Chapter 2

The pregnancy news should have been the happiest moment of my life. Instead, I stared at Mia, unable to speak, let alone making a reaction. Mia thought I was overwhelmed with joy and decided to leave to give me some personal space.

I was overwhelmed. True.

Wasn't really with joy.

I spent the whole next hour sitting alone in our bedroom, staring at the test results Mia had left with me. My hand trembled as I traced the words: 'Positive. Estimated conception: 6 weeks.' A child. Our child. Theodore's and mine.

A tiny spark of hope flickered in my chest despite the afternoon's humiliation. Perhaps this would remind him of what we once had. Perhaps our baby would bring us back to those early days when his eyes lit up at the sight of me.

I heard the front door open downstairs, followed by voices—Theodore's deep timbre and Emma's light, musical laugh. My stomach clenched. I hadn't even had time to process my pregnancy before facing them again.

I tucked the report into my pocket and descended the stairs, determined to maintain my dignity as Luna, if nothing else. They stood in the entryway, Theodore's hand resting possessively on Emma's lower back.

"Hailey," Theodore said, his tone clipped. "Emma's staying for dinner. Make sure it's something special."

I froze on the last step. "I wasn't aware we were having guests."

His eyes narrowed. "Is there a problem?"

"No, Alpha," I replied automatically, the title feeling bitter on my tongue. "I'll prepare something immediately."

Emma smiled sweetly, but her eyes gleamed with triumph. "Don't go to too much trouble, Luna. I'm sure Theodore would prefer something simple after such a stressful day."

The kitchen felt suffocating as I pulled ingredients from the refrigerator. My hands moved mechanically, chopping vegetables, stirring sauces. The entire time, I could hear them in the living room—Emma's laughter, Theodore's low murmurs, the occasional clink of glasses.

By the time I announced dinner was ready, my smile felt carved into my face.

"I'm afraid I didn't have time to prepare anything elaborate," I said as they entered the dining room.

Theodore's gaze swept over the simple pasta dish I'd prepared. "This is what you consider suitable for a guest?"

"I only had an hour's notice," I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady.

Emma placed a sympathetic hand on Theodore's arm. "It's fine, Alpha. I'm not that hungry anyway."

"No, it's not fine," Theodore snapped. "Where's your pride as Luna? Any respectable Luna would have had a proper meal prepared for an honored guest."

The words struck like physical blows. Honored guest. As if Emma were a visiting dignitary rather than the woman who'd been feeding him strawberries in his office that morning.

"I apologize for being a poor hostess," I said quietly, my hand unconsciously moving to my pocket where the pregnancy report lay hidden.

Emma's eyes followed the movement, narrowing slightly. "What's that in your pocket, Luna Hailey?"

Before I could respond, she lunged forward, snatching the paper from my pocket with surprising speed.

"Give that back," I gasped, reaching for it.

But Emma had already unfolded it, her eyes scanning the contents. A slow, malicious smile spread across her face.

"Oh my," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Theodore, look what I found."

She handed him the report, watching his face intently as he read it.

Theodore's expression transformed from confusion to shock to something darker—pure, unfiltered rage.

"A child?" he growled, his Alpha aura flaring violently around him. "Now?"

The force of his anger made me step back instinctively. "Yes," I whispered. "Our child."

"This is... inconvenient," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Troublesome timing."

Inconvenient. Troublesome timing. Each word was a knife twisting in my heart.

"Theodore," I pleaded, "this is our baby. Your heir."

"I don't need a child right now," he snarled. "The pack is expanding, territories are shifting. A child complicates everything."

Emma placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Calm down, Alpha. Perhaps this is actually good timing."

He turned to her, his expression softening instantly. "How so?"

"While you're busy with the expansion, a Luna with a newborn would be... distracted. Unable to interfere with pack matters." Her eyes met mine over his shoulder, cold and calculating.

I stared at them both, these strangers who had replaced the mate and friend I thought I knew. "Theodore, please. This is our mate bond, our family."

"Stop being pathetic," he snapped, turning away from me. "I need to think."

He stormed out of the dining room, leaving me standing alone with Emma's triumphant smile burning into me.

I followed him into the hallway, desperate to make him understand. "Theodore, our child—"

"Enough!" he roared, whirling to face me. His eyes flashed Alpha red. "You're embarrassing yourself."

He turned and headed toward his study, leaving me standing there, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.

Emma appeared behind me, her footsteps silent on the marble floor. "Such a shame," she said softly. "An ill-timed pregnancy."

I turned to face her, backing toward the staircase. "This isn't over."

"No," she agreed, her smile widening. "It's just beginning."

I felt her hands on my back then, a sudden violent shove that sent me tumbling down the stone steps. My body bounced against the hard edges, pain exploding through me as I tried desperately to protect my stomach.

I came to rest at the bottom, warm wetness pooling beneath my head. Blood. So much blood.

Through blurring vision, I saw them both at the top of the stairs—Theodore standing behind Emma, his face a mask of cold indifference.

"How unfortunate," Emma said, her voice echoing strangely in my ears. "She must have tripped."

Theodore's voice came next, distant and chilling: "Her death is for the best—I was planning to reject her tonight anyway."

Darkness closed in around me as Emma's mocking laughter was the last thing I heard.