Chapter 8

RAIN

“I’m returning to the Royal Pack,” my father said as he stopped beside his car. He paused, then added, “The Alpha King wishes to see you. Make sure to visit him from time to time. After all, he has no son of his own, only you.”

“Dad,” I asked casually, “why didn’t you become the Alpha King?”

“Because I wasn’t fit for the throne,” he admitted quietly.

I raised an eyebrow. “Even though you had a son?”

“I know exactly where you’re going with that.” He drew in a deep breath. “My brother could become king but could not produce a son. I could produce a son but could not become king. You, however, are different from me, Rain. You can have both the throne and a son. You’re blessed, so make sure you achieve your dreams.” A faint smirk touched his lips. “I know all you truly care about is your dream.”

With that, he got into the car and left.

But his words lingered in my mind.

All I care about…

My eyes subconsciously drifted up to the window of Sage’s bedroom.

That was when I noticed Fren speaking with her father on the other side of the clearing. Sage had not come out to see him, and he had not spoken a single word to her. A frown settled over my features.

So when the rumors claimed that Frank’s daughter was his weakness… they had been referring to Fren, not Sage.

Unaware of my presence, Frank wore a carefully fake smile for anyone who might be watching.

“Now that I’ve cleared the path for you,” he said in a low voice, “make sure you get pregnant by Rain no matter what. It’s already been a month, and you still haven’t managed to get him into bed.”

Fren pursed her lips. “It’s because Sage keeps coming between Rain and me.”

Frank’s expression turned bitter. “She won’t be able to interfere anymore. Rain’s rut will be wild, he won’t be able to hold himself back in front of the mate bond. You’ll be pregnant in one night. Don’t make a mistakes now. I don’t have much time left.”

Fren nodded.

I continued watching the father and daughter. Their whispered conversation looked far more intense than a normal exchange. That was when my friend Oran appeared beside me.

“Looks like you’re about to have a child whether you want one or not,” he remarked.

“Yes.”

Oran turned to stare at me. “How can you say that so casually? You’re your father’s weakness. If you told him you don’t want a child right now, he would never force you.”

“A child is just another duty I have to fulfill one day,” I replied flatly. “The sooner I complete it, the better.”

He let out a long breath. “If that’s the case, then I suppose you’re right. It’s not like you feel anything for anyone.”

With that, he walked away.

I remained still.

My eyes drifted upward once more, toward the window of Sage’s bedroom. She also knew about my duties but still why her silence made me restless more than ever.

SAGE

“Luna, you should wear something sexy like this!” one of the she-wolves teased Fren, holding up a revealing nightgown. The others surrounding her nodded in agreement as they accompanied her on what was essentially a shopping trip for tonight, the night of Rain’s rut.

His rut was arriving tonight. Ever since our fathers had left the other day, Fren had once again been surrounded by she-wolves. In their eyes, she was the one destined to give birth to the heir. Spending the night with Rain during his rut would officially solidify her place as Luna.

I walked downstairs and glanced at the crude, overly revealing nightgowns they were calling “sexy.”

“Sage, please help me choose. I’m so confused,” Fren cried cutely, grabbing my hand like a five-year-old and drawing admiring looks from the others.

“Choose whatever you like,” I said simply, and walked out of the house.

“Ugh… is she jealous?” the she-wolves whispered behind my back.

“Of course. Even though she’s beautiful and the Alpha’s wife, she’ll never be his mate or Luna. She must hate you, Luna.”

Fren flinched with practiced innocence. “Really? I hope Sage finds her own happiness and doesn’t feel jealous of me.”

“You’re so kind, Luna. Don’t think about her anymore. Just choose something for tonight.”

I didn’t look back once at their gossip. Instead, I walked toward the back garden and paused when a familiar face passed by.

‘Why does he look familiar?’ I wondered.

“Hey, Justin, come here,” another wolf called out.

I raised a brow. “Justin?”

The name and face both tugged at something in my memory. I felt certain I had seen him in my previous life, but I couldn’t recall when or where. Pushing the thought aside, I focused on tending the flowers while the cheerful voices of Fren and the she-wolves continued in the distance.

Later that afternoon, I sat alone at the dining table eating while Fren remained in the living room with the same she-wolves. They were busily decorating Rain’s bedroom in a romantic style for the night.

“Luna,” Sara approached hesitantly, “Elder John said that as the Alpha’s wife, you should prepare his clothes for tonight.”

My hand stilled over my food.

Elder John had been one of Fren’s biggest supporters in my previous life, and clearly nothing had changed.

