Chapter 1

Author: Aurora Starling Last Updated: 2024-03-09 14:07:59

The thing I regretted most was taking that last diet pill. It cost me my baby—and my life. Yet, I wasn’t overweight by any standard. My husband, Noah, Alpha of the Nightcrest Pack, was the source of my diet pill abuse; he was also the direct cause of my death.

As the daughter of the Silvermoon Pack, I married Noah in a political marriage, but he never wanted me. When Noah's ex-girlfriend, Zoe, returned to our lives, my world shattered. Zoe had once been Noah's fated mate, but she rejected him, marrying another pack's Alpha. After her divorce, she returned to the Nightcrest Pack. To worsen matters, Noah and Zoe had been media darlings, the public's golden couple.

I became an unwilling target for the paparazzi, relentlessly pursued and my every moment documented. Despite striving for privacy, the constant attention and scrutiny made me increasingly anxious. Noah never publicly explained the situation. While he maintained a flawless public image, I suffered in silence, unable to defend myself. Worse, he became increasingly distant.

No matter what I did, I couldn't gain his attention. No amount of makeup or weight loss was enough. I believed it was my fault, driving me deeper into despair. An overdose of diet pills left me gasping for breath, a searing pain like a knife in my abdomen. That's when I discovered I was pregnant. My thinness had concealed my growing belly, and irregular periods further masked the pregnancy. By the time doctors reached me and my child, it was too late. “This fetus is four months old,” were the last words I heard. On a bleak, moonless night, I lost my baby and my life.

I awoke to the sound of dripping water, my side against cool marble. I groaned and sat up, realizing I was in my bedroom's humid en suite bathroom. Where am I? I wondered. Wasn't I just dead?

“Ma'am, you look perfect,” my makeup artist said, entering the bathroom.

Looking down, I saw I was dressed in pink, lacy, see-through babydoll lingerie. My blonde hair was styled in loose curls, and my nails were painted crimson. My groin ached from a recent bikini wax, and my makeup was flawless.

“Alpha Noah is already showering, and I have a scent for you. Trust me, it’s an aphrodisiac.”

She winked before placing the perfume on the counter. I trembled. It all pointed to one thing: our monthly mating day.

After our political marriage, Noah designated one day a month for procreation, to ensure the Nightcrest Pack's legacy. It was the only time he paid me any attention, no matter how hard I tried to impress him. But this month’s mating day had passed, and the three preceding attempts had been equally futile since Zoe's return.

Why am I dressed like this? Unless…

I peeked out the door. “What day is it?” I asked my makeup artist.

“The third of September,” she replied, surprised. “Luna, did you forget? Tomorrow is the acceptance ceremony.”

The day before Zoe’s return. My life had been rewound to before the tragedy? How was this possible? Moments ago, it was December. I lay on the floor in agony, diet pills in one hand, tears streaming down my face. My child lay at my feet, a bloody four-month-old embryo I hadn't known existed.

I went pale. Oh, Goddess. My baby.

I rushed to the mirror, wiping away the steam. Lifting my lingerie, I touched my emaciated stomach. Nothing seemed amiss, but I'd been too thin to even notice the pregnancy before, so I remained cautious.

Still, a quiet sigh of relief escaped me. No pain, no blood; perhaps there was hope. Maybe, just maybe, a miracle had occurred. If this was the day I believed it to be, I was only one month pregnant. I still had time to do right by my child, and by myself. So much hadn't happened yet, and didn't need to. I could take control, change everything I'd lost control of these past months.

I bit my lip. No. I wouldn't let that happen again. I'd been given a second chance for a reason. The Moon Goddess had granted me a new beginning, and I would use it to save myself and my child from a man who didn't love us.

Tears welled, tracing paths through my makeup. I covered my mouth, trying to contain my joy. “There’s still time,” I whispered. I only needed to eliminate the toxic elements from my life.

The shower turned off—though it seemed miles away—and Noah emerged, grabbing a towel. “Let’s get this over with. Are you ready?” His deep voice broke my thoughts.

I looked in the mirror to see Noah standing behind me, his body fully exposed. His toned physique gleamed as water cascaded down his body, his black hair slicked back, appearing soft. His white teeth glinted as he sneered, his dark eyes hooded with boredom.

Deep within me, a spark ignited. Despite his lack of interest, he still had a way of arousing me. He always had. Part of me was still hopelessly infatuated with his charm and looks, just as I had been when we first met, desperate for his love in return. This part of me urged me to abandon all dignity and succumb before he changed his mind. I hated this part of me, wanting to bury it deep within my subconscious.

But a larger part of me couldn't forget the past three months… what I could now prevent.

Noah stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Did you hear me?” he asked. “I said—”

My nails scraped against the granite countertop. My eyes met his in the mirror, a bone-chilling glare. He slowly removed his hand, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Do. Not. Touch. Me.”