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Chapter 1
ARIA'S POV
I ran through the foggy forest, feeling my heart pound in my chest. The damp leaves crunched under my feet as I pushed forward, desperate to put as much distance as possible between myself and the life I was leaving behind.
Behind me, I could hear bone-chilling howls that made my blood run cold. Two gray wolves were on my tail, their large forms barely visible in the fog. I could hear their heavy breathing and the sound of their footsteps as they got closed in on me.
"Stop running, bitch!" one of the werewolves yelled, his voice harsh and threatening.
I felt sick to my stomach, but I had to keep going. “Leave me alone!" I shouted back, my voice hoarse and breathless.
The other let out a cruel laugh. "Leave you alone?? Dante, the man you claim to be your husband, he killed our parents, our family. And because of him, we were forced to become rogues. Now, we will make him pay by killing you!”
My mind reeled. Alpha Dante, the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack and my husband of three years. I loved him...
"You had better stop running,‘’ the first wolf broke into my thoughts. "Killing you is the only way we can hurt Dante. He needs to suffer like we did!"
I suddenly felt angry. "You're wrong!" I shouted, surprising myself with the strength in my voice. "Your family was sentenced to death for theft, and Dante… he did nothing wrong! He was only doing his duty as the Alpha."
"Shut up, bitch. You will die today!!" the other one growled.
His words sent a chill down my spine, so I pushed myself even harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs and the pain in my legs.
The nausea was getting worse, and I could feel my pace slowing. I needed to find a way out of this, and fast.
Just when I thought my legs would give out, I saw a small opening hidden behind a thick wall of vines. Without a second thought, I ran inside, scraping my knees and elbows as I scrambled deeper into the hidden tunnel.
I was safe for now, but for how long?
I leaned against the cold, damp wall, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing thoughts.
Who could I call?
With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through my contacts. Mom, Dad and my brothers? No, they had made it clear they wanted nothing to do with me after I chose Dante.
Name after name, and there was not a single person I could count on. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I was alone. Truly, and completely alone.
Tears clouded my eyes as desperation clawed at my chest. There had to be someone, anyone who could help me.
Dante.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "I can't. I won't put Dante in danger too."
But what choice did I have? Those wolves were still out there, searching for me. As much as I hated the idea, Dante was my only hope of getting out of this alive. And I was convinced that if I really did die, Dante would be devastated.
With trembling fingers, I dialed his number. The phone rang once, twice, three times. No answer.
"Come on, Dante," I muttered, hitting redial.
This time, someone picked up. But it wasn't Dante's deep, comforting voice I heard.
"Hello?" The sugary sweet tone made my stomach turn.
"Linda?" I couldn't keep the surprise and annoyance out of my voice.
“Aria?" Linda's tone dripped with false concern. "What do you want?”
Goodness! I felt like I was going to be sick.
Linda, the woman Dante and I rescued three months ago.
"I... I need to speak to Dante," I managed to say, fighting to keep my voice steady.
I could practically hear her smirk through the phone. "Oh, I'm sorry, Aria," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "Dante's in the shower, and it's not really convenient for him to come to the phone, you understand."
Of course. Of course he was in the shower. Probably with her.
"Please," I whispered, hating how weak I sounded. "I need his help."
Linda's laugh was like nails on a chalkboard. "Oh honey, I think you've bothered him enough, don't you? Why don't you just-"
Her voice cut off suddenly, and I heard muffled sounds in the background. Then, Dante's deep voice: "Who is it?"
"Oh, just Aria," Linda replied, her voice sticky-sweet. "She says she needs help, but I told her you're busy."
My heart shattered. 'Just Aria.' After everything we had been through, I was nothing more than an inconvenience to him now.
I opened my mouth, ready to scream, to beg, to do whatever it took to make him listen. But before I could say a word, I heard a click. The line went dead.
For a long moment, I just stood there, staring at my phone in disbelief. He had hung up on me. He knew I was in trouble, knew I needed help, and he had hung up on me.
The hurt hit me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. How could he? How had we gone from the man I loved to this? How could he betray me like this, and for Linda of all people?