Fren entered the dining room with soft, deliberate steps, already holding one of the vulgar nightgowns she had chosen. She had come specifically to show it off.

“If you don’t want to do it, I completely understand, Sage,” she said with false sweetness.

I glanced at the revealing dress, then met her eyes and smiled.

“I don’t mind.”

The corner of her lips twitched, but she smiled back.

In the early evening, the entire pack already felt like there was a celebration. Everyone was looking at Fren like a goddess but whenever I crossed their paths they gave me a look that was reserved for outsiders.

I changed clothes and prepared to leave for Rain’s office when Sara entered my room.

“Luna… do you have a plan to stop all of this?”

I shook my head. “Some things cannot be avoided. Even if I somehow prevented them from being together tonight, Rain’s rut would simply hit next month instead. My interference changes nothing.”

“Then what will you do?” she asked, worry clear in her voice.

I smiled sadly. “This time… I will sit and watch.”

Later, I entered Rain’s office for the first time. Dax had already brought over several suits.

My wolf and my heart both shuddered at the thought of choosing clothes for my husband’s night with my half-sister, but I kept my expression calm and selected one of the suits.

“This one,” I said to Dax only to realize he was no longer there.

Rain stood in his place.

“Why this one?” he asked, walking closer.

My wolf trembled under the sharp, heavy scent of his approaching rut. With a rut this strong, it was no wonder his father was so confident they would receive good news next month.

I met his eyes calmly. “I think you would look handsome in it.”

He took the suit slowly from my hands. I prepared to leave but he held my hand, “While I get dressed, prepare me a cup of coffee if you’re free.”

“Okay,” I nodded and went to the coffee machine on the side table.

The soft sound of him changing clothes filled my ears as I stood with my back facing him the whole time. A few minutes later, I turned around to find he had already changed. He truly did look handsome.

“Is the coffee ready?” he walked over.

“Yes.”

I placed the cup on the table beside him and reached up to fix his collar.

He stared at me the entire time, hardly blinking while our chests brushed lightly.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” he asked quietly.

“What do you want to hear?” I replied without meeting his gaze.

“I’m about to have sex with another woman,” he said. “Don’t you have something to say about that?”

I finally looked up at him and smiled softly.

“No, I don’t have anything to say.”

I brushed my hand once more across his chest, then turned and left the room.

Behind me Rain remained standing still, clearly reading in my eyes everything I had chosen not to speak.

Exiting the office building, I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart.

‘Maybe it’s time I find out whether the fight I’m fighting is even worth it.’

I walked back toward the packhouse under the weight of the pack members’ judgmental stares.

“She’s really going back to the packhouse… while the Alpha and Luna are about to unite.”

I kept my head high and continued walking. It was not new. Instead it was better than before since they had yet to call me mistress.

The packhouse had fallen completely silent, every omega had already been dismissed. Rain’s bedroom door stood slightly ajar. As I passed, I caught a glimpse of Fren already dressed in that revealing nightgown, waiting. She had been given her best in make up, hair and everything.

I entered my own room and closed the door behind me.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I turned my wedding ring around and around on my finger, not knowing how much time had passed until the soft click of a door unlocking reached my wolf’s ears.

I glanced at my own door. It remained shut.

From the next room, Fren’s excited, happy voice floated through the wall. “Rain…”

A broken smile touched my lips. “So this is it.”

The fight I had started ended with his choice. His choice that was never me.

I walked to the closet, pulled out my empty suitcase, and began packing. I hadn’t brought much to begin with, so it didn’t take long. Carefully, I removed my wedding ring and placed it on the side table. Then I gripped the handle of the suitcase and started toward the door—

It suddenly swung open.

I gasped, freezing on the spot.

Rain stood in the doorway, flushed deep red, breathing hard, his wolf fully present in his eyes.

“Rain…” My eyes widened.

He slammed the door shut behind him. For a second he just stared at my luggage, then at me before he closed the distance in two strides and crushed his mouth against mine.

The suitcase handle slipped from my fingers. My eyes flew open in shock. He was completely overtaken by the rut… but he had just gone to Fren.

“Rain—” I broke the kiss, staring up at him with wide eyes.

“I get it,” he whispered roughly, reading the words I had refused to say earlier in his office. “Cheating is a choice.”

His fingers slid into my hair as he locked eyes with me. “But I also know that if my choice is considered cheating… you would give up on me.”

Tears welled in my eyes as he brushed his lips softly against mine.

“But my choice is still a kind of cheating, Sage,” he murmured, then claimed my mouth again, his hand sliding down my back to pull me tightly against him.

“A cheating that I don’t regret committing. Because I’m choosing my heart… over my mate bond.”