My hands trembled as I held the pregnancy test, staring at the two pink lines that had appeared like a miracle. Four weeks. I was carrying Thaddeus's child.

The joy bubbling inside me was almost unbearable. Despite everything—the distance growing between us, his refusal to complete our marking ceremony, the whispers I'd been hearing—this baby was a new beginning. Our new beginning.

I smoothed down my dress and touched my unmarked neck reflexively, a habit I'd developed whenever anxiety crept in. The skin there remained smooth, untouched by my mate's claim. Two years together, and still no mark. But maybe this would change everything.

"I have something to tell you," I said, standing in the doorway of Thaddeus's office, my voice barely containing my excitement.

He didn't look up from his papers. "What is it, Grace?"

"I'm pregnant." The words hung in the air between us. "We're going to have a baby."

For a moment, just a moment, I thought I saw something flicker across his face—surprise, perhaps even happiness. But it vanished so quickly I wondered if I'd imagined it.

"We'll discuss this later," he said flatly, already returning to his paperwork. "I have pack business to attend to."

"But Thaddeus—"

"Brooke," he called out, ignoring my protest. "I need you in here."

I stood frozen as Brooke appeared from her adjacent office, her Beta assistant badge gleaming on her chest. Her eyes met mine briefly—a flash of something triumphant there—before she slipped into Thaddeus's office.

"Close the door on your way out, Grace," Thaddeus added without looking up.

I retreated into the hallway, one hand instinctively moving to my stomach. The baby was tiny yet, barely formed, but I already felt protective. My child deserved better than this cold reception.

* * *

The monthly pack assembly buzzed with energy. I sat beside Thaddeus in the front row, trying to ignore the fact that Brooke was seated directly behind us, her presence a constant reminder of my growing suspicions.

When it came time for announcements, I rose before Thaddeus could stop me. The room fell silent as I faced our pack members.

"I have wonderful news to share with everyone," I began, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "Thaddeus and I are expecting our first child."

A few gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. I caught Dr. Sarah's supportive smile from the back row.

"That's enough, Grace." Thaddeus's voice cut through the room like ice. "Personal matters shouldn't interrupt pack business."

He stood, towering over me. "We have security concerns to address. The Northern Pack has been encroaching on our borders again."

I sank back into my seat, heat rushing to my face as whispers erupted around us. Through our pack mind-link, I could feel the discomfort spreading.

"Did you know?" someone asked through the link.

"Thought they were having problems..."

"Poor Luna..."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Brooke's lips curl into a smirk. She leaned forward, whispering something in Thaddeus's ear that made him nod gravely.

* * *

Dawn painted the pack house garden in soft gold when I slipped outside for some fresh air. Sleep had eluded me after yesterday's humiliation, and I needed to clear my head.

Voices drifted from behind the rose bushes. I froze, recognizing Thaddeus's deep timbre immediately.

"She's four weeks along now," he was saying softly. "The healer confirmed it yesterday."

"And what does that mean for us?" Brooke's voice, tender in a way I'd never heard her speak to anyone else.

"It doesn't change anything," Thaddeus assured her. "You're carrying my heir, Brooke. The future Alpha of Silverpine."

I stepped forward silently, my heart hammering against my ribs. There they were—my mate and his Beta assistant, standing close together in the morning light.

Thaddeus's hand moved to rest on Brooke's slightly rounded belly, his touch gentle and reverent. "I promise you, when this child is born, everything will be different. I'll make it official then."

Brooke leaned into him, her eyes closed in contentment. "I've waited so long to hear you say that."

I pressed my hand against my mouth to stifle any sound as Thaddeus pulled her closer, whispering words of love and promise—words he'd never spoken to me, not even when we first recognized each other as mates.

The ground seemed to shift beneath my feet as my worst fears crystallized into painful reality. Not only was Thaddeus having an affair with Brooke, but she was also pregnant with his child.

And I was nothing more than an inconvenience in their plans.

