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."

Freya POV

I stared at my friend in utter shock. Fate has played yet another cruel joke on me!

Aidan and I are already at each other’s throats—can being pregnant even count as good news?

"But your pregnancy is unstable right now. You need to take care of yourself," Luigi said, looking at me with concern as he handed me some medication to protect the baby.

"Alright, alright," I nodded.

"You don’t seem… very happy."

"Why wouldn’t I be? It’s just a little sudden," I forced a smile.

Even though our three-year marriage has been nothing but a sham, I’ve always upheld the image of a loving couple in front of the public as the Luna of the Nightblade Pack.

"You don’t have to hide anything from me! That bastard! His mate is pregnant, and he’s upstairs keeping another woman company. I’ll drag him down here right now!" Luigi hissed.

"Luigi, this is between me and my husband!" I grabbed his arm to stop him.

"I get it," Luigi sighed, his anger fading into sadness. "Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything."

I nodded. Clutching the test results, I walked out of the clinic but lingered outside for a long time.

I knew Aidan was with Zoey inside, but I didn’t know how to tell him the news—or even if I should.

In the end, I decided to head home first. After calming myself, I picked up my phone and called him.

"Come home tonight. I need to talk to you."

"Zoey hasn’t recovered yet."

"It’s something very important."

"Handle it yourself."

"I’ll wait for you. If you don’t come back, I’ll go to the hospital to find you!"

With that, I hung up.

I sat in the living room until 10 p.m. before Aidan finally came home.

I greeted him with a smile, but his face was exhausted and indifferent.

He walked past me, smelling of hospital disinfectant and Zoey’s jasmine perfume, and headed straight to his room.

"Aidan!" I called out.

"I’m taking a shower and then going back to the hospital. Whatever it is, we’ll talk later."

When he came back downstairs, dressed and ready to leave, I grabbed his arm and stepped in front of him.

"Wait!"

"Let me go. Zoey needs me right now."

"I need you too, Aidan."

He pushed my hand off him. "Freya, Zoey was almost assaulted by rogues because of you!"

"Because of me?! How?! One more big lie!”

He looked at me with disgust. "Move aside!" He shoved me to the side and walked past me.

I followed him to the clinic, still wearing my pajamas and slippers. The night air was cold, and I hugged myself tightly.

In Zoey’s hospital room, I saw Aidan, my father, James, and Zoey’s mother, Sophia all standing by her bedside.

A sudden pang of jealousy surged within me.

"What are you doing here?" My father looked surprised, perhaps worried I might cause trouble for Zoey. He stood up and blocked my way to her bed.

I ignored him and walked straight to Aidan.

"Aidan, come home with me! You’re my mate! Zoey has her parents to take care of her. What are you even doing here?"

Aidan sneered, "What am I doing? Don’t you know?"

I clenched my teeth. I had planned to give up, but now that I’m pregnant, I have to fight—for my children to have a father!

"I don’t care if you love her or how much you love her. You’re my mate! You should stay by my side!"

"Your sister is lying in a hospital bed, and instead of caring, all you can do is be jealous of her? You don’t deserve to be my mate, let alone the Luna of Nightblade Pack! Tomorrow, in the morning itself, we’ll break our mate bond!"

"I won’t agree to it!" I roared.

"Freya, don’t forget—Zoey was supposed to be my mate from the start! Once she recovers, I’ll mark her and marry her. That’s what you owe her! Three years as my mate is enough!"

I took a deep breath, feeling like I was inhaling shards of glass that cut into my lungs. It hurt to breathe.

Sophia stepped forward, feigning concern. "Aidan, don’t be angry. Freya was spoiled growing up, unlike Zoey, who lived a hard life with me. Freya will understand one day that Zoey truly cares for her. Zoey never intended to ruin your marriage."

"She’s not as kind as you think!" I snapped, reaching for Zoey, who was pretending to sleep.

"Freya! Don’t you dare!" Aidan pulled me away from Zoey

My head hit the wall, and Aidan looked at me like I was trash.

I laughed bitterly. "Aidan, do you even know what kind of woman you love?"

