Outcast Luna: The Alpha's Hidden Twins

The dream felt unsettlingly real.

In it, a moan escaped my lips as his hands slid over me, the touch intoxicating after he broke our kiss. Just the brush of his fingers sent waves of desire coursing through me.

His hot breath brushed my earlobe with an almost painful eagerness, sending a shiver down my spine. Then his voice cut through the haze, deep and icy.

"Never."

I gasped and snapped my eyes open.

I was alone in the bedroom.

Two years had passed since my marriage to Arvian Mavendon, the future Alpha of the Howl Blood pack. For two long years, I'd tried everything to win his affection, only to fail every single time.

I let out a heavy sigh and slowly sat up in bed. Stifling a yawn, I glanced at the clock. Instantly, my eyes flew open.

"Shit! I'm going to be late!"

I rushed through a shower, scrambling to get ready for my monthly checkup with Dr. Harnel Renswick at the pack hospital. Dressed in record time, I hurried out the door.

Despite all the flaws in our union, I loved my husband deeply. For the longest time, I'd clung to the hope of having his child. Perhaps with a baby, Arvian would come home more often.

At the hospital, anxiety gnawed at me as Dr. Renswick finished his examination. He drew the blood samples himself, promising to return as soon as the results were in.

While waiting, I made a decision.

If I still wasn't pregnant this time, I would ask Arvian for a divorce and put an end to this loveless marriage once and for all.

A few moments later, the doctor returned with a wide smile.

"Congratulations!" he announced, beaming.

My jaw dropped in surprise.

"Really?"

My hand dropped instinctively to my stomach before I asked, the question slipping out with almost childlike innocence. "There's a baby?"

The doctor gently shook his head. "Babies, actually."

I furrowed my brow, not quite understanding, even as a massive smile was already stretching across my face.

"Twins," he confirmed.

At those words, tears pricked my eyes. They spilled over my cheeks-tears of pure, overwhelming joy.

But the doctor's expression quickly sobered.

"I must advise the utmost caution, however. Your uterine walls are extremely thin."

His words hit me like a physical blow, instantly shattering my euphoria. I sat frozen, deeply unsettled. A sudden, fierce terror for my unborn children took root in my chest.

"I'll take care of myself," I finally replied.

After thanking him, I left the hospital with a smile back on my face.

At least until I returned home.

Stepping into the living room, I found Arvian sitting on the couch beside his new mistress, Lyrina.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Lyrina was crying, and Arvian was comforting her with a gentleness I had never seen from him. Watching him treat her with such care ignited a burning ache in my chest.

Then, Arvian's gaze snapped to me.

His eyes burned with fury.

"How dare you show your face here?" he roared. "How dare you attack Lyrina?"

I stood there, dumbfounded.

"What? What are you talking about?"

His jaw clenched.

"Oh, spare me the act. You disgust me."

Unable to bear another second of humiliation, and refusing to let another woman see me cry, I clamped a hand over my mouth and fled to our bedroom.

My heart shattered as I shut the door behind me.

I had actually hoped things might change today.

I had been wrong.

I traced the bold letters on the divorce papers with my thumb, murmuring to the empty room, "He'll never accept me. He'll only ever humiliate me."

A fresh wave of tears blurred my vision.

"I have no other choice. I have to do this for my children."

Wiping my cheeks, I signed the documents.

After that, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall, trying to process what I'd just done.

Minutes later, the bedroom door crashed open, slamming violently against the wall.

I flinched.

I shoved the papers into the nightstand drawer and shot to my feet.

"Ar... Arvian..."

Anxiety laced my voice as I watched him lock the door.

Before I could get another word out, he crossed the room in three long strides and shoved me hard onto the mattress.

"Did you really think you were going to be the Luna of this pack?"

I tried to scramble away, but he pinned my wrists above my head, his strength overwhelming.

"Never forget how you trapped me into this marriage."

As he snarled the words, his free hand started tearing at my clothes.

Even pinned beneath him, I thrashed wildly.

"No!" I screamed. "Please, stop!"

He crushed his lips roughly against my neck.

"You're the one who needs to stop! Drop the act! This is exactly what you wanted. You ruined my life."