I stood outside Thaddeus's office, my hand trembling as I raised it to knock. The image of him with Brooke in the garden played on repeat in my mind—his hand on her belly, his whispered promises. My own stomach churned with morning sickness and raw betrayal.

I pushed the door open without knocking. Thaddeus looked up, irritation flashing across his face.

"What is it now, Grace?" he asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"I saw you with Brooke this morning," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "In the garden."

Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "And?"

"And I heard everything." I stepped closer, one hand instinctively moving to my still-flat stomach. "She's pregnant with your child, isn't she?"

Thaddeus rose slowly from his chair, his Alpha aura filling the room like a physical force. "You're making serious accusations, Grace."

"I'm stating facts," I countered, refusing to back down despite the pressure building in my chest. "Our pack deserves to know their Alpha has been—"

"Enough!" His voice cracked like a whip. "Stop acting like a jealous child."

He circled the desk, towering over me. "Brooke is my Beta assistant. We discussed pack business this morning. Nothing more."

"You lied to me," I whispered. "You're having an affair."

Thaddeus's eyes hardened. "Be very careful with your next words, Luna." The title sounded like a mockery on his lips. "These accusations are groundless and damaging to pack morale."

I felt something inside me crack. "And what about your duty to me? To our baby?"

His laugh was cold. "If you continue to spread these lies about Brooke, I'll have no choice but to reconsider your position as Luna."

The threat hung in the air between us. I staggered back, his words striking harder than any physical blow.

"Get out," he said quietly. "And stop embarrassing yourself."

* * *

Morning sickness hit me with a vengeance three days later. I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying what little was in my stomach.

"Luna Grace?" Dr. Sarah's concerned voice came from the doorway. "I heard you were unwell."

I wiped my mouth with trembling hands. "It's just morning sickness. Normal, right?"

Dr. Sarah helped me to my feet, her healer's touch gentle. "Let me examine you."

Her hands glowed with a soft blue light as she placed them on my abdomen. Her brow furrowed slightly.

"The baby's fine," she assured me. "But you're dehydrated and stressed. I can give you something for the nausea."

"Thank you," I whispered, grateful for her kindness.

"I should inform Alpha Thaddeus about your condition," she said, already reaching for her phone.

"No!" I grabbed her wrist. "Please don't."

Dr. Sarah hesitated. "He should know about your health."

"He doesn't care," I admitted, the words bitter on my tongue.

But Dr. Sarah was already dialing. I watched her face fall as she spoke.

"Yes, Alpha... She's experiencing severe morning sickness... No, it's not uncommon in the first trimester..."

She lowered the phone, her expression troubled. "He says to handle it quietly. He doesn't want to be bothered with... female issues."

The dismissal cut deeper than I expected. Dr. Sarah squeezed my hand apologetically.

* * *

"Another meeting?" I groaned, looking at the schedule Brooke had just delivered to my quarters.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Brooke said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "The Alpha insists on daily updates on the northern border situation."

I glanced at the time—right in the middle of my worst morning sickness hours. This was no coincidence.

"I'll be there," I managed, though my stomach was already churning at the thought.

But when the time came, I couldn't make it. The nausea overwhelmed me, and I barely managed to reach the bathroom before losing what little breakfast I'd managed.

By the time I arrived at the meeting, it was nearly over.

"Ah, Luna Grace," Brooke announced loudly as I slipped in. "We were just discussing how unfortunate it is that you've missed so many important meetings lately."

All eyes turned to me. Through the pack mind-link, I could feel their judgment.

"Is it true you've been unable to fulfill your Luna duties?" someone asked aloud.

"Perhaps the pressure is too much for her," another suggested through the link.

"Poor Alpha Thaddeus," a third voice added. "Having to handle everything while his mate is... indisposed."

Brooke's smile was razor-sharp. "We've been managing just fine without you, Luna. Some of us are stronger than others."

I stood frozen, feeling the weight of every judgmental stare. In that moment, I realized this was just the beginning of Brooke's plan to undermine me completely.

And Thaddeus was letting her do it.