"It doesn’t matter what kind of person she is—I love her!"

I exhaled slowly, my shoulders slumping. I had lost completely.

I laughed coldly. "Do you know who orchestrated the night we ended up in bed together three years ago?"

As soon as the words rolled out of my mouth, my father’s face turned pale, and Zoey’s eyelids twitched on the bed!

Freya POV

Slap!

My father stormed over and slapped me hard across the face. I leaned against the wall, struggling to stay upright, my ears ringing.

"Your sister is almost dying, and you're still causing trouble! How could I have such a vicious daughter like you? If you're not here to visit your sister, then get out!" My father yelled.

Sophia swung her fist at me, "Ever since Zoey moved in, you've been bullying her every single day. You stole her mate, caused her to almost be assaulted, and now you’re coming here to slander her! How can you be so cruel?"

My father grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the door. "Get out! I never gave birth to a daughter like you!"

I turned and looked at Aidan, who was walking toward me quickly.

"Aidan! Three years ago, I didn’t set you up! It was my father and Zoey who sent you to my room! They were the ones who put wolf poison in your drink!"

Aidan yanked me back into the room, his eyes full of confusion.

"What evidence do you have?!" He asked.

"Aidan! Don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just jealous of Zoey!” My father butted in. “Think it carefully. Three years ago, Zoey was your mate. She loved you so much that if you even looked at another woman, she used to be heartbroken! How could she have possibly given you up to another woman?"

I gasped for air and spoke again."I’m not lying, Aidan! My father and Zoey plotted to get you to mark me because of a child! They even used my guilt to take all the inheritance my mother left me!"

"You’re lying! What child? Why would Zoey give up Aidan for a child? Just listen to yourself, is this explanation reasonable?" My father’s voice lowered, fear clearly evident.

"I’m not lying." I stared at Aidan’s eyes, "You have to believe me. I’ll find out the truth soon!"

"Hmph. Without evidence, it’s just nonsense!" Sophia sneered.

I looked around at the people in the room. After my mother passed away, they should have been the ones closest to me, but now, one by one, they looked at me like they wished I was dead.

Tears blurred my vision.

"Aidan, you’ve always blamed me that you couldn’t be with the woman you loved. But do you know? I’m the most pitiful and wronged person here! My father schemed against me for his other daughter. You’ve been neglecting me for Zoey since we got married. Did you ever remember that I was once the closest person to you?"

After saying this, I couldn’t hold on any longer and slowly slid down the wall.

The cramping pain in my abdomen replaced the ache in my heart.

"Freya, what’s wrong with you? What kind of trick are you pulling now?" Aidan said, sounding a little impatient but also concerned as he saw I didn’t get up.

I took several deep breaths, "My stomach… hurts… it feels like there’s a knife twisting inside… it hurts."

I clutched my stomach as I , felt warm liquid leaking between my legs.

The sharp scent of blood filled the room.

Aidan panicked. He grabbed me by the waist, "Freya! What’s happening to you? ...Blood... why is there blood?"

"I wanted to tell you when you came home tonight... I’m...I’m pregnant, Aidan." I grabbed his shirt collar, looking intensely at his clenched jaw.

He hadn’t worried about me like this in a long time.

"What? How is that possible? Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?" Aidan stammered.

I didn’t know if he was hoping for this child or wishing I wasn’t pregnant.

"I tried to, but…ahh…Aidan…I thought… maybe we could finally have a home, even if you don’t love me. Maybe you’ll like the child, even if you don’t like our baby at first. Maybe the child will be like you, and you’ll grow to love them."

I was again gasping for air, each breath sharp and painful.

"Stop talking!" Aidan shouted, carrying me down the clinic corridor, "Doctor! Doctor!"

"Let me finish, Aidan, please After we break the mate bond tomorrow, I won’t have the chance to say this again. Maybe this child being lost is my punishment. The Moon Goddess gave me this child and cruelly took it away because I loved someone I shouldn’t.

I was wrong. Three years ago, I shouldn’t have thought I could keep you forever because of one wrong night… I... I really should let you go..."