A sob ripped from my throat, echoing in the small cave. I closed my eyes, memories washing over me.
Dante and I laughing as we had our lunch. Dante holding me as I cried after my first breakup. Dante promising that we would always be there for each other, no matter what. What the hell had happened to that Dante?
A low growl snapped me back to the present. My eyes flew open, and I found myself staring into two pairs of glowing eyes.
They had found me.
They stood at the entrance of the tunnel, their huge forms blocking out what little light there was. Their lips were pulled back in what looked like sinister grins, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them growled.
I tried to back away, but my legs trembled so badly I could barely stand. "Please," I whimpered, "I don't want any trouble.”
The other wolf let out a harsh laugh. "Too late for that."
This was it. This was how I was going to die. My mind raced, trying to find a way out, but coming up blank.
As the wolves took a step closer, a hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat.
"What's so funny?" one of the wolves asked, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
I shook my head, unable to explain the ridiculousness of it all. Here I was, face to face with vengeful wolves, and all I could think about was Dante and Linda.
"Nothing," I managed to croak out. "Just... life, I guess. It's funny how things turn out."
At that moment, my phone beeped. Hope flared in my chest. Maybe it was Dante, realizing his mistake. Maybe he was coming to save me after all.
Before I could even reach for it, one of the wolves lunged forward and knocked the phone out of my hand. It clattered across the ground, and the screen went dark.
"You won't be needing that," he growled, his hot breath washing over my face.
I pressed myself harder against the wall, wishing I could melt into it. I began to find it difficult to breathe. I wanted to scream, but fear had frozen my voice.
In an instant, they were on me. Rough paws gripped my arms, claws digging into my skin through my thin shirt. I cried out in pain and fear as they shook me, hurling insults that made my cheeks burn with shame.
"Pathetic," one spat, dragging his claws down my sleeve.
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears streaming down my cheeks. I was going to die alone in the woods.
Just as I felt the fabric of my shirt begin to tear, a thunderous roar echoed through the cave. The wolves holding me froze.
"Get. Your. Hands. Off. My. Sister."
My eyes flew open at the familiar voice. There, standing at the edge of the cave, was the biggest wolf I had ever seen. His fur was as white as snow, and his eyes blazed with anger. Behind him stood at least a dozen other wolves, all ready to attack.
Before I could even process what was happening, the white wolf moved. He was impossibly fast. One moment he was yards away, the next he was right in front of us. With a single swipe of his huge claw, he sent both of my attackers flying. They hit the wall with sickening thuds before crumpling to the ground.
The other wolves rushed forward, pinning down my attackers before they could even think about getting up.
I slumped to the ground, my legs no longer able to hold me up.
The white wolf turned to face me, and I gasped. Those eyes... I knew those eyes.
"A-Adam?" I whispered, hardly daring to believe it.
His face was a mask of rage and concern as he reached for me. "Aria," he growled, pulling me into his arms. "What the hell were you thinking?"
I couldn't speak. I just held onto Adam's shirt, sobbing uncontrollably.
His arms tightened around me, one hand coming up to cradle the back of my head. "Shh," he murmured, his voice softening just a bit. "I've got you.”
For a long moment, we just stayed there, my tears soaking his shirt. Finally, when I had cried myself out, Adam pulled back to look at me. His eyes were hard, his jaw clenched tight.
"Why didn't you call me?" he demanded.
I flinched at his tone. "I... I didn't think you would come," I whispered. "After everything that happened with Dante..."
Adam's eyes flashed dangerously. "You're my sister," he growled. "No matter what, I will always come for you. Always."
He shook his head, looking both furious and heartbroken. "Did you really think we'd abandoned you? That we'd leave you to suffer at the hands of that... that weak excuse for a wolf?"
I lowered my eyes, shame burning in my chest. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
Adam's finger hooked under my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Was it worth it, Aria?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "Giving up everything for Dante's pack? Turning your back on your family, on your duty as the princess of the Blood Moon Kingdom? Do you regret it now?"
