Marked by the Ruthless Alpha

One month ago...

Luna Cassandra and her brother in law, Arnold, lay entwined in the sheets, their bodies glistening with sweat.

"Ohh, Cassandra, you are so tight," Arnold moaned, his voice low and filled with desire.

Luna Cassandra, with a playful smile, leaned in closer and kissed him softly.

"Make me pregnant, Arnold," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

He grins and said, "Yes, I will make you pregnant, my useless brother can't make an heir! Accept my hot seed!"

Luna Cassandra moan louder and said, "Ahh! Yes shoot all your seed to my womb!"

Arnold's breath hitched, and they both moved together, reaching a climax that left them breathless.

After a moment, Arnold slipped out of bed, wrapping a bathrobe around himself.

He lit a cigarette, the smoke curling up into the air.

Luna Cassandra sat up, pulling the sheets around her.

"Seriously, it's so irritating," she said, frustration clear in her voice.

"What is?" Arnold asked, taking a slow drag from his cigarette.

"When we try to make me pregnant, I can't. I don't understand why," she replied, her brow furrowed.

Arnold chuckled softly, a grin spreading across his face.

"Maybe because you've had so many abortions in the past," he teased, blowing out a puff of smoke.

Luna Cassandra rolled her eyes, her irritation growing.

"Don't remind me, Arnold. Alpha Andrew is so eager to have an heir, but here I am, unable to give him one, and you also know I do the abortion because I thought Alpha Andrew and I will have our own child," she said, her voice tinged with gloom.

Arnold leaned back against the wall, the smoke swirling around him.

"Don't worry, maybe after this... you could," he said, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Luna Cassandra stood up, her expression shifting from frustration to determination.

"I need to get pregnant, I can't keep disappointing him," she said, her voice firm.

Arnold watched her, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Maybe you just need to relax a little more," he suggested, raising an eyebrow.

Luna Cassandra shot him a glare.

"Relax? You think this is easy for me?" she snapped, her hands on her hips.

Arnold shrugged, still grinning, as he flicked the ash from his cigarette.

He watched Luna Cassandra closely, amusement flickering in his eyes, but his expression shifted when she stood up abruptly.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'll go first," she said, her voice icy, but with a hint of determination. "And remember, Arnold-shut your mouth. Don't tell anyone about this."

Arnold gave a nonchalant shrug, taking another long drag from his cigarette, seemingly unfazed by her words.

He didn't respond right away, his gaze drifting to the dark sky above. After a long moment, he flicked the cigarette away, letting it fall to the ground before stomping it out.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it," he muttered, his tone still laced with a playful smirk.

Luna Cassandra turned on her heel, walking away without another word. She got into her car, the engine revving as she pulled away from the spot.

Arnold didn't look back, his hands slipping into his pockets as he watched her leave, his expression unreadable.

It wasn't long before Luna Cassandra arrived back at the pack mansion, the familiar sight of the large building welcoming her. A

As she stepped through the door, she straightened her posture, immediately switching into her role as the Luna. Her expression softened, her demeanor shifting from one of resolve to one of gentle modesty.

Alpha Andrew was sitting in the living room, a book in hand, but when he saw her, his face softened with a smile.

He stood up, his arms open, and she walked straight into them, resting her head against his chest as he enveloped her in a warm hug.

"Where did you go?" Alpha Andrew asked, his voice low and steady.

Luna Cassandra lifted her head and gave him a small, almost shy smile, though the truth was far from what she was about to say.

"Well," she began, keeping her tone light, "I just went with a friend to find a good doctor. You know... to make me pregnant."

Alpha Andrew's brow furrowed slightly, though there was no anger in his eyes. He leaned down to kiss her forehead gently, his lips lingering for a moment.

"Don't force yourself, Luna," he said softly, his concern evident.

Luna Cassandra nodded, her smile never faltering, though inside she couldn't help but feel the weight of the lie she'd just told. But for now, it was necessary. She needed to keep up appearances.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Arnold walked in, his presence like an abrupt interruption to the moment.

His eyes briefly met Luna Cassandra's, but she quickly turned her gaze away, pretending not to notice him. He didn't seem to care, though, and greeted the both of them casually with a grin.

"Hey, Alpha, Luna," Arnold said, his voice carrying a tone of ease, as if he hadn't just left Luna Cassandra moments ago. "How's everything?"

Alpha Andrew looked up at Arnold, a little curious. "Where did you go?" he asked, his tone polite but probing.

