
Begging the Alpha Empress to be Mates Again
Chapter 1
The night before the full moon, I knelt by the window, tears tracing paths down my cheeks. I rested a hand on my belly, feeling the faint pulse of life growing inside—Thorne’s child. Alpha Thorne Ravencroft, leader of the powerful Wolfshade Pack. My mate.
It had been only two moons since I first sensed the baby, and though my love for this child was undeniable, doubt gnawed at my soul. Thorne had become colder and distant. The thought of raising our child in a world where he barely acknowledged our bond terrified me.
“It’ll be okay...” I whispered, trying to believe it.
Suddenly, Thorne’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Freya, stop acting like you can’t handle yourself. I’ll be with the pack. You stay here.”
“I can fight, Thorne. I’ve fought beside you before. I want to come with you.”
He turned, eyes narrowing with irritation. “This isn’t the time for stubbornness, Freya.”
I swallowed, fighting to keep my voice steady.
“We’ve been mates for over a year, and not once have you let me join you. What’s the point of being the Alpha’s mate if I’m always stuck here, waiting?”
“Look, we’re stretched thin as it is. It’s safer for you to stay. End of discussion.”
Always safer for me, like I was something fragile. I blinked back tears, wondering if our bond still meant anything.
The next day, I went to the healer. I needed answers about my pregnancy, guidance—anything to steady my spinning thoughts. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
The healer’s eyes were full of sorrow, her hands trembling as she reached for mine. “Freya... I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but I can’t keep this from you any longer.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “It happened a month ago. The Alpha... Thorne. He told us not to say anything, thinking you’d... misunderstand.”
“W-what are you talking about?” My voice cracked.
“The Alpha... he bonded with Selene.” I stood frozen, struggling to comprehend.
“Selene?” I choked out, barely able to say her name. “His moonfriend from Crimson Pack?” My throat burned with each word. “That Selene?”
The healer gave a small, heartbreaking nod.
Questions filled my mind. How come?
I felt my knees weakened. Thorne, my Thorne, had bonded with someone else—without telling me.
My mate... the one who was supposed to be mine, always.
“And,” she continued, her voice growing even softer, “I heard from an Omega last night... Selene’s pregnant.”
The final blow. Everything I had built with Thorne shattered with those words.
My heart raced as I pushed into the common den, the pack’s celebration alive with energy. Selene’s laugh sliced through the noise.
“Freya,” she purred, locking eyes with me, mischief glittering in her gaze.
“Is it true?” My voice trembled, but the anger was evident.
She tilted her head, a mock-innocent smile playing on her lips. “What are you going on about?”
I felt the eyes of the pack shift to us, but I didn’t care. I stepped closer.
“Don’t play dumb with me! You manipulated Thorne into bonding with you, knowing he already had a mate!”
Selene let out a soft, dismissive laugh.
“Oh, that. I didn’t have to do much, sweetheart. Thorne was more than willing... He agreed to it without hesitation.”
My wolf surged beneath my skin, a growl building in my chest. “You’re shameless.”
“Shameless?” She scoffed, stepping closer. “And you think you’re worthy of Alpha Thorne? You’re weak, Freya. He deserves better.”
I clenched my fists. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Spare me your self-righteous crap. You’ve been holding him back, and you know it.”
Before I could stop myself, my hand shot up, ready to strike. But Thorne’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Freya!” He stormed in, his presence sending ripples through the crowd.
“What the hell is going on?”
I froze, my hand still raised, my heart sinking.
“Thorne, I—”
“Enough!” His voice was sharp. He turned his glare on me, and the betrayal in his eyes shattered something inside. “Why are you provoking her?”
“I wasn’t—” I started, but his expression silenced me.
The hurt hit me like a punch. How could he blame me?
Wolves whispered. The pack, once my home, now felt like a cage, denying me my place by Thorne’s side.
I couldn’t breathe. I stumbled outside, my heart heavy, and found myself at the healer’s door.
“Please... take this baby away from this misery.”