some pack members, who said hello and smiled.

The village gardens were nearby, filled with colorful flowers and delicious-smelling fruits and vegetables. Aria's stomach growled, and she quickened her pace.

She looked ahead at the farmhouse, where she lived. Smoke was coming out of the chimney, and she could smell food cooking. Her stomach growled again, and she smiled.

As she got closer to the house, she heard laughter and music coming from inside. She recognized the song and felt happy. The envelope in her hand felt important, but she didn't know what it meant yet.

Aria walked up the porch steps and opened the front door. Warm light spilled out, and she stepped inside.

Aria walked into the farmhouse, looking around for anyone she knew. She spotted Ryker in the corner of the room, milking a cow. She waved at him excitedly, a big smile on her face.

Ryker looked up, his eyes meeting Aria's. But he didn't smile back. Instead, he looked indifferent, his expression neutral. Aria didn't notice, too caught up in her own excitement.

Ryker dropped the gloves he was wearing and walked over to Aria. He pulled her to a corner of the room, where no one could see them.

"You can't be here," Ryker scolded, his voice low and serious.

Aria looked up at him, confused. "Why not?" she asked.

Ryker didn't answer. Instead, he just looked at her, his expression stern.

Aria shrugged. "Never mind," she said, her excitement returning. "I have good news!"

Ryker raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked.

Aria grinned mischievously. "Guess," she said.

Ryker sighed. "I don't have time for games, Aria. Just tell me what you want to say and get going."

Aria frowned, but then her smile returned. She handed Ryker a small envelope.

Ryker took it, looking at it curiously. "What's this?" he asked.

Aria urged him to open it. Ryker did, pulling out a small piece of paper. He read it, his expression growing more and more confused.

"I don't understand," he said, looking up at Aria.

Aria smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I'm pregnant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Ryker's expression froze, his eyes wide with shock. He just stood there, staring at Aria, his face pale.

Aria looked at Ryker, expecting to see a smile on his face. But instead, he looked shocked and unhappy.

"Why aren't you looking happy?" Aria asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

Ryker's expression changed from shock to anger. "Are you joking?" he asked, his voice rising.

Aria shook her head. "No, I'm not," she said, her voice firm.

Ryker's face turned red with anger. "Where did you get this piece of paper from?" he demanded, waving the paper in the air.

Aria explained, "I just came back from the hospital. They did a test and confirmed that I'm pregnant. Then I went to the pharmacy to get some medicine for the sickness I've been feeling."

Ryker's expression didn't change. He looked angry and upset. "I don't care what sickness you have," he said, his voice cold. "But you should know what to do with the child. I'm not the father."

Aria's face fell, her eyes widening in shock. She looked like she had been punched in the gut. Ryker's words hurt her, and she didn't know how to react.

Aria's face fell, but she quickly regained her composure. She looked at Ryker, her eyes flashing with a mix of sadness and determination.

"You've always wanted this," Aria said, her voice firm but shaking slightly. "You've always wanted a child, a heir to carry on your family's legacy. That's why I accepted this... why I accepted us."

Ryker's expression didn't change, but Aria saw a flicker of something in his eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of recognition, of acknowledgment. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a cold, hard mask.

"That was just talk," Ryker said, his voice dismissive. "I never thought it would actually happen."

Aria felt a pang of hurt and betrayal. She had thought that Ryker's words, his promises, had meant something. But now, it seemed like they were just empty words, meaningless and hollow.

"I believed you," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I believed that you wanted this, that you wanted us."

Ryker's expression didn't change, but Aria saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of regret, of remorse. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a cold, hard mask.

Aria reminded Ryker, "You promised me marriage at the next mating ceremony. That's why I accepted this."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Ryker's expression remained cold and unyielding.

Ryker sneered, "You never did. Stop lying."

Aria's face crumpled in pain. Ryker's words cut deep.

Ryker's voice dropped to a menacing tone. "Let's be real, Aria. I had to force myself on you. You didn't exactly give me your consent."

Aria's tears flowed harder, her body shaking with sobs. Ryker's words were like a knife to her heart.

Aria's tears continued to flow as she asked Ryker, "What's going to happen to the baby? What's going to happen to us?"

Ryker's expression remained cold. "There's not going to be an us," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Get rid of it and continue your life."

Aria's face contorted in pain. "Why are you doing this to me?" she cried. "Why did you deceive me? You promised me marriage, you promised me a life together..."

Ryker rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll tell you the truth," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I never loved you, Aria. It was all just a bet I made with my friends. Everyone wanted you, and I was determined to have you. I promised them I'd prove it to them, and I did."

Aria's eyes widened in horror. "A bet?" she repeated, her voice shaking. "You used me for a bet?"

Ryker shrugged. "Yeah, and I won. I'm going to celebrate on Monday with a big party. You're invited, if you want to come and get a free drink."

Aria's face crumpled in pain. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. "You're going to celebrate?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're going to celebrate using me for your own amusement?"

Ryker sneered. "What did you think was going to happen, Aria? Did you think I was in love with you? You're a nobody from a nobody's family. You don't even have parents. You live with your evil uncle, who would probably kill you if he found out you're pregnant. So do yourself a favor and get rid of the child."

Aria's tears flowed harder, her body shaking with sobs. She felt like she'd been destroyed, like her heart had been ripped out of her chest.

Aria's tears slowed, replaced by a deep sadness. "What about the connection we felt when we first met?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryker laughed. "Wait, you must be joking," he said, his eyes mocking. "You really thought I wanted you to be my mate?"

Aria's face fell, her eyes widening in shock.

Ryker continued, his voice dripping with malice. "I had a girlfriend, Aria. I only pretended to break up with her for the bet. We've been dating the whole time. And if you think you can't even do one abortion for me, then you're not even worth it."

Aria's eyes filled with horror. "One abortion?" she repeated.

Ryker shrugged. "Stephanie, my girlfriend, has done seven abortions for me already. If you can't even do one, then you're not worthy of me."

Aria felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Her world was crashing down around her. She felt like she was living in a nightmare. Ryker's words cut deep, and she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You're… you're a monster," Aria stammered, her voice shaking with rage and sadness.

Ryker shrugged, his expression unrepentant. "I'm just a guy who gets what he wants," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Aria's eyes filled with tears again, and she felt like she was going to vomit. She couldn't believe she had ever loved this person.

"You never loved me, did you?" Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryker laughed. "Love you? Don't make me laugh," he said, his eyes

mocking. "You were just a conquest, Aria. A bet. A game. And now that I've won, it's time for you to get rid of the evidence.”