Nova's POV
I felt my chest warm and my throat dry. I cried silently, staring at my birthday cake. It was smashed to smudge the table and was covered with bodily fluids.
I almost threw up at the sight but knew it was my mate and his breeder’s doing. They've done the deed in my chambers while I was away to attend pack matters.
Sleep was out of question for several days after that. I was throwing up everything I ate. But I coped quickly. It was hard to share your love with someone else who will carry your mate's child for the pack.
Three days later was a unique annual festival. I had to suck it all up. I'm the Luna after all.
Festivities called for happiness and prosperity. But my happiness was snatched away and I've been an empty human shell for several weeks.
It was a vibrant gathering at Graymoon packhouse. I was left alone and stranded while the alpha, my mate Nate Killjaw was greeting guests and announcing I was 'sick'. I was perfectly healthy.
I didn't know why he mentioned that to everyone and asked me to stay silent in a corner. I felt as though he was hiding something from me. But the reason showed itself quickly.
"I have an announcement." Nate requested attention. Alphas and betas of other packs joined us that night for celebration. I was finally going to know what he had to announce.
Unwavering, Nate's pearly smile shined as he invited a guest, "Karen Weaver,"
My blood started boiling. What is she doing here?
Karen Weaver had become the spotlight, as usual. She bumped into me intentionally when passing by. I was irritated. But that was when I noticed a second heartbeat from her.
Nate summoned her upstairs delicately. Her walk to the stage with her elegant gown looked like a dance. Karen smiled at the crowd before reaching to the mic and saying,
"Graymoon shall finally be graced with a male heir."
My world came crashing. She was carrying my mate's child after all. A child I couldn't give to Nate as his mate.
Tears threatened to fall and give away my tremendous heartbreak. But I sucked it up once again.
"I heard they conceived the traditional way. Good for them!" I heard another pack’s beta say. I got sick to my stomach. They conceived by deceit. That's what they did. That too, behind my back.
All eyes were on Karen and Nate as she proudly caressed her baby bump. Another hand joined to caress it - My mate's. I refused to cheer and clap for them, initially. I was so hurt and felt like the world came crashing down on me. But I didn't want to seem vindictive or a killjoy.
I clapped only when Karen's flared expression fell on me. She was noticing everything I did. And she walked back down, receiving numerous congratulations.
"Didn't mean to ruin your anniversary, Nova. Sorry." Karen winked and said. I smiled back, containing the shudder of disgust before replying,
"It's alright. Wasn't anything special anyway. You get used to it when no one celebrates your union when it falls on a Blood Moon festival each year." I spoke the barren truth. Karen jumped her eyebrows.
"Well, I want happiness for the pack that gave me a second chance at life." I heard her say in a sweet voice.
"I agree." I replied flatly, having lost all respect for my mate's breeder best friend. Karen wasn't appreciating my cordial responses. She wanted to stir up drama, like usual.
When I saw Nate walking down the stage to greet us, I wanted to remind him of today. That it was our anniversary.
Back inside the packhouse, a small cake with decorations awaited for Nate and I. I was looking forward to making things right and celebrating our anniversary in private.
But when Nate walked over and snaked his arm around his best friend, I lost all hope.
"How's the pregnancy going?" I asked, trying not to grit my teeth. They've already sinned and there was no point in making them confess.
Nate clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
"Didn't I do it for the pack? For us, my love? We've been trying to have a strong heir from your womb for five years. It should be a Luna's duty to produce an heir but..." Nate stopped himself from continuing. I smirked softly. He was pressing on my wound wantedly.
"Don't be shy, Nate. Say it." I urged him to continue. Instead, Karen stepped in and said,
"I told you we're doing this for your pack." Karen's tone was sharp, as if threatening me. I raised an eyebrow.
"'Your pack'? So you accept that you're not from our pack?" I tricked her. Karen stumbled in her words, turning to her lover for rescue.
"Stop acting up, Please. I know you're upset we hid this pregnancy behind your back." Nate tried to shush me but I wasn't having it. I would've loved to see him in my place. If he cared at all, how would he react if I let another man pleasure me and plant his seed in me? I wondered.
"And that you've impregnated her ‘traditionally’? Bold move, Nate. You put me through so much pain." I said, finally finding out why my chest hurt so bad the night of my birthday. Suddenly, Nate hissed to retort,
"I was in pain too, dammit. I mated with you. I only slept with Nova for an heir." Disgust filled my body when he said that.
"Very well." I said and turned to leave. Nate tried to bring me back but I had gone back to the balcony. The Blood Moon seemed like a curse in periodic occurrence for me.
Every time it bloomed in the sky, impending doom awaited me. I hated it. I loathed that if I ever made a wish on this special lunar event, it would turn into my curse.
"My love..." Nate's gentle voice pulled me out of my trance. As much as I hated what he was doing, he was still my mate. An alpha who had responsibilities.
"I had to do what I had to." Nate said before curling his arm around me.
"You made me feel less of a woman, less of a Luna, because I couldn't give you an heir. You embarrassed me in front of everyone, Nate." I said, tears falling free now that I had no one to scrutinize me.
Why couldn't it be anyone else? Why did it have to be Karen? The Fallen Alpha's daughter who treated me like shit?
"Shush..." I wept on Nate's shoulder.
"I promise it's going to be fine. Even if you can't be a mother, you will be that child's godmother." Nate said. His words shook me awake from the false dream.
"Godmother? But isn't Karen our surrogate?" I anticipated the worst. But this wasn't what I expected.
"I'm sorry, Nova. Since Karen is carrying our child, she has rights. She's bonded with the child and claims to be its mother. I'm sorry."
And just like that, my opportunity to become a mother to a soul was snatched.
Before I could cry and yell at Nate for allowing this, Karen's erratic scream, followed by a thud, alerted Nate. He sprinted so quickly to her, shedding tears looking at her in distress.
I wondered if he ever shed tears for me. When I was in such pain, two years ago, when rogues kidnapped me and took advantage of me.
It was so unfair…
