Chapter 3

The wind hit my face like a fistful of blades—sharp, stinging.

I couldn’t hold the mask anymore. I broke, and the tears came in sheets.

A few days before the crash, the Pack doctor had called that morning.

“Luna, come to the hospital—now. Your and Alpha’s physical examination results come out. I’ve got great news—hurry!” His voice shook. He was the most respected physician in the Pack.

At the hospital he told me, beaming, that I was pregnant.

“Luna, this is tremendous good news. We all know Alpha Ethan’s physical report last year showed oligospermia—this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him to have an heir.”

I went blank. Happiness had come too suddenly. I didn’t even know how to react.

I wanted to see Ethan immediately. I was desperate to share the joy.

I wasn’t Ethan’s fated mate, everyone knew how hard it was to conceive in the condition.

With his special situation, we had knelt to the Moon Goddess every day, praying for a miracle.

Now I believed our devotion had moved Her.

I tucked the report carefully into my bag and rushed to Ethan’s office.

Everything there was familiar. Employees smiled and greeted me as I passed.

After I met Ethan, I helped run the company that handled Pack affairs.

Only at last month’s third-anniversary ceremony, when he proposed, did I step back from work to prepare for the wedding at home.

At his office door, I raised my hand to knock—and froze. He was on a video call with a woman.

The words poured over me like ice water, killing my joy in an instant.

I heard the name that had haunted me for years—Ava.

His fated mate was coming back.

Tomorrow. He promised to pick her up at the airport.

I went numb.

Three years ago, Ethan’s Pack had been ambushed by the Blackhawk Pack. His parents died in the battle. He was gravely wounded. And Ava—his Luna back then—vanished.

I stayed through his darkest hours.

I sat by his hospital bed, oversaw rehab, handled Pack business until he recovered and took the mantle of Alpha of the Blackridge Pack.

Then another voice: his Beta, Andy.

“Alpha Ethan, your wedding to Luna is soon. This isn’t decent,” Andy said, uneasy.

“Ava suffered terribly these three years. She left because of a terminal diagnosis. She has little time. She needs me. As for Lena—she’s Luna. She’ll understand.” Ethan brushed Andy off and insisted on bringing Ava back to care for her.

“It isn’t fair to Luna…” Andy tried again.

“Andy, it’s my decision. Enough.” Ethan’s voice brooked no dissent.

I felt like a fool.

We were getting better, our future within reach—why did she have to come back now?

Why come back just to wreck our happiness?

While I stood there, the door opened from the inside.

Ethan and Andy both froze, as if they’d seen a ghost.

“Babe, when did you get here? Next time tell me in advance—I’ll send the driver.” His eyes flickered—testing whether I’d heard something.

I pasted on a calm face. “Oh, I just arrived. I was about to knock. Thought we could have lunch and go over wedding details.”

A flimsy excuse. Inside, I was in pieces.

I didn’t know whether to tell him about the pregnancy.

The excitement and joy were gone—replaced by dread and doubt.

I even wondered if this baby had come at the wrong time.