Freya POV

The next day, I decided to go home and talk with my father, James, about breaking the mate bond.

My father was once the Beta to Aidan’s father. My mother came from a noble lineage. She was the daughter of the Alpha of the neighboring Starlight Pack.

I grew up with Aidan and never hid my feelings for him. Since the afternoon of my 14th birthday, when I secretly kissed Aidan on the cheek, every year, my birthday wish had been the same:

#Moon Goddess, please let me grow up quickly and make Aidan my mate!#

Aidan had always treated me well.

Every morning, he would have his bodyguards take a detour to pick me up so we could go to school together.

But all of that changed when Zoey entered our pack.

Five years ago, after my mother passed away, my father brought Zoey home. It was then I found out that my father had long ago fathered an illegitimate daughter with my mother’s maid, Sophia.

The care and attention Aidan used to show me gradually shifted to Zoey, who appeared delicate and beautiful. She had soft, long black hair and big, watery eyes.

What shattered me the most was when Zoey shifted for the first time at 18. Aidan had held her in his arms and had said to her with deep affection,

"You are mine! My little wolf."

Aidan’s mate turned out to be Zoey!

I had watched Aidan kissing Zoey on the lips. Unable to bear the sight, I had turned and ran into the forest, shifting into a white wolf and howling in anguish alone at the mountaintop.

I couldn’t understand why the Moon Goddess hadn’t heard my prayers.

Zoey’s mother had stolen my father, and now Zoey had stolen my Aidan!

I did hate Zoey, but I could never use deceitful or dirty tricks to steal Aidan for myself.

***

I drove to my father James’s house.

The house was eerily quiet, and I guessed he was probably in his study.

As I reached the study door and was about to knock, I overheard Zoey and my father talking.

"Dad, I’ve already dealt with that child. I promise no one will ever know." Zoey said.

"You’ve been so foolish! If it weren’t for that child, you would already be the Luna of the Nightblade Pack by now!" My dad snapped.

"Dad, stop blaming me! I personally sent my own mate to Freya’s bed. No one is more upset about it than I am!"

"But that’s only got you all of Freya’s mother’s inheritance. If it weren’t for Freya’s guilt towards you, we would never have gotten such a fortune in our lifetime! Freya’s mother was truly cruel—leaving everything to Freya alone and not a single cent to me, her husband.”

"Dad, now that we’ve gotten all of Freya’s mother’s inheritance and I’ve dealt with that child, I think I still have a chance to become the Luna of the Nightblade Pack. I want Aidan to break the mate bond with Freya."

"Zoey, wait a bit longer. Don’t rush. Anyway, Aidan was originally your mate, and he likes you."

"No! I can’t just wait any longer. I’ve been back for nearly a year now. Although Aidan has been good to me, he’s always kept his distance. If I don’t take him back now, I’m afraid I’ll lose my chance!"

I stood frozen outside the door, my head spinning, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Three years ago, that night... it was all planned by my father and Zoey to force Aidan to mark me.

They had tricked me out of my mother’s entire inheritance, and now they were plotting to take my Luna status, too?

I wanted to burst in and confront them, but I quickly calmed myself down.

They mentioned “that child”–the reason for sending Aidan to my bed.

What did they mean by “that child”?

I turned and walked downstairs, supporting myself against the wall.

Until I uncover the truth, I won’t let Zoey and my father succeed. Never!

Just as I got into my car, my phone chimed with Aidan’s name on the screen.

“Hello,” I said.

"Where did you go? Weren’t you planning to break the mate bond with me?"

Freya POV

"No, I have changed my mind. I don't want to break it now!"

"Freya! Are you playing with me again?!" Aidan roared on the other end of the phone.

"Aidan! Listen to me! Zoey isn't who you think she is! She's a liar! She..." I felt desperate to explain to him.

"You’re accusing her again! She wandered for two years because of you, suffering so much. Why can't you be kinder to her? When did you become so heartless?"

"I..."

Before I could finish, Aidan hung up.

You don’t even have the patience to hear me out, Aidan

I stared at myself in the rearview mirror, my eyes blurred with tears.

