Three

Astella’s pov

I held my breath as I hid in the confined space of Ryan's wardrobe, careful enough to wrap his clothes around me so as to conceal my scent as best as I possibly could.

From the crack in the wardrobe, I could see Alpha Liam's excited smile as he slapped the Beta on the back. His words became more audible as I could finally calm down without breathing hard and fast due to the fear.

“Can you believe it?! After five years. I feel like the happiest Person right now.”

“Congratulations Alpha. I feel bad that I wasn't around to receive of this news first hand. I wasn't informed of her departure to the hospital.”

“That's okay. Your niece is okay, I made sure of that, and I'll ensure she delivers safely as well. She'll be the most taken care of.” Liam continued, not noticing the tension in Ryan's body language. “The elders would soon gather tonight for the dinner meeting I had proposed. There I will break the news to them. The whole pack must know the wonders of the moon goddess!!!”

“Tonight?” Even I was shocked. Wasn't it too soon? I was contemplating telling him the truth but now he was insisting on spreading the lie around the whole pack?

“Yes, Beta Ryan. That's why I had to meet you personally. Get the arrangements done. I'll go meet with my beloved wife now and let her know she has a dinner meeting to prepare for.” The excitement and happiness in his voice caused my heart to squeeze from the pain of having to break his heart with the news.

I had to tell him.

He had to know the child was not his.

With that, they exchanged concluding pleasantries and he left. The moment Ryan shut the door after his departure, I unbundled myself from the clothes and let myself out of the wardrobe.

He looked a bit disheveled from our encounter a few minutes ago and I looked for the worse but I quickly rearranged myself, hiding my shaky fingers as I said,

“At the meeting, I'm going to tell him.”

“Astella…”

I reach out and fondly cup his face with both hands, watching as the hardened look in his eyes melted when his eyes met mine.

“We can run away then. Either way, I'm not going to have to bear a child for a man who I'm not a In love with, especially if that child is not even his.”

“Astella you know I love you more than anything in the world and I'll do anything you ask me off. But running away away? That's impossible, I cannot. It's wrong.”

“Ryan I am carrying your child. Your Alpha's wife is pregnant for you. What more wrong doings can you do that's worse than this. We're either running or I'm exposing us, and I don't care what happens next. I can't live with the guilt.”

I saw the confusion in his eyes as he was conflicted between his thoughts.

“Astella think of this… “

I shook my head at him, letting him know I was greatly disappointed before I stepped away from him, even when he stepped towards me, I ensured I was out of his reach as I threw my face to th side.

“The decision is in my hands now. Tonight, at the dinner meeting, I will expose the truth before them.”

With a heavy heart so painful in my chest, I couldn't breath properly, I pushed the door open and walked out. The tears stung my eyes and my throat was parched with pain to even let me cry, yet a determined expression settled on my face.

I called to some maids to get me ready for the dinner meeting as least before my husband found me as I feared he might pick off my uncle's scent off me and have his suspicious as to why I had gone to meet him.

Once bathed and dressed, I stood in front of my mirror, a blank stare on mu face as the maids ardorned me with their mist ecpdnsive jewels.

I could only feel a blank feeling in my heart, although a tinge of pain lingered each time I thought of what I was about to do.

“Your Luna had to be the most beautiful creature that ever walked the same earth as us, aren't u right Mishi?” One of the maids said.

“Absolutely, and the Alpha is a fine young man. Their child will be Ethereally beautiful to look at. You're so lucky Luna Astella.. “

They sang praises of me and a child that hadn't even been born, and yet I couldn't even react to anything they said. I only helt my heart sink lower till it was at the bottom of my stomach and it felt so heavy to walk in them.

Suddenly they moved away from me and moved towards the door.

“Your Alpha.”

The entire time, his eyes was on me. I could see the pride and admiration in them from his reflection on the mirror.

“Leave us.” At his words, the maids quickly hastened and left the room immediately.

Once the door shut, he approached me and hugged me from behind, burying his nose in my hair before kissing the side of my neck.

I tried to show some sort of emotion in my eyes, but it was as though I was far from being alive.

“You look so beautiful… you've always looked so beautiful, and tonight, it seems as though the stars are competing with you.” His soft voice caused his breath to play against my skin as he whispered close to my neck.

I may look beautiful, but I didn't feel beautiful. I felt like an ugly monster.

“You look tired my love. I'm sorry the dinner meeting was impromptu, but if you can't attend then I can let the elders know that they can't… “

“No…” I quickly turn to him, my eyes wide like he had said a preposterous thing. But I had only tonight to confess, any other day and I may not have the courage to do so. “I'm fine.”

There was a slight worry fixated in his eyes as he looked at me. Those cerulean blue eyes of his always looked like they were searching my soul.

“Astella, are you sure you're okay. Really, I can just .. “

I reach up and cup his cheek before placing a kiss on his lips and pulling away with a tight lipped smile.

“I'm fine, really…”

---

The moment the Alpha announced the news of my pregnancy, the whole hall erupted into cheers and jubilation. I stood up and embraced the jubilation with a small smile while Alpha Liam who got up with me had his arms around my waist, smiling so proudly, he seemed the happiest.

The same elders who had scorned me, called me cursed and had secretly persuaded my husband to find another mate were all jubilating now, passing deinks around them, looking cheerful and happy.

I raised my eyes to meet Beta Ryan standing amongst the guards at the side, arms crossed back. I couldn't help but trail my eyes over how his uniform hugged his flexing biceps easily, accentuating every inch of him. Every inch of him that I've touched.

I subtly raised my eyes to meet his and there was a strong tension pull between us as our eyes locked and his hardened when he realized what I was about to do.

“This is really great news!! It can't only be kept between us, this news has to be shared across the pack, across packs, the werewolf territory!!! Let the whole world know that Late Shaman Anny finally has a granddaughter.” One of the elders said, and the others around nodded in approval.

“No. There's no need for that.” I wave my hand dismissively at his words as I blurred out.

There was absolute silence the whole hall as everyone had their eyes on me now. Alpha Liam's arms tightened around my waist as he whispered, still smiling.

“Beloved, do you think it's too soon… what is the problem.”

“That's not it,” I pull away from his embrace and move far away so j was facing everybody but backing the guards which was good so I wouldn't have to see Ryan's face. “I just can't sit here and let everyone jubilate about something…about a child that's not worth celebrating for.”

Liam's eyes searched the room and could both feel the degrees drop lower before his eyes met mine.

“What are you talking about Astella.”

I reach up with a shaky hand and clutch my stomach, my eyes not leaving his as I uttered, like it was the last thing I was ever going to say before I finally died.

“I am pregnant, Liam. But not for you. This child is not yours but for the one I'm truly in love with!”