Carrying My Daughter without My Mate

The next day after consulting with my emissary, I felt my resolve solidify. I couldn’t avoid this confrontation any longer. If Amara thought she could taunt me, I’d show her she was sorely mistaken. So I reached out, and, to my surprise, she agreed without hesitation. It was like she wanted this face-off just as much as I did.

But I had another motive other than annoy her.

We met in a secluded clearing on the edge of the pack’s territory, where the trees seemed to close in, isolating us from the world. The air was thick with tension, and Amara stood there, arms crossed, with a smug smirk on her lips as if she’d already won some twisted game. Her eyes danced with satisfaction, relishing every second of this encounter.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "I think I don’t need to introduce myself further, right?”

I held her gaze, refusing to let her see even a flicker of hesitation. "Oh, I know exactly who you are,” I replied, keeping my voice steady, a slight smirk touching my lips.

“Good.” She lifted her chin, eyes gleaming with malice. “So, how did you like the little ‘present’ I sent over? Those pictures, the videos…did they hit hard enough?”

I felt a wave of disgust, but I smirked, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. “Thanks for that, Amara. They really helped me see the truth,” I said coolly. “In fact, they almost made me puke.”

Her smug expression faltered, but she quickly recovered, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, Luna…you should know it didn’t take much to have Jaxon wrapped around my finger. The mighty Luna, all alone now, huh?”

Her words stung, each syllable like a needle in my chest, but I held steady. I clenched my fists, letting my anger fuel me instead of weaken me. “You think you’ve won just because you managed to steal what wasn’t yours?” I said, my voice trembling with barely restrained fury. “Enjoy it while it lasts, Amara. Men like Jaxon—they betray everyone. One day, they’ll betray you too.”

Her smirk vanished, and for a split second, her confidence wavered. But then her face twisted into something dark, something bitter. She stepped closer, her voice lowering into a venomous whisper. “You’re just bitter, Luna,” she spat. “Face it. You weren’t enough for him. That’s why he came to me. He wanted someone… better.”

I took a step forward, matching her cold gaze. “You’re delusional if you think he’ll stay faithful to you,” I snapped, my voice rising with each word. “You’re just his latest thrill. Eventually, he’ll get bored, and you’ll be left with nothing—just like the others. And don't you think I didn't know your motive? I've had you checked, a whore and a liar."

"You bitch!"

Her face got drained and in a minut flushed with anger, the words hitting their mark. I barely had time to react before her expression hardened, her eyes flashing with fury. In one swift, furious motion, she lunged at me, her claws extending as she reached out.

She caught me off guard, her hands shoving me with surprising force. I stumbled back, pain flaring in my side as I felt her claws scratch my skin, sharp enough to leave a burning ache. I tried to steady myself, but a wave of dizziness hit me. My stomach twisted painfully, and then—sudden warmth spreading between my thighs, like a physical manifestation of the turmoil that had been building inside me. A dread more profound than I’d ever felt swept over me.

Amara took a step back, her confidence faltering as she registered the look of shock and pain on my face. Her bravado crumbled, and she looked at me with something akin to fear. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to…” she stammered, her wide eyes betraying her panic. And just like that, without another word, she turned and fled into the forest, disappearing as quickly as she’d come.

I stood there, my breaths shallow and rapid, the world spinning around me as I struggled to stay on my feet. My vision blurred at the edges, darkness threatening to overtake me. Panic bubbled up inside, and my thoughts were a whirlwind. My baby...

The sudden warmth between my thighs sent a wave of horror crashing through me. I stumbled, my stomach turning with fear and dread. No... not again. Not this time.

Just as my knees buckled beneath me, I heard footsteps—multiple pairs. Several pack wolves rushed into the clearing, their faces etched with concern, their eyes scanning me for signs of injury.

I couldn’t focus on them. My mind was consumed with one thought: This can’t happen again.