Chapter 1
Esmeralda’s pov
“Congratulations Luna Esmeralda,” The nurse cheerfully handed over some files which I received, looking from her beaming face to the words written on the files now in front of me. “You’re three months pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” A gleam crossed my eyes, and before I could control myself, tears began running down my eyes. My vision was blurry from the tears, but I still scanned the files, my heart beating loudly. A smile finally made its way to my face.
I looked at the nurse who was standing behind me, looking happy, but certainly not as happy as I was. Eight years. Eight years of barrenness, Eight years of crying and praying to the moon goddess, Eight years of tolerance to everything I passed through in the hands of my Alpha’s mother.
Finally.
I grabbed both her hands in mine and pulled her in close, tears running down my cheeks. “Thank you Doctor. Thank you so much!”
With that, I snatched my purse and took a cab back home. On the way, I stopped at a super mart where I got all of Adrien’s favorites. I was going to cook his best meals tonight. I bought some candles, roses and massage oil.
I could almost feel my heart racing with excitement when I got home. As expected, the maids informed me that The Alpha would be returning home a bit late as he was caught up in an intra-pack meeting that required his presence.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t even mind and was happy at the luxury of time I had to set everything up. The maids were all curious at the source of their excitement. They hadn’t seen their Luna smile so happily in Eight years, of course they’d be anxious.
Eight years ago, Adrien had asked for my hand in marriage. I thought it was a dream, my childhood best friend who I’ve been crushing on since high school had asked me to be his partner, to be his Luna. I was happy, ecstatic, over the moon even. People said he just wanted a Luna substitute since he lost his first love and would never love me as he loved Diane but I didn’t believe them.
The signs were there before the union but I had ignored it. First, it was separate bedrooms, then he had refused to mark me. And after the mating ritual, he had called me in one night. It was a night I would never forget.
“Esmeralda, you know why this had to happen right?” His jaw was clenched right as he stared into my eyes with his blue lifeless ones. He had never smiled at me ever since he started courting me. Not even once. I had naïve to think all that would change after got married. “I have to take over from my late father, so I needed a Luna. I have yet to apologize for the inconvenience, I rather rushed you and didn’t give you enough time.”
“That’s okay, Adrien… I…”
“You will speak when you’re asked to speak.” His cold voice sweeping across the room sent chills travelling up my spine such that I was left speechless.
The commanding aura of his wolf had my head bowed to the ground in an instance. “I apologize.” I said between gritted teeth.
“This union also happened to be one of inconvenience for me. I didn’t know who else to ask and only thought of you because you were the only option I had left.”
His words stung me but I dared not say anything, that night, I was scared of the Werewolf whom I had come to be with for their rest of my life.
“But that doesn’t make you any less of a substitute. We are to go through the mating process once a week to conceive children. You will have your own room, you will eat at a separate dining table. If you have any requests or complaint, you can relay it to my Beta who will inform me, is that understood?”
The reality that he didn’t even love me fell onto my shoulders like a heavy bar, weighing down on my emotions. Tears filled my eyes as I lowered my head even further down, my heart breaking. “Yes, Alpha.”
After that conversation that night, he kept to his words. I only ever saw him when he was leaving or returning from his businesses or work, but that was it. It felt as though I was in bondage rather than a union. I was too stupid to have always thought he would soften up to me, but that was not the case. To him, it seemed as though he hated the sight of me. Like even my name on his lips disgusted me. Our love making sessions was nothing short of him planting his seeds and leaving me to finish myself with my own fingers.
It was misery, and I hated every second of it.
As If it couldn’t get worse, Five years passed and I was yet to even show signs of pregnancy. Adrien’s mother, Laura, who had loathed me right from when she knew I was the daughter of an Omega, made my life even far worse than it already worse by ridiculing my situation. She never failed to compare me to Diane and how she would have had cubs for Adrien because she was an Alpha’s daughter and not ‘cursed like me’.
Adrien grew even more distant and cold towards me. A gradual wave of depression soon blanketed me and I continued living miserably until the signs started showing.
At first I was doubtful, but as they progressively got obvious, I decided to come do a test. I didn’t want to let anyone know, afraid it might be false and incur the wrath of Adrian.
I was pregnant. Already three months gone even. Moon goddess had finally had my prayers! Adrien would finally soften up to me now, he would love me for the sake of his child.
I stepped back to admire my work. His room was usually where we made love before he sent me back to my room after. Not once had I ever slept over in this room, but things were bound to change for sure.
The bed was neatly dressed with the finest sheets, lined with gold lines. Fine, smooth rose petals were scattered from the entrance onto the bed. Scented candles littered the floor around the bed, casting a lustful, desirable glow to the gold drapes hanging by the bed posts.
I changed into my best clothes and got down stairs to prepare the exquisite meals out on the table downstairs. I’ve cooked most of the time for Adrian, taking care to note the things he liked and how he liked it, and although, not once had he shown gratitude for it, all that was about to change.
I gave the maids the night off and sent them to their quarters.
Looking at the array of dishes now, I felt greatly satisfied. I went upstairs to enhance my make up more. It’s been so long I’ve dressed up like this rather than looking miserable, like I was way older than my intended age.
Suddenly, I could hear the door opening downstairs, and excitement brimming in my heart, I dashed downstairs. From the railings, I could see my handsome mate walk in, but he wasn’t alone. There was a woman with him. I couldn’t see her clearly, but I assumed she could be a friend or distant cousin.
I quickly rushed downstairs, already posed to invite them in, but as I got closer, my steps slowed down until I froze, mouth open with a ghastly expression, watching the woman now.
It just wasn’t the bulging stomach but the fact that I recognized her.
She was no other than my former best friend, my mate’s first love and true mate.
Diane.