His words hit me like a physical blow. Did I regret it?
I was meant to be the esteemed princess of the Blood Moon Kingdom. Dante's pack was just a territory within the Kingdom, so for him I chose to hide my true identity and married him to become his Luna, secretly helping his pack to grow. But now, he actually disregarded my life for another woman.
The question hung in the air between us. I opened my mouth to answer but I didn't know what to say.
Adam sighed and shook his head. "Let's get you out of here.”
Chapter 2
ARIA'S POV
Adam helped me out of the forest, his arm wrapped around me protectively as we made our way to his sleek black car.
The drive to the hospital was a blur of streetlights and worried glances. I couldn't shake the feeling that my world had been turned upside down, again.
We pulled up to the emergency entrance, and before I knew it, I was being whisked away in a wheelchair. Adam's voice boomed through the halls, demanding the best care, the top doctors.
Soon after, I was in a comfortable bed in what looked more like a luxury hotel suite than a hospital room. Doctors and nurses bustled around me, checking my vitals and asking questions I could barely focus on answering.
"Adam," I whispered, reaching for his hand. "You really don't need to go through all this trouble. I'm fine."
He squeezed my fingers gently. "Shh, little sister. Just let them take care of you."
The head doctor, a kind-faced woman with salt-and-pepper hair, came over with a clipboard. "Well, you've been through quite a lot, Princess. But physically, you seem to be in good shape. Just a few minor cuts and bruises."
I nodded, relief washing over me. But then I noticed the doctor's eyes twinkling with excitement.
"However," she continued, "we did find something in your blood work. Congratulations, my dear. You are pregnant!"
The world seemed to stop spinning for a moment. Pregnant? Me?
"Are... are you sure?" I stammered, my free hand instinctively moving to my stomach.
The doctor nodded, smiling broadly. "Absolutely. You are about six weeks along."
I looked up at Adam, expecting to see joy, or at least surprise. Instead, his face had hardened into a mask of barely contained anger.
"Thank you, doctor," he said curtly. "Could you give us a moment alone, please?"
The medical staff exited the room, leaving Adam and me in a heavy silence. I couldn't stop touching my belly, marveling at the tiny life growing inside me. Despite everything that had happened, a bubble of happiness was growing in my heart.
"Adam," I said softly, "I'm going to be a mom. Can you believe it?"
Adam's eyes flashed with a strange look.
Then, he looked at me tenderly and said, "Aria, I will understand and respect your decision. If you do not wish to keep the baby, I will immediately make arrangements for the procedure to be done right now and ensure that you don't suffer. But if you decide to keep the baby, I believe it will be just as adorable as you.”
I was very moved to hear Adam's words of support.
Despite being abandoned by Dante, I am grateful that my family continues to be my strongest support system. They unconditionally supported me, tolerated me, and respected me.
"Thank you, Adam. I... I want to keep my baby!”
“Get some rest. I’ll tell our parents about the good news. They will be thrilled to welcome a new baby.”
Adam and the doctors left the room, and the ward door was gently shut. I was now the only person in the room.
I fell back onto the pillows, sobs shaking my body. One hand still rested on my stomach, and I found myself whispering to the tiny life growing inside me.
"It's okay, little one," I murmured. "Mommy's here. I'll keep you safe, no matter what."
A wave of love washed over me, quickly followed by a burst of determination. Dante needed to know about this. Maybe, just maybe, the news of becoming a father would change everything.
With trembling fingers, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. As I unlocked it, ready to type out a message to Dante, my heart skipped a beat. There was already a notification from him.
I should have trusted Dante… I… I knew he loved me, maybe it was just a misunderstanding.
"Finally," I breathed, a small smile tugging at my lips. However, as I opened the message, that smile froze, then disappeared completely.
It wasn't a text. It was a picture. A picture that shattered my world into a million tiny, jagged pieces.
There was Dante, his arms wrapped around Linda, both of them laughing at the camera. They looked... happy. In love.
My stomach twisted, and for a moment, I thought I might be sick.
But then I noticed something else. Something that made my blood run cold.