The sheer hatred in his accusation struck me right in the chest.

Slowly, the fight drained out of me.

I looked up, meeting his furious gaze.

"Then let's get a divorce."

The word "divorce" froze Arvian in place. He went completely still, as if his brain was struggling to process what I'd just said. Lifting his head, he pulled back from my neck to stare down at me.

"Do you even realize what you're saying?"

Under the weight of his stare, I instinctively pulled my hands down to shield my stomach.

His eyes stayed locked on mine, demanding an answer. Despite everything, I searched his face for the slightest flicker of turmoil or pain. For a split second, his question made me think my request had actually gotten to him. But the coldness in his eyes instantly shattered that illusion.

Arvian was a powerful Alpha-a man whose true emotions were locked away where I could never reach them.

Fresh tears welled in my eyes.

"Let's get a divorce," I repeated, my voice breaking on a sob.

A deep crease formed between his thick brows.

"Ridiculous."

With a scoff, he released me and pushed himself off the bed.

"You're nothing but trouble."

I pushed myself up, my body aching.

"I'm not joking. I'm dead serious."

To prove it, I yanked open the nightstand drawer and pulled out the papers I'd prepared.

His expression darkened.

"What is that?"

I held the documents out to him.

"I've already signed them. As of today, I'm no longer your mate."

Arvian snatched the papers from my grip. His eyes scanned the pages for a fraction of a second before he tossed them aside with utter contempt.

A split second later, his hand clamped brutally around my throat.

Jaw clenched tight, he glared at me with an icy, murderous rage.

I clawed at his arm, desperately trying to pry his fingers away, but his grip only tightened like a vise. For a few agonizing seconds, neither of us spoke. We struggled in silence, the suffocating tension thick enough to cut. The crushing pressure on my windpipe grew agonizing.

Finally, he spat through gritted teeth, "Who the hell do you think I am?"

His voice vibrated with raw fury. "Did you really think you could just do whatever the hell you want?"

I forced myself to hold his gaze despite the blinding pain.

"I'm leaving the Howl Blood Pack," I choked out, my voice trembling.

Slowly, his hand slid up from my throat to grip my jaw.

His lips curled into a dark, cruel smile-the kind of smile that promised absolute ruin.

I stared deep into his eyes.

All I saw was pure, unadulterated contempt.

I was the only person in the world he seemed to hate this much. He already had another woman. So why was he refusing to let me go? If he wanted to be with her, why not just set me free?

The hatred in his gaze was unmistakable. For two long years, he hadn't offered me even the smallest sliver of his heart. To me, this marriage had been nothing but an endless, waking nightmare.

Yet, despite everything I knew-despite his absolute lack of love for me-I had held onto hope. I had believed that one day he would finally open his heart to me. I had hoped he would eventually see how much I truly loved him.

"I stayed in this marriage because I thought, one day, we could build a happy family with our chil-"

"Children?"

His gaze turned to ice.

"How could you even entertain such a thought? Do you honestly think I'd ever let you bear my heir, you idiot? Wake up."

I stood there, paralyzed by the sheer cruelty of his words.

In that split second, one terrifying truth became clear: he could never find out about my pregnancy.

My babies would be mine, and mine alone.

I would raise them myself.

"What?" His fingers dug viciously into my jaw. "Lost your voice?"

I scraped together whatever courage I had left.

"Then just sign the papers."

His eyes darkened, flaring with a dangerous intensity.

"You think I won't?"

I met his stare without flinching. Despite my heart hammering against my ribs, I tilted my chin up, defying the brutal grip of his hand.

Deep down, however, some pathetic part of me still prayed he would change his mind.

Instead, he released me with a shove and stepped back.

A harsh sneer twisted his lips.

He snatched up the documents he had previously tossed onto the floor, then grabbed a pen from the nightstand.

My gaze flicked from his hand to his face.

No regret.

No hesitation.

Only absolute, freezing indifference.

Even though I was the one who had the papers drawn up, I wasn't prepared for this. I hadn't anticipated the hollow, crushing emptiness that washed over me as I watched him sign our marriage away.

A searing pain ripped through my chest.

It felt like a thousand needles driving straight into my heart.