That evening, I went alone to a French restaurant Aidan and I often visited as children.

However, someone had already reserved the window seat we used to sit at.

I walked closer, only to see Aidan and Zoey sitting there.

Aidan was gazing at Zoey with tenderness, carefully cutting a piece of cake and placing it on her plate.

Zoey looked radiant in her opulent red dress, her face glowing with the happiness of the evening. Her eyes sparkled as she laughed, a playful, almost mischievous glint to them.

So, he was here to celebrate Zoey’s birthday!

Huh…In these three years together, he had never celebrated my birthday.

It was clear that Zoey had already taken my place, even though we hadn’t officially broken the mate bond. .

I wanted to turn and leave, but Zoey called out to me just in time.

"Freya, today’s my birthday. Aidan made this strawberry ice cream cake himself for me. Why don’t you join us and have a taste?"

Seeing the provocative look in Zoey's eyes, a wave of competitiveness surged in my heart. Without a second thought, I walked over to their table and confidently sat down.

"I don’t like sweets," I remarked.

"Oh, I don’t know about that." My sister grinned, teasing me as she scooped a spoonful of cake. "Aidan loves them, though."

She brought the spoon up to his mouth, and without missing a beat, Aidan leaned in, accepting the bite.

My eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn’t just that he ate it—it was the way he did so, the way he let her feed him. He wasn’t like this with me, not once in all the years I had known him.

The knot in my stomach tightened as I glanced at the red ruby necklace glistening on my sister’s neck, catching the light from the chandelier above.

"Look, Aidan gave me this necklace. Isn’t it beautiful?" Zoey said, tracing her fingers over her necklace.

I looked at her fair neck, where a ruby necklace sparkled under the light.

"It’s beautiful. But don’t forget, Aidan used our shared marital assets to buy it. I think I’ll take it back now!"

I grabbed the necklace around her neck and tried to pull it.

Zoey screamed, unprepared for me to be so brazen.

"What are you doing?!" Aidan roared and grabbed my wrist.

"Apologize to Zoey right now!"

"No, I will not!"

Zoey, looking pitiful, tried to push Aidan's hand away. "Aidan, it’s fine! Don’t be upset. “Freya might just be in a bad mood today."

"Zoey, you're too kind. Does it hurt?" Aidan gently touched the red mark on Zoey's neck, his face full of concern.

He then turned to me, his expression furious.

"Today, you must apologize to Zoey!" He roared.

“I will not!” I replied sternly.

He raised his hand to hit me, but then he slowly lowered it.

He wanted to hit me?!

My lips twitched as I held back my tears and rushed out of the restaurant.

But I didn’t expect Aidan to chase after me.

He caught up quickly, his hands grasping my shoulders with a force that made my body freeze.

"Get in the car," he ordered,

"Why are you following me? Go back and stay with Zoey! " I rubbed my arm, which he had grabbed too tightly.

"I'm taking you back to apologize to Zoey!"

"Hahaha." I suddenly burst into laughter, tears spilling out. "Aidan, are you blind? I love you so much, but all you care for and love is that woman with a venomous heart.”

"Freya, if you want to stay as my mate, you better treat Zoey with respect! I don’t want to hear you slander her again!"

"Ha…As if it matters if we break or stay as a mate. Have you ever fulfilled your duties as a mate?"

I pushed open the car door to leave, but he yanked me back inside and pinned me against the seat.

"If that’s the case, I’ll fulfill my duties as your mate right now!" He leaned down and began kissing me.

"Aidan, what are you doing? If you love Zoey, then go f*** her! I’m not your sex toy!"

"My relationship with Zoey is pure and innocent. She’s nothing like you—so shameless!"

He sealed my lips with his, silencing me completely.

Freya POV

The sensation of his lips on mine was like fire. My body, despite the anger and confusion clouding my mind, began to respond to him in ways I hated.

His kiss deepened, urgent and greedy, and before I could even comprehend what was happening, I felt the rip of fabric—the skirt of my dress torn by his hands.

"Stop!" I gasped, my hands pressing against his chest in a futile attempt to push him away. But despite my protest, a part of me—one I couldn’t control—was drawn to him. The heat between us was undeniable, impossible to ignore.

