Begging the Alpha Empress to be Mates Again

I woke with a weight pressing down on my chest, suffocating. Needing air, I stepped outside, the cool breeze doing little to lift the heaviness in my heart.

I did what I had to. I embraced myself, brushing my hand against both of my arms.

I closed my eyes, the memory of last night flooding back.

"Are you sure about this, Lady Freya?" The healer had asked, her eyes soft with sympathy.

I bit my lip to keep from breaking. "I’ve thought it through. My decision is final."

She nodded and took my hand, her warmth only making my tears spill. I looked up at the full moon, its cold light illuminating my sorrow.

I’m sorry, my son, I thought, I can’t bring you into a world where your father won’t care. Where this pack will reject us both.

"If that’s your decision, I respect it," the healer whispered.

"Thank you," I barely managed to say, my voice was raw.

"Take a deep breath. I’ll call my apprentice. We’ll start when the clock strikes midnight."

I nodded, watching her retreat into the den. The moon stared down, indifferent, as I braced for what was to come.

There was no turning back.

Word spread quickly before I could stop it—I, Freya, the Alpha’s mate, had aborted the next heir of Wolfshade.

The pack reacted instantly.

I couldn’t blame them for their shock. They had just learned I was pregnant this morning, only to find out moments later that I had terminated it.

Whispers grew into low growls, judgment filling every corner of Wolfshade. The Omegas and a few Elders gave me looks of quiet sympathy, understanding what Thorne had done—how he had left me alone, trapped with a burden I never asked for.

But the warriors? The higher ranks? Their anger was unmistakable, radiating like heat.

"She killed the next Alpha," one muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.

I stopped, my fists clenching. My heart pounded, but I didn’t turn. They had no idea. They didn’t understand.

“She did what she had to,” an Omega whispered, her voice shaky, unsure if she should defend me.

"Had to?" a warrior scoffed, disgust dripping from his words. "She destroyed the future of this pack. That’s no 'had to.' That’s betrayal."

I gritted my teeth, anger swelling. They didn’t know what it was like—carrying a child in a world where the father no longer cared, where I was disappearing day by day to the man who was supposed to love me.

I spun around, facing them. “You think it was easy? You think I wanted this?”

The warrior’s sneer faltered, but he held firm. “You should’ve thought about the pack. We’re all paying for your choice.”

My voice turned cold. “I did think about the pack. I thought about bringing a child into a world where its own father wouldn’t look at him. Don’t talk to me about suffering.”

Without another word, I turned and walked away. Let them think what they wanted. They weren’t the ones carrying the weight of it all. I was.

I was about to close my room's door when I felt a sudden energy about to come near me. In just a second, Thorne burst through the door, fury etched across his face. The moment I saw him, I knew he had learned about termination. I braced myself.

“Freya!” His voice roared. “What have you done?”

“Thorne, I—”

“Don’t you dare try to justify this,” he snapped. He began to pace, the muscles in his jaw tightening with each step. “You acted like a child! How could you make such a monumental decision without even discussing it with me? I didn't even know you're having my child!"

My heart sank. “I was protecting my son."

“Protecting your son?” His disbelief was palpable. “Our son, Freya! You didn’t think about me at all, did you? You're being unreasonable!"

But how could I? He had been so wrapped up in his responsibilities, so caught up with Selene, that I felt invisible. I couldn’t bring a child into a world where their father was more interested in another woman than in his own mate.

“Thorne, you were never there for me,” I said, my voice trembling. “You’ve been distant, and I couldn’t bear the thought of raising a son who would never know his father’s love. I did what I thought was best.”

His expression hardened. “So, you thought ending it was the answer? You thought making that choice alone was best for us?”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I held them back, unwilling to show him my pain. “You were busy with Selene, Thorne! You’ve betrayed me in ways I can’t even express. I felt like I was losing you, and I couldn’t bring a child into that kind of mess!”

“You’ve shattered our bond, Freya. This isn’t just about you. It’s about us, our pack, our legacy---"

"Really? I...shattered our bond? It was you, Thorne! You betrayed me first! I did this fearing I would be raising a child in a broken home. I didn’t want to put my child through that!"