VALERIA

"Are... are you sure, Esther?" I ask with a broken voice.

My heart races, filled with happiness.

"Very sure, Luna. You're pregnant."

"Why haven't I been able to smell it, or his father?" I ask, worried.

"It's very recent, perhaps that's why. Give it a few more days and you should be able to sense the pheromones."

She replies, and I nod, my eyes blurred with tears.

I am the Luna of the "Autumn Forest" pack.

Three years ago, I married the man I love madly, despite not being destined mates, my Alpha Dorian.

I've given everything to be the perfect Luna, the pillar he can lean on. However, a shadow looms over my marriage—the topic of an heir.

I've never been able to get pregnant, and I admit I don't share the bed with Dorian as often. But I know his duties as Alpha keep him extremely busy and stressed.

"Please, don't tell anyone in the pack. I want to surprise my husband."

"Don't worry, Luna, I won't say anything. Congratulations!" She smiles at me, and I return the smile, overflowing with excitement and happiness.

Despite being a foreigner, not originally belonging to this pack, ever since my parents died and the previous Alpha took me in, I've never felt rejected or looked down upon.

That's why I've devoted myself fully to my duties as Luna.

I'm grateful for my life and the wonderful man I'm married to.

*****

"What's with all this food? Is there going to be a party?"

"Hands off!" I swat away the greedy claws of Sophia, my best friend, who sneaked in through the back kitchen door.

"But wow, puff pastry tart and everything!" she says, sitting on a stool.

Honestly, I may have gone a bit overboard with the dishes, but I'm so happy I want everything to be perfect.

All my Alpha's favorite foods are ready!

"Well, today is Dorian's and my anniversary. I want to celebrate with an intimate dinner," I say, turning back to the caramel on the stove.

I don't hear her respond, so I turn halfway, curious.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing, nothing... I just heard the Alpha had an emergency today. Didn't he tell you?" she asks, and I frown.

Actually, Dorian doesn't usually explain much about his work.

I guess it's to avoid worrying me.

"No, but he'll come back anyway. He knows today is special."

I respond, completely convinced.

She looks at me strangely.

Lately, I can't quite understand her, but she's the first person who approached me in this pack and has always supported me.

I value her greatly as a friend.

"Sophie, there's something I want to tell you, but... I'll tell you tomorrow. It's very important to me," I say suddenly, wanting to share the good news with her, but not before confessing it to Dorian.

"Really? Can't you tell me now?" she asks, gossip-mode activated, leaning over the counter while munching 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 from every pore.

"Fine, I'll leave you with your mystery then. I've got things to do. Happy anniversary night," she grumbles, frustrated I didn't spill the secret, and leaves the same way she came.

I check the clock. There's still time.

I take off my apron and head to the second floor to shower and get dressed nicely.

Everything has to be perfect tonight, celebrating with my beloved mate.

*****

I glance at the clock for the thousandth time, sitting on the sofa. It's past midnight, and Dorian hasn't arrived.

I look at the cold dishes on the dining table and get up, resigned to reheating them again.

I'm in the middle of that task when I hear the front door open and close.

His delicious scent tingles my nose, warming my stomach.

I glance at my burgundy dress, smoothing it out and fixing my hair in the hallway mirror.

My jet-black hair is tied in a high ponytail, and my intensely blue eyes, highlighted with makeup, stare back at me.

I step into the foyer, watching my imposing Alpha enter the door.

"My love, how was your day? Lots of work, right?" I grab the coat he's holding to hang it up.

I see him clutching some documents, but I assume they're pack matters.

I move closer to kiss him, but he steps back.

"I'm sweaty and dirty from the road. Don't contaminate yourself," he says, his piercing honey eyes staring at me—eyes I adore despite their constant coldness.

It's just part of his nature.

He carries too many responsibilities after inheriting the role so young when his father died.

His blond hair is messily sexy, and for some reason, damp.

I can even catch the scent of an unfamiliar shower gel.

