Alpha’s Runaway Luna

Chapter one

Chapter 1

DELLA'S POV

I stood there in front of the mirror, tugging at the neckline of the red gown as if it might suddenly decide to choke me.

The lace was soft and overly expensive, the kind of dress that cost more than three months of what I used to make back home.

It was sleeveless with a deep crimson shade, hugging my waist and flaring out just enough to look elegant. It was pretty. Really pretty.

But pretty didn’t stop my stomach from flipping every time I thought about the ballroom downstairs.

No matter how many I attended or hosted I never seemed to get used to the routine.

The maids buzzed around me like they were on a timer. One pinned up a curl that kept falling loose, and another adjusted the thin straps so they sat just right on my shoulders.

My dark red hair caught the light from the vanity bulbs, making it looking almost black in some places and brighter in others.

My face had been made up to perfection and I looked every bit of the fake Luna I was meant to be but I still felt like the omega who’d accidentally wandered into the wrong life.

The maids rounded the dress up and I nodded watching them leave the room until I was left with just the head of the house—Tonia.

She’d been head maid here forever—gray in her hair now, but her hands still moved like she wasn't more than thirty.

She fastened the last clasp on the gold chain around my throat, stepped back, and sniffed the air. “You smell different tonight, little one.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “New perfume. Vanilla and jasmine. I thought it might calm my nerves or something.”

Tonia’s eyes narrowed and I stared at her in confusion as she shook her head. “That’s not it.”

“Then… what?” The smile fading off my face. She leaned in closer, voice dropping so low it felt like a secret between us. “There’s a pup in you. I can smell it.”

That had to be the most random sentence I had heard since the year started and I stared at her like she had grown an extra head before letting out a very unladylike laugh.

"Yeah, right. Like that's ever going to happen," I muttered, twirling a strand of hair between my fingers.

“I wouldn’t joke about this, Della. I’m sure.” She said with a straight face and my heart did this weird stutter thing. “That’s impossible.”

She just looked at me, her eyes filled with a warmth as she waited for me to come to terms.

"But I'm an Omega. Omegas don’t… especially not with someone like Ian. The odds are basically zero. Everyone knows that.”

“Almost zero isn’t zero, child. Go check if you don’t believe me.” She said giving me a warm look before she walked out of the room.

Silence filled the room and then bolted to the cupboard where I kept the little calendar hidden behind my old notebooks. My heart racing as I flipped through the pages.

Last period… six weeks. Six empty boxes stared back at me. My hand slid to my stomach and even though I felt no different I couldn’t stop the panic from rising.

The pregnancy test was shoved way in the back of the cabinet under a stack of towels, like hiding it made it less real.

Ian always had the maids but they were part of my female stuff but I never felt the need to use them. Ever. Without another thought, I grabbed four running into the bathroom.

I followed the procedure not wanting to make even the slightest mistake then spent more than fifteen minutes pacing around the lengthy bathroom.

"Goddess please help me," I whispered to myself as I picked one up. My fingers slowly gave way and cold air left my lungs as I took in the double lines.

For one stupid heartbeat, I was happy, probably the purest form I had felt in a long time. With a smile on my lips, I went through all of them just to be sure and my excitement only grew.

A baby. Ian’s baby. Something real in the middle of all this pretence. My bright smile slowly dimmed as a memory of the contract we had signed

Clause 7: No conception. Any pregnancy results in the immediate termination of the pregnancy and dissolution of the arrangement.

Termination. That was what was going to happen, heck I doubt Ian is even going to give me a listening ear. My hands shook so bad the test fell, making a loud sound and I just stared at it like I was waiting for it to explode.

How had I not noticed?

The missed period—I’d told myself it was stress, nothing more. I’d been so busy playing perfect temporary mate I forgot to pay attention to my own body.

I wrapped the test in toilet paper, buried it deep in the trash, and scrubbed my hands until they stung. By the time I stepped out, Ian was already there.

He stood by the window, those veiny hands in his pockets. His black suit was tailored sharp enough to cut, his black hair styled to perfection.

He looked in every sense the feared Alpha he was. Ian looked up when the bathroom door opened and my breath stalled as I watched him take me in.

“You okay?” He asked, lifting a brow. “You’re shaking.” He crossed the room fast, cupped my face in both hands, and pressed his lips to my forehead.

"It's just a headache, don't worry," I whispered, sinking into his touch.

"You look really good," Ian said, eyeing me and I gave him a stiff smile. “You smell different,” he murmured, pressing his nose against my neck and for a second my soul left me.

“New perfume. Told you.” I tried to sound as calm as possible but that seemed impossible with panic clawing up my throat.

He pulled back, his thumb brushing my cheek as he studied me. “It suits you.” Then he took my hand and led me out.

Downstairs the ballroom was already alive. The music was slow giving a romantic vibe and I was awed at the glittering chandelier.

Guests in gowns and tuxes turned as we came down and my grip on Ian's hands tightened as I tried to match his calm.

He led me towards them and I tried my best to smile as people approached with congratulations and polite small talk about how radiant I looked.

Inside I was falling apart, I tried anything to distract myself from the load of worries, picking at the skin around my thumbnail until it bled a tiny bead.

Chewing the inside of my cheek until I tasted copper. Every laugh felt fake. I knew I had to tell him tonight. At least before someone else caught the scent.

I kept flashing back to the day we signed the papers. He had picked the venue which was his office at the pack house.

I remember the thick fine print and how the lawyer stared at me like it was all a dumb mistake.

He explained it like it was simple: all of this was just temporary. I was going to be a stand-in mate until Stacy came back. She’d left two years ago, the reason? I was never told.

I’d seen her pictures once, in a drawer he didn’t know I’d opened. She was the complete opposite of me with lush black hair that stopped just below her neck. Bright blue eyes and cheek bones that looked carved by the goddess herself.

The contract said he could end it whenever. When she returned, I’d be gone.

Ian’s voice cut through the memory. “Della.” My eyes shifted to his worried face and it took me a while to realize we were now in the middle of the dance floor. Hundreds of eyes on us. “You’re miles away,” he said quietly. “Still okay?”

“Yeah. Just… nerves.” I assured him but Ian seemed to see through my facade.

He watched me a beat longer, then squeezed my hand.

“First dance. Let’s go.” We stepped onto the floor and the lights dimmed on cue. Guests parted, watching us like we were the main event.

His hands were barely on me when the double doors leading into the ballroom where swung open.

The room echoed with murmurs and I swear my heart stopped beating as I stared at the lady who had just walked in. Why did she have to come now of all times?

Ian’s fingers tightened on mine—hard enough to bruise. He breathed one word, so quiet I almost missed it.

“Stacy.”