~Chapter 1~
~Raven’s POV:
I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at the white walls while my fingers nervously fumbled with the edge of my dress. The smell of antiseptic, the usual smell of hospitals, hung tickly in the air, making the anxiety I was feeling, twist my gut in a way that made me feel more nauseous than I had this morning.
Glancing at the wall clock, I couldn’t help but wonder why the doctor was taking so long. As if reading my nervous thoughts, the door creaked open, and Dr. Andrews walked in, his expression unreadable.
Instinctively, I sat up straighter, my hands clenching the fabric of my dress. His eyes met mine as he approached, and I searched them desperately for a hint of what he was about to say.
“Raven,” He started, gently, “I have the results of your tests.”
I nodded, feeling my throat too tight to speak. I felt like I was on the edge of a precipice, one step away from a fall that could change everything.
“You’re pregnant,” he said softly, his words hanging in the air like a lifeline.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The world seemed to stop, and I felt a rush of emotions—disbelief, joy, and a glimmer of hope.
Pregnant. I was pregnant! I was going to have a child, Cesar’s child. A small, shaky laugh escaped my lips, and I quickly covered my mouth, tears welling up in my eyes.
After all these years, the moon goddess had finally granted me a wish. I was having a child, one that was for certain, going to change the situation of my cold marriage.
Dr. Andrews smiled at my reaction. “Congratulations, Raven. You’re about seven weeks along. We’ll need to schedule regular check-ups to ensure everything is progressing well.”
I nodded, barely hearing his words. My mind was already racing ahead, imagining the moment I would tell Cesar. Would he be happy?
Would this news finally close the gap between us and fill our marriage with love? For years, he had wanted an heir. Now, I could give him that. Maybe this would change everything.
“Thank you,” I whispered, standing on shaky legs.
Dr. Andrews handed me some papers and reminded me of my next appointment, but I was already halfway out the door, my heart light with newfound hope.
As I drove home, I kept my hand rested on my stomach, where our child was growing, where hope for my marriage was growing. This baby was my miracle, my chance to finally prove my worth to Cesar and the pack. The doubts and fears that had plagued me for so long seemed to fade away with each mile I drove, replaced by a sense of purpose and determination.
When I pulled into the driveway of our home, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked outside. A sleek, black luxury sedan that screamed wealth and power.
My brow furrowed in confusion. We rarely had visitors, especially ones with cars like that. I couldn’t help but think Cesar was having an important guest.
This however, boosted my will to break the news to him, as I imagined how happy and proud he’d be when he learns of his child.
With that thought in mind, I hurried inside, eager to share my news with Cesar. My heart was beating fast, anticipation bubbling up inside me. I pushed open the door to the living room with a smile on my face. But the sight that greeted me froze me in my tracks.
Cesar was there, standing with his back to me, his arms wrapped around a woman with long, golden hair. She was laughing softly, her hands resting on his chest, and the way they were pressed together left no doubt about their intimacy.
My heart plummeted and a sickening feeling spreading through me.
'What…what was going on here?’ I thought.
The woman noticed me first, her eyes meeting mine with a gleam of triumph. She pulled away from Cesar slightly, just enough to make sure I saw the way she was draped against him and smiled.
“Hello,” Her voice was like honey milk when she greeted me.
Cesar turned to follow her gaze, and when he saw me, his expression didn’t soften with love or guilt. Instead, a cold, hard look settled over his features.
“Raven,” he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. “I didn’t expect you home so soon.”
I couldn’t speak. My throat had closed up, my mind reeling from what I was seeing as my eyes darted between my mate, the woman in his arms and his arm, draped intimately around her waist.
Who was this woman, and why was she in my home, in my mate's arms?
A thousand thoughts ran through my mind in second and when I finally found it in me to speak, my voice trembled.
“Cesar, who is she?”
The woman’s smile increased as she stepped out of Cesar’s embrace and extended a hand toward me as if we were old friends. “Selene,” she introduced herself, her voice smooth and confident. “I’m an old friend of Cesar’s. We have…” She paused and glanced back at Cesar, before adding in a suggestive tone. “History.”
Her words hit me like a slap to the face. History. The way she said it, with that smug look on her face, made my blood run cold. My hands trembled at my sides, and I looked at Cesar, searching for some sign that this wasn’t what it looked like. But all I found was indifference.
“You shouldn’t concern yourself with this, Raven,” Cesar said coolly, his eyes hard as steel. “Selene is here because I invited her. She’s going to be staying with us for a while.”
The ground seemed to shift beneath my feet. My gaze flicked between them, trying to make sense of what was happening. “But… why? Cesar, what’s going on?”
Cesar’s lip curled in disdain, and he took a step toward me. “Don’t act like you don’t know the truth staring you right in the face, or should I say it?”
He took a few steps closer and his neck words were like daggers to my heart.
“Since you’ve failed to provide me with an heir, Selene here is going to do your job for you. She’s going to give me a child and she’s going to become the Luna of this pack!”