A Gift from the Goddess

“It looks like everyone is here now,” Aleric said, projecting into the crowd. “We are gathered here today to bear witness to the trial of Ariadne Chrysalis, former Luna to the Winter Mist pack.”

His eyes scanned over the faces of everyone around before finally landing on me.

“Do you swear on the Goddess’ name, Ariadne, that you will tell the whole truth during this trial?” Aleric asked.

I met his piercing green eyes, a shiver going down my spine. How those eyes haunted me.

“I do,” I replied loudly and confidently.

“And how do you plead?”

I held my breath, my heart racing in my chest.

“Not guilty.”

“She’s pregnant,” Aleric told me.

I stared at him in shock, my face paling. My destined mate, the love of my life, was telling me that he had gotten a girl pregnant. A girl who was not me.

It was like a kick to the gut. The mate bond made the weight of his words tortuous and my inner wolf howled out in pain. I had given everything to Aleric, suffered everything for him. And yet here he was, standing in front of me, telling me such excruciating news as if he were telling me the time of day.

“Why?” I whispered, tears brimming in my eyes.

“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” Aleric said sharply. “You couldn’t even fulfil all your duties as my mate, as a Luna. Don’t start acting as if this is a surprise. The pack needs an Alpha heir. Something you are incapable of, Ariadne.”

His words stung, twisting deep into my flesh like a knife. We had been officially mated for six years now and it was true… I had failed to bear him a child. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t wanted to though. For months after we had officially found out about the mate bond, I would try everything to be with him as much as possible. But he was never interested in me, I could see that clearly. I knew he was only with me because I was the rightful Luna.

was something else I knew too. Something no mate should ever have to live

that I knew about

other since before we were officially mated and I could plainly see how he doted on her over me. Gave her the love that was rightfully mine, looking at her as if she were his sun. But every part of my being loved him even if he did not love me. And yet, by some futile dream, I remained hopeful that he would warm to me once I bore him a child. After

thing that I had pinned all my hopes on for my fate to change, for Aleric to change.

news. I lost weight, tried to make myself prettier, and dedicated myself to my Luna duties. We were the most successful pack in the country and a part of that was due to me. I thought if I could make him successful then he would pay me back in kind.

infertility, his visits soon completely stopping. Those short moments he had once indulged

the curse of the mate

Aleric,” I said, my

couldn’t meet his cold green eyes as my legs began to shake. I could feel inside that my wolf was crushed, feeling her pain mixed in

It was suffocating.

he scoffed. “You should count yourself lucky I’m not removing you of your Luna position for Thea. The Goddess still chose you

flinched at

to inform you that I will be making Thea’s child my rightful heir. The elders have deemed this appropriate given the circumstances. They understand how important this baby

his presence. Even after everything he had done to me, I still relished in him even talking to me. The bond between Luna and Alpha

finally before walking out of the packhouse. He didn’t

would rather see me suffer than give me even an ounce of love or affection. I was a Luna, his Luna, and a queen in the eyes of our pack, but he could not

any longer, I decided to do the only thing I could do in this situation; run from it all… if only for a

greedily to help clear my head. It was nice, apart from the wind that bit at my cheeks where my tears had fallen, forcing a chill through my body. But it didn’t end up stinging for long as I shifted into

to feel free and alive. We were both trapped by our position, our duty, our mate. We had sacrificed everything for our pack, everything for him, and

best that I

pack needed me. In fact, I knew damn well that Thea would burn this pack to the ground if she became Luna. She hadn’t had any

Hadn’t I suffered enough? Four years was way too long to wear my heart on my sleeve for Aleric. He had made a mockery of

run as I mulled over my internal debate. She hunted rabbits and sniffed at the

darkness crept up, and I knew we would need to head back soon. But I didn’t want to subject her to that just yet. For just a little while longer, I wanted her to forget about everything waiting

low growl to tell me she wasn’t pleased with this idea. Not that I blamed her. Unfortunately, I had to remind her that we needed to get home for dinner or Sophie would begin to worry. With a final whimper of annoyance, she begrudgingly turned