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1849 Words
Valina
“Are you… Are you sure, Éléonore?” I ask in a broken voice.
My heart is pounding wildly, filled with happiness.
“Very sure, Luna. You are pregnant.”
“Why couldn’t I feel it, nor his father?” I ask, worried.
“It’s very recent, that might be why. Give yourself a few more days and you should be able to feel the pheromones.”
She replies, and I nod with eyes blurred by tears.
I am the Luna of the Autumn Forest Pack.
Three years ago, I married the man I love madly, even though we are not fated mates—my Alpha, Williams .
I gave everything to be the perfect Luna, the pillar he could lean on.
However, a shadow hangs over my marriage: the question of an heir.
I have never been able to get pregnant, and I admit that I do not often share a bed with Williams . But I know that his Alpha duties keep him extremely busy and stressed.
“Please, don’t say anything to anyone in the pack. I want to surprise my husband.”
“Don’t worry, Luna, I won’t say a word. Congratulations!” She smiles at me, and I return her smile, overflowing with excitement and happiness.
Although I was a foreigner who did not originally belong to this pack, since my parents died and the previous Alpha took me in, I have never felt rejected or despised.
That is why I devoted myself entirely to my duties as Luna.
I am grateful for my life and the wonderful man I married.
⸻
“What are all these foods? Is there going to be a party?”
“Hands off!” I swat away Sophie’s eager claws—my best friend—who slipped in through the back door of the kitchen. “But puff pastry pie and everything!” she says, sitting on a stool.
Honestly, I may have gone a little overboard with the dishes, but I’m so happy that I want everything to be perfect.
All of my Alpha’s favorite dishes are ready!
“Well, today is our wedding anniversary. I want to celebrate with an intimate dinner,” I say, turning back to the caramel on the stove.
I don’t hear her reply, so I turn halfway around, curious.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing, nothing… I just heard that the Alpha has an emergency today. Didn’t he tell you?” she asks, and I frown.
In fact, Williams doesn’t usually explain much about his work.
I suppose it’s to keep me from worrying.
“No, but he’ll still come back. He knows today is special,” I reply, completely convinced.
She looks at me strangely.
Lately, I can’t really understand her, but she was the first person who approached me in this pack and always supported me.
I consider her a friend.
“Sophie, there’s something I want to tell you, but… I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s very important to me,” I suddenly say, wanting to share the good news with her, but not before telling Williams .
“Really? You can’t tell me now?” she asks with so much curiosity. She leans on the counter while nibbling on a homemade cookie.
“No, no. Tomorrow. I promise you’ll be the second to know,” I reply, and I can feel my happiness radiating through all my pores.
“Alright, I’ll leave you with your mystery then. I have things to do. Happy anniversary evening,” she grumbles, frustrated that I didn’t reveal the secret, and she leaves the way she came.
I look at the clock. There is still time.
I remove my apron and go up to the second floor to shower and dress nicely.
Everything has to be perfect tonight, to celebrate with my beloved mate.
⸻
I look at the clock for the thousandth time as I sit on the couch. It’s midnight, and Williams hasn’t arrived.
I look at the cold dishes on the table and get up to reheat them again.
I’m in the middle of this task when I hear the front door open and close.
His delicious scent tickles my nose, warming my stomach.
I glance at my burgundy dress, smooth it, and fix my hair in the hallway mirror.
My jet-black hair is tied in a high ponytail, and my intense blue eyes, highlighted with makeup, stare back at me.
I enter the foyer, watching my imposing Alpha walk through the door.
“My love, how was your day? A lot of work, wasn’t it?”
I take the coat he’s holding to hang it up.
I see him gripping a few documents, but I assume it’s pack business.
I step closer to kiss him, but he steps back.
“I’m sweaty and dirty from the road.
Don’t dirty yourself,” he says. His piercing golden-brown eyes lock onto me—eyes I adore despite their constant coldness.
It’s just his nature.
He bears too much responsibility after inheriting the role of Alpha so young, following his father’s death.
His blond hair is deliciously messy and, for some reason, damp.
I can even smell an unfamiliar shower gel.
Why would he have showered before coming home? And he says he’s dirty, yet it’s clear he just washed.
“S-sure, give me a second to reheat dinner. You must be hungry…”
“I’m not hungry. Valina, we need to talk.”
“But dinner—”
“Forget dinner. Let’s go to the living room. I have something to tell you.”