I was caught between two emotions, fighting against the pull of desire and the shame of it all. My eyes welled up with tears, my heart a storm of pain, frustration, and longing. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me, why I couldn’t just stop him, why it felt so good despite everything.

“Freya, when did you become so pathetic?” My inner voice questioned me.

A single tear slipped down my cheek, and when Aidan tasted it, something changed. His kiss faltered, and he pulled back, his breath ragged, his chest heaving as he stared at me, his expression conflicted.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

I cried softly, the sound of it breaking through the silence. "I hate you," I whispered, but even as the words left my mouth, I felt the weight of the lie.

Aidan didn’t answer. He simply reached up, brushing the tear from my cheek with the back of his hand, his touch gentler now, more regretful. And in that moment, I realized I wasn’t just crying for the pain he’d caused—I was crying because I didn’t know how to stop wanting him.

"Why are you crying? Isn’t this what you wanted?"

I wiped my tears and looked up at him.

“What I wanted–you’ve already given to Zoey.”

Before he could react, his phone rang. I saw Zoey's name on the screen, and he picked up instantly.

"Aidan, you don’t need to make Freya apologize. The frosting on the cake is melting—come back and make a wish with me," Zoey's soft voice floated through the line.

I stared out the car window, dreading the saccharine words they might exchange.

But to my surprise, Aidan didn’t give her a chance to do it.

"I’ll have Sean take you home. I promise to make it up to you tomorrow," he replied.

"Aidan, is it because Freya..."

"No, I just have work to handle," he cut her off and hung up.

He then made another call, instructing the house staff to prepare dinner, saying he’d be eating at home tonight.

"Are you satisfied now?" Aidan asked after hanging up.

"Satisfied, huh? You can’t even admit to Zoey that you’re having dinner with me," I retorted.

"Zoey is sensitive. I don’t want her overthinking. Today is her birthday—I should be with her."

"Then go be with her. No one is stopping you."

"I’m already trying to make it up to you, Freya. Why do you have to be so difficult? If you can get along with Zoey, you can remain the Luna of Nightblade Pack without any trouble."

I shook my head and laughed bitterly. "Do you really think I care about being Luna?"

"Don’t push your luck, Freya!"

I understood there was no use in arguing, so I stayed silent.

"Anyway, your dress is torn. I'll take you home first." Aidan took off his t-shirt and helped me put it on.

"There’s the scent of another woman on it. I don’t want it." I threw his t-shirt out of the car window.

Later that evening, as we quietly ate dinner, Aidan’s Beta, Sean, called.

"Alpha Aidan, bad news! Miss Zoey was attacked by a group of rogues at a bar and is now in the hospital."

"What?! Didn’t I tell you to take her home?"

"She said it was her birthday and wanted to celebrate properly. She started crying, so I stayed with her. I stepped away briefly to use the restroom, and when I came back, she was gone. I found her in the alley behind the bar, and those rogues were about to… were about to..."

"I understand. I’m heading over now!"

Aidan didn’t even bother putting on his jacket before grabbing his car keys and rushing out.

"Who knows what kind of stunt she’s pulling this time," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Aidan glared at me. "Shut up! She’s your sister! If you hadn’t gone to argue with her tonight, this wouldn’t have happened!"

If I hadn’t overheard Zoey and my father’s conversation, I too, would be running to help her.

I so much wanted to speak, but I reined my urges.

But now I was certain thatZoey had staged this attack because Aidan didn’t stay with her tonight. She wanted to force him to break our mate bond.

For the next three days, Aidan didn’t come home. Only Beta Sean was sent to collect his clothes.

Meanwhile, I hired a private investigator to investigate "that child."

But before I could uncover anything about the child Zoey mentioned, I received something unexpected—my own pregnancy report.

Lately, I was feeling nauseous to the point of bitterness in my mouth and a sore throat. So, I went to the hospital for a checkup.

My friend Luigi, who worked at the clinic, came out holding the report.

"Freya, congratulations! You’re pregnant—with twins."