Arnold's eyes flickered to Luna Cassandra for a brief moment before he gave a small, almost lazy shrug.

"Oh, my wife Regine's been feeling a bit off, so I took her for a check-up," he explained smoothly. "She's staying with her parents for a while so I thought I'd stick around here for a bit."

Luna Cassandra kept her eyes lowered, pretending to focus on the decorative vase on the shelf as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

Her stomach twisted with discomfort, but she didn't let it show. Arnold's lie hung in the air like a thick fog, but she didn't say anything.

Alpha Andrew seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding as he returned his attention to Luna Cassandra. "Take care of your wife, Arnold. Make sure she's well."

Arnold smiled again, an almost mischievous glint in his eye. "Of course, Alpha. I always take care of my family."

Luna Cassandra bit her lip, willing herself to stay calm, and nodded as she forced herself to smile once more.

She had to maintain control-at least until she could figure out how to navigate the tangled mess that Arnold and her situation had become.

Present time

In a faraway town, the wind howled as Jillian ran. Her bare feet slapped against the cold, rough ground, each step making her foot bleed even more.

But Jillian didn't care. She had to keep running. She could feel the weight of the knives and weapons getting closer behind her.

They were coming for her, and she couldn't let them catch her. Not now. Not ever.

"Curse woman! Murderer!" A voice shouted from behind her, full of hatred. "You killed our family!"

Jillian's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't know what to do anymore. The tears blurred her vision, but she didn't stop running. Her body screamed in pain, but her fear was stronger.

"You don't understand! I didn't do it!" she screamed, but no one cared to listen.

Jillian glanced over her shoulder, the angry crowd closing in. They were relentless, shouting at her, their faces twisted in fury.

She could see their weapons-knives, sticks, stones-raised and ready. They wanted her dead.

They wanted her to pay for something she didn't do.

A woman with dark hair and wild eyes, was yelling at her. "Jillian, come back! Pay for what you've done! You killed so many people! You killed my poor son!"

Jillian's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to scream back at them, to explain that she was innocent, but the words didn't come.

Her legs were giving out, and her chest was tight with fear. She wasn't just running from them. She was running from everything she had ever known, running from a life that had cursed her.

"I didn't do it!" she cried out in desperation. "I swear I didn't kill anyone! I'm not the one!"

But no one listened. No one cared about her side of the story. All they saw was a cursed woman, someone who had to be punished. Someone they could blame for all their pain.

Tears streamed down her face as she pushed herself harder, ignoring the pain in her body. She didn't know where she was going anymore. She didn't care. She just had to keep running, keep moving, before they caught her.

But then, she saw it. The end. A cliff.

Jillian froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. There was nowhere left to go. The people was getting closer. They were almost there.

She turned around, her eyes wide with terror, and saw the people closing in, their faces full of hatred. They were all shouting, ready to tear her apart.

"You have nowhere to go!" one man yelled, a cruel grin spreading across his face.

Jillian's heart raced. She backed up to the edge of the cliff, trembling. She could hear them coming closer, the sounds of their footsteps drubbing in her ears.

Someone threw a dagger at her, but Jillian was quick enough to catch it in her hands. The blade sliced through her skin, blood pouring from her palms, but she didn't drop it. She gripped it tightly, trying to defend herself as the people surrounded her.

Another weapon came flying at her, a rock this time, and she dodged it just in time. But one man managed to get close, his face twisted with anger.

Before she could react, he lunged at her, his knife sinking into her side.

Jillian gasped in pain, stumbling backward, her vision going blurry as the world seemed to tilt. She tried to keep her balance, but the edge of the cliff was too close. Her foot slipped on the loose stones, and before she knew it, she was falling.

"No!" She screamed, her body plummeting downward, her arms flailing helplessly.

Her head hit the hard stone with a sickening crack, and everything went black.

Jillian's body continued to fall, tumbling down toward the river below. The cold water hit her like a shock, pulling her under, the force of the current dragging her deeper.

She couldn't breathe. The world around her was dark and heavy, and she felt herself slipping away.

Up above, the crowd gathered at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the river where Jillian had fallen. They couldn't see her anymore, only the raging water below.

One man looked down, his face full of rage. "She's gone! She's dead! Let's go back!"

But the leader, Simon, wasn't so quick to give up. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury. "No. We're not leaving until we know for sure. We'll search the river once the rain stops."

The others grumbled, clearly frustrated, but Simon wasn't backing down. "If she's still alive, I'll find her. I'll make her pay for everything she's done. For my wife. For all the people she killed. She will suffer."

