Chapter 2

Caitlyn helped me over to a bench at the end of the hallway. She kept her head down as she spoke.

"Elena, don't blame me for keeping it from you. I did it for your own good."

"That human has been with Marcus for five years. She wants nothing—no title, no money. She only wants the baby to stay by his side."

"You are the true Luna of the Redwood Pack. You're the one carrying his pup."

"Marcus promised me he would never reject you. If you just pretend you don’t know, your life can go on exactly as it is."

I clutched the crumpled ultrasound report, my fingernails digging deep into my palms.

"Pretend I don't know?"

"Yes. It's normal for an Alpha to have a few mistresses, isn't it? She doesn't threaten your position."

Her tone became disgustingly casual.

"Look at how big your belly is. Making a scene now will only hurt you and the baby."

"Valerie and the others have all met the human. We all agreed that as long as your status as Luna isn't threatened, it's fine."

My stomach churned, and sour bile rushed up my throat.

"So everyone knew... except me? I was the only fool kept in the dark. But how? How did he hide his scent from me?"

I had never smelled another woman on him. Not once.

"He masks his scent every time before coming home. And he makes sure to keep his distance from you. He did it to protect your feelings."

So that was why. Because he kept his distance, I never felt the agonizing sting of betrayal through our bond.

And they called that "protecting my feelings."

I laughed.

He cheated on me, everyone helped him cover it up, and they had the audacity to say it was for my own good.

"You know where she lives, don't you?"

Caitlyn lowered her eyes and didn't answer.

I opened PackNet, our pack’s private SnapChat forum, and found a post uploaded just today.

It was a photo of a hospital wristband from a delivery room.

I stared at it and recognized the logo of a human hospital.

How careful of him. To keep me in the dark, he didn't even dare bring her to our healer. He took her to a human hospital instead.

Marcus's childhood friend, Dylan, commented: *Hidden for five years. Finally out in the open.*

Marcus's sister, Valerie: *Thank you, Sophia, for giving Marcus his first child.*

Caitlyn had replied below: *Don't tag the one who shouldn't see this. She's pregnant and can't take the shock.*

I scrolled down, reading one familiar username after another.

Right then, my screen lit up.

Incoming call: Marcus.

I swiped to answer.

"Babe, is the checkup done?"

His voice was deep, warm, and carried just the right amount of exhaustion.

"How is our pup growing? What did the healer say?"

I stared at the bustling clinic hallway.

"Where are you?"

"I just got off the plane. There's an urgent pack matter I need to handle out of town."

His voice was filled with mock apology.

"I’m sorry I couldn't be there with you today. Did you eat well?"

"Is your morning sickness still bad? I had Beta Ethan buy some of those ginger candies and crackers you like."

"I'll be back in a few days to accompany you to the next checkup, okay?"

I listened to his steady, calm breathing.

The timestamp on that SnapChat post was 9:43 AM today.

At that exact time, I was trying to call him, crying alone in the corner of this very hallway because I couldn't reach him.

"Marcus."

"Yes, babe? What's wrong? Your voice sounds off."

"Are you really out of town?"

The line went dead silent for two seconds.

"Of course, babe. The business partners here are a bit difficult. I might have to stay a couple more days. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing. I'm just tired."

"Go home and rest. I had Gamma Owen warm up some milk for you. Good girl. Wait for me to come home."

The call ended.

I stood up, my knees buckling before I managed to steady myself.

I hailed a cab. Using the address Caitlyn had reluctantly let slip, I drove to the villa Marcus had rented for Sophia outside our territory.