Chapter 2

Dawn arrived with cruel inevitability, painting the eastern sky in streaks of gold that mocked my sleepless night. I'd spent hours staring at the ceiling of my small bedroom—not the master suite I'd once shared with James, but the adjacent guest room I'd quietly moved into months ago when his indifference became too painful to endure beside him.

My wolf, Luna, stirred restlessly within me. *Just a few more weeks,* I promised her. *We'll be gone soon.*

The sound of car doors slamming in the driveway pulled me from my thoughts. Rebecca had arrived.

I dressed carefully in a simple blue blouse and dark pants, wanting to appear composed and dignified despite the circumstances. My fingers trembled slightly as I fastened my mother's silver pendant around my neck—a small talisman of strength. Taking a deep breath, I descended the stairs.

Rebecca strode through the front door without knocking, followed by James carrying two expensive-looking leather suitcases. The sight of my supposed mate hauling another woman's belongings into our home sent a fresh wave of pain through my chest.

"There you are," Rebecca announced, eyeing me with undisguised contempt. "I expected the Luna to greet me properly."

The emphasis she placed on my title dripped with mockery. Before I could respond, James set down her luggage and fixed me with a cold stare.

"Aria, show Rebecca to the master suite."

My wolf snarled in outrage, but I kept my expression carefully blank. "Of course, Alpha."

Rebecca's triumphant smile widened as she followed me up the stairs. "I'll need the closet emptied completely," she instructed, running her finger along the banister as if checking for dust. "And I prefer Egyptian cotton sheets, not whatever cheap linens you've been using."

Each word was designed to demean, to establish her dominance. I led her to what had once been my sanctuary, our bedroom, the place where James and I had shared rare moments of tenderness in the early days of our mating.

"The bathroom is through there," I said quietly. "I'll have your things moved in immediately."

Rebecca walked around the room, examining everything with critical eyes before flopping dramatically onto the bed—my bed. "This mattress is too firm. Have it replaced by tonight." She waved a dismissive hand. "That will be all, Omega."

The deliberate use of the lowest rank title sent ice through my veins. James appeared in the doorway, saying nothing to correct her blatant disrespect.

"Anything else you need, Rebecca?" he asked, his tone soft in a way it hadn't been with me for years.

"Just my mate and my comfort," she purred, reaching for his hand.

I slipped past them, descending the stairs with measured steps until I was out of sight. Only then did I allow my shoulders to shake with a single, silent sob.

By mid-morning, Rebecca had ordered the pack house staff—my staff—to rearrange furniture, replace artwork, and prepare a special breakfast just for her. I busied myself in the kitchen, trying to remain invisible.

"Aria!" Her voice rang through the house around noon. I found her lounging in the sunroom, scrolling through her phone.

"I want forest berries for lunch," she announced without looking up. "The red ones that grow by the northern creek. They should be served at precisely one o'clock."

"Those berries are out of season," I explained carefully. "We won't find any until—"

"Did I ask for excuses?" She finally looked up, her eyes hard. "James mentioned how capable you are as a healer. Surely you know where to find what I need for my pregnancy cravings."

My hands clenched at my sides. The northern creek was at least an hour's hike each way, and the berries she wanted were indeed months from ripening. She knew this—she simply wanted to watch me fail.

"I'll see what I can do," I replied, turning to leave.

"Oh, and Aria?" The saccharine quality of her voice made my skin crawl. "If you can't find exactly what I want, don't bother coming back to the main house. I'm sure the Omega quarters have a space for you."

I spent three punishing hours searching the woods, eventually finding a small patch of early berries in a sun-warmed clearing far from the usual spots. My hands were scratched and stained red by the time I presented them to her at precisely one o'clock, arranging them carefully on our finest china.

Rebecca inspected them with narrowed eyes, then took a single berry between her fingers. She placed it on her tongue, chewed thoughtfully, then spat it onto the pristine white tablecloth.

"These are bitter," she declared loudly as several pack members passed by. "Is this how you care for your Alpha's pregnant chosen?"

Later that night, as exhaustion pulled at my limbs and my wolf whimpered for rest, a sharp knock rattled my bedroom door.

"Aria!" Rebecca's voice penetrated the wooden barrier. "I need a special tea. Now."

The digital clock beside my bed read 2:07 AM.

"Coming," I called, my voice hoarse with fatigue as I pulled myself upright.

She was waiting in the hallway, wrapped in what I recognized as James's robe. "I require a mountain orchid infusion," she stated. "My mother always said it's essential for the first trimester."

Mountain orchids grew only on the highest ridge of our territory, a treacherous climb even in daylight. In the middle of the night, with frost forming...

"I'll prepare it immediately," I whispered, already calculating the fastest route through the forest.

Her smile was all teeth. "You have one hour."