One of the men, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, spoke up, his voice full of doubt. "But Simon... What if she's dead? What if the river took her? It will be hard to go down there."

Simon shook his head, his face hardening. "She won't get away that easily. I'll find her, and I'll make her regret every single thing she's done. She's not getting away from me. I want her body turn to ash in front of my eyes even she already dead!"

The people nodded in agreement, their anger still burning hot. They had lost one of their own to Jillian's so-called curse, and they weren't about to let her escape. They would hunt her down, no matter the cost.

But as Simon turned away, the sky suddenly darkened. A loud crack of thunder split the air, and rain began to pour down, soaking everyone to the bone.

Simon cursed under his breath. "We'll come back after the storm passes. We'll find her then."

The others murmured their agreement, although their frustration was evident. They didn't want to wait. They wanted Jillian gone, dead. They wanted to see her suffer.

The group slowly began to disperse, their anger still thick in the air. Simon stayed behind for a moment, staring out at the river, his mind focused on one thing: Find Jillian's body. Whether dead or alive.

He still not yet done for his revenge.

No storm, no river, nothing would stop him from getting the justice he believed he deserved.

He swore it.

After a month of hoping and waiting, Luna Cassandra sat in her room, her eyes fixed on the calendar in front of her.

She had missed her period.

Her heart raced as she stared at the red mark on the calendar, marking the date she had been waiting for.

Lastly, a delayed period. Could it mean she was pregnant?

She placed her hand over her stomach, her excitement growing.

"Finally, an heir to the throne," she whispered to herself, smiling softly.

She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she thought about Alpha Andrew and the future.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly felt strong arms wrap around her waist.

She gasped, spinning around to find Arnold standing behind her, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Arnold! What are you doing here?" she snapped, pushing him away.

He didn't let go of her at first, his lips brushing her cheek in a quick kiss.

"You're looking beautiful, Luna, can we do it again, I am so in heat..." Arnold murmured.

Luna Cassandra immediately shoved him away, her heart pasting in her chest.

"What if someone saw you? What if Alpha Andrew or Regine comes by? You can't just sneak into my room like this!" she said, her voice sharp with panic.

Arnold laughed lightly, completely unfazed.

"Relax, Luna. Alpha Andrew is busy with meetings, and Regine's resting. She's about to give birth any day now."

Luna Cassandra's breath caught in her throat.

Regine, Arnold's wife, was very pregnant, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"Stop it, Arnold," she said, narrowing her eyes. "What are you really here for?"

Arnold flashed a grin at her, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"I was just thinking about you, Cassandra. It's been a long wait, hasn't it?" he said, his voice low and suggestive.

Luna Cassandra rolled her eyes, turning away to face the calendar again, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.

"Why don't you leave now, before anyone comes in? I don't need this right now," she said, trying to sound firm but unable to hide the nervous flutter in her chest.

Arnold ignored her, stepping closer once again.

"You missed your period, right? So, there's a good chance you're pregnant, so we finally have a child?"

Luna Cassandra froze, her hand hovering over the calendar.

"Shut up," she muttered, "This baby will be Andrew's. And no one else's."

Arnold chuckled, clearly amused by her anger.

"Of course, Cassandra. It'll be Andrew's child. But it doesn't hurt to enjoy the moment, right?"

Luna Cassandra shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin.

"I don't need your input, Arnold. I have everything under control."

Arnold raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening.

"Alright, alright. Just wanted to make sure you're not forgetting about us," he said, stepping back.

Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering longer than necessary.

He pulled away with a satisfied smile.

"Call the pack doctor, Marian. Find out if you're really pregnant. But if not, don't worry, Luna. I'll be here for you. We can do it again... and again."

With that, Arnold turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Luna Cassandra stood there, still processing what had just happened.

Her heart pounded, and she felt a mix of anger and confusion.

She had to focus.

She had to make sure everything was in order.

Later that evening, after Alpha Andrew returned from his meeting, Luna Cassandra couldn't hold it in anymore.

Her thoughts consumed her, and she needed answers.

Alpha Andrew walked into their shared quarters, his face lighting up when he saw her.

"Cassandra, how are you," he said, walking over to her.

She stood up, looking at him with uncertainty in her eyes.

"I need to talk to you, Andrew."

He raised an eyebrow, his concern evident.

"Of course. What's wrong?"

Luna Cassandra's heart raced as she looked up at him.

"I'm... I'm a month late," she whispered.

