The absurdity of it all was almost laughable.
Yet the fear that gripped my heart was painfully real.
A cold chill crawled up my spine, settling deep in my bones.
I pressed myself against the wall outside the council chamber, forcing my trembling hands to remain still. Every instinct screamed at me to burst through the door and demand answers, but somehow I managed to stay where I was.
Outside, the pack members were still laughing and wagering over the genders of the pups growing inside my womb.
Even hearing Ethan's voice from time to time was enough to make my stomach twist.
Four years.
I had spent four years as his Luna.
Four years sharing his bed, his home, and what I believed was his heart.
Yet standing there, I realized I knew nothing about the man I had devoted my life to.
My hand drifted to my swollen stomach.
The skin was stretched so tightly it almost hurt.
Four pups.
Four tiny lives moved beneath my palm.
One belonged to Olivia Hayes.
One belonged to Chloe Morgan.
What about the other two?
I knew Chloe well.
She and Ethan had grown up together. The entire pack knew she had loved him for years. Even after he rejected her, she never gave up.
Looking at it now, Ethan was truly generous.
He had never given her his heart.
So he had given her a pup instead.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
The sound startled even me.
Before long, tears began streaming down my face.
If Ethan wished to leave behind bloodlines for those females, why had he chosen me?
Why had he made me endure all of this?
How could my mate be so cruel?
I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.
All this time, I had mistaken his concern for love.
The rare healing herbs he personally gathered for me.
The tonics he ordered the pack healers to prepare.
The way he reminded everyone to care for my condition.
I had treasured every gesture.
Now I understood.
None of it had been for me.
The noise outside continued unabated.
"I wager two males and two females."
"All four will be males."
Laughter followed.
Then a sweet female voice floated through the crowd.
"Why does everyone keep choosing males? Females are wonderful. I bet three females and one male."
A familiar unease settled over me.
The voice belonged to Lily Sinclair.
She turned toward Ethan.
"Alpha Ethan, do you prefer sons or daughters?"
Ethan's reply came easily.
"I like both. But sons are easier. Daughters are too delicate."
Ryan Walker immediately laughed.
"Then what are you wagering, Alpha?"
Ethan's tone softened ever so slightly.
"Since Sisi likes daughters, I'll choose three males and one female."
Sisi.
The nickname struck me like a blade.
So it was her.
A bitter smile touched my lips.
Their affair had been happening beneath my nose all along, and I had remained completely blind to it.
Perhaps they had hidden it too well.
Or perhaps I had simply been foolish.
Lily's voice rang out again, playful and spoiled.
"Why are daughters delicate?"
A few moments later, Ethan answered, amusement evident in his voice.
"Not delicate? Who was terrified of the Bloodline Ritual because she feared the pain? You cried several times while preserving your blood essence."
"But it hurt," Lily protested.
Then, as though remembering something, she added casually,
"Although Luna Sophia never seemed to cry. The Bloodline Ritual lasted so long, and she endured every ceremony without shedding a single tear, didn't she?"
Ethan gave a low chuckle.
"Sophia is stubborn. Pain doesn't frighten her. I don't think I've ever seen her cry because of it."
His voice grew gentler.
"Unlike you. You start tearing up from the smallest scratch."
The crowd immediately seized the opportunity to flatter him.
"That's because Sister Sisi has Alpha Ethan protecting her."
"Exactly. When someone cherishes you, you can afford to be delicate."
"If no one cares about you, then you can only endure everything yourself, just like Luna Sophia."
Several people laughed.
"Alpha Ethan only arranged this because he didn't want Sister Sisi ruining her health carrying pups herself."
"Meanwhile Luna Sophia's stomach is enormous. Four pups at once. Who knows what she'll look like after giving birth?"
Another female laughed softly.
"Things are different now. Back then, even if I stood before Alpha Ethan in my finest dress, he wouldn't spare me a second glance. But now..."
