Forsaken Luna, Hidden Heir: Too Late, My Alpha

Lianne's POV:

"Ma'am, congratulations. You're pregnant."

The doctor's words echoed in my ears as I, Lianne Riley, stood there, frozen. My hands tightened around the thin sheet of paper, and I stared at it, unable to process what I had just heard.

Ever since that accident years ago, I'd lost my wolf, my body had weakened, and the possibility of conceiving had seemed almost impossible.

Could I really be carrying a child?

"But your condition is fragile," the doctor continued, his tone turning more serious. "If you intend to keep the baby, you need complete rest. Any stress could put both you and the child at risk."

"I understand," I replied with quiet determination.

By the time I left the hospital, evening had already settled over the city.

Without thinking, I placed a hand over my abdomen. It was still flat, yet there was already a life growing inside.

Ethan Voss, my husband, was the Alpha of the Thorn Pack. As his destined mate, I had always felt a sense of guilt for not being able to give him an heir.

But now, everything had changed. At last, I could tell him that we were going to have a child.

To mark the moment, I prepared dinner myself, cooking all his favorite dishes and setting them out carefully on the table.

The unrest at the border, caused by rogue wolves, had lasted for a week, and as Alpha, Ethan had been overseeing the situation himself.

I was certain he would return tonight. After all, it was the anniversary of our bond.

Time dragged on as the clock moved past ten and edged closer to eleven.

The beef bourguignon had long gone cold, a thin layer of fat forming on top. It sat untouched, just like the warmth in my chest that had slowly faded.

Without my wolf, I had no way to reach him through the mind-link. In the end, I picked up my phone and called his private number.

The line rang again and again before someone finally answered.

"Hello?"

The voice wasn't Ethan's. It was a woman.

Her tone carried a soft, lazy sweetness. "Ethan's taking a shower right now. Do you want me to pass along a message?"

Everything in my mind went still. My fingers loosened, and the phone slipped from my hand, hitting the table with a dull sound.

At this hour, another woman answered his private phone and told me he was in the shower.

I reached for the phone again, but the call had already been cut off.

Fear crept in, stopping me from dialing again. All I could do was stare at the dark screen.

Was Ethan seeing someone else behind my back? The thought settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating, as unease and dread spread through me.

Sleep came without me noticing, pulling me under as I lay on the couch, still lost in my thoughts.

At some point, the sound of firm footsteps reached the entrance, though I couldn't tell how much time had passed.

In my half-conscious state, I felt my body lift, the sensation distant and unreal.

A strong scent of alcohol mixed with the cold of the night air surrounded me. I recognized it immediately. It was Ethan.

"Ethan..." I whispered without thinking, my arms moving to circle his neck as he carried me.

He brought me into the bedroom, though there was nothing gentle in the way he held me.

The moment we reached the bed, he let go, and I landed against the mattress heavily. His figure blocked the faint light coming through the window.

Forcing my eyes open, I looked up at him. "You're back?"

"So you're awake," he said. His voice was low, yet carried a chill that made it feel distant.

As I pushed myself up, the memory of that phone call came rushing back, tightening my chest. I tried to smile, while my hand quietly reached beneath the pillow for the ultrasound report I had hidden there.

"Ethan, I have something I want to tell you. It's a surprise..."

"I have something to say as well," he said, cutting me off without warmth.

I blinked at him. "Then you should go first."

From inside his suit jacket, he pulled out a document and tossed it onto me.

Even in the dim light, the black text against the white paper stood out clearly.

The paper in front of me was the Rejection.

Everything in me went still. My fingers hovered over the cold page as disbelief took hold.

"Sign it." Ethan's voice came from above, his gaze fixed on me without a trace of warmth. "Lianne, this is where it ends for us."

"Why?" A tremor ran through my voice. "Is it because I lost my wolf? Or because I couldn't give you a child? Ethan, look at this..."

I reached under the pillow in a panic, trying to pull out the ultrasound report, but his hand closed around my wrist. The strength in his grip left no room to resist.

"That's enough," he snapped as he leaned closer. His breath brushed against my neck, but instead of warmth, it sent a chill through me. "Three years ago, your father lost everything and needed help. At that time, I was poisoned by silver. I couldn't walk, and I needed a mate to stabilize me. You happened to be that mate, so we entered into this arrangement. It was just a deal."

"So everything I did for you these past three years meant nothing? It was all just part of a deal to you?" My eyes stung as I looked at him.

For three years, I had looked after him every day.

I went to dangerous places to find a witch who could help him recover. I even used my own blood to counter the poison.

I handled the pack's finances and kept his business running. When he couldn't stand, I became the one who carried him forward.

And now, after all of that, he called it nothing more than a deal.

A faint shift crossed his eyes before it disappeared, leaving behind nothing but colder indifference.

Without warning, Ethan pushed me down and held me in place beneath him.

