Chapter 2
1530 Words
Anika:
I stand frozen, staring at the man I once called my husband like he’s a stranger. It’s like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.
“W..what?”
“An open marriage, Anika,” he says again. “You can see whoever you want. You’re free to—”
“I’m not okay with that,” I cut in, my voice trembling.
Blinking hard, I try to hold back the tears burning behind my eyes. “You’re the Alpha. What do you think the pack’s going to say? I…I thought you loved me, Hunter. You p..promised me nothing would come between us. Y..”
“I don’t give a damn what the pack thinks,” he snaps. “All I want is children. It’s been three years, Anika. And I don’t think you’ll ever give me one. So this... this is what’s best.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest.
He didn’t say it outright, but I heard it loud and clear.
He thinks I’m barren.
It feels like I can’t breathe. Then the pain hits again. Sharp, burning, and worse than before. I clutch my stomach with a whimper, my legs giving out as I collapse to the floor.
I expect Hunter to rush over. To help me. To do something.
But he doesn’t.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Anika. I won’t be changing my mind.”
He says it like I mean nothing. Then he gestures toward Jasmine, who practically skips to his side with a grin stretching across her face.
“You’re free to join us downstairs if you want.”
Jasmine throws a smug glare my way, then they both turn and walk out, leaving me behind, curled on the cold floor and drowning in pain I don’t understand.
What a perfect birthday gift, Anika.
Tears streak down my cheeks as the ache tightens in my core. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I try to move, but everything hurts. By the time the pain finally fades, I’m too weak to do anything else. I lie there, breathing shallowly, until the darkness pulls me under.
**
I wake up the next morning in the same spot I collapsed last night. My body aches, but I force myself upright, pulling my legs in and pushing to my feet.
I glance around the room.
Empty.
Of course it is. Hunter didn’t bother coming back to our bedroom.
He probably spent the night with Jasmine.
My jaw tightens, rage bubbling in my chest, but I push the thought away and head straight for the bathroom. If Hunter’s too busy to care, then I’ll take matters into my own hands.
I’m going to the doctor.
I can’t keep living with this kind of pain.
Once I’m dressed and ready, I step out of the room without sparing Beatrice a single glance, even as she trails behind me, rambling on about how I embarrassed her at the dinner last night.
She has no idea just how humiliated I’ve been by her son.
Before I know it, I’m in the car, driving to the hospital with Hunter’s words replaying over and over in my head.
“You can never give me children.”
“I want an open marriage. I don’t give a damn what anybody says.”
I grit my teeth and force the thoughts away as I pull into the hospital parking lot. Without wasting time, I step out and make my way toward the doctor’s office.
The moment I hear his voice telling me to come in, I open the door—and he nearly jumps from his seat in surprise.
“Welcome, Luna! It’s so good to see you,” he says, then quickly glances behind me. “Uhm... where’s the Alpha? He’ll be joining you soon, right?”
I shake my head and manage a tight smile. “No. It’s just me. I’m having some issues and thought I should come on my own. Hunter’s... busy.”
I can tell he’s shocked. Every other time I’ve been here, Hunter was right beside me. Always showing up. But not anymore.
Now, I’m alone. And clearly, he couldn’t care less.
The doctor gestures for me to sit. I sink into the chair and begin explaining the sharp and persistent pains I’ve been feeling in my chest, my stomach, all over my body. He listens intently with his expression growing more focused before he nods and gets up to run some tests on me.
After that, I wait.
Minutes stretch into what feels like forever. I sit quietly, expecting him to hand me a prescription. My mind spins through worst-case scenarios.
But instead of reaching for a pen or pills, he looks up and slides a folded sheet of paper toward me with a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Congratulations, Luna. You’re pregnant!”
My heart skips.
“I’m… pregnant?”
“Affirmative!” he beams. “Three weeks along. This is wonderful news!!”
My mouth parts in shock, but then something soft and real pushes through the fog I’ve been living in.
A smile spreads across my lips, and for the first time in days, it’s not forced.
“Th-thank you… thank you so much, Doctor!” I shoot to my feet, grab the letter from his hand, and clutch it to my chest before slipping it into my bag.
I don’t even wait. I hurry out of the hospital with my heart racing and joy bubbling in my chest.
Hunter was wrong.
I’m not barren. I’m pregnant!
How will he react when I tell him? Will he take it all back? The cruel words, the open marriage, the cold distance? Will he pull me into his arms and smile at me the way he used to?
I start the engine and drive home faster than I probably should, my heart pounding with excitement. As soon as I get home, I grab my bag and rush inside, heading straight for his office upstairs.
Empty.
Without hesitating, I turn and make my way to the one room I know he’ll be in.
My hand hovers over the doorknob, my heart still fluttering from the news I can’t wait to share—but then I freeze.
Voices.
I hear them on the other side of the door.
“You’re seriously going to let Anika show up to the alliance with Alpha Matteo tonight?” Jasmine’s voice, thick with smugness, slices through the air like a blade.
What does she mean?
Alpha Matteo is visiting tonight, and Hunter didn’t think it was important to tell me? Me, his Luna?
“Of course, she’s the Luna of this pack,” I hear Hunter say. For a moment, a flicker of hope sparks in my chest.
But then the spark dies as he adds, “You know Alpha Matteo doesn’t tolerate nonsense. He’s the strongest Alpha across all the Kingdoms. If he finds out about everything going on right now, he might call the alliance off…a..and we need it if we want this pack to grow.”
“But she’s a w.hore!” Jasmine snaps, her voice shrill with venom. “It’s going to ruin everything. She’s a slut. She’s not fit to be called Luna!”
My heart shatters not just from her words, but from the silence that follows.
Hunter doesn’t say a word to defend me.
Me? Slut? w***e?
If anyone deserves those words, it’s her!
Fury coils in my stomach. I can't take it anymore.
I shove the door wide open.
They both flinch and step back like guilty children caught red-handed. Their eyes widen as they spot me.
I lock eyes with Hunter first, then Jasmine.
“What did you just say, Jasmine?” I ask, stepping fully into the room. “I’m the w***e? Me..and not you?”
“Yes, you are, Luna Anika,” Jasmine says sarcastically, her lips curling into a mocking smile as she crosses her arms. “You’re nothing but a w***e. I honestly don’t even understand why Hunter hasn’t divorced your sorry ass yet.”
She tosses a look at Hunter, her tone turning smug.
“Come on, Hunter. Just show her. Stop hiding this. It’s killing me watching her walk around like she’s still the innocent little Luna.”
My heart starts to race. What the hell is she talking about?
I turn to Hunter, confused, my voice shaking as I whisper, “W-what is she saying, Hunter? Sh-show me what?”
His jaw clenches tight, the muscle ticking in anger. Without a word, he snatches his phone, types something quickly, then hurls it at me with so much force I nearly stumble catching it.
“That’s what she’s talking about!” he barks. “She’s right. You’re nothing but a w***e. It’s pathetic how long you’ve been pretending to be a perfect Luna.”
His words slam into me, stealing my breath.
My hands tremble as I lower my eyes to the screen. The moment I see what’s on it, my fingers go numb. My bag slips from my shoulder and crashes to the floor.
What… what is this?
- Writer
