I lay in bed for three days, unable to decide what to do about the child growing inside me. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on my chest, each breath feeling like a struggle.
That evening, Layne came in to announce a visitor.
"Miss, Luna of the Gilbert Pack is here to see you."
Luna of the Gilbert Pack—Bellamy Turner, my half-sister. Her mother was Knox Salazar’s first mate, and from the moment she was born, she was showered with affection. Before I could even respond, Bellamy swept into the room, her presence commanding and her scent—a mix of vanilla and rosemary—filling the air.
"Well, well," she said with a sly smile, her eyes scanning the room. "I heard the joyous news of your pregnancy, sister. I couldn’t resist coming to congratulate you."
Her words were sweet, but her tone was anything but. Unlike me, pale and frail from the ordeal of the past weeks, she looked radiant, her cheeks flushed with health. She didn’t wait for me to speak, instead striding around the room as if she owned it. Her gaze eventually landed on my wrist.
"Ah," she said, her voice dripping with mock pity. "No wonder. The engraving on the bracelet has worn away, and the powder inside has leaked out. It’s lost its potency."
I followed her gaze to the silver chain on my wrist—a gift from Carson, the Alpha of the Duncan Pack and my mate. He’d told me it was a rare treasure, crafted specifically for me, a symbol of our bond. I’d worn it every day, a constant reminder of his love.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice cold and steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Bellamy’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Jaliyah, do you really think it’s a coincidence that after seven years of being mated to Carson, you’ve never conceived? He’s always loved me. He couldn’t bear the thought of you bearing his child before I did. It would have broken my heart."
Her words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt my wolf, Max, whimper in the back of my mind, a low, pained sound. My breath came in shallow gasps, my chest tightening with a pain that had nothing to do with my physical state.
"So," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling, "as long as you haven’t had his child, mine will be taken from me, is that it?"
Bellamy didn’t answer, but the smirk on her face said it all.
"Oh, Jaliyah," she said, her tone almost pitying now. "It’s not personal. Carson just loves me more. If you don’t believe me, come to the Pack Hall tomorrow. I’ll make sure you hear it from his own lips."
With that, she turned on her heel and left, her scent lingering like a taunt. As she stepped out the door, she ran into Carson himself. I watched as her expression shifted instantly, her eyes filling with tears as she leaned into him.
I saw the way his eyes softened, the way his hand reached out to comfort her, and something inside me shattered. My fists clenched so tightly that my claws dug into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.