His presence pressed in from all sides, heavy enough to make it hard to breathe.

Rough fingers brushed against my lips, the touch sharp and unforgiving.

"Lianne, you've done your part these past three years. As a caregiver, you didn't fall short." His lips moved against my collarbone, carrying the lingering scent of alcohol. "But you can't give me what I need. The pack requires a Luna who is strong, not someone who can't even transform."

"I can..." My voice broke as tears ran down my face.

"No, you can't." He pulled back, his eyes shifting with a trace of something distant. "Ivy has returned."

Ivy Brooks. The name hit me like a blade.

She was Ethan's first love.

Three years ago, when Ethan was on the verge of collapse and needed a mate to steady him, she chose to walk away from the pack and leave for a future overseas.

"She's returned. She's still as strong as before. Nothing about her has changed," Ethan remarked as he rose and turned his back on me. His voice softened in a way I had never heard. "She's the true Luna meant for the Thorn Pack. As for you, Lianne, I'll make sure you're provided for. You won't have to worry about anything for the rest of your life."

All I could do was stare at his back. It felt distant, unfamiliar. In my hand, the ultrasound report had already been crushed beyond shape.

A faint ache stirred deep inside me, as if the life I carried could feel everything I was going through.

"Sign the Rejection soon," he said, his tone still cold.

My strength gave out, and I fell back onto the bed. My eyes drifted down to my stomach as tears blurred my vision.

Right then, I made my decision.

If I meant nothing more than a burden to him, and if Ivy was the one he chose, then I would leave. I would take this child with me and disappear from his life.

Lianne's POV:

For three years, Ethan and I shared the same bed, night after night, sharing intimate moments.

There was never a formal mating ceremony between us, yet I convinced myself that he cared for me.

I believed he held back only because he feared the Thorn Pack wouldn't accept me. As long as I handled everything well for him, I thought he would one day stand before everyone and declare that I was his Luna.

Only now did I understand the truth. He had never planned to give me that place.

From the beginning, that title belonged to Ivy.

"Lianne," Ethan called out as he turned back, his brows drawing together when he saw how quiet I had become. "Even after we break the mate bond, you'll still be part of the Thorn Pack. I'll make sure you have everything you need. You'll always be my friend."

"Friend?"

The word hit me hard.

My head lifted sharply, pain rising in my eyes.

After everything we had shared in the past, he wanted to use something as distant as "friend" to erase three years of my devotion and love.

A faint, bitter smile pulled at my lips as I tried to steady myself. "What if I don't agree to this?"

His expression turned cold without hesitation. "Lianne, don't make things harder than they need to be."

I lowered my gaze, keeping the tears from spilling, my nails pressing into my palms.

"What were you about to say earlier?" Ethan asked out of the blue.

I steadied my breathing and forced a faint smile. "It wasn't anything important. It was about Sparkle's new season jewelry launch. There was something I wanted to go over with you, but... I've already handled it."

Bringing up the pregnancy now would only make things worse for me.

He didn't want a child from someone like me. The only person he had ever wanted was Ivy.

"Good," he replied, a hint of ease showing as he reached out to touch my hair the way he always did.

I turned my head without thinking and avoided his hand.

For a moment, his hand lingered in the air before he pulled it back as if nothing had happened.

"You should get some rest. I'll stay in the guest room tonight." Without looking at me, he turned and left.

The moment the door closed, my strength gave out, and I sank beside the bed as tears finally fell.

"I'm sorry... baby," I whispered. "I can't give you a complete family."

...

When morning came, I forced myself out of bed, ignoring the soreness in my body.

The face in the mirror looked pale, with exhaustion clearly showing in her eyes.

I applied heavier makeup than usual, carefully covering the dark circles, then got ready to head out.

The Thorn Pack controlled a wide range of businesses, including Voss Group.

Within the group, Ethan held absolute authority as CEO, while I worked as his chief secretary.

That position once made me believe we were meant to be together, but now it felt like nothing more than a bitter joke.

When I came downstairs, Ethan was already seated at the table, sipping his coffee. He had changed into a dark gray suit, which made him look even more distant and composed.

"Come with me," he muttered as he set the cup aside and looked at me, his voice steady, as though nothing had happened the night before.

My steps halted, and a chill spread through my hands.

After everything he said, how could he act as if it meant nothing?

"There's no need," I replied, lifting my chin, my tone turning cold. "Since we're ending our bond, we should keep our distance. If Miss Brooks sees us together, it might cause misunderstandings. No woman would accept another woman staying close to her mate."

Without waiting for him to answer, I turned and left the villa.

The morning air felt sharp as it filled my lungs, making me cough. A faint pain settled in my lower abdomen.

"Stay strong, little one," I murmured as I flagged down a cab.

The moment I walked into the secretary's office, my assistant rushed toward me, her face drained of color. "Lianne, something's happened!"

