PREGNANT WITH THE ALPHA’S HEIR AFTER HE REJECTED ME

The night that I had dreamed of since I was old enough to know what a mate was, was smelling of fresh rain, bonfire smoke and pine. The fragrances swirled round me in the fresh evening air, until I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears. All the werewolves of the Silver Fang Pack had assembled in the clearing below the shrine to the Moon Goddess. Some of the children scrambled between the adults, giggling as the flames of the ceremonial fire ascended toward the stars, with hundreds of voices thrown in as a chorus of excited whispers. I was right at the front of the crowd. Not for the reason I wanted to. After all, that's where omegas belonged. I pulled at the simple cream dress's sleeves wishing it was made of something prettier. The daughters of the families ranked glittered around me in rich new fabrics, all of which were embroidered with silver thread, and all of which knew that if they were not, their future would be changed tonight. I was already undergoing a change. I could feel it. My wolf was pacing back and forth in me. He’s here… “Yeah sure,” I whispered in my head. She had been weeping and weeping for weeks. Each sunrise seemed heavier and each sunset sharper than the previous, like destiny itself was coming closer and closer. Tonight was the Moon Blessing Ceremony! The night that the two were destined to know one another. The elders thought that the Moon Goddess would show true mates when both the wolves were prepared. I wasn’t ready. Not really. How could an orphaned omega who had no family, no status and no wealth be worthy of a mate? If that mate was the same as… Suddenly the clearing was blanketed with wave after wave of cedar, leather and winter frost. I was hit so hard by the smell that my knees wobbled. My breathing stopped. My wolf began howling with a happy cry in my head. Mate. All of my hairs were on end. Slowly… Painfully slowly… I turned. Alpha Lucian Kane took to the night sky. The crowd went silent as soon as they saw something. He was just like all the young she-wolves envisioned an Alpha would be. Tall. Broad shoulders. His black ceremonial coat had dark hair that touched his collar. The silver eyes that seemed to shine in the moon. He exuded confidence in every move he made. The future Alpha. The mightiest warrior our generation had ever seen. As he walked by women smiled hopefully. Men bowed their heads, showing respect. I couldn’t move. The invisible string that connected us became tighter and tighter and soon I felt my chest hurt. His fragrance enveloped me like warm fire. There was no softness in the bond. It demanded. It pulled. It said to me that I had to be with him. He looked all around the room. Past the ranked families. Past the council. Past noble daughters, Straight to me. Our gazes locked. All that electricity was in my skin. The world disappeared. The music faded. The voices vanished. There was only him. Only us. Only the impossible certainty in all the pounding of the heart. Mine. His expression changed. Only for a second. Shock. Then recognition. He knew. He knew what I was – he knew. Almost had a smile on my lips. It's not that the Moon Goddess had forgotten me after all. Perhaps omgness was not a bad thing. Perhaps rank was not of the greatest consequence after all. I was about to take a tentative step forward. Lucian didn’t. Instead… His jaw tightened. He stiffened his shoulders. His eyes had been warm just a few moments ago, but were suddenly cold. My smile faltered. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The Alpha Elder approached him with the sacred silver chalice. “Have you met your soul mate?” The question rang out in the stillness of the wooded clearing. All eyes were fixed on Lucian. Toward me. My blood was pumping rapidly and forcefully. Say it. Please… Just say it. Lucian made eye contact with me. He had a blank expression. Finally, when he spoke, his deep voice rang around the whole assembly. “I have.” I cried tears of relief as soon as they fell. One lovely instant… I thought that my life was forever altered. Then he continued. “My mate…” His silver eyes grew hard. “…is Ivy Raven.” There was a lot of quiet activity in the clearing. Everyone looked at me. Some looked surprised. Others looked confused. A few even smiled. In spite of the attention, my heart soared. He said my name. He acknowledged me. It was hard to breathe. Lucian made another halting step forward. His face remained impassive. “I reject her.” Silence. Absolute silence. The words were sharper than claws. At the time I thought I imagined them. Rejected? No… No, that wasn't possible! My wolf whimpered. The bond with my mate twisted and tore in my chest. I had the pain of my life. I felt like there was a knife in my heart. I… I couldn't get it out. Lucian did not allow me to talk. I turn down the offer of Ivy Raven as my Luna. He spoke without any panic. Controlled. Almost emotionless. “According to one old prophecy, my line of descent will be destroyed by a woman who bears my offspring. Each word was a blade that fell. “Not my pack I will not endanger;” There were gasps in the crowd. I heard someone call my name. There was a muted laugh. I couldn't hear a thing now. My ears were pounding with blood rushing through them. Destroy his bloodline? What prophecy? What garbage! I had never heard such garbage. I looked everywhere in his face for any sign of life. There must have been a doubt. Regret. Anything. Instead… He gave me a look of questioning as though I were a stranger. There still remained a mate bond between us that warmed us. I could feel it. Which made his rejection hurt even more. “Nothing,” I whispered, “I haven't done anything.” I barely managed to get the words out. “I know.” He responded right away. Too immediate. But I am not going to take the risk of losing thousands of lives.” I felt my chest constrict and couldn't breathe. We had been selected by the Moon Goddess. Well, wasn't that something? Why didn't I get at least to be heard? There was no response from the council. No one defended me. There was no one who spoke out in protest. Since it was only an omega. An orphan. Disposable. I turned my head away from them, in case anyone noticed the tears building up in my eyes. My wolf had calmed down. She was curled inside of me shaking her. But there was a connection that held us together. I wished it didn’t. In case it was like finding a mate… I never wanted one. Without another word, I turned away. Every step was more difficult than the next. The ceremony went on behind me. Life continued. Laughter slowly returned. As if my heart hadn't just been broken under the moon. My entry into the woods was cool and familiar. I was strolling around without any idea where I was headed. Branches were touching my arms. Breathed in the smell of wet soil and earth. A voice of an owl was heard in the distance. Then another. Finally, I gave in and my legs went out from under me. I fell to the soft moss under an old pine tree. I cried as I let go of the tears that had been bottled up inside me. Hot. Relentless. Silent. I laid my shivering hand on my belly, attempting to calm myself. I felt a strange dizziness; I felt dizzy. I had had an unusually fatigued feeling for days. Nauseous. Weak. I had criticized the ceremony. The stress. Now… A thought came to me again. One which made my heart quail. I was overdue with my period for the month. Very late. I looked at my hand that was covering my belly and was protective of my belly. “No…” It took less than a breath to be able to talk the word away. It couldn’t be. Could it? The idea left a chill in my head. If it were true… If I had Lucian Kane's kid. . . . He never would ever know. I closed my eyes as new tears ran down my face. Whatever it is,” I could hear myself whisper to the silent forest, “you’ll never know.” Suddenly, a rustling noise rang out in the darkness behind me. I froze. Slow. Heavy. Approaching footsteps.