His authoritative voice makes me tense.
I follow him, beginning to feel deeply worried.
My hand slips into the pocket of my skirt, clutching the folded document proving that I am pregnant.
“Why was the table so full of dishes? Were you planning a party?” he asks, glancing toward the dining room.
My heart tightens.
“My love, I know you’ve been busy with pack duties. But… don’t tell me you forgot our anniversary?
Today marks three years since we were united,” I say, sitting down on the couch.
I expect him to sit beside me, but instead he chooses the armchair across from me.
Williams has never been very affectionate, but tonight he is too distant. Too cold.
An alarm goes off inside me.
“Of course I remembered. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for our third anniversary,” he replies, but I see no trace of joy on his face.
I know everything will change with my news.
Our relationship hasn’t been great because of this. The elders of the pack constantly pressure him for an heir.
When I tell him about the baby, he’ll be happy.
“I’ll be quick because I can’t take it anymore—”
“Wait! Wait, Williams . Let me show you something first, and then you can tell me what you wanted to say,” I interrupt, feeling a strong premonition that I won’t like his next words.
Lowering my head, I take out the folded paper and hand it to him, my heart pounding with emotion.
He takes it and reads silently while I watch him, anxious. I wait for his joy to match mine.
“I’m pregnant! I’m carrying your cub!
We will have an heir for the pack. I’m sure the Goddess has blessed us with a son!”
I can’t help myself and say it outright.
Tears in my eyes, I stand and move toward him, wanting to kiss him.
But as in love as I am, I can still see that this is not the reaction I expected from the father of my child.
“Are you sure about that, or is it just a trick to keep me tied to you?” he suddenly says, standing up and pushing me away as I try to wrap my arms around him.
“Williams … Of course I’m sure.
Look, it’s the midwife’s handwriting.
Why would I lie about something so important? My love, what’s wrong? What’s happening, my Alpha?”
“No, no. My Goddess!” I watch him pace like a caged wolf in the living room. “This can’t happen. Not now!”
“Williams …”
“Did you tell my mother? Anyone else?!” he suddenly asks, stepping toward me and gripping my shoulders tightly.
“N-no, my love. I was waiting to tell you first. I thought… that you would be happy. I know they pressure you.
Alpha, you don’t have to be tense anymore. We will have our family.”
I raise a trembling hand to caress his cheek, but he just stares at me with those golden eyes, silent.
I can’t understand what’s going on in his head.
“You’re right… I’ve been very stressed. I’m sorry,” he suddenly pulls me into his arms, and I finally sigh, relieved, hugging him tenderly in return.
For a moment, I feared he wouldn’t be happy.
“We’ll get through this together, my Alpha. I’ll be the perfect Luna so no one reprimands you,” I whisper, lifting my head.
I want him to kiss me like he hasn’t in a long time.
“Let’s go run. A wild anniversary night, without restrictions.”
He suddenly suggests, taking my hand and pulling me toward the back of our house, which borders the pack forest.
“Shift into your wolf,” he orders, and I watch him undress.
He is so sexy and strong.
His hair shines under the moonlight, and I begin my transformation into my wolf—one of the biggest lies and secrets of my life: something even Williams doesn’t know.
We run freely through the pack lands.
But I notice how we go farther and farther, even crossing the borders.
Yet, all I see is Williams ’s massive white wolf running wildly ahead of me.
We reach a secluded place at the edge of a deep cliff. Above us, the moon shines intensely, and the forest landscape stretches far below.
“Where are we? We’re outside our pack’s territory… Aren’t we trespassing on someone else’s land?”
I gaze into the distance from the edge, hypnotized by the view. I have already returned to my human form, but no one answers.
I feel uneasy and begin to turn around.
However, something inside me screams alarm. A crow caws in the distance.
But it’s already too late.
“Da… Williams , what?! Aaaaaahhh!” I scream as I feel wolf claws tear into my abdomen, ripping me open deeply.
Terrified and shocked by the sudden attack, I try to run.
I try to transform back into my wolf to escape into the forest, far from what’s happening, far from this enraged Alpha wolf whose blood-red eyes stare at me with pure hatred.
But it’s impossible to escape.
“Ahhh! Let me go! Williams , what are you doing?!
What are you doing?! Ahhh! Help! Help!” I scream as he jumps on me when I try to escape.
- Writer