Alpha Andrew's eyes widened, and he took her hands in his, a smile spreading across his face.

"Cassandra, that's wonderful! That means..."

"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We might be pregnant."

Alpha Andrew pulled her into a tight embrace, lifting her off the ground in excitement.

"We've waited so long for this," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Luna Cassandra clung to him, feeling the weight of everything finally lift from her shoulders.

But a lingering doubt still sat heavy in her chest.

"I'll call Dr. Marian now," Alpha Andrew said, releasing her reluctantly.

Luna Cassandra nodded, trying to smile but feeling a wave of fear.

"Please, Andrew. I need to know."

He smiled at her reassuringly before leaving the room to make the call.

As soon as he was gone, Luna Cassandra's mind wandered again, replaying Arnold's words.

What if she wasn't pregnant? What if this was just another false hope?

Minutes later, Alpha Andrew returned, his face clouded with concern.

"Cassandra, Dr. Marian will be here soon," he said, his voice quieter now.

Luna Cassandra nodded again, trying to keep her composure.

When Dr. Marian arrived, she didn't waste any time and start the test. After ten minutes, she came back.

"L-Luna, we've done the tests, but I'm afraid the results are not what you were hoping for," Dr. Marian said, her voice soft and apologetic.

Luna Cassandra's heart sank, and she felt a lump form in her throat.

"No..." she whispered. "No, it can't be."

Dr. Marian hesitated, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"Luna, you're not pregnant. I double-checked everything. There are no signs of pregnancy."

Luna Cassandra's chest tightened.

"No! You must have missed something!" she shouted, her voice rising in frustration.

"I checked again, Luna," Dr. Marian said, her voice trembling. "There's no sign of pregnancy."

Luna Cassandra's hands balled into fists, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Why? Why isn't this happening?" she cried, her voice breaking.

Alpha Andrew stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.

"Cassandra, that's enough," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

But she jerked away, her face flushed with anger and fear.

"You don't understand! We've waited for five years! And now, it's like I'm failing you again!"

Alpha Andrew's eyes softened, his heart breaking for her.

"I know it's hard, Cassandra. But we can't give up."

She collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm scared, Andrew. What if I can't give you an heir? What if I'm broken?"

Alpha Andrew sat beside her, gently pulling her into his arms.

"You're not broken. We'll figure this out, together. We'll keep trying, and we won't give up."

She clung to him, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"But what if the elders don't wait? What if they force you to choose another Luna?"

Alpha Andrew's grip tightened, his voice firm.

"They won't. I'll make sure they understand. You're my Luna, and no one else can take your place."

Luna Cassandra nodded, still unsure but taking comfort in his words.

Dr. Marian stood silently, watching the scene unfold before her. She hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she chose her words carefully.

"Luna," Marian began, her tone measured yet cautious. "It's possible that, aside from your heart condition, there may be a cyst in your womb. This can affect your cycle and your ability to conceive."

"A cyst?" Cassandra's voice faltered, her anger dissolving into fear. "How serious is that?"

Marian shifted uneasily, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting Cassandra's eyes again. "I can't say for sure just yet. I'll need to conduct more extensive tests to thoroughly examine your womb and confirm the diagnosis."

At Marian's words, a flash of panic crossed Cassandra's face. The thought of extensive tests sent her mind spiraling. What if Dr. Marian discovered the secrets she had buried-the many times she had undergone abortions in the past? The fear clawed at her, making her chest tighten.

"No!" Cassandra yelled, her voice trembling with a mix of anxiety and frustration. She abruptly rose from her seat, glaring at the doctor. "You're supposed to be the best, and yet you don't even know what's wrong with me? How useless can you be?"

Marian blinked, stunned by the sudden outburst. "Luna, I understand your frustration, but-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Cassandra cut her off, her voice rising with each word. "You're just guessing, aren't you? You don't know anything!"

Andrew stood and gently placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Cassandra, calm down. She's trying to help."

Cassandra shrugged his hand off, her voice laced with bitterness. "Help? She's wasting my time!" She turned to Marian, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "If you can't do your job, I'll find someone who can."

Marian remained composed, though her heart ached at the Luna's harsh words. "Luna, my only intention is to ensure your health and well-being. If you would allow me to proceed with the tests-"

"I said no!" Cassandra shouted, turning her back to the doctor. "Get out!"

Marian bowed her head slightly, suppressing a sigh of defeat. "As you wish, Luna." She glanced at Andrew, who gave her an apologetic nod, and quietly left the room.