No one knew that I was the Thorn pack’s head Alpha’s soulmate.

He and Carol, who had been best friends since they were kids, were very close. Everyone in the pack thought they were soulmates while I was just a mistress threatening their bond.

To protect Carol’s reputation, Barnett lied to the pack, claiming Carol was carrying his pup. This made our child illegitimate.

When I confronted him in pain, demanding why, he explained, “Carol is known for her gentle and quiet nature. If our packmates knew she was pregnant without a mate, they would shame her. She's too fragile to go through all this.”

For the first time, I looked at the man I thought was my mate and questioned if the Moon Goddess had made a mistake.

Later on, while Barnett was away gathering herbs for Carol, the elders forced me to terminate my pregnancy, branding our pup as a disgrace to the Thorn pack.

By the time Barnett returned, our pup was gone, and so was I.

I ignored the look of disdain on the physician’s face and caressed my flat stomach excitedly.

I could not wait to tell my mate of the news, only to see him wrap his arms around another woman.

“I can’t believe it, Barnett! I’m pregnant with our pup! Quick! Give me your hand, you can feel him move!”

Barnett smiled gently. He was about to reach out his hand when he caught sight of me in his peripheral vision. Quickly, he pulled his hand back.

“Fera! What are you doing here?” I threw the herbs in my hand at his face.

‘Did Barnett betray me?’ I wondered, but I did not feel the heart-wrenching pain of betrayal by my supposed soulmate. This indicated that, at least physically, he had not.

“How dare you cause a scene in front of Mr. Barnett and Miss Carol, you wench!” Other tribal members who had come to visit the physician pointed their fingers at me.

How ridiculous. The Moon Goddess had chosen me to be Barnett’s mate, yet everyone acted as if I was his mistress.

Three years ago, I turned 18 and was mated to Barnett, who had fought his brothers and won the title of Thorn pack’s head Alpha.

To gain the pack’s support, Barnett lied that the Moon Goddess had not assigned him a mate.

He even sought a fake divinator to read his fate; that he was destined to give his all to the pack and never find a mate.

Tribal support leaned towards him, in comparison to his brothers who were never seen without a pretty lady in their arms. Barnett begged me to keep our bond quiet, so I did.

“I am pregnant with Barnett’s pup. Have some shame and leave the father of my pup alone,” Carol demanded.

Her words cut deep. I fled in tears, only for Barnett to find me soon after.

He wrapped his arms around me gently. “Please, Fera, don’t cry. Carol’s pup isn’t mine.”

"Barnett! How could you reveal the truth to that lowly maid?! Do not tell me she's actually your mistress!" exclaimed Carol, who had followed Barnett, disbelief evident in her eyes.

Barnett wiped away my tears and scolded her. “Fera is not a mistress. She is my soulmate, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself!”

After the initial shock passed, Carol pretended to be concerned, “Is that so? What a pity. Everyone knows she's just a maid, and the pup in her belly must belong to some mystery man.”

Earlier, with Barnett chasing after me, Carol was left to explain the confusion to everyone.

She spun a tale, claiming I was the sister of Barnett's former comrade, who he had taken under his care as a maid after my brother’s death.

As Barnett’s mate, Carol did not feel the cutting pain of a mate’s betrayal.

Although the pack physician had confirmed my pregnancy, she had no idea who the father of my pup could be.

As such, everyone assumed I must be a shameless wench.

In a fit of rage, I slapped Barnett. He, too, was shocked by Carol's words. "Carol! How dare you slander Fera in front of everyone?"

Carol responded shakily, “I’m sorry, Barnett. I didn’t realize she was your mate.”

Then, she turned to me with a hint of regret in her voice. “Barnett already announced to all of Northaria that I was carrying his child to protect my reputation. I apologize, Fera.

“But don’t worry. I won’t let them mistreat your child! I will raise him as my own, but... they will never call you 'Mom'.”

I was furious. I was just about to demand answers from Barnett —how could he be so heartless, prioritizing Carol's reputation over our child—when he turned to me, his eyes glistened with tears.

Apologetically, he said, “I’m sorry, Fera. I promised Carol’s brother to take care of her and his parents.

“Carol has always been a gentle and quiet girl. Everyone in the pack would point fingers at her if they found out she was pregnant before she found a mate. What if she can't bear the shame and takes her own life because of the gossip?!”

That was it! Carol was the sister of Barnett's former comrade. To honor his vow, Barnett was ready to expose our pup to scrutiny and rumors in a pack where lineage held great importance.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come clean about our son’s identity soon.”

