Chapter One: The Promise That Was a Lie
1300 Words
MAIA POV
So, everyone says when an Alpha makes a promise under the Moon, it cannot be broken, right? Yeah, no. Big fat lie.
Kael was standing right there in front of me that night. You could see his chest going up and down as he breathed. The moonlight was hitting his face just right, you know?
Making his jawline look even sharper, and kind of sparkling in those black hairs he had going on. He was seriously perfect, but in that scary, powerful way that just pulled you in. Not the kind of guy you just like, casually date. You just gave in, that’s it.
“I swear by the Moon,” he said, his voice super deep and steady, “Once the child’s born, you're taking her spot. You'll be my Luna.” Basically, his queen.
I looked up at him, barely even breathing. “What about Lyria?”
“She's too weak, it's what the council said. She can’t carry a baby. I need someone strong, someone who can give birth to the heir she's carrying. That's you, Maia.”
I tried to swallow, but my throat was all tight. Part of me really wanted to trust him. My wolf, that animal part of me, wanted it too. I'd always been his Beta, his second-in-command, always been by his side.
We grew up together, fought side-by-side, bled together, you get it. And I'd seen how he looked at me when he thought Lyria was not looking.
He got closer and grabbed my hand, pushing my palm flat against his chest. “Swear it with me. The old way, you know?”
I thought about it for a second, then nodded.
We sliced our hands open, the old style, and we mixed our blood together.
“By the Moon, by the blood,” Kael said, “I swear you will be my Luna when the child's born. The Pack Doctor will transfer the fetus into you by tomorrow.”
“By the Moon, by the blood,” I said back, my voice all shaky, “I swear to have the child and bring it to life.”
Our blood mixed together. And everything got still. No wind blowing, nothing. The Moon got super bright above us.
The oath was sealed.
I let him take me to his den that night. I let him whisper sweet things that I wanted so much to believe. I was his for the night. I told myself I was special, not just some tool, someone he loved.
Stupid, right?
Because nobody tells you what happens after the baby comes.
Or when it turns out the baby does not matter.
***
Pain. That's the first thing I remember.
Then, nothing.
I opened my eyes really slowly. The air smelled like a hospital. Like cleaning stuff. My body felt weird. Everything hurt. My stomach hurt like crap. Like I knew what to do. I had definitely given birth.
But I was all alone.
The room was freezing. A machine beeped next to me. I reached for my stomach. Flat. Gross. All scarred up. And I was in pain.
It wasn't supposed to hurt this much after having a baby. Unless…
The door opened.
Kael came in.
For a second, all the bad stuff went away. My heart jumped. He looked just like I remembered – like a god, all calm. His skin was tanned, and his eyes were like metal.
He gave out a powerful demeanor like crazy. I waited for him to smile, for him to come over and hold me, to say I was his.
He didn't say a thing.
Then Lyria walked in, wearing this long, fancy white dress, and her hair was all long and shiny. And she was holding a kid.
A boy.
My heart stopped. “I gave birth…”
Kael held up his hand. “Just stop.”
“Stop?” I said like I couldn't breathe. “Kael… you promised! You swore—”
He cut me off, all cold. “You were unconscious, Maia. For a year.”
A whole year?
I blinked. “That's not possible. I remember the pain. Having the baby. I…”
“You had a heart attack when we induced labor. The Moon was not on our side. You couldn't do it. You lost the baby.”
“That makes no sense. I have the scar. I can still feel it. I did not heal right. My body knows what it did. I delivered.” I replied him aggressively.
Kael frowned. “That was not true. Do not put yourself in this situation.”
But…
Lyria walked over with the kid, smiling. “She's awake,” She told someone outside. “Make sure she's taken care of well. My sister-in-law shouldn't be alone by herself.”
Sister-in-law?
I cringed. You were supposed to be divorced already. “I am supposed to be Luna. That was the deal.”
Lyria kept smiling. “I do not know anything about that.”
“You're lying,” I snapped. “I carried him. He is my son.”
“You need to chill,” She said, all sweet. “Let the nurses—”
“Nurses?” No. I snapped. “I want to know the truth!”
The baby moved in her arms. She rocked him a little, trying to shut my scream from him. And I saw them all. He had Kael's jaw. Dark hair like me. Eyes that were closed, but I just knew were gold like his dad.
“You think I do not know?” I whispered. “You took him from me.”
Lyria looked different all of a sudden. Sad, then just calm. “You're crazy.”
I looked at Kael. “You made an oath, Kael. Under the Moon! You just can't—”
He laughed.
A nasty laugh.
“The Moon controls itself not me,” he said, moving toward my ears. “You really thought I'd pick you as Luna? You were good to carry the heir, nothing else.”
But the oath…
I made none.
“Yes, you did! You swore by our blood!”
He got real close, his eyes black. “Then where is the Moon to punish me?”
Silence.
Nothing going on.
He looked all proud. See? No one cares.
I just wanted to scream. My body was shaking, but I was really mad. “I should kill both of you and grab what’s mine.”
Kael chuckled. “Yours? A scar and a fantasy?”
The pup made a noise. Lyria rocked him. My heart broke, and my chest hurt.
“You have nothing,” Kael said. “No witness, no real bond, you fainted, what more do they need to know the child was born from the Luna.”
“The promise…” I stammered.
“Never happened.” He shut back at me and left the room.
They left together, him with his arm around her. Her laugh sounded so sweet. The boy, my child, was in her arms, like a prize.
And I was by myself. And I wanted to scream.
Then, I didn't even cry.
I just waited.
I wanted tears. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fall. But that never came.
I was mad. I refused to be an ex and I vowed that I will ride on this betrayal and become formidable.
I was a Beta. I was a warrior. I was taught to push forward.
And I will not be disgraced. Let them believe I am weak and play this game.
Let them feel happy.
I will get back at them.
They will soon know that the child is truly mine and I am the rightful Luna of this pack.
- Writer
