One
Astella’s POV
“The result tested positive, Luna Astella. You're pregnant!” The nurse's excited voice travelled across the ward.
At that moment, the entourage of Omegas and guards that had escorted us to the hospital all flew into a joyous celebration at once, each hugging another while jumping about, unable to contain their happiness.
Their Luna who everyone thought would never bear a child due to having stayed barren for five years was finally pregnant.
Alpha Liam, my husband who was seated on the bed beside my body looked up with a cold expression in his eyes.
“Run the test again.”
The Nurse who had made the announcement furrowed her brows before she bowed. “Your Alpha, the test was carefully conducted by the best Pack medlab doctors. I assure you… “
“Do I have to repeat myself,” His voice thundered in the room, and even I shivered, feeling a cold chill run down my spine. “Run the test now. I will not have my hopes up again only to have it crushed because you did not do your job well. And the results better come out the same or else, you'll have more than your job to worry about. I will relieve your body of your head at once!”
The head nurse shivered from the impact of his aura imposing upon her, and as she bowed, there was a thin film of sweat already forming between her brows as she said, “Yes your Alpha.”
The once joyous mood in the room seemed to take a complete turn as everyone was quiet and tense now.
The nurse left and I sat there, feeling my heart palpitate to the pit of my stomach, leaving a weird acidic taste in my mouth and a burning feeling in my eyes. They were my own tears but I didn't dare let a drop fall. Not next to my husband.
As someone who was seconds close away from confirming that she was actually pregnant after five years of barrenness, I didn't look too happy.
A hand gently settled on my knees, and despite knowing whose hand it was, I still felt my skin crawl under his palm. I quickly wiped the side of my face, hoping he didn't see the tears in my eyes as I forced a smile at him.
Alpha Liam was looking at me with his eyes filled with hope, love and genuine worry. This man was the Alpha of one of the largest pack in the werewolf territory, Rhinestone pack, and he was as handsome as he was kind. Many women would have been lucky to have had him as their mate, but long before I was even born, I had been sworn to him and from birth, it had already been made known to the entire world that the last female Shaman's daughter of Rhinestone pack was to be his future mate and future Luna of the pack.
Thus, at the age of 18, I was married to him. He treated me so well, just as well as he had always treated me right from when we were kids. We were inseparable then. He loved me and cared for me genuinely, and even after five years of barrenness, his love for me did not waver. He kept hoping on the Moon goddess for a miracle.
Even when the elders had demanded he get another partner, he had vehemently refused.
At one point, fearing that we might die without leaving a successor, I had also agreed to the idea of him getting a second mate, but he refused. He was stubborn, but it was evident he loved me. He couldn't bear to even share the love he had for me with someone else. He was doting on and I was happy I had a husband like him.
But I didn't feel lucky… I loved him, but I wasn't as in love with him as he was with me. It's been years already and I could never summon the courage to tell him, not able to withstand the heart crushing blow he would receive from the news.
“Hang on darling, the newly confirmed test results would be out in a few minutes. Can you still sit up, should the maids fetch you anything? Are you hungry?”
I force a small smile as I gently place my small hand over his before squeezing it softly.
“I'm okay, Liam.”
He leaned in and held my forehead to his. I could feel his heavy breaths upon my lips before he took mine into his for a hungry kiss. I kissed him back, although he pulled away much sooner than he usually did. I could see the passion, the fear and the need in his blue eyes as he searched mine.
“Don't ever scare me like that, Astella. For a moment, I thought I had lost you.”
“Liam, it was nothing. I was just a bit tired, that's all. And the maids… “
“Imagine having been called from a meeting that my beloved wife had slipped into a coma from unconsciousness and had been rushed to the pack hospital. I was livid with fear. I'm glad you're okay.”
“Her Luna would definitely give birth to a girl as beautiful as she is! I'm truly certain her child's going to be a girl.” The voice of an Omega brought our attention to a small argument going on between them at the side of the ward as we all waited to the new results.
“How are you so sure? They need a successor after all so they're going to be blessed with a boy.” A guard argued stubbornly.
“Are you insinuating a girl can't take over as successor?”
The fight was just about getting out of hand when the nurse suddenly entered.
I could feel Liam's grip tighten around mine as she walked in with the test results in her hand.
The expression on her face was unreadable as she approached us. The tension was killing me inside as I waited her announcement. The knots in my stomach tightened and a for a fleeting second, I felt another wave of nausea hit me just as she said,
“Alpha Liam, Luna Astella, Congratulations are in order in three months time! You're already six months gone Luna Astella. We ran the test two more times just to be sure. I can assure you Your Alpha that she is pregnant.”
The room went up into another joyous mood, this time the outburst was so loud, it attracted the attention of by passers.
Some went round shouting and screaming. “Thank the Moon goddess! The Luna is finally pregnant!!”
It seemed like the whole hospital was in an uproar on the news.
I was in shock as Alpha Liam got up, lifting me out of the bed before twirling me in mid air. The excitement on his face was enough to even make me beam, but I could only force a smile admist all the happiness.
“I'm going to ba a father! Thank the Moon goddess!”
It was 6pm when we got back from the hospital. Alpha Liam quickly went back to round up the urgent meeting he was called out of some hours ago.
The maids all went about their duties. I politely dismissed the three who offered to take me into my room. However, the moment they left, a cold look replaced the calm one on my face.
I turned back up the stairs and marched straight up, past my room and my husband's, heading to his room.
My breathing was unsteady, probably because all I could feel at that moment was pure seething anger and frustration.
The moment I opened the door leading into the Beta's room, I threw the papers at him on the bed, a disgusted look on my face as I spat,
“Congratulations Beta Ryan. I'm pregnant. You're going to finally be a father, Uncle.”