Alpha Derick never had me in his heart.  

       I had sacrificed everything for him—placed him above all else, even argued with my parents to defend him. Yet, in the end, he wouldn’t even give me the courtesy of a proper wedding.  

       Standing there, I watched as he held Rebecca by the waist, his other hand resting tenderly on her pregnant belly. The way he looked at her—so soft, so full of love—made it hard to breathe.  

       This man didn’t care about my love. He had thrown it away, trampled on it.  

       I was exhausted. I couldn’t love him anymore.  

       As my parents and the guests began to leave, my mother-in-law suddenly grabbed my mother’s arm.  

       “Luna Valerie, what are you doing?” she demanded, her voice shrill. “Today is a monumental day for our children. You don’t want outsiders laughing at us, do you?”  

       My father-in-law chimed in, his tone equally insistent. “Yes, Derick made a mistake, but you can scold or punish him later. This is a matter for the younger generation to resolve. We, as elders, should simply observe.”  

       My mother let out a cold sneer. “Observe? You expect us to stand here and endure further humiliation? Haven’t you disgraced our family enough for one day?”  

       My father remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on me, waiting for my decision.  

       Then Derick approached, Rebecca clinging to his arm like an extension of himself. His expression was cold, his voice sharp.  

       “Are you done making a scene?” he snapped impatiently. “Do you want to embarrass both of our families further in front of the entire pack?”  

       A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Me? Making a scene?  

       Beta Rebecca blinked up at me, her eyes shimmering with fake tears. “Alpha Clarissa,” she said, her voice trembling with insincere guilt, “I’m so sorry. When I heard you and Alpha Derick were getting married, I only came to give my blessings. But…”  

       Her hand drifted protectively over her belly, her fingers stroking it in a deliberate show.  

       “I didn’t expect to get pregnant,” she continued, her voice quivering just enough to sound pitiful. “I know I’ve done wrong, and I’m willing to accept any punishment. But the pup… the pup is innocent. I can’t let my child grow up without a father.”  

       She turned to me with pleading eyes, her expression the very picture of helplessness. “Alpha Clarissa, you’re kind. I know you wouldn’t want that, would you?”  

       Before I could respond, my mother stepped forward, her voice sharp and unyielding.  

       “What a shameless woman!” she spat. “You had an affair with my daughter’s fiancé, got pregnant, and now you dare stand here acting pitiful? I’ve never seen anyone more disgraceful.”  

       My mother-in-law immediately grabbed her arm, her tone hushed but urgent. “Luna Valerie, please, calm yourself. We’re in-laws now. Rebecca makes a valid point. The pup is innocent.”  

       She turned to me, her voice softening into an infuriatingly coaxing tone. “Clarissa, don’t you agree?”  

       My mother yanked her arm free, her eyes blazing.  

       “In-laws?” she snapped. “My daughter has nothing to do with your son anymore.”  

       She turned to me, her voice steady and firm. “Clarissa, let’s go. You don’t need to marry him. Let them wallow in their own mess.”  

       My mother-in-law’s expression darkened.  

       “What are you saying?” she hissed. “We can’t act rashly. Friends and relatives are watching. This must be handled delicately.”  

       Then she turned back to me, her face feigning concern. “Clarissa, you’ve always been so reasonable. Please, talk to your mother. Don’t let everyone laugh at us.”  

       Alpha Derick spoke next, his tone devoid of any warmth or regret.  

       “Clarissa, if you truly love me, you should accept everything about me. Rebecca is carrying my pup. You should love the pup as much as you love me.”  

       His words struck like a slap. He actually expected me to accept another woman’s child as my own?  

       My father-in-law sighed, stepping forward like some self-appointed arbiter of reason.  

       “Clarissa,” he began, his voice heavy with false authority, “Adele and I have watched you grow up. We know what kind of person you are. What’s done is done. There’s no use crying over spilled milk.”  

       I met his gaze, my voice cold and controlled. “And how do you propose to fix this?”  

       Without hesitation, he said, “First, you’ll finish the wedding and secure your place as Derick’s Luna. The baby in Rebecca’s belly is his blood, so of course, it must be born.  

       “But don’t worry…” He offered me a smile, as if his next words would solve all my problems. “You’ll be the one to raise the pup. You’ll be its real mother—and the only Luna of the Red Moon Pack.  

       “As for Beta Rebecca, we’ll compensate her generously and send her away.”  

       My nails bit into my palms as I fought to keep my composure.  

       They actually thought I would marry Derick, raise his mistress’s child, and act like it was some kind of honor?  

       Never in my life had I felt so thoroughly insulted.