Chapter 1

The moment Kylie saw the photo, her entire body went cold. Cassandra Smith had sent her a picture of herself beside Kylie's mate, Alpha Richard Miller, along with a message that made her stomach twist: Richard isn't feeling well, so I'm taking care of him.

Aira, Kylie's wolf, growled fiercely inside Kylie, her anger echoing through their mind. She wants you to see it, Kylie.

Kylie clenched her phone and hurried out of the mansion. She was six months pregnant, but the discomfort in her back and the heaviness in her legs couldn't stop her from confronting the woman who had been getting far too close to her mate.

Cassandra lived in a private estate inside Crest Moon Pack, and the moment Kylie arrived, she stormed through the front door without knocking. Following Richard's scent upstairs, she pushed open the bedroom door and froze.

Richard was sitting against the headboard with one hand pressed against his temple, clearly suffering from his migraine. Cassandra sat beside him with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and the instant she saw Kylie, she flinched and lowered her head.

"Alpha Richard!" Kylie yelled.

"L-Luna K-Kylie..." Cassandra stammered, her fingers trembling. "Please don't be angry with us."

Kylie raised her phone and glared at her. "You sent me this picture, Cassandra, so don't stand there pretending you don't know why I'm here."

Cassandra's eyes filled with tears as she nervously looked toward Richard. "I only wanted you to know Alpha Richard wasn't feeling well. He had such a terrible migraine, and I was worried something might happen to him."

Richard noticed her trembling hands and immediately reached for them. "Cassandra, calm down. Don't be afraid of Kylie. She won't hurt you."

Kylie's chest tightened at the softness in his voice. "Richard, she's the one who sent me a picture of herself beside you, yet you're comforting her instead of asking her why she did it?"

Richard's expression darkened as he looked at Kylie. "Because you're making her uncomfortable. Cassandra came here to help me when I was sick."

"Help you?" Kylie scoffed, pointing toward the bed. "Did she need to sit beside you for that? Did she need to send me a picture of the two of you?"

Cassandra quickly shook her head as tears slipped down her cheeks. "No, Luna Kylie, please don't misunderstand me. I would never try to take Alpha Richard away from you."

"Then stay away from him," Kylie snapped, her voice trembling with anger. "He's my mate, Cassandra, not yours."

Cassandra immediately moved closer to Richard and whispered, "Alpha Richard, maybe you should leave. I don't want Luna Kylie to be angry with you because of me."

Richard caught her wrist before she could stand and spoke gently. "No, Cassandra."

Kylie stared at his hand around Cassandra's wrist, and the pain in her chest became unbearable.

"I'm your mate and your Luna!" Kylie shouted, refusing to back down. "I'm carrying your child, yet you're standing there protecting another woman from me!"

Richard's jaw tightened as he replied, "You're the one who came here causing a scene."

"What did you expect me to do, smile and thank her?" Kylie yelled, holding up her phone.

Cassandra covered her face with both hands and began sobbing. "I'm sorry, alpha. I shouldn't have sent it. I didn't know your wife would become so angry with me."

Richard's expression softened again as he looked at her. "You don't need to apologize, Cassandra. You didn't do anything wrong."

Kylie felt as though someone had driven a knife straight through her chest.

"Richard, we're leaving," Kylie said through clenched teeth. "We're going home, and we're going to finish this there."

Richard stared at her for a moment before grabbing his coat. "Fine. We're going home."

Kylie turned without another word. She couldn't stand another second in Cassandra's bedroom while Richard treated Cassandra like someone who needed his protection.

The ride back to the mansion was painfully silent. Richard sat beside Kylie with his arms crossed, his Alpha aura filling the car, while Kylie kept one hand over her belly and stared out the window.

The moment they entered the mansion, Richard slammed the door behind them and turned toward Kylie. "What the hell was that, Kylie?"

Kylie spun around, her anger exploding. "You should be asking Cassandra why she sent me that picture!"

"I already told you she didn't mean anything by it," Richard snapped. "You humiliated her in her own home."

Kylie laughed bitterly. "She was sitting in your bedroom beside you, Richard. What did you expect me to do?"

Richard stepped closer, his crimson eyes glowing. "You're going to apologize to Cassandra."

Kylie stared at him in disbelief. "No."

"Kylie, don't test my patience," Richard warned, his voice low.

"I said no," Kylie repeated, refusing to back down. "I'm not apologizing to the woman who keeps putting herself between us."

Richard's face hardened. "If you refuse, then you'll leave this mansion."

Kylie's heart skipped a beat. "Are you threatening to throw your pregnant mate out?"

Richard didn't hesitate. "I'm giving you a choice. Apologize to Cassandra and stop targeting her, or pack your things and leave."

Kylie shook her head, tears burning in her eyes. "No way. I will never apologize to Cassandra."

Richard's Alpha aura suddenly surged through the mansion. "Then get out."

Kylie froze as Richard turned toward the maid standing nearby and gave his order. "Pack Kylie's belongings."

The maid looked startled but immediately bowed her head. "Y-Yes, Alpha."

Kylie stared at Richard in disbelief. "You're really throwing me out?"

Richard's expression remained cold. "You made your choice."

Kylie placed both hands over her belly, trying to hold back the tears. "No, Richard. You made yours."

A short while later, her luggage was brought downstairs and placed near the front door. Kylie looked at Richard one last time, secretly hoping he would stop her, hoping the man she loved would finally realize how cruel he was being.

He didn't.

Kylie wiped her tears, lifted her chin, and walked toward the door. "Remember this night, Richard. You were the one who chose to lose me."