How could he be so utterly callous while severing ties with the woman who had devoted her life to him? Was my love really worth nothing? Had I not given him enough?

As if his coldness wasn't enough, he carelessly tossed the signed divorce papers back onto the floor.

Then, he pulled out his wallet.

Extracting a bank card, he flicked it at me like I was a beggar.

Tears welled in my eyes.

A single drop slipped down my cheek as he turned on his heel and strode out of the room.

I lowered my head.

I had been used. Completely and utterly used.

His cruel words echoed in my head, each syllable a fresh reminder of his betrayal. I had given him my heart, my trust, my absolute devotion.

And in return, I was nothing more than a temporary convenience.

The rigid plastic edge of the card dug into my palm.

I stared at it for a long time before letting my gaze drop to the floor.

I didn't know how long I stood there, paralyzed by my own thoughts as every memory we shared played on a relentless, agonizing loop.

Slowly, I rested a hand over my flat stomach.

"I'm sorry," I whispered into the quiet room. "I have to take you both far away from him."

This time, I set the bank card down on the nightstand.

Then, I dragged out a suitcase and began shoving my things inside, furiously wiping away the tears that refused to stop falling.

He had mocked my love.

He had treated me like an object, something to be used and discarded once his needs were met.

"I will never forget this, Arvian Mavendon," I vowed, zipping the suitcase shut with a sharp, final tug.

***

Sitting in a smoky VIP booth, surrounded by deafening bass and flashing neon lights, I stewed in my own rage, glaring at the amber liquid in my glass.

"How dare she hand me divorce papers?" I muttered through gritted teeth.

To me, Narelia wasn't just a painfully dull woman. She was a calculating, manipulative snake. I remembered with agonizing clarity exactly how she had trapped me into this marriage.

It happened on the night of my twenty-first birthday. Narelia had slipped something into my drink. When I woke up in a hotel room the next morning, she was lying in the bed beside me.

It had to be her doing. No one else could have orchestrated such a perfect trap.

From that day forward, I despised her.

My hatred only deepened when my father ordered me to marry her.

I knew damn well she had begged him to intervene on her behalf. After all, as the daughter of a Gamma, she never would have had a shot at becoming the Luna of our pack otherwise.

My father hadn't hesitated for a second to sacrifice his own son's happiness. Worse, he had used my future title as Alpha as leverage to force my hand.

Just thinking about it made my blood boil all over again.

She had cornered me just to get into my bed. Even at such a young age, she had been ruthless enough to execute a calculated scheme to get exactly what she wanted.

Even though we had shared a bed that night, I had never felt the slightest mate bond with her. No spark. No connection. That was exactly why I had refused to mark her.

What baffled me, however, was my wolf's reaction to her.

Despite the fact that Narelia was completely wolfless, my wolf harbored an inexplicable, maddening affection for her.

Fortunately, fate had thrown me a lifeline.

I had met Lyrina.

She was gorgeous, seductive, and undeniably alluring.

Then, I discovered she was the same little girl who had saved my life when we were children. And even now, she was still trying to save me. The moment she heard about the divorce, she had rushed straight to my side to comfort me.

A soft hand settled onto my thigh, pulling me from my thoughts, and I turned my head.

Lyrina leaned in, pressing her warm curves against my side.

"Don't let it bother you," she murmured. "That woman never deserved you. Choose me, Arvian. I'll always be right here."

She pulled back just enough to offer me her hand.

I took it, letting her lead me through the throngs of grinding bodies. We navigated our way to a heavy door that opened into a secluded, plush private room.

The heavy door clicked shut behind us, cutting off the noise.

The sight of her silhouetted in the dim light instantly stoked my desire. Without a second thought, I backed her toward the leather sofa, ready to finally give in to the urge.

But my wolf violently slammed the brakes.

He flared up with such aggressive resistance that it left me staggering backward, completely bewildered.

"No."

His defiance infuriated me.

"If you don't want Lyrina because she isn't our fated mate, then why the hell do you care so much about that wolfless bitch?" I snarled at him through our mental link.

He completely ignored the question.

Instead, his voice rumbled with a dark warning.

"If you touch her, I will take control of this body."

The sheer weight of that threat was enough to force me to back down.