“Once Carol turns 18 and is assigned a mate, I’ll tell our packmates of our relationship and clarify our son’s birthright.”

I looked at this selfish man I called my mate, and for the first time, regretted compromising.

When I returned to Barnett’s castle, people were carrying an unending stream of pregnancy and newborn necessities.

There were ivory wind chimes and a brocade-covered cradle with the words “Carol's Son” written on it.

Carol boasted, “I apologize, Fera. I didn't know you were expecting too, so I put my name on all of them.

“I can give you one or two pieces for free if you want, though. Barnett had them specially made from various packs. They’re very expensive.“

As tears welled up in my eyes, Barnett scolded her, but Carol playfully stuck her tongue out. “Fine! I'm sorry. Who knew she couldn't take a joke?”

Barnett was about to console me when a middle-aged couple barged in and reprimanded Carol. “The entire pack is talking about your pregnancy, Carol! Explain yourself!

“You don’t even have a mate yet! You've brought shame upon our family!”

They were none other than Carol’s parents. They were quite traditional, which was why Carol made sure to keep up her facade of the good daughter despite how she very much was not.

Unable to accept her daughter’s premarital pregnancy, Carol’s mother started to cough blood.

Barnett quickly stepped forward and explained that Carol’s pup was his. Even though the Moon Goddess had not assigned a mate for him, he would still accept Carol as his mate and make her Thorn pack’s Luna.

Only then did Carol’s parents leave.

After sending them off, Barnett turned to me. “You saw it yourself, Fera. Carol’s parents are very traditional. I had no choice but to claim her pup.

“You understand, don’t you, Fera? You always have.” He looked at me pleadingly.

Before I could accept what was happening, Carol’s family had forcefully moved themselves into the palace as if they owned it.

As the future Luna, Carol replaced the curtains, artworks, and decorations that I had carefully chosen, and changed them to her preferred styles.

I was ready to intervene, but Barnett restrained me.

“Carol’s parents are still here. They can’t know that you decorated the palace. Don’t worry, I'll make sure everything is restored once they depart.”

Carol then settled into the grandest and most luminous guest room available.

Barnett, being a cowardly and self-centered man, would always choose to stand on Carol’s side whenever any arguments arose between us.

He devoted most of his attention to Carol, leaving me with little of his time. Fearing I might leave, he had a witch cast a spell on me, binding me to the castle until after the birth of my child.

I reached out to the unseen barrier outside the castle walls and felt trapped. I needed to get out of this place.

Growing up without my parents, I understood the weight of living under constant judgment, and I refused to subject my child to the same scrutiny.

Desperate to leave, I turned to Carol for assistance, believing she would help me escape the palace as it was in her best interest. Yet, to my dismay, she promptly divulged my intentions to Barnett.

“How could a good girl like me go against Barnett’s wishes?” she said mischievously.

Barnett, in turn, reinforced the spell and commended Carol for her apparent empathy.

“Why can't you show more compassion? Take a leaf out of Carol's book.”

I struggled to feign kindness, my tolerance for Barnett wearing thin.

“Why do you keep thinking about leaving me?” Barnett stealthily entered my room through the window in the dead of night.

“Fera, I promise I won’t prolong your suffering. Just a few more months, please. You know I love you, Fera.” His expression was tender, but I only felt repulsion.

I reluctantly nodded. “But you must remove the hex. I can't remain confined in the castle constantly. I need to bask in the sunlight.”

Elated, he agreed to my request and pulled me into his arms.

I suppressed the urge to push him away and began to plot my escape. Before I could execute my plans, chaos had arrived at my door.

“Look at this scarf, Fera! Barnett was worried I would feel cold, so he had the dressmakers stitch it for me. It’s even got his clan emblem on it!” Carol flaunted.

I ignored the scarf in her hands, but my eyes were drawn to the pearl necklace on her neck.

I could not believe my eyes. “Where did you get that necklace from?”

“You recognize it, don’t you? It’s yours! I forgot to bring accessories when I moved to the palace, so I asked Barnett for some and he gave this to me without hesitation,” she said proudly.

I stepped forward to grab it. “Give it back! It’s mine!”

I swear I had not even touched her, yet she stumbled backward, clutching her stomach with a pained expression on her face.

“Fera, What are you doing?!" Barnett rushed forward to help Carol to her feet. “She’s pregnant! Why would you push her?!”