Rejecting the False Alpha

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.