I couldn't risk a forced shift in the middle of a club.

Exhaling a harsh, frustrated breath, I straightened my clothes and put distance between myself and Lyrina.

Her brow furrowed in instant confusion.

"What's wrong?"

I reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"You're a good woman, Lyrina. I don't want to rush this and hurt you. Let's just wait for the right time."

It was a pathetic, improvised lie, but I couldn't exactly tell her my own wolf was holding me hostage.

Shortly after, I walked out of the bar.

Frustration gnawed at my insides. I was sick to death of having my entire existence dictated by my father and my own wolf.

During the silent ride home, my driver kept shooting me nervous glances through the rearview mirror, clearly sensing my foul mood.

The moment the car pulled up to the estate, my eyes locked onto Narelia.

Just the sight of her was enough to pour gasoline on the anger simmering in my chest.

Needing an outlet for my rage, I shoved the car door open before we even fully stopped, slammed it shut, and stalked straight toward her.

She spotted me instantly.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I demanded, my voice dripping with authority as I pointed at the suitcase in her hand.

"I already told you."

"Told me what?" I roared.

She flinched at the volume.

Pathetic weakness.

If a simple human yell was enough to make her cower, how would she survive if I actually used my Alpha command?

"I'm leaving your house," she replied, her voice trembling. "And I'm leaving this pack."

A harsh, mocking laugh tore from my throat.

Who the hell did she think she was?

Did she honestly believe she could just walk away without the express permission of my parents-the Supreme Alpha and Luna of the pack?

She immediately averted her gaze, unable to meet my eyes.

As always.

"You absolute coward," I spat, stepping into her space. "You have nowhere to go. Who would ever take in the discarded ex-wife of the future Alpha? No one. You belong to this pack. If you dare step foot past our borders, the wolves out there will kill you."

Right on cue, tears began to spill down her cheeks.

To me, they were nothing but crocodile tears.

Shooting her a look of pure contempt, I walked past without a word and headed for the house, fully intending to leave her out there alone.

But just as my foot hit the threshold, the sobbing abruptly cut off.

Frowning, I turned around.

Just in time to watch her collapse to the ground.

***

When I finally came to and forced my eyes open, the stark white ceiling immediately told me I was in a hospital room. Memory rushed back-a sharp, twisting pain that had knotted my stomach.

Panic seized me. I bolted upright in bed, my hand flying to my abdomen.

"Don't panic." Dr. Renswick's calm voice drifted over. "Your babies are perfectly fine."

I whipped my head toward him. He was carefully examining what looked like a stack of medical reports.

"D-did Arvian bring me here?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The doctor set the documents on the bedside table before stepping closer.

"He did," he replied gently. "But he's already left."

"Does he know?" I asked, fighting to keep the sheer terror out of my voice.

"Not unless you told him."

A heavy breath left my lungs, and the rigid tension in my muscles finally snapped. But the relief was short-lived.

Dr. Renswick was the head physician of the pack hospital. Which meant he inevitably had close ties to Arvian. It was only a matter of time before he reported my pregnancy to him.

"Dr. Renswick, can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course."

"Please, don't tell Arvian about the babies."

His brows shot up in surprise.

"You haven't told him yet?"

"No. And I never will."

"But, Narelia, they're Arvian's heirs. The future of this pa-"

"No."

I cut him off sharply.

"He'll never accept them. That's exactly why I have to protect them from him. I'm begging you-if you want them to be safe, don't say a word to him."

A heavy silence settled over the room. For several agonizing seconds, I couldn't read his expression. Finally, he gave a slow nod. His forehead remained creased, as if he were genuinely worried about me.

"Alright."

I nodded, overwhelmingly grateful.

"I'm going to leave the pack."

Shock flared in his eyes before he quickly masked it.

"But that would make you a rogue wolf. It's incredibly dangerous."

"I know," I replied softly. "But I have no other choice."

He shook his head slowly. "Narelia, given your condition, you have to be extremely careful."

"I know that too. But it's still better than staying here and living in constant pain and danger."

Shortly after my conversation with Dr. Renswick, I checked myself out of the hospital.

