Natalia’s POV

The dream felt so real. I moaned as he sensually placed his hands on me, breaking our kiss. His electrifying touch sent waves of desire coursing through me. His breath grazed my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine. Then, in a deep, chilling voice, he said, “Never.”

I gasped, my eyes flying open. I was alone.

It had been two years since I married Adrian Miller, the future Alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack. During those two years, I had repeatedly tried and failed to win his affection.

I sighed, sat up slowly, and yawned. I looked at the clock; my mouth dropped open.

“Shit! I’m going to be late!” I hastily went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for my monthly checkup with Doctor Harold Reid at the pack hospital. After quickly preparing myself, I left.

I loved my husband dearly, despite our imperfect marriage. I always hoped we could have a child; maybe, with a child, Adrian would come home more often.

At the hospital, nerves consumed me as Doctor Reid completed his examination, drawing blood for the test himself. He left, saying he’d return with the results soon.

While waiting, I resolved to divorce Adrian and end my loveless marriage if I wasn’t pregnant.

However, Dr. Reid returned with a smile. “Congratulations!” he exclaimed.

My mouth dropped. “Really?” I stroked my stomach. “There’s a baby?”

“Babies,” he replied.

My eyebrows rose; I couldn't contain my grin.

“Twins,” he confirmed.

Tears welled and streamed down my cheeks—joyous tears of happiness.

“But I advise you to be careful,” Dr. Reid said. “Your uterine walls are extremely thin.”

His unexpected words sobered me. I was completely taken aback. He shouldn’t have said that. A wave of fear for my children washed over me.

“I’ll take care of myself,” I said, thanking him before leaving the hospital, smiling again—at least until I returned home.

There, I found Adrian and his new lover, Lynda, seated on a couch in the living room. Lynda was crying; he was gently comforting her. Seeing his gentleness with her, I was consumed with anger.

Adrian’s angry eyes shifted to me. He yelled, “How dare you come back! How dare you bully Lynda!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

His expression intensified. “Oh, please. You make me sick.”

Unable to bear further humiliation, and unwilling to cry in front of another woman, I covered my mouth and scurried to my bedroom.

But I’d been wrong to hope. With my thumb, I traced the bold characters on the divorce agreement and whispered, “He will never mark me as his mate. He will always humiliate me.” I had no choice but to go through with it for the sake of my children.

I wiped my tears, signed the paper, then sat on the bed, staring blankly, trying to absorb what I’d just done.

Moments later, Adrian threw open the bedroom door.

I shoved the agreement into a drawer and stood. “Ad—Adrian,” I said, alarmed, as he locked the door.

Before I could speak further, he strode to me and pushed me onto the bed. “Do you think you’re going to be the Luna of this pack?”

I tried to squirm away, but he held my hands above my head.

“Don’t forget how you set me up to marry me in the first place.” He began to undress me. Despite his powerful grip, I resisted, yelling, “No! Please stop!”

Roughly, he kissed my neck. “You stop! Stop pretending! This is what you asked for, and you ruined my life.”

As the weight of his accusation settled, I halted my movements and met his gaze. “Then let’s get a divorce.”

The final promotional sentence has been removed as it is irrelevant to the narrative.