Why would he shower before coming home? And he said he was dirty, yet it's clear he just bathed.

"S-sure, give me a second to reheat dinner. You must be hungry..."

"I'm not hungry. Valeria, we need to talk."

"But the dinner—"

"Forget dinner. Let's go to the living room. I need to tell you something," his authoritative voice makes me tense.

I follow him, starting to feel deeply worried.

My hand slips into my skirt pocket, clutching the folded document stating I'm pregnant.

"Why was the table so full of dishes? Were you planning a party?" he asks, glancing at the dining room. My heart clenches.

"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 mated," I say, sitting on the couch.

I expect him to sit beside me, but instead, he chooses the armchair opposite.

Dorian has never been overly affectionate, but tonight he's 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 don't see a trace of joy in his expression.

I know everything will change with my news.

Our relationship hasn't been great because of this. The pack elders keep pressuring him for an heir.

When I tell him about the baby, he'll be happy.

"I'll be quick because I can't stand this any—"

"Wait! Wait, Dorian. Let me show you something first, and then you can tell me what you wanted to say," I interrupt him, feeling a strong premonition I won't like his next words.

Lowering my head, I take out the folded paper and hand it to him, my heart racing with emotion.

He takes it, reading silently as I watch him, anxious, waiting for his joy to match mine.

"I'm pregnant! I'm carrying your pup! We'll have an heir for the pack. I'm sure the Goddess has blessed us with a son!"

I can't hold back and blurt it out directly.

Tears in my eyes, I rise and move toward him, wanting to embrace him.

But as in love as I am, even I can see this isn't the reaction I expected from the father of my child.

"Are you sure about this, or is it just a trick to keep me tied to you?" he suddenly says, rising and pushing me away when I try to hug him.

"Dorian... Of course, I'm sure. Look, that'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. Damn it!" I watch him pace like a caged wolf around the living room. "This can't be happening. Not now!"

"Dorian..."

"Did you tell my mother? Anyone else?!" he asks suddenly, approaching me and gripping my shoulders tightly.

"N-no, love. I was waiting to tell you first. I thought... you'd be happy. I know they've been pressuring you. Alpha, you don't have to be tense anymore. We'll 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 figure out 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 back tenderly.

For a second, I feared he wasn't happy.

"We'll get through this together, my Alpha. I'll be the perfect Luna so no one will judge you," I whisper, lifting my head.

I want him to kiss me, to make love to me like we haven't in a long time.

"Let's go for a run. A wild, unrestricted anniversary night."

He suddenly suggests it, taking my hand and pulling me toward the back of our house, which borders the pack's forest.

"Shift into your she-wolf," he commands, and I watch him undressing.

He's so sexy and strong.

His hair glows under the moonlight, and I begin the transformation into my "she-wolf," one of the greatest lies and secrets of my life—something not even Dorian knows.

*****

We run freely across the pack's lands.

But I notice how we keep going farther and farther, even crossing the borders, yet I just follow Dorian's massive white wolf racing wildly ahead of me.

We reach a remote place, at the edge of a deep cliff, but above us, the moon shines intensely, and the forest landscape stretches far below.

"Where is this? We're outside our pack's territory... Aren't we trespassing on someone's land?"

I gaze into the distance from the edge, mesmerized by the view, having already shifted back into human form, but no one responds.

I feel uneasy and start to turn around. However, something inside me stirs with alarm. A crow caws in the distance—but it's already too late.

"Do... Dorian, wha—?! Aaaaaahhh!" I scream as I feel wolf claws tearing into my abdomen, deeply ripping through me.

Terrified and shocked by the sudden attack, I try to run.

I attempt to shift back into my wolf to escape into the forest, away from whatever is happening, away from this rabid Alpha wolf whose blood-red eyes glare at me with pure hatred—but it's impossible to flee.

"Ahhh! Let me go! Dorian, what are you doing?! What are you doing?! Ahhh! Help! Help!" I scream as he jumps on me when I try to escape.