The ancient texts in the pack library seemed to call to me as I slipped between the dusty shelves. Moonlight filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows across leather-bound volumes that hadn't been touched in decades. My fingers trembled as I pulled out a weathered book titled "Rituals of Severance: Mate Bonds and Beyond."

I needed to know everything about the rejection ritual. Every detail, every word, every requirement.

"Just breathe, Grace," I whispered to myself, settling at a secluded table with my prize.

The pages crackled as I turned them, revealing illustrations of wolves with broken chains between them. The text was old, the language archaic, but I could understand enough.

"The rejection must be spoken under the full moon..."

"The one who rejects must stand within the sacred circle..."

"The words cannot be taken back once spoken..."

My hand moved instinctively to my stomach. Six weeks now. The baby was still so small, but I felt protective. I needed to decide soon—either keep trying with Thaddeus or set us both free.

"Looking for something particular, Luna?"

I jumped, slamming the book shut as Brooke's voice sliced through the silence. She stood in the aisle, her Beta assistant badge gleaming under the library lights.

"Just... researching pack history," I managed, my voice barely steady.

Brooke's eyes narrowed as she spotted the title of the book. Her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Rituals of Severance," she read aloud. "How... interesting."

I clutched the book tighter. "It's just research."

"Of course it is." Brooke stepped closer, her hand resting on her own slightly rounded belly. "But you know what they say about knowledge being dangerous."

Before I could respond, she snatched the book from my hands. "I should inform Alpha Thaddeus about your... studies."

"Brooke, please—"

"Books like these are sensitive pack resources," she interrupted. "I'll make sure they're properly secured."

I watched helplessly as she gathered my notes and the ritual book, tucking them under her arm like a trophy.

* * *

The pack dining hall buzzed with conversation and laughter. I sat at the head table beside Thaddeus, picking at my food while trying to ignore the morning sickness that still plagued me throughout the day.

Thaddeus stood suddenly, tapping his glass for attention. The room fell silent.

"I have an announcement to make," he said, his voice carrying to every corner of the hall.

My heart stopped as he reached for Brooke, who appeared at his side as if on cue.

"As many of you know, our pack has been blessed with new life recently." His hand moved to rest on Brooke's belly. "Brooke has been carrying my child for the past two months."

The room erupted in cheers and congratulations. Through the pack mind-link, I could feel their excitement, their joy.

"Brooke has shown extraordinary dedication to our pack's growth," Thaddeus continued, his voice swelling with pride. "Her strength and loyalty deserve our highest respect."

I felt something flutter inside me—my baby, moving for the first time. The sensation was both wonderful and devastating as I sat there, watching my pack celebrate another woman carrying my mate's child.

"To Brooke," Thaddeus raised his glass. "And to the future of Silverpine."

"To Brooke!" the pack echoed.

I raised my glass mechanically, my other hand pressed against my stomach where our child—our secret—grew unseen and uncelebrated.

* * *

"You missed the border patrol briefing again," Thaddeus said coldly as I entered the pack house later that night.

"I wasn't aware there was one," I replied, exhaustion weighing on me.

"Brooke handled it perfectly," he said, not bothering to look up from his papers. "She understands pack priorities."

I bit back a retort and headed to my room. The pain started as I changed into my nightgown—a sharp cramp that doubled me over.

"Grace?" Dr. Sarah's voice came from the hallway. "Are you alright?"

I couldn't answer. Another wave of pain hit, more intense than the first. I felt something warm trickle down my legs.

The last thing I remembered was Dr. Sarah's horrified gasp as she found me on the floor, blood pooling beneath me.

"Grace! Oh goddess, no!"

I drifted in and out of consciousness, aware of Dr. Sarah's hands glowing blue as she tried to heal me.

"Where's Thaddeus?" she demanded of someone.

"Border patrol," came the reply. "With Beta Brooke."

"He needs to be here now!" Dr. Sarah snapped.

But as darkness claimed me again, I knew he wouldn't come. Not for me. Not for our baby.

Not anymore.