Since Arvian was the one who had brought me there, I scoured the lot for the car he had let me use over the years. But it was nowhere to be found. Without my phone, calling a cab was out of the question. Fortunately, after a bit of walking, I managed to flag one down on a nearby street.

When I gave the driver the address of the pack house, apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"The pack house?" he repeated, eyeing me skeptically through the rearview mirror.

Refusing to let it unnerve me, I politely confirmed the destination.

As the taxi pulled up to the grand main entrance of the estate, security guards immediately stepped out to inspect the vehicle. To my surprise, the moment they recognized me through the window, they bowed respectfully.

The driver gaped in shock.

A moment later, the guards swung the imposing central gates open. With wide, excited eyes, the driver steered onto the long, sweeping driveway that led up to the massive, palatial mansion belonging to Arvian's parents.

I couldn't blame him for staring. I had once felt that exact same sense of awe. For most pack members, just seeing the inside of this majestic estate was a lifelong dream.

Yet, as the massive structure loomed closer, a bitter sadness washed over me. I would soon be leaving this place-a place that had long felt like a dream come true.

When the cab finally glided to a halt near the front steps, several guards rushed over to open my door.

It was only then that it hit me-I didn't have a single cent on me.

Seeing my hesitation, one of the guards quickly stepped up and paid the fare. I offered him a sincere thank-you before making my way up the steps and into the house.

The moment I stepped inside, the staff bowed respectfully, ushering me into the main living room.

"Where is the Alpha?" I asked. "Please let him know I need to speak with him. It's urgent."

One of the maids immediately hurried upstairs to fetch him.

While I waited, Arvian's father descended the staircase, radiating his usual effortless authority.

Tall and broadly built despite nearing fifty, he still looked every bit the formidable leader, capable of ruling the pack for decades to come.

I immediately stood and bowed my head.

"Alpha."

The man standing before me was none other than Alpha Luric Mavendon.

He had always treated me with genuine kindness. He never missed an opportunity to praise my generosity or my skill in managing the pack's affairs.

"My dear Narelia, why do you look so downcast? Did Arvian mistreat you again? I swear, this time I'm going to put that brat in his place," he declared, his voice rumbling with protective anger.

Before he could take action against his son, I decided to get straight to the point.

"We're getting a divorce, Alpha."

His eyes widened in sheer shock. I couldn't blame him. It was the last thing he expected to hear.

Within the pack, members only formally presented themselves before the Alpha and Luna when they intended to sever their ties with the pack.

So I continued, "And I'll also need the Luna to be present."

A maid was quickly dispatched to notify Luna Gravella Mavendon.

Word came back that she was out in the gardens. Alpha Luric and I waited in the tense silence of the living room. A few minutes later, Luna Gravella swept into the room.

She was the perfect picture of elegance and nobility, though her reputation as a ruthless fighter was known to all. Her past exploits on the battlefield were the stuff of pack legend.

In the beginning, she hadn't liked that Arvian was mated to a wolfless woman. She had kept her distance, never bothering to hide her blatant disapproval. Yet, over the years, our relationship had softened. Which was exactly why the words I was about to speak felt so difficult to say.

"I want to leave the pack."

A flash of pure astonishment crossed the Luna's face before her usual composed mask slipped back into place.

"What happened, Narelia?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine concern.

Before I could even open my mouth, Alpha Luric intervened.

"I promise you, he'll apologize to you today. Don't make any rash decisions."

They didn't understand. Arvian had never wanted me in the first place. He had even brought up divorce in front of them on several occasions.

Luna Gravella nodded, firmly agreeing with her husband.

I only offered them a bitter, tired smile.

"I've always followed your advice and respected your decisions. This is the first time I'm asking you for something. Let me go. Please. It'll be better for me... and for everyone."

A part of me desperately wanted to tell them about the babies. After all, they were going to be grandparents. They deserved to know the truth.

But I couldn't take that risk. Their son didn't want children with me. With so much on the line, I couldn't afford a single misstep.

Forcing my emotions down, I took a slow, deep breath.

Luna Gravella exchanged a heavy look with Alpha Luric.

He gave a slow shake of his head before turning his piercing gaze back to me.

"What about your family?" he asked, referring to my adoptive father, who held the rank of Gamma.