1-𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀

I stood before his piercing emerald eyes blazing with accusation. My heart raced as he towered over me, his chiseled features twisted in anger.

"Astrid, how could you?"

His deep voice was laced with disappointment, yet anger.

"I thought you were better than this."

I shook my head, confusion and fear mingling in my chest. I wanted to scream, defend myself that I was being accused wrongly, and cry my heart out, but I was too sure that it would only speed up my death.

"Alpha, I don't know what you're talking about," I said as I saw his jaw clenched.

"Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I mean."

I took a step back, my hands trembling. My body quivered under his gaze. It was the face I used to admire for hours from a distance and it gave me millions of butterflies dancing in my stomach. Sadly, this face was the same face that made me go insane, but now all I wanted was to vanish from his gaze and hide myself till the end of the world.

"I swear on the goddess, Alpha, I've done nothing wrong."

Kaidën's gaze lingered on me as if searching for deceit, his eyes narrowed as a scowl made its way to his lips. My body stiffened, my heart heavy with a mix of emotions.

“How dare you swear on the goddess with that filthy lying mouth of yours!” I hissed in pain as he squeezed my cheeks in his palm tightly. How pitiful did I exactly look, I wondered.

“No, please, I beg you to believe me, Alpha Kaidën”

**Two Weeks Earlier**

“To the Honorable Members of the Mystic Pack, It is with great pleasure and reverence that we announce a momentous occasion in the history of our esteemed pack. Our revered Luna, Xylara, has been blessed with the miracle of life. She is expecting a child, an heir to the Mystic Pack's legacy.”

I could hear the applause of the people too well and clearly. But instead of making me happy… It made me nauseous and disgusted. I lowered my gaze from the overly happy couple and made my way out of the crowd towards the forest. I just wanted to escape from this torturous situation.

I shifted to my wolf form and glided through the forest. The cold breeze hit my furry skin, and the moon shone brightly. Stopping right before our boundary, I looked up to the sky and let out a howl. Why…just why did it have to be me?

All these years, I have put my love for him first, I have been with him through thick and thin. I was happier than him when he was announced as the Alpha of the pack…was it so wrong to imagine a happy ending with him?

I shifted back to my human form and let my tears slide down my cheeks. I felt my nose slightly runny from the cold air that surrounded me as I sniffed back a breath. I had no hope of being with him, the one that I've yearned for forever, the one that has been in my heart since my coming of age. I have always loved the Alpha of our pack,

Kaiden Thumper.

As I decided to return where the ceremony was still ongoing, my head bumped into another head making me narrow my eyes at the person.

“Astrid…”

She called out softly, making my teeth grind as I forced myself to bow before her. A wide smile spread across her lips as she stepped forward.

“Yes, Luna? Do you maybe have something to tell me?”

I asked as I saw her gaze dropping to the ground; oh, how I'd love to tear her into pieces. I knew I was selfish, but right now, I couldn't hold back my fury for her.

“You see Astrid, I am blessed with an heir to this pack, a gift from the goddess. I have a small favor to ask you,”

Great. What is it to me? It's your life, your happiness, why bother discussing it with me?

“Yes, Luna. Everything you ask for” I saw her stepping forward before bringing her face close to my ear.

“Be my slave for these nine months, like the good girl you are”

My eyes widened before they turned to look at her who held a warm smile on her face. My lips quivered to say what I'd have been hiding back but I was unsure if I could say it out. Her honeyed chuckle was all I heard before my mind went blank and I shifted in my spot.

“I was kidding Astrid. I hope you didn't mind,” She continued. “I cannot attend Kaidën this time during my pregnancy. Can you maybe look after him for a little while?”

I couldn't understand if I should be angry at her authority over me or if I should be happy that I was getting a chance to spend a little time with Kaidën. But despite my dilemma, I remained neutral and said what seemed right to me.

“My pleasure, Luna,” I said, bowing before he and she stepped forward to hug me. I knew something wasn't right, I just knew.

The next day, I walked down my stairs after doing my morning routine, and I found my father in his usual spot at the dining table. He was focused on some papers which made me scoff. I silently took my seat as the maids served me breakfast. Before I could take a bite of my food, my father spoke.

“Tonight, we're to meet your fated mate, do you remember?”

My jaw clenched and my fist turned into a ball, why was he rushing my mating so much? It's my life afterall, I should be the one to select my mate. Oh Goddess, what have you done to me!

“Yes father, I remember,” I continued “Can we delay the meeting for a while?”

And that was the moment I knew I screwed up when I saw his eyes glaring at me. My love for kaiden did not allow me to look at any other man ever. Do I need to tell him about my feelings for him to set me free? Nevertheless I cleared my throat before speaking.

“I am not ready for my mating, father. In Fact I have feelings for someone else—”

Before I could finish my sentence, my father slammed his hands on the table making me flinch as his voice thundered across the room.

“How dare you reject the fate given to you by the Goddess?” He held disappointment and guilt in his eyes and I very well knew what it was for.

He was pretending to be strict about my mating when in reality he wanted me to be happy but was bound by his duties as the Beta of the pack. His expression turned grave, and he leaned in closer to me.

"Astrid, I know you think you have feelings for someone else," he said, his voice low and serious. "But let me tell you something about that person. Something that will make you question everything."

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what father could possibly know.

"What is it, Father?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes seemed to bore into my soul as he spoke.

"The person you think you love, Astrid... they are not what they seem. They have a secret, one that could destroy our pack and everything we hold dear."

My mind reeled as I tried to process my father's words. What did he mean? Does he know the one that I like is Kaiden? Why was he being so cryptic? I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that my father was not going to tell me any more. At least, not yet.