11

Scarlett

I was sitting on my bed, lost in my thoughts that were as heavy and dark as the clouds above. Suddenly, a gentle knock on my door brought me back to reality.

“Who?”

“Luna, it’s me.” Alisha’s familiar voice brought a small measure of comfort.

“Come in.”

She entered quietly, closing the door behind her. I could sense her unease from the way she held herself and the slight tremor in her usually steady hands.

“How are you feeling, Luna?” She approached with measured steps, her eyes darting to my growing belly.

“Good.” I smiled gently. “Please sit with me.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t—” she started, but I cut her off gently.

“Sit, Alisha. Please.” I patted the space beside me on my bed. “Just for a moment.”

Alisha took a seat beside me.

“Why are you here, Alisha?” I asked.

“I’m here to check on you. How are you feeling?”

“I’m getting better day by day,” I responded with a smile. “Thanks to you.”

“I’m only doing my job,” she said, trying to cover the worries in her voice. I sensed it, but I couldn’t help but ask.

“Something’s troubling you,” I said softly. It wasn’t a question.

“No, I—” She stopped, catching my knowing look. “I shouldn’t say anything.”

“Tell me.”

Alisha took a deep breath and spoke in a hushed tone, “I overheard them, Luna... they were talking about your baby.”

“My baby,” I whispered. “Who? Who the heck are they?”

“The alpha’s mistress,” she answered. “Lady Rebecca and lady Claire.”

“What about my baby?” I asked, my hand possessively wrapped around my belly. “What did they say about my child?”

“I couldn’t hear everything clearly, but...” She glanced nervously at the door. “Whatever they’re planning, Luna, it isn’t good. The way they were speaking...” She shuddered. “You need to be careful. More careful than ever.”

Ice crawled through my veins. “What exactly did they say?”

“They were careful with their words, but their intentions...” Alisha’s eyes filled with tears. “Just please, promise me you’ll watch your food, your drink. Don’t let anyone but me attend to you. Don’t—”

“I will. Thank you for informing me about this. I will be extra careful about them.”

Alisha rose, smoothing her skirts with trembling hands. “I should go. I have duties to attend to, but I’ll check on you later.”

“Thank you.”

She paused at the door, looking back with eyes full of concern. “Be safe, Luna.”

“Okay.” I sighed. I couldn’t help but think about what she just told me. I needed to be careful because whatever they were saying or planning wouldn’t favor me. I needed to give birth to this child.

_

As evening fell, I found myself sitting at the front of the mirror, absentmindedly brushing my hair. My thoughts inevitably drifted to him, consuming my mind despite my efforts to focus elsewhere.

My fingers traced the mating mark at the base of my neck, now faded but still present. Like a ghost of what could have been. Finn. Even thinking his name sent a sharp ache through my chest. I wanted to hate him. Wanted to hate him for what he caused me. For the pain, but who am I to? I still love him. Deep down, I still have a lingering feeling for him.

“You promised forever,” I whispered to my reflection, watching tears gather in my eyes. “You promised, and then you left. You promised, and you rejected me.”

The baby kicked, as if sensing my distress. My hand moved to my swollen belly, now obvious at six months. “I’m sorry, little one. Your father...” The words caught in my throat. What could I say? That he was brave? Kind? That when he smiled, his eyes crinkled at the corners in a way that made my heart skip? That his touch felt like coming home?

Or that he abandoned us without a backward glance?

A loud bang interrupted my thoughts as the door swung open, slamming against the wall. Vanessa entered confidently, her red dress hugging her figure tightly like a second skin, a sly smile playing on her lips.

“Oh, how precious,” she purred, catching me hastily wiping away tears. “Missing your runaway mate again? How pathetically predictable.”

I stood, squaring my shoulders. “This is my private room. You have no right—”

“I have every right,” she cut me off, stalking closer. “This entire pack belongs to Dickson, which means it belongs to me. Including you.” She picked up my hairbrush, examining it with exaggerated interest. “You know, I’ve always wondered—what kind of mate just abandons their pregnant omega? He must have seen something truly worthless in you to break a mate bond.”

The words struck with precise accuracy, causing me to flinch as her smile grew wider.

“Unless..." She tapped the brush against her chin thoughtfully. “Unless he never really loved you at all. Maybe you were just convenient, available, and easy.”

“Get out,” I whispered, hands trembling.

“Did he even know about the baby? That bastard growing inside you?” Her eyes gleamed with malicious curiosity. “Or did he leave before you could tell him? Either way—” she laughed, the sound like breaking glass “—he chose right. Look at you. Weak. Pathetic. Crying over someone who couldn’t get away from you fast enough.”

“Enough,” I roared, striking her across the face. “How dare you speak like that to me?”

Her eyes burned with rage as she held her cheek. “How dare you slap me, bitch?” she hissed.

“Do not speak like that about my mate or child,” I snapped, each word laced with warning.”

“Your mate?” She scoffed with a mocking tone. “I knew it. You are a bitch. Still thinking about your stupid mate when you’re married to Dickson?”

My eyes widened, and I was speechless for a minute. That wasn’t what I meant. She laughed, relishing the shock on my face.

“Get out.”

“Your mate rejected you because you’re a bitch, I know it,” she added, pressing further.

My legs shook, but I forced myself to remain standing. “You don’t know anything about us.”

“Us?” She threw back her head and laughed. “There is no ‘us,’ you stupid girl. There’s just you—alone, unwanted, carrying a bastard no one will ever love.” She moved to the door, then paused. “Oh, and Dickson wanted me to remind you—the Northern Pack delegation arrives tomorrow. You’re to stay in your room. We can’t have you embarrassing us with your... emotional state.”

“I understand.”

“Oh, and I’ll make you pay for that slap,” she announced before slamming the door shut behind her, leaving me in suffocating silence. My legs finally gave out, and I sank to the floor, one hand pressed against my mouth to stifle my sobs.

She was right. Goddess, help me; she was right. My love for Finn was a weakness, a chain binding me to a ghost. Each memory—his laugh, his touch, the way he’d look at me like I was his whole world—was another link keeping me trapped in the past.

The baby kicked again, harder this time. I pressed both hands against my belly, feeling the strong movements of this little life—this piece of Finn I carried within me.

“I have to let him go,” I whispered to my child. “I have to be stronger than this. For you.” My voice strengthened. “I won’t let them be right about us. I won’t let them win.”

Outside my window, storm clouds gathered, mirroring my darkening thoughts. Thunder rolled in the distance as I pushed myself to my feet, legs still unsteady but spine straight.

Let Vanessa believe she had shattered me. Let her inform Dickson about my tears, my weakness. They didn’t realize that every blow to my heart only made me stronger, filling me with more willpower.

I gazed at my reflection once more, struggling to recognize the woman staring back at me. The innocent girl who once believed in love and fairy tales had vanished.

“Goodbye, Finn,” I whispered, touching the faded mark one last time. “This is the end of it. I can’t keep loving a ghost.”