Chapter 1
My Alpha mate’s stepsister, Seraphine Blackveil, just post a pregnancy test on her Wolfgram.
Caption: “Huge thanks to my favorite ‘little brother’–couldn’t have done it without your generous donation. Can’t wait to meet my baby pup.”
I hit “Like” and dropped a comment without a word.[]
“Congratulations to you both.“[]
One second later, Cassian Veylor called.
“What the hell, Lyra? It was just a seed donation! Stop making this into some massive drama!“[]
hung up without a word.]]
It was time to break our mate bond. [
I placed a hand over my slightly rounded belly, taking a shaky breath as I prepared to apologize to my unborn pup-
Because I couldn’t keep it.[]
The words came out choked with tears I couldn’t suppress.[]
This pup was supposed to be my birthday surprise for Cassian.[]
But clearly, he didn’t need another one.
ne.]
Two months along. I’d begged Cassian endlessly before he’d finally agreed to give me this pup.]
He hated intimacy with me, despised pups. Said they were wild by nature, too demanding, too exhausting to raise.
But recently I’d caught him researching pregnancy preparations, staying up late making detailed spreadsheets–one for expecting mothers, another for newborn essentials.]
Like a fool, I’d been overjoyed, thinking he’d found out about my pregnancy and was getting ready.]
Turns out, none of it was for me.[]
Tonight Cassian came home unusually early. Eight PM–when he usually didn’t crawl in until after midnight.[]
He called my name once from the hallway. I lay in our bedroom, silent.]
He didn’t try again.]]
Water ran in the bathroom, then stopped. He slipped into our room without turning on the lights, settling beside me in the darkness.[]
Heat spread across my waist as his arm wrapped around me–the first time he’d ever held me without being prompted.[]
He pressed his face into the curve of my neck, voice soft and pleading:0
“Lyra, my luna… you have to believe me. Nothing happened between us.”
Chapter 1
“I only helped her fulfill a dream. Seraphine’s always wanted a pup–I swear on the moon goddess, once she gives birth, I’ll cut all ties
with her.”
Seraphine. His first love. The daughter of his late stepfather. The girl he could never let go of.
I said nothing. Instead, I peeled his hand away and shifted toward the edge of the bed.[]
Feeling my rejection, his gentleness evaporated instantly.[]
Seriously? After I’ve humbled myself like this, you’re still going to give me attitude?“]
“Remember–you said my past didn’t matter, that you just wanted us to work.“[]
“Stop acting like some paranoid mate, will you? I could have done this behind your back, but I respected you enough to be honest. This is how you repay that?”
He sat up abruptly, his frustration spilling over. “Think about everything I’ve done for you lately. You wanted a pup–fine, I gave you one. But apparently nothing’s ever enough.“[]
“I’m sleeping in the den tonight.“]]
The door slammed shut.
I started laughing then–at this joke of a mating, at my own blindness.[]
In his mind, explaining himself waas charity I should treasure. Forgiveness wasn’t optional, or I’d become the “paranoid mate” he
could dismiss.
He could treat me like this because I loved him with pathetic devotion.[]
This was on me. I handed him the knife.