Lianne's POV:

I forced down the bitterness that rose in my chest and put on my usual composed expression. "What happened?"

"Sparkle's new season endorser was supposed to be Sia Payne, but her agent, Mary Wallace, just called. She said upper management sent a direct notice that Sia has been replaced," my assistant answered quickly, still looking shaken.

Without wasting a second, I pulled out my phone and called Mary.

The moment she picked up, her voice came through sharp and furious. "Lianne, you were the one who insisted Sia had potential and pushed us to sign that contract. Now you're cutting her out without even informing us? I need an explanation, and I need it right now!"

Holding the phone tightly, I took a slow breath to steady myself. "Mary, I'll look into this immediately. Give me a little time."

Once the call ended, I headed straight for the PR department.

There was no doubt in my mind. Nancy Walsh was behind this.

She came from a mixed bloodline, yet her ambition had always been clear. Over the past three years, she had been looking for every chance to undermine me.

When I pushed open the door, I saw her leaning against her desk, casually applying nail polish.

"So, the chief secretary finally decided to show up," she said, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "What brings you here?" She didn't even bother to look up.

"What gave you the authority to replace Sia?" I stepped right up to her, my voice turning sharp. "The board already finalized the decision for Sparkle's endorser. You had no right to interfere."

A cold laugh slipped from Nancy as she finally looked up, something dark flashing in her eyes. "No right? Lianne, do you really believe you got that position because you deserved it? If Alpha wasn't taking your late father's past into account, do you think you'd be standing here giving me orders?"

"How I got here isn't for you to question!" I held her gaze, anger rising in my chest.

She could say whatever she wanted about me, but she wouldn't drag my father into it. He had given everything to protect our family's name.

"Did that strike a nerve?" Nancy stepped closer, her voice dropping as she leaned in near my ear. "Don't think I'm clueless. You've been riding in Alpha's car every day, trying to get his attention, haven't you? Too bad for you. He would never be interested in someone like you."

She had no idea Ethan and I had been together for three years.

For the werewolves in the Thorn Pack, I was nothing more than someone clinging to the Alpha, trying to rise by any means.

Without hesitation, I slapped her across the face. The sound echoed through the entire department.

Nancy's head snapped to the side from the force.

Her hand flew to her cheek as she looked at me in shock. "You actually hit me?"

"That was for teaching you how to show respect," I replied, my voice cold as I stared at her and lifted my hand again. "And this one is to make sure you stop talking."

Before my hand could come down, a strong grip caught my wrist in midair.

The force was firm, and the scent of sandalwood that came with it was familiar, yet the chill in it made my body tense.

I turned, and my eyes met Ethan's.

His expression was hard, and there was nothing in his gaze that resembled warmth.

Without thinking, I tried to explain, "She was the one who started it-"

"Apologize!" Ethan cut me off. His voice was low, but there was no room for argument.

I stood there, stunned, as if something heavy had struck me straight in the chest. "What did you just say?"

"Apologize to Nancy," he repeated, his grip tightening around my wrist until the pain almost made my eyes water.

Out of the corner of my vision, I noticed people gathering at the doorway.

Their looks varied. Some were mocking, some carried sympathy, and others simply watched with curiosity. Each one felt like a sharp sting.

Nancy immediately changed her demeanor, shrinking closer to Ethan with a wounded expression.

I looked at the man I had loved for three years. Right in front of everyone, he chose to strip away my dignity for another woman. Or maybe it wasn't about her at all. Maybe it was just his way of maintaining control.

"I'm sorry," I responded at last, lowering my head as the words came out barely above a whisper.

"Speak up. I didn't hear you," Nancy said, her voice filled with mockery as she lifted her brows.

I bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood, then forced myself to look up. "I'm sorry."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again," Nancy muttered with a satisfied smile before turning and walking back to her seat.

"Come to my office." Ethan let go of my wrist and left without looking back.

The moment the office door closed behind us, everything I had been holding in began to fall apart.

"Why did you replace Sia?" I demanded, my voice choked with suppressed sobs.

Without answering, he returned to his seat and asked, "Did you read the Rejection? If you don't have any issues, sign it today."

A sharp pain spread through my chest, and tears gathered in my eyes, though I refused to let them fall.

"What if I told you I'm pregnant?" I asked, putting everything I had into those words.

I knew what an heir meant to the pack.

For a moment, I hoped he would hesitate. I hoped he would reconsider because of the child.

Silence filled the room.

Ethan looked at me, and a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips. "Lianne, are you really willing to say anything just to stay? The doctor already made it clear you can't have children."

He rose from his chair and walked toward me, each step closing the distance until his presence loomed over mine.

Leaning down, his breath brushed against my face, but his voice carried no warmth at all. "Even if there were a child, I wouldn't allow it to be born."