Around Linda's neck glinted a familiar necklace. My necklace. The one Dante had given me on our first anniversary.
"No," I whispered, my fingers shaking as I zoomed in on the image. "No, no, no."
But there was no mistaking it. The delicate silver chain, the unique pendant that Dante had said reminded him of my eyes. It was there, nestled against Linda's throat like it belonged there.
I felt like I couldn't breathe. That necklace had been special. I was supposed to be special. But here was the proof, right in front of my eyes, that I was just... replaceable.
Tears blurred my vision as a thousand memories flashed through my mind. Dante clasping the necklace around my neck, his fingers lingering on my skin. Me touching it absently during stressful days at work, drawing comfort from the physical reminder of his love.
All lies. All of it.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my phone across the room and watch it shatter, just like my heart. But a small, stubborn part of me refused to give up without a fight.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I hit the call button next to Dante's name.
One ring. Two rings. Three.
"What?" Dante's voice was cold, annoyed. Like I was interrupting something important.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Dante, I... I saw the picture."
A heavy sigh on the other end. "And?"
"And?" I repeated, disbelief colouring my tone. "Dante, you gave her my necklace."
"It's just a necklace, Aria," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Get over it."
His words were like a slap to the face. I struggled to breathe, to think. "How can you say that? After everything we've been through?"
"Look," Dante snapped, "I really don't have time for this. Linda and I are happy. You need to move on."
Move on? How could I move on when I was carrying his child? The child I had been so excited to tell him about just moments ago.
"Dante, wait," I said quickly, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. "There's something you need to know. I'm-"
"Don't," he cut me off sharply. "Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it. And Aria? Just so we are clear, you are not allowed to get pregnant with my child. If you are, you better get rid of it. Immediately."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I couldn't have heard him right. "W-what? Dante, you don't mean that. You can't mean that."
"I mean every word," he said, his voice cold and final. "Are we clear?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.
"Dante, please," I finally managed to whisper.
But the line had already gone dead. He had hung up on me. Again.
I sat there, phone still pressed to my ear, listening to the silence. Slowly, almost mechanically, I lowered the phone to my lap.
The room felt too big, too quiet. The beeping of the hospital machines seemed to mock me, a constant reminder that I was alone. So utterly alone.
My hand moved to my stomach again, and a sob caught in my throat. "I'm so sorry, little one," I whispered. "I truly am. I want to let go of Dante, your father.”
Chapter 3
ARIA'S POV
The phone slipped out of my fingers and landed on the bed. Dante's words echoed in my head, each one feeling like a knife twisting in my stomach.
“...you are not allowed to get pregnant with my child. If you are, you better get rid of it. Immediately.”
I sat there, numb, staring at nothing. How could he? How could he be so heartless?
"Breathe, Aria," I whispered to myself, but the air felt thick, choking me.
Minutes crawled by. Or was it hours? I couldn't tell.
Suddenly, a loud buzz cut through the quiet.
My phone.
I glanced at it, feeling a mix of hope and dread. Maybe Dante had…
With a shaky hand, I reached for the device. "Unknown number," the screen read.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Great. Just what I need. Some telemarketer trying to sell me crap I don't want."
I almost tossed it aside, but something made me hesitate. Call it a woman's instinct or just plain curiosity, but I found myself opening the message.
Just then, I gasped and quickly covered my mouth with my hand.
There, on my screen, was a picture. But it was not just any picture. It was Dante with his arm around Linda - both of them grinning like they had won the lottery. They were in what looked like a doctor's office, and Linda... oh goodness, Linda was holding an ultrasound picture.
"Linda is pregnant??" I whispered, my voice cracking. "No, no, no. This can't be real."
I zoomed in, desperately searching for some sign that this was fake. A badly photoshopped edge, a weird shadow, anything. But it was real. As real as the little life growing inside me.
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, harsh and bitter. "Is this a joke?" I asked the empty room. "Am I being pranked? Dante!"
"Ahhh" I choked out, bending over as a wave of nausea hit me.
It all made sense now. This was exactly why he didn't want me to have his child.
I stumbled to the bathroom, barely making it before I threw up. As I sat on the cold tile floor, I pulled out my phone again, staring at the damning picture.
"Why, Dante?" I whispered as I traced his face on the screen. "Why would you do this to me? To us?"
Suddenly, it felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened, and I gasped, trying to force air into my lungs.
Then, as if the universe decided I hadn't suffered enough, a sudden sharp pain ripped through my stomach. I bent over, clutching at my belly.
"Ouch!" I whimpered. "Please, no."
The pain subsided for a moment, tricking me into thinking it was over. But seconds later, it came back even stronger. I tried to stand, but my legs were weak. I half-crawled, half-dragged myself back to the bed.
My fingers reached for the emergency call button and I pressed it repeatedly in quick succession.
A nurse burst into the room, her eyes wide with concern. "Princess Aria? What's wrong?"
"The doctor," I managed to gasp out through the pain. "Get the doctor. Please."
She nodded and quickly left, and I just lay there, curled into a ball, silently praying for the pain to stop.
It felt like an eternity, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes before the door burst open again.
Dr. Rita rushed in with three nurses by her side. Her face was a mask of professional concern as she approached my bed.
"What's going on, Princess?" she asked, her voice calm but urgent.
"Pain," I managed to say. "My stomach. It hurts so bad."
She nodded to the nurses. "Help her lie flat."
Gentle hands helped me lie on my back. I winced as Dr. Rita's cool fingers examined my stomach.
"Princess," she said, her voice serious. "You're in the early stages of pregnancy, and your body has recently undergone significant stress. Your fetal position is very unstable right now."
Fear gripped my heart. "What does that mean? Is my baby okay?"
Dr. Rita's eyes softened. "For now, yes. But I need to strongly advise you to be extremely careful for the rest of your pregnancy. Any more stress or physical strain could result in a miscarriage."
Her words should have scared me. They should have made me want to lie still and do everything in my power to protect this little life inside me. But all I could think about was Dante and Linda.
"I want to go home," I said suddenly, trying to sit up.
Dr. Rita put a hand on my shoulder. "I really think you should stay here for observation. At least for tonight."
I shook my head. "No. I can't... I can't be here. I need to go home."
"Princess," one of the nurses cut in. "Please listen to the doctor. It's for your own good, and that of your baby's."
However, their words seemed to blend into the background like a distant hum.
All I could see was that picture. All I could hear was Dante's voice telling me that he didn't want me to get pregnant for him.
"I'm leaving," I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The room spun for a moment, but I clenched my teeth and stood up.
"Please, Princess," Dr. Rita pleaded. "Think about your baby."
I turned to look at her, and I saw her flinch slightly at whatever she saw in my eyes. "My baby?" I laughed, but it was a broken sound. "The father of my baby is having another baby with his… his lover. Tell me, doctor, how am I supposed to think about anything else right now?
The room fell silent. I could feel their pitying stares, but I couldn't bear to meet their eyes.
"I just really need to get out of here," I said, my voice flat. “I need some fresh air.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked out. The doctor's words faded behind me, lost in the pain I was feeling. My feet moved of their own accord, carrying me down sterile hallways that all looked the same.
I didn't know where I was going. I didn't care. All I knew was that I had to get away, I had to escape the suffocating sympathy and the harsh reality of my situation.
As I walked past an open door, I heard voices coming from inside and it caught my attention. There was something about the voices that felt familiar.
I immediately slowed down, drawn to the sound like a moth to a flame.
And in that moment, my world shattered all over again.
There, in the hospital room, stood Dante and Linda. My Dante. The father of my baby. His arms were wrapped tenderly around another woman.
I froze, unable to move, unable to breathe. Linda was leaning into him, her face a picture of shy happiness. Dante's back was facing me, but I could see the gentle way he held her.
"I can't believe we're really doing this," Linda's voice drifted out, soft and filled with wonder.
Dante's laughter, once my favourite sound in the world, now felt like a painful stab in my heart. "I know, honey. It's crazy, right